Vol 3 Chapter 6 (1/2)
Chapter 6
A room, lined with extremely luxurious furniture
There were ten e round table Their serious expressions were reflected on top of the diligently polished table Four tall gilded pillars surrounded thewas far off Co the tangled relationshi+ps between the men
Asyut ed the furroeen his broith his left hand, elbow resting on the table Fortunately, the deep sigh that leaked out didn’t see, soh would disappear under the vigorous exchange of opinions happening in front of hiorous opinions– yes, that expression sounded nice, but honestly several people were especially insistent on their own opinions
There were around five civil officials who reported directly to the king; the re, which began with these hts, and was essentially participating as a neutral party Ordinarily, the priests passed their time in their tower under their os, but if theylike this This ti fro was held in a hurry
The topic of discussion they brought in was about the country’s reaction to the anti-saint faction
“In any case, I do not agree that the country is in a condition to leave the anti-saint faction to take care of itself If you anization, the carpet will be pulled from under you at an unexpected moment”
This was a priest who could be seen to be in his late sixties with short hair that was conspicuously white Theat the royal palace for a while with exclusive values He was a troublesome person
“Lord Roblin speaks the truth What exactly does the king intend”
The other priests followed him The civil officials lowered their eyes, as if exhausted
“No, the country is definitely not leaving the faction to itself The other day, the conflict that occurred in the royal capital was suppressed”
A civil official, who belonged to the younger group in his early forties, explained while keeping his eyes lowered on the documents at hand
“That is nothingout one weed in the wilderness! What point is there in that!”
The civil official trenation
“Please calm down There is no doubt it is is Moreover, if ish to coanization, then the country must be discreet with its movements If we rush and show our hand, ill si the spider’s children It is for that not to be the case that we are having discussions upon discussions right now”
The person who opened his mouth instead was a civil official called Garon, who had an iaze and, on the other hand, he did not show a thoughtless attitude that would pour oil on the fire
Asyut kept silent and watched over the proceedings
“How easygoing!”
The only feh, shrill voice
“Once the people know about thebut shocked There is nothinga problem that will trouble them! It may be said that the people will lose their trust in the country”
“Exac
tly! The mere existence of those accursed people ould raise their hand against the saint, said to be a treasure to this world, is a black stain and large disgrace on this country! If the present situation exposes itself to the people, I could not bear it!”
Roblin again At his anger, the civil officials could do nothing but look at each other and close theirpushed by that threatening attitude Even Asyut could feel there was one or two points in the words from priests’ side
Far fro’s aim was
However, if Asyut said that then a huge proble of the anti-saint faction, would break out between the king and the priests
Asyut straightened his sitting posture, wondering if he should raise his voice soon In this , rarely expressed his opinion If he gave a plausible opinion, he could see Roblin’s glare leap to him And that’s why he tried to ht were truly necessary In exchange, he kept hislike a facilitator or moderator
At this time, it was a suitable er He would pro for the moment–
But
Unexpectedly, thewas forced to adjourn without conclusion
Without any previous notice, the door to the room was suddenly opened
This rarely happened Everyone turned their heads to the intruder, taken aback, to see a civil official with an extrehtly pressed lips The civil official glanced at every one, who had stiffened wondering if an eency happened, and then rushed to Asyut’s side without hesitation
“Excuse my intrusion while you are busy”
He quietly whispered into Asyut’s ear And the moment Asyut comprehended the contents, he stood up from his chair with such force that it was kicked back
“W-What happened”
One of the priests called out, startled But Asyut did not have the time to answer
“Excuse me”
Telling the place without turning back Roblin’s shout ca what exactly happened, but he couldn’t care less about them
–Celiastina had collapsed
Unconcerned about people’s eyes, Asyut ran through the halls and finally slohen he could see Celiastina’s roo hard look at the front of her room –Someone stood at the door
It didn’t take long to know that was Aeneas In that e, rose up in his chest Aeneas, even as he closed the door, sent a look into the room behind him with painful reluctance
As Asyut stepped up briskly, Aeneas also noticed him For an instant, an uncoed into resolve
“What happened”
Asyut couldn’t hold back his strict tone
“On her return fro to the doctor’s diagnosis, it does not appear to be a serious probleue”
“…… And her consciousness?”
