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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Bass Clef Tattoo
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"Yes. Hold on a moment."
Arkid asked for my permission and began drawing something on my palm. He pressed firmly up to the two dots, and I immediately recognized what it was.
"Bass Clef?"
"Yes. That man's wrist had a Bass Clef tattooed on it."
"Some kind of mark representing an organization?"
"I'm not sure about that. I haven't seen it on any other priests. Maybe the guy just had a musical note tattoo and was pretending to be a priest."
Arkid answered uncertainly.
But something about it felt off to me.
No one who uses kids to do their dirty work operates alone.
I'd even bet one of Akid's portraits back home that there was someone pulling the strings.
The novel never mentioned any group marked with musical notes, did it?
I wondered if Grand Duke Hadellus might already be tracking them down, so I asked,
"Did you tell Father about the musical note?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Akid stared at me for a moment before answering calmly.
"I've never been close enough to Father to have that kind of conversation. We've only recently been able to meet alone."
It was a sad story, but his voice was matter-of-fact, as if he'd never even hoped for more. It made my chest tighten unexpectedly.
As the novel described, Akid shared no bond whatsoever with the Grand Duke.
Their relationship was purely one of necessity—a family tie wrapping a thorough business partnership.
Now that I'd come to live in this house myself, I realized just how tough it must have been for Akid.
Families like this, crumbling like cornmeal, always need someone to mediate, but this one only had saboteurs.
I took Akid's hand and said,
"Still, if it had been Father, he surely would have tracked them down and punished them."
"Hmm, who knows. He might have just brushed it off as too busy. Things have only changed a bit recently, after all."
"That's true, but..."
"Don't worry about it. It's all in the past anyway, and even if we found that guy now, nothing would change. We can't even be sure those kids from back then are still alive..."
Akid fiddled with my hand, perhaps thinking of those friends.
"Isn't it more hopeful not knowing what happened to them?"
"Got it. I won't tell Father."
I hooked my pinky with his to seal the promise, and Akid chuckled softly.
"In exchange, you promise too, Akid."
"Promise what?"
"No more blaming yourself."
"..."
"That was just an accident. There was nothing wrong with what you did. You were just struggling to survive."
Right. The fault lies with the adult who made a poor beggar kid do something evil.
Akid didn't show it, but he must have faced countless dangers wandering the streets.
Honestly, how hard must it have been to navigate this harsh world as a child?
If I'd been in that situation, I'd probably have frozen or starved to death.
That was an age when he should have been protected under his parents' wings. I suddenly wondered what kind of person Akid's mother had been.
Just as I was about to ask, Elena approached us.
"Let's go. It looks like we'll have to stay at the temple tonight."
I had so many more questions for Akid that I glanced back and forth between him and Elena, my lips twitching.
"Do men and women have to separate again this time?"
"Why? Do you want to share a room with Akid?"
"It'd be easier for the attendants if we stayed together instead of taking up multiple rooms..."
"Since when do you care about the attendants?"
Elena chuckled and continued,
"The temple keeps men and women strictly apart."
Her firm words made my "Yeees" drag out in disappointment.
What a ridiculously prudish temple rule. My plan to sneak in some conjugal bliss during the overnight stay failed before it even started. I muttered under my breath,
"Separate rooms here too... It's not like we're practicing chastity."
"Ahem."
Akid cleared his throat right on cue.
Surely not a sigh of relief at dodging a near-miss with sharing a bed?
I felt a pang of hurt looking at Akid, who was avoiding my gaze, but then Elena spoke up.
"I know I'm not enough for you, but bear with it, dear."
"Enough? You're more than overflowing."
"That's a relief, then."
The Grand Duchess was starting to resemble the Grand Duke. With Elena and Akid each holding one of my hands, I was led to the lodging like a prisoner en route.
We were just about to part ways at the fork in the path when Akid whispered softly in my ear.
"Shall we take a nighttime stroll later?"
At that moment, back in Pradium, there was another guest besides Roena's group: Crown Prince Jeronis Kahn Haint of Haint.
