Chapter 20: A Cruel Technique I

“He was a strange man,” said the storyteller.

“What was strange about him?” asked the listener.

After a moment’s pause, the storyteller replied, “He studied medicine. Honest and hard-working, he was also a man of fierce loyalty. For his beloved lord, he would brave the battlefield to heal injured soldiers. He found great meaning in this work. After healing his patients, he would send them back to fight. He even treated the severely wounded with utmost effort, believing they would provide strength of arms for the morrow.

“Never considering the risk to his own life, he soon grew dissatisfied with merely performing this job. He yearned to fight for his lord, who was placed at a disadvantage, with his own hands. Compelled by a sense of duty, he used his training, experience, and observations – gained from spending so much time alongside soldiers – to devise his own martial style. He provided tremendous service. Unarmed, he marched into enemy camps alone, the results of his battles far removed from what the average person thought possible.

“Of course, a single man couldn’t subjugate an entire army alone. Even so, seeing his heroic performance emboldened his allies. As a symbol, he raised their morale to fervent heights, allowing them – in the end – to gloriously seize victory.”

Hearing this story, the listener’s eyes shone. Stories of heroism captivated people, drawing envious gazes. Nevertheless, the storyteller’s expression twisted into something most unpleasant.

“For the country who seized victory, his actions were undoubtedly heroic. Yet when I first learned of his methods, I felt – more than anything else – uncomfortable. This man, who raced across the battlefield in complete control of the situation, accomplished great things, and yet he never killed a single person.

“Without any weapons, he’d mastered unconventional techniques to incapacitate his opponents without slaying them. Precisely and swiftly, he implemented this martial style in real combat. Whenever he passed, he left behind enemy soldiers who had lost their wills to fight, temporarily unable to act or make decisions. If he allowed them to survive, these soldiers would inevitably reappear as vengeful foes, you might think.

“…Yet birds with torn wings can only writhe upon the ground.

“Though death is unavoidable on the battlefield, he forced others to do what he wished to shirk. He toyed with the lives of his enemies, abandoning the responsibility of victors. When one triumphs over their adversaries, they also bear the lives of the defeated. As this is the law of nature, it must also be the law of man.”

The storyteller expressed her thoughts in an unusually passionate tone.

“The person who told me this story lauded him, calling him a man of extraordinary compassion. Like a child who delights in plucking the wings from insects, he stole the strength to live from his foes, crushing their spirits, their wills to fight. Then he left them on the battlefield. These deeds lacked any compassion. He merely acted on his own desires, seeking results and efficiency. If you ask me, his ideals were unflinching and cruel.

“…How repulsive, I thought upon hearing this tale.”

The storyteller ended on that note, her smile not reaching her eyes.

***

A perfect blanket of snow welcomed Shuou’s group to the royal capital of Murakumo. Seeing the many people full of vitality traveling up and down streets cleared of snow, Shuou felt nostalgic. Even the curious glances sent in his direction were unchanging.

“Yeesh,” Hario said with disgust, examining the main street leading to the heart of the city. “These crowds never get any smaller, do they?”

“These damn bugs!” cried an irritated Saburi, trying to swat away the bloodsucking cocues. “Every time I come to the capital, these little shits never leave me alone! Shoo, shoo!”

Usually, cocues flitted around too quickly for humans to handle, but Shuou – who possessed superior kinetic vision – had no trouble dealing with them.

“Maybe it’s because you’re so fat,” Hario said in jest. “Your blood must give off a delicious scent.”

“Like hell it does,” said Saburi. “Man, they won’t stop following me around. I hate bugs, damn it.”

An uncomfortable looking Saburi flailed his arms about, attempting to distance himself from the cocues, which he couldn’t track with his eyes. Extending a hand, Shuou grabbed a few of them surrounding Saburi, wiping the crushed insects from his palm.

“Let’s go,” he said to the other two, who’d been watching him wordlessly.

Walking in front as if taking the lead, he heard their whispers from behind.

“Are those bugs really something you can catch and kill…?”

“Yeah, there’s definitely somethin’ funny about that guy.”

If you’re having a private conversation, do try keeping it to yourself, Shuou thought.

