episode_0020

On the day of the Empress’s birthday banquet.

While waiting for the evening when I would be allowed to enter the palace, I was wandering around the streets of Estiel, observing the customs of the city.

Up until now, Estiel’s world had been a cold, unchanging place with only the comfortable headquarters of the mercenary corps. Therefore, it was not unusual for a young girl to be fascinated by the bustling streets of the festival.

“Riheart oppa, I want to go there.”

“Are you talking about the skewered meat place?”

“Yeah. The smell of the meat is so good.”

Estiel vigorously shook her head up and down. If drool had escaped from her mouth, it would have splattered everywhere.

“Be careful not to spill it when you eat.”

“Then you should feed me, oppa.”

“I guess I have no choice.”

I gladly accepted and ordered a skewered meat skewer from the stall. The owner, wearing a mask, gave me a suspicious look but quickly smiled warmly.

The meat sizzled on the grill, filling the air with a tantalizing aroma. Estiel stood frozen like a statue with her mouth agape, while I felt a pang of nostalgia for my childhood memories in the city.

Even though it was time to forget, memories resurfaced like a sudden splash of hot water on a long-ignored wound. Like a ghost clinging to my shoulders and whispering in my ear.

“My mother used to buy skewered meat for me.”

As I was about to cross the street with the stall in my arms, a petty argument broke out. It escalated into a brief scuffle, ending in a senseless loss of life, and I disappeared under a pile of insults from passersby.

“She was a wicked… woman. My mother.”

She proudly boasted of taking countless lives to secure her position as the queen.

She cursed the rulers of the new era without a hint of remorse.

The desire for power was evident in the eyes that looked at me.

Therefore, I must not show regret for her death. It would be a disgrace to insult the victims of tyranny.

“But I can’t help it…”

Since when?

As time passed, the suppressed emotions that should have blossomed into something more mundane began to flourish.

It was the impurity in the depths of my heart that stung every time I recalled the parade 14 years ago.

If I had to define it, it was sadness.

It was the feeling I had for the only girl who had been on my side during my lonely childhood.

Yet, the resentment and hatred towards those who persecuted us were absent, leaving me feeling broken in some way.

At least that was a relief.

It was better not to know about it.

While I pushed down the rising heat inside my chest, Estiel let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, the long-awaited skewered meat was ready.

“Well, I skewered them so closely because the lady is so cute.”

“Thank you! Sir!”

“Hmm, is this what it feels like to have a daughter?”

We left the stall owner, who was planning for a child in his head, behind and walked towards the main street. Along the way, I fed Estiel a bite of the skewered meat and asked for her opinion.

“Is it delicious, Estiel?”

“Yeah. It’s so delicious because there’s no gristle.”

“You shouldn’t be picky.”

“But I eat vegetables well. I just don’t like gristle.”

“Well then.”

I teased her but also gently stroked Estiel’s white hair. I imagined what it would have been like if I had successfully eaten skewered meat at the last parade. In a way, my treatment of Estiel was a form of self-satisfaction.

“Riheart oppa! Look at that, look at that!”

Esutiel suddenly ran off with quick steps. With short legs that didn’t seem to tire, he ran eagerly in the direction of interest, his eyes shining and hopping in excitement.

“Wait up~!”

“If you run too fast, you’ll fall.”

“I don’t care, hurry up, oppa!”

“Alright.”

Although he was just talking, in reality, he was just walking a bit faster. With Esutiel urging me on, I arrived near a towering tent.

Inside the tent, which was as grand as one would see at a festival, a famous theater group was rehearsing behind the curtain.

“This is my first time seeing a play!”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Is Liheart oppa here too?”

“Yeah. He’s not pleased.”

“Well then, we should watch it!”

“Sure.”

It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. I wasn’t particularly interested in theater, but it would be good to broaden my horizons. And above all, there was no reason not to enter when Esutiel was so eager.

I embraced Esutiel and joined the line. It was my duty not to let Esutiel tire out from waiting in line before even watching the play.

The wait was indeed long. Esutiel, who was excited about everything new, was yawning with his mouth wide open. But it was worth the wait, as we were able to find seats in a fairly good spot to watch the play.