“It has not returned yet, but it is said she ake up soon”
Now then, excuse me Aeneas said that with a nod and then turned on his heel and left –Asyut wondered if soh he knew there was no use in being suspicious, he couldn’t remain calm inside
But right noas about Celiastina’s condition
He knocked just in case but, as he thought, no words came back Asyut opened the door like that and walked to the bedside, while being careful not to step loudly Unexpectedly, Celiastina had a peaceful expression as she laid there with her eyes closed
“……”
Pulling up a chair beside the bed and sitting down in it, Asyut stared intently at her sleeping profile Asyut’s heart finally settled when he heard her regular breathing The ht his heart had been seized
Come to think of it… Asyut reflected in his mind as he stared at Celiastina
(This happened once before)
Thinking back, it was already such a long tinature collection that happened to prevent the execution of the youngto assassinate the saint Celiastina, who had been active under the strong sun, overworked and collapsed
At that time too, he had waited beside Celiastina, just like this, for her to wake But his heart was not the same as then
(Before, it didn’t feel liketorn apart like this)
Until the tiht now he felt like, if he relaxed his control, he would grab Celiastina’s shoulders and call out in a loud voice while shaking her
(“Until the last moment”–)
Those words from that time revived abruptly in his mind Asyut stretched out a hand to Celiastina’s pale cheek
I’ He felt like he hadn’t heard the voice she spoke to hi time He wanted her to call his name He wanted to hear her say his name in that soft voice
He gently stroked her cheek
To think he had feelings to this mad extent still inside him
It was soht he had lost forever No matter what he saw, or heard, his heart had always been cold to the very botto that would ever shake his heart strongly again –And yet
The girl who had froze Asyut’s heart in the past, with the sa it this time
It was ironic and yet he didn’t feel like laughing That didn’t h
As long as she woke up And as long as she stayed by his side forever Just that
(If I would lose her, then I don’t even care if she and the past Lady Celiastina are the same person– not anymore)
Even if all the events that occurred in the past were to be thrusted before his eyes right now
Even if all his deceased loved ones were to speak ill of him from the heavens
Even still, he could not throw these feelings away He would not lose them
He should have known
That he… loved her
“…… Asyut……?”
Hearing a fragile voice call out his na up at hihtly cracked open
“Lady Celiastina”
Asyut instinctively leaned forward and gripped Celiastina’s hand
“Have you come to?”
“This is……”
Celiastina slowly looked around the room with eyes that were out of focus
“Your private room, Lady Celiastina You collapsed on the way back from the infirmary and were carried here”
“……”
He explained with brief words, as if instructing her However, Celiastina still seemed to be absent-minded and vacant
“I……”
“Yes?”
“I’m alive”
Asyut, still gripping her hand tightly, couldn’t move
“I’m still… alive”
It see to herself more than she was to Asyut He couldn’t help but place his other hand on top of the one that held hers
“Of course You’re alive”
When he told her that in a strong tone, Celiastina ht had returned to her eyes, more than before
“–Me, huh”
And Celiastina, who se of vanishi+ng
“Did I sleep a lot, I wonder Could it be that it’s passed the time for the ceremony?”
Saying that, Celiastina raised her upper body and Asyut ely like that
“A-Asyut?”
Celiastina’s voice, colored with surprise and eain from within his arms Asyut felt her twist her body out of bewilder, I’m fine now, even if she threw out words like that piece by piece, he absolutely wouldn’t let her go Eventually, Celiastina closed her ave up and her shoulders relaxed
A momentary silence
Suddenly, Celiastinavoice
“I’m… scared”
It was a small voice But she certainly said that
“I’m scared……”
That was surely the truth Celiastina tried to keep shut deep inside her heart