In the center of the capital, they found a large plaza in the shape of a circle. Here, various food stalls stood in rows, even more people traveling back and forth.

“Shuou!”

Reaching an area with many shops and stands, he heard someone calling to him from a distance. Responding to the familiar, masculine voice, Shuou turned around. From inside the crowd, a single person emerged, his bald head conspicuously shiny.

“…Kumokari?”

An enormous man wearing thick makeup pushed his way through the crowd. It was Kumokari, with whom Shuou had taken the Abyssal navigation exam.

“I knew it!” exclaimed Kumokari. “When I saw that gray hair, I called out, thinking it must be you. Looks like I wasn’t mistaken. What are you doing here? And what’s with the long face…?”

Kumokari’s composed voice and considerate gaze imbued Shuou with a sense of relief he hadn’t felt in a long time. As warm tears began to well in his eyes, Hario and Saburi killed the moment with all the grace of rampaging Rabidaemons.

“Holy shit, he’s huge!” shouted Hario, looking up at Kumokari.

“He’s wearing more makeup than my mom!” cried Saburi, hiding behind Hario’s back.

Despite this being their first meeting, Hario and Saburi spoke without restraint. Since Shuou knew Kumokari well, seeing their reactions was none too pleasant.

“Who are these guys?” Kumokari asked in a whisper, suppressing his displeasure. “One looks like a centipede, and the other one looks like a steamed bun. Are they with you?”

“They brought me here,” said Shuou.

“Hmm, I see. Well, that’s fine. More importantly, you should rest. I’d like to catch up with you.”

As he spoke, Kumokari pointed to the signboard of a restaurant behind them.

“What’s that?” asked Shuou.

“My very own restaurant.”

On the magnificent, iron sign, the words “The Spider’s Web” were written above a picture of a white cobweb.

“That’s incredible,” said Shuou. “You have your own restaurant now.”

“Conveniently, the restaurant here was for sale along with the building,” explained Kumokari. “I pulled the money together along with a couple I’ve known since we were kids. That being said, we were barely able to afford the down payment. We still need to reimburse the seller a lot more. Well, that’s what I get for buying property in such a fine district. For now, we plan to serve tea and light snacks, but we’ll keep working extra hard to earn more money. Since I asked you to drop by, you don’t need to worry about paying. It’ll be good practice for us.”

When Kumokari’s burly arm pulled his hand, Shuou put strength into his legs, resisting. “Sorry, but I don’t have time for that right now.”

Though Kumokari looked surprised for a moment, he took in Shuou’s serious expression, smiled, and let go. “I understand. If there’s anything I can do to help—”

Without listening until the end, Shuou dashed away.

“Thank you,” he said upon leaving.

Hario and Saburi hurried after him, turning back towards Kumokari numerous times.

“You sure about that?” asked Hario. “He’s an acquaintance of yours, right?”

“I’m sure,” Shuou responded with a nod. “We’ll meet again.”

If Shuou stayed by Kumokari’s side any longer, he would want to rely on his friend. Having someone who knew him by side would be heartening. However, Kumokari had started a new life. Shuou didn’t want to interfere with that.

“Didn’t that gay fellow offer us a meal?” Saburi asked with a groan, holding his protruding stomach. “I’m starving.”

Since leaving Winter Fortress on horseback, Hario and Saburi had eaten nothing but dry rice balls. Likewise, Shuou had only eaten small clumps of rice. Under normal circumstances, he would have been complaining about an empty stomach by now. As such, he found his complete lack of hunger odd.

A heavy discomfort lay in his stomach.

This feeling…

Nausea roiled within him, a vicelike grip around his stomach. Since leaving Aventurine, this sickness had persisted, never abating.

As they left the plaza, a low rumbling escaped Saburi’s stomach. Though Shuou had no appetite, he didn’t want the other two – who’d been made to accompany him out of sheer happenstance – to go without food.

“Should we part ways here?” Shuou asked, coming to a halt.

Hario furrowed his brow. “What? Are you telling us not to follow?”

“You both seem tired and hungry.”

“I am hungry,” Saburi answered without pause.

