"Someone's calling me," she said.
Mia kept looking towards a door to the gardens as if someone was there, but I couldn't see or hear anything. Even when I tried to use spirit vision and misma vision, I couldn't see anything there. But it isn't like Mia to make something like this up.
"I'll be back in a minute," I told Viola and let Mia lead me.
"There," Mia said, pointing to the giant cherry blossom tree.
As soon as we left the ballroom, that tree dominated our view. It wasn't as tall as the mountain tree, but it was still bigger than anything we had back in my old world. With Mia in my arms, I activated my "Invisibility" skill. I carried her toward the base of the Royal Sakura Tree. Fences and barriers guarded the path, but none of them slowed me down. We reached the tree without anyone spotting us.
"There." Mia pointed at something that resembled an altar.
Hidden in the altar's shadow was an ethereal girl leaning against the giant tree's trunk, her strawberry-blonde hair stirring in the wind. She seemed almost fantastical—and she must have been the one calling to Mia. But I was off the mark on that one.
"Hi," I called out.
"Wh-who goes there?!" The girl abruptly lost her mystical demeanour and flared up at us with suspicion. "It is forbidden to approach the Holy Sakura Tree without the permission of the Sakura Protector." The "Holy Sakura Tree" must be the formal name of the Royal Sakura. The girl continued in a civil tone, her expression still stern. "I know not what family you hail from, but I must ask that you leave at once."
"So, you weren't the one who called us here?"
"Called you h…"
The girl started, but then a cherry blossom–colored woman
rose out of the trunk of the tree. She touched the younger-looking girl and put her to sleep instantly. Then, she gently brushed the girl's hair out of her face.
"I'm sorry, little Sakura Protector. I need you to sleep for a moment, okay?" She straightened up and turned toward us.
A dryad? Unlike the small, childlike ones I was used to encountering, this woman possessed a fuller, more mature grace—yet the truth was that she was still a dryad.
"How good of you to come when I called, little one."
"Mm."
"Is this human a friend of yours?" The dryad wore a bewildered expression. "I was going to put her to sleep, but it's not working at all, mmn."
"It's fine.… Silent Bell." Mia nudged me, so I showed the sakura dryad the Silent Bell of Bolenan.
"Well, I guess he's okay, then. You see, the flow of magic has been strange lately. It's quite troubling—I can't even seem to draw it out from the mana source in the royal capital. Do you think anything can be done, mmn?"
"Mrr?" Mia's eyes flashed silver as she turned on Spirit Vision and looked around. She frowned, then glanced at me. "Kura."
I searched the area with Spirit Vision and Miasma Vision, but found no obvious problems aboveground. I had no magic suited to examining underground veins, and any power I sent directly into the soil would simply dissipate. Instead, I thought it might be better to channel my magic through the Royal Sakura's roots. When I explained my plan to the sakura dryad, she offered another suggestion.
"…Mmn, wait. It's an old tree—go through me instead."
"All right."
The beautiful dryad reached out and pulled me close. Wait—was she trying to kiss me? Before I could make sense of it, Mia jumped in to stop her.
"Mrr. Lewd."
"Oh-ho? How adorable for a little girl to be jealous of an adult, mmn? I suppose you are still a child, mmn."
Even with Mia wedged firmly between us, the sakura dryad leaned in, her face drawing closer to mine. H-hold on, seriously?! She was still going for it? Right in front of Mia?!
"Hands."
At the last possible second, Mia shot both hands up and planted her tiny fingers against our faces, heroically saving me from the incoming kiss.
"Hands? But transferring through the hands would be far less efficient. It'll be a bigger burden on the human, mmn?"
"She's okay."
Mia slowly tilted her head up at me, her eyes silently asking, You can take it, right?
Faced with that much trust, how was I supposed to say no? I gave her a firm nod. "I can handle a bigger burden just fine."
"Is that so? Hands it is, then." I took the dryad's velvety hand in mine and carefully let a trickle of magic flow into her. "Mm… mmn…"
The sound that slipped from the dryad's lips was far too suggestive for the situation. I ignored it with every ounce of self-control I had. No, really—I had to. If I let myself react to that voice, I was certain my concentration would crumble. Forcing my embarrassment down, I focused on following the flow of magic through the channels of power.
"Hmm, you're right. The magic is getting clogged somewhere." Thankfully, the work itself gave me something else to think about. Pinpointing the exact physical location of the blockage would be a pain, but the symptoms were similar to magic power blockages in tools and weapons. If I sent magic through the circuits at varying speeds, I could probably clear it all out. "Mind if I give it a try?"
