Note: The first part of this chapter is an excerpt from a romance story.
“…The moment when the hem of Julianna’s shabby dress is almost caught, she heard the sound of a horse’s hoofs from somewhere.
[Julianna!] cried out the man atop horse as he saw Julianna. He is someone whom Julianna met in the town, a young man whom she is secretly attracted to.
However, she learned it in the parade some time ago.
The young man is the sickly Prince of the country who rarely goes out. [He and I are not suited for each other]. The parade she was looking forward to turned out like that, she could not look at it any longer and ran away.
She wandered aimlessly, and thieves caught her right then. She was found by the Prince she wants to see the least, and Julianna’s cheeks became wet with tears.
The young man on a white horse surveyed his surroundings with unsparing glare and then shouted. [Do not touch her!]
He gallantly descended from his horse and pulled out a sword from the scabbard on his waist, the thieves were knocked down with magnificent movements. It was as if he was a different person from the young man who was always next to her. She was captivated by that figure and thought, ‘As expected, he is different from my shabby self’.
The prince sheated his sword after rendering all the thieves unconscious, then held out a hand to Julianna who is still sitting on the ground.
[I am sorry for keeping silent about it. My true name is Julius. I am a prince of this country. I wanted you to see the real me so I never told you. Come, let’s return.]
[Something like that… where in the world will we return to? Someone of my status does not suit you!]
[Our social position is irrelevant. Julianna, I’ve always wanted you to hear this. I want you to marry me. I give you my word that I will never take any concubine, either. You are the only one I love.]
[Julius…!] Julianna wiped her tears and took the hand of the prince.
Later, Julianna and Julius’ wedding were held. The whole nation gave their blessing when they saw that both of them looked happy. Julianna was beautiful, and continued staying close beside Julius as a kind queen…”
After reading the book in a monotone and reaching the last page, Shenryl pushed the book away.
“This is also useless. Why are all their contents the same?”
A lot of romance books are lined up in the bookshelves. As the country develops, the literacy rate of Almerti Kingdom gradually goes up, too. A lot of stories that are popular among the people are now published into books. And a large quant.i.ty of these books about romance are gathered in Shenryl’s room.
“The prince is cool, brave and the strongest in the country – they are all lies. Aren’t all the things written in the picture books all wrong? Besides, it would not go so easy with that kind of distinction in social status. Even if the citizens give their blessing, the aristocrats will invariably oppose it. If he does not take a concubine, he cannot produce a child easily. The country will surely be in disorder.”
Back when she was still a child, she looked at picture books many times over. She believed that her Prince in a white horse will come sometime.
However, this dream was easily destroyed by adults.
It was the first time she was taken to the Imperial Capital. Thereupon, Prince Tim de Almerti was waiting for Shenryl. The third prince of this country, her younger fiance. She does not have any particular objections to her marriage partner. That is the duty of a female aristocrat, something that they accept as inevitability.
“But he’s not like the prince I expected!”
In the room without maids, she raised her voice.
The King did not expect Third Prince Tim to succeed the throne as there is still the Second Prince. That is why they decided his fiancee early… or so it seems. A female with a social position that is suitable for someone with the right to the throne – the West Vern House’s eldest daughter was chosen as she is the closest in age.
At present, Shenryl and Tim’s relationship is that of close childhood friends. They had no opportunities to play with friends of the same generation, but the two of them spend their time together (playing). Shenryl is ignorant about the intentions of the adults’ who live in the royal palace, since she spends time playing with Tim in a different location inside the palace. He played in the sand and became muddy, then got sprained in a mock sword fight — Shenryl’s prince on a white horse rapidly disappeared.
“Nevertheless, Onii-sama, Matthias-oniisama is the only different…!”
Just like that, Shenryl admired her second older brother, Matthias. She spent her time in the main residence until she entered the academy, so she never saw him. However, she heard the stories from maids and butlers.
Matthias-sama is intelligent, and is believed to be stronger than the royal family.
The story about him achieving victory in the Tournament became a legend.
