Chapter 70

Asdel pestered us to chase after a large, colorful fish he spotted in the lake, so Logan and I rowed vigorously. We moved left and right, a dizzying dance, until Logan was exhausted, so we roughly beached the boat by the lakeshore. It was to change positions. I would sit in the middle to continue rowing, with the two children in front of me and Logan behind me to balance the boat. Logan asked several times if I was okay rowing alone, but as I was just getting into the fun, I didn’t want to stop the game before sunset. I wished I could have brought Evan Servel, the young master of House Servel, to play with us, but with only two arms, I decided against it, fearing I wouldn’t be able to manage three children if anything happened. The boat was very light. It moved forward smoothly even when I rowed alone. Perhaps feeling bad about making others work, Michael, who usually avoided making loud noises, became so excited when I started rowing alone that he pointed left and right with his ears turning red, indicating the direction. Finally, after witnessing the fish with brilliant scales, about the size of an arm, disappear into the aquatic plants that seemed to be its habitat, the children let out happy sighs and slumped down, exhausted. It was commendable that they remained seated, so excited, and didn’t get up. It was clear that other groups were also having fun. My Father and Count Servel, in particular, complained that rowing after so long had drained them, making it difficult even to hold the reins on the way back. Seeing them complain so easily, it was evident their bodies were weak. I thought about teaching my Father swordsmanship and decided to subtly suggest it later. We had a simple dinner due to our fatigue. The children went to bed early, and the adults decided to enjoy a long bath with massages, so with nothing else to do, I took my sword and went to a corner of the garden I had been shown before to practice swordplay. The blade, extending long and retracting short, flashed brilliantly under the moonlight. In the middle of the swordplay, which began under a blue sky, flowers bloomed and waves surged. There was no need to be bothered by extraneous elements. It was a process of fully embodying what I had learned and practiced. Mimicking the movements of the colorful fish I saw today, I glided and swept my sword sideways. I recalled a golden carp swimming in a blue sky. The intervals between my gliding steps were long and ample, like magnificent fins. I vowed in my heart that one day this carp would transform into a dragon. The next day, we went horseback riding. While the younger children rode donkeys within a fenced area and played amongst themselves with the adults, I rode up a gentle slope with Logan Servel and Leila Servel, the two siblings. Leila Servel was a girl three years my senior, and when I was a naive five-year-old, I had once blurted out about marrying her and having children. She had a cheerful and friendly demeanor and was currently studying in the Law Department at Shierun Academy. Gripping the reins, I tapped the horse’s flank to pick up speed. Each time we shot forward, cutting through the overgrown grass, the wind, which felt heavier than usual against my face, was pleasant. Come to think of it, I needed to practice Light Footwork, but I was finding it hard to find a suitable time. After playing for a long time, the horses began to pant, so we let them graze freely and sat down in a circle on the grass. I retold the story Logan and I had shared with Leila. When she asked if Prince Rubel was really that cold, her answer was amusing. “A handsome man who is a bit cold and aloof is better than one who is kind to everyone.” “…What do you mean by that?” “I think the Second Prince has correctly identified his selling point. Even during swordsmanship class, he doesn’t stand in the sun for long to protect his fair complexion.” I was dumbfounded, unable to understand her words. Leila spoke calmly, as if sharing a great secret, in a gentle tone. “1st Prince Richard is a scholar-type handsome man who graduated top of his class from the Law Department. So, one might expect Rubel, from the Swordsmanship Department, to have a fierce or rough image, but he absolutely doesn’t, does he? That’s all the power of a convincing face. Cold, cool, sharp, and noble.” “…Could it be that Prince Rubel simply dislikes the sun?” “Even so. He’s so handsome that even a passing bird would stop and look back, and he has fair, delicate skin! Isn’t that the aura of royal blood shining through his appearance?” She didn’t seem to be listening to my words. “His shoulders are firm, his waist is slender. There’s nothing lacking. His eyebrows are like drawn lines, his eyelashes long and deep, yet his gaze is sharp… His nose is so high it could cut through anything, and at his age, his baby fat has already receded, defining his jawline… Oh, that face would suit being Emperor, or Grand Duke of the North, or even opening a cafe in the capital and brewing coffee.” “…What?” “…Take about half of Leila’s stories with a grain of salt. She’s always… like this sometimes.” It had taken me a long time to distinguish the faces of the people of Shierun. I had no time to judge who was more handsome or less so. Was Rubel really that handsome? I thought he was handsome because he had dark eyebrows and a high nose, giving him a masculine appearance, but I didn’t realize his looks were considered exceptionally outstanding by the people of Shierun. So, was the story that Rubel looked cold true? I