Chapter 34
34
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I was so surprised that I froze.
My father had given us the same gift before.
A Sacred object made by stringing together glass beads containing various jewels.
'Tears of Baha...'
This wasn't just a glass craft, not just a jewel that could be bought with money, but a Sacred object passed down through the Nigel family.
'But before, he clearly gave it to us after the seventh birthday Divination...'
At that time, my father said that this Sacred object would help with the manifestation of Divinity.
I don't know when Rosa's Divinity manifested, but she also said it when she finally proved her Foresight at the age of fifteen.
"It's all thanks to Father. Because the Sacred Bracelet Father gave me reflected a vision, I was finally able to read the future."
The bracelet, which we took turns wearing every other day, became Rosa's after that.
"Finally, my foot."
Rosa lied every time she opened her mouth, but the story about the bracelet was probably somewhat true.
In fact, Rosa read the future with a large mirror or a transparent glass bead.
At times like that, she really...
'She looked sacred. She looked like she would be a great King, and she was a very reliable older sister...'
I shook my head to dispel my futile expectations of Rosa.
'But why did Father send the bracelet already? It's still a long way to go before the Divination...'
While I was lost in thought, Beatrice finally reached the last line of the letter.
"...Let's meet at the Thanksgiving Festival. I love you, Rostel. From Nigel Palace, Father. Kyaa! He's so sweet."
She folded the letter she had read and put it back in the envelope, and only then did she discover the box in my hand.
"Oh my! Isn't that 'Tears of Baha'?"
"Ung?"
When I asked back, pretending not to know, Beatrice babbled.
"No, that, well, that's a very famous Sacred object that has been passed down through the Nigel family... People even go on pilgrimages to Nigel to see it, right? Did Your Highness really send it? And not even bring it yourself?"
I see...
I wondered why he sent the Celestial Steed for no reason.
Beatrice continued to chatter.
"No, so why did he send the Celestial Steed? Hmm, of course, there are fakes of that bracelet all over the continent, but... His Majesty wouldn't send a fake."
There are fakes all over the continent?
'Our Tris is a genius.'
I hugged Beatrice tightly.
"Your Highness?"
Then, in front of the puzzled Beatrice, I quickly put on the bracelet.
It's still too big, so I have to push it up to my forearm.
As I did, I replied with a straight face.
"Why is this Tears? Tears are too sad, and this is very pretty!"
Fortunately, my father didn't write about the Sacred object in the letter.
"Of course, it is..."
Then there's no reason to share the bracelet with Rosa!
I smiled confidently in front of Beatrice, who had a sullen face.
* * *
'The reason my father sent the Sacred object when I was seven years old...'
I lay in bed, touching the bracelet, and kept thinking.
'To help me gain the Divinity that the gods foretold early.'
That was all.
'Then it must be the same reason this time.'
In other words, my father came to expect Divinity earlier than before.
'Why? What has changed from the past?'
The differences from the past...
In fact, there were countless already.
My relationship with my father had improved, and my class schedule had changed.
I made friends, and I saved Yan.
'Yan.'
Among them, the one my father would pay attention to is Yan, of course.
'Yan, who might be a Magical creature.'
Unlike the Divinity of the Ruelle Royal Family, which is given along with abilities, the Divinity of the priests is often limited to weak Blessings and Invocations.
However, at the Baha Temple in Nigel, they train a more special ability, which is communion with the Celestial Steed.
'I heard that my father, who was a Grand Duke, was appointed High priest because of his superior ability to communicate with Magical creatures.'
So my father would have expected it after learning about Yan.
If Yan is a Magical creature like the Celestial Steed...
'There must be Divinity in the one who handles Yan.'
That's me.
I smiled and stroked the bracelet.
'I can't share the bracelet that might awaken Divinity with Rosa.'
If fakes of this bracelet are so common, as Beatrice said, there must be some of pretty good quality.
'I can get one that looks exactly the same and give it to Rosa!'
Then Rosa will only think that she and I are taking turns wearing the bracelet, and she won't even dream that it's a different object.
Although it's a fake, it's an angelic gift compared to the Poisonous herb Scent pouch Rosa gave me.
'Of course, it's not like I'm filling the beads with poison.'
However, the problem is how to get a fake...
It would be great if Gray could move, but he's only six years old.
'If he were only ten years old, I would have used him somehow.'
I regretted it and thought of other candidates.
My mother and Gabriella, who always put 'fairness' first, should be excluded first.
'I'd rather make some excuse and ask my father to get it for me...'
I thought about it that far and shook my head.
My father is the High priest, and he wouldn't even be happy with the fact that fakes of this object exist.
'Then... Beatrice?'
But if I really want to get a perfect top-quality product...
After much deliberation, there was only one candidate left.
'Icarus.'
He is the King's shadow.
Therefore, he can get anything that exists in this kingdom, and he was also the only person who might turn a blind eye to me giving Rosa a fake bracelet.
He's been very friendly with me lately, and he's someone I want to make my ally someday.
'Shall I test him?'
First of all, it doesn't seem like Icarus would refuse my offer.
Of course, there is a chance that he will tell my mother about my request as it is...
"...Icarus?"
I only called out in a small voice, but soon the door opened and my mother's knight appeared.
He made eye contact with me, approached the bedside, and knelt on one knee.
"Did you call for me?"
I looked at Icarus's chest, where a dried flower was pinned, and replied.
"I can't sleep."
Since I was still lying in bed, I had to look up at him, who was kneeling.
Fortunately, a small smile appeared on Icarus's lips.
"That's unusual. You usually don't even know if I carry you away when you fall asleep."
"I know a lot of times...?"
I answered as if grumbling and slyly moved my arm to show the bracelet.
He raised one eyebrow as he recognized my intention.
"Did you receive a bracelet... as a gift? I wonder if it's the object I'm thinking of."
I slowly nodded and called him again.
"Icarus."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"If... if I make a secret request, will Icarus grant it?"
His smile deepened slightly.
"Your Highness has nothing to ask of me. Just command me."
I reached out to him and waited patiently until Icarus hesitated for a long time before taking it.
Finally, he held my hand very lightly and asked again.
"If... if I ask you to keep it a secret from Mommy too?"
"I..."
I thought he might reject me with a serious face, but his smile unexpectedly did not fade.
He seemed to think that a four-year-old Princess's request would be very trivial.
"I am His Majesty the King's sword, but I am also the sword that His Majesty gave to Your Highness. If the command is not treason, I will of course follow Your Highness."
Treason...!
That was a very unkind explanation for a four-year-old.
'That's why it was so hard to communicate with him.'
I was dumbfounded as I recalled the past and let go of his hand.
Then I took off the bracelet on my other wrist and handed it to him.
"...Your Highness?"
"Look closely."
Then Icarus examined the bracelet with his eyes only, without even touching it.
I took a deep breath and lowered my voice.
"Get me a fake that looks exactly like this. If you need jewels, take anything from that drawer over there."
My request was quite unexpected, so he asked first for once.
"Yes? Why a fake..."
I smiled brightly so as not to show any malice.
"My sister needs to have the same thing so I can wear this during the day too."