When Matthias came to the Imperial Capital, Shenryl cannot forget the first time she saw him. She can’t helped being happy even if he rarely showed himself.
Are you busy? You hardly come back home and only drop by unexpectedly when I am busy.
It was clear that Matthias stays somewhere away from the mansion, but Shenryl never heard about his job from her surroundings. However, she thought her Onii-sama who have good prospects for the future, will surely be involved in something grand.
And yet…
Shenryl looked outside the window. Noon pa.s.sed, and the warmest time in the cold season is about to end. She handed over an order to the maid who just came in. The maid might be a new servant. If would be easier if it’s a maid who’s accustomed to various things in the house, but a new maid who doesn’t understand anything will be convenient for today’s circ.u.mstances.
The maid went out of the room. Shenryl stood up and let the laces and cloths on her lap fall down to the place she was sitting before. She went towards the room’s interior where overflowing winter clothes were lined up. Shenryl looked among them what she feels wearing today.
Her mother, Lucsher is referred to as the pioneer in the clothing section of this country. She entered the academy dormitory and began to lay emphasis on her favorite, which is sewing.
Nevertheless, her mother was not satisfied in the dainty embroidery alone that is aristocrats’ taste. She decided to make her won dress. It was said that her novel designs were rejected no matter whom she showed it to. But her mother liked it. Therefore, she decided to wear the dress she made on tea parties.
Female aristocrats like backbiting in their spare time. From an early age, Shenryl often went in and out of places where there are a lot of adults. She never did it, but there are women who can do nothing but amuse themselves in salons and watching plays while spending the greater part of the time on unfounded rumors and slander. I am sure that mother was also criticized behind her back at that time, too.
Her mother showed Shenryl the first dress she wore outside in old times. She was so attached that she never parted with it. Is it because it’s a weapon?
Yet, a woman liked one of the styles. Wearing the dress with overwhelming beautiful face, Mother’s clothes which began to attract aristocrats’ attention, and then gradually left others far behind the forefront of fashion.
Furthermore, children’s wear. At the same time her mother gave birth to her Cashbar-niisama, she began to make children’s wear compared to the recognized small clothes of adults so far. She received the words of His Majesty, expressing his good luck in starting a new industry in the country. Nowadays, the business had expanded and opened stores across the continent.
“Rather than working hard because the King gave his complements, Mother likes doing it so it’s only natural.”
Shenryl muttered alone in the room. She went out of the room when she finished tying her ribbons in knots. The heat from the fireplace that warmed the room disappeared slowly the moment the door was closed. She walked down the hallway in small steps with a click. It was warm in her room but the cold drifted a little here. Shenryl reached the room at last without encountering anyone.
She placed her hand on her chest in front of the door to quiet down her heart that started to race. Bathump, bathump, her heart sent out blood. She closed her eyes and calmed herself down. She placed her hand on the doork.n.o.b.
“Excuse me. Is this a good time…?”
“Come in.”
While saying the words that she prepared beforehand, she laid her eyes to the El, looking at him directly for first time. He precisely wore clothes for going out, held a coat in hand, and is sitting on the chair. No matter how she looked at him, it appears as if he is ready to go out any moment soon.
Shenryl was instinctively wide-eyed because of the unforeseen situation, she cannot say anything. But she continued talking to conceal it.
“I’m sorry for visiting so sudden. I have something to ask of El-sama.”
“Yes, I do not mind. What is it you request?”
She cannot read the meaning of El’s actions from his expressionless face. Shenryl encouraged herself not to be overwhelmed by El who listlessly fiddled with his coat.
“This.”
She held out a basket made of tree vines which she brought from her room.
“I would like to pick some flowers for Onii-sama in the forest. Would you lend me your a.s.sistance?”
“For Matthias?”
He asked again with a mystified tone. “How barefaced,” she almost put that into words. He reacted as if he did not expected that, but he waited with going-out clothes as if he knew her business.
“It is freezing outside today. Still, I believe that coat will warm you enough. Well then, I will wait for you at the entrance.”
It seems like he will really read her intentions if they are in the same room. She quickly told him what she wanted to say and left the room.