couldn’t tell. I recalled his dark eyes and straight eyebrows. However, listening to her, it seemed plausible. Thinking about it carefully, it was true. His face was well-balanced. Even at a young age, he was already tall, with broad shoulders and a thick chest. I didn’t dislike it when a close friend received praise. However, seeing him through a woman’s eyes felt new and made me feel awkward and bewildered. Leila talked at length about Rubel’s appearance. She spoke of how his eyes were so deep one could fall into them, and how when he occasionally raised the corners of his mouth, it felt like one’s heart was melting. That wasn’t true. In my eyes, Rubel always had a flustered expression, constantly observing people. While his expressions didn’t change much, he was timid and shy. Every time our eyes met, he would smile shyly. He was a quiet and gentle soul, always diligent, meticulously organizing his notes and practicing swordsmanship diligently. I had never seen him pay attention to his appearance. It wasn’t his fault that he was born so handsome. Thinking so, I listened quietly and let out a soft laugh of disbelief, and she replied that I was still too young and not her type, so I should try harder. I laughed heartily and readily agreed. ❖ ❖ ❖ The enjoyable days passed quickly. For the next week, I only held my sword in my hands just before dawn and right before bed. It was good for practice because no one was awake at dawn, and everyone was exhausted and went to bed early at night. All other time was spent with my family. During the day, as promised, members of House Ernhardt and House Servel gathered to enjoy swimming, and I joined them for fishing and hunting. I also read books on the warm, sunny lawn and indulged in piles of sweet desserts. As I had planned, I played Janggi, no, Chess, with my Father. Sitting opposite each other in a private drawing-room, with delicious food and fragrant tea served, the time was peaceful. As we moved the chess pieces, we exchanged various conversations. Among them was a discussion about the Emperor candidate that House Ernhardt was supporting. To my cautious question, my Father hesitated for a moment and then smiled kindly. Reading his pleased and proud feelings from that composed smile, I also calmed my restless heart. “Well, House Ernhardt has not yet decided on or supported anyone. If I had to say, we intend to align with Duke Valentia’s Family.” “With my maternal grandfather?” “Yes. Many Count families under the influence of Duke Valentia’s Family, besides us, are likely in a similar position. I am not considering directly participating in political strife or providing financial support.” “Is that so?” “Nothing has been decided yet. His Majesty the Emperor is still healthy and holding his position. This is a matter for ten years from now.” “…Mm.” “However, before a new Emperor is chosen, when the noble council is convened, if our powers are so evenly matched that a vote is necessary… I do think Duke Valentia’s Family will likely support Marquis Antines’ Family.” “Why is that?” “Well, Marquis Antines’ Family has generally behaved well. Unless the Kingdom of Floyd promises something extraordinary, but seeing their recent actions in questioning various treaties, it doesn’t seem like much.” Marquis Antines’ Family was Rubel Anti Searon’s maternal relatives. Hearing my Father’s words, my heart felt lighter. I now understood why I hadn’t wanted to confront the boy who followed me so closely. Seeing my considerable relief, my Father subtly asked as he moved a chess piece, “You seem to have become quite friendly with Prince Rubel?” “Yes. Our personalities just happened to match.” “Indeed. You are selective, and the Second Prince is also selective about people, so it makes sense you’d get along.” “…Mm.” There was no reason to hide Rubel’s behavior from my Father, so I shrugged and brought up what had been on my mind. I told him that rather than being selective, the boy was a cute one who followed people around, and that he was so shy he couldn’t even say what he wanted to say. My Father, William, opened his eyes slightly and looked at me before moving a chess piece. “Checkmate.” “…Ah.” “There are things our son still doesn’t know, and I’m wondering if it’s a good time to tell you now. Listen to me, and if you don’t understand it immediately, it’s okay to let it go.” “Yes. I will listen gladly.” “Remember that what someone shows you is not the entirety of that person.” “…Yes.” It was then that I realized my mistake. As they say, there is always something to learn even from a child, and indeed, that saying was true. The cultures and customs of the Central Plains and Shierun were different, and their languages and writings were different, so it was natural that the reasons and methods for hiding one’s true feelings would also be different. Martial Artists, by nature, were people who extended their swords before their words. Those who lied to me were usually villains desperately trying to prolong their lives, so they were not difficult to distinguish. Those who feared me and bowed low were villains, and those who cried and clung to me were the weak. Those who followed me with shining eyes… My expression became difficult to control due to the sad and missed faces that surfaced involuntarily. I stopped thinking and nodded as if agreeing with my Father’s words. My Father’s expression was calm and warm throughout. In his gaze, I felt like a child again, which was both awkward and embarrassing. For a while, Rubel’s face flickered before my eyes.