Chapter 58

***

After returning from the academy for the first time in a while for the weekend, Nanuk immediately came to the garden where I was enjoying a picnic alone. 

I didn’t expect the spacious mat to feel so small because of Nanuk. Nanuk was sitting next to me and was strangely inspecting a dessert he didn’t even like. 

“Rosiane, try this.” 

Looks like he was choosing a dessert for me. The Financier’s savory buttery flavor melted in my mouth. 

When I finished eating the Financier, he put a chocolate in front of my mouth this time. 

“Brother, are you not going to eat?” 

“I’m quite full.” 

I mischievously asked even though I knew he hated sweets and Nanuk shook his head slightly and replied. 

“It’s delicious though……….” 

Looking at Nanuk with sparkling eyes, he sneakily avoided my gaze on purpose as if he was flustered. It was the only way to tease Nanuk, who was usually calm. 

“Then just one…….” 

He said looking as if he was going to eat poison. I laughed lightly and put a chocolate in his mouth. 

“…..!” 

“It’s not sweet, right? I always prepare it during tea time in the weekend just in case you come.” 

It was unsweetened bitter dark chocolate which I asked the chef to make. 

Nanuk seemed to like the chocolate more than I thought, and by the end of tea time he had eaten all the chocolates. 

As soon as I got up from the mat, Nanuk  lifted me. It was easy for him, who is now over 180(cm). 

“Oh, now that I think about it, have you given your greetings to dad?” 

“Not yet. I’m about to go now. Do you want to come with me?” 

“Okay.” 

The fact that he came to see me before father made me feel somehow touched as well as sorry. I’ll have to send him more letters from now on. 

I thought we were going to the Arche Palace, my father’s residence, but Nanuk went to a different path. 

“Where are we going?” 

“We’re going to the Esteria Palace.” 

I wondered why because the Esteria Palace usually does the handling of business and others. 

“Why?” 

“There’s a meeting today.” 

“It’s the weekend though?” 

What kind of meeting is it that during the weekend….? Now that I think about it, it’s around this time that we started to have friction with the Roschahai. 

While I was lost in thought, we soon arrived in front of the conference room. Nanuk’s legs are long, so I think it took less than half of the time when I walk. 

“It seems that the meeting is still ongoing.” 

“Let’s wait.” 

As soon as Nanuk smiled with a somewhat mischievous face, the door really opened like magic, and my father approached me. 

“Rosiane!” 

As their senses are developed, they must have noticed that I came. But even so, can he run out like this during a meeting? 

My father, who roughly responded to Nanuk’s greeting, took me in his arms as if stealing me away. Through the gap of the conference room’s open door, I could see the faces of the nobles. 

“How did you get here?” 

“Brother told me he was going to see father, so I followed him. But, can you come out like this during a meeting?” 

“Of course. Our Rosiane is here, I wouldn’t care about a meeting.” 

At my father’s words, the face of the aide, who approached us, turned white. At the same time, when my father slightly gestured with his eyes, the seated attendees began to rise one by one. 

“Oh dear, it’s time for the meeting to end.” 

“It was a long meeting today too.” 

“Still, it’s fortunate that the item on the agenda went through safely.” 

Then, with sweat flowing down on their foreheads, they each showed ridiculous acting and rushed out of the conference room. 

…… It was the moment I decided not to come to the conference room again.

* * *

“Oh my goodness, it’s perfect! Ah! This Dortha  can’t breathe because of this beautiful appearance! How— Ah, but it’s a little disappointing. As expected, I should’ve sewn the frills…..” 

Her body fell gently to the floor like a paper doll. As I dumbfoundedly stared at her series of theatrical actions, she suddenly raised her head and shouted loudly. 

“As expected I should sew the ruffle right now!!” 

“Please restrain yourself. It’s very pretty even right now.” 

The blue dress, which becomes richer in layers as it goes down, is very colorful in itself. They also put glittering pearl powder on it, and if you put a ruffle on it, it will stand out horribly. 

It was a place where I would choose my escort knight anyway, so I didn’t want to wear anything fancy, as I firmly said that, Dortha fell back to the floor. 

“Hic….. Hic….I hate you, Your Highness, I hate you……!” 

“Oh, my goodness! Such blasphemous words again! Do you want to see your body and neck get separated?!” 

Lilith’s words seemed to be becoming more concrete. I wondered for a moment what her image of the imperial family was, and then shook my head. 

“Hng….Hic…Hic….Hic……” 

As she was making crying sounds, the corners of Dortha’s eyes, were dry without any moisture. She lightly raised her eyes and looked at me like a drowning puppy then asked. 

“Then, Your Highness, you will wear the hair accessory I have prepared for you right? If you don’t do even that, This Dortha might drown in a sea of tears and enter the grave today! Hic… Hic…” 

“….Alright. Now, stop crying.” 

“Promise?” 

“Yes, yes.” 

I could no longer bear to hear that abominable cry, so I waved my hand, and Dortha grabbed my hand as her eyes glistened. 

“Alright! Lilith, prepare it!” 

“Yes, yes.” 

A hair accessory was taken out of the bag that Lilith had brought. 

“……Are you serious?” 

“Yes~, this Dortha is always serious, right?” 

As I looked at the splendidly crafted tiara that gradually came closer to me, I put on a tired face. 

“No, I don’t think this is…..” 

It’s not even a débutante. Why do we need this for an escort knight’s appointment ceremony? 

“Oh, gosh, Your Highness! Once you go there, it will be filled with young ladies and young masters of your age, of course, you should do this much to show your dignity as a Princess!” 