“It’s alright. He doesn’t know my plan. I told no one about it.”
Onii-sama told me our age difference is not that big. Shenryl walked quickly as she pondered.
n.o.body was in the hallway.
“I am older than you but you really converse well.”
“This much is natural.”
Did he like speaking contrary to his appearance? El continued talking while walking into the forest. She invited him and he followed nonchalantly, he must have a very auspicious character as he likes talking.
Though she doesn’t know what his origins are, he must live in the world or aristocrats a.s.suming that he is really under the custody of West Vern House. He mutually conceals his inner thoughts as he lives. Someone will surely pull the rug underneath him if he continues living in this easygoing manner.
Shenryl came back to herself when she reached that line of thought.
There is no need to reflect about it from now on. I have always been thinking about it… because I already decided to drive him out.
The flower she always saw came into sight.
“The one I want is that flower.”
“This red flower?”
“Yes. A basket full of these.”
He raised the basket in his hand a little and looked at it.
They were absorbed in gathering the flowers so there was little conversation. Let’s take a break for a moment or Let’s move on, they only exchanged a few words.
However, the time is approaching every moment then.
When the day started being cast by shadows, Shenryl stopped her hands’ movements and glanced at El beside her.
El diligently gathered flowers without noticing Shenryl’s gaze. Though the act did not match neither his handsome features nor his elegant appearance, that image looked good for some reason.
So as not to let her footsteps sound, Shenryl quietly left El’s side. Slowly at first, then, as soon as she came to a distance where he cannot hear her footsteps, she began to run.
“I did it! He will never notice.”
In a sufficiently remote place, she finally stopped. The sound of her heart beating inside her body echoed loudly. Then the strain in her body disappeared and started running immediately. Suddenly, the thicket near her feet rustled. Tension ran in Shenryl’s body. She jumped in surprise and began running away to a different direction right at that moment.
She thought it was a beast, or something that might hurt her. She began to notice that her feet became tired from running, so she stopped.
“There are no marks…!”
Shenryl, who considered the forest as a playground, walked while marking the tree trunks. She cut them with an edged tool and they can be considered old according to one’s viewpoint. Yet, she cannot find the signs on any tree around her.
She usually doesn’t get lost. Now that it happened to her… it abruptly came to her mind that this is El’s fault. In beginning of her walk, Shenryl still have physical strength to spare and thought about such things. She began to walk aimlessly in the forest.
A soon as it became dark, the forest became colder and Shenryl stopped at last. She sat as she lost all her strength, leaned her body on the tree trunk and embraced her legs. Even if that position is warm, her face and hands are exposed to the air so her body got cold.
“I want to go home… Mother, Onii-sama… it’s cold…”
Shenryl let out those words in a weak voice that is more childish than the one she used while talking to El.
The beloved forest where she can play alone to her heart’s content is now very frightening.
They may noticed I am not in the mansion. But will they come here? Shenryl’s mind suddenly became full of anxiety.
“…Maybe, n.o.body will come look for me.”
She pushed her face against her knees, closed her eyes and remembered what her father told her when she was still a child.
—- Shenryl, G.o.d* knows everything we do, even the bad things we hide. Your bad deed will someday come back to you.
Even so, there was no other way.
She was really glad when she was informed that her Onii-sama will come live in the mansion.
She wants him to praise her so she studied a lot. She worked hard even though taking lessons was hard.
However, beside her Onii-sama who came to the mansion, there was El. A child that is slightly bigger than her. She understood at first glance that her Onii-sama especially minded the child.
She hardly believed her eyes. She intended to jump out and meet him, but she was undecided to leave her place as her heart became restless.
That day, she returned to her room without no one noticing.
After that, she she requested a maid by implication to observe the relationship of those two. However, the report is enough to crush her heart.
His name is El. Matthias-sama calls him El-sama, and it appears that he looks after him. The details of his origins are obscure, but he is believed to be a high n.o.ble of a foreign country and now under the custody of West Vern House, as explained by a butler’s report.
