“Countless lives?”
“Yes. That’s all you need to know.”
Is it some kind of humanitarian promise to save a poor person like me? It feels strangely like I've actually met a great person who contributes to world peace.
While righteous figures seen in print feel idealistic, the impression we get from encountering them directly through the eyes of modern people is distinctly different. This stems from a sense of disconnect from the reality we've experienced. We're usually suspicious of unfounded kindness, and even if it's genuine, we struggle to understand it.
I gazed into the lieutenant colonel's boundless blue eyes. Across the campfire, his cold eyes stared straight at me.
There seemed to be no blemish in it, but there was a kind of regret and remorse.
Risking his life and leading a rescue operation because a woman he had briefly encountered was taken away right before his eyes. It was a hero-like action, but I don't know about the promise or interest involved.
It could be that he acted according to the situation, following the common virtuous pattern of a prince rescuing and marrying a princess. It's unclear what form this man's interest, always looking at me with pity, as if he were watching a cat getting rained on, takes. Is it a rational emotion born of pity, or just plain sympathy?
I didn't question him further, as his feelings weren't particularly important. I simply concluded that his paradoxical conviction to save countless lives at the expense of a few was more important.
The stars that had decorated the sky were going out one by one, and the dawn light was quietly spreading out.
The old horse, named Celine, never rose again. A ray of sunlight, through the dim morning mist, illuminated the corpse of the horse that had lived its entire life running for its people.
The horse, once a valiant warhorse, eventually grew old and ill, becoming useless, and was left in the stable. Perhaps it was granted its last freedom, running with all its might, and ending its life.
“Goodbye. I’m honored that you gave me the last ride.”
I stroked the back of his neck and said goodbye, but there was no light in his empty eyes.
“Let’s ride together.”
The lieutenant colonel lifted me onto his horse and then climbed onto my back. The close proximity of our bodies made me feel a little awkward.
“...Can I ride in the back?”
“Let’s go like this. We can’t fall.”
A low voice clung close to my ear, and I found myself rubbing the back of my neck. Only when the sun was finally rising did I see the roof of the Count's country house in the distance.
I also see Celine, who must have been waiting at the mansion all night, rushing out of the front door at the sound of approaching horse hooves. Her face pale, she looked at the lieutenant colonel as he lifted me off the horse.
“Did you just find her this morning?”
Celine asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
“I found her last night. We were together and only left in the morning.”
“Together until morning...”
Celine's eyes grew cold at Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's calm words.
She, who had been mumbling as if she was chewing on something, grabbed me with a hypocritical hand and looked me over.
“I’m glad you’re safe. I was worried.”
I whispered in Celine's ear, just softly enough for the lieutenant colonel to hear.
"Lie."
Celine's lips curved tightly into a half-curve. She forced herself to keep her expression in check as she approached the lieutenant colonel and expressed her gratitude.
On the ride home in Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's car, Celine said nothing. The car was quiet, with the Colonel occasionally speaking to me.
“Miss Diana, do you like the theater?”
“I’ve never seen it before.”
“Then how about we go see it together tomorrow?”
He was openly asking me out on a date. It was time to stop making excuses like this. I glanced at Celine's expressionless face and nodded.
“Yeah, that would be fun.”
The hand resting somewhat on Celine's knee was clenched into a fist so tightly that the knuckles had turned white.
Returning to the mansion and entering the hallway, Celine turned to me and snapped at me.
"Is there a reason to bother me? Can't we just keep going without touching each other?"
"I never touched you. Why are you so upset? You were the one who gave me that old, sick horse, right?"
Celine's cold gaze was fixed on the base of my neck.
“I’ve always wondered. Where did you get that necklace?”
She suddenly approached me and began examining the rose diamond necklace Noah had given me on my coming-of-age ceremony. I fiercely shook her hand away and frowned.
“Don’t touch me.”
"It's a rose diamond. Where did you get such an expensive item? It's a rare gem to find in Belford."
