Vol 4 Chapter 2 (2/2)

A voice rang out, rebuking the men. It wasn't Ran's. Looking towards it, a woman was leaning against the fence, watching the practice. That fat shape belonged to Krau. Originally, she had been a female slave serving Zaj Haman, a wealthy merchant in Birac. Currently she was employed by prince Gil, who had purchased her skill at piloting air carriers.

She had apparently bought apple jam at the morning market and was shovelling a hard biscuit lavishly smeared with it into her mouth. As Vileena approached her, with admirable speed she quickly hid the bag of food behind her back.

”M-Madam. This definitely isn't me being idle. The good people of Apta are taking care of maintenance on the air carriers, and of cleaning them inside too, er, everyone is doing it with good will, er, yes.”

Of course, what Vileena didn't know was that every night, Krau would catch hold of soldiers and craftsmen and gamble at cards. When they had been fleeced from top to bottom, she would exempt them from paying a part of the money they had lost, but in exchange they would be made to check and clean the s.h.i.+ps under Klau's instructions.

”I am not yet the Madam. You don't have to be so panicked.”

”Then you won't tell the prince?”

Jam smeared around her mouth as she implored with upturned eyes, Krau's face was enough to induce unintentional laughter. However, Vileena deliberately kept a straight face and nodded.

”Of course not. More importantly, Krau, have you thought about our earlier conversation?”

”That earlier conversation, you mean...”

”The one about air carriers. I asked you if you would teach me how to manoeuvre those s.h.i.+ps.”

”Hmm”, Krau crooked her thick neck. ”Ah, no, of course I personally don't mind at all but what does your husband say about it? You never know when something might happen, and if it did, the s.h.i.+ps need to be able to fly at any time, so we have to use ether sparingly.”

While her reason for quibbling was plausible, ”This is annoying” was written clearly on her face. Vileena felt that she should be offended but it was hard to hate someone whose face expressed things so clearly.

”Right. At ease!”

They heard Hou Ran's sharp voice. Ignoring the soldiers who had been shaken about by dragons that were several times harder to handle than horses and who were completely exhausted by their merciless teacher's strict coaching, Hou Ran's expression changed completely as she started looking after the dragons.

For some reason, Vileena's expression became tense. She hadn't originally come here to once again entreat Krau to teach how to steer a sky s.h.i.+p. Vileena wasn't shy around strangers but this would be the first time that she had a face-to-face talk with Hou Ran. She was someone who was hard to grasp. Even more so than that prince.

Ha! Spurring on her heart that had become timid, Vileena went over to where Hou Ran was.

”Hou-san.”

”'Ran' is fine.”

Ran spoke without turning around. She gave the dragons their feed, gently stroking the Tengos' necks.

Having had the wind taken out of her sails, with an ”Hum, er...” and her head inclined, Vileena hesitated a little.

”What?”

She demanded. As she approached, Vileena couldn't help but get the impression of a different kind of beauty from the elegance and refined demeanour that was so highly praised at Court. More than anything, her eyes that were reminiscent of a clear lake were what spontaneously captured Vileena's attention.

”W-well. I have something I want to talk about with you.”

”With me.”

Her voice was monotone, making it impossible to guess at her innermost thoughts. Somehow still undeterred, Vileena continued,

”Yes. The prince and you are close - or rather, it looks like you share a trusting relations.h.i.+p.”

”The prince”, Ran repeated in a mutter then nodded with conviction. ”Ah, well, it wouldn't be strange if that's what it looks like.”

”Wa, Wait, wait!” Krau, who had been listening – half curious, half nervous – to the exchange between the two, couldn't take it anymore and b.u.t.ted in, ”Ran, watch how you talk. This is the princess of Garbera! The one who will become the prince's bride. Be a little....”

”It doesn't matter, Krau.” Vileena stopped her. ”... That prince is currently staying in his room. Does he often do this kind of thing? That is, after all, I always get irritated at the prince's behaviour, I get angry, or I scold him immediately, but every time, the prince brings about an outcome that leaves me astounded. Even if other people can't see it, he is always thinking about something. At the same time, I have come to believe that he is always suffering and worrying alone.”

”......”

”But this time... I have the feeling that it's different from usual. And while it is embarra.s.sing, I do not understand. So I thought that you who are close to the prince might be able to understand what is going on this time.”

For a short while, Ran wordlessly continued to tend to the dragons. Krau, who was looking on, felt nervous as the silence dragged on.