"Yes, please do, mmn." Once the dryad granted permission, I immediately started cleaning out the magic circuits. "Mm, mmn… Oh my, aah, mmmn…"
"Mrr?"
Mia's puzzled look stabbed right through me. Please don't look at me like that. I was not doing anything suspicious. Probably. At the very least, I wished the dryad would stop making those inappropriate sounds in front of Mia. They were distracting enough on their own, so I forced myself to focus and kept working. This was going to be easier than I thought… No, wait. One area was infuriatingly stagnant. Like trying to wash out a stubborn stain, I increased the speed and used over half my remaining magic power to flush it out all at once. …Uh-oh. I might have gone too far. I felt something like a magical valve snap under the pressure.
"Sorry, dryad. I think I accidentally broke something."
"No worries, girl…"
"Dryad?" I blinked. The mature beauty who had been making my concentration fight for its life had vanished, replaced by the familiar youthful, green-skinned dryad. "Ho-ho. Thanks to you, girl, I was able to connect with my outside selves for the first time in four hundred years."
She explained that a warlock had used a magical curse to create a closed valve on the magic circuit in an attempt to prevent royal capital information from leaking to the elves four hundred years ago.
"As if I would talk to elves about humans anyway…" The dryad hive mind seemed upset that the sakura dryad had been cut off from the rest. "I'll be able to make the sakura bloom again this year thanks to you, girl. Oh, I know! Take these."
The dryad handed Mia and me a pink sphere each. Apparently, they were called Sakura Pearls—a special kind of Treespirit Pearl. They worked the same way as ordinary ones, but with the added bonus of making flowers bloom. In other words, I had just obtained an item that could let me perform miracles like making blossoms sprout on a withered tree.
"Thank you, too, little one."
"Mm."
"In just a few days, the buds will start to grow, and they'll bloom in less than ten. Enjoy this year's flower viewing."
With that, the dryad disappeared back into the tree.
"Go back," Mia asked.
"Yes, we probably should…"
With the dryad gone, we could finally make our escape. Or at least, that was the plan—until I remembered the Sakura Protector girl was still asleep by the tree. Leaving her there all night to catch a cold would have been pretty heartless, and slipping away without saying a word would only make us look even more suspicious. She had seen our faces, after all. While I was at it, I made a mental note to tell the king about the royal capital's underground vein acting strangely. That definitely sounded like the kind of problem the people in charge should probably know about.
"She's still not waking up."
"Mm."
I tried shaking the girl awake, but the dryad's sleep spell was remarkably strong. She only began to stir after I used Break Magic, called to her several times, and shook her again.
"…Mm, what happened…?"
She blinked sluggishly, but as soon as she laid eyes on me, she jumped up and backed away.
"Oh good, you're awake. I was worried because you passed out in the middle of our conversation."
"…Passed out?"
"You seem quite exhausted. Are you not getting enough sleep?"
While we were talking, I'd noticed the makeup she was using to hide the dark circles under her eyes. Come to think of it, she had been half-asleep against the sakura tree when I first found her, too. Was this girl running on sheer willpower alone?
"N-no, I'm perfectly fine…," she mumbled, covering her face. "B-but more importantly! As I said before, the Holy Sakura Tree occupies sacred ground. Without the permission of a Sakura Protector like me, none may enter. Please return to wherever you came from at once."
"While I've finished what I was called for, so we'll be going now," I said with a friendly smile. "But you really should get some rest when you can."
"I said I'm fine… wait, what do you mean by saying you were called here?" She replied, narrowing her eyes. "Who called you here? I didn't call anyone."
Mia and I exchanged glances, then Mia pointed at the tree. "Dryad."
"…Athena! Aah, there you are."
From the shadowed path beyond the thicket, a bespectacled woman stepped into view, two ladies-in-waiting following close behind her.
"Princess Sistina! We're in the presence of royalty, you two. Hurry up and bow!"
Athena immediately dropped to her knees, and I quickly did the same. Mia, however, only crossed her arms and grumbled, "Don't wanna."
"Wh-why, you! Don't just stand there, get on your knees…!" Flustered, Athena tugged on Mia's spring coat. It came down along with her hood, revealing Mia's ears. "…Huh? An elf?"
"Ow." Mia shook free of Athena's grip.
"So you're an elf! What clan are you from?"
"Rude."
Mia puffed up her cheeks indignantly at the blunt question.
"Athena, that was rather impolite." The princess scolded Athena and walked over to Mia. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Lady Misanaria of Bolenan Forest. Athena, Lady Misanaria is…"
Athena leapt to her feet and interrupted the princess, speaking quickly.
"J-just because you're an elf like the Great Sage doesn't mean you're all that special! My ancestors may have lost, but I swear I'll accomplish far more than the Sage ever did!"