He shows little emotions, reads and studies, and pa.s.s the day by looking outside without doing anything. When I considered his expressionless appearance to be scary, Matthias-sama informed me that it does not mean he cannot get angry.
From what I observed, his manners towards the maids are also polite and obedient. He appears to be a kind child.
Shenryl was frustrated. She realized that reflected in Matthias eyes is not her, but El. The little sister cannot permit her big brother to care for a child who came from nowhere.
Despite this, the child talked to her without being daunted.
Her Onii-sama got angry with her for saying rash remarks, and her anger towards El increase even more. Even if it she disregarded and disregarded him, he still calls out to her expressionlessly.
What in the world could he be thinking? She doesn’t know, but behind that amazingly well-featured face, Shenryl is certain that he invaded her world. Matthias-oniisama is being deceived.
The moment her mother also became pleased with El, Shenryl decided in her heart. She will treat him cruelly and drive him out of the family.
Thus, the strategy went well.
There was a bird’s voice from somewhere, and she stiffened in nervousness. If the forest does not accept someone, they will be caught in an illusion until they are gotten rid of. About this time, she should be having dinner while listening to the sound of popping charcoal fire.
Then, Shenryl noticed something terrible.
“Huh? …It’s not just…me?”
El whom she left behind is probably still in the forest, too. Pale skin as though he has never played under the sun ever. If he is of n.o.ble birth, he should have no time to spend time outside. It was apparent at a glance that El cannot return to the mansion from an unfamiliar forest. She wondered if he also felt cold like her. When she’s left alone, she’ll surely stop somewhere and cry.
She drove El into a situation like that.
Shenryl cannot shake off the worst possibilities that can happen once she imagined them. She began to feel the importance of what she had done. Perhaps, her punishment for doing such a bad thing is that no one will be able to find her now.
Will I never be able to return home? Tears streamed down Shenryl’s cheeks as she considered that.
“I’m sorry… I won’t do it again.”
She heave with sobs and apologized to whoever there is.
She hates El who s.n.a.t.c.hed away the place she belongs to, she hates Matthias who only pays attention to El. She hates Lucsher who makes clothes for El.
And yet, for a long time, what she hates the most is how everyone looks so happy.
Her inner feelings began to overflow as the recoil of acting like she doesn’t care either way.
At the same time, the fire crawled on the ground like a wave-front and spread around the place Shenryl is sitting at. It spreads to the nearby gra.s.s and the trees and brightened up at once like daytime. The flames begin to light up the girl at the center.
Shenryl noticed that she had used magic unconsciously, so she stopped it in a hurry.
“Huh? Huh?”
Shenryl waved her hand several times over. However, the fire did not go out, instead it turned up the heat further. Haste became clear in Shenryl’s tone.
“Why will it not disappear!? What should I do!? Someone… Someone help me.”
The fire spread steadily, contrary to Shenryl’s desire.
“I want to go home…”
She lamented several times over in a small voice. Right then, she heard sounds of footsteps amidst the fire’s popping sounds.
Something is approaching. It is coming to aim at her. She half-rise to her feet as if a whip hit her exhausted body. In the dark, her eyes darted left and right in terror.
“Hiii…!”
The footsteps approach. The bush in front of her shook with a rustling sound.
I can’t make it in time! She prepared for the attack, crouched and turned around then closed her eyes in one instant.
However, the pain did not come. She did not hear a beast’s growl either, only the popping sound of fire.
What happened?
Shenryl opened her eyes timidly, then turned around.
“I finally found you.”
What she saw was El’s figure bending down a little and stretching forth his hand towards her. His clothes are so ragged that it can be mistaken as different from what he’s wearing before.
“Eh…”
Why? Why? Shenryl panicked. She cannot move, and only stared at El’s face.
It’s scary. As soon as she thought so, the fire that spread around gathered in the center. It surrounded the two of them and danced near El’s feet and coat. The flame that rampaged intended to attack even Shenryl.
“Let’s go back?”
This time, El said that in an embarrased tone.
El’s clothes are not only torn and dirty, they are also scorched in some places. He pa.s.sed through the fire to reach her. Flames still licked along the tips of El’s clothes. If they left that alone, he’ll be hurt soon.
