Chapter 96: |
“Rosaline Esther.”
“Yes.”
He walked over to Rosaline and unclipped her necklace. The Radwiell ring hanging from the chain rolled into Fertan’s hand. Calyx jumped to his feet. He instinctively acted because he thought Fertan was about to cut Rosaline’s ties with the family. But, contrary to his expectations, Fertan didn’t put the ring in his pocket or throw it away.
Rosaline looked up at Fertan with a puzzled look.
“The Radwiells…”
“Yes?”
“Protect Illavenia.”
“Yes.”
Fertan took her hand and put the ring on her middle finger.
Calyx knew what his father was going to say. It was time for the silence of the inky night to be broken.
When Rosaline applied to join the Knights of the White Night without permission, there hadn’t been one night of peaceful sleep in Radwiell Castle. Rosaline and Fertan had fought for days, weeks, and months.
Father is calm. Sister is gentle and soft. However, the quarrel created by their differing opinions was never calm, gentle, or soft. So young Calyx had been afraid of their fights that made the nights noisy.
Back then, Rosaline had said,
[Father, just protect your Illavenia!]
Fertan had always taught them that the Radwiell duty was to protect Illavenia. As a child, Calyx had interpreted ‘protect Illavenia’, literally. To him, it meant the Illavenian Empire, the nation where he belonged. But the word ‘Illavenia’ traded between his father’s and Rosaline’s mouths constantly changed. Like a living and moving creature, it had grown beyond the simple meaning of the empire.
[And I will protect my Illavenia.]
I couldn’t ask my sister back then, so I have no way of knowing now, but did her ‘Illavenia’ plainly mean Ricardis? Calyx could only vaguely discern the meaning. Did that Illavenia include great things, marvelous things, perhaps her most precious things?
“You protect your Illavenia,” Fertan said.
Calyx felt that, somehow, a part of his heart ached. The words Rosaline had spat to sever the father-daughter relationship in the past now seemed to connect two people in a relationship he thought could never continue.
“Yes,” Rosaline answered, looking him in the eye.
Fertan clasped her hand again, patted Rosaline on the shoulder, then immediately raised his hand and ordered more pudding. Calyx’s eyes, nose, and mouth wrinkled to reflect his feelings at the absurd situation. I thought we were talking seriously until just a moment ago… In any case, no one in the empire would’ve been able to beat the… atmosphere before.
Fertan soon came back with the pudding packaged in a pretty box. He gave it to Rosaline as a gift.
Rosaline stared at the ring on her finger for a long time until Fertan left as if the crude and spartan ring was a treasure. She held the pudding box in her hand for a long time. Calyx looked at the distant mountain.
Rosaline was someone who could get along very well with anyone.
***
Illavenia was not the only one busy with the annual events that began with the Shadowless Night. Knocking on the door with gifts, dignitaries of large and small countries also attended the festivities of the great empire that has ruled the continent for ages.
Once they gathered at the banquet hall after recovering from the fatigue of travel, beautiful music welcomed them, and the exquisite food provided a feast for their eyes.
Since the ambassadors saw the same faces every year, there was usually nothing special to discuss.
[How have you been?]
[Ah, I’ve been doing well, but how are you, sir?]
They used to greet each other in a boring way like this…
But this year, the party’s ambiance was full of excitement compared to the routine boredom of recent years.
It was because three unusual things were happening on this Founding Day.
First, there was the mage, Rosaline. Tales of her had spread out of Illavenia to every corner of the continent. From large kingdoms to small tribes, who hadn’t heard about her? She was also the reason people kept glancing at the banquet hall entrance with excitement.
Second, the delegation from the kingdom of Lagos, which had an army strong enough to rival Balta’s, had not yet arrived.
Everyone knew that a civil war had broken out in Lagos, but no one knew the status of the current ruler, Baiferm Ploeto. Had she won or lost? Was she dead or alive? Without any accurate information, only rumors spread. Illavenian officials closely monitored whether foreign figures had information about Lagos’ civil war.
The third thing people noticed was related to Balta.
