ITFFS 05

Chapter 5

When Carnike’s hair was almost caught in the fine-toothed comb, Lia let out a startled squeak and quickly pulled her hand away.

“Saintess! That was close.”

“Lia, how can you always be so calm? I’ve always wondered. Don’t you ever think I’m ridiculous?”

“Me?”

Lia’s eyes widened as she shrugged, as though she had just heard the strangest thing in the world.

“How could I ever dare think such a thing about you, Saintess? Why would you say that?”

“No… I mean, they aren’t completely wrong, are they? Just look at this hair. Anyone can see it’s golden. And my eyes, too. There probably aren’t many people left whose Zervizan bloodline is as obvious as mine.”

The Haven Empire was a vast nation formed by conquering and incorporating dozens upon dozens of large and small countries, one after another.

Among them, Zervizan had been a kingdom located where the Empire’s current capital stood. Though it was not a particularly large country, it had the sea at its doorstep, allowing its fishing industry to flourish, while mines had developed along its rugged mountain ridges. As a result, it had been a rather prosperous nation.

Most of its people were said to have dark blond hair and violet eyes. In particular, members of the pure-blooded Zervizan royal family were said to have hair that looked as though honey might drip from it at any moment.

“What does that matter? Honestly, Saintess.”

“We were slaves, after all. No, I mean my ancestors were.”

Lia bit her lower lip slightly, troubled by Carnike’s excessively blunt words.

“It was said to be a beautiful country, but now you can’t find even a trace of it. Isn’t that right?”

“Well…”

Lia trailed off, looking at Carnike with pity.

Zervizan had been the only country that had refused to submit to Haven’s demand that it surrender.

Even as they watched countless kingdoms and duchies around them being absorbed or crushed by the Empire one after another, they firmly maintained their determination to resist.

As a result, Zervizan suffered a more devastating destruction than any other country swallowed by the Empire. More than one-third of its population was killed, while its culture and heritage were completely destroyed.

Everyone who survived became slaves. Even those who tried to flee found it difficult to escape because of their distinctive appearance.

Lia spoke.

“B-but still, His Majesty the Emperor before last abolished slavery, didn’t he? The descendants of Zervizan aren’t slaves anymore. They’re all citizens of the same Empire.”

“On the surface, that’s true, but it doesn’t seem to be that way in reality.”

At Carnike’s reply, Lia once again found herself at a loss for words.

She was better educated than most maids and was quite articulate, but in moments like this, she had no idea what she should say to comfort her.

Carnike shrugged and said,

“Don’t make that face, Lia. Their lives are their lives, and mine is mine. Whatever my ancestors, whose faces I don’t even know, did with their lives, what matters to me is the present.”

After thinking for a moment, Lia tilted her head and asked,

“But anyway, are you saying you’re worried that I might feel uncomfortable serving you for that reason?”

“Well, something like that. I was wondering if you were uncomfortable but simply forcing yourself to put up with it. I’m the kind of person who says whatever I have to say, but you aren’t.”

At that, Lia gripped the comb tightly and stomped her foot like an angry rabbit.

“That’s absolutely not true! You’re more beautiful than anyone else, Saintess! It’s ridiculous to discriminate against someone over something as trivial as the color of their hair or eyes.”

“You really think that? Truly?”

“Of course.”

Only then did Carnike relax, finally letting the tension drain from her body. Then she smiled mischievously.

“Actually, I feel the same way.”

“Of course you should! Anyone who insults you, Saintess, will surely be thrown into a hell where the God Elkiel makes them swallow thorny vines.”

Carnike gave a bitter smile, and Lia continued.

“I don’t care what kind of person you are, Saintess.”

“Why? Even though you know I’m a fake, why do you still trust me and like me so much?”

The question escaped before she could stop herself. Carnike flinched and immediately covered her mouth.

What on earth am I asking? Maybe I’ve become spoiled after coming to the Imperial Palace. How absurd must I sound to Lia? That’s the kind of thing a three-year-old child would ask!

But Lia simply stared at Carnike with wide, round eyes before unexpectedly giving her a gentle smile.

“Even though I’m only a maid, you never treat me carelessly, Saintess. You’re kind enough to share delicious food and nice things with me whenever you get them.”