”He isn't a child anymore.” Ran said with her back still turned. ”If there are things he thinks he needs to do, he will do them. Maybe at the moment, he doesn't think there is anything.”

”But...”

The war with Taúlia was settled for the time being, reinforcements had been sent to Garbera; this time it was with Ende and perhaps even his own country of Mephius that there might be strife. In such a situation as the current one, it was impossible that there was nothing that needed to be done.

Perhaps realising Vileena's implied meaning, Ran turned her head – and only her head – towards her.

”If you think it's so strange, you should barge in uninvited and ask him directly.”

”... If I do that, then I'll be the one who has failed. There are many ways to understand another person.”

”If you can't ask the person himself then you had best leave well alone.”

Even Vileena felt a little angry at her blunt way of speaking.

”Do you seriously think that way?”

”I don't know what she means by 'seriously'.”

”This she, to whom do you refer?”

Vileena grimly narrowed her eyes, finally pushed too far. She had shown calm and tolerance in her way of speaking, but it went without saying that the t.i.tle of Third Princess of Garbera wasn't something cheap to be looked down upon to that extent. Because it wasn't a problem that only concerned her.

Ran on the other hand was smiling faintly, and as for the dragon that she was stroking with her hand, one could only wonder what it was feeling as it had been ducking its head as though terrified for some time now.

Just as Krau, who could feel the explosive atmosphere, once again held her breath in nervous suspense, a dignified shadow approached.

Part 3

”Oh my. Am I interrupting, I wonder?”

The one who come into view was another girl - Ineli Mephius.

”Your Imperial Highness.”

Vileena was unable to conceal her surprise. In this kind of place, to meet this kind of opponent was something she had surely not expected. As for Ineli, though she herself had expressly gone there, she openly displayed her discomfort at being near the dust and the dragons' stench. Covering her nose with her hand:

”Older Sister, may I speak with you a while?”

She took princess Vileena away from the dragon pen to somewhere more private. Probably because she had already lost interest, Hou Ran allowed the training to resume in the open grounds.

Once the two of them were alone, Vileena felt a little tense for different reasons than just before. Be it that time of the party for Mephius' Founding Festival, or at the time of Zaat's rebellion, or of course now that the two of them were alone, there was something similar.

She seems to be doing surprisingly well.

Vileena naturally did not have any illusions about the day Ineli descended upon Apta or on the meaning of the smile she was turning her way. She had had unconcealed hostility directed towards herself. The Ineli who now confronted her was thoroughly the same as before, but when it came down to it, she didn't know what kind of fight she would start this time.

Vileena mentally braced herself, however, Ineli said something unexpected.

”It would seem that Taúlia's princess, Lady Esmena Bazgan, will be arriving the day after tomorrow. With Brother in that state, he won't have the heart to receive her properly. Are you not also worried about it, Princess?”

”Y-yes.”

”Of course, one cannot say His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince will be barricade himself against Lady Esmena the whole time. In addition, you, Older Sister, do not have any false pride, so...”

”So?”

”Would you entrust the reception to Ineli?”

Not for one moment could Vileena guess the real intentions behind this smilingly made request.

After that, Ineli put on such a vigorous display of work that it seemed hard to believe that she had secluded herself in Solon.

As the bombed-out Great Hall couldn't be used, she was quick to decide to that the party would be held in the barracks' ground floor hall and briskly gave the craftsmen instructions about the elegant decorations they were to start working on. From the castle, she had them bring the furnis.h.i.+ngs that had remained unscathed: ottomans, tables and such, as well as paintings and twilled cloth; then with an impeccable sense of balance, she rearranged them.

She chose the menu for the meals. Furthermore, she personally went to the wine cellars and, after carefully listening to the opinion of a person who was knowledgeable about the preferences of those from the Western regions, she selected several varieties of wine. As though suddenly thinking about it, she summoned the second-in-command of the Imperial Guards, s.h.i.+que.

”I would like to have a sword dance performed in front of our guests from Taúlia. Would you be so kind as to select a number of skilled swordsmen”, she ordered him.

In response to the sudden summons, s.h.i.+que had merely adopted a respectful posture, but at this he abruptly scrutinised her face.

”You will also take part in the sword dance. It will be good if you put on a show as it will please our guests. I leave it to you.”

It was an order that left no room for agreeing or disagreeing. The swordfight-loving Ineli had originally come to know of s.h.i.+que during his time as a gladiator.