She thrust a trembling finger toward Mia, while Mia only blinked back at her, visibly lost amid the sudden outburst.
"Mrr?"
From the way she bristled at Mia and spat out the Great Sage's name, it seemed clear this girl's family still carried some old grudge against Trazayuya.
"I hate elves, thinking they're so special just for being born. I earned this position as an imperial sorcerer through hard work and talent, you know. I might only be a red sash in the Shiga Thirty-Three Staves right now, but someday, I swear I'll become the leader of the imperial sorcerers and wear that silver sash!"
Athena stood there panting, shoulders heaving and cheeks flushed with indignation, while Mia looked increasingly alarmed, her eyes darting as if searching for somewhere to hide. Before I could step in, the ladies-in-waiting moved first.
"That's quite enough of that." One of the ladies smacked Athena on the back of the head. "You're in front of Her Royal Highness."
"A silver sash? Please. You're being so impolite right now that you could very well get your red sash taken away."
Their scolding snapped Athena out of her blind rage, and she turned bright red.
"I am so terribly sorry." She bowed to the princess.
"You're apologising to the wrong person," and nodded toward Mia. "I shouldn't have…"
"Wrong."
Athena started to apologise, but Mia interrupted her with a brief mutter.
"Huh?" Athena blinked, not understanding.
She was probably trying to say, in her own blunt way, that Athena had it wrong: Mia worked hard too, and she had never thought of herself as special simply because she had been born an elf.
"We humans are always advancing while your people hide out in the woods, you know! Come to a royal sorcerer practice sometime, and I'll show you what we humans can really do. Don't blame me if you lose your nerve when you see our synchronised sorcery!"
"Enough already!"
"How many times must we remind you?"
This time, both of the ladies-in-waiting smacked Athena at once.
"I'm sorry," she apologised tearfully to Mia.
"What Mia was trying to say is that she isn't special and worked hard to get where she is," I explained gently, trying to mediate between them.
Athena looked between Mia and me, her face still flushed with embarrassment.
"Mmm," Mia nodded in agreement.
"Hmph, if you say so, I guess," Athena said, crossing her arms. "Who are you anyway?"
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet," I nodded. "I am Kura Suou, and I was promoted to vicount recently."
"Athena, she holds the hero title and is a special guest of my family, so please treat her with more respect." The princess spoke up. "And Lady Misanaria is one of her companions." The princess continued introducing us both with a polite smile before turning to me, Athena. "You should introduce yourself too."
"R-right," She suddenly stiffened. "I am Athena Raffol, a member of the Shiga Thirty-Three Staves. I'm sorry if I offended you."
"And after bragging about impressing the hero when they arrive, you act like this." The princess sighed, rubbing her temples. "Athena, how was the Holy Sakura Tree?"
"Unfortunately, nothing has changed."
"I see… Well then, I shall be heading back. Guide Lady Misanaria and her friend, please. Have a pleasant evening." With a word of farewell to Mia, the princess went back down the same path.
"…There's the north reception hall. Just follow this path, and you'll be there shortly." With that, Athena turned to leave, then paused. "A-ahem. I'm sorry about all that earlier. But humans really are amazing, you know! You must come see our practice sometime. Don't forget!"
Athena tried to hide her embarrassment behind one last challenge, jabbing a finger toward Mia as she backed away. With that, she spun on her heel and fled, her face still burning bright red.
"Mrr?"
"She seems nice."
"Mm. Unique."
I probably should have told the princess about the mana source, but I guess I can do that later.
<0>
"So did you two have a fun date?" Viola asked when we rejoined the group.
"It wasn't a date," I said, shaking my head. "Mia just needed help with something in the garden."
"Mm. Fixed a dryad." Mia nodded, as if that explained everything.
Viola raised an eyebrow but let it slide. Before she could tease me further, Nana appeared at my side, her sisters trailing behind her like a flock of curious ducklings. Nana's honey-coloured hair was slightly mussed, and she looked more than a little flustered.
"Master, I have survived a barrage of persistent suitors, so I report," Nana declared, pressing a hand to her chest. "Young men kept approaching us. They asked about my lineage, my marital status, and whether I was aligned with any noble house. So I declare."
Her sisters nodded in unison, their expressions a mix of confusion and mild annoyance.
"They wouldn't leave us alone," Adin added. "Every time we turned around, another one appeared with a glass of wine and a compliment."
"We kept telling them we were with you, but they just smiled and kept talking. I complained," another said, wrinkling her nose. "One of them tried to get me to walk with him to the terrace. I told him I had to check with mistress first."