Shenryl is accustomed to fire. Her family, too, of course. Their housemaids and butlers also use fire routinely, too. It was the first time Shenryl became afraid of fire.
The uncontrollable flames encircling the two of them became closer. She knows that they have to run away, but Shenryl cannot move her body due to fear. El’s figure in front of her became blurred by tears.
It was El who moved first.
He thrust his hand in his coat pocket suddenly, and presented a flower to Shenryl without saying anything. It was a limp flower. El looked at the flower with sad eyes and put up three fingers infront of Shenryl.
“Just for three seconds, close your eyes.”
She closed her eyes as El said that in a calm voice.
She counted slowly in her mind – 1, 2, 3. She felt her heart calm down as she counted.
“Wh…y…?”
“I dropped all the flowers on the way. I’m sorry. I don’t know if these can replace them.”
Overflowing flowers were piled up. At that time, El pa.s.sed the basket to Shenryl.. However, the flowers have no color. Several transparent petals were attached to thin stalks that looks fragile. They are flowers made of ice. Light pa.s.sed through them and made them shine and glitter in front of Shenryl.
“Amazing! They’re sparkling…”
Shenryl’s eyes were captivated by their beauty.
“They will melt soon, but I’ll give these as an apology for not collecting the flowers as I promised.”
“Really?”
At the same time Shenryl’s face brightened with El’s remark, the flames that burned brightly also gradually lost their power.
“Let’s go back. Matthias and Lucsher-san will be worried.”
“Yes… Uhm, that, I’m sorry.”
Shenryl stood up and apologized timidly to El.
“Why are you apologizing? I should be the one saying sorry for not finding you earlier.”
Shenryl was surprised because there was no blame in his tone at all. Shenryl expected that her plan to make El get lost in the forest will be exposed. If that is the case… thinking that, she stole a glance at El who is walking by her side.
El looked ahead, but turned beside him as if he felt Shenryl’s gaze.
“What’s wrong?”
While being illuminated by the flickering flames, such El raised the corners of his mouth slowly.
“Hiiii….!”
Shenryl swallowed back her voice to the depths of her throat, and edged back instinctively.
When she saw El’s face lighted up by the flames that are still slightly smoldering, Shenryl realized it.
He knows everything. He noticed all her actions. To let her live or kill her, everything will be as he wished. She was just rolling around his hand. She was just barely forgiven this time. There will be no second time.
Shenryl saw El’s frightening smile that is enough to make her confess everything. No matter whose face it is, it will be scary if you place light underneath them… Shenryl never thought of that possibility after being involved in that big incident.
“Get on.”
Shenryl was bewildered when El turned his back to her and then crouched down.
It is good that they are united again, but they both don’t know the way back. Meanwhile, they arrived at the big lake in the forest.
“Will you get on?”
Yes, she nodded at El and got on his back. El stood up unsteadily, and began walking shakily while carrying Shenryl on his back.
“Uhm, is it better if I get off?”
“Everything’s fine. Will you hold the basket?”
Everything’s fine, he said, but his body swayed left and right and he walked slowly, too. However, El did not put down Shenryl so she had no choice but grasp the basket tightly in exchange. His unreliable appearance from before completely changed.
It seems like Shenryl have not yet comprehended the existence that is El.
El advanced unsteadily. The truth is, El is already exhausted so carrying Shenryl is difficult. After a while, Shenryl noticed that the direction they are going to is strange.
“El-sama? We will fall down if we proceed forward! That is the lake!”
His feet already reached the lake. Though Shenryl desperately called to him, El did not react. She cannot see his face because El is carrying her on his back.
We’ll fall! Shenryl prepared for it, but she never felt her body fall down.
“Eh? Eh?”
Though she resolved not to cry out, she cannot conceal her astonished voice. Shenryl is mature among the kids in her generation, but it was her first time witnessing someone walk on a lake so it can’t be help if she’s surprised.