After that, Ineli gave orders to the civil servants and also to the townspeople to prepare for the reception.

Vileena could only watch as the preparations steadily advanced. Even though she was skilful at handling guns and airs.h.i.+ps, she was extremely poor in matters such as these. Above all else, Vileena was bad with things such as feasts or parties, and she was inexperienced at performing the host's duty of warmly welcoming everyone.

And so, since being the only one with nothing to do in the midst of busy surroundings was unbearable to her nature, she asked Ineli if there was anything she could do to help.

”Didn't you promise that you would entrust this to me?” Ineli asked in a loud voice to which she added a smile too alluring to fit her age.

”Older sister, it is alright for you to simply to be present when Lady Esmena is here. All the same, as the betrothed to the lord of this castle, it might also cause the other party to feel suspicious if the two of you don't appear together. It seems that Esmena Bazgan has never set a single out of Taúlia before. I am sure she would enjoy it if you were to tell her amusing stories about Garbera.”

”A-amusing stories?”

After which, in her room, Vileena found herself in a bind, her head filled with worries about this and that. The princess had never considered something like whether or not she herself had a sense of humour. Theresia was unable to just watch and remain indifferent.

”Princess. An 'amusing story' does not have to be a story at which you hold your sides with laughter. It's quite alright if you talk about perfectly normal things. After all, they should be able to find enjoyment in a conversation that is simply about foreign cultures and manners.”

However even with this advice, Vileena was incapable of doing things negligently and once she had convinced herself of that something had to be done in a certain way, she wasn't readily going to change that belief. With so many unfamiliar things around her, Theresia was worried that at any moment, she might have a spurt of mental growth so intense that she might develop a fever and collapse.

And like that, time pa.s.sed in the blink of an eye until very little remained before Esmena's arrival.

During this time, prince Gil Mephius never once left his own room, and while s.h.i.+que and the other Imperial Guards were worried about it, they could only practice the sword dance as they had been ordered to by Ineli.

Amidst all this turmoil, Oubary Bilan was the only one whose att.i.tude was unconcerned. When an enemy wasn't threatening to break through the border but was instead warmly welcomed, there was another little that a man who, like him, relied on military arts could do. From morning onwards, he devoted himself to just drinking.

Whenever Oubary got drunk, those of his subordinates who were in attendance thought it was strange how he would stroke the wound on his cheek, saying ”It hurts”.

Other than the imperial prince, there was one other thing that Oubary couldn't stomach. The reinforcements for Garbera.

When Oubary first heard that the prince was organising them, he was in two minds about it. He still had a lingering affection for Garbera. As Noue Salzantes valued him more highly than his homeland of Mephius did, he had originally requested his help in making use of Zaat's plan. But now that the plan for Solon had failed and that he himself had also been sent as reinforcement, he felt like this time he would like to be the one to offer Noue a favour and put him in his debt.

However, he was well aware that his own country had no intention of sending reinforcements to Garbera. Because he had incurred the emperor's displeasure by disappearing at the time of Zaat's rebellion, the fact was that he wanted to avoid provoking Guhl Mephius' temper any further.

Thus...o...b..ry, conflicted because of this dilemma, was irritated by his current circ.u.mstances of having spare time on his hands.

”I'm not the kind of man made to finish as a mere general!”

As...o...b..ry repeated that as he stroked the wound on his cheek, the soldiers from the Black Armoured Division who kept him company felt deeply uncomfortable.

While the preparations in Apta were busily underway, Esmena Bazgan had crossed the border as soon as everything had finally been ready. As it was the first time she rode an air carrier, she admired every single part of the scenery below and her eyes shone like a little girl's.

”Air carriers are made from dragon fossils, aren't they?”

”Yes. The frame is made using metal refined from fossils. The backbone of maritime vessels are called 'keels', which is written with the characters for 'dragon' and 'skeleton', but these here are literally dragon bones.”

”Then, the fact that it can fly, is it because the dragons' power still dwells in their bones that have been turned into fossils?”

”Ah, no”, the s.h.i.+p's captain, who had been a.s.signed the role of giving explanations, waved his hand for emphasis. ”That it can fly in the sky is because it repulses the earth's magnetic field thanks to ether. The metal obtained from refining dragon bones is called dragonstone and is very light, which makes it extremely convenient to use for s.h.i.+ps or airs.h.i.+ps.”

