Chapter 229: Those Who Moved Amid the Chaos

“You will stay here for one day, and tomorrow you will leave for the Kingdom of Etaia.”

The lights of the splendid mansion seemed to stab at his eyes. Lucia, who had been looking at the light of the chandelier, smiled softly. The well-refined, courteous smile made Lucia look like a noble.

“Thank you.”

“I ask that you please speak comfortably.”

The one who had introduced himself as the butler withdrew, and Lucia slowly savored his tea. The maids fanned him to drive away the hot air. The lukewarm wind touched his face.

Lucia quietly stared at the window. Beyond the curtain-covered window, nothing could be seen.

“Shall I draw the curtains?”

The maid, who had been watching his mood, asked carefully.

“No, I was just looking.”

“......?”

What was there to see in a curtain? The maid looked bewildered for a moment, but did not ask again.

Tomorrow, he would leave for the Kingdom of Etaia.

What kind of place would it be?

His curiosity quickly faded, and Lucia sank into thought again.

It was not because of some concern or worry. Lucia was in a state where everything was comfortable. There was nothing that made him uneasy.

The food was delicious, there was not a single place in his body that hurt, and the mansion was pleasant. Those attending to him were kind and gentle, and they took good care of Lucia so that he would not be uncomfortable.

It was too perfect.

Was that the problem?

Was something too perfect a problem?

Perhaps because he had too much time, Lucia began thinking such thoughts.

Everything seemed to be flowing according to reason, yet for some reason Lucia had the thought that he wanted to go against anything at all. But then again, on one hand, he also thought that flowing along like this was the most comfortable and best path.

“How do I get to the Kingdom of Etaia?”

“Tomorrow, you will leave for the harbor and depart aboard the Kiston.”

The maid explained in a soft, careful voice. Where the harbor was, what its scale was like. How many people usually used it, and which continent it had the most exchange with. She even explained political matters that would have been difficult for an ordinary maid to know in detail.

Lucia suddenly looked at the maid.

Her face seemed young, but her eyes were not naive.

“Lord Lucia, did I perhaps make a mistake......”

“No. It’s just that they’re all things I don’t know, so I found it fascinating.”

Lucia smiled softly. At the spring-breeze-like smile, the maid relaxed and continued her explanation. He let the explanation pass over him and thought.

Tomorrow, he would be able to see the sea.

***

The royal castle was in chaos because of the victory banquet.

“Drink! Drink! Drink!”

The soldiers stood holding cups as large as their faces and shouted, and food and alcohol were carried in without any chance of running dry. On one side of the banquet hall, a drinking party began, and on the opposite side where the nobles had gathered, secret amusements began. Ragniel, who stayed in his seat for a short while, left the banquet hall with Giselle. They headed toward the castle tower.

“Even in summer, the night is cool.”

Giselle draped a thin cloak over Ragniel’s shoulders.

“By tomorrow, everything will be over.”

There was something like regret sunken in Ragniel’s voice. His face, which had not yet shed its boyishness, suddenly looked like that of an old man.

Giselle did not answer.

The two of them climbed the watchtower stairs, one step, one step.

“Will it disappear from our memories too?”

“When everything ends tomorrow, it will.”

After that exchange of question and answer, they climbed the stairs in silence. Indeed, even though it was summer, the night had a somewhat cool air. Summer in the capital was fickle. Some days were so hot they seemed ready to steam a person to death, while other days were as cool as spring.

“Giselle.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ragniel called Giselle, then said nothing for a long while. His steps had also stopped.

Giselle silently watched Ragniel, who had stopped two or so steps ahead of him.

A distorted face was reflected in his purple eyes.

That was not the face of the king who had stood before the nobles.

It was the face of the anxious boy Giselle had seen countless times.

“Giselle......”

A voice mixed with tears called Giselle desperately. Giselle approached him where he stood, not moving at all.

When he climbed one step, then two, their heights, which had been about the same, became clearly different.

Ragniel looked up at Giselle. Tears beaded and fell.

“Do you not resent me?”

The trembling voice rang pitifully.

“Do you...... not resent me?”

Ragniel grabbed Giselle’s collar. His small fist struck his chest.

“What would there be to resent?”

