Chapter 33

Amerina leaned against the balcony railing, her hair like a night sky drifting in the wind. Those golden eyes of hers were like stars. It had taken a while to join the feast. The high society was the same as always. People liked the fancy dresses, enjoyed the banquet with their cultured words and graceful deeds, and were sensitive to the rumors. They pretended they had no interest but continued to talk.

“Oh, baroness. How have you been?”

“Are you alright?”

Many people seemed curious about her.

Of course, Amerina told everyone who looked at her with a strange glance everything she knew. The more people found out about the situation, the better. It had been months, but few had forgotten what had happened that dawn, and it had spread to not just the capital, but also the provinces. So, almost everyone who attended Theheras gave her a curious look, and some of them actively asked questions.

Amerina smiled lightly.

“Yes, I am well,” she answered to all of them.

Then, they murmured again. “It must be true that the king helped the dead knights’ families.”

“Yes, through the chancellor,” one said.

“You mean the duke. I received that letter, too,” the other said.

Including some barons, counts, and viscounts, a lot of people had received compensation. They knew about each other in secret and Amerina didn’t want to hide it, so she told other people about the truth.

That was her role.

The rumor that Del Monte III was a tyrant had subsided a little, but many still feared the king. Of course, the impression of being cruel and cold was not bad. It was also important to punish defiant people and not let others commit similar negligence.

However, that was not the only goal Lu Havre had. He needed to leave the impression that he could mourn the knights who had died and secretly take care of the households that needed help.

“I will tell about the Yerv family through the Duke of Moncheta,” the king said.

“…ah…” Amerina sighed.

“You mustn’t leave the house for a while.” The king smiled strangely and continued. “Did Baron Yerv die in action?”

“Yes,” she answered.

The king nodded lightly and said, “I will make a commotion. You just need to go along with it.”

“…I will,” she answered.

“How young is your child?”

“He’s still very young.”

“I will let the child inherit the title.”

In Monterobis, the coming-of-age ceremony was necessary for the succession of titles. There were exceptions, of course. This case was one such example.

“Your Majesty … Thank you.” Amerina almost cried.

“You can come back by the time of Theheras,” he advised. He called in two royal knights and ordered them to drag her out.

“Yes, sir,” they answered.

“She came into the king’s bedroom without permission.” Lu Harve rubbed his eyes lightly.

There was silence.

“She is Baroness Yerv. Take her to her manor,” he commanded.

“As you wish. Ou Otoi Monvixo Le-Hoshuchoihre.” The knights seemed to understand the king’s command and practiced good manners towards the king.

After that day, Amerina raised her son in the estate and tried to raise her family again. She missed her husband so much, but she could try harder with the smile of her son. Her husband’s friend had helped her, and she was a clever woman. There were no problems. The finance minister occasionally sent letters and supported her financially.

She did not misunderstand the king’s intentions as something else; she knew the meaning of the disturbance she caused that dawn and why he allowed the succession of the little boy. She recognized her role as well and quickly learned that she was not treated specially. She had stayed quietly in the estate, but rumors tended to spread; she heard many people got support like this. They were all people who lost their household or son during the war.

And then Theheras came. She talked to a lot of people, and it would be no exaggeration to say that she had talked the entire time. People would think as the king had intended. She smiled shyly, but she explained the situation so well that people would not get the wrong idea. People comforted her and satisfied their curiosity. The conversation went smoothly. She was a little tired of repeating similar conversations for a few days, but Amerina was doing her job well.

It was midway through Theheras as she was talking to people. The lamps were bright. She looked away suddenly.

A woman stood there, an elegant woman who did not lose her light under a bright chandelier. She had pink and purple hair, yellow eyes, and a splendid dress that exposed her shoulders. Amerina thought she met her eyes. It was a distance their voices could reach. They smiled at each other.

“She must be the princess of Skara,” a young man, who noticed who Amerina was staring, said beside her. He greeted the princess immediately and so did Amerina.

The princess gestured like a butterfly and smiled a deeper smile as if she were glad to see them. That dark hair remained in Ashite’s memory from a long time ago.

The Theheras went on smoothly like that.

***

“Theheras is over already,” Pinetalia said.

“I feel sad to leave you guys,” Yuhansam said as well.

Ashite decided to be a little more honest. “I am sad, too.”

“I guess we can see each other next year,” Pinetalia said.

“How about we exchange letters?” Ashite suggested.

Pinetalia, who sighed of sorrow, smiled again and said, “That is a good idea.”

Yuhansam smiled lightly and agreed, “I think so, too.”