She brushed back her platinum hair, narrowed her large eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up crookedly as if she had realized something.
“You. What was your relationship with the Duke of Frogen?”
Celine's sharp question left my mouth as if glued to it. For a moment, my lips twitched, and I thought of Noah. What kind of relationship had we had? Feelings I'd buried, unacknowledged, surfaced from deep within.
"I am..."
“Miss Diana!”
The lie I was about to tell was interrupted by the shout of the brown-haired maid who had submitted the drawing to the newspaper.
“That’s rude. Can’t you see we’re having a conversation?”
The maid noticed Celine's reprimand. She looked quite intimidated and cautiously handed me the newspaper.
“Miss, you won a prize in the drawing contest.”
“What are you talking about?”
When I tilted my head at the ridiculous sound, the maid smiled innocently.
“Didn’t you enter it in a contest? You won an award.”
Celine snatched the newspaper and looked through it. My drawing was printed large under the grand prize winner, with the title "Excellence Award."
What the heck is going on!
“Where is this picture?”
"It's a painting of the moon goddess. You submitted it anonymously, but I heard you won an award, so I'm on my way to tell the newspaper you're Diana. They're trying to find out who you are. Even if it's an Excellence Award, the prize money is enormous."
Doing something I wasn't even told to do? That's embarrassing. I tried to hide my embarrassment and laughed. Thank goodness I didn't draw it with the daffodil, the symbol of Frogen. If I had, I might have been accused of being a spy and taken to the National Security Agency for interrogation.
Celine was looking at the painting with a strange expression.
“I thought you could draw?”
“You wouldn’t have known because you weren’t interested in me.”
I quickly snatched the newspaper and headed to my room. Noah must have seen it and noticed my message.
I don't know how he'll respond. Maybe he'll submit it to the newspaper, or maybe he'll send a bird. Either way, he'll probably use some outrageous method. I trusted his persistence.
I cannot return to Frogen. The police and military are keeping a close eye on me, so I can't even try. For eight months, I'm not even allowed on trains or ships, under the pretext of protection and surveillance.
The next day, the maid came into the room and told me that Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal had come to the mansion to pick me up.
I wore a simple cream-colored dress, a dark gray cashmere cape with a ribbon, and a matching hat. Of course, Celine didn't buy me clothes; I inherited clothes she didn't wear.
A lieutenant colonel, wearing a collared shirt, tie, and a thick brown coat, was waiting for me at the entrance. He glanced at me, bare-handed and gloveless, with a characteristically pitiful expression.
“Wouldn’t it be cold?”
"It's okay."
The problem is you, who keeps calling me out without any thought, even though I don't have any clothes to wear. It's driving me crazy, calling me out three or four times a week to feed me.
The lieutenant colonel offered his elbow to escort me, but I simply ignored him and confidently walked into the parked car. From the passenger seat, I gazed out at the passing trees and the vast snowy landscape.
And finally, I was able to express my uncomfortable feelings.
"Lieutenant Colonel. I don't know what kind of interest you have, but if it means something romantic, I'll decline in advance. I apologize if I misunderstood."
“Is that so?”
"Yes."
He didn't say much. Our car was already entering a busy street lined with shops. The lieutenant colonel, who had parked his car on the side of the street, looked at me with affectionate eyes.
“Could you please wait a moment?”
I nodded, not knowing what was going on, and he got out of the car and entered one of the long rows of shops. Soon after, the lieutenant colonel emerged, carrying a box in his hand.
As I was quietly watching his actions, he got into the car, opened the box, and took out a luxurious pair of gloves made of black velvet fabric.
He took my hand and put on my gloves, speaking in a soft yet gentle voice.
"Is this kind of attention okay? It makes me feel cold. It doesn't mean anything to me as a romantic interest."
"Yes?"
The lieutenant colonel looked down at my clasped hands for a moment, then let go and took hold of the steering wheel again. He seemed to be in a good mood. Could it be that rescuing the poor could be so satisfying? I fidgeted, my gloved hands trembling in bewilderment.