I bit back a laugh.
"Sounds like you handled it well," I said, patting Nana's shoulder.
"It was exhausting, so I inform," Nana sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I would rather fight a dozen centipedes than endure another round of flattery."
Viola snorted. "Welcome to high society. It's all smiles and daggers."
Mia tugged at my sleeve. "Let's go back."
I glanced around the reception hall. The party was still in full swing, but I had already fulfilled my obligation to show my face. The king could wait until tomorrow for my report on the mana source.
"Agreed," I said. "Let's get out of here."
I turned to lead the group toward the exit, but my gaze caught on a familiar flash of platinum-blonde hair near the far wall. Sara stood beside an older man with the same sharp jawline and green eyes, his posture rigid with the practised authority of someone who had spent decades in court. Her father.
Sara's shoulders were tense, her hands clasped in front of her, and even from here I could see the forced smile she wore. The man was speaking to her in low, measured tones, his expression neither warm nor cold. Business, then. Or a lecture.
I hesitated.
Viola followed my gaze and let out a low whistle. "Looks like the priestess is in the hot seat."
"We should help her," I murmured.
"Master, it might be unwise to interrupt a family conversation, so I caution," Nana said, tilting her head. "But if you wish to rescue her, I will support you, so I declare."
Mia tugged my sleeve again. "Sara. Sad."
That settled it. I adjusted my dress and started walking toward them, Viola falling in step beside me with a lazy grin. The man noticed our approach first, his eyes narrowing as he took in my dress and the group behind me. Sara turned, and her face lit up with relief the moment she saw me.
"Ah, Vicountess Suou," the duke said, his voice smooth but guarded. "I was just speaking with my daughter about her duties. I trust you've been enjoying the evening?"
"Very much, Your Grace," I replied, offering a polite bow. "I was hoping to borrow Sara for a moment. There's a matter I'd like her opinion on."
The man's eyes flickered between us, but he gave a curt nod. "Of course. Sara, we can continue this later."
Sara's smile tightened, but she stepped away from him and moved to my side.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I nodded and turned us both toward the exit. "Let's go."
We made it through the main doors and into the corridor before Sara let out a long, shaky breath. The moment we were out of earshot of the guests, her composure cracked.
"He wants you to marry my cousin," Sara said, her voice trembling with frustration. "Apparently the Duke has already arranged it, and my father is just the messenger. They called it 'securing the family line'."
I blinked, the words taking a moment to settle. "Wait. Your cousin? They want me to marry your cousin?"
Sara nodded, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "The Duke thinks it would be the perfect match. A hero and a noble of the royal bloodline. He's already sent word to the king, apparently."
"But I'm already engaged," I said, gesturing vaguely at Viola, who was grinning like a cat who'd found a creamery.
"To a childhood friend who happens to be a woman, in disguise, and not actually a man at all," Viola added, her voice dripping with amusement.
Sara wrung her hands. "I told my father I couldn't possibly ask that of you. But he said the Duke is determined, and that the king might support it if it strengthens ties between the hero and the crown."
"Might support it," I repeated, my stomach sinking. "So the king hasn't agreed yet?"
"Not officially. But my father made it sound like it was only a matter of time."
Mia tugged at my sleeve, her expression serious. "No. Kura is ours."
Viola snorted. "Ours, huh? I like that."
Nana stepped forward. "Master, we must resist this arrangement with all our strength, so I declare."
Her sisters nodded in agreement, their small faces set with determination.
I let out a breath, the weight of the evening pressing down on my shoulders. "Alright. First thing tomorrow, I'll talk to the king directly. I'll tell him about the mana source and the dryad, and while I'm at it, I'll make it clear that I'm not interested in marrying anyone."
Viola clapped me on the back. "That's my fake wife."
Sara gave me a grateful look, her eyes softening. "Thank you, Kura. I'm sorry to drag you into my family's drama."
"You didn't drag me. They dragged you." I offered her a small smile. "Let's head back to the guest wing. I think we've all had enough socialising for one night."
As we walked down the corridor, the distant music of the party faded behind us, replaced by the quiet shuffle of footsteps and the soft rustle of fabric. Nana's sisters chattered among themselves, their voices a soothing murmur, while Mia stayed close to my side, her hand brushing against mine.
Viola stretched her arms above her head, her spiky hair catching the torchlight. "Well, that was fun. Definitely not the last we'll hear of that, though."
I sighed. "I know."
But for now, I was just glad to be away from the gilded mirrors and the hungry eyes of the nobility. Tomorrow could bring its own battles. Tonight, I would rest.