“That’s only natural. You work hard for me all day, so that much is…”

“There are far more people in this world who don’t even think of that as something natural, Saintess.”

With that, Lia resumed brushing Carnike’s hair, quietly humming to herself.

Carnike couldn’t know the details, but she could tell from Lia’s manner that the girl had probably endured considerable hardship herself in the past.

And yet she grew up to be such a good person. Shouldn’t someone like this be the Saintess instead of me?

After finishing brushing her hair, Lia brought out some extra lace and braided Carnike’s hair into a thick braid.

“You don’t have any more appointments today, so please get plenty of rest, Saintess.”

“Alright. You should rest too. You worked up quite a sweat preparing that chain thing from early this morning.”

“That really was no joke.”

Lia made such a thoroughly exhausted expression that Carnike burst out laughing.

As the two young women bent over, laughing together, a hurried knock came from outside.

“Come in.”

Carnike stopped laughing and immediately put on an expression of solemn dignity, pretending nothing had happened.

“Um, Saintess.”

The person who had knocked was a priest. He had a youthful face, seemingly not even twenty years old yet, with a few pimples scattered across it.

An apprentice priest, perhaps.

Carnike thought so as she watched him. Since there was almost no reason for an apprentice priest to come to her quarters, she couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Could something have gone wrong?

“What is it, Priest?”

“Um, I’ve received a message from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince’s attendant.”

Carnike was so startled that her voice involuntarily rose.

“The Crown Prince?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ve brought this letter, so please read it.”

Lia accepted the letter on her behalf.

“Thank you. You may go now.”

Carnike sent both the apprentice priest and Lia into another room before dropping heavily onto the small sofa.

Do I really have to open this?

The perfectly smooth, unblemished envelope suddenly looked terrifying, as though it might spring into the air at any moment and slice her throat.

With trembling hands, she carefully tore open the top. Inside was a letter folded into a long rectangle.

[I will visit at 20:00 tonight. Wait for me.]

Carnike read the sharply written words in the middle of the paper several times before muttering in bewilderment,

“That’s it?”

She carefully examined the back of the letter in case there was something hidden, then peered inside the envelope as well, but nothing else came out.

“This is ridiculous…”

Carnike let out a hollow laugh.

Perhaps because of her fear, there was a slight tremble at the end of her laughter, but what overwhelmed her more than fear was the sheer absurdity of the ridiculously simple letter.

There was no recipient’s name, no sender’s name, and not even a meaningless greeting. It simply ordered her to wait.

“Why are all these high-ranking people like this?”

She was almost starting to wonder if there was some requirement that one had to be born into the imperial family or nobility only after having been born without the slightest trace of manners.

No, more importantly…

“This isn’t the time for that. Why is he coming to see me? His Grace specifically told me never to meet him, but what am I supposed to do if he comes barging in here?!”

Clutching her head, Carnike crumpled the letter and hurriedly called for Lia.

“Lia!”

Hearing Carnike’s voice, Lia immediately came rushing out from the corner of the room next door.

“Yes, Saintess.”

“Could you go to the Duke’s residence for a moment? Please deliver a message to His Grace. Tell him there’s something urgent I need to discuss with him. He’ll come if you tell him that.”

“Should I go right now?”

“Yes, right now! As quickly as possible!”

From Carnike’s unusually urgent tone, Lia could tell that something serious had happened. She grabbed nothing but an outer garment and hurried out of Carnike’s quarters.

Left alone, Carnike unfolded the Crown Prince’s letter again, which had been crumpled terribly in her hands. The ink had smudged slightly where the paper had been folded, suggesting that it had been written only recently.

“My goodness. Surely he isn’t coming to cut off my head in place of the Emperor, is he? I don’t want that. Absolutely not.”

As dusk descended and the mountain ridges grew dark, Carnike could hardly remain seated in one place.

Lia returned from the Duke’s residence with the tragic news:

“Apparently, he left after leaving the palace without telling anyone where he was going.”

Carnike sent Lia to the area near the main palace several times, just in case the Duke returned to the Imperial Palace, but they were unable to find him.

“Ah, seriously! What is this all of a sudden? What is it?!”

Carnike paced around in circles, repeating the same words over and over before muttering as she stared into empty space,

“Should I at least put some hard plaster around my neck now?”