Chapter 30

It may have been that with this thought alone, everything could end. It also may have been that the way people would treat the changed version of herself would not be all that different than the way they had treated her in the past. But Ashite wanted to step up to the challenge to the two woman standing in front of her now. Either way, she no longer had the temporary Hanuem, and she had made up her mind to never wear the thing on her head ever again. And this was how a person changed from a minor situation.

“Yes. Sisters, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other. Have you all been well?”

Ashite gave them a small smile. Taking away the smile from her sophisticated facade, all that was left was a cold gaze and relaxed yet hard tone. It sounded as if she thought very little of the useless conversation, as if she didn’t want to talk to them, that she wasn’t even a little glad to see them. She did not attempt to hide her feelings towards them.

She had never spoken to the two princesses like that before. It was also the first time for her to have treated anyone so blatantly coldly before. It was not the sophistication that Skara people adored so much.

Elbloara scoffed. It was not a pleasant laugh. She had recognized the change in tone at the mention of “younger sibling.”

The three people stood as if leaning against the side of the wall. They could feel the gaze of others around them. However, upon finding them conversing quietly, they turned their attention to other things. It had been such a long time since Theharas had been celebrated that there were many exciting things to see and taste. There were also many foreigners there, so they all had lots of things to say to each other. It was an interesting sight to see three Skara princesses together, but there was no one brave enough to interrupt them.

Baayeme smiled sweetly.

“Yes. We have been well. Is Lante doing alright?”

“Yes. That’s fortunate. As you can see, Lante could not join us here.”

“We did hear that just a few moments ago.”

“I’m sure you would have.”

The strange conversation continued on. They were all smiling but that was not how they really felt. All three of them knew that. From time to time, Ashite erased the smile from her face. After asking the routine question of how they were doing, Baayeme opened her mouth with a calm expression.

“Father was busy, so we came in his place.”

“I hope father is doing well.”

Her quick response caught Baayeme off guard and she shut her mouth. <> She felt offended for just a second but soon planted a smile on her face once more.

“Of course. What would there be to worry about?”

“As it should be. That is fortunate.”

Ashite smiled widely, though it was obviously fake. This was the first time the two sisters had seen Ashite act like this but they kept their calm. They lifted the glasses elegantly and drank from them with ease.

“You look to be doing well.”

“Thanks to your concern, I am spending my days here comfortably.”

Elbloara’s eyes curved gently. With a sweet face, she smiled with her eyes beautifully.

“I heard from the chambermaid that you left the temporary Hanuem. I guess it must have been true.”

“Yes.”

“It seems you have already gotten accustomed to life here?” Baayeme spoke softly to the calm looking Ashite.

There was a lot of meaning behind the question. Ashite didn’t answer immediately and instead glanced over her surroundings quickly. Not far away, the king was there. He was wearing the red cloak that couldn’t be missed from anywhere. Although the two women knew her intention, they both turned their heads in that direction. Ashite drank a sip of her sweet wine.

“Yes. Thanks to his highness’s generosity.”

As if she hadn’t spoken coldly to them, she smiled with an immense ease. Elbloara’s smile faltered for a moment.

“Hm. I see.”

Although he may have been Monterobis’s king, to call him his highness seemed excessive. Elbloara narrowed her eyes. Then she looked around her surroundings for a moment then looked straight at Ashite.

“I’ve thought this previously, but Ashite-Ploca…”

“…Monterobis’s dress is…extremely revealing isn’t it?”

<> Today, Ashite was wearing an off of shoulder dress that showed her cleavage. She wore a white dress with ivory detailing, a necklace studded with sapphire and other small jewels, and simple makeup to highlight her best parts. It suited her well. It was coordinated well so that she looked neat and elegant. Her pale yellow heels were dangerously high stilettos.

“Yes. I’ve grown accustomed to this style after wearing it for a while.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, she also used to like this style of dress.”

Ashite’s expression changed harshly, similar to the time Elbloara had scolded her when she was four years old.

“Sister. What do you mean by what you just said?”