Many royals and nobles dragged their plump bodies annually to Illavenia, but the Baltans were always an exception. Their favorite excuse was that Hiksala Adon was sick because of the bad weather. So, everyone had expected the kingdom of Balta to be absent while giving some story. However, this time someone from Balta had arrived in Illavenia.
Nobles of the Imperial City doubted their ears. No, they heard someone was coming, but they didn’t expect Haqab, the heir to the throne, to be here in person! In addition, the banquet hall was even more excited by the news that the 3rd Princess Ganje had also crossed the border.
No matter if they came as a peaceful delegation, the long-standing hostility didn’t disappear. Not to mention it was not long after the 2nd Prince Ricardis suffered greatly due to a mission in their country. Balta’s excuse was always, “there is no connection between the Black Moon and the Baltan royal family,” but every country knew those were mere words.
Haqab had set his feet on a dangerous path this time. Someone had to push Ricardis and force him to go to Balta, but Haqab’s case was different. Who could threaten a prince in an untouchable position? Even Hiksala Adon, the current king of Balta, could not command Haqab. If so, it meant he’d voluntarily set foot in Illavenia, which made it more confusing. Is he just crazy?
Within Illavenia, there were a few nobles who radically advocated for war. They wouldn’t miss a chance when the prey came under their claws. Ricardis had told Chloe to keep an eye on those nobles’ movements.
The day after the arrival of the Balta delegation, Ricardis got into his carriage to visit the castle where Haqab stayed.
What are you up to…?
No one thought Haqab had visited purely to celebrate the founding of Illavenia. The continuing preparations for the war, the failed kidnapping of Ricardis, the sudden presence of a strong mage…
Ricardis didn’t know for what purpose Haqab had come, so he couldn’t decide what to defend and if he should attack. Ricardis rubbed his temples as a headache set in.
Is he trying to lay the groundwork for war? Or does he want to assassinate the Emperor? It is the most probable reason. Balta’s human weapons with enhanced bodies would do the trick. But, unless Haqab is an idiot, he would know that everyone’s been wary and has their eyes on him since the Baltan delegation came to Illavenia. So by what means?
Haqab acted like hostile Illavenians didn’t surround him as he entered enemy headquarters and aimed for their hearts.
Ricardis straightened and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. The more you think, the narrower your vision. He must see and read the situation with his own eyes. Ricardis looked at Rosaline through the open carriage window. He hadn’t wanted her to accompany him to meet Haqab, but she was the only one who could feel magic.
Ah, hesighed. The carriage carrying Ricardis moved diligently.
“Oh, look who’s here. It’s Prince Ricardis.”
Haqab looked more splendid than he had in Balta Castle. Delicate gold ornaments made his copper-colored skin glow. The man smiled kindly as he always did.
Haqab walked towards Ricardis in long strides. He approached faster than Ricardis could step back.
Squeeze. Haqab hugged Ricardis, whose face turned cold.
“… Prince Haqab. How have you been?”
“Thanks for your concern. Yes, I’ve been well, and you’re still beautiful. Even splendid jewels seem to lose their light in front of your presence.”
The man whispering in his ear pressed his lips to Ricardis’ cheek. Ricardis looked like he had eaten rotten food.
“Prince Haqab is really… still… the same.”
Ricardis pulled himself out of Haqab’s arms. While he wondered what Haqab was up to, Haqab’s eyes moved over Ricardis’ shoulder. His eyes wandered busily, looking for someone.
Among the men in white clothes, a shock of black hair stood out. Haqab’s black eyes stopped to look at Rosaline.
“Sir Rosaline.”
It was a voice that carried the warm glow of the spring sun. One of Ricardis’ eyebrows rose. What’s with this sweet voice?
“I see Balta’s first son,” Rosaline bowed down to him.
Haqab’s eyes twinkled as he looked at her. My black moon! My Crean Tidanion! The words he couldn’t cry out fed the desires boiling inside.
Iris: Happy New Year (’s eve)! My resolution is to be more timely with the edits… :’)