SLDS 46

“That’s the answer I wanted to hear.”

The empress bent her knees and collapsed to the floor. She no longer cared about the dirty, unhygienic ground. She moved close to the shaman and began to press him for what she wanted to know.

“Is there no way to harm the great star? I heard you possess an outstanding ability for curses.”

“The great star of the empire is one who was born with the energy of the morning star. Moreover, he has already received the goddess’s protection. If I were to cast a curse on such a person, a greater calamity would befall me.”

The shaman shook his head back and forth. He even added that he absolutely could not touch this person.

“Is there no way? Try something.”

The empress, not discouraged, pressed the shaman once more. To the offerings she had prepared in advance, she added the diamond ring she was wearing.

The large-stoned diamond had a remarkable radiance even in the darkness. The shaman licked his dry lips and quickly tucked the ring inside his sleeve.

“It would be possible for someone other than the crown prince. I will direct the misfortune to the person who loves him most. So that he will slowly become unhappy over time.”

“Good.”

Afterward, the shaman muttered words that were impossible to understand. The crystal ball emitting a brilliant light and the old man’s upturned, white eyes were, upon second look, just as bizarre.

However, the empress’s face was more filled with rapture than ever before. Watching the shaman with sparkling eyes, she too clasped her hands tightly and joined in the curse.

May he die the most miserable death in the world, may he live the rest of his life in misfortune!

✽ ✽ ✽

Cecil opened his eyes.

It was a morning where the soft blanket wrapped snugly around his body and the warm sunlight felt pleasant. As he slowly sat up, his body felt strangely light, and he didn’t even yawn.

Cecil lightly stretched his stiff neck and then pulled the bell cord hanging beside the bed. With the tinkling of a bell, the loyal servants, as always, showed their youthful faces.

“Mr. Cecil, did you rest peacefully last night?”

“Yes, good morning. Did you all sleep well?”

Cecil greeted the servants and then placed his bare feet on the floor. He then washed his face with clean water and brushed his teeth while being attended to. It was while he was changing his clothes with a much brighter face. The head servant, Leo, was tying the ribbon on Cecil’s shirt as he spoke.

“Mr. Cecil, have you seen outside? The weather today is absolutely wonderful. The sunlight is so pretty, and the breeze is cool.”

“So it is.”

“Isn’t it a waste to just look at it? How about having breakfast in the garden?”

“Yes, that’s a great idea. I’m craving crispy croutons and pea potage, it’s been a while. Ask them to make plenty. So we can all share.”

“Yes, I will go and tell them right away…”

Just as an excited Leo turned around as if to dash out at once, a brown-eared bulbul flew in from a distance at high speed and collided with the window.

CRACK!!

With a shattering sound, the transparent glass fractured into pieces. The palm-sized bird died with its head embedded in the window. Seeing the red blood dripping down the broken window, everyone froze, forgetting even to breathe.

“Wh-what is this…!”

“Mr. Cecil, are you alright? Be careful!”

The young servants, though frightened themselves, checked on Cecil’s well-being first. A bird flying in and killing itself on a bright morning was no different from a bad omen. They were fussing, worried that Cecil might have been startled.

However, Cecil showed no sign of being surprised at all. On the contrary, he calmed the servants and approached the window.

He reached out a white hand and pulled out the small bird embedded in the window. The bird held in his palm still had a lingering warmth, and its feathers, matted with blood, were damp. The miserable death somehow seemed more pitiful the more he looked at it.

“…How pitiful.”

When Cecil touched the dead bird himself, the servants, dumbfounded, busied themselves bringing clean water and a cloth.

“Bury it in a place with good sunlight. The window… it will need to be fixed quickly.”

“Yes, yes. Oh my, how did this happen.”

Cecil silently washed his blood-stained hands. The servants chattered on about it being an unlucky omen, but he let their words go in one ear and out the other. How could death be unlucky? He himself would end up that way too.

After breakfast, he went to the chapel to pray. In the imperial family, there was a rule to invariably offer a prayer to the Goddess Gaia on Sundays.

Today, Cecil conveyed what he wanted to say to the Goddess Gaia.

I am grateful for the grace you have given me. I will live without regrets, so please, watch over me.

After the service, there is a time for the family to gather and enjoy simple refreshments. The emperor, seated in the seat of honor crafted with jewels, looked over the faces gathered in one place.

“There have been many grim incidents these past few days. I, too, have been troubled, and my sleep has not been peaceful. This is a serious problem, for the imperial palace, which should be the most peaceful place, to be so clamorous.”

Emperor Arnold clicked his tongue. He was pointing out the series of unfortunate incidents that had occurred recently. At this, Empress Elizabeth, who was sipping tea beside him, carefully set down her teacup and replied in a soft tone.