“Liheart oppa, is your leg not hurting?”

“Not at all.”

“You’re really strong, oppa.”

“When Esutiel grows up, he’ll be just as strong.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“But I don’t think Roderick will be able to.”

If Roderick had been sitting next to us, that would have been a deeply hurtful remark. Esutiel always seemed to underestimate Roderick without realizing how lowly he was speaking of him.

‘… How does Esutiel see Roderick?’

He was a remarkable figure, even though he always showed a childish side. Everything I had learned had come from Roderick, so to put it bluntly, it was painful.

“I want to grow up quickly…”

Esutiel stretched and expressed his regret.

“Oh, the little lady is quite mature.”

The woman who had just taken a seat next to Esutiel let out a faint chuckle.

And Esutiel, looking at the strange woman who had suddenly started talking, tilted his head and said,

“Who is this lady?”

“Lady…?”

It was a very rude remark, but she casually retorted. I bowed my head to try to make up for the unintended rudeness.

“Our child was rude. Could you kindly forgive him?”

“I don’t pay attention to what children say.”

“Lady?”

“Who’s a lady…! Hm, hehe…”

Although she seemed to pay a lot of attention, since I had been forgiven, I shamelessly pretended not to know. And it seemed that she, who paid considerable attention to the child’s words, also shamelessly put on a poker face.

“Hey, shouldn’t you call me unni?”

“Um…”

“But unni is only twenty years old. It might be inappropriate to call me that…”

“Um…”

“Shall we try it? Un. Ni.”

“Um…”

For some reason, Esutiel’s stubbornness didn’t show any signs of breaking. Normally, he wasn’t the type to be so rude…

In the end, I intervened and mediated between the two women.

“Esutiel, don’t be like that and call her unni. It’s rude.”

“Okay…”

Receiving the advice, Esutiel looked at the woman in the next seat with a sheepish expression. At the same time, the woman, who showed great interest in the child’s words, seemed slightly pleased. And just as Esutiel’s lips were about to part.

“Thank you for waiting, everyone! The Rishelle Theater Company, always striving to repay the audience’s patience with the best performance… Please welcome us with a grand applause!”

Swish!

Without a hint of hesitation, Estiel turned her gaze back and started clapping enthusiastically with delicate hands. The lady beside her seemed slightly moved by her innocent gesture, but quickly regained her composure and joined in the applause. However, the clapping sounded somewhat feeble.

As the curtain rose and the background of the play was introduced with a cheerful voice, Estiel seemed to be entranced as she immersed herself on the stage.

On the other hand, the mysterious lady pursed her lips and crossed her arms, seemingly indifferent. It didn’t really matter though, as Estiel’s enjoyment alone fulfilled the purpose of the outing.

“Huh?”

I couldn’t help but feel a bit perplexed. The plot of the play was roughly based on the story of the contemporary emperor, focusing on his time as the Duke of the North. It didn’t bother me, but I was concerned about Estiel. After all, the contemporary emperor played a significant role in her troubled childhood.

I cautiously shifted my gaze to Estiel’s side.

“Wow…”

“She seems excited.”

“Indeed. Her enthusiasm is palpable.”

Especially when the grand battles of the Duke of the North unfolded on stage, Estiel’s excitement was evident.

However, due to the seating arrangement, the unfamiliar lady couldn’t help but observe as well, watching the play with a stoic expression.

A clear temperature difference clashed in the space between their seats.

I set aside my bewildered feelings and counted the time. Since I wasn’t particularly interested in the play, I hoped the curtain call would pass quickly.

◇

“Wow, Rihart oppa. Did you see that? The Duke of the North was really cool!”

“I did.”

“Yeah. My dream is to be the Duke of the North from today!”

“I’m glad you’re determined to study hard, Estiel.”

“Why do you have to be so smart to be a duke…?”

“It’s only natural to be wise to govern a duchy.”

A pointed remark. However, Estiel confidently denied it, even flicking her index fingers to emphasize her point.

“Nah, I’ll just gather smart people who will listen to me.”

…!

