Chapter 35

Ashite let all the maids out. Lucia looked a little worried, but she stepped back politely. Ashite looked out the window. The light was bright, and no lanterns were needed. She rose up like someone possessed and headed straight to the dance room.

The room, which had not lost its ivory light, welcomed her. She slumped into the piano chair like she had weak legs. She placed her hand on the dustless white keyboard. She was playing a song when she realized that, although no one was listening, a woman in her memory was listening to it — a beautiful woman with violet hair that hung graciously, mother. Ashite could never forget her mother, so she was subconsciously thinking about her again.

As her thoughts continued, they turned into thoughts about him. Her hands stopped. Ashite slowly dropped her head. She sighed heavily. The mother in her mind whispered something frightening to her. “No, mother, I would never forget you,” Ashite thought back to her. She was okay because she had her mother. So, she would never forget her promise that she would not become attached to anybody. But how had this happened again?

She jumped up from the chair. Ashite started to stomp her feet. Instinctively, she danced again. The light from the sun was lost and it was time to eat, but she barely ate anything. The chief maid looked more worried than in the morning, but Ashite didn’t mind. She was sweating from dance, singing, dance, piano, and dance again. Her pinkish-purple hair was sticking to her cheeks here and there, but she didn’t care.

She lit the lamps. They were faint but bright, although it still seemed dark even though she had turned them on.

Ashite sang a song. She hummed, just like her mother had.

The day was over again, and even as the darkness had fallen, she didn’t think to leave the dance room. While she was dancing, singing, and playing the piano, all of a sudden, she heard footsteps. That footsteps were familiar to her. At that moment, that person knocked on the door.

Once, she thought it couldn’t be right. She was parched with thirst.

Twice, her fingertips trembled, and she suddenly felt like she wanted to cry.

Three times, she was not sure if she wanted to laugh instead.

“Ashite, are you there?” his voice called.

She never wanted to be rude to the king. She would not ignore him. Her mouth felt sandy.

“—yes, Your Majesty,” Ashite answered.

Lu Havre opened the door without hesitation.

He strode in. He was a glamorous man under all the lights from the lamps. His red cloak was fluttering lightly. His eyes were darker than the sunset and brighter than ruby.

Ashite stood still in the room. His eyes meet hers. No one looked away.

Ashite took a few steps forward and politely bowed. It was quiet, just like a butterfly gently spreading its wings.

“I see you, Your Majesty, and please forgive me for the rudeness of late reply—” she began to say.

But her voice broke. Ashite bit her lip lightly. She didn’t know if she wanted to cry or laugh.

Lu Havre answered immediately, his voice like a sigh. “It’s Ok.”

She was not crying. Lu Havre took a deep breath. She was wearing an ivory dress as usual. A white piano next to her, ivory, her pinkish-purple hair, white; the colors filled his eyes. Lu Havre walked to the piano with long strides.

“Do you know how to play the piano, too?” he asked.

His voice was somewhat confident.

“Yes,” she answered.

He also had learned piano as part of his liberal arts class. It was a bit of an old memory. Lu Havre put his hand on the keys. He hadn’t meant to, but his hands naturally moved to the piano.

A large, darkish hand rose on the white keyboard. He pressed the key with his thumb. Then, he pushed the other four keys, one by one. The tone went up.

He looked pretty serious, but also seemed as casual as usual. She thought she couldn’t guess his expression, and she couldn’t imagine his heart.

Ashite looked at him. It was not the first time that the king had come to the dance room. He had come to the room a couple of times before, but he had always left quietly. But now…

She could impart meaning to it if she tried. He dropped by the room and spoke some words while he pressed the piano keys lightly.

At that moment, a rhythm flowed out. It was one of the basic pieces of music anybody would learn when they were taught how to play the piano. The song resembled spring rain. It was suitable for young children to hum. The king was concentrating on playing.

Ashite stood still and listened, and then a thought popped into her mind. Since she had thought about her mother all day long, it was natural for Ashite to again think of her mother; sunshine, a piano, singing, dancing, her mother, and the dance room.

The dance room was the center of all happiness. But thinking deeply about it, it was not just a happy memory. It was in the dance room that she had experienced that terrible nightmare and that she realized that her mother was not with her anymore.

But she was not in Lotte Bishel anymore, and this king was not that kind of a man. So, it was fine. This moment was a night without sun, and this place was not Lotte Bishel. There was no dance, no song, and no mother. But the king of this country was playing the piano right in front of her, a song that was soft and lively, just like spring rain.

Lu Havre did not even sit down. His red cloak hung down long. The tall man bent his waist slightly forward, moved his hands quickly, and played the piano. The song kept going on.

Then, the music suddenly stopped. Lu Havre stood up again. His hair rustled slightly, his red cloak lightly swirled, and his face showed signs of laugher.

Lu Havre lightly gripped and released his hands. It had been a long time since he had played the piano, and it was as if the feeling of his hands had come back. He was just going to touch the keyboard, but somehow, he had played that song. He turned his head. The princess had a small smile on her face, and she bowed her head slightly as if she had listened to the song closely. Lu Havre’s smile was still there.

“Ashite, would you play a song, too?” Lu Havre asked.

“I’m not good enough,” she answered.

It was an almost reflexive answer. Ashite kept her mouth shut. Lu Havre looked at her silently. The king was smiling. She could not refuse him.

“…Yes, I’d be happy to,” she answered again.

Ashite replied briefly, then sat down. She put her hands on the white keyboard. Which song would be good? She didn’t think too long.

She started to hit a note. Her soft fingers moved lightly, like droplets of water. She sang, too. The white piano boasted a bright tone, and the woman in an ivory dress sang in a soft voice.

