The summer palace was half turned upside down. I don't know how else to describe the uproar. In less than an hour, the news that I had brought the candle of immortality spread throughout the capital.
The newspapers that had been biting me immediately changed their tune and started talking about how the Princess had brought the most precious thing from Antaria to Zarantello. It was nothing compared to a mere beast.
The examiners who had been leaning toward Lady Veronica quickly began to express a different position.
The way the nobles looked at me changed to a gaze that seemed to be looking at something a little more appetizing. A gaze that still had value and was looking at a powerful heir to the throne.
Those who had been laughing at me behind my back just a few hours ago began to nod their heads again.
The cold air quickly became mild. It was as if a late spring had suddenly arrived.
And that evening.
The Emperor summoned the examiners.
“How is the atmosphere?”
I opened the door and greeted Cesare, who came in while lying half-lying on the chair, and asked him. It was an inevitable choice, as I had absolutely no strength in my body.
Fortunately, Lisa applied some ointment to relieve my muscle pain, so I was fine. If not, I would have been stuck in bed, unable to move, and would have been doing this all day long.
“The results will probably come out tomorrow morning.”
Cesare answered, running his hand down his tired face. He had been guarding the corridors of the Privy Council chamber all night.
Even though Cesare was an aide to the Duke of Ashkabad, his status was only that of a Viscount. He was not even worthy of looking at the round table of the lofty Privy Council.
Moreover, outsiders were not even allowed to enter, so the best they could do was to squeeze in between the servants, hoping to hear something through the thick wooden door.
It was a very unfortunate thing for the nobles, but... Well, it was something I couldn’t stop them from doing if they wanted to.
Cesare drank the glass of water I gave him with relish.
“Does it normally take some time for results to come out like this?”
“It sometimes takes a long time, over a week, but this time it was relatively quick.”
“Is this fast?”
“It is all thanks to you brought His Majesty the Igthalis flower.”
Cesare's expression seemed quite pleased, even though he spoke as if he was blaming someone.
“The palace pharmacist said he went in five hours ago to do an analysis. Since there’s still no news, it’s either one of two things. Either it’s real, or it’s difficult to identify.”
The blue mushroom, the faint fog, the gentle ripples from the golden petals. All the circumstances at the time of its discovery were in line with the legend.
There is probably no disagreement that it is a real Igthalis flower. Anyone can tell just by looking at it once. Its mysterious golden color is something that cannot be imitated.
What was more disconcerting than anything else was that I had never thought that this would change the test results. I had just taken it aside to give it to the Emperor, who was feeling unwell.
Anyway, I don't know what's going on. I'm just in a daze like I was struck by lightning.
Cesare said, leaning back in his chair leisurely.
“Perhaps the conclusion will turn out in Your Highness’s favor.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“If the flowers were fake, the results would have come out already.”
“...”
“This is what Duke Kairak is hanging on to right now.”
Cesare continued speaking lightly, perhaps because my expression seemed serious.
“After all, what Your Highness submitted was not a beast. Whatever it was, it was a hunting competition in form, and the purpose of this competition was to prove ‘strength.’”
“That’s a neat argument.”
“But if you think about the theme itself, ‘bring your most precious thing,’ there are few things in the world more precious than the candle of immortality.”
Cesare added with a faint smile.
“So, Your Highness, you have done very well.”
It felt like the overwhelming tension had been lifted all at once. After hearing the answer from Cesare's own mouth, I finally felt completely at ease.
Deep inside, a corner of my heart was heavy. I was afraid that maybe I had ruined our plan, that not catching the white deer was an irreversible mistake.
“I’ve heard such generous compliments from you... I’ve lived a long life and I’ve seen it all.”
Cesare smiled briefly at my joke. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
“Could you please step back a bit?”
His expression suddenly became serious. It was hard to believe that we had been joking around just a moment ago.
As soon as Lisa, who had been taking special care of me until the end, left, the room became silent as if it had been swallowed up in silence in an instant.
In the end, I couldn't wait and was the one to speak first.
“Go ahead.”
“I have a confession to make, Your Highness.”
“...”
