The din of the crowd's shouts, cries, pleas, and screams was rapidly dying down, and at the same time, an alien sound pierced his ears: singing.
"Ah!"
Eve turned toward the square. Her gaze was fixed on the top of the fire-scorched clock tower.
'Limona.'
A gypsy girl was singing a song to appease the spirits of the dead.
The people immediately recognized her.
“Rimona Lund..."
“Is this what Her Highness the 7th Princess sent her?”
The hands of those who held the poke balls slumped downward, gripping the guards' shoulders. The atmosphere, which had threatened to boil over into a dangerous situation, quieted like a lie.
“Ugh..."
The requiem for the living echoed through the square for a long time.
They mourned and mourned until their voices cracked and were drowned out by the cries of the people.
As the sunset passed and night fell, a gust of wind swept across the 13th district.
The ash particles carried by the wind scattered into the sky.
The same goes for the souls of the dead, the people hoped with their hearts.
Huh...
Only when the night deepened and the moon rose did Limona's requiem cease.
She came down from the clock tower, buttoning up her coat. Five or six new people recognized the best singer in the capital and quickly approached her.
“Thank you, Miss Limona Lund... Oh, my!”
It was then that the people behind started to push and rush towards the people in front.
“No, sing! Keep singing, Limona!”
“Miss Lund, please do just a little more for my son. Yes?”
“I’m sorry. No more..."
At that moment, people's eyes were filled with betrayal at the mere words of rejection.
“Ah! Over there! It’s the royal carriage!”
“What? Where, where?!”
"OMG?!"
“Don’t be surprised, come this way.”
Limona flinched at the familiar voice. Her body, devoid of any intention of resistance, was naturally led away.
The opponent pushed Limona into a narrow alley.
They succeeded in escaping. The two ran as fast as they could. When the shouts that Limona had disappeared rang out from behind, she went into a carriage parked on the main road.
Click!
As soon as the door closed, the carriage started off. Limona was left alone in the carriage.
Limona took off the hood of her robe and took a deep breath. The other person who was also taking a deep breath met her eyes and smiled.
“Long time no see, Limona.”
"This..."
Limona's lips twitched as she tried to call Eve's name in joy.
Eve thought Limona had a sore throat and handed her a glass bottle of warm milk.
“I prepared a carriage because I thought it would be hard to get out now that you are a celebrity. Was that meddling for nothing?”
“Oh, no, Your Highness. That really helped.”
“Well then, that’s good. Limona’s house is in District 7, right? I’ll take you there.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
For reference, the carriage we rode in was a disguised business carriage used by the imperial family.
The person currently sitting on the horse's back was none other than Michael.
'Is it because it's been so long since we last met? It feels awkward.'
“Then you’re not angry?”
"Angry?"
Even in her confusion, Limona tilted her head. Eve's attitude was extremely cautious.
“You seemed uncomfortable with me earlier… I thought you might be angry.”
“Oh, no! I’m definitely not angry!”
“Really? That’s fortunate.”
Limona stared blankly at Eve's face for a moment as if she was truly relieved.
“By the way, how have you been, Limona?”
“Yeah. How have you been? What about Eve?”
“I was actually a little depressed, but I felt better after listening to Limona’s song... uh.”
As she finished speaking, Eve had to hastily cover her mouth. She couldn't hold back a yawn so long that tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I guess the tension eased because Limona forgave me.”
“Oh, I get it, Eve, stop saying sorry.”
“Yes. I won’t do anything I’ll be sorry about in the first place.”
The carriage was bright enough with magic lights, so Limona could see Eve's face in detail. Eve, gaunt from fatigue, was coming out one after another.
Eve was biting her lip as if trying to hold back a yawn.
At this point, Limona forgot how nervous she was and asked.
“Your eyes are like fish eyes. Are you sleeping?”
“Oh, anyway! Your eyes are blurry. You didn’t sleep well, did you?”
“Well, um, a little. I didn’t know I would hear complaints outside.”
“No, why aren’t you sleeping?”
"That..."
Eve lowered her eyes.
“Because I can’t sleep.”
The tone was gloomy and downbeat, even though it wasn't intentional.
