Ch.20Female Protagonist (1)

On the day of the Empress’s birthday celebration.

I was accompanying Eshtiel on a tour of the island while waiting for early evening when entry to the palace would be permitted.

Until now, Eshtiel’s world had consisted only of the freezing frontier and the comfortable mercenary headquarters. So it wasn’t surprising that a young girl would be captivated by the festive streets of the island.

“Rahilt, I want to go over there.”

“You mean where they’re selling skewers?”

“Yeah. It smells sooo good.”

Eshtiel nodded her head vigorously. If she had been drooling, it would have splattered everywhere.

“You’ll have to eat carefully so you don’t make a mess.”

“Then you can feed me.”

“I suppose I have no choice.”

I cheerfully agreed and ordered a meat skewer from the street vendor. The vendor gave me a suspicious look because of my mask, but soon smiled with business in mind.

The meat sizzled on the hot plate, spreading a delicious sound. Eshtiel froze like a statue with her mouth open, while I clutched my chest slightly as memories of my childhood on the island flickered through my mind.

It should be time to forget, but memories come alive unexpectedly, like hot water splashing on wounds I’ve been ignoring. Like a ghost gripping my shoulder and whispering in my ear.

‘My mother was going to buy me skewers too.’

She was holding me, about to cross the street when a minor altercation broke out. After a brief scuffle, she lost her life senselessly, disappearing beneath a mound of insults from passersby.

‘She was… an evil person. My mother.’

She proudly boasted about taking countless lives in her pursuit of my father.

Until the end, she cursed the rulers of the new era without even a pebble’s worth of remorse.

Her eyes looking at me were filled with a desire for power.

Therefore, I shouldn’t express regret over her death. That would be tantamount to insulting the victims of her tyranny.

‘But I can’t help it…’

When did it start?

As time passed, while imitating and learning others’ normalcy, emotions that should have been suppressed bloomed.

It was an impurity that ached inside my chest whenever I recalled the parade from fourteen years ago.

If I had to define it, it would be sadness.

Feelings for the only woman who had been on my side during my lonely childhood.

Yet I felt strangely broken for not harboring any resentment or hatred toward those who had oppressed us.

That was fortunate, at least.

I self-diagnose that this is something better left unknown.

While I pushed the flickering heat deep inside my chest, Eshtiel let out an exclamation.

The long-awaited skewer was finally ready.

“Here you go, I packed it full because the little miss is so cute.”

“Thank you, mister!”

“Well, is that what it feels like to have a daughter?”

We left the vendor behind with his thoughts of future children and headed toward the main street. Along the way, I fed Eshtiel a bite of the skewer and asked for her opinion.

“Is it good, Eshtiel?”

“Yeah. It’s so yummy without the fat.”

“You shouldn’t be picky.”

“But I eat my veggies well. I just don’t like fat.”

“Oh dear.”

While outwardly scolding her, I stroked Eshtiel’s snow-white hair. I imagined what it might have been like if I had successfully bought skewers at the last parade. In that sense, my excessive care for Eshtiel was also a kind of vicarious satisfaction.

“Rahilt! That, that!”

Eshtiel suddenly ran off. Seemingly tireless on her short legs, she pointed excitedly in the direction of her interest while running with sparkling eyes.

“Hurry up~!”

“You’ll fall if you run too fast.”

“Don’t care, don’t care, hurry up!”

“Alright.”

Though I spoke smoothly, in reality I only quickened my pace slightly. Enduring Eshtiel’s urging, I arrived near a towering massive tent.

Inside the tent, large enough to be seen only during grand festivals, a famous theater troupe was rehearsing behind the curtain.

“I’ve never seen a play before!”

“Neither have I.”

“You haven’t either, Rahilt?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Then we definitely have to see it!”

“Hmm.”

It wasn’t an option I could refuse. I wasn’t particularly interested in plays, but it would be good to broaden my horizons. Above all, with Eshtiel looking forward to it so much, there was no reason not to enter.

I picked up Eshtiel and joined the waiting line. I couldn’t let her exhaust herself standing in line before even watching the play.

