Words spoken from the heart when drunk.
Strong drunkenness makes people act out of character. Thanks to its unique
effect of weakening self-control, today too, hidden truths are being spoken
across the continent.
The letter I wrote must be the same.
I didn't remember every single word I wrote, but I was sure I didn't write
anything bad. I also didn't tell any outrageous lies.
…So at least it was written sincerely.
I didn't lie to Hedera.
'For now, holding onto her like this is the best option.'
This was the unavoidably best option.
I couldn't tell her the real reason that I wrote it while drunk, and my
instincts strongly insisted that if I let Hedera go like this, I would never get
another chance to meet her.
If things went wrong, it would be very troublesome.
First, I wouldn't be able to meet the conditions set by the Emperor.
The emperor would end the marriage proposal due to unmet conditions and
might even use means to eliminate me in the worst case.
Then I wouldn't know what the Princess, who reacted positively to the
proposal, would do on the continent. I wouldn't be able to obtain the royal
artifact to cure my terminal condition, and if I die early, it would be hard to
avenge my fallen comrades.
"…"
…I suddenly realized that my life was tangled like a ball of yarn.
A butterfly's wingbeat had already turned into a typhoon.
Meanwhile, Hedera made a sound at that moment.
"…Ah."
Only then did I escape from my thoughts.
Come to think of it, I was still holding her wrist.
A silent corridor.
We still stood there, staring at each other. Only Hedera's eyes, having
regained their original shape, slightly wavered.
"…"
Just as her lips were about to say something…
─Aaaagh!
A strange scream came from inside the tower.
─We're going to freeze to death!
─Auditor! Where's the Auditor gone?
─Aaaagh!
Come to think of it, I couldn't stay away any longer. Besides my reunion
with Hedera, I was the auditor of the tower and had the duty to supervise
the magicians here.
I let go of her slender wrist.
"I have to go. After all, I'm the auditor."
Anyway, I would see her again inside the tower.
I walked away, leaving her standing there. I felt her gaze on the back of my
head the entire time I walked down the corridor and thought to myself.
…Alcohol is my enemy. Alcohol.
An empty corridor.
The 2nd Princess, Hedera, remained in place long after Jaekiel left. The
confusion in her heart was still swirling violently, showing no signs of
subsiding.
She was trying to calmly recall and sort out what had just happened, but
unexpectedly, a person she hadn't even thought of appeared in the corridor.
It was the 3rd Princess, Solana.
"Oh? Running into you here, you arrived early?"
The imperial radiance that doesn't lose its light even in the dark.
The Face of the Empire, the Angel of the Empire… Hedera wondered why
she had appeared, but soon understood. It was Solana who had arbitrarily
placed Jaekiel in the auditor position.
Solana spoke lively as usual.
"2nd Princess, did you meet the Auditor? Ah, should I call you the Tower
Master here? It seems the troubles continue."
"Not 'troubles,' it's 'anguish.'" 1
"Anguish. Ah, that's what I said. I just said it softly…"
Hehehe, Solana chuckled softly.
Always so bright, would you even understand these complicated matters
here? Hedera sighed, finding it tiresome to explain.
"He seems to be giving his best in various tasks already. I couldn't help but
think, as expected of our teacher. Won't the tower rise again? Tower Master,
perhaps you should reconsider the sale more carefully."
"The sale isn't the issue right now…"
Trying to brush it off out of annoyance, Solana's eyes sparkled.
"You're not selling it? You've made a good decision."
"…"
At this point, Hedera ran her hand through her hair in frustration.
No, beyond frustration, it was slowly becoming unpleasant.
The five princesses of the empire grew up in different environments, with
even more different personalities and values, so they never got along well
from the start.
However, what Hedera especially disliked among them was Solana's clear
demeanor without revealing her true intentions.
That carefree brightness at all times, without any regard for the situation,
was irritating. Sometimes, it even seemed deliberately intentional.
"…Solana."
Hedera spoke with a slightly sharp tone.
"You, don't you feel anything after seeing him again after so long?"
The separation between Hedera and Jaekiel was extremely painful.
It was a sudden incident, so there was no time to prepare, and she was too
young to know how to deal with such severe pain.
Back then, the young girl had confidence.