“It is a sin for which I dare not even ask for forgiveness.”
“...What on earth is it?”
At first, I was a little flustered because I hadn't thought it was such a serious matter. Even as I stammered and asked questions, Cesare's expression didn't seem to lighten.
He wiped his face with his dry hands and slowly opened his mouth at my urging.
“I know you were attacked on the second island.”
I nodded absentmindedly, then opened my eyes wide in surprise. It felt like the breath I had barely been able to catch was being suffocated again.
I barely managed to bite my lip so as not to react too strongly. Unable to control my strength, a little bit of blood spread between my teeth.
“How on earth did you do all that...”
I clutched my arms as the fear from that time came back to me.
In an instant, I felt like I was thrown into that forest. Not into the warm Princess's room in the summer palace, but into that moment, into that space.
Just thinking about it made me feel this way. Cesare stood up and took a step toward me as if he felt sorry for me who was shivering.
“Stay the same!”
It was so sharp that I couldn't believe it was my voice, like a scream. I was so surprised that I even thought it was my own voice.
Cesare stood there and raised both his hands as if to show that he had no intention of harming me.
Even now, after I learned the truth, Cesare's face still seemed extremely kind. He didn't look like someone who knew about the plan to harm me and yet condoned it.
I chewed and spat out each word, trying my best not to stutter.
“...Please explain so that I can understand.”
Cesare wiped his mouth with his dry hand. He seemed to be choosing his words as to how to begin.
He opened his mouth slowly.
“Two days ago, our porter tampered with Your Highness’s bag. Do you remember? The night you entered Zarantello?”
“...I remember.”
Yes, there was a time like that. The first time Laskan carried my bag, and the next day he sent it to my place through a porter.
What did I do after that? I checked to see if the items were properly packed. I definitely didn't see the sachet at that time.
“The maid happened to find a sachet inside and told me.”
Coincidentally. It was a very convenient word in many ways. All sorts of things happen in the world under the guise of coincidence, but those events were all well-planned frauds.
I snorted coldly and snapped back.
“You saw it by chance... Okay. I guess that’s okay.”
“...”
“How did you know that particular sachet was suspicious? There were all kinds of new things in that bag.”
“If it was something you bought for your own use, there would have been no need to rip out the lining and resew it.”
“...Why didn’t you warn me?”
Cesare slowly raised his lowered gaze.
“Nevertheless, it wasn’t conclusive evidence.”
I looked into his brown eyes. Cesare's face was exactly the same as usual.
It was just like that moment when I believed that even though he was a bit cold, he was sincere in thinking of me and caring for me.
That made it even creepier. I squeezed my hand once more and chewed it up before spitting it out.
“You were waiting for me to die so you could catch that beast of a killer? Just to secure crucial evidence?”
“...We immediately deployed personnel to ensure that no one was injured. If Princess Veronica had not intervened, we would have escorted Your Highness.”
He took a familiar sachet out of his bosom and placed it on the table.
It was like facing an old nightmare. I saw Veronica tear it off and throw it into the stream.
“...Where did this come from?”
“Don’t you know? It’s the very incense bag that Your Majesty threw away.”
“You really did send people to the second island.”
My fingertips were getting colder and colder. I sneered fiercely.
“In the end, you took my life as you pleased.”
“...”
“Now I’m trying to save you.”
The voice was running wild. I raised my head.
“Did Laskan agree to this? Does he know about this?”
“His Excellency, he do not know. It was all my own doing.”
At least I hoped that was true. If Laskan had been involved... I would never be able to trust him again.
To trust a man who confesses his love to me with one hand, while measuring the value of my life with the other hand, was the most foolish thing in the world.
“...”
My heart was a mess of feelings of relief and betrayal.
Perhaps if I were a real Princess, Cesare would not have taken this approach. He would have postponed the competition and taken all precautions.
But if you think of me as a chess piece that can be replaced at any time, an orphan girl with no backing, then Cesare's behavior was actually appropriate.
I burst out laughing. The realization came to me strangely. It was presumptuous of me to expect anything from Cesare and then be disappointed.