“Quit complaining!” Hario yelled at him. “We’re coming with you, new guy. If you’re telling the truth, we might be able to meet Duchess Adulelia. Yeah, it’s a little unnerving, but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I’m scared…” mumbled Saburi. “I mean, she’s the Ice Princess.”

“Listen here, Saburi.”

Hario called Saburi over to him. A short distance from Shuou, they began consulting with each other in whispers. Despite their attempts to keep the conversation private, Shuou – who didn’t have particularly sharp ears – could hear their calculating voices without any strain.

“We defied our commanding officer to be here,” said Hario. “We even helped break the new guy out of prison. You understand what that means, right?”

“Of course I do…”

“In other words, we’re wanted men. Even if we return to Winter Fortress, we won’t get our jobs back. We’ll just be thrown into that cold prison cell.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Taking all that into consideration, why don’t we introduce ourselves to Duchess Adulelia? Working for her would be much better.”

“Seriously…? You think someone like the Ice Princess would pay attention to a couple of measly Squires?”

“In that regard, we’ll just have to place our bets on the new guy.”

Hario pointed towards Shuou. Though he tried to hide his actions, Shuou could see him plainly.

“Place our bets on him?” repeated Saburi. “What do you mean?”

“The Duchess invited that inscrutable newcomer to join her army, even giving him a personal letter. And since we delivered him to the capital with no benefit to ourselves, he’s in our debt.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“As of right now, I don’t know if he’s telling the truth or not, but it’s worth tagging along until the end, don’t you think? We might even get a scrumptious meal as a reward.”

“Yeah,” Saburi replied, nodding energetically. “You might be onto something there. Let’s keep going.”

Returning to Shuou’s side, Hario and Saburi appeared deeply satisfied.

How can they construct such a convenient narrative for themselves? Shuou wondered.

“Are you two finished?” he asked.

“We’re finished,” said Hario. “So where’s the Duchess?”

“She has a manor near Crystal Palace, I’ve heard. We’ll need to ask someone for directions.”

Walking towards the summit where Crystal Palace stood, Shuou questioned the garrison Squires they passed from time to time. By doing so, he discovered the location of the duchess’s villa without difficulty. Since the barracks of the Solid Left Army were next to the villa, its location wasn’t much of a secret. Near dusk, the white snow began to turn pale crimson, and during this time, they frequently passed men returning home from work.

As they approached the grounds of the villa, a large manor came into view, a magnificent courtyard enveloping the building. Further inward, they observed a structure that appeared to be a barracks house. Many robust guards stood before the grounds of the manor. Because the entire area was so wide, a considerable number of personnel must have guarded this estate, Shuou guessed. Based on a quick survey, the number of soldiers here far surpassed the number of guards at Sand Castle.

As Shuou’s group approached the villa’s entrance, the guards turned menacing glares in their direction. Gradually, they closed the distance, and once they were within earshot, the guards grew even more alert.

“You three, halt!” one of guards shouted. “Until you have permission, don’t take another step.”

Overflowing with caution, the guard approached with one hand on his sword. The heavy atmosphere put Shuou on edge.

“Those uniforms…” said the guard. “You’re military men, are you not? Since I don’t recognize your faces, you must not belong to the Solid Left Army. Why are you here?”

“I’d like to see Duchess Adulelia,” said Shuou.

In response to Shuou’s straightforward reply, the guard glared at him. “What did this idiot just say?” his disbelieving expression seemed to suggest.

“Are you daft?” he asked. “The duchess isn’t someone you can meet on a whim.”

Shuou proffered the letter he’d received from Duchess Adulelia.

“What’s this?” asked the guard.

“The duchess gave me this letter. Will it serve as evidence?”

Though Shuou had shown the letter to prove his acquaintance, the guard’s wariness only intensified. Without bothering to check the contents of the letter, he leapt back one step, gripping the handle of his sword.

“What are you plotting?” he demanded. “Duchess Adulelia is one of three most eminent nobles in Murakumo. She wouldn’t write a letter to a mere Squire. What a crude lie to approach Her Excellency. Based on your hair color, I thought you seemed suspicious, but you’re a northern spy, aren’t you?”

Sensing something amiss, more guards raced over to them.