If he had just told her the circumstances, she was confident she could wait
10 or even 100 years. Beyond that, she had certainty.
She would have understood whatever it was. Perhaps she would have
followed him even if the world crumbled. That would have been less
painful.
However.
The separation from that time was still unresolved.
Today was no different.
No, through the recent meeting, she became even more confused.
After asking the Emperor to put it on hold and coming directly, this was the
result.
…But why was this clueless one still so bright?
"That person? Are you talking about the Teacher?"
"Yes."
"You've changed. When you were younger, you used to call him your
future husband."
Hedera ground her teeth at Solana's harmful brightness.
Certainly, there was a time like that in the distant past.
However, Jaekiel didn't explain this time either.
He left without any explanation, just like that day. This time too, he
couldn't explain, but he just wanted her to believe it was sincere.
"Um, are you upset? It was just a joke. After all, there's no way you two
would ever actually get married."
Solana continued in her usual tone.
"Anyway, yes. I don't feel much. I'm sure the Teacher had his reasons. I'm
just glad we can meet again now. It's better than never seeing him again."
"It's good that you don't think much. You can move on easily."
"Easy? It's not like that."
She was starting to get annoyed, even talking to Solana.
Just as Hedera was about to end the conversation and leave the corridor…
"2nd Princess."
For the first time, Solana called out to Hedera.
Their gazes met in midair.
Solana's lips curved into the benevolent smile typical of a saint, but Hedera
could tell for sure. Solana's current gaze was anything but that.
"There are things in this world. Things that become sins just by knowing,
and things that cause great harm just by asking… This is just my opinion, of
course."
"…What are you trying to say?"
"The Teacher didn't smoke Sun Grass in the past."
"…"
A brief silence.
"…?"
It took a moment before Hedera narrowed her eyebrows.
Come to think of it, that was true.
In the distant past, Jaekiel didn't even go near tobacco, let alone Sun Grass.
But now, he reeked of the characteristic burning smell of Sun Grass.
"It's forbidden to possess Sun Grass without royal permission. Even with
permission, it's mostly for medical purposes. I've never seen anyone chew
the stalk whole."
"Don't measure your words; tell me everything you know."
"I don't know anything. I told you before, I just believe. That's the only
thing I can do since I know nothing."
Solana turned around quickly after saying that.
"I'll go ahead. There's training today, and if there are any injuries, it's my
role to take care of them. See you inside."
"…"
Hedera remained standing alone.
Her already complicated feelings became even more confused, mixed with
Solana's words. It felt like they were rising like waves, ready to swallow
her whole.
Why was she feeling so unpleasant now?
─It's sincere.
Because she had been slightly shaken by just that one sentence.
Despite being deceived for years, she hated and felt pathetic for being
shaken again.
Then also, why did she feel so frustrated now?
…Because she didn't want to admit it, but she was a little curious.
She became even more curious about the truth she didn't know. She fiddled
with the crumpled letter in her pocket.
Should she burn it or not?
"…"
In the end, Hedera didn't burn the letter and started walking.
Postponed.
She wasn't kind enough to believe him right away. Nor was she stupid,
young, or naive enough for that. But keeping an eye on him and observing
wasn't too difficult.
Hedera possessed dragon blood. She was strong now.
If she didn't give her heart in the first place, there would be no betrayal.
And if something strange happened, she could protect herself.
After making her decision, she nodded a couple of times.
Now, she put her role as the 2nd Princess aside for the moment. She still
had the issue of the sale of the Imperial Tower to deal with.
…It was time to work as the Tower Master for a while.
The corridor of the tower.
There was still someone left after Hedera left.
It was the 2nd Princess's escort knight, Valcon.
Even though his face was entirely covered by a helmet, his eyes seemed to
flash. With such intense eyes, the escort knight still stared at where Jaekiel
had disappeared.
Valcon thought.
Possessing dragon blood meant perfection.
At the same time, a perfect being doesn't harbor emotions.
Thus, in his mind, Hedera was a perfect being.
However.
When she faced Jaekiel just now, Valcon clearly felt Hedera's unusual
agitation. It was the first time he had seen such a sight since he started his
escort knight duties in the Celestial Realm.
So what he had to do was clear.
For Hedera's perfection.
For Hedera's nobility.
No, for Hedera herself.
…He had to eliminate that man.