By Zephyria Thanks to Lucilla’s mischievous efforts, the atmosphere was cordial throughout.
Her peculiar attire seemed to be meant for teasing both her mother and Rubel. Lucilla leaned closer to me and whispered that both Kate and Rubel rarely got along unless they were looking at something aesthetically dreadful, which made me laugh heartily.
It’s not easy to act naturally among cold-blooded kin when you’re young, but she was truly an impressive woman. Taking inspiration from Lucilla, I resolved to remember and use it well, only to receive disapproving glances from my mother-in-law and Ruben.
My mother-in-law commented on Ruben’s and my wedding.
“It was a more flawless wedding than any I have ever witnessed.”
“What do you mean by flawless?”
“What more could there be than for Their Majesties to announce to the world that they are madly in love? It perfectly suits the purpose of a wedding ceremony. Of course, there were occasional breaches of etiquette, but Sieran Citizens don’t find fault when it comes to love.”
“Hmm.”
My mother-in-law praised me for every detail, from the expression I wore when looking at Ruben to my demeanor during the procession. I felt quite awkward, as I hadn’t expected her to scrutinize me so thoroughly in front of others.
“…And I didn’t expect you to invite the fifth god, either.”
“Ah, that…”
“Was it Illusion Magic, after all? It must have been incredibly difficult to prepare without so many people noticing. You didn’t tell me beforehand to maintain the secrecy, did you?”
It was then that Ruben, who had been listening quietly, interjected as we talked.
“As you said, it was not something that could be achieved with magic.”
“…”
“Nor could such blasphemy be committed in the Great Temple. It should be seen as a grace from the First Goddess.”
“For something like that, Your Majesty didn’t seem surprised at all.”
“I have met gods in person several times before. And haven’t you, Mother, encountered Gano Paquin a few times?”
“…That’s right.”
The Empress Dowager didn’t press further and raised her teacup to moisten her lips.
Originally, the Empress Dowager had no particular interest in theology.
The lives of those in the inner court were always filled with various tangible goods and numbers. She believed that stories about those long gone were sufficiently covered by human historical records. Kate was too busy to immerse herself in fantastical and unproductive pursuits.
Because of that, she didn’t delve into the study of gods.
Those who enjoyed theology were generally clerics, scholars, or perhaps historians with ample leisure and curiosity. The abundance gifted by the gods was a natural occurrence, and people’s interest waned unless something like the sun failing to rise or water failing to flow happened.
Come to think of it, how much difference is there between a Hwagyeong practitioner and a Life-Death Realm practitioner for ordinary people?
They were people accustomed to wizards who twisted the principles of the world to devise new calculations, and Sword Masters who wielded power stronger than horses. It was better for self-preservation to treat gods kindly, just as one would people, rather than to tremble in fear with a god above them.
Lucilla, after a moment of thought, moved closer to the table and sat down. The fluffy, sky-blue ruffles brushed against the edge of the table as if sweeping it. It was only then that I realized her attire bore a striking resemblance to the flowers spread out behind her.
She exclaimed with her characteristic wit,
“So, the unidentified individuals sitting right next to Valentia’s family were all…?”
“Yes, well…”
“The second god seemed more like a shepherd or a hunter. Perhaps because he came from the desert?”
“Ah. That person is likely the Mermaid from the Oasis. He came with the third god as his partner.”
“What, why? Isn’t your brother-in-law close with the second god?”
“That god only sent his gaze. They say he carries fire within his body.”
“Huh?”
The tea table became boisterously cheerful with talk of the gods.
“Why do the other gods all have human forms, but only the second god has the form of Makrir?”
“That’s not entirely true. For instance, Yulan’s Golden Turtle has the form of a turtle. We should assume they take on the form most familiar to them from their many lives. The fifth god also had a face more akin to a high-ranking Spirit than a human.”
“I liked Saras the most.”
“And why is that?”
“She’s pretty. As for the First Goddess… how should I put it? It feels like I’m looking, but not looking. When I turn away, her face is a blurry impression that’s hard to recall. What about you, brother-in-law? Who do you like the most?”
“Ruben.”
“…”
“…”
“You dodged that well. What a shame.”
“Don’t play such mischievous tricks. I won’t be fooled.”
“Are you not fooled, or are you being sincere?”
“Naturally, the latter.”
We had conversations like these,
“Honestly, Gano Paquin… if I hadn’t heard he was a god, I would have thought he was just a wizard.”
“Mother is right. He looks like a paper-eating wizard. He sometimes zones out alone and is quiet… seems a bit frail? Weak? That’s the impression he gives.”
“Even though he looks that way, he’s quite strong. It seems he primarily fights using special artifacts. If I had to say, he could easily defeat someone like Rosalia Pitche.”
