Chapter 8.1

The chaotic days continued. I felt busier and more tired now than when I was preparing for the magic demonstration. I had to comfort Nia, who was mired in self-pity for failing to protect me, get dragged around by Jeras under the pretense of an investigation, and also do my own studies. Dozens of times a day, I wished I had two bodies.

Jeras was a very cunning guy. He would wait for me at the Academy entrance at the end of my classes to take me with him, probably because he was afraid I would run away. It was practically a kidnapping. In fact, the so-called “investigation” didn’t seem to help with figuring out the truth at all. From what Jeras said, it sounded like he was doing his own separate investigation.

If that’s the case, he should just do it well on his own. Why is he dragging an innocent person like me around? It’s not like he’s going to take me to the Imperial Palace to meet Empress Florese. Not that I’d have anything special to say if I did.

Anyway, today, contrary to my expectations that Jeras would be waiting, there was no one familiar at the Academy entrance.

‘What’s the occasion?’ I was happy with my unexpected stroke of luck and was about to head home when a young boy approached me and bowed respectfully. I bowed back without thinking.

“You are Lady Kilmaria, correct? I’m an attendant from the Sword Palace. His Highness the Second Prince asked me to deliver this to you.”

“His Highness?”

“Yes. He commanded me to make sure you read the note and to not leave until you did.”

The attendant looked at me with sparkling eyes. This dreadful Jeras. He knows I have a soft spot for kids.

I quickly unfolded the note. It was scribbled with messy handwriting. It roughly said that he would be at the temple first today and that I should come there right after the Academy ends.

Hmm, maybe I should stop by home for a bit first? I had just gotten some clothes to give to Siliya.

I was about to fold the note and hand it back, but the attendant gave me a troubled look.

‘Why is he like that? I clearly read it right in front of him… Should I sign it to show that I read it?’

When I tilted my head, the attendant said hesitantly, “He did not say to bring the note back. Since he wrote it for you, isn’t it okay for you to keep it…?”

“The content isn’t that important, so I don’t think I need to keep it. Ah, I guess it would be difficult for you to handle. I’ll just throw it away.”

I habitually crumpled the note and wadded it into a small ball. The attendant gasped and made a strange noise.

Honestly, how much did he torment the boy for him to be so startled by something so trivial? I gave him a warm, comforting look, and the attendant bowed and walked away.

As soon as I got in the carriage, I tried to burn the note with magic, but I accidentally dropped it. The note rolled around on the floor, and it bothered me.

‘It really has nothing important on it…’

I picked up the note, roughly unfolded it, and tucked it into a book.

***

I arrived at the temple with dresses and other things I had packed.

In the late afternoon, as the sun was setting, the children were gathered in a large room, sound asleep. I had brought some toys, but they were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake them.

I carefully went to Siliya’s room. For some reason, the door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, I could hear Jeras and Siliya talking.

“…so, why did you come to me at all? After all, I was meant to be your target. Whether by order or otherwise.”

“I had no choice. You were the only one.”

Siliya’s voice was calm. I knew her desperate words contained an equally desperate meaning, so I couldn’t bring myself to enter.

This was the conversation Jeras and Siliya should have had when they first met.

Now, they would say the things that they couldn’t because of my presence.

It seemed like the twisted story was finally returning to the original, to how it was supposed to be, to how I knew it.

“If you save me, I will definitely help you, Your Highness.”

“What kind of help? Be specific. And remember, the choice is mine, not yours.”

“Empress Florese’s ultimate goal is to put the First Prince on the throne. She has been waiting and preparing for a long time, so she will not back down easily. Since I have failed, she will likely use a more persistent, dangerous, and definite method. I know some of the plans she has made.”

“Hmm.”

Jeras’s reaction was indifferent. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking. Was he always like this? Sometimes it felt like he was, and sometimes it didn’t.

Unconsciously, I had pressed myself against the door.

‘But why am I eavesdropping like this?’

Through the crack, I could see Siliya sitting on the bed and Jeras sitting on a chair in his arrogant posture.