This won’t do. I deliberately pretended to get mad and asked. 

“… Those words, do you mean to say that I don’t look like a princess if I don’t wear that tiara. Is that it?” 

“That’s — hbt, no! What in the world are you saying, Your Highness!” 

Dortha, who was about to agree with me, tried to coax me and raised her voice. 

“Soft hair like a high-quality gift, clear and smooth skin, eyes that shine like jewels, no matter who sees Your Highness, it’s obvious you’re Her Highness, the Princess!” 

Her look as she tries to escape the situation just looks…… how should I say it…. It even looks pathetic. 

“Today is indeed the day your limbs will be separated. I will raise “Apiachere” well. I had fun, Ms. Dortha.” 

Dortha began to tremble at the increased punishment from the neck to the limbs. Of course, it wasn’t because she was really scared, but it was a funny gesture to play along with me. 

“Goodbye, Dortha.” 

I greeted him with a smile on purpose. Then Dortha sat down again and grabbed the hem of my dress. 

I bid her farewell with a smile on purpose. Then, Dortha fell down again and grabbed the hem of my dress. 

“N, no, Your Highness! This Dortha cannot die yet! I have hundreds, no, thousands of clothes that I have not yet designed and dressed you with, I can’t die because I feel so wronged! But then, if you’re going to do that! Please bury Lilith with me!” 

The long fingertips pointed accurately at Lilith. At the unexpected remark, Lilith’s eyes, suddenly turned into a *fierce triangle-like shape.

(*stare/look at her in anger) 

“Why are you dragging me in? I don’t know anyone like you though?” 

“This ungrateful thing!” 

Dortha rushed in quickly to tear Lilith’s hair. While the two were filming a crazy action drama, Melissa, who looked nervous, intervened. 

“Please stop it, both of you! It’s time to go yet what are you doing, gosh!” 

At every word she said, Dortha and Lilith quickly separated from each other, coughing. I guess people can work together for a long time only when they are in sync like this. 

“Then, let’s use this tiara for the national festival, and just go for a ribbon today.” 

“Okay!” 

At last, surrender came out of my mouth. Dortha hummed as she tied my long hair with a blue ribbon. 

“Wow, as expected, how is she this beautiful! This Dortha really ack—!” 

“Miss Dortha, stop!” 

Lilith’s hand slapped Dortha’s mouth. It was a good hit. I left the room, leaving behind the two who had begun to fight again. 

* * *

The appointment ceremony of an escort knight was held at the capital in the banquet hall of a mansion owned by the imperial family. As such, the building boasted a very fancy appearance. 

The building, made of smooth glossy white marble with black marbles, presented both mystery and grandiosity, evoking admiration. 

All of the decorations inside are shiny gold, to harmonize with the natural marble background, doubling the luxurious feeling. 

Rather than an appointment ceremony, I felt like I was attending a banquet of a wealthy noble. Of course, there will be a small banquet afterwards, so I think it’s half true…. 

“It’s splendid.” 

“I know.” 

I stopped in the hallway and said with a fed-up look, and Lora, who was following me, lightly nodded her head. She seemed to understand my feelings. 

I tried hard to come up with a question in order to delay my entry even a little. 

“Oh right, I heard that the person who is hosting the ceremony today was from Zion? What kind of person are they?” 

“Oh, the former Commander? Hmm… they’re a person who is difficult to describe in words. But they’re a great person. There is no knight who has contributed to war as much as them.” 

Not knowing it, deep respect was shown somewhere on her troubled face. 

“Are you nervous?” 

“Well……. I’m a little nervous to see them after a long time. I’m also worried.” 

“Worried?” 

Since it’s a person from the Imperial Guard, they would be a stern, serious and earnest person then? If so, then I understand Lora’s nervousness. 

“Is that person perhaps scary?” 

“Er… no. That’s not it…. You probably won’t believe it.” 

“Why?” 

“That’s because err…. they’re a very peculiar person. As a former mercenary, I think they’re more of a mercenary than a knight.” 

“Are you talking about me?” 

A husky voice came from behind. Lora’s eyes shook with a very nervous look on her face. 

“Kegh, C-commander…..” 

Her head creaked like a broken toy as it turned. 

I also turned to look, and there stood a tall woman who might be as tall as Nanuk. The body revealed under the uniform looked very firm. 

“Oh my, this girl. It’s been years since I retired, yet you’re still calling me commander? I thought I told you to call me ‘sis’. By the way, it’s been a long time since I’ve worn a uniform, it’s awkward. What do you think?” 

There were numerous medals hanging over the former knight commander’s black uniform. Her short gray hair fluttered from the back of her neck, and her heavy black eyes were mischievously bent in like a half-moon. 

The weight of time could be felt around her eyes, but only her eyes were brightly alive. Her eyes suddenly fell on me. 

“Oh, this is– I’m sorry I didn’t see you. I see the glory of the Empire. I’m the former commander of Zion, Pennette de Leone.” 

As expected of Zion, every action in her short greeting was perfect. 

“May the blessing of Esteria be with you. I am Rosiane de Esteria.” 

I accepted her greeting with a gentle smile. Sir Leone’s mouth trembled. 

Thinking something was wrong with her, I looked back at Lora, and she pressed her forehead, saying, “It’s starting again.” 

Start? What will? 

“Oh dear, Oh my! You should have told me you were escorting such a cute princess!” 

Sir Leone slapped Lora on the shoulder and made a fuss. 

It looks like there was no strictness or seriousness kind of thing in the first place.