“Hey, they don’t believe a word you’re saying,” Hario whispered into Shuou’s ear. “This is bad…”

“Please listen to me,” said Shuou. “The duchess is an acquaintance of mine, and I’m here on urgent business. I have an important matter to discuss with her at—”

Impatient and irritable, Shuou took a step forward, causing the guards to finally draw their swords. Suddenly, Hario and Saburi grabbed Shuou from either side.

“Sorry about this,” Hario said lightly, bowing his head. “Our friend here tends to lie whenever he gets lonely.”

“Let go of me!” shouted Shuou. “I’m not lying!”

Struggling, Shuou tried to tear free of the arms wrapped around his sides. Yet because he hadn’t eaten enough, he felt weak, unable to move his body as he wished.

“Hey, give it up,” said Hario. “These guys won’t listen to us.”

Hario tried his utmost to calm Shuou, suggesting that they leave for the time being. However, Shuou had no intention of accepting that proposal. If he fled from here, he would have no other way of meeting the duchess. More importantly, he only had so much time.

“Just look at the letter!” he cried.

“You’re still on about that?” asked the guard. “Give it a rest. If you have no intention of leaving, you’ll be restrained and handed over to the royal capital guard’s headquarters.”

The tense atmosphere verged on explosion. As Shuou edged towards resignation, the unexpected occurred.

“What’s this ruckus about?” an elegant, feminine voice called out.

In response, the menacing soldiers straightened, standing at attention.

“T-These suspicious men were clamoring to meet the Solar General,” said one of the guards.

Seeing the figure that appeared from the crowd of soldiers, relief washed over Shuou. “Kazahina?”

Seeing Shuou, the female Bright’s severe expression softened. “Oh, what’s this?”

She had serene, drooping eyes, and mixed with blue, her light purple hair fell to her upper arms. Tall and slender, her beautiful posture drew the eye. This was Shuou’s third time meeting the adjutant and blood relative of Duchess Adulelia.

“Woah, a Bright…” said Hario.

Noticing Kazahina, he and Saburi let go of Shuou.

“What are you doing here?” Kazahina asked in a calm voice, looking at Shuou curiously. “You were assigned to Winter Fortress, if I recall correctly.”

Seeing Kazahina’s friendly demeanor, the guards – who now stood at attention – gaped.

“I want to speak with Duchess Adulelia as soon as possible,” said Shuou.

“Based on what she told me, Lady Amue should be going for a walk in this vicinity right about—”

As Kazahina turned around, a small girl wrapped in fluffy, winter clothes trotted up to them.

“Duchess Adulelia!” Shuou cried upon seeing her.

In response to Shuou’s voice, the dumbfounded guards who’d been standing around prostrated themselves, their foreheads touching the ground.

“Hmm?”

Amue Adulelia – head of the Adulelia family and bearer of Orthoclase – looked surprised by the unexpected visitors.

Unconcerned with the general atmosphere, Hario and Saburi spat out words that froze everyone in place.

“That’s Duchess Adulelia?” asked Saburi. “Seriously? You’ve gotta be shittin’ me.”

“She’s still a baby!” cried Hario.

Naturally, Shuou, Kazahina, the guards, and even the duchess herself stared at the two, forgetting to blink.

At that moment, a thought occurred to Shuou.

Someday, their mouths are going to get them killed.

For the time being, Amue decided to ignore the two of them, who might have been – in a sense – the boldest of men.

“…It’s nice to see you again, though I wasn’t expecting to reunite with you here,” said Amue. “Not much time has passed since our last meeting, but it looks like your hair has grown somewhat.”

Hearing her friendly greeting, relief washed over Shuou. Somewhere in his heart, he’d worried that she would no longer want to associate with him.

“I came here to tell you something,” Shuou said with an earnest expression, hardly returning her greeting.

“Yes, I see. Based on appearances, you didn’t come her for idle gossip. Let us go inside.”

As Amue turned around to go back the way she’d come, Shuou grabbed her small hand. At that moment, the guards prostrated on the ground rose, hands going to the handles of their swords.

“There’s no need to panic,” Amue said with austerity.

In response, the guards stayed their hands, bowing their heads.