On board the s.h.i.+p, Esmena looked around here, there and everywhere, latching on to anyone without a care, and asked them every detail about each new thing one by one. Not a single one of the people who dealt with her wore a troubled expression. It was the princess who was rumoured to be plagued with strange nightmares. It was touching to see that in Esmena's emaciated face that always wore an air of affliction, her eyes now sparkled with curiosity and liveliness.

The distance between Taúlia and Apta when travelling on a mid-sized air cruiser was no more than half a day's travel however. Before Esmena's curiosity about the sky could be satisfied, the airs.h.i.+ps welcoming them to Apta appeared to guide the s.h.i.+p.

When Esmena Bazgan alighted from the landing port, a large number of people were gathered in the open s.p.a.ce beneath her. Hangings were raised in welcome and as the people of Apta waved their hands, Esmena shyly waved back.

The women of Taúlia exposed their skin as little as possible. From her head, she was covered with a scarf and the long train of the cloth wrapped around her entire body dragged as she walked. Many of the Mephians thought her figure exotic and here and there, sighs of admiration were heard from the crowd. Although for many years they had been bitter enemies – historically, Apta in particular had sustained many a.s.saults from Taúlia – that on this occasion the guest was a young woman helped calm national sentiment.

While feeling nervous at being stared at as though about to be devoured, Esmena didn't forget to fleetingly observe the streets of the castle town. Everything her eyes now alighted on was new and dazzling. Even though it wasn't separated from Taúlia by any great distance, when she thought of a foreign country, she felt like even the indigo blue sky at dusk looked different from the one in her native land.

”Oh. Although I'd heard that the people of Mephius, all of them, were forced to live like slaves to the emperor, everyone here seems to be happy.”

”P-Princess”, next to her Natokk, the officer serving as escort, was shaken by a violent fit of coughing. ”Please don't say something like that in front of the Mephian n.o.bles.”

”I am not wrong. n.o.body taught me the truth.”

Because the nineteen-year old Esmena was in some respects sophisticated, her smile was unclouded. The Taúlian soldiers attributed her flushed cheeks and misty eyes to her excitement at being in a foreign country for the first time, but that wasn't the whole reason.

Naturally, the imperial prince Gil Mephius was in Apta. From some reason, when she thought about that youth, Esmena was unable to calm down. Her heartbeat quickened, and once he appeared in her mind, his figure did not readily disappear from it. Even though she had only met him once in person, that figure had come to mind so many times after she went to bed and prevented her from sleeping.

Esmena's steps were light as she went along the way and her heart was exhilarated.

”You must be tired after your long journey, Lady Esmena. We, the subjects of Emperor Guhl Mephius, welcome you all.”

It was not the crown prince who bowed to them in greeting at the entrance of the hall but a girl whom Esmena saw for the first time. She was introduced as Mephius' princess, Ineli Mephius, and Esmena hurriedly returned her greetings. As Ineli guided the guests into the hall, she said: ”We are grateful to you for the pains you took in coming here but my brother and the lord of Apta, Gil Mephius, is not well and is currently bedridden.”

”Oh dear,” Esmena's complexion was observed to cloud over with regret. ”Is it quite bad?”

”The illness itself is no great thing. He is merely worried about transmitting it to our guests. Gil Mephius' message to you is that even though he isn't present, Princess, please enjoy yourself at your leisure.” Ineli's tone never faltered. ”If by good luck he should be feeling better tomorrow, he will pay you a visit to greet you properly, princess.”

After which, Esmena was treated to a banquet held in the hall until she was quite worn out. The hurriedly prepared food and drink were ideal, and the military men from Taúlia, starting with Natokk, were amazed at the sword dance performed by s.h.i.+que and his companions. After all, even if they were called Imperial Guards, they were former gladiators. Because they had a great deal of experience with taking part in performances within the arena, they crossed sword with such splendid timing that it seemed unbelievable that they had trained for it only for a day or two.

As Esmena watched half in fear, half in curiosity while the company of men wielded swords to the rhythm of a drum, Ineli smiled at her,

”As this is the best we can do in this border fortress, you must think more than ever that we of Mephius are unrefined. That this all the hospitality we can offer to a princess from Taúlia makes me feel quite ashamed.”

”Not at all. I cannot thank you enough for the amazement you have given us, there isn't a single thing to be ashamed of. As for myself, it is my first time being on Mephian soil and it is so enjoyable that I feel like I will be carried away with all this merrymaking, so if in my ignorance I should do something to cause offence, please do not hold it against me.”