It's true that I was trying to sabotage his relationship with Celine, but not in this way.
“Thank you. I like it. I’ll use it well.”
The lieutenant colonel looked at me and smiled faintly, and the car started to accelerate.
“I’m glad you like it...”
“Look ahead.”
A locomotive thundered past right in front of me. If it had crashed into me, it would have been fatal at the very least. My heart was pounding. I stared at him in the driver's seat with a cold expression.
He suddenly came to a halt as he was about to cross the railroad tracks, sighing with a blank expression. One hand was holding my shoulder, which was about to be thrown back by the recoil.
"...Oh my."
The lieutenant colonel let out an exclamation that was completely out of place. His face seemed somewhat tense, and he cleared his throat. He looked like a very foul-tempered and vicious man, yet his innocent demeanor was quite jarring.
“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“It would have been better if we hadn’t died.”
He stopped the car, checked we were at our destination, got out of the driver's seat, and opened the passenger door for me. Arriving in front of the theater, I looked around, my eyes drawn to the sights I'd never seen before. A wooden sign depicting a couple dancing caught my eye.
Here, ladies and gentlemen dressed in fashionable attire are waiting noisily to enter.
Perhaps because it was a play about love, the audience was mostly women, many of whom appeared to be in love. A few people in the theater recognized the lieutenant colonel and stared at him, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
Even though I've never experienced romantic love or melodrama in my life, I've always enjoyed vicariously satisfying myself through books and movies. At first, it felt like a new experience, like experiencing classical culture, but now I'm completely uninterested, and I'm a bit sleepy.
I had fallen asleep for a moment, but I woke up with a start when I realized I was leaning my head on the lieutenant colonel's shoulder.
“I hope you slept well.”
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm not really into romance. But it was a good experience."
He wasn't upset.
“I had fun.”
Rather, he seemed happy.
The current Emperor of Frogen, Mayer III of the House of Freud, sat on a luxurious sofa, gazing at the chessboard and brushing his chin. Middle-aged, with graying blond hair and golden eyes, the Emperor exuded an unapproachable aura of imposing presence, his sharp gaze and powerful demeanor.
Unlike Emperor Mayer II, who was called the Great Mayer due to his selection, people called him the Thunder Emperor.
He is considered a tyrant, but his excellent governing skills have made Frogen one of the most powerful nations, and he is at the peak of his power in the history of the empire.
However, it was a stretch to call it a "selection." His amoral politics, accompanied by purges and unhesitating massacres, reached the pinnacle of fear and awe, both within his own country and among his enemies.
He is a man who, as soon as he ascended to the throne, invaded all the surrounding countries, madly expanded his colonies, eliminated opposition forces and dangerous figures, and then seized immense imperial power.
Although Frogen has a nominal prime minister and parliament, the majority of the members are the Emperor's men, and the Emperor holds real power, making it a form close to an absolute monarchy.
The fierce golden eyes of the Emperor were fixed on Commander Rockefeller, who was sitting opposite him, playing chess.
"Duke Rotsilt is a talented individual who will one day assist the Crown Prince, and he's my precious chess piece. Such behavior is problematic. If I continue to tolerate him, my authority will diminish."
“Your Majesty, how about sending him to command the defense operations of the colony of Belterdam for the time being?”
"No, no. I think it's better to tame him this time. I like his madness and abilities, though."
Maybe like me. But the Duke isn't the Crown Prince, right?
The Emperor smiled with a hearty expression.
"I issue an imperial decree. From this moment on, if the Duke leaves the Frogen border, he will be stripped of all titles, regardless of reason, and his lands and property will be confiscated and returned to the state."
The commander's face trembled with awe at the thunderous decree from the Emperor. The Emperor flicked his finger, holding a white knight, one of the chess pieces, and smiled coolly.
"And tell him I will treat him as a traitor and hunt him down and execute him. Even a good horse that disobeys the government is a headache."
