“I think you’re sensitive because of your pregnancy, Lady."
“I’m sensitive?”
I slowly asked back at the unexpected reaction.
“The Lord explained it to me.”
"What are you talking about, Hannah? Kaian avoided answering.”
Speaking of the village of Plogne, I can't believe that my only friend who completely sympathizes with me tells me that I am sensitive. After hearing Hannah's words, I was literally doubtful of my ears, wondering if I had heard wrong.
Either I misunderstood what Kaian said earlier, or I misheard Hannah when she said I was sensitive.
“The village is gone. Is it okay to ask if we are the survivors of that village and then tell them that the Queen has silenced him?”
“Claudel.”
Hannah took a quick breath of her own and looked me in the eyes. The brown eyes, which usually shined brightly, disappeared from the outburst of emotion that had exploded when she snatched the nameplate and became strangely rational.
“Arbor is a hidden secret, yes?"
"Yes."
Although I felt something repulsive, she had no choice but to answer.
“He didn’t say when the Lord went there, yes?"
“...Yes."
“And if Her Majesty has separately commanded him not to divulge. I think it will be difficult to hear more details from him.”
She held my hand tightly.
“Few people know about Plogne, but Kaian is a royal relative. The King was not the only person who came to hear the divine tree’s predictions.”
Hannah was right. Some high-ranking priests and nobles visited the village. When 'guests' arrived at the village at the bottom of the mountain, adults sent the children out of the village and greeted them with masks on their faces and hoods.
Even though adults told us not to look at it that way, if we climbed up a high tree, we could clearly see what was happening in the village under the branches that were spread out like Arbor's fan.
“No matter what he knows, he won’t be able to tell. You and me too. Just like we can’t reveal the sacred tree’s affairs.”
I lost consciousness for a moment. The events of the town of Plogne were not something to be discussed in this logical, logical manner.
Never before had Hannah spoken of our misfortune in such an emotionless manner. It was so unfamiliar and strange, but she wasn't wrong.
'I can't tell you our story just to ask Kaian more.'
There is no way to get it without giving it away. Rather, at this point, the reason why Kaian confirmed to Hannah that I might also be from that village was almost disturbing to me.
Hannah's beautiful brown eyes, like the color of fallen leaves, were watery.
“You don’t know how painful it is not to have seen the last of my parents or my younger brother. Thinking that there might be hope is something only a person mired in despair would do.”
“... Hannah."
I felt like my reason and emotions were separated. It was frustrating because of Kaian, who avoided me without hearing a proper answer, and it felt like I was being split in half, following the fragments of the accident that were organized according to Hannah's words.
"You're right. If I want to hear more here, I have no choice but to bring up things I shouldn’t say.”
Arbor burned down and disappeared, but those who were born and raised as part of the tree, like the leaves hanging at the end of the branches, were unable to even hastily reveal the existence of the divine tree, which had become an illusion.
“If you can’t confirm, you will suffer more than me.”
I hugged Hannah as if to comfort her. My excitement gradually subsided as I patted my delicate friend's back.
“I’m sorry for making you say that.”
But Hannah, with her face buried in Claudel's shoulder, furrowed her brow and bit her lower lip.
‘I’m sorry for lying, Claudel.'
To somehow divert her attention from Madame Cronach, who might be connected to this topic, she sold her parents and younger brother, which will forever remain a bitter wound in her heart.
'I'll explain everything properly after the child is born.'
She asks Claudel to wait a moment.
She muttered words in her mouth that Claudel could not hear.
'More than that, I'm worried about Auntie Leonie.'
She was also worried about somehow sending a telegram to the capital.
Hannah held Claudel face to face and swallowed her sigh.
Sunlight fell gently on the lakeside in the middle of the day. Because the weather was not cold, the green forest path was filled with lone jacaranda trees in full bloom here and there.
“It’s winter in Rowen.”
Valquiterre walked slowly through the garden. Not a cold winter. The winter with Rowen's flowers and greenery in full bloom was something very special. It was a blessed land that was the only place alive during a season when eighty-five percent of the continent spent curled up inside their homes like hibernating animals.
Paradise.
He thought that Rowen was the land closest to the utopia that humans dream of. Everyone longs for or imagines a transcendent world, but Valquiterre is not like that.
***
Sunlight fell gently on the lakeside in the middle of the day. Because the weather was not cold, the green forest path was filled with lone jacaranda trees in full bloom here and there.
“It’s winter in Rowen.”
Valquiterre walked slowly through the garden. Not a cold winter. The winter with Rowen's flowers and greenery in full bloom was something very special. It was a blessed land that was the only place alive during a season when eighty-five percent of the continent spent curled up inside their homes like hibernating animals.