“We need to hurry,” said Shuou. Letting go of Amue’s small hand, he withdrew the golden tube containing the letter from his pocket. “Have a look at this, please.”

Taking a curious look at the letter thrust before her, Amue accepted it. “This is from the queen of Aventurine…”

As she opened the letter and examined its contents, her expression increased in severity. “Did you receive this directly?”

“I did,” answered Shuou.

“How many days have passed since then?”

“…This marks the fourth day. Once night falls, it will already be the fifth day.”

“I see. Well then, come into the manor with me. It’s cold outside.”

“Please, wait!” Shuou cried out with the full force of his emotions. “There’s no time!”

At the same time, he felt disappointed. Seeing Amue act so carefree, he wondered if she would also refuse to help him.

“I’m well aware of that,” said the duchess. “However, this isn’t an issue we can solve right away. Because a sovereign leader instigated this, it is a problem between nations. You turned to me for help, and I don’t plan to betray your expectations. This will also serve as a good opportunity for me to repay my debt to you. In any case, come inside and warm yourself. I’ll have someone treat the wound around your mouth as well. Kazahina.”

In response to Amue’s call, Kazahina straightened, answering immediately. “At your command.”

“Yes. Prepare refreshments as well. Our house welcomes this man as a guest.”

Dumbfounded, Hario and Saburi observed the situation from behind.

“Umm…” said Hario. “What about us?”

Ever ladylike, Amue turned her gaze towards the pair. “Who are these men?” she asked, looking to Shuou.

“Squires from Winter Fortress,” he replied. “They worked hard to deliver me here.”

Amue observed them as if assessing a product. “In that case, I’ll welcome them as guests for the time being. During their visit to the capital, they may sojourn here.”

Finished speaking, Amue strode towards the manor. Looking at each other, Hario and Saburi broke into joyous smiles.

The group walked through the vast courtyard to the manor. Before the dark of night arrived in earnest, servants worked tirelessly to place lumps of Moonstone into transparent receptacles filled with water. Shuou’s trio walked behind Kazahina. Following a short distance to the rear, Hario and Saburi exchanged words still lingering with overexcitement.

“Holy shit,” said Hario. “We seriously received an invitation from Duchess Adulelia.”

“If I told the guys at Winter Fortress or the people back home about this, they wouldn’t believe me,” Saburi mumbled anxiously. “We didn’t even bow our heads, though. You think we’ll be okay?”

“Can’t blame us for being surprised. Never in a million years did I think the duchess would be a little girl. No kidding, I expected a pompous, old lady covered in wrinkles to come out and greet us. The real thing didn’t even have a crooked back.”

Listening to them speak so rudely, Kazahina donned a wry smile, calling out to Shuou. “What strange company you’ve brought.”

“Yeah… Sorry about that.”

Feeling intense embarrassment, Shuou apologized.

“You don’t need to apologize. Well, if they were my subordinates, I’d scream bloody murder at them.  Then I’d make them run around these grounds until they passed out.”

Though Kazahina spoke in jest, not a trace of humor reached her bright, purple eyes. Noticing this, Shuou merely responded with a stiff smile. Having seen Kazahina boldly shout at a group of young Brights, her words didn’t sound like a joke to him. In fact, a slight chill ran down his spine.

As Shuou drew closer to the Adulelia manor, it’s outer appearance overwhelmed him. Constructed of lustrous, turquoise stones, the building stood two stories tall. To allow carriages through, the large entryway had an enormous roof overhead. Furthermore, to prevent snow from accumulating, the blue, ceramic roof had a steep slope.

A flag hung over the entrance, adorned with the Adulelia family crest: a wolf bearing its sharp fangs, biting into ice. Without being ostentatious, the building was solid of structure. In all likelihood, the manor was far more fortified than Winter Fortress. Overall, the Adulelia home seemed more stronghold than mansion.

A group of young, female servants led them inside the building. The interior was even more subdued than the exterior. Displaying minimalistic decorations, nothing in particular drew the eye. Even so, the tall ceiling imparted an odd sense of spaciousness despite being indoors.