The wait was indeed considerable. Even Eshtiel, who had been wide-eyed with excitement at everything new, was yawning with her mouth wide open. Still, the wait was worth it, as we managed to get seats in what could be called a prime location to watch the play.

“Yaaawn… Rahilt, aren’t your legs tired?”

“Not at all.”

“You’re really strong.”

“When you grow up, you’ll be able to handle this much easily.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“But I don’t think Rodrick could do it.”

That would have deeply hurt Rodrick if he had been sitting next to us. Somehow, Eshtiel’s evaluation of Rodrick kept falling without her realizing it.

‘…I wonder how Eshtiel sees Rodrick?’

He may seem like a pushover, but he’s actually an impressive person. Before his career was cut short for trying to kidnap me, he had spread his reputation throughout the empire…

Considering that everything I’ve learned came from Rodrick, I could go on at length about him.

“I want to grow up quickly…”

As Eshtiel stretched and expressed her regret, a woman who had just sat down in the seat next to her let out a faint laugh.

“My, the little miss is quite pessimistic.”

Eshtiel tilted her head at the stranger who suddenly spoke to her, then:

“Who are you, auntie?”

“Auntie…?”

She bluntly made an extremely impolite remark. I bowed my head to make up for the unintended rudeness.

“My child has been rude. Could you please forgive her?”

“I don’t particularly mind what the child said.”

“Auntie?”

“Who’s an auntie…! Hmm, hehe…”

She seemed to mind a great deal, but since I’d already been forgiven, I decided to brazenly pretend not to notice. And it seemed she was doing the same, brazenly maintaining a poker face despite clearly caring about the child’s words.

“Child, won’t you call me big sister?”

“Umm…”

“But I’m only twenty years old, so maybe it would be inappropriate to be called that…”

“Ummmm…”

“Come on, try saying it. Big. Sister.”

“Ummmmmmmm…”

For some reason, Eshtiel’s stubbornness showed no signs of yielding. She wasn’t usually this rudely stubborn…

Finally, I stepped in to mediate between the two women.

“Eshtiel, don’t be like that. Call her once. It’s impolite.”

“Fine…”

Eshtiel looked at the woman in the next seat with a dejected expression. At the same time, the woman’s eyes, which took great interest in the child’s words, became slightly triumphant. Just as Eshtiel’s lips were about to part.

“Thank you for waiting, everyone! As always, please welcome the Richelle Theater Troupe, which will reward your patience with the finest performance… with a round of applause!”

Whoosh!

Without a trace of lingering attachment, Eshtiel turned her gaze and began clapping her tiny hands. The woman seemed slightly upset by this innocent behavior, but soon regained her composure and joined in the applause. However, her clapping sounded strangely listless.

As the curtain rose and the background of the play was introduced in a clear voice, Eshtiel was entranced by the stage.

Meanwhile, the mysterious woman pursed her lips and folded her arms, but honestly, it didn’t matter. As long as Eshtiel was enjoying herself, my purpose was more than fulfilled.

‘…Huh?’

But I became a bit perplexed. The plot of the play was roughly based on the current Emperor, specifically focusing on the period when he was the Northern Grand Duke.

I wasn’t bothered at all, but I was worried about Eshtiel. After all, the current Emperor had played a part in her unfortunate childhood.

I carefully shifted my eyes to Eshtiel’s profile.

“Wow…”

‘I was worried for nothing.’

Eshtiel, letting out a low exclamation, showed her excitement with her whole body. Especially when the Northern Grand Duke’s brilliant battles unfolded on stage, she looked ready to cheer.

However, due to the direction of my gaze, I couldn’t help but also observe the strange woman, who was watching the play with an expressionless face, as if her facial muscles had stiffened.

A clear temperature difference collided across the distance of just one seat.

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

◇

“Wow, Rahilt, did you see? The Northern Grand Duke was really cool!”

“Indeed.”

“Yeah. From today, my dream is to be the Northern Grand Duke!”

“I’m glad you’ve decided to study hard, Eshtiel.”

“…Why would you say that?”

“It’s only natural that you need to be wise to manage a grand duchy.”

A perfectly reasonable admonition. But Eshtiel proudly denied it, even wagging her index finger from side to side.

“Nope, that’s not it. I’m going to gather smart people who will listen to me well.”