At that moment, Siliya got off the bed and knelt in front of Jeras. It was so sudden that even I didn’t expect it. Jeras’s shoulders twitched for a moment.

“You don’t have to believe me. Just give me one chance. Just one.”

“I’m not merciful enough to give a chance to someone I don’t trust.”

“Soon, a group of demons will attack a village east of Rivai. It’s the Empress’s plan to lure you outside the capital. It’s difficult to harm you in the capital.”

Siliya said this with her body lowered to the floor. When Jeras didn’t answer, Siliya spoke with a little more force.

“If the attack I’m talking about doesn’t happen within a month, then you can kill me…”

“That sounds like you’re hoping for a demon attack.”

“That’s not it. I just want to prove my words…”

“That’s enough. Get up. The Lady or Grandpa will make a fuss, asking what I’m doing to a sick person.”

“Are you giving me a chance? If not, I won’t get up.”

“I said get up. Who are you trying to put in a difficult position?”

Siliya was stubbornly holding her ground. She was calm, but she had a stubborn personality. That’s why she could deal with Jeras.

Jeras sighed and helped Siliya up.

Seeing the two of them together in person, they looked even better together than I had imagined.

When the cool and calm-looking Siliya met the flamboyant-looking Jeras, she felt alive. Their hair and eye colors also went well together.

‘It’s natural since they were made to look good together.’

I backed away from the door while Jeras was helping Siliya back onto the bed. My fingertips were tingling from how hard I had been gripping the doorknob.

It felt so strange that I wasn’t simply happy that things were returning to normal.

‘Why am I like this?’ My goal was to save Sion, and as a bonus, I got into the Academy and was doing well. It was me, not anyone else, who had been clamoring to hand Jeras over to Siliya so I could have a peaceful daily life.

I quietly turned around and looked in their direction.

‘Surely… not.’

I didn’t know if the throbbing was in my hands or my chest, or both.

Suppressing the faint, unknown pain, I went to the sleeping children. Hugging the soft and warm Rita, my complicated heart slowly calmed down.

***

“Why did you leave without a word that day?”

“…Huh? What are you talking about?”

I looked up at his sudden question. Jeras, sitting across from me, had an expression of displeasure on his face.

Why is he like that? Who was the one who grabbed a person who was so busy she was practically dying?

I pretended to be clueless, but of course, I knew what he was asking.

The day I got the note and went to the temple, I went straight back to the ducal mansion after playing with the children for a bit. It was because I had nothing to say to them, nor did I want to.

For a few days after that, Jeras didn’t come looking for me at the Academy. ‘He must have decided to give Sillya a chance,’ I thought. But somehow, I was in a carriage with Jeras again.

I fixed my gaze back on my book. If I wanted to submit my assignment by tomorrow, I had no time to waste.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, so get out when we stop at the temple.”

“I’m not going there today. I’m too busy.”

“I’m also incredibly busy. So why did you come?”

“Because the squirrel I’m raising keeps disappearing without a sound on its own.”

‘There he goes again with the squirrel talk.’ And who is raising whom?

I just raised my eyes slightly to glare at Jeras, and a bright pink color passed by. My gaze naturally shifted to the window.

“Wow.”

Flowers were in full bloom along the street. The light pink color was similar to cherry blossoms, but the petals and blossoms were quite large, so they didn’t seem to be cherry blossoms. The flowers were so abundant that you couldn’t even see the branches, and they drew the eye everywhere.

It was so beautiful. I passed this way twice a day, but I had no idea the flowers were in bloom. This must be what happens when a person is too bogged down in their daily life; their field of vision gets this narrow.

The street was bustling with people, as if there was a flower festival. Seeing people of all ages excited under the flowers made my heart flutter.

‘Oh, what do I do? I have to do my assignment, but I also want to look at the flowers. Can’t I just go for a little while? Just for a little while… just five minutes…’

“Looks like you’re about to become one with the window, Lady.”