Although Esmena had at first regretted the prince's absence, she soon started to have fun chatting with Ineli. The Mephian princess truly had a wealth of topics of conversation and knew of the ancient customs and history of Taúlia. When they talked about what they both liked, she gave the names of all the famous poets from the various Tauran provinces then she and Esmena recited verses they had memorised. Sitting with them was Vileena Owell, who after giving her greetings had remained almost entirely silent.

”Elder sister, which do you know?”

Even though Ineli suddenly asked her that, the princess hardly even knew the poets of her own native country of Garbera. ”Er.” She could only lower her eyes, feeling extremely bitter about her own lack of culture.

Wanting to take Vileena into consideration, Esmena smiled and brought up a new topic of conversation,

”I would very much like to hear about Garbera also.”

Of course, she had mixed feelings towards the girl who would become Gil's lawful wife. However as Esmena was naturally not so foolish as to let those emotions show, not even her rival Vileena had any margin to grasp them.

With nervous look on her face, Vileena brought out the ”interesting stories” she had prepared for the occasion. As the fourteen-year-old princess was unused to entertaining, she was also unused to the art of storytelling, and although it could have been charming, as she was extremely ill at ease, it was painful for the onlookers. Above all else, as she told her stories exactly as she had prepared them, her nervousness was transmitted to those around her, which was a bigger problem than the question of having a sense of humour.

From the moment she sensed the atmosphere around her, she snapped her mouth shut and barely opened it again.

On Ineli and Esmena's side of things, the more time they pa.s.sed together, the closer they became.

”Tomorrow if the weather is fine, how about going down the river Yunos. Of course, I would go with you too.”

”Yes, I look forward to it.”

Even though there was no clear delineation, the river Yunos had always served as the border between Mephius and Taúlia. That the two princesses should have fun together by riding on the same boat was certainly significant - which is to say that Esmena cheerfully agreed to Ineli's implicit offer. For Esmena, who had few friends of her own age, this would also be a new experience.

Eventually the hour grew late and Esmena was guided to the guest drawing room. Seeing them off with a small bow, Ineli was conscious of Vileena's gaze at her back. As for her, this was her greatest victory. There was no doubt that she had accomplished what the Garberan princess could not. Not only that, but it was hugely significant that a princess from Mephius, which was often denigrated as boorish and rustic, had triumphed in this sphere over a princess from Garbera, the country of knights that happened to be known for its refined culture.

Vileena would certainly be distraught at her own powerlessness, Ineli thought as she smugly turned around.

And was surprised to find Vileena closer than she had expected.

”I was impressed.”

”Eh?”

”There are many kinds of hards.h.i.+ps. For me it would have been impossible to entertain lady Esmena without having her doubt me. I was saved thanks to lady Ineli being here.”

”Is, is that so...”

While Ineli was strangely overawed, Garbera's princess nodded to herself a few times. She caught hold of her hand,

”By joining forces, we can overcome this difficulty.”

In truth, Vileena was impressed from the bottom of her heart. Ineli felt somewhat embarra.s.sed at having picked a quarrel and put herself on her guard this time.

”Eh? Er, indeed.”

Facing her, Ineli could barely maintain a smile.

What is this?

In her heart, she was of course astonished, and also disgusted. Vilena should have long since understood that she had tried to humiliate her at the time of the dance at the Founding Festival. They had exchanged hostile gazes. That they had been exactly like military commanders taking note of each other as they crossed swords had fired her determination.

Hmph,

Ineli inwardly felt contempt anew. This was because mentally she once more carried concealed a sense of superiority towards Vileena.

It's because you believe that the reinforcements will reach Garbera that you can look so carefree.

In other words, neither Gil nor the princess knew yet that sending reinforcements to the princess' native country was tantamount to defying the emperor. In all likelihood, those especially sent reinforcements would be prevented from travelling. Once they found out that Ineli had deliberately failed to disclose the emperor's message to her brother, she would watch as, in front of her very eyes, they tasted despair and the knowledge that their efforts had been vain.

Honestly, how ridiculously naive. Even if you're good at handling an airs.h.i.+p, you know nothing about something like a battle between women.

Her feeling of satisfaction at her victory had had a little cold water poured over it, however for now at least she had regained her sense of self-importance. After this was...,

”Brother, isn't it?”

Ineli stealthily muttered in a low voice.

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