It was a really good party.

The morning was lazy, but the night was hasty. The bright lamps were out quickly. All kinds of delicacies were gone, too. Empty bottles were placed in the corners of rooms. Sweet and savory smells disappeared. The music stopped, the poets stretched, the dancers wiped their sweat, and the painters cleaned up their supplies. Everybody went to rest.

The king announced the end of Theheras. People parted after saying their goodbyes. Only the afterglow remained in the empty grand hall.

The night was quite deep. Lu Havre and Ashite were returning to the palace. The guards and servants followed quietly.

Lu Havre looked pleased — even Ashite could feel it. He didn’t hide his smile. It seemed like he spoke well with the other kings. Ashite talked to the two royals near him, so she had heard some things. The head of Limne and the three kings went through a smooth conversation about the books of Wroclaw, cultural exchanges, and knights.

Upon reflection, the king had been smiling a little more lately. Naturally, it was a good situation.

The night wind was ringing with the rustling of leaves. The flowers embroidered in the center of the royal castle were showing off their attractive dark red, purple, orange, and yellow colors in the darkness. A delicious smell sweeter than a glass of wine filled the air.

“Ashite.” The king called her with a voice fit for this mood. It was deep and calm. He looked pleased.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m here,” Ashite answered.

“If you want anything in particular, tell me,” the king offered.

This was an opportunity. Ashite swallowed. It had been a long time since he asked if there was anything she wanted. She would not refuse favors.

Her answer came quickly. “I would like to take a test for a professor position of Ramon Vischeri.”

The king stopped. Ashite stood with him. The wind hovered around them. It felt soft and cool.

Lu Havre turned to look at her. His eyes were bright and didn’t lose light even in the dark; his dark red eyes were even deeper than a sunset.

“That has been arranged for next spring,” he said. “I think you’ll be good enough.”

Ashite was a little surprised. This was not the first time this king had called her “you,” but it never sounded as nice as it did just then.

“Ask for something else,” the king said.

She thought that was enough. She felt it was already greedy to tell the king that she wanted to take a test and didn’t want anything else. Still, she didn’t want to miss the opportunity that the king offered first.

“Something else?” Ashite looked down for a moment and thought. Her eyelashes were voluminous. “That is enough,” she answered.

“Is that so?” Lu Havre asked in a light voice. He suddenly looked over her shoulder and said, “Ashite, will you come to Menang this time?”

The topic changed suddenly again.

“Yes,” she answered calmly.

Lu Havre looked directly at her and said, “I will escort you.”

Menang would come soon.

Menang was held twice a year, once when spring flowers bloomed the most and once when the autumn leaves changed the quickest. In the spring, she was absent for the previous engagement, but since she was a guest at the palace, this time she had to attend.

Menang, however, was a different banquet from Terre Sunds or Theheras. Menang was the party for young men and women couples who would have to talk and dance until dawn. Ashite was not a Monterobis person, but she had a little idea of what Menang intended.

For Menang, a person would spend the night with the person they came to the party with and they would meet the light of dawn.

Ashite almost instinctively clenched her fists and thought to herself, <>

If it was, he would not need to ask for an escort. He was the king. He could just take her as he wished, but he wasn’t that kind of man.

<> she thought.

She took a deep breath. She looked casual, but the inside of her was waving. It would be rude to keep the king waiting.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your kindness,” she replied.

Ashite did not ask why. Asking her to be an escort had a special meaning, even if it was not for Menang, but she did not try to figure out the king’s intentions. There was nothing to dig up and no reason to do so. She could guess well enough. So far, she entered the banquets by herself, only guarded by Yeref. She assumed that there was probably a reason for him to ask her to enter Menang with him.

For example, talking about Wroclaw could be such reason. She knew his interests. There could be another reason, too.

There was the fact that the king was still unmarried. Everyone would be wary of who came with the king. The nobles were trying to make their daughters become the queen, but the king was not yet interested in women. Ashite thought that could be a reason.

If anything, Ashite actually felt grateful for this kindness. She had to go to Menang regardless, but she had no idea they would go together. She could have gone by herself under Yeref’s guard, like before.

But with the king, they felt comfortable enough with each other — he wouldn’t be an awkward partner. If the king escorted her, there would be no trouble. Of course, there would be those who were jealous. There would be people who talked behind their backs. There would certainly be some gossip, but she could ignore it. She knew he would let her go if she said she was tired.

Lu Havre laughed briefly and said, “Then let’s go Menang together.”

They had reached the palace already. Ashite bowed politely and stepped back. It was a long banquet and a long night.