“Compared to Spiritus?”
“That… cannot be compared. Spiritus wins by a landslide.”
“What, he’s weak then.”
“You can’t compare them like that.”
We also had conversations like that.
We chattered and laughed, swallowing down pastries and tea, about how Lucilla had discovered residual Mana in the cave where Spiritus had stayed during her extensive search for me, advice on how to manage Duke Ernhardt’s Territory going forward, and basic theological texts suitable for Kate, who had just begun to develop an interest in theology.
While Ruben and my mother-in-law often chimed in with questions and answers during interesting discussions, it was primarily Ruben and I who conversed.
Is it normal to get this angry when discussing whether a certain historian’s opinion is foolish or rational, or whether a certain region needs support or gratitude for its growth? Ruben sometimes had a cold look in his eyes, but he would quickly cheer up if I squeezed his hand under the table.
After a heated debate about the proportion of tax collection in the Duchy, everyone took a moment to quench their thirst.
The sound of water flowing from a fountain not far away was refreshing. Shattered sunlight from above fell in pieces onto Ruben’s cheeks and shoulders. As Ruben glanced down to check the watch in his pocket, I tried to check the time over his shoulder, but my mother-in-law, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
“I take back what I said back then.”
“…Yes?”
The Empress Dowager’s gaze was fixed on me. We had shared more than a few conversations. As I blinked blankly, she made a gesture as if tying a scarf around her neck. She was referring to what she had said when we first met. That Ruben didn’t suit the word ‘love.’
Realizing this, I let out a slight smile.
“It seems so.”
“…I can hardly believe it… but it turned out that way.”
Ruben’s gaze tickled my cheek. He looked anxious, as if we were having a secret conversation without him, which was both pitiful and cute. I told him I’d tell him later and placed my hand over his on the table.
My mother-in-law’s gaze remained unwavering, fixed on my face.
“For a long time, I lived believing that children were mirrors of their parents. I thought that if you plant flowers, flowers would grow, and if you plant wheat, wheat would grow, so I lived a difficult life, like pulling out stubborn weeds in my field.”
“…”
“But now I understand a little. I wasn’t a farmer, and I couldn’t choose the type of seed or the plot of land.”
“Your Highness.”
“Live happily. You already seem sufficiently happy without me saying so, but still.”
This wasn’t said to me.
I immediately turned to Ruben. Ruben, unusually, was not looking at me. The child, whose gaze was fixed on his mother, hesitated and faltered a few times. Feeling Ruben’s fingertips, trapped beneath my hand, clench, I interlaced our fingers and held them together.
Only then did Ruben offer a faint smile.
“Yes. We will live well. I’ll be back shortly, so please look after the palace in the meantime.”
“What work do I have to do? It will all unfold as His Majesty the Emperor has arranged.”
The Empress Dowager placed her fan, half-opened, on the table.
I bowed in a half-curtsy to the quiet dismissal and stood up. Ruben, offering a simple nod to bid farewell, took my arm, asking for an escort, and I readily took the child’s hand. After walking a few steps in the direction we were leaving, Ruben leaned his cheek and jaw against my shoulder and whispered,
“It’s a bit later than expected. We need to hurry.”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
Both Ruben and I have a large stride, so we could walk briskly without rushing.
Suddenly, a laugh bubbled up, and this time, I whispered,
“But it was fun, wasn’t it?”
“…”
“Ruben?”
“…Yes. Compared to before, it’s… a bit better.”
The gaze fixed on Ikyun from his distant back did not easily fall away.
A little over ten minutes by carriage from the capital’s southern gate, to the southeast, lay a wide open space.
In fact, it was awkward to even call it a space, as such empty lands outside the city walls were common not only in the capital but in all other territories as well. It was land where passing travelers might rest for a while, or where people might sometimes gather wild trees or herbs that had grown freely.
“Michael! Your Majesty! Congratulations on your wedding!”
Quite a few people were gathered in this very spot, bustling like a flock of ducklings on a late spring day. The one who bounced up first to greet us was, as expected, Marianne. She waved her hands above her head and ran towards us.
I let out a hollow laugh as I dismounted the carriage. With a light gesture, I stopped her. Marianne’s eyes narrowed slightly, realizing I had used my aura to stop her.
“Yes. It’s good to see you. Have you been well?”
“Mmm, not as well as some people, I think. What day is it today?”
“Don’t tease me. I’ve already been scolded.”
Escorting Ruben, I looked around the surroundings.
Including the carriage I had just arrived in, there were three carriages stopped at this spot. Perhaps because it was slightly off the main road, there were no signs of people passing by or peeking. For some reason, the quiet time, which I had experienced for the first time in a long while, felt sweet.