For a moment, Limona had to take a deep breath as she felt like she had caught a glimpse of Eve's heavy responsibility.
It was then that Limona, who had been silent for a moment, stood up resolutely. She moved to Eve's side without permission.
“Limona?”
“Lie down here.”
To Eve, who was looking puzzled, Limona tapped her thigh.
“Huh, huh?”
“Close your eyes.”
“Wait a minute, what are you doing..."
Limona covered Eve's eyes with her palm, creating a peaceful darkness.
Then she cleared her hoarse throat and began to sing.
It was a song with such a simple melody and childish lyrics that it seemed crude for Limona to sing.
'No way this is...'
Eve asked, slightly embarrassed.
“Now, lullaby...?”
“Oh, shh! Our good Princess is just snoring and not making a fuss.”
Suddenly, Eve was treated like a little child again. It seemed like the lullaby was right.
Although she felt a little embarrassed, she didn't hate it. Eve just let out a small complaint to endure the ticklishness that she couldn't resist.
“I’m not a Princess.”
Just a little bit, with a desire to reveal the truth.
She thought she would be treated like a child who talked back because she wanted attention. However, Limona's subsequent reaction was different from what she expected.
"I know."
The plain answer that rang in her ears felt strangely unsatisfactory.
At that moment, Eve wanted to check Limona's expression. However, Eve's two eyes were focused on Limona's.
It was covered in the cozy darkness created by the palm of my hand.
Then Limona said.
“Just sleep without thinking about anything.”
"Huh."
“Good... I’m really sleepy listening to this..."
“Then I’ll sing to you until you fall asleep, my Princess.”
It wasn't long before Limona heard the sound of heavy breathing. The carriage door didn't open when they arrived at Limona's doorstep, and so the carriage became Eve's cradle until the first dawn.
Even though it wasn't a very comfortable bed, she slept well. Eve felt refreshed and left Limona in front of her house.
“I ended up staying out all night.”
Feeling bad about letting them spend the night outside, Eve grabbed Michael's hand and cast a warming spell.
Michael looked at Eve with a face that showed no sign of fatigue and spoke.
“Eve.”
"Huh?"
As he finished speaking, Michael smiled softly. Every time she saw him smiling more and more these days, Eve's heart would pound.
She answered, lowering her head slightly to hide her aforementioned face.
“Michael’s words were also comforting.”
“You must have been very depressed. That alone wouldn’t have been enough.”
“No, it’s not. It’s true.”
Ahe thought that learning how to blame others would be useful in the future.
Eve appealed with sincerity, but Michael did not erase the regretful look in his eyes.
“I was originally thinking of comforting you with something other than words.”
"Huh?"
“It’s nothing.”
While he was meaningfully mumbling, his eyes were strangely dark as he watched Eve.
As she stared into those sucking purple eyes, Eve felt as if she was about to make a strange and sinister interpretation.
'Ah, ah! I guess I'm a helpless member of the royal family after all!'
Eve's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the disorder of her bloodline. She pretended to look out the window, making excuses that it was hot.
Just then, the Imperial Palace came into view in the distance. It was time to return to the battlefield.
"Ah!"
Eve turned toward the square. Her gaze was fixed on the top of the fire-scorched clock tower.
'Limona.'
A gypsy girl was singing a song to appease the spirits of the dead.
The people immediately recognized her.
“Rimona Lund..."
“Is this what Her Highness the 7th Princess sent her?”
The long autumn breeze ruffled her dark hair and carried her clear voice. It swept across the plaza like a cure for the plague, calming the people.
“Ugh..."
The requiem for the living echoed through the square for a long time.
They mourned and mourned until their voices cracked and were drowned out by the cries of the people.
As the sunset passed and night fell, a gust of wind swept across the 13th district.
The ash particles carried by the wind scattered into the sky.
The same goes for the souls of the dead, the people hoped with their hearts.
Huh...
Only when the night deepened and the moon rose did Limona's requiem cease.
She came down from the clock tower, buttoning up her coat. Five or six new people recognized the best singer in the capital and quickly approached her.
“Thank you, Miss Limona Lund... Oh, my!”
It was then that the people behind started to push and rush towards the people in front.
“No, sing! Keep singing, Limona!”