Unable to overcome my desire, I was plastered to the window like a cicada. Embarrassed by Jeras’s comment, I slowly moved my butt back.

I could hear Jeras’s soft chuckle ringing in my ears. ‘Ugh, so embarrassing.’ My face was turning red. I held up my book to hide my face.

“It’s upside down.”

“…I’ve never told you? That I have a special ability to read books that are upside down.”

“Enough with the nonsense. Just get out.”

The carriage came to a stop on the side of the road. I stared at Jeras, who got out first, and he pointed forward with his chin.

“The road’s blocked because of the crowd. It’ll be faster to walk.”

“R-Really? Well, I guess we have no choice! I should look at the flowers while we’re walking!”

“Ah, no. Lady! The road will clear soon…”

The coachman, who was looking ahead, said in a hurry. I waved my hand lightly as if to tell him not to worry.

“Sorry! I’ll just look around for a bit. Let’s meet at the end of this road. You can park the carriage and look at the flowers too!”

I made the promise to the coachman alone and got out of the carriage in a hurry. As soon as I got out, flower petals rained down like snow.

Half-lost in the fantastic sight, Jeras gently tugged my arm. It was a gut feeling that he would guide me.

I put my hand in his and freely looked at the flowers surrounding us.

The trees were large and lush, and the blossoms hung so heavily that they seemed to bend the branches. It felt like walking through a tunnel made of flowers. The subtle scent of flowers made my heart flutter.

“Maybe keep your eyes forward while you walk.”

“Then I can’t see the flowers.”

“I guess a squirrel’s vision is much narrower than a human’s. I didn’t know that. My apologies.”

“Yes, it’s narrow. It’s narrower than a needle’s eye, so I can’t see properly. Are you happy now?”

“Can you not see this either?”

Suddenly, literally suddenly, Jeras filled my field of vision. One, then two petals fell onto his face, which was set in a smile. If it weren’t for the fluttering petals, I would have thought time had stopped.

“Lady.”

Jeras’s face came a little closer. The sweet scent of flowers filled the air.

Jeras’s hand, stretched out toward me, approached very slowly. Was it because the speed was so slow? The moment the distance closed seemed to last for hours.

A strange and peculiar tension made my body stiffen.

The tip of Jeras’s finger brushed against my eye. A thrilling electric shock coursed through my body, and all the hair on my skin stood up before settling down. I felt a sense of fear from the cold sensation that ran down my spine.

It wasn’t because I felt bad. It was because the tingling sensation that spread to my fingertips and toes after the electric shock was unbearable.

I hunched my shoulders and backed away. Jeras, as if to say no way, gently pulled on my wrist. I held my breath without realizing it and closed my eyes tightly.

Something lukewarm and soft touched my lips. I was startled and opened my eyes wide. Jeras, who had filled my vision, was gone, and the beautiful flower blossoms were back.

Something was on my lips. I touched it and found it was a pink petal.

“…Why did you put a petal on my lips?”

“I was curious if squirrels eat petals. How is it? Is it tasty?”

“I didn’t eat it! And I’m not going to!”

‘Honestly, I’m speechless.’ I brushed off the petal and strode past Jeras.

The sound of his snickering from behind bothered me.

I was about to ask if it was fun to tease people, but there was no need. Jeras was already walking right beside me.

Seeing his face, which was smiling like a mischievous cat, made me lose all my fighting spirit. I knew he would just worm his way out of it by saying something ridiculous if I got angry.

We walked in silence under the flowers for a while. I was captivated by the flowers with their soft colors and bright forms once again. Sometimes, when the wind blew, it would rain petals, and the petals pouring down so heavily that I couldn’t see anything were truly fantastic. Gasps of admiration could be heard from the people around us.

Even though there were a lot of people, it wasn’t enough to hinder our progress, so we could walk leisurely. Sometimes, people seemed to recognize us, but they didn’t dare approach, probably because of Jeras.

‘Sometimes this guy is useful.’ Or maybe he’s only useful because he’s this kind of guy.

