Chapter 45
45
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"Well."
If that were the case, the little Princess had been waving her hand the entire time on the carriage.
Before the man could properly answer the question, the boy corrected him.
"Judging by her smile, it doesn't seem like she's scared. Ah, I heard that King Ruelle has Healing Power? So, the Princess must not be afraid of falling."
The man laughed out loud at the hopeful words.
"But I heard that King Ruelle's Healing Power isn't that strong. It wouldn't be enough to heal injuries from falling off that carriage."
"Or maybe the Princess has Healing Power too?"
The man took his eyes off the window and looked at the boy.
"Maybe not yet. It's known that the Princess of Ruelle usually receives her ability during the seven-year-old Divination."
"That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be Healing Power, right?"
"That's right. Although it's often Healing Power, there have been times when they received Foresight or telekinesis."
The seven-year-old boy, who had been listening seriously, let out a hollow laugh that didn't suit his age.
"Telekinesis, like in the legend of the twin Princesses who raised the sea and separated Ikan Island? That's just a legend."
The man shook his head with a deliberately serious expression.
"You never know. Ikan Island is too mysterious to simply dismiss it as a legend. There are really many customs similar to Ruelle's there."
The boy turned to the man for a moment and asked.
"Then, Teacher, do you really believe that legend?"
The man, called Teacher, didn't answer easily.
The boy didn't particularly dwell on it and turned his gaze back to the window.
Then, he suddenly asked a strange question.
"Could I ever be friends with that girl?"
"Friends?"
This time, the man was truly taken aback.
The boy's name was Shade Joseph Valenhaier.
He was the eldest son of Valenhaier, who had ascended to the position of Crown Prince at the age of five.
'For someone who will become Emperor, to see the Sacred King of a small country as just a friend.'
Well, even if he was intelligent, he was still only seven years old.
It was an age where he could fully admire the little girl flying in the sky on a shining carriage.
The man opened his lips and said something else instead of answering.
"Thanks to the Magic Tower's teleportation magic, we arrived in Ruelle in just two days. Magical creatures and Divinity will become obsolete relics in Your Highness's world."
The boy's gaze, who had heard an irrelevant answer, turned to his teacher again, and suddenly took on a different light.
"…Gernan."
The man realized his mistake and bowed deeply.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"If you want to live in my world with me, answer properly when I ask."
He was sometimes gentle and kind because he was young, but he was of the Valenhaier bloodline, which could not be deceived.
He was the son of the only Emperor on the continent.
A chill rippled from his fingertips, but Gernan trembled with joy instead.
"…Of course, you can be friends. Whatever you wish, it will be done according to Your Highness's will."
Crown Prince Shade's gaze returned to the window.
He took in the shining white horse, the gold-plated four-wheeled carriage, and the man in Clerical robes in turn.
Then, he looked at the small girl with black hair.
For a long time, until she completely left the plaza.
* * *
The first day of the Thanksgiving Festival was really long.
The banquet that started around noon continued until sunset, and later, my mouth became so sweet that I didn't want to eat anything.
"Your Highness, are you very tired?"
Gray approached and asked before I knew it.
I sighed as if I had been waiting and whispered in Gray's ear.
"I wanna go to my woom and sweep."
"Shall I go and ask Your Highness?"
My parents were initially seated at the head table with me, but after finishing their meal, they wandered around the banquet hall with glasses in hand, chatting with the nobles.
Then, at some point, they were each standing at opposite ends of the banquet hall, greeting guests, so both of them were quite far from the head table where I was sitting.
"…Willyou?"
I asked back like that because I was annoyed, then shook my head and got up from my seat.
"No, wet's go togethew. Awen't you bowed? Wanna go to my woom togethew?"
"Uh…"
Gray hesitated.
He would need his father's permission to leave his seat too.
'But my mother is stronger than these guys' fathers.'
I went straight to my mother with Gray.
"Mom!"
"Oh, my daughter! You came?"
My mother's cheeks, which lifted me up in a flash, were flushed with wine.
I giggled and asked.