I feel betrayed as if I were a real Princess after being supported for the past few months. When I burst out laughing once more, Cesare's expression collapsed.
The newspapers that had been biting me immediately changed their tune and started talking about how the Princess had brought the most precious thing from Antaria to Zarantello. It was nothing compared to a mere beast.
The examiners who had been leaning toward Lady Veronica quickly began to express a different position.
The way the nobles looked at me changed to a gaze that seemed to be looking at something a little more appetizing. A gaze that still had value and was looking at a powerful heir to the throne.
Those who had been laughing at me behind my back just a few hours ago began to nod their heads again.
The cold air quickly became mild. It was as if a late spring had suddenly arrived.
And that evening.
The Emperor summoned the examiners.
***
“How is the atmosphere?”
I opened the door and greeted Cesare, who came in while lying half-lying on the chair, and asked him. It was an inevitable choice, as I had absolutely no strength in my body.
Fortunately, Lisa applied some ointment to relieve my muscle pain, so I was fine. If not, I would have been stuck in bed, unable to move, and would have been doing this all day long.
“The results will probably come out tomorrow morning.”
Cesare answered, running his hand down his tired face. He had been guarding the corridors of the Privy Council chamber all night.
Even though Cesare was an aide to the Duke of Ashkabad, his status was only that of a Viscount. He was not even worthy of looking at the round table of the lofty Privy Council.
Moreover, outsiders were not even allowed to enter, so the best they could do was to squeeze in between the servants, hoping to hear something through the thick wooden door.
It was a very unfortunate thing for the nobles, but... Well, it was something I couldn’t stop them from doing if they wanted to.
Cesare drank the glass of water I gave him with relish.
“Does it normally take some time for results to come out like this?”
“It sometimes takes a long time, over a week, but this time it was relatively quick.”
“Is this fast?”
“It is all thanks to you brought His Majesty the Igthalis flower.”
Cesare's expression seemed quite pleased, even though he spoke as if he was blaming someone.
“The palace pharmacist said he went in five hours ago to do an analysis. Since there’s still no news, it’s either one of two things. Either it’s real, or it’s difficult to identify.”
The blue mushroom, the faint fog, the gentle ripples from the golden petals. All the circumstances at the time of its discovery were in line with the legend.
There is probably no disagreement that it is a real Igthalis flower. Anyone can tell just by looking at it once. Its mysterious golden color is something that cannot be imitated.
What was more disconcerting than anything else was that I had never thought that this would change the test results. I had just taken it aside to give it to the Emperor, who was feeling unwell.
Anyway, I don't know what's going on. I'm just in a daze like I was struck by lightning.
Cesare said, leaning back in his chair leisurely.
“Perhaps the conclusion will turn out in Your Highness’s favor.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“If the flowers were fake, the results would have come out already.”
“...”
“This is what Duke Kairak is hanging on to right now.”
Cesare continued speaking lightly, perhaps because my expression seemed serious.
“After all, what Your Highness submitted was not a beast. Whatever it was, it was a hunting competition in form, and the purpose of this competition was to prove ‘strength.’”
“That’s a neat argument.”
“But if you think about the theme itself, ‘bring your most precious thing,’ there are few things in the world more precious than the candle of immortality.”
Cesare added with a faint smile.
“So, Your Highness, you have done very well.”
It felt like the overwhelming tension had been lifted all at once. After hearing the answer from Cesare's own mouth, I finally felt completely at ease.
Deep inside, a corner of my heart was heavy. I was afraid that maybe I had ruined our plan, that not catching the white deer was an irreversible mistake.
“I’ve heard such generous compliments from you... I’ve lived a long life and I’ve seen it all.”
Cesare smiled briefly at my joke. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
“Could you please step back a bit?”
His expression suddenly became serious. It was hard to believe that we had been joking around just a moment ago.
As soon as Lisa, who had been taking special care of me until the end, left, the room became silent as if it had been swallowed up in silence in an instant.
In the end, I couldn't wait and was the one to speak first.
“Go ahead.”
“I have a confession to make, Your Highness.”
“...”
“It is a sin for which I dare not even ask for forgiveness.”
“...What on earth is it?”