<0>
Unfortunately, the next morning I was unable to meet with the king. Instead, I found myself in a carriage with Prince Soltrick. My friends were in the carriage behind as we moved through the streets of the royal capital.
The carriage swayed gently as we rolled through the cobblestone streets, the morning sun casting long shadows across the royal capital. Prince Soltrick sat across from me, his golden hair catching the light in a way that seemed almost rehearsed. He wore a finely tailored coat of deep blue, his posture relaxed but deliberate, like a man accustomed to being watched.
"I must say, Lady Suou," he began, his voice smooth as honeyed wine, "I was quite disappointed when I learned of your engagement. I had hoped we might have a chance to become better acquainted during your stay."
I kept my hands folded in my lap, my expression carefully neutral. "Your Highness is too kind. I'm sure there are plenty of noble ladies who would be thrilled to make your acquaintance."
He smiled, a practised expression that didn't quite reach his eyes. "And yet, here I am, sitting across from you instead."
I said nothing. The carriage wheels groaned as we turned a corner, and I caught a glimpse of the second carriage through the window. Viola was leaning out the side, her grin visible even from here. She was enjoying this far too much.
"Forgive my bluntness, Lady Suou," the prince continued, leaning forward slightly. "But I understand your engagement to Lady Victor is a recent arrangement. A childhood friend, I'm told. Such bonds are sweet, but they are not always the most... advantageous."
"With respect, Your Highness, I'm not interested in advantage. I'm interested in staying alive."
He blinked, caught off guard. "Staying alive?"
"The monsters don't care about bloodlines, Your Highness. Neither do the demons. And frankly, neither do I." I met his gaze squarely. "I'm happy as long as I get to eat a meal a day."
The prince studied me for a long moment, his fingers drumming once against his knee. Then, to my surprise, he laughed. A genuine sound, warm and unexpected.
"You really are different from the noble ladies I'm used to," he said, shaking his head. "They would have stammered and blushed and left the door open for negotiation. You just slammed it shut."
"I apologise if I offended you."
"Don't." He waved a hand. "I respect honesty, even when it's inconvenient." He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. "But I should warn you. My father is not a man who gives up easily. And my uncle, Duke Ougoch, has already started making arrangements.
Dread coiled in my stomach. "I'll deal with that when it comes."
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of a grand building of white stone, its pillars carved with scenes of battle and coronation. A plaque above the entrance read "Royal Museum of Shiga Kingdom." Prince Soltrick stepped out first, offering me a hand with practised gallantry. I took it only because refusing would have been ruder than I could afford.
"Shall we, Lady Suou?" he said, his smile pleasant but sharp at the edges.
I followed him up the wide steps, my companions trailing behind in a loose formation. Viola had already abandoned the second carriage and was walking beside me. Nana and her sisters clustered together, their heads swivelling to take in every detail. Mia stayed close to my side, her hand brushing my sleeve.
The museum's interior was vast and cool, the air smelling of old parchment and polished wood. Glass cases lined the walls, filled with ancient weapons, ceremonial armour, and faded banners. The prince led us through the main hall, narrating the kingdom's history with the easy fluency of someone who had grown up surrounded by it.
The royal museum's separate gemstone exhibit building was carved with motifs resembling gems and rings, clearly a favoured spot among aristocratic women. The women parted like a tide retreating from the shore, their silks and jewels catching the light as they stepped aside. Their gazes lingered on Prince Soltrick with adoration so thick it felt almost tangible. Then those same eyes slid to me, and the warmth evaporated. Cold, sharp, envious. A few of them whispered behind gloved hands, their words lost in the hollow echo of the marble hall, but their meaning was clear enough. I kept my face neutral, my hands clasped loosely at my waist. Viola leaned in, her breath warm against my ear.
"Looks like you've made some fans," she murmured, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.
"Fans is a strong word," I replied, keeping my voice low. "More like a hunting party."
"Mm. Predators." Mia's voice was flat, but her hand found mine and squeezed once.
I squeezed back, grateful for the small reassurance. Prince Soltrick paused before a glass case lit from within, its contents gleaming with a soft, amber radiance. Inside lay a crown of twisted silver and gold, set with stones that pulsed faintly, as if they held captured sunlight.
"These," he said, his voice taking on a reverent tone, "are the Crown Jewels of Yamato. When my ancestor, King Yamato, first unified this land from the ruins of the Flue Empire, he discovered a cache of enchanted gemstones hidden beneath the imperial palace. The Flue emperors had hoarded them for years."
I studied the crown, the amber stones casting tiny halos on the white silk lining of the case. Up close, I could feel the faint pulse of magic coming off them. Not aggressive. Old. Like a heartbeat slowed to once a minute.