Beside him, Edward Essel, the Young Duke of Essel, fidgeted with a bored expression.
"Jero, I'm bored."
"If you're that bored, go dive into the lake outside."
Jeronis replied indifferently without looking up from his book. Edward leaned right up to the edge of his book and asked,
"Wanna come?"
"You know I can't leave the lodging."
Officially, Jeronis was in the north with Edward for an academic survey.
This gathering, disguised as a regular seminar, was actually for Jeronis to receive a blessing in Pradium.
He had to get periodic blessings to avoid seizures.
Thus, under the Duke of Essel's initiative, Jeronis visited Pradium regularly.
The reason for coming all the way to this remote place was that Pradium had once been the lair of the dark dragon Zapharsia.
Filled with dragon power incomparable to the imperial palace, just staying there invigorated him.
Yet the one guy who knew best that he had to stay quietly in the lodging was nagging him to go out every other day.
"A quick trip should be fine, right? Who's gonna notice?"
"If you want to go out that bad, go alone. I've got to finish this book."
Jeronis pushed Edward's face away firmly. His shadow was falling on the page.
Edward pouted at the dismissive attitude and grumbled,
"I knew it. Shouldn't have come along. Dad tricked me."
"I told you. The only fun in Pradium is running or swimming. Isn't it weirder to even think of vacationing at a temple?"
Every word out of his mouth hit the mark, frustrating Edward. He flopped onto the bed, then murmured with a sly grin,
"Ah, should have brought Cathy along. At least that would've been more fun than hanging with you, Jero."
Jeronis finally reacted to Edward's words. He looked up from his book and snapped,
"Is Lady Essel your plaything?"
"As if. She's my precious little sister."
Edward grinned cheekily, sprawling on the bed with his hands clasped in mock prayer.
Jeronis saw through the playful ploy to get his attention by mentioning Catherine and let out a deep sigh.
"Even if you wanted to, she couldn't have come. She broke her leg horseback riding."
"What?"
Jeronis's visible agitation made Edward scowl deeply as he replied,
"She insisted on standing in the saddle and tumbled off. Lucky only one leg snapped."
"Hasn't she been riding for long...?"
Jeronis looked incredulous. Remembering the incident, Edward shot up and ranted,
"Exactly! She's got no fear. I yelled at her, and she just giggled. Knows she's cute."
"And the treatment?"
"Who do you think my dad is? He heard while on a trip and raced back at light speed. Treatment's the doctor's job, but he fusses anyway. When I broke my leg, he barely glanced."
Edward shook his head, badmouthing the duke, but Jeronis countered,
"You think he'd treat you the same as his daughter? Besides, Lady Essel had that severe illness this year, so no wonder he's on edge."
"True. She nearly died that time, so yeah, Dad's probably anxious. Especially since no one knew the cause."
Edward scratched his cheek and continued,
"Anyway, Pradium's holy water's great for recovery, so I'm buying some to take back for Catherine."
"Good idea for once. Want some for me?"
Jeronis asked magnanimously, but Edward shook his head.
Pradium's holy water was rare, limited to one per person, so he declined.
"Nah. You need it too. Even if you take a lot, the holy power fades quick anyway."
Edward waved it off again and stood up. As Jeronis stared, he said,
"Can't stand it anymore. Gonna go dive like you said."
"Don't get caught, or you're dead."
"Pfft, sure. Don't cry that you're lonely without me, Jero. No tears."
"You're insane?"
Jeronis recoiled as if to throw the book, and Edward bolted out of the room.
He circled around carefully to avoid detection and reached Pradium's central fountain.
There, Edward spotted someone at the fountain and ducked behind a pillar.
When he peeked and confirmed who it was, Edward forgot to breathe, eyes wide.
A red-haired girl sat by the fountain, swinging her legs as if waiting for someone.
Her blue eyes sparkled like an emerald sea. Her white skin, lit by the lamps, gleamed like porcelain.
Edward watched her breathlessly for a long while, his face turning as red as her hair.