I couldn’t help but stay silent at Estiel’s bold declaration. Even though it might be a shallow excuse from a child, it pierced through the essence of imperial studies.

There are two paths to the throne.

One is to become a sage leader who guides everyone to a better future.

And the other is to surround oneself with wise individuals and listen to their opinions.

“Maybe… Estiel truly has exceptional qualities?”

Legally, Estiel’s current status is ‘Lady Eleanor Baekjang Youngae,’ but as soon as she becomes an adult, she will automatically become ‘Lady Eleanor Baekjang.’ So, the background is already somewhat established.

Yes, I should definitely educate Estiel. If this festival ends smoothly, I swear here that I will thoroughly cultivate Estiel’s refinement.

As I was formulating Estiel’s future plans and nodding my head in approval…

“Excuse me, but would you mind accompanying me for a while?”

It was a twenty-year-old lady appealing to Estiel’s youth.

I was about to politely decline the request, but hesitated when she addressed Estiel with a certain title.

“Captain Rihart of the Windmill Mercenaries.”

“It seems Rihart oppa is famous.”

“Well, miss. He is the leader of the best mercenary group in the Empire. Of course… sightings of him in person are rare.”

I asked the woman who was side-eyeing me.

“How did you recognize me?”

“If you’re the gentleman who accompanies Count Elenoth’s daughter, it’s obvious. The fact that the Windmill Mercenaries are in charge of the daughter is well-known.”

It wasn’t easy to recognize Estiel, who hadn’t even made her debut. It hinted at a significant network of information the woman possessed.

“And personally, if it piques your interest… if Miss Danju doesn’t mind, I would like to accompany you to the palace?”

There was no reason to refuse such a genuine offer of goodwill.

The beautiful earrings the woman was wearing were of a superior quality that even most nobles couldn’t touch. Therefore, there was a high possibility that she was a daughter of a well-known family. Demonstrating a certain level of closeness would be a great help to Estiel, who had no foundation.

After some consideration, I accepted her offer to accompany her.

“Understood. Let’s go together.”

“Uh…”

Estiel let out a dissatisfied grunt. It was awkward not being able to ask directly what was bothering her at the moment the woman joined us.

Was there something only visible in the child’s eyes?

… Probably just an exaggeration.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Elenoth.”

The woman smiled warmly and offered a formal greeting. However, Estiel…

“Hello, ma’…”

…

……

Bowing slightly, Estiel interrupted himself there and paid his respects. The woman’s lips shot up asymmetrically in response to his seemingly mocking attitude.

“Ha… Haha, ha…”

Although she tried to cover it up with laughter, she couldn’t win against Estiel, who pretended not to notice.

And the woman’s puzzled reaction soon turned into a dramatic scene.

It was because of the eye-catching familiar figure on the other side.

“Ah…!”

The exclamation that reached this far was powerful. It would have been strange not to recognize her. If she had worn her usual disguise, anyone would have recognized her.

The owner of the exclamation pushed aside the people around her and approached vigorously, waving her hands.

“Rahil… No, Liana!”

“Serin…?”

I thought we would only meet after the palace entrance. I could only stare at her in surprise at the unexpected reunion.

Serin rushed forward quickly.

She ran as if she would embrace me right away, but the moment she lost momentum was fleeting.

Screech!

Her expression hardened. The brakes were applied abruptly to her accelerating feet, kicking up dust. She seemed to have a lot to say, but only the heat rising to her face was visible as she swallowed her words.

I was at a loss for how to respond to her erratic reaction.

When Serin reached her limit of patience, she raised her heavy lips.

“Why is Lian… with that woman…?”

“I greet Princess Seriniel. But… Lian?”

At the woman’s calm question, Serin straightened up.

“Please ignore what you don’t know.”

“Can that be possible? Tonight, she will be my partner.”

“What, what did you say? Is that true, Lian?”

Serin’s urgent attitude was suspicious enough. On the other hand, the talk about a partner was also unexpected, so I was about to raise an objection.

If Estiel hadn’t suddenly appeared, I would have.

“Indeed.”

Estiel nodded.

“Who is this lady, Unni?”

With just that simple question, someone’s expression crumbled in an instant.