Viola leaned past me, squinting at the display. "They look like they'd fetch a pretty price on the open market.
The prince's smile didn't waver. "They are priceless. And heavily guarded."
"Of course." Viola straightened, her red eyes glinting. "Wouldn't want anyone getting ideas."
Given the presence of priceless artefacts on exhibit, guards were posted throughout the museum. Additionally, the glass cases were placed behind barriers of poles and ropes, keeping viewers at a distance where they couldn't touch the glass. Prince Soltrick continued his narration, his voice carrying the practised cadence of someone who had given this tour many times.
"The Flue Empire's gem collection was legendary," Prince Soltrick continued, gesturing toward a display of rings arranged like a star chart. "They believed gemstones held the souls of the earth, and that by wearing them, a ruler could channel the will of the land itself."
I leaned in, feigning interest, but my mind wandered. The gems sparkled under the soft light, their facets catching and refracting colours that seemed to shift with every step. Some of them hummed with a faint magical resonance, barely perceptible, like the distant vibration of a plucked string.
"Fascinating," I said, because it was expected.
"Of course those were just legends, but the gems and jewels were some of the most beautiful ever crafted in this world."
Prince Soltrick led us through an archway into a quieter hall, the ambient murmur of the main gallery fading behind us. Here, the lighting shifted to a cooler tone, pale blue and silver, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The walls were lined with alcoves, each one holding a statue carved entirely from gemstone. I stopped at the threshold, my breath catching.
The first statue stood just a few paces away: a life-sized figure of a woman in flowing robes, her hair cascading over her shoulders in waves of deep amethyst. Her skin was carved from translucent rose quartz, and her eyes were set with two small emeralds that seemed to follow me as I moved. The craftsmanship was exquisite. Every fold of her garment, every strand of hair, had been rendered with a precision that spoke of years of dedication.
I walked slowly down the row, my footsteps echoing in the silence. A warrior in dark obsidian, his armour inlaid with veins of gold, stood frozen mid-strike. A dancer in pale jade, her limbs extended in a graceful pirouette. A king in sapphire and lapis lazuli, seated on a throne of carved citrine, his expression stern and eternal.
"These were commissioned by the Flue emperors," Prince Soltrick said, his voice reverent. "Each one took a master sculptor a lifetime to complete. The gemstones were shaped by magic and hand."
Viola whistled low. "Bet they're worth more than the entire royal treasury."
"They are priceless," the prince agreed. "And they have never been sold. Not even during the war."
Mia tugged at my sleeve, her emerald eyes fixed on a small statue in the corner. It was a fox, carved from honey-coloured tiger's eye, its tail curled around its paws. She pointed silently.
"You like that one?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Oh my,"
I turned at the sound, finding Sara standing frozen before a life-sized statue of a man carved from pale marble veined with gold. His form was unmistakably nude, every muscle and curve rendered with anatomical precision. A woman's statue stood beside him, her body equally bare, her arms raised as if reaching for something just beyond her grasp. Sara's face had turned the colour of a ripe tomato. Her hands were pressed against her cheeks, and her eyes were wide, darting between the statues as if she couldn't decide whether to look or look away.
Viola let out a bark of laughter. "Never seen a naked statue before, priestess?"
"I— well— not like that!" Sara sputtered, gesturing frantically at the statues. "They're so… detailed!"
Viola's grin widened into something truly wicked. She stepped closer to the statues, her boots clicking against the polished floor, and made a show of studying them with exaggerated appreciation. Viola circled the marble man like a predator sizing up prey, her red eyes gleaming with mischief. She ran a finger along the statue's chiselled jaw, then let out a low, appreciative hum.
"You know, Sara," she said, her voice dripping with theatrical thoughtfulness, "if you're this flustered by a cold slab of rock, I can only imagine what you'd be like around a real person you actually liked. Must be tough, having all those feelings bottled up with nowhere to go."
Sara's blush deepened to a shade that nearly matched Viola's eyes. "I-I don't know what you're implying!"
"Nothing at all." Viola shrugged, but her grin only grew. "Just saying, if I were you, I might find a way to express my appreciation more openly. You know, instead of staring at statues."
"Victor." Pearl's voice cut through the hall, calm but firm. She stepped between Viola and Sara. "That's enough."
Viola raised her hands in mock surrender. "I'm just having fun."
Pearl's glare held for a moment longer before she turned and guided Sara away from the statues, her hand resting lightly on the priestess's elbow. Sara let herself be led, her face still flushed, but she shot me a grateful look over her shoulder. I returned it with a small, reassuring nod.
