Chapter 47
“Yes! I was very worried that something might have happened. No one seemed to know about your whereabouts, Ian.”
“His Majesty the Emperor must have known, though.”
At those words, Free’s face, which had been smiling until a moment ago, stiffened for an instant.
“Ah… I didn’t ask him about it.”
“I see.”
There was no reproach, no question of why she hadn’t asked the Emperor. Instead, he only smiled as though he understood.
“More importantly, Ian, did something happen? Were you perhaps ill…?”
“That is not the case. By His Majesty’s command, I went to escort an important guest.”
“An important guest… Wasn’t that hard on you? There must have been many others available, so why would you…”
Hearing Ian’s words, Free felt a little upset.
To think that one of the few people she considered her own was being made to struggle like that.
Wouldn’t assigning him as a guard knight have been enough? If something more was needed, couldn’t they have called another knight…
Worrying, her hand instinctively reached out and stroked Ian’s gaunt cheek.
Ian’s face reddened without him realizing.
“It seems you’ve lost weight.”
“No, not at all. It’s just that I’m covered in dust…”
“Don’t tell me you came straight here?”
“Yes. I wondered if you might be waiting, or worrying about me. That thought pushed me. And it seems it was the right decision—since you were indeed worrying about me like this.”
Ian slowly lowered the hand that touched his cheek.
Only then did Free realize she had been touching him, that she had unconsciously been worrying about him. She quickly clasped her hands together.
“Of course I would worry. Because it’s you, Ian.”
“Thank you. And more importantly, have you been well, Free?”
“It seems my instincts knew you’d return today. I just finished reading the books you gave me before you left.”
“Did you now? That’s good. Did you find what you were looking for?”
Ian smiled at her more warmly than ever.
“Unfortunately, no. But I did solve the riddle you gave me.”
“Did you?”
“The bird that grants wishes… A being that exists yet does not exist. A bird no human could possibly tame. Yet if tamed, it would even burn its own body to fulfill its master’s wish—the Silcenti bird, right?”
“Yes. You’ve figured it out.”
Free pulled the bird-shaped doll from her pocket and held it out.
“Though rather than figuring it out, I… asked someone. And I quickly found someone who knew.”
“Is that so?”
“Councilor Zeren. He recognized it immediately—even the riddle. He said: because it is called a bird, it exists. Because it is not truly a bird, it does not exist. It can be made into many forms, so it exists as an object, yet not as a living being. That’s why it is not a real bird.”
“In ancient times, it was said to have truly existed. A bird that granted wishes…”
“Then why did you give this to me, Ian?”
It was a doll she had hardly dared to touch for fear of wearing it out. Yet in the short time she had it, it had gathered faint traces of her hands, as though showing how much she had relied on it.
“I gave it because I wished for your wish to come true, Free.”
“My wish…”
“What is your wish, Free?”
Her eyes gazed at him with warmth.
“If you had asked me in the past, I would have said ‘freedom’ without hesitation.”
“Which means…”
Free shook her head slightly, then spoke firmly.
“That means not anymore. Back then, I was too weak, and I thought escaping was the only answer. That freedom was the only way to survive. But I now know that isn’t true.”
This time, it was Ian who was surprised.
“So freedom was not your wish?”
“No. Not anymore. Now my wish is… to live as myself.”
“To live as yourself…”
It was a hope that had taken root only here, in Intellia. Until now, Free had no wishes. Her only role had been to live obediently as her sisters commanded.
But after meeting people like Seth and Ian, who cherished her, and the family of the Intellian Empire, a desire slowly grew in her heart. She wanted to live proudly as herself, Free Ezann.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
“It sounds silly, doesn’t it? Even as I say it, I don’t fully understand my own words. Maybe I just want to sound cool.”
“Not at all. Even so, Free…”
Ian clenched his fist tightly.
“If someday your dream yearns for freedom again, then make that wish without hesitation. It just might come true.”
“…Alright. Thank you.”
“And… Free. If it’s alright, do you remember what you once said?”
“What did I say?”
“About my mother… You once said you would like to meet her someday.”
As though recalling something important she had forgotten, Free quickly clasped her hands together.
“That’s right. I had completely forgotten.”
“If you’re willing, would you like to meet my mother?”