“Yes. That’s all you need to know.”
Is it some kind of humanitarian promise to save a poor person like me? It feels strangely like I've actually met a great person who contributes to world peace.
While righteous figures seen in print feel idealistic, the impression we get from encountering them directly through the eyes of modern people is distinctly different. This stems from a sense of disconnect from the reality we've experienced. We're usually suspicious of unfounded kindness, and even if it's genuine, we struggle to understand it.
I gazed into the lieutenant colonel's boundless blue eyes. Across the campfire, his cold eyes stared straight at me.
There seemed to be no blemish in it, but there was a kind of regret and remorse.
Risking his life and leading a rescue operation because a woman he had briefly encountered was taken away right before his eyes. It was a hero-like action, but I don't know about the promise or interest involved.
It could be that he acted according to the situation, following the common virtuous pattern of a prince rescuing and marrying a princess. It's unclear what form this man's interest, always looking at me with pity, as if he were watching a cat getting rained on, takes. Is it a rational emotion born of pity, or just plain sympathy?
I didn't question him further, as his feelings weren't particularly important. I simply concluded that his paradoxical conviction to save countless lives at the expense of a few was more important.
The stars that had decorated the sky were going out one by one, and the dawn light was quietly spreading out.
The old horse, named Celine, never rose again. A ray of sunlight, through the dim morning mist, illuminated the corpse of the horse that had lived its entire life running for its people.
The horse, once a valiant warhorse, eventually grew old and ill, becoming useless, and was left in the stable. Perhaps it was granted its last freedom, running with all its might, and ending its life.
“Goodbye. I’m honored that you gave me the last ride.”
I stroked the back of his neck and said goodbye, but there was no light in his empty eyes.
“Let’s ride together.”
The lieutenant colonel lifted me onto his horse and then climbed onto my back. The close proximity of our bodies made me feel a little awkward.
“...Can I ride in the back?”
“Let’s go like this. We can’t fall.”
A low voice clung close to my ear, and I found myself rubbing the back of my neck. Only when the sun was finally rising did I see the roof of the Count's country house in the distance.
I also see Celine, who must have been waiting at the mansion all night, rushing out of the front door at the sound of approaching horse hooves. Her face pale, she looked at the lieutenant colonel as he lifted me off the horse.
“Did you just find her this morning?”
Celine asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
“I found her last night. We were together and only left in the morning.”
“Together until morning...”
Celine's eyes grew cold at Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's calm words.
She, who had been mumbling as if she was chewing on something, grabbed me with a hypocritical hand and looked me over.
“I’m glad you’re safe. I was worried.”
I whispered in Celine's ear, just softly enough for the lieutenant colonel to hear.
"Lie."
Celine's lips curved tightly into a half-curve. She forced herself to keep her expression in check as she approached the lieutenant colonel and expressed her gratitude.
On the ride home in Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's car, Celine said nothing. The car was quiet, with the Colonel occasionally speaking to me.
“Miss Diana, do you like the theater?”
“I’ve never seen it before.”
“Then how about we go see it together tomorrow?”
He was openly asking me out on a date. It was time to stop making excuses like this. I glanced at Celine's expressionless face and nodded.
“Yeah, that would be fun.”
The hand resting somewhat on Celine's knee was clenched into a fist so tightly that the knuckles had turned white.
Returning to the mansion and entering the hallway, Celine turned to me and snapped at me.
"Is there a reason to bother me? Can't we just keep going without touching each other?"
"I never touched you. Why are you so upset? You were the one who gave me that old, sick horse, right?"
Celine's cold gaze was fixed on the base of my neck.
“I’ve always wondered. Where did you get that necklace?”
She suddenly approached me and began examining the rose diamond necklace Noah had given me on my coming-of-age ceremony. I fiercely shook her hand away and frowned.
“Don’t touch me.”
"It's a rose diamond. Where did you get such an expensive item? It's a rare gem to find in Belford."