"Moving on," Prince Soltrick announced, his voice cutting through the lingering tension with practised ease. "The gemstone exhibit is impressive, I admit, but the main building holds treasures of a different sort. If you'll follow me."
He turned and strode back through the archway, his golden hair catching the cool light. I fell into step beside Viola, who was still smirking like she'd won a prize.
"You're terrible," I muttered.
"I know." She winked. "It's a gift."
The main building's corridor opened into a wide hall with vaulted ceilings, the acoustics shifting noticeably as we crossed the threshold. The sound of our footsteps multiplied, bouncing off the stone walls with a clarity that made me realise why this section was set apart. Instruments lined the walls on raised platforms, their polished surfaces gleaming under carefully placed lamps. Lutes, harps, flutes, and drums of unfamiliar design sat in glass cases, while larger pieces—a pipe organ with gilded pipes, a harp carved from a single piece of pale wood—stood on pedestals, roped off but exposed.
Prince Soltrick stopped before a glass case containing a small, silver flute inlaid with mother-of-pearl. "This flute is said to have been played by the first court musician of the Flue Empire. Legend claims its music could calm raging beasts and soothe broken hearts."
"Does it still work?" I asked.
Prince Soltrick's smile turned wistful. "Unfortunately, it is too old to play anything any more."
Prince Soltrick's gaze lingered on the flute for a moment longer before he turned and led us deeper into the hall. The air grew cooler, the lamplight dimmer, as if the room itself was holding its breath. At the far end, beneath a single beam of sunlight that fell from a hidden window above, stood a solitary case.
Unlike the others, this one was framed in dark wood, its glass panels etched with silver vines that curled into runes I didn't recognise. Inside, resting on a cushion of faded crimson velvet, lay a lute. Its body was carved from a wood so dark it seemed to drink the light, and its neck was inlaid with mother-of-pearl in patterns that shifted as I moved my head. A single string, silver and thin as a spider's thread, stretched across its length, gleaming like a strand of frozen lightning.
"This," Prince Soltrick said, his voice dropping to something quieter, almost reverent, "is the Lute of the Wandering Star. It was played by a companion of King Yamato himself. A minstrel who followed him through every battle, every treaty, every moment of the kingdom's founding."
A portrait sat above the case, framed in gold and hung at an angle that caught the light just so. The figure in the painting was a man with dark hair and sharp features, his fingers poised over the lute's strings, his eyes fixed on something beyond the canvas. He wore a simple tunic, unadorned, as if he had no need for jewels or silk to announce his worth.
"His name was Llew," Prince Soltrick continued. "He never took a title, never accepted land. He never even wrote down any of his songs. All we know of him comes from the diary the ancestor king left behind."
I studied the lute, its single silver thread catching the light like a frozen tear. There was something about it that drew me in, a pull I couldn't quite name. The wood seemed to breathe in the dim light, and for a moment, I could almost hear a faint melody, distant and half-formed, like a song remembered from a dream.
"You seem taken with it," Prince Soltrick observed, stepping closer to my side.
"It's beautiful," I admitted. "But also sad. That all his music vanished with him."
The prince nodded slowly. "Llew was a mystery. The diary describes him as a man who spoke little but said everything through his songs. King Yamato wrote that when Llew played, even the stones would weep. But after the kingdom was united, Llew simply walked into the forest one day and never returned. The lute was found leaning against a tree, as if he had set it down for a moment and simply never came back."
Mia tilted her head, her emerald eyes fixed on the instrument. "He found peace."
"Perhaps," the prince said softly. "The diary never says what became of him. But the lute has been here ever since, untouched. No one has been able to play it. The single string refuses to sound for anyone."
"Master! I found larvae!"
"""Larvae!"""
Mia, Pearl, and Sara moved in perfect unison, their hands catching the shoulders of Nana's sisters before they could sprint toward the group of small children from the royal academy preschool on a field trip.
"No," Mia told them.
"Listen, they are here to enjoy themselves and learn, so don't interfere with them," I ordered before they could cause a scene.
Prince Soltrick cleared his throat and gestured toward a wide archway at the hall's far end. "If you've had your fill of instruments, I believe the armoury exhibit will be of more direct interest to a hero."
The words snagged my attention. I followed the prince through the arch, my companions trailing close behind. The corridor beyond was lined with tapestries depicting battle scenes—knights in gleaming plate, archers loosed volleys from hilltops, a lone figure in dark robes standing before an army, one hand raised as if commanding the very sky.
The exhibit hall opened before us, a long, rectangular space lit by chandeliers of wrought iron and enchanted crystals. The air smelled of oiled steel and old leather. Suits of armour stood in glass cases along both walls, arranged in chronological order, each one tagged with a small plaque bearing its history. Shields hung above them, their surfaces scarred and dented, telling stories of battles fought centuries ago.