“But… is it really proper for me to meet her? I…”
“Yes. My mother very much wishes to meet you. I tried many times to dissuade her, but she has repeatedly told me she wishes to see you—at least once, to speak with you.”
Can I really meet her?
The thought lingered, but looking at Ian’s face—more serious than usual—Free nodded.
“Then… if she doesn’t mind, I would love to meet her!”
Just the thought of meeting Ian’s mother lifted her spirits.
“When… when will I see her?”
“After lunch. She will host a tea time.”
“So soon?”
Free’s eyes widened. Lunch and tea time meant only a few hours from now.
“Yes.”
“But… have you asked your mother’s opinion?”
“Of course.”
“But didn’t you come to me immediately after finishing your urgent task?”
Ian only smiled gently at Free, who was full of questions today.
“That is true. But until the day I left, my mother asked me again and again to let her see you. She wanted to meet you, even just once, up close, to talk.”
“Ah…”
“She has wanted that since the very first time we met.”
“…Why does she wish to see me? Is it because you are my knight…?”
“Perhaps the same reason you feel about her. You are the one her son serves, so she simply wishes to entrust you with her feelings.”
He smiled softly, his eyes curving gracefully, and Free let out a faint sigh.
“If that’s the case, then I’m relieved. But still… I’m worried. What if I disappoint her…”
“You don’t need to worry about anything.”
“Then… why now, Ian? Why suddenly let me meet your mother? Surely she’s wanted this for some time.”
“Well… perhaps it’s because lately you’ve seemed weary. I thought maybe meeting my mother might give you some strength.”
What more could she say? What other questions could she ask? After a moment of thought, Free simply nodded.
“Alright. If that’s your heart, then… I’ll do it. I’d like to meet her, too.”
“Then I will return with her in time for tea.”
“Yes!”
A warmth, like the gentle breeze of spring, brushed past Free.
Ian left quickly, seemingly to change clothes, and Seth entered.
“Seth.”
“Yes.”
“Is there something suitable I could give as a gift? Perhaps tea… Among the teas you and Cassie prepare daily, are there any intended as gifts?”
“Yes. All the teas provided to you, My Lady, originally come as gift sets. We can prepare one from those. But… a gift? May I ask for whom?”
“I am to meet Ian’s mother today.”
She thought Seth would be surprised, but instead she only nodded calmly.
“I see.”
“You’re not surprised?”
“No. I know her as well.”
“R-really? What kind of person is she?”
“She is one of those most curious about you, My Lady.”
“About me?”
“Yes. From the very first day you arrived, she has been curious.”
The idea of someone being curious about her brought an odd pressure to Free’s chest.
Seth seemed to notice at once and smiled even more kindly.
“Don’t worry. She is a kind person—gentler than anyone.”
“…Do you think so?”
“Yes. She is warm, just like Ian. She’s quite well-known in the palace.”
“Who is she, exactly?”
At that moment, Cassie stepped in, seemingly just as curious.
“Cassie.”
“But isn’t it strange? For Her Majesty the Empress to meet a knight’s mother—it seems unusual, doesn’t it?”
“Cassie.”
The second call was enough; Cassie flinched and bowed her head.
“I thought this was what Your Majesty liked about me… I was too thoughtless. Forgive me.”
“It’s fine. Now, will you prepare lunch? I’ll meet the guest after the meal, during tea.”
“Yes, understood. Will you dine inside?”
“Yes, I’ll eat inside. But prepare tea in the rear garden. I’ll bring the gift myself, so please prepare that as well.”
“Yes.”
Seth’s actions left no room for hesitation.
Whatever Free asked, she carried out swiftly. She quickly prepared the meal, assigned Cassie to assist Free, and went to ready the tea in the rear garden.
Unlike usual, Free’s heart was pounding.
Meeting someone always made her nervous. But now, when her position was still unstable, meeting someone curious about her was even more daunting.
Thus, she ate only a small portion of her meal and waited anxiously for tea time.
That afternoon, the rear garden was bathed in warm sunlight.
Free sat stroking the doll in her hands, as had become her habit, a tea set prepared beside her.
Before long, she heard voices approaching.
One was Ian’s voice. The other, a gentle woman’s.
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, though not entirely recognizable.