“Miss Lund, please do just a little more for my son. Yes?”
Their faces were desperate in their search for comfort and dependence, but Limona's throat was hoarse from crying out to reach the heavens.
At that moment, people's eyes were filled with betrayal at the mere words of rejection.
“Ah! Over there! It’s the royal carriage!”
“What? Where, where?!”
It was a moment to distract the crowd by sacrificing a passing nobleman's carriage. Someone pulled Limona's robe over her head and yanked her wrist.
“Don’t be surprised, come this way.”
Limona flinched at the familiar voice. Her body, devoid of any intention of resistance, was naturally led away.
The opponent pushed Limona into a narrow alley.
They succeeded in escaping. The two ran as fast as they could. When the shouts that Limona had disappeared rang out from behind, she went into a carriage parked on the main road.
Click!
As soon as the door closed, the carriage started off. Limona was left alone in the carriage.
Limona took off the hood of her robe and took a deep breath. The other person who was also taking a deep breath met her eyes and smiled.
“Long time no see, Limona.”
"This..."
Limona's lips twitched as she tried to call Eve's name in joy.
Eve thought Limona had a sore throat and handed her a glass bottle of warm milk.
“I prepared a carriage because I thought it would be hard to get out now that you are a celebrity. Was that meddling for nothing?”
“Oh, no, Your Highness. That really helped.”
“Well then, that’s good. Limona’s house is in District 7, right? I’ll take you there.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
For reference, the carriage we rode in was a disguised business carriage used by the imperial family.
The person currently sitting on the horse's back was none other than Michael.
'Is it because it's been so long since we last met? It feels awkward.'
Eve looked serious as she looked at Limona across from her. Limona was currently trembling.
She was sitting upright and rolling her eyes.
There was nothing Limona could do. After realizing the tremendous truth at the opening ceremony of the last martial arts competition, Eve and Limona met for the first time.
That's because she was faced with a situation like that. She didn't even have time to prepare myself mentally.
A dry spit gulped down Limona's hoarse throat.
“Limona.”
“Uh, huh?!”
Eve felt sorry for asking if there was anything uncomfortable about Limona.
She was sitting upright and rolling her eyes.
There was nothing Limona could do. After realizing the tremendous truth at the opening ceremony of the last martial arts competition, Eve and Limona met for the first time.
That's because she was faced with a situation like that. She didn't even have time to prepare myself mentally.
A dry spit gulped down Limona's hoarse throat.
“Limona.”
“Uh, huh?!”
Eve felt sorry for asking if there was anything uncomfortable about Limona.
She was startled. There was an awkward silence for a moment. The two of them each had a moment of agony.
'What, what is it? Are you mad because I haven't contacted you in a while?'
'Ugh! I overreacted because I was nervous! I must have looked suspicious. What should I do?'
Eve first thought about what to do about this atmosphere.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch with you much lately. I had to travel far away for a long time on orders from someone very high up.”
“Oh, yeah. I know... Oh, no, you did. That could be. I don't deserve to be sorry.”
'What, what is it? Are you mad because I haven't contacted you in a while?'
'Ugh! I overreacted because I was nervous! I must have looked suspicious. What should I do?'
Eve first thought about what to do about this atmosphere.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch with you much lately. I had to travel far away for a long time on orders from someone very high up.”
“Oh, yeah. I know... Oh, no, you did. That could be. I don't deserve to be sorry.”
“Then you’re not angry?”
"Angry?"
Even in her confusion, Limona tilted her head. Eve's attitude was extremely cautious.
“You seemed uncomfortable with me earlier… I thought you might be angry.”
“Oh, no! I’m definitely not angry!”
It was uncomfortable, but for completely different reasons, so Limona threw her hands up in the air, almost throwing the bottle of milk she'd been drinking. Eve laughed at the sight.
Limona stared blankly at Eve's face for a moment as if she was truly relieved.
“By the way, how have you been, Limona?”
“Yeah. How have you been? What about Eve?”
“I was actually a little depressed, but I felt better after listening to Limona’s song... uh.”
As she finished speaking, Eve had to hastily cover her mouth. She couldn't hold back a yawn so long that tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I guess the tension eased because Limona forgave me.”