…!

I could only close my mouth at Eshtiel’s confident declaration. Although it might be a shallow excuse from a child, it penetrated the essence of kingship.

There are two paths for a ruler.

One is to become a sage oneself and lead everyone to an ideal.

And the other is to keep wise people close and listen to their opinions.

‘Perhaps… Eshtiel truly has outstanding qualities?’

According to imperial law, Eshtiel’s current status is “Lady Elenot,” but as soon as she becomes an adult, she will automatically become “Countess Elenot.” In other words, she already has some background in place.

Yes, Eshtiel definitely needs to study. If this festival ends safely, I hereby vow to thoroughly oversee Eshtiel’s education.

As I was nodding my head while establishing future plans for Eshtiel:

“Excuse me, but may I accompany you for a while?”

It was the twenty-year-old woman who had been pleading her youth to Eshtiel.

I was about to politely decline her request when I hesitated at the title she used.

“Leader Rahilt of the Pinwheel Mercenary Group.”

“Looks like Rahilt is famous.”

“Of course, miss. He’s the head of the mercenary group that provides the empire’s finest service. Though… few have seen him in person.”

I asked her with a sidelong glance:

“How did you recognize me?”

“A masked gentleman accompanying Lady Elenot… it’s obvious. It’s well-known that the Pinwheel Mercenary Group is in charge of the young lady.”

It wouldn’t be easy to recognize Eshtiel, who hadn’t even made her debut yet. This suggested the woman had considerable information networks.

“And I have a personal interest… if it’s not inconvenient for the leader, I’d like to enter the palace together?”

If it was pure goodwill, there was little reason to refuse.

The pretty earrings the woman wore were of such high quality that even decent nobles couldn’t afford them. Therefore, she was likely a lady from a fairly well-known family. Displaying a certain level of acquaintance would be a great help to Eshtiel, who had no foundation.

After some consideration, I accepted her company.

“Very well. Let’s go together.”

“Ugh…”

Eshtiel let out a dissatisfied groan. Since the woman had already joined us, it was awkward to openly ask what was bothering her.

Could she see something that only a child’s eyes could perceive?

…That’s probably an exaggeration.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Elenot.”

The woman smiled warmly and gave a formal greeting. However, Eshtiel…

“Hello, aun…”

…

……

Bow.

Eshtiel cut off her words there and slightly bowed her head in silent greeting. At this attitude that seemed to mock the other person, the woman’s lips rose asymmetrically.

“Ha… haha, ha…”

Though she tried to smooth it over with laughter, she couldn’t win against Eshtiel who deliberately ignored her.

And the woman’s puzzling reaction soon reached its climax.

It was because of a familiar figure that caught our attention from the distance.

“Ah…!”

An exclamation that could be heard from here soared powerfully. Indeed, it would be strange not to recognize me. Anyone would recognize me with my unchanged appearance and mask.

The owner of the exclamation pushed aside bystanders and approached while waving enthusiastically.

“Rahil… no, Riaaaaan!”

“Serin…?”

I thought we would only meet after entering the palace. At this unexpected reunion, I could only stare at her in astonishment.

Serin ran quickly.

She came running as if she would throw herself into my arms at any moment, but she lost momentum in an instant.

Screech!

Her expression hardened. Her accelerating feet came to a sudden stop, raising dust. She looked like she had a lot to say. Yet she deliberately swallowed her emotions as if her throat was constricted, all of which showed on her face.

As I was at a loss about how to respond to her puzzling reaction:

Serin, who had reached the limit of her patience, finally lifted her heavy lips.

“Why is Rian… with that woman…?”

“I pay my respects to Princess Seriniel. But… Rian?”

At the woman’s calm question, Serin sharpened her tone.

“That’s none of your business, so please mind your own affairs.”

“How can that be? He’s going to be my partner tonight.”

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

Serin’s suspiciously urgent attitude was puzzling. Conversely, the talk about a partner was news to me, so I was about to raise an objection.

If it hadn’t been for Eshtiel who suddenly jumped out, I certainly would have done so.

“Excuse me.”

Eshtiel tilted her head.

“Who are you, big sister?”

At that simple question, someone’s expression instantly soured.