“Your Majesty, please do not worry too much. After all, did the crown prince not step up to resolve the matters? There will be no more trouble from now on. We prayed with all our hearts today, so the Goddess Gaia will surely look after the imperial family even more.”

The emperor shook his head back and forth, saying that alone was not enough. He tapped the table with his hand. After thinking deeply with a face full of concern, he opened his mouth.

“Alexis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It is time to summon Yuria Beatrice to the imperial palace.”

At the sudden command, Alexis, who was holding a teacup, paused. He slowly lifted his gaze to meet the emperor’s.

“For what reason, Your Majesty?”

“We must periodically receive the god’s protection from the Saintess. Is everyone not worried? The case has not been properly solved, and to resolve our uneasy hearts, that is truly the only way.”

In reality, the one who was most anxious was Emperor Arnold himself. The assassination attempt during the hunting competition and the murder that occurred within the imperial palace were all events that threatened the emperor’s safety.

He was an inherently timid and weak-willed person. Alexis, who knew the emperor’s personality well, answered calmly.

“Your Majesty, I have already ordered the Imperial Guard and the Royal Knights to strengthen the security of the imperial palace. I am taking care of Your Majesty’s safety more than ever, so…”

“Don’t tell me you wish to monopolize the sacred power for yourself!”

“How could that be possible?”

“I do not wish to hear any opposition!”

BANG! The emperor’s fist slammed down hard on the table. At that point, Alexis could no longer defy his will. Swallowing the sigh that was about to escape, he answered.

“I will obey your command.”

Yuria Beatrice’s entry into the palace was carried out with great speed.

A separate residence was prepared for the Saintess, who would be living within the imperial palace from now on, and the related procedures were passed through the cabinet in an instant.

Crown Prince Alexis carved out time from his busy schedule to oversee Yuria’s move into the palace, one detail at a time. Originally, such matters should have been supervised by the empress, but he could absolutely not entrust Yuria to her.

“It would be better not to assign any servants to attend to Ms. Beatrice. Though it may be a little inconvenient, it will be better than having something unfortunate happen.”

Cecil was discussing the matter face-to-face with Alexis. They were currently in Yuria’s new residence, a renovated single-story building within the imperial palace.

Compared to the magnificent castle, it was modest, but it was decorated in a pretty and charming way. Since this place was also imperial property, the furniture, wallpaper, and decorations were all of the highest quality.

“I think so too. In any case, Yuria isn’t accustomed to having someone attend to her. When she lived at the duchy, she always just complained that it was burdensome.”

Alexis said, leaning back on the sofa. His blue eyes, mulling over his thoughts, gazed at a point in the air, and the tip of his long, crossed leg tapped as if keeping time.

“But we must assign guards to protect her. Now that the Imperial Guard cannot be trusted, I’ll have to select suitable men from among the knights.”

“It would be best if they are men with no family ties. I don’t think the Royal Knights would be co-opted by the empress, but there is always the off-chance.”

“You mean to eliminate all elements that could be used as leverage? Meticulous, aren’t you?”

A long curve formed on Alexis’s lips. Discussing things head-to-head with Cecil felt quite unfamiliar, but it wasn’t so bad. He was smart, and every word he said pierced through to Alexis’s intentions. It went without saying that their thoughts aligned.

The blue eyes that had been gazing into the air turned to Cecil. Cecil Adrian, sitting with his back and shoulders held perfectly straight in a proper posture, was in every way a member of the imperial family exuding grace.

Although his face vaguely resembled the empress’s, the favor Alexis felt for him was worlds apart. Cecil no longer felt disagreeable; on the contrary, the more he looked at him, the more he liked him.

The more he gazed at the pretty face, the wider the smile on Alexis’s lips became. He tilted his head slightly and leisurely rested his chin on his hand.

“Cecil, I have a favor to ask you.”

“Please speak.”

“I would like you to be on friendly terms with Yuria.”

“……”

“She’ll be very lonely when she comes to the palace. Both I and Claude are rather indifferent by nature, so Yuria might feel hurt. If at least you would talk with the child, she would be able to adapt much more comfortably.”

“If I get close to Yuria… my mother may use it to her advantage.”

“It’s fine, you’ll come and tell me everything anyway. If the empress concocts another dirty scheme, we could even use that against her.”

Cecil hid his bitter feelings, only fiddling with the hands on his lap. He could clearly feel that Alexis had opened his heart to him, but strangely, his mood sank emptily.

The words about getting back at the empress were fine. No, rather, that method wasn’t bad at all.

What made Cecil feel dejected was simply the fact that he was experiencing firsthand, from a close distance, that Alexis cared for Yuria more than anyone else.

“Your answer?”

“I will do so.”

Cecil forced the corners of his lips to rise. How could he refuse Alexis’s request?

Jealousy and disappointment were nothing but a luxury. They were feelings he should not have, nor harbor, in this life.