As I arrived at the center of the festival, where a large fire was blazing, the first thing that caught my eye were Svioha and Rii.
The two, dressed in Saka’s traditional ceremonial attire, were dancing together, lifting the festive atmosphere.
“Ugh, ugh, ugh!”
“Slow down a bit, you need to rotate while swinging your arms!”
Rii, seemingly unfamiliar with the dance moves, almost fell, but Svioha caught her and held her hand to help her regain her balance.
“Wow, wow! I did it this time. Did you see, sis?”
“Huhu, you did well.”
Their wide, expressive movements and graceful hand gestures, as if embodying the beauty of nature, captivated the onlookers.
When did they become so close?
Without me noticing, the two seemed to have grown quite close, appearing almost like sisters.
As the music ended, they struck a final pose.
I clapped and approached them.
“That was a great dance… though I’m not sure if one of you was dancing or just wriggling around.”
“What did you say?”
Even though I didn’t specify who, Rii, feeling targeted, flared up and rushed at me.
“Lord Khan, did you watch my dance?”
I quickly grabbed the nape of her neck to keep her from clinging to me.
“Yeah, it was something mysterious and beautiful.”
“Huhu, it was a beautiful dance.”
Svioha began to spin around in a circular motion, showing off a part of the dance as she approached me.
She leaned close to my ear and whispered,
“…By the way, Lord Khan. I’d rather you compliment me than the dance.”
What’s with this flow?
With Rii thrashing about trying to hit me, I couldn’t stop Svioha from pressing her body close to mine from behind.
“I worked hard too, you know? I fought in battles, researched, and even developed a cure.”
My skin has even become dry from fatigue.
Yet, you always praise Frennila, and it’s quite disappointing from my perspective.
The fabric of the shrine maiden’s outfit must be quite thin, as I could feel the soft texture of her skin through it.
“I want to be praised too… just the two of us, somewhere private?”
“Hey, you, enough already.”
Fortunately, Werhe, who had been watching from behind, intervened and saved me.
Just as I was holding Rii by the nape of her neck, Werhe grabbed Svioha by the nape, and she reluctantly stepped back.
Finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, I looked at Svioha, who smiled at me with a mischievous grin.
“By the way, Your Highness, it seems you haven’t been taking your medicine lately?”
“Medicine? Are you talking about Bosimdan?”
“Yes, all we did was provide some measures when your symptoms flared up, but lately, there hasn’t been any need for that.”
“…That’s true.”
For a moment, my gaze fell on the necklace I found in the cave. It was around that time, though I’m not entirely sure.
Ever since then, I haven’t shown any symptoms even when facing Frennila.
Should I discuss this with Svioha?
When it comes to mysteries, there’s no better expert than her.
Whether it’s about my mother or my regression.
“Hey, Svioha. 00 000 00 00.”
What’s this?
A strange sensation.
As soon as I spoke the words I was thinking, I felt something off and covered my mouth with my hand.
“What’s wrong?”
Svioha looked at me curiously.
I didn’t know exactly what it was, but my instincts warned me that it was information I shouldn’t reveal.
“Ah, it’s nothing. I just wanted to express my gratitude.”
What was that?
Could it be what they call ‘divine revelation’?
Information that shouldn’t be known to the world, like the words my mother couldn’t tell me.
“Gratitude? You can repay me with your body. Shall I visit your tent late at night?”
“This girl still hasn’t come to her senses?”
“You’re hopeless, sleep with me tonight.”
Svioha, held by Werhe, was being dragged away by her.
They seem close.
By the way, I should have told them that I’ll be leaving for the capital once preparations are complete, but I didn’t get the chance.
Well, I’ll have another opportunity to talk to them later.
Since they’ve moved away, I decided to change my location.
…
I decided to go to the capital, so I thought I should inform my grandfather and started looking for him.
His stature was unmatched among Saka’s warriors, so finding him wasn’t difficult.
From a distance, I saw him having a drink with Erka.
“Kuhahaha, the prince has arrived! Come here and have a drink!”
As I approached them, Erka immediately handed me a cup and urged me to drink.
With a visual that suits milk or orange juice more than alcohol, it was quite an odd sight to see her hugging a bottle of alcohol and getting drunk.
“I’m not good with alcohol…”
Besides, what’s with giving alcohol to someone who hasn’t even had their coming-of-age ceremony?
“Ah, come on! I taught you martial arts, and now I have to teach you how to drink? Come on, drink up!”
Watching her stumble and fail to keep her balance, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Who’s teaching whom?’
Sighing, I had no choice but to down the drink in one go.
Erka laughed heartily, pleased.
“Erka, maintain your dignity.”
Finally, my grandfather intervened, but even his dignity was insufficient to stop the drunken Erka.
“Old man! Always with the dignity, dignity. Do you know how suffocating it is? It’s like wearing clothes that don’t fit. A position like chief is too much for me!”
Startled by Erka’s unexpected outburst, my grandfather seemed quite taken aback.
Nevertheless, Erka’s drunken rampage didn’t stop.
“…Who asked to be born like this? Always treated like a child because of my looks, always told to maintain dignity and decorum. It’s so frustrating that I haven’t been able to get married even at this age, boohoo.”
Laughing one moment and crying the next, is this the emotional fluctuation of an old maid? It’s a bit too much.
What should I do?
I looked to my grandfather for advice, but he just shook his head.