Paradise.
He thought that Rowen was the land closest to the utopia that humans dream of. Everyone longs for or imagines a transcendent world, but Valquiterre is not like that.
Why should I dream of another paradise when I can actually see the land with my own eyes and feel it vividly in my hands?
Every time Rowen came, he would always urge himself to covet the land.
Next to the narrow road leading from the lakeside to the outbuildings, there was an old seesaw that had lost its purpose because no one was riding it, with umbrella moss hanging here and there.
Valquiterre's face turned cold as he looked at it.
He was seven years old, an age he will never forget.
The castle workers cut down the tree, smoothened it, and fixed it in the middle, creating something for the two to ride and play on. Madame Elise smiled mischievously, untied the silk ribbon that adorned her hair, and tied it around the middle, creating a rather nicely made seesaw that looked as if it had been wrapped as a gift.
Madame Elise smiled brightly and urged the children.
‘Go ahead and try it. Hurry.'
Kaian and Valquiterre, excited, got on both sides and stamped their feet vigorously.
Tong. Tong.
Every time the seesaw jumped, his butt bounced like it was bouncing on a horse saddle, and he burst out laughing.
'Ahahaha!'
'Kyahaha!'
However, as they exchanged foot stomps with each other a few times, at some point the movement of the seesaw became violent, and Valquiterre, who lost his grip, bounced off and fell down, hitting his buttocks.
‘Ouch...'
Unknowingly, he frowned and raised his head, and his eyes caught the sight of Madame Elise holding and caring for Kaian.
‘Kaian. Are you okay? Without pain?'
'Yes. It's okay.'
The guy clearly looked like he was in pain, but Kaian seemed to be trying to answer resolutely.
Valquiterre automatically looked at Queen Sylvia, who was standing behind him.
She looked down at him with disdain in her blue eyes, just like the ones he was born with, as if she had been taken from glass melted in a kiln in one go.
'Stop acting so ugly and stand up.'
Young Valquiterre jumped up like an animal caught in a trap.
His mind felt more numb than his butt hitting the ground so hard.
Recalling that incident, Valquiterre removed a leaf of moss from his seesaw and crushed it with his fingertips.
“It’s not a big deal, but something small like this is more memorable.”
Madame Elise raised Kaian, asking if he would come or not. In comparison, Queen Sylvia treated Valquiterre, who had to learn the art of Kings and was raised as the successor to the kingdom, as strictly as a sword.
Every time he saw the contrast, he felt upset. They were said to be a child born to Princesses, and even though they were tied together, he felt that it was difficult as if he was walking along a thorny path, while Kaian was staying in a flower field that seemed to have been copied from Rowen's scenery.
However, looking back, it seems that Queen Sylvia's strict parenting was not particularly effective. Because Valquiterre was not raised to be particularly superior to Kaian. The level that humans can reach through effort and training was physically determined to some extent.
If the parenting results of the Queen, who raised him coldly and extraordinarily, and the Duchess, who raised her children with her arms around their children, are similar, can Sylvia, who raised her children callously and without even offering her hand, really be considered to have done well?
Every time Rowen came, he would always urge himself to covet the land.
Next to the narrow road leading from the lakeside to the outbuildings, there was an old seesaw that had lost its purpose because no one was riding it, with umbrella moss hanging here and there.
Valquiterre's face turned cold as he looked at it.
He was seven years old, an age he will never forget.
The castle workers cut down the tree, smoothened it, and fixed it in the middle, creating something for the two to ride and play on. Madame Elise smiled mischievously, untied the silk ribbon that adorned her hair, and tied it around the middle, creating a rather nicely made seesaw that looked as if it had been wrapped as a gift.
Madame Elise smiled brightly and urged the children.
‘Go ahead and try it. Hurry.'
Kaian and Valquiterre, excited, got on both sides and stamped their feet vigorously.
Tong. Tong.
Every time the seesaw jumped, his butt bounced like it was bouncing on a horse saddle, and he burst out laughing.
'Ahahaha!'
'Kyahaha!'
However, as they exchanged foot stomps with each other a few times, at some point the movement of the seesaw became violent, and Valquiterre, who lost his grip, bounced off and fell down, hitting his buttocks.
‘Ouch...'
Unknowingly, he frowned and raised his head, and his eyes caught the sight of Madame Elise holding and caring for Kaian.
‘Kaian. Are you okay? Without pain?'
'Yes. It's okay.'
The guy clearly looked like he was in pain, but Kaian seemed to be trying to answer resolutely.
Valquiterre automatically looked at Queen Sylvia, who was standing behind him.
She looked down at him with disdain in her blue eyes, just like the ones he was born with, as if she had been taken from glass melted in a kiln in one go.