The Butterfly Lady Lotte, a song that Ploca liked and often hummed, was a poem written by the famous poet Elulla Shote of Skara. That poem dealt with the love of the Iron King and his concubine Lotte. It spread widely, and one day in the Khan, someone attached a rhythm to the poem. Soon, there was a dance that fit it, too. Khan’s natives loved the song, so they sang and danced. People responded well, so it quickly became famous. Since then, the song and dance had come to the continent of Marycury. It was beautiful for a popular song, so it was something that the nobility would like, too.

It was a good song. What Ashite was playing at the moment was a little different from the original song. It was something that would show off more advanced techniques. It was something splashing like a spring rain hitting a window. It flowed gently like a white bird spreading its wings. It was quick, like a small fish swimming in the water. Then, there was a climax. Ashite pressed the keys harder. At that moment, the big and intense tone permeated the dance room.

A sensation rose.

The music was over. Ashite stood up from the chair.

Lu Havre smiled and applauded. “You’re good,” he said.

The gentle waves rippled widely.

Ashite smiled faintly.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but that is an excessive compliment,” she said.

“That’s humility,” he said.

He spoke with sincerity.

Lu Havre laughed briefly. “I’ve come to say something, but I listened to a good performance instead.”

Ashite smiled sweetly and bowed to show gratitude.

“Ashite, I am going to Ramon Chater tomorrow. Would you like to go with me?” he asked.

Of course, she could not refuse.

The next day, Lu Havre and Ashite rode in the golden carriage with a dragon carved into it. They passed the well-finished road and left the castle. The driver drove carefully and quickly, and soon after, the carriage arrived at Ramon Chater.

Ramon Chater was still white and clean; the school of noble scholars. Lu Havre headed straight for the main building. Ashite didn’t ask where he was going. She assumed there would be a reason. That was what she had heard from the chief maid that morning. So, the king had done this so she would be able to meet Lante.

Lu Havre was not wearing a red cloak this time. He wore a white shirt with brilliant gold embroidery, black trousers, a dark-colored vest, and a tie. He was dressed formally, but still more casual than usual. Looking at his back, Ashite thought he would fit in well in Ramon Chater.

“Sister.” She heard Lante’s voice.

L’avenant waited for her on the lawn as if he had already heard the news. She was glad to see him. They laughed. They had exchanged letters, but it had been a long time since they had actually seen each other.

L’avenant asked her to take a walk since the weather was nice and the leaves of Ramon Chater had changed color beautifully. Ashite smiled happily.

The director looked like he didn’t know what to do when he met the king himself. He didn’t do that because he felt guilty, but because he was naturally nervous as he stood in front of the king. He would have never thought the king himself would come there. Lu Havre gestured lightly as if he understood the director’s mind.

He heard there had been rebellious rumors or something there, so it must be true. There were some people still trembling just from looking at him. It was annoying, as it reminded him of old memories about what would rumors were like. Emotions lasted longer than memories.

The servant poured the tea. It was a high-grade tea leaf form Khan. The color was fair. The servants put thick folders on the table and quietly stepped back.

The director looked less nervous, and he had gotten himself together. He began to casually report to the king. Lu Havre filtered through what he needed. He sometimes asked questions, underlined the papers, and wrote down some words. The director had been in his position for a long time, so he answered without embarrassment. The relaxed conversation continued.

Time passed nonchalantly.

“Your Majesty. Then, I’ll bring the elder professors,” the director said.

Lu Havre was about to tell him to ask the servant to do that instead, but did not. The director looked calm, but the king could tell he was still nervous. He soon was left alone in the room. Lu Havre pressed his shoulders. He was used to sitting long, but he was still a man capable of feeling tired. The servant had left the window open, but he wanted to feel a colder wind.

He walked to the window and opened it more. There was a massive fountain with clear water, a green lawn, marble statues, and colored leaves that dyed Ramon Chater beautifully. There were three or four chairs in the center as well, and there were two people in one chair.

Under the great maple tree, she sat with the Prince of Skara. Her hair shined under the sun. The woman who wore a dress that exposed her shoulders continuously smiled. The red and yellow leaves filled his vision, and that woman was smiling pleasantly in the middle. It looked like they were having a good conversation. He could not hear her because of the distance, but it was enough to see her. Lu Havre leaned against the window; he did not need to, but it happened, just like that. He kept his eyes on her.

That smile was unaffected. It was like the only sunlight in the dark, the drizzle moistened dry land, the gentle waves under the yellow-red dyed sunset. It shined like it had sunshine in it. He could see it so well, even though it was not close. Her pinkish-purple hair slightly blew with the wind, and her eyes were curved with her smile. Her smiles could make other people feel good, too.

“I want her,” Lu Havre suddenly thought.

What? Lu Havre was startled. He stood straight up again and wondered what he had just thought. He had no idea what kind of feeling this was.

“What did I just say?” But there was no time to be surprised. There was something that quickly dominated his mind before the embarrassment. More substantial and stronger emotions than embarrassment suddenly captured his whole mind.

That feeling, he was not sure what color it was. No, it was ivory, yellow, and white sunshine, or sweet candy-like hair that young children would enjoy, pinkish-purple in color. He knew what color that was. The moment he realized it, it came to him like a storm. Before he even knew it, it swallowed him like a tsunami. He was swept away without the chance to defy it, and there were thoughts and emotions that spread from his toes to his head.

“I want the girl who smiles like that,” he thought again.

His heart pounded. He was sure he was alone in the room, but it was so loud that he worried whether anybody could hear. His heart was beating.

“I want her?” he questioned himself.