“After all, since we got lost…”
The lake froze as El stepped forward. It was an unbelievable scene, but El only begun to babble out, entirely uncaring of what’s happening. They arrived at the center of the lake before long. The whole lake had frozen into ice at that time. El placed down Shenryl who’s at a loss for words.
“Don’t move from that place no matter what.”
Shenryl did not understand what El meant by that, but she carefully listened to his instruction.
It happened the moment El looked at the surface of the frozen water.
“Kyaaaaa!”
Shenryl’s body is pushed up by a strong force. The water gathered at the center, and the place they were standing up rose higher and higher.
The far sky became steadily nearer.
“And it seems like they haven’t noticed us. But if we’re in a high place, Matthias and the others can find us… right?”
While she sat and looked down below, she understood his intention. There are torchlights scattered around the forest, and she can see them approaching to this direction from all sides.
Such a large number of people were gathered to look for them. It became a serious matter more than expected.
“They can notice us if we’re here. I’m glad, I’m glad.”
El gladly said, and Shenryl found her voice at last when she heard El say that.
“What is this? The water froze, there’s no doubt about it!”
“It’s magic. It’s convenient, huh? I thought I can only use it for drinks until now. But now I can also use it for searching people. It’s cheap even if I get lost, isn’t it…?”
“What did you say!?”
“El-sama! Shenryl!”
“Listen! Using something as sacred as magic handed down from ancient times as holy power just to cool drinks is…!”
Matthias arrived at the lake together with the search party while Shenryl was snapping at El on his improper use of magic.
“Matthias-oniisama…”
At last, Shenryl stopped talking and El turned around with an expression as if saying, ‘I’m saved.’
Nevertheless, it was now Matthias’ turn to be angry.
“You made me worry so much! When I received the report in the middle of work, how much did you think I searched for you?! When I thought you were kidnapped somewhere, I went around with the thought of killing them! What in the world did you do?! Please give me a sufficient explanation!”
Matthias kept on talking with a tone that shows his almost lost of composure.
“Onii-sama… uhm, I…”
Shenryl intended to tell everything. She expected that she will be despised after talking about it.
However, El interrupted before Shenryl can say anything. El faced Matthias and began talking.
“Matthias, I am sorry for worrying you. I invited Shenryl-chan. I wanted to go into the forest. But we got lost on the way, and it was starting to get dark… I thought we will be back immediately so we left without permission.
“Eh…”
As if to prevent Shenryl from letting out a bewildered voice, El began talking again.
“That’s why, thank you for finding us. I want to express my grat.i.tude for everyone who looked for Shenryl-chan and I.”
Shenryl was overpowered by El who turned back and sent her a look, so she nodded ambiguously. This talk is not yet over, Matthias left with those words. Then, Shenryl asked El a question.
“What is the meaning of this?! Why are you lying—!”
It is not necessary for El to lie. If they tell everything to her Onii-sama, it will eventually end.
To Shenryl who laid her feelings bare, El placed his index finger against her lips and said in a soft voice.
“It’s fine. I don’t think we’ll be scolded. That’s why, just do as I say and keep today a secret. Please.”
“I don’t get what you…”
They heard Matthias’ voice calling El right then, it seems like he’s finish with his business. El went to Matthias after placing something in Shenryl’s pocket.
“I’m sorry. I never played outside eversince I was small, I wanted to go to the forest no matter what.”
“Uuu… that is certainly true… certainly…”
Matthias could not retort to what El said. When the maids saw their appearances, the maids who take care of them came and changed their dirty coats.
“I’m sorry for worrying Matthias, but I want to eat dinner now. I’m hungry.” When the worried maids heard El’s words, they forgot about everything and complied instead.
“In exchange for keeping it a secret, I have a present for you. You might not be pleased with it since it’s not really expensive, but you can use it if you like. Because that flower will melt soon.”
Shenryl dropped her eyes to the basket almost hidden by the warm mantle. In the darkness, the pink flower she took out from her pocket glistened.
*Note: Actually Haji-kami-sama (始神様).
Original sentence: シェンリル、こっそり悪いことをしても始神様は全部知っておられるからね。