"This section covers the evolution of weaponry and armour from the Flue Empire to the present day," Prince Soltrick said, his voice regaining its tour-guide cadence.
He stopped before the first case, which held a rusted sword with a cracked leather grip. The blade was pitted and uneven, but even in its decay, I could see the craftsmanship. Someone had poured their skill into this piece, long before steel was a thought in anyone's mind.
"Impressive," I said, meaning it.
Nana drifted toward a case displaying a set of scale armour, her sisters pressing their noses against the glas
"Master, this armour is made from dragon scales, so I report," she announced, pointing to a plaque. "It belonged to a general who slew a wyrm in the northern mountains. So I declare."
I joined her, studying the overlapping scales. They shimmered faintly, as if they still held a trace of the creature's vitality. The general's helm sat beside the armour, its visor shaped into a snarling dragon's face.
"Wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley," Viola remarked.
Sara, who had recovered from her earlier embarrassment, stood before a display of ceremonial swords. Their hilts were encrusted with jewels, their blades etched with intricate patterns.
"These are beautiful," she murmured. "But they look too fragile to actually use."
"Many of them are purely ceremonial," the prince confirmed. "Gifted to kings and queens on their coronation days. The blade you see there, the one with the ruby pommel, was used in the coronation of King Yamato himself."
We moved on, past suits of chainmail, racks of spears, and a collection of shields that had once belonged to the royal guard. The prince narrated each piece with practised ease, but I found my attention drifting to a single display at the far end of the hall. My feet carried me forward before my mind caught up. The display at the far end of the hall was set apart from the others, framed by dark curtains that had been pulled back to reveal a collection of weapons unlike anything I had seen in this world. My breath caught.
There, resting on black velvet stands, were katanas. Real Japanese katanas. The curved blades gleamed under the enchanted light, their hamon lines visible as faint waves along the edges. Next to them sat wakizashi, tanto, and a set of shuriken arranged in a star-shaped pattern. A kusarigama hung on the wall above, its chain coiled like a sleeping serpent. I stepped closer, my hand hovering near the glass. Beside the katanas, a curved blade that looked like a shamshir or scimitar sat on its own stand, its hilt wrapped in deep blue cord. Western-style katana, my mind supplied, though I had no real name for it.
"These are from the Saga Empire," Prince Soltrick said, appearing at my shoulder. "The heroes they summon from Nippon have influenced their nation."
"The Saga Empire," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Have you ever met one of these heroes?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the blade.
Prince Soltrick paused, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, as I believe you have. He even stole my brother's fiancée, doing me a favour."
I noticed Sara tense up at the mention of her sister. I still have no idea why she has such a bad relationship with Rin when Rin loves her so much.
"Rin..." She muttered under her breath.
Rin had run off for a hero who had a collection of beautiful women who loved him dearly. I wonder if Rin will be able to get her feelings through to him or not. It will be a tough fight since Hayato only seemed to like childern.
<0>
It is early evening when we return to the castle. The carriage wheels rumbled against the cobblestones as we rolled through the castle gates, the evening light painting the stone walls in shades of amber and rose. The carriage lurched as it slowed at the inner gate, and I realised with a sinking feeling that the second carriage had fallen behind—probably held up by the guards checking the other guests' credentials. I was alone with Prince Soltrick. He leaned back against the velvet seat, his golden hair catching the last rays of sunset streaming through the window. His smile was pleasant, but his eyes held a glint that made my skin prickle.
"It seems we have a moment to ourselves, Lady Suou," he said, his voice low and warm. "I won't pretend I'm not grateful for the opportunity."
I kept my hands folded in my lap, my posture straight. "Your Highness, I believe I made my position clear earlier."
"You did." He tilted his head, studying me with an intensity that felt almost clinical. "But positions can shift. Alliances change. Engagements can be broken."
"Not this one."
He chuckled softly, but there was no humour in it. "You are loyal. I admire that. Truly. But loyalty to a childhood friend is not the same as loyalty to a kingdom. My father and my uncle see a future where you stand beside our family, strengthening the crown. I am merely the instrument of that vision."
"I am not an instrument for anyone's vision," I said, my voice steady. "I am a person, and I have already chosen who I want at my side."
The prince's smile thinned, but he did not press further. Instead, he turned his gaze to the window, watching the castle's outer wall slide past. The carriage rolled to a stop before the guest wing. I did not wait for the footman. I opened the door myself and stepped out into the cool evening air, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Behind me, I heard the prince's voice, barely above a whisper. "Until next time, Lady Suou."
I did not look back.