“Oh, I get it, Eve, stop saying sorry.”
“Yes. I won’t do anything I’ll be sorry about in the first place.”
The carriage was bright enough with magic lights, so Limona could see Eve's face in detail. Eve, gaunt from fatigue, was coming out one after another.
Eve was biting her lip as if trying to hold back a yawn.
At this point, Limona forgot how nervous she was and asked.
“Your eyes are like fish eyes. Are you sleeping?”
“Spoiled fish... I thought you only reserved that expression for slimy people.”
“Well, um, a little. I didn’t know I would hear complaints outside.”
“No, why aren’t you sleeping?”
"That..."
Eve lowered her eyes.
“Because I can’t sleep.”
The tone was gloomy and downbeat, even though it wasn't intentional.
For a moment, Limona had to take a deep breath as she felt like she had caught a glimpse of Eve's heavy responsibility.
It was then that Limona, who had been silent for a moment, stood up resolutely. She moved to Eve's side without permission.
“Limona?”
“Lie down here.”
To Eve, who was looking puzzled, Limona tapped her thigh.
Eve blinked, and Limona grabbed her shoulders in frustration and gently pulled her down.
“Close your eyes.”
“Wait a minute, what are you doing..."
Limona covered Eve's eyes with her palm, creating a peaceful darkness.
Then she cleared her hoarse throat and began to sing.
It was a song with such a simple melody and childish lyrics that it seemed crude for Limona to sing.
'No way this is...'
Eve asked, slightly embarrassed.
“Now, lullaby...?”
“Oh, shh! Our good Princess is just snoring and not making a fuss.”
Suddenly, Eve was treated like a little child again. It seemed like the lullaby was right.
It was a song she had never heard properly, not even when she was very young. No one had ever treated Eve like this in the palace. Her cheeks flushed.
“I’m not a Princess.”
Just a little bit, with a desire to reveal the truth.
She thought she would be treated like a child who talked back because she wanted attention. However, Limona's subsequent reaction was different from what she expected.
"I know."
The plain answer that rang in her ears felt strangely unsatisfactory.
At that moment, Eve wanted to check Limona's expression. However, Eve's two eyes were focused on Limona's.
It was covered in the cozy darkness created by the palm of my hand.
Then Limona said.
“Just sleep without thinking about anything.”
"Huh."
The lullaby for Eve continued. She wondered if this was the same jugular song that had brought out the magical powers of the old days. Her body and mind were tired as if her sleep had been a lie.
“Then I’ll sing to you until you fall asleep, my Princess.”
It wasn't long before Limona heard the sound of heavy breathing. The carriage door didn't open when they arrived at Limona's doorstep, and so the carriage became Eve's cradle until the first dawn.
Even though it wasn't a very comfortable bed, she slept well. Eve felt refreshed and left Limona in front of her house.
“I ended up staying out all night.”
The carriage rolled along the deserted road at dawn. Halfway there, he called the coachman back to help Michael into the carriage.
Michael looked at Eve with a face that showed no sign of fatigue and spoke.
“Eve.”
"Huh?"
“I'm glad you seem to have recovered your spirits, and I'm a little sorry that Miss Lund has robbed me of the opportunity to console you, but it's an impossible way for me to do it.”
She answered, lowering her head slightly to hide her aforementioned face.
“Michael’s words were also comforting.”
“You must have been very depressed. That alone wouldn’t have been enough.”
“No, it’s not. It’s true.”
Ahe thought that learning how to blame others would be useful in the future.
Eve appealed with sincerity, but Michael did not erase the regretful look in his eyes.
“I was originally thinking of comforting you with something other than words.”
"Huh?"
“It’s nothing.”
While he was meaningfully mumbling, his eyes were strangely dark as he watched Eve.
As she stared into those sucking purple eyes, Eve felt as if she was about to make a strange and sinister interpretation.
'Ah, ah! I guess I'm a helpless member of the royal family after all!'
Eve's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the disorder of her bloodline. She pretended to look out the window, making excuses that it was hot.
Just then, the Imperial Palace came into view in the distance. It was time to return to the battlefield.
Support Novellate!


Comments
Post a Comment