The servants ushered them into an antechamber of sorts. Installed with couches and a furnace, it was a spacious room.  Shuou’s group was urged to change there. Though no one smelled particularly bad, the Squire uniforms they’d worn throughout the journey were completely sullied. As such, they decided to obey.

Shuou received a white undershirt and loose-fitting, white trousers, both of which were remarkably comfortable. Based on the somewhat thin material, these were probably pajamas meant for visitors. Hario changed into deep purple pajamas, and Saburi changed into dark gray ones. Afterwards, they handed their dirty clothes to young servant girls.

When asked for his dirty clothes, Shuou tried to hand them over, but Kazahina – who was waiting by the entrance – stopped him.　

“I’ll take those,” she said.

From the side, Kazahina snatched Shuou’s entire set of dirty clothes.

“Lady Kazahina,” said one of the servants. “You needn’t handle a man’s sullied clothes.”

Lunging, she tried to steal the clothes from Kazahina’s hands. However, Kazahina took one masterful step backwards, avoiding the servant.

“Don’t mind me,” she said, smiling at the girl. “Take the other clothes to the laundry room. I’ll bring these later.”

Once again, the servant reached for Kazahina’s hands. “In that case, I’ll take those as—”

“No, I’ll bring these to you later. I haven’t been getting enough exercise lately, you see. In the meantime, you can show those two to the dining room.”

Kazahina spoke with a composed expression, holding out her hand to stop the girl. In response to her strangely imposing figure, the frightened girl bowed her head, leading Hario and Saburi out of the room.

Setting down Shuou’s clothes, Kazahina showed him the set of medical tools she’d prepared. “Come over here. I’ll tend to your wounds.”

“You’re going to, Kazahina?”

“Despite appearances, I do go into battle. I’ve learned how to treat simple wounds.”

As instructed, Shuou sat down on a chair. Pouring liquid disinfectant onto a clean cloth, Kazahina applied the medicine to Shuou’s mouth.

“Ow!” he yelped in response to the stinging pain running through the wound.

“It’s slightly abscessed. I’m glad we could treat it before it worsened.”

Carefully and quickly, Kazahina continued her treatment. Having the wound disinfected was painful, but as Shuou had been prepared for that since the outset, he could withstand the treatment.

“Where’s the duchess?” he asked.

Kazahina laughed. “At this hour, she’s probably in the kitchens giving instructions on this and that.”

“Is she not bothered by my sudden appearance and unreasonable demands?”

“I don’t think she finds you the least bit bothersome,” said Kazahina, continuing her treatment. “If anything, Lady Amue is worried about the trouble she caused you. After all, she invited you to join the army, yet you slipped out of her grasp. Even so, you’re a rather interesting fellow.”

“I am?”

“When I saw you first, you were valiantly facing down those young Brights. Yet when I visited you with Amue, you were as calm as the surface of a lake on a windless day. Now, during our third meeting, you look very frightened. Every time we meet, you seem like a different person. You can’t blame me for finding that interesting.”

The sound of woodchips bursting resounded from the lit fireplace. Unsure how to respond, Shuou averted his gaze. Just as Kazahina had said, his current self was nothing like the person who had fled from Amane’s side. He was well aware of that. His eyes faced down instead of forward, and his back had become so rounded, he wondered if his spine had disappeared.

Imagining what Aise, Shitori, and his other companions would think if they saw him now frightened Shuou. In all likelihood, they would have the same impression as Kazahina.

Would they be disappointed in me?

An unclear mind brought forth unease, and unease brought forth a mind of fear and suspicion. His current mental state was very poor. Of that alone, he could be certain. Though he needed to do something, he couldn’t think of a way to escape from his current condition.

“Well, I think that takes care of things,” said Kazahina.

While Shuou had become lost in thought, Kazahina had finished treating his injuries. Touching the wound with his hand, he felt something slimy on his fingertips. Kazahina had applied some kind of ointment to his mouth, he guessed.

“Thank you… very much,” said Shuou.

“Oh, don’t worry. It was easy enough.”

Kazahina lightly accepted Shuou’s thanks, putting away the implements she’d used to treat him. Placing a hand on the door, she straightened, turning to face Shuou.

“Now then, I’ll show you to the dining room,” she said. “You needn’t be overly respectful, but don’t be too laid-back either. The head of Adulelia doesn’t dine with guests very often.”