My heart, which had been exhausted and empty from all the stress, was filling up. I was in such a good mood that I couldn’t help but hum a song. I hummed as quietly as possible, so softly that Jeras would never hear me.

“What song is that? I’ve never heard it before.”

“You heard that? Your hearing is good.”

“Of course I heard it. I can’t block my ears, can I? Is it a popular song only in the Duchy?”

“Yeah, something like that. It’s a song you sing when you go flower viewing.”

Jeras, who had been nodding nonchalantly, had a flash of light in his eyes for a moment. ‘What kind of prank is he going to pull this time?’ At this point, I wasn’t annoyed; I was curious.

I shot a warning glare at Jeras and continued to sing. I was finally at the chorus I had been anticipating.

On top of my desperate voice, which was trying to keep the melody and rhythm, a low, soft voice overlapped, creating a harmony.

But my surprise at the natural harmony only lasted for a moment.

“Let’s smash it. Let’s break it. Everything that threatens us.”

What a terrible song. The problem was that Jeras was unnecessarily good at singing, and his pronunciation was so clear that the lyrics came through perfectly.

‘What kind of song has lyrics like that?’ Jeras didn’t even flinch at my distorted expression and continued the song with a confident smile.

“Forward, forward. The future of the Empire is in our hands. We are the valiant knights who protect the Empire.”

‘Is this a military march…? What does a military march have to do with flower viewing…?’

“Whether we live or die, only war. Forever war. War again.”

Finally, Jeras grabbed my hand and raised and lowered my arm at a 90-degree angle. The flower viewing, which had been the best healing time for me, instantly turned into a stiff-marching parade.

He really had a god-given talent for ruining the mood.

“Forward march! Left foot, left foot, left foot.”

“Just stop it already!”

The fighting spirit boiling inside me exploded. ‘I was being nice and quiet, but now!’

I yelled at Jeras and wildly swung my arm, which he was holding. My fist grazed his side. Jeras made a sound as if he was in pain. This guy, who was fine even after fighting all kinds of monsters, was just being dramatic.

I shook off his hand and walked, almost ran, away. I spotted the familiar carriage roof at the end of the road.

“Lady, let’s go together.”

I heard Jeras’s shout from behind, but I ignored it.

Seriously, everything is better alone. ‘Flower viewing with Jeras? What a joke.’ I’ll come alone next time.

***

“Oh my, Lady! Did you go flower viewing?”

“How did you know?”

Hilda, who had come to greet me, pointed to my head with an excited expression.

“A beautiful flower is blooming in your hair!”

“Huh?”

I fumbled with the spot Hilda was pointing at. Just above my right ear, I felt a dewy flower petal.

Hilda took the flower out of my hair. It was a rather large flower, a little smaller than my fist, with its petals fully open.

‘Oh, now that I think about it…’

Just before the carriage left, Jeras, who was clinging to the door, took me all the way back to the mansion and then disappeared. He had touched my head before we parted ways, so he must have done it to put this flower in my hair.

“The flower is so pretty! It smells so good too. Lady, should I pin it back for you? The color is similar to your hair, and it makes you look even more radiant when you wear it!”

“R-Really…? I couldn’t see it…”

“You didn’t put it in yourself? Oh my, oh my, who put it in for you? Huh? Who did you go flower viewing with?”

Hilda’s fussing made me feel awkward, and my face flushed. I snatched the flower from Hilda’s hand and went into my room.

‘What am I, a vase? Why didn’t he just give it to me?’

Hilda seemed to have gotten the wrong idea. I muttered to myself, annoyed at Jeras, and put the flower in an empty bottle. A subtle floral scent filled the room.

I stared at the blooming flower for a moment, then closed my eyes. Jeras’s soft voice automatically popped into my mind.

‘Whether we live or die, only war. Forever war. War again.’

“…Haaa.”

I’ll definitely have to clear up Hilda’s misunderstanding later. I’ll tell her I came back from a march, not a flower viewing.