Elbloara’s face turned to stone. Baayeme’s smile was still intact but it twisted a little crookedly. Their feigned calm broke for just a moment. Ashite realized this and put on an even colder expression. She glared at the two women viciously.

“I don’t mean much by it. You know that, don’t you?”

“Your expression is quite harsh, Ashite-Ploca.”

Then as if nothing happened, Ashite smiled sweetly at them. But her tone remained cold.

“You know it has nothing to do with that. Sister, you know that well, don’t you?” she asked in a scolding voice. Elbloara let out a sigh and lowered her head, then stared straight at her again.

“Yes. Of course.”

Ashite didn’t open her mouth. Her smile disappeared long ago. Silence. Elbloara started to speak again.

“Ashite.”

Something suddenly filled up her heart. Ashite turned around immediately.

It had been such a long time. The first thing she felt was joy. With a happy ring in his voice, he called out to her specifically. He didn’t address her as princess or your highness, not sister Ashi or Ashite-Ploca. He called her Ashite, by her name. The name which only she had called herself by ever since her mother had died.

That name.

Ashite smiled brightly at him.

“Your highness. You called me?”

***

It had been a very long time since Theharas had opened like this.

Khan’s king and Racondella II exclaimed several times as they toured the inside of the palace. Their daughter Pinetalia was no different. They had never lived with such luxury and extravagance so it was no surprise that they were in awe of the banquet.

She had her bluish hair styled in a neat braid and wore a ruby studded tiara and a bell-shaped dress. Through her outer skirt that draped like a curtain, the inner white skirt could be seen as she walked. Pinetalia opened her mouth to exclaim in awe.

“Really, I can’t help but continually be in awe.”

“I feel the same way. The rumors were not an exaggeration.”

“Did you not come when you were but a prince?”

“Many years have passed since then. It is but a faint memory.”

Khan’s king laughed out loud at his wit. He was very tall and had dark skin and thick muscles which made him look like a wild animal but when he laughed, he was but an animated man. Lu Havre’s lips curved into a small smile.

“I’m the same way.”

A man much bigger than Racondella II opened his mouth. He was Lu Havre’s chief general.

“It’s also my first time at Theheras. I thank you again for inviting us.”

Limne, the alliance made between the weak countries, had been established long ago and now had a power that the other countries could not ignore. Limne’s chief general was the creator of the alliance, and so he had great skill in communicating in various languages and was accustomed to their respective customs. Even among the world’s greatest leaders, he was not intimidated by them and looked comfortable.

“There’s no need to mention it.” He laughed lightly and quietly lifted his glass. The others followed suit and also lifted their glasses. The deep red wine was emptied in a heartbeat and Pastoca’s smile widened.

“Something great will come out of this for us.”

“It will be the same for Khan, too. But General, where have your soldiers gone?”

“Oh, they are probably enjoying a vacation, now that it looks like we are no longer in danger.”

“As you said, that’s not something you will have to worry about now.”

Here were Khan’s king and queen, Limne’s general, Saffold’s king, and the owner of this place. Lattrice’s most influential members were all together in one place. They asked each other how they were doing, exclaimed over the extravagant banquet, wet their palettes with canapes, and drank wine as they continued their conversation.

“Truthfully, I didn’t know that Yurim would be here.”

“Me, too. But I don’t see our past princess.”

“He said he would take a look around the banquet after the opening ceremony.”

Like an old friend, Pastoca referred to Saffold’s king by name. Yurim’s grey hair was already waving in the vicinity. Like a black knight, his eyes sparkled as Yurim smiled sheepishly.

“General. I just heard a fun little story.”

Pastoca had on an expression that said he already knew what he was referring to.

“That library he spoke of.”

“I, too, am quite interested.”

“You mean Ottoi and Wroclaw?”

“Is that what they call it?”

“For a library, it is quite large. Am I allowed to go there?”

“Of course.”

Inside the palace library of Monterobis, Wroclaw’s works were organized neatly in a row. Having heard of this long ago, Yurim had wanted to visit the place. His eyes sparkled.