She brushed back her platinum hair, narrowed her large eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up crookedly as if she had realized something.
“You. What was your relationship with the Duke of Frogen?”
Celine's sharp question left my mouth as if glued to it. For a moment, my lips twitched, and I thought of Noah. What kind of relationship had we had? Feelings I'd buried, unacknowledged, surfaced from deep within.
"I am..."
“Miss Diana!”
The lie I was about to tell was interrupted by the shout of the brown-haired maid who had submitted the drawing to the newspaper.
“That’s rude. Can’t you see we’re having a conversation?”
The maid noticed Celine's reprimand. She looked quite intimidated and cautiously handed me the newspaper.
“Miss, you won a prize in the drawing contest.”
“What are you talking about?”
When I tilted my head at the ridiculous sound, the maid smiled innocently.
“Didn’t you enter it in a contest? You won an award.”
Celine snatched the newspaper and looked through it. My drawing was printed large under the grand prize winner, with the title "Excellence Award."
What the heck is going on!
“Where is this picture?”
"It's a painting of the moon goddess. You submitted it anonymously, but I heard you won an award, so I'm on my way to tell the newspaper you're Diana. They're trying to find out who you are. Even if it's an Excellence Award, the prize money is enormous."
Doing something I wasn't even told to do? That's embarrassing. I tried to hide my embarrassment and laughed. Thank goodness I didn't draw it with the daffodil, the symbol of Frogen. If I had, I might have been accused of being a spy and taken to the National Security Agency for interrogation.
Celine was looking at the painting with a strange expression.
“I thought you could draw?”
“You wouldn’t have known because you weren’t interested in me.”
I quickly snatched the newspaper and headed to my room. Noah must have seen it and noticed my message.
I don't know how he'll respond. Maybe he'll submit it to the newspaper, or maybe he'll send a bird. Either way, he'll probably use some outrageous method. I trusted his persistence.
I cannot return to Frogen. The police and military are keeping a close eye on me, so I can't even try. For eight months, I'm not even allowed on trains or ships, under the pretext of protection and surveillance.
The next day, the maid came into the room and told me that Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal had come to the mansion to pick me up.
I wore a simple cream-colored dress, a dark gray cashmere cape with a ribbon, and a matching hat. Of course, Celine didn't buy me clothes; I inherited clothes she didn't wear.
A lieutenant colonel, wearing a collared shirt, tie, and a thick brown coat, was waiting for me at the entrance. He glanced at me, bare-handed and gloveless, with a characteristically pitiful expression.
“Wouldn’t it be cold?”
"It's okay."
The problem is you, who keeps calling me out without any thought, even though I don't have any clothes to wear. It's driving me crazy, calling me out three or four times a week to feed me.
The lieutenant colonel offered his elbow to escort me, but I simply ignored him and confidently walked into the parked car. From the passenger seat, I gazed out at the passing trees and the vast snowy landscape.
And finally, I was able to express my uncomfortable feelings.
"Lieutenant Colonel. I don't know what kind of interest you have, but if it means something romantic, I'll decline in advance. I apologize if I misunderstood."
“Is that so?”
"Yes."
He didn't say much. Our car was already entering a busy street lined with shops. The lieutenant colonel, who had parked his car on the side of the street, looked at me with affectionate eyes.
“Could you please wait a moment?”
I nodded, not knowing what was going on, and he got out of the car and entered one of the long rows of shops. Soon after, the lieutenant colonel emerged, carrying a box in his hand.
As I was quietly watching his actions, he got into the car, opened the box, and took out a luxurious pair of gloves made of black velvet fabric.
He took my hand and put on my gloves, speaking in a soft yet gentle voice.
"Is this kind of attention okay? It makes me feel cold. It doesn't mean anything to me as a romantic interest."
"Yes?"
The lieutenant colonel looked down at my clasped hands for a moment, then let go and took hold of the steering wheel again. He seemed to be in a good mood. Could it be that rescuing the poor could be so satisfying? I fidgeted, my gloved hands trembling in bewilderment.