'Stop acting so ugly and stand up.'
Young Valquiterre jumped up like an animal caught in a trap.
His mind felt more numb than his butt hitting the ground so hard.
Recalling that incident, Valquiterre removed a leaf of moss from his seesaw and crushed it with his fingertips.
“It’s not a big deal, but something small like this is more memorable.”
Madame Elise raised Kaian, asking if he would come or not. In comparison, Queen Sylvia treated Valquiterre, who had to learn the art of Kings and was raised as the successor to the kingdom, as strictly as a sword.
Every time he saw the contrast, he felt upset. They were said to be a child born to Princesses, and even though they were tied together, he felt that it was difficult as if he was walking along a thorny path, while Kaian was staying in a flower field that seemed to have been copied from Rowen's scenery.
However, looking back, it seems that Queen Sylvia's strict parenting was not particularly effective. Because Valquiterre was not raised to be particularly superior to Kaian. The level that humans can reach through effort and training was physically determined to some extent.
If the parenting results of the Queen, who raised him coldly and extraordinarily, and the Duchess, who raised her children with her arms around their children, are similar, can Sylvia, who raised her children callously and without even offering her hand, really be considered to have done well?
It was questionable.
It was time for Valquiterre to rub away the crushed grass. As he turned his head, his eyes met with the flower-like woman who caught his eye the most, as wildflowers of various colors were anxious not to compete with each other to show off their beauty.
“...Ah."
The golden eyes on her white face, touched by the light shining through the thick leaves, took on a troubled look.
'Not being able to hide your innocence is also attractive.'
Valquiterre was impressed by this aspect of her, giving her generous marks. How lovely it is compared to the noble women who wear very clever masks.
It had already been about ten days since he came to Rowen, and during that time Valquiterre could barely see Claudel.
So he guessed that the relationship between Kaian and the Duchess, who had passed on to him two secrets that she couldn't even tell her husband, was probably not that ideal.
It was time for Valquiterre to rub away the crushed grass. As he turned his head, his eyes met with the flower-like woman who caught his eye the most, as wildflowers of various colors were anxious not to compete with each other to show off their beauty.
“...Ah."
The golden eyes on her white face, touched by the light shining through the thick leaves, took on a troubled look.
'Not being able to hide your innocence is also attractive.'
Valquiterre was impressed by this aspect of her, giving her generous marks. How lovely it is compared to the noble women who wear very clever masks.
It had already been about ten days since he came to Rowen, and during that time Valquiterre could barely see Claudel.
So he guessed that the relationship between Kaian and the Duchess, who had passed on to him two secrets that she couldn't even tell her husband, was probably not that ideal.
'As if I were not completely infatuated with Claudel, I said that it was enough for me to be satisfied with this marriage.'
When he met her in the royal palace's public garden, Kaian was said to have hurriedly let her in as if to hide her from Valquiterre's eyes.
'Well, since it was difficult to deal with Bianque, I guess I deliberately made fun of it by saying it was a very satisfactory marriage.'
If he thinks about it, Kaian was doing something contradictory to him. Although he was the head of a family called the undefeated Temnes, Valquiterre was bound to be much better at scheming. What does the King do? Politics is mostly about covering up intentional things to make others understand them.
'It's not a plot, it's a strategy.'
Valquiterre, who corrected his self-evaluation, spoke to Claudel.
“It’s hard to see your face, Claudel.”
Very sweetly.
Then Claudel nodded her head.
"Yes. I keep feeling unwell.”
“Oh my. Is it because of that rumor?”
He didn't know that it was an excuse not to displease Kaian, but Valquiterre was a master at setting fire to a fire without missing even a single word.
“I heard that Kaian spends time with a woman from the capital several times a day.”
When he met her in the royal palace's public garden, Kaian was said to have hurriedly let her in as if to hide her from Valquiterre's eyes.
'Well, since it was difficult to deal with Bianque, I guess I deliberately made fun of it by saying it was a very satisfactory marriage.'
If he thinks about it, Kaian was doing something contradictory to him. Although he was the head of a family called the undefeated Temnes, Valquiterre was bound to be much better at scheming. What does the King do? Politics is mostly about covering up intentional things to make others understand them.
'It's not a plot, it's a strategy.'
Valquiterre, who corrected his self-evaluation, spoke to Claudel.
“It’s hard to see your face, Claudel.”
Very sweetly.
Then Claudel nodded her head.
"Yes. I keep feeling unwell.”
“Oh my. Is it because of that rumor?”
He didn't know that it was an excuse not to displease Kaian, but Valquiterre was a master at setting fire to a fire without missing even a single word.
“I heard that Kaian spends time with a woman from the capital several times a day.”
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