As Shuou relayed his acknowledgement with a meek expression, Kazahina opened the door, leading him into a spacious room. A large, rectangular dining table sat alone in the center of the room, a row of candles casting a warm, orange glow over its surface. Though the tableware looked expensive, nothing yet filled the plates or bowls.

Looking uncomfortable, Hario and Saburi sat at one corner of the table, their shoulders hunched. Finding themselves in a situation far beyond their station, the pair finally seemed to have withered. Duchess Adulelia sat up straight at the far end of the table. Because of her childlike stature, Shuou hadn’t been able to spot her when first entering the room. Frightened, he curled up into himself. Yet when he tried to sit next to Hario and Saburi, Duchess Adulelia stopped him.

“We can’t have a conversation with you over there,” she said. “Come this way.”

Standing behind Shuou, Kazahina gave him a light push on the back, urging him to sit down in the chair closest to the duchess.

“You’ve done so much for—”

A Shuou began to thank her again, Amue held up her hand, stopping him. “You needn’t thank me. I’m having the staff prepare a quick meal, but we’ll still have to wait a little while longer. Until then, I’d like to hear the particulars of this affair. Are you able to speak?”

“Yes. That’s the reason I came all this way.”

To the head of Adulelia, who was – by all appearances – a young girl, Shuou relayed everything that had transpired, everything that he had witnessed and heard.

Listening to Shuou’s story, Amue offered the occasional nod, gesturing as if deep in thought.

“I see,” the duchess sighed. “For the most part, I understand the situation. Such foolishness…”

“Then… Can you do something about it?” asked Shuou.

“That depends on how you would like to proceed.”

“…What do you mean?”

Amue’s purple eyes – large and round – looked directly at Shuou. “Do you want to rescue the imprisoned Squires? Or would you prefer to forget this affair and have me guarantee your safety? Those are your two options. Depending on which one you choose, I’ll have to decide what course of action to take. The latter would be the easier choice, for I swear on the name of Adulelia to protect you at all costs.”

In response to the question, Shuou gulped down the saliva welling up in his mouth. He’d come all this way to ask for help in rescuing Hinokaji and Miyahi from the queen’s imprisonment. However, when Amue had asked him how he wanted to proceed, his inability to immediately respond “I want to save them” left him perplexed.

“I want to rescue them… Miyahi and Squire Sergeant Hinokaji,” he said. “That’s why I came here.”

For some time, Amue stared at Shuou’s face, peering into his downturned eyes. “Yes, I accept your answer. Though this falls outside my jurisdiction, I promise to do everything within my power to recover the imprisoned Squires. Even so, there is one thing I must tell you.”

In response to Amue’s grave tone, Shuou urged her to continue. “Go ahead.”

“This is difficult to admit, but fulfilling your request will not be easy. I will make every effort to do so, but I cannot promise to save your companions.”

This raised doubts in Shuou. “Hold on. I’ve heard that Aventurine surrendered to Murakumo. Even if directed by a queen, Murakumo would never overlook a subservient nation arbitrarily confining its citizens… “

As Shuou raised his voice, a composed Amue watched over him, nodding once. “Yes, an excellent point. However, the letter you showed me is persuasive enough to pass for an official document. Based on the handwriting, signature, and seal, it would be accepted as a personal letter from the queen of Aventurine to whomever you presented it.

“After doing something so egregious, she even wrote a letter publicizing her actions. In other words, the queen performed these deeds knowing that even if Murakumo’s upper echelons learned of them, she wouldn’t face any ramifications. Normally, I would respond to such a childish prank with an iron fist, but matters aren’t so simple when dealing with another nation. Kazahina.”

Her gaze drifting backwards, Amue called to Kazahina, who stood silently to the side. Kazahina took one step forward, taking over the conversation from her superior.

“Currently, Murakumo is in a tense position, interposed between nations to the north and south. Through various schemes, these countries are containing each other’s forces, searching for the best opportunity to wage war. Under these circumstances, if news of a disturbance within Murakumo leaked to the outside world, the northern and southern countries could see this as their opportunity, launching a coordinated assault. Fortunately, as the northern and southern countries are in the midst of a deeply rooted religious conflict, they wouldn’t join forces so easily. Even so, Lord Gwen would be loath to place our country at even the slightest disadvantage.”