It's true that I was trying to sabotage his relationship with Celine, but not in this way.
“Thank you. I like it. I’ll use it well.”
The lieutenant colonel looked at me and smiled faintly, and the car started to accelerate.
“I’m glad you like it...”
“Look ahead.”
A locomotive thundered past right in front of me. If it had crashed into me, it would have been fatal at the very least. My heart was pounding. I stared at him in the driver's seat with a cold expression.
He suddenly came to a halt as he was about to cross the railroad tracks, sighing with a blank expression. One hand was holding my shoulder, which was about to be thrown back by the recoil.
"...Oh my."
The lieutenant colonel let out an exclamation that was completely out of place. His face seemed somewhat tense, and he cleared his throat. He looked like a very foul-tempered and vicious man, yet his innocent demeanor was quite jarring.
“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“It would have been better if we hadn’t died.”
He stopped the car, checked we were at our destination, got out of the driver's seat, and opened the passenger door for me. Arriving in front of the theater, I looked around, my eyes drawn to the sights I'd never seen before. A wooden sign depicting a couple dancing caught my eye.
Here, ladies and gentlemen dressed in fashionable attire are waiting noisily to enter.
Perhaps because it was a play about love, the audience was mostly women, many of whom appeared to be in love. A few people in the theater recognized the lieutenant colonel and stared at him, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
Even though I've never experienced romantic love or melodrama in my life, I've always enjoyed vicariously satisfying myself through books and movies. At first, it felt like a new experience, like experiencing classical culture, but now I'm completely uninterested, and I'm a bit sleepy.
I had fallen asleep for a moment, but I woke up with a start when I realized I was leaning my head on the lieutenant colonel's shoulder.
“I hope you slept well.”
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm not really into romance. But it was a good experience."
He wasn't upset.
“I had fun.”
Rather, he seemed happy.
***
The current Emperor of Frogen, Mayer III of the House of Freud, sat on a luxurious sofa, gazing at the chessboard and brushing his chin. Middle-aged, with graying blond hair and golden eyes, the Emperor exuded an unapproachable aura of imposing presence, his sharp gaze and powerful demeanor.
Unlike Emperor Mayer II, who was called the Great Mayer due to his selection, people called him the Thunder Emperor.
He is considered a tyrant, but his excellent governing skills have made Frogen one of the most powerful nations, and he is at the peak of his power in the history of the empire.
However, it was a stretch to call it a "selection." His amoral politics, accompanied by purges and unhesitating massacres, reached the pinnacle of fear and awe, both within his own country and among his enemies.
He is a man who, as soon as he ascended to the throne, invaded all the surrounding countries, madly expanded his colonies, eliminated opposition forces and dangerous figures, and then seized immense imperial power.
Although Frogen has a nominal prime minister and parliament, the majority of the members are the Emperor's men, and the Emperor holds real power, making it a form close to an absolute monarchy.
The fierce golden eyes of the Emperor were fixed on Commander Rockefeller, who was sitting opposite him, playing chess.
"Duke Rotsilt is a talented individual who will one day assist the Crown Prince, and he's my precious chess piece. Such behavior is problematic. If I continue to tolerate him, my authority will diminish."
“Your Majesty, how about sending him to command the defense operations of the colony of Belterdam for the time being?”
"No, no. I think it's better to tame him this time. I like his madness and abilities, though."
Maybe like me. But the Duke isn't the Crown Prince, right?
The Emperor smiled with a hearty expression.
"I issue an imperial decree. From this moment on, if the Duke leaves the Frogen border, he will be stripped of all titles, regardless of reason, and his lands and property will be confiscated and returned to the state."
The commander's face trembled with awe at the thunderous decree from the Emperor. The Emperor flicked his finger, holding a white knight, one of the chess pieces, and smiled coolly.
"And tell him I will treat him as a traitor and hunt him down and execute him. Even a good horse that disobeys the government is a headache."
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