At first, I was a little flustered because I hadn't thought it was such a serious matter. Even as I stammered and asked questions, Cesare's expression didn't seem to lighten.
He wiped his face with his dry hands and slowly opened his mouth at my urging.
“I know you were attacked on the second island.”
I nodded absentmindedly, then opened my eyes wide in surprise. It felt like the breath I had barely been able to catch was being suffocated again.
I barely managed to bite my lip so as not to react too strongly. Unable to control my strength, a little bit of blood spread between my teeth.
“How on earth did you do all that...”
I clutched my arms as the fear from that time came back to me.
In an instant, I felt like I was thrown into that forest. Not into the warm Princess's room in the summer palace, but into that moment, into that space.
Just thinking about it made me feel this way. Cesare stood up and took a step toward me as if he felt sorry for me who was shivering.
“Stay the same!”
It was so sharp that I couldn't believe it was my voice, like a scream. I was so surprised that I even thought it was my own voice.
Cesare stood there and raised both his hands as if to show that he had no intention of harming me.
Even now, after I learned the truth, Cesare's face still seemed extremely kind. He didn't look like someone who knew about the plan to harm me and yet condoned it.
I chewed and spat out each word, trying my best not to stutter.
“...Please explain so that I can understand.”
Cesare wiped his mouth with his dry hand. He seemed to be choosing his words as to how to begin.
He opened his mouth slowly.
“Two days ago, our porter tampered with Your Highness’s bag. Do you remember? The night you entered Zarantello?”
“...I remember.”
Yes, there was a time like that. The first time Laskan carried my bag, and the next day he sent it to my place through a porter.
What did I do after that? I checked to see if the items were properly packed. I definitely didn't see the sachet at that time.
“The maid happened to find a sachet inside and told me.”
Coincidentally. It was a very convenient word in many ways. All sorts of things happen in the world under the guise of coincidence, but those events were all well-planned frauds.
I snorted coldly and snapped back.
“You saw it by chance... Okay. I guess that’s okay.”
“...”
“How did you know that particular sachet was suspicious? There were all kinds of new things in that bag.”
“If it was something you bought for your own use, there would have been no need to rip out the lining and resew it.”
“...Why didn’t you warn me?”
Cesare slowly raised his lowered gaze.
“Nevertheless, it wasn’t conclusive evidence.”
I looked into his brown eyes. Cesare's face was exactly the same as usual.
It was just like that moment when I believed that even though he was a bit cold, he was sincere in thinking of me and caring for me.
That made it even creepier. I squeezed my hand once more and chewed it up before spitting it out.
“You were waiting for me to die so you could catch that beast of a killer? Just to secure crucial evidence?”
“...We immediately deployed personnel to ensure that no one was injured. If Princess Veronica had not intervened, we would have escorted Your Highness.”
He took a familiar sachet out of his bosom and placed it on the table.
It was like facing an old nightmare. I saw Veronica tear it off and throw it into the stream.
“...Where did this come from?”
“Don’t you know? It’s the very incense bag that Your Majesty threw away.”
“You really did send people to the second island.”
My fingertips were getting colder and colder. I sneered fiercely.
“In the end, you took my life as you pleased.”
“...”
“Now I’m trying to save you.”
The voice was running wild. I raised my head.
“Did Laskan agree to this? Does he know about this?”
“His Excellency, he do not know. It was all my own doing.”
At least I hoped that was true. If Laskan had been involved... I would never be able to trust him again.
To trust a man who confesses his love to me with one hand, while measuring the value of my life with the other hand, was the most foolish thing in the world.
“...”
My heart was a mess of feelings of relief and betrayal.
Perhaps if I were a real Princess, Cesare would not have taken this approach. He would have postponed the competition and taken all precautions.
But if you think of me as a chess piece that can be replaced at any time, an orphan girl with no backing, then Cesare's behavior was actually appropriate.
I burst out laughing. The realization came to me strangely. It was presumptuous of me to expect anything from Cesare and then be disappointed.
I feel betrayed as if I were a real Princess after being supported for the past few months. When I burst out laughing once more, Cesare's expression collapsed.
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