Giselle wrapped his hand around Ragniel’s shoulder.

At a glance, it looked like comfort.

Into Ragniel’s ear, pressed close against his chest, Giselle’s heartbeat flowed in.

Thump. Thump.

The sound of the pulse, carrying a heavy resonance, was beating at a speed no different from before.

“Why?”

The tears in his voice seemed to have dried in the wind. The dry, brittle voice asked Giselle.

Giselle’s hand, which had been gripping his shoulder, slowly climbed up along his neck and took hold of his cheek.

Giselle’s eyes darkened as he touched the wet corners of his eyes.

The face revealed beneath the moonlight was unmistakably Ragniel’s face.

However, even what was inside it could probably not be called him.

***

There are people everywhere who move amid chaos.

The royal palace banquet hall was noisy everywhere, east or west. There were not enough hands to carry food, so even attendants belonging to other places had all been called over. In that situation, if the maids who had thrown aside their assigned work and secretly slipped out were caught, they would probably be scolded severely.

The parties who had secretly slipped out did not not know this fact either.

“I’ll believe you, so can’t we go back now? If we get caught for no reason, we’ll be in trouble......!”

“What?! You’re saying we should stop now? We already came out, so let’s go see. You’re curious whether I’m right too.”

“No, I really believe you......”

“Forget it. I know perfectly well you honestly don’t believe me. Aren’t you curious at all? This is the perfect chance to check. I’m curious too. And anyway, if we go back now, we’ll probably definitely get caught. It’s better to satisfy our curiosity first and then get caught and scolded. If we turn back halfway and only get scolded, I’ll feel so wronged I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

When the maid explained at length and built up her logic, the maid who had been begging to go back eventually gave in and sighed. Her mouth was the problem. Why had she gone and said things like she believed it or didn’t believe it! But she too was curious about the truth behind the rumor.

With no other choice, the maid decided to trust her colleague walking ahead.

Honestly, it was an interesting story. If they told the other palace maids who did not know this, would they not probably be shocked enough to flip over? Since it was something people were keeping quiet about, there were likely many maids who did not know unless they belonged to the main palace. When she imagined sitting those maids around and telling them the story, her interest suddenly rose. The maid walked diligently.

Hiding in the shadows of objects and dodging people’s eyes here and there, the maids climbed the stairs as quickly as squirrels.

After sneaking into the main palace, they pretended to be out on an errand in front of patrolling guards, and when they passed attendants they encountered, they gave the name of some suitable noble and passed by while speaking ill of them. The nervousness and worry in their hearts had at some point turned into entertainment. The maids giggled, feeling as though they were playing a wicked prank.

And before they knew it, they had arrived at the king’s former office, where sinister rumors were circulating.

“It really is......”

The maid who trailed off swallowed.

It was the staircase where the office was, yet for some reason it already seemed to give off an eerie energy.

“The ghost won’t already come out, right?”

“Of course not. It should be trapped inside the room. And since we still don’t hear any crying, it’s fine.”

“Should we go back even now?”

“Hey! Are you going to say that again?”

The maid lowered her voice and snapped at her. At that prim look in her eyes, the maid who had followed along had no choice but to shut her mouth. No, wasn’t it only natural to be scared when coming here in the middle of the night......?

But it seemed the saying that curiosity killed the cat did not exist for no reason.

The maid felt a little fear, yet did not think of going back. The maids looked around and quickly climbed the stairs, and at last stood before the sealed office.

“Wow......”

The dazed voice sank to the floor.

The door of the sealed office gave off a frightening atmosphere. The sight of it bound tightly in chains was terrifying. But on the other hand, it did not seem like there would be anything as impressive as the rumor made it sound.

The maid, somehow disappointed, made a blunt expression.

“It’s nothing special. Even if there is a ghost, it feels like it was pitifully caught here by mistake.”

To the eyes of the maid, who did not know the power of magic, the things messily blocking the door only looked like toys. It seemed as though if one put strength into one’s hands and tore them off, they would come right away, so what kind of seal and magic was that?

“Then we can just let it out.”

“What? That’s a little......”

“You never know! There might be a handsome boy inside!”

The maid’s hand headed toward the handle.