"Can I go west with Gray and west?"
"Oh, with our Child of Blessing?"
The nobles around burst into laughter at my mother's joke.
"It seems like the next consort will come from Hestia after all?"
"Did you see how dignified he was when he answered during the Time of Blessing earlier?"
"Look at them holding hands and coming to Your Highness now. Where else would you see such a beautiful couple?"
We didn't hold hands?
As I looked around in bewilderment, Gray was blushing with his head bowed.
Seriously…
'What do you know to be blushing?'
I was dumbfounded, but my mother smiled happily and nodded at me.
Then, she called out softly.
"Tris."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Take the Princess and the Young Marquess to rest."
Marquis Hestia also chimed in, lowering his voice.
"My son will send a servant to bring him back before it's time for Your Highness to sleep."
"Do so."
We left the banquet hall only after permission was granted.
I was so sleepy in the banquet hall, but as soon as I stepped into the hallway, my eyes became clear.
Gray seemed to be the same, as he asked, shining his blue eyes.
"Your Highness, you were really cool this morning. Since when have you been riding a Celestial Steed?"
"Since today."
"Huh?"
Our laughter echoed in the bustling hallway of the festival.
* * *
Nigel Grand Duke put his heart and soul into the Ruelle Thanksgiving Festival every year.
In Nigel, the Baha Festival was celebrated most grandly, but after all, wasn't this the position of the consort he had chosen?
'I must do my best so that I am not ashamed before Baha.'
Thus, the Grand Duke had been participating in the royal procession with even Celestial Steeds mobilized since the birth of the Princess.
The Thanksgiving Festival, which had lasted for several days, was now entering its final stages, and most of the major events were over.
'The banquet still has two days left, though…'
He was a consort, but also the King of a neighboring country.
Knowing well that not all the gazes of the nobles looking at him could be kind, the Grand Duke's every word had to be careful at all times.
As he was a little tired from doing so, someone in white Clerical robes caught his eye.
"Isn't that Derato?"
The man holding a cane bowed politely.
"Are you the Baha High Priest?"
Even though it had been several years since he had seen Derato, he immediately recognized the Grand Duke's voice.
A soft smile crossed the Grand Duke's weary lips.
"I don't think I saw you at the Temple during the Thanksgiving Festival, did you arrive late?"
Derato bowed his head as if ashamed.
His brown eyes, which were visible up close, were more clouded than before.
'It seems he has completely lost his sight.'
Derato had been running errands at the Temple since he was young, but unfortunately, he lost his sight after accidentally touching a Poisonous herb.
"I am sorry. The carriage broke down on the way, so I couldn't make it on schedule."
"Oh dear…"
Nigel Grand Duke clicked his tongue.
Troyne was not only a corner of Ruelle but also a remote area in the entire continent.
The Temple of the Sun was in that Troyne, and it was built on a huge hill to reach closer to the sun.
'So, the journey couldn't have been easy…'
To send Derato of all people.
"Since there is a shortage of Priests, an insufficient person like me was assigned an important task. My attendant also suffered a lot on the way. Please forgive me."
The Grand Duke quickly came to his senses at Priest of Derato's apology and placed his hand on his shoulder as if to comfort him.
"Don't say that. You've worked hard. I'm about to visit the Temple of Shamash soon, so come back with me when you return."
"The Baha High Priest?"
"Yes, there's something I want to find out."
"This is the first time I've heard of this, but did you send word?"
The Grand Duke grabbed the young Priest's arm again as if to encourage him, who was flustered.
"It was decided suddenly, so not yet. I'll send word soon, so don't worry."
Then, he asked the attendant standing next to the Priest.
"Did you both have something to eat?"
"Y-yes, of course. Baha High Priest."
"You worked hard escorting the Priest on a long journey. I'll give you a room nearby so you can stay comfortably."
"T-thank you!"
Priest of Derato bowed his head together with his cloudy eyes.
"I will repay the Baha High Priest's generosity someday."
Baha High Priest Kildebert Delacroix Nigel.
He was one of the few people that Derato wanted to touch his face.