“Thank you. It will be a nice detour.”

“I agree.”

Khan’s king lowered his voice drastically and continued to speak. “Skara is refusing to open their doors.”

“That’s true. How did you manage to form a treaty with them?”

“After winning a long war, there wasn’t much I couldn’t do.”

“That, too, is true.” Pastoca nodded casually.

“It was a cultural exchange. It was good for this country as well.”

“We all seem to be of one mind.”

“I heard that Khan’s soldiers are superb.”

Racondella II burst out laughing.

“Is that so? I’m just happy I got to see that painting with my own eyes.”

It was a painting of a Nante, the still living king, as an extravagant gold dragon with red eyes. Nante’s palace artist, Lausanne, had been the creator and there were many replicas in Monterobis’s palaces as well. Lu Havre smiled slightly.

“Are you interested in art?”

“Truthfully, my daughter is an artist.”

“Oh, ho. The princess?”

“Yes. I’m embarrassed to say, but she dapples in it. She is only an amateur though.”

“I would like to see it sometime.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that she had such great artistic skills.”

Kahn’s king laughed jovially at the curiosity filled laugh and words. He gently wrapped his arms around his daughter’s shoulders and said, “Pine, we have very important people here, so please show them your work.”

“Yes, father.”

Lu Havre pointed to a corner where the tapestry hung.

“As a matter of fact, there are many famous artists present here. There they are together.”

“I see. But I would like to talk with you more.”

“I would like that, too. Will they still be there tomorrow?”

“Of course. You can head over there tomorrow.”

“Then, princess, please show me your art piece tomorrow.”

“I will do that. Pine?”

“Yes, I will gladly do that.”

“You can also visit the palace library tomorrow. I believe it is closed right now.”

“Very well. Pine, would you like to go with us?”

“Yes. Father. It is a place I would love to see.”

Everyone laughed lightly and drank a sip of wine. The bitter and sweet scent of wine made him feel good. Yurim opened his mouth.

“Was there anyone who went to Wroclaw with you recently?”

“Yurim, you have quite a lot of interest in me.”

“I think so, too.”

“You can say it’s a fondness. It’s a place I had always wanted to go since I was young.”

Yurim smiled gently. Lu Havre sipped another gulp of wine. A sweet essence stayed at the edge of his tongue.

“There is one person who knows.”

“Oh, ho. Who is that?”

“A princess from Skara.”

“Is she here?”

“Of course. She has been here for some time.”

“Ah. That princess.”

Lu Havre smiled ambiguously.

“I will escort the princess here.”

“Great.”

“We will stay here.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Lu Havre looked around casually. It was not her, not her, not her. Suddenly, purple hair swept into his view. It really was quite sudden that this woman caught his eye. He strutted over towards her. She was not too far away.

“Princess.”

The voice was not quiet. Suddenly, a woman turned around.

“Yes? Did you call me?”

“Oh. Never mind.”

Based on her dress, it was the princess from Saffold. He remembered that here, right now, there were also other princesses from Skara. The Saffold princess bowed gracefully. After receiving her greeting Lu Havre started to walk elsewhere.

He saw the easily identified style of the Skara dresses. There were three women standing together, practically leaning against the wall. He could hear snippets of their conversation.

“…I’ve grown accustomed to this style after wearing it for a while.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, she also used to like this style of dress.”

“Sister. What do you mean by what you just said?”

It was a quite combative tone. Lu Havre stopped walking. He could easily decipher how the conversation was going. He also could tell who the sister was talking about. It was the same type of thing that he had encountered when he was young.

However, she reacted stronger than he had expected. He had thought that she would laugh it off but she remained firm and confident. Well, she did make that ruckus when she first came here. A laugh escaped him.

“I don’t mean much by it. You know that, don’t you?”

“Your expression is quite harsh. Ashite-Ploca.”

“You know it has nothing to do with that. Sister, you know that well, don’t you?”

She may have been smiling but her voice was cold. One of the princesses wearing the Hanuem sighed and lowered her head, then stared straight at her again.

“Yes. Of course.”