When a familiar name leapt out at him, Shuou unconsciously repeated it in a murmur. “Gwen…”

Once Kazahina had finished, Amue resumed speaking.

“Lord Gwen – the oldest man in our country – is sometimes called the Shadow King by those in foreign nations. He is a living legend who has served under the royal family since the dawn of Murakumo. Despite being capable and having earned the peoples’ deep trust, he is stubborn and inflexible. If forced to weigh the lives of two Squires against the stability of our country, he would undoubtedly choose the latter. He’s far too sensitive, that man. Since he’s always concerned with trivial matters, he halts when we should be marching forward.”

The edge of despair flickering in his vision, the blood drained from Shuou’s face. “Then… this is hopeless?”

“You needn’t look so desperate,” said Amue. “We aren’t at a complete disadvantage. Several times a year within Murakumo, the four Radiantores gather to privately discuss national affairs. This meeting is called the Council of Four Stones. Though we mostly discuss the country’s future and make adjustments prior to major decisions, there are no restrictions on the agendas brought forth. During the next meeting, I will present this topic to my fellow councilors.”

Fretfully, Kazahina interjected. “But Your Excellency, in this case—”

“I know what you’re going to say. Currently, Murakumo’s throne is vacant. Princess Sa’salia, the next successor, still hasn’t inherited Celestine. Including me, those attending the council will be Gwen, bearer of Bloodstone, and the infuriating head of Serpentia, bearer of Antigorite. We three will be holding council. I’ll say this beforehand: Adulelia and Serpentia are worse than cats and dogs. No matter what I propose, that baldheaded buffoon will take the opposite stance with nary a thought.”

Amue spoke with the most bitter expression Shuou had ever seen.

“Then ultimately…” he trailed off.

“Yes. We must obtain Lord Gwen’s approval. If we can’t persuade him, we won’t be able to derive a solution.”

In Shuou’s estimation, they were trying to do the impossible. Nevertheless, Amue’s expression was unexpectedly bright.

“I can’t tell you not to worry,” she said, “but I do have something of a plan. A person wouldn’t last long in this world always following the path of righteousness. To solve this problem, I won’t take any half measures. Our meetings take place when it suits all three of us. And conveniently, the next Council of Four Stones will convene late at night on the morrow. In that regard, it seems that fate is still on your side.”

At this point, Shuou could only nod. From his vantage, Amue’s plans and their future results were shrouded in darkness. He could find no light to aid in his escape.

As if waiting for the conversation to reach a stopping place, the servants brought out a lavish feast. The soups were made from expensive looking ingredients Shuou had never seen before. Grilled aromatically, lines of fattened meat and fish cuisines crowded the table. Upon closer inspection, out-of-season, sweet fruits were piled atop plates in the center. If these delicacies had been imported from abroad, they must have cost a fortune.

Shuou examined Hario and Saburi, thinking they must be terrified by such a grand reception. However, with no trace of their former timidity, the wide-eyed pair dug into the magnificent food with gusto. Shuou almost wanted to complain about their carefree attitudes, but seeing the happy pair wholeheartedly devouring their food, he felt somewhat soothed.

“I had my servants prepare the best food this villa has to offer,” said Amue, gracefully extending her chopsticks to the food portioned on her plate. “You needn’t show any restraint. Eat to your heart’s content.”

“…Thank you for the meal,” said Shuou.

He took a large bite of the closest meat dish. Sweet and superbly flavored, the meat was of high quality with the perfect amount of fat. Usually, something so delectable would have overwhelmed him, but no matter how much he chewed, the meat tasted as flavorless as wild grass.　

It’s not very good.

No matter what he ate, that feeling never changed. Thoughts of the imprisoned Miyahi and Hinokaji filled his mind. Judging from the despotic behavior of Queen Aventurine, they weren’t receiving proper meals.

Then why am I able to safely enjoy such a delicious feast? he wondered, guilt holding his stomach in a vicelike grip.

Original text: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4006r/12/