Erka, who had been crying, suddenly stopped and looked at me.
“…Come to think of it, you’re from the Shield’s direct line, and you have a good liver, though you’re weak, you have potential.”
I’m not sure what she’s talking about, but I think I understand one thing.
Her eyes, devoid of light, are terrifying.
“If only we had a man like you in our tribe…”
She made a gesture as if she was about to pounce on me, but then, overcome by drunkenness, she lost her balance and started to fall forward.
“Ah!”
I quickly reached out to catch her.
She didn’t seem hurt, but perhaps due to the physical shock, Erka seemed to regain her senses.
“Ah, what was I thinking?”
Her ears turned red as she hastily pushed me away and quickly fled the scene.
“It’s nothing, forget everything!”
Her voice echoed as she ran away.
What was that?
I watched her retreating figure with a bewildered expression, then sat down and faced my grandfather.
“Grandson, you’re quite popular.”
“…”
Grandfather seemed to be complimenting me, but it didn’t feel very pleasant.
“I’ve grown old too. To have a grown grandson who’s even being courted by women.”
“…Let’s stop there.”
Seeing my sullen expression, grandfather laughed heartily and offered me another drink.
As we clinked our cups and drank, a warm sensation spread through me.
Looking at him again, I couldn’t help but admire grandfather’s robust physique.
Old?
Of course, life inevitably ages, but I don’t think it’s time for him to be saying such things yet.
“You say you’re old, but from what I see, you’re still quite vigorous.”
“No, I know my body best. I don’t know how much longer I have to live.”
His expression wasn’t bitter about the impermanence of life.
Rather, it seemed relieved. Grandfather, deep in thought, spoke up.
“That’s why I’m saying, I’d like you to take over and lead the Shield tribe after me.”
He calmly shared his long-held thoughts with me.
I had expected him to bring this up someday, but it was sooner than I thought.
If he had told me after I returned from the empire, I would have gladly accepted, but not yet.
“Grandfather, I plan to head to the capital once preparations are complete.”
“…Are you planning to leave for good?”
His expression showed clear disappointment.
I quickly corrected him, saying I wasn’t planning to leave permanently.
“No, I have something urgent to take care of, and I’ll return once it’s done.”
“I see.”
“I’ll take over then. Please wait a little longer.”
Finally reassured, grandfather nodded and patted my shoulder.
“Don’t be too late. There’s no greater unfilial act than making an old man wait day by day.”
Well, just looking at the arm patting my shoulder, he seems to have at least ten more years in him.
But I didn’t say anything.
He’s been living a life waiting for news of his daughter, so it’s understandable he’d say such things.
I’ll just have to quickly establish the First Princess as emperor and return.
…
Finally, I went to Frennila’s residence.
We’ve been through a lot together.
That’s why, as a final gesture, I sought her out last.
Everyone was gathered together enjoying the festival, but she was nowhere to be seen.
So, vaguely searching for places she might be, I ended up here.
The tent’s entrance was open, and inside, I saw Frennila sitting on a bed, looking up at the night sky.
The starlight poured onto her jade hair, creating a radiant beauty.
“Frennila.”
I called her name, but she continued to gaze at the night sky.
What is she looking at, the constellations?
Following her gaze, I looked up at the sky, and her voice reached me.
“Your Highness, do you remember? You said you’d tell me everything once it’s all over.”
Honestly, you said.
I remember the promise we made before drawing lots.
But why is she bringing this up now?
Does she think everything is over?
I hadn’t set a clear standard.
For me, it was once all the threats to my life were eliminated, but for her, it seems the standard was the end of the infected crisis.
This is why you need to be clear with your words.
But what can I do now?
We mutually agreed, so I have to keep my promise.
I nodded and replied.
“I remember.”
“Then I have a question for you, Your Highness… Was that confession you made to me, saying you liked me, was it sincere?”
Did she notice?
Of course she did.
Anyone could see that my attitude wasn’t that of a lover.
It seems it’s time to tell the truth.
I must take responsibility for the careless words I spoke in the palace.
“No. I don’t like you.”
Despite my answer, her expression remained calm.
She was just thinking, preparing her next question to hear my true feelings.
“Then why did you confess to me back then?”
What should I say?
I’ve pondered this many times, but I can’t find an answer.
If I think too long, she might think I’m not being truthful.
So, I decided to answer as honestly as I could, as the thoughts came to me.
“I didn’t want to die by your hand.”
Unlike the previous question, she was visibly shaken.
After taking a deep breath, she barely managed to calm herself and continued.
“Did you think I would kill you? On what basis are you saying this?”
Because I’ve died by your hand five times already.
But I couldn’t talk about the regression.
Like with Svioha earlier, something was blocking me from revealing that information.
I didn’t answer.
No, I couldn’t. Seeing this, she didn’t press further.
We faced each other in silence.
How much time passed?
The festival’s central fire had gone out, and people began to disperse to sleep.
Finally, she composed herself and prepared her last question.
“Then, one last question, Your Highness. Do you still think I’ll kill you someday?”
Svioha’s prophecy, she said that a destined fate never changes.
And she said that I would kill Your Highness.
Hearing his answer would clear my mind.
I could give up and return to my original life.
But his answer was,
“No. I don’t believe you’ll kill me.”
The opposite of what I thought. Rather,
“I believe you’ll protect me from now on.”
He said he believes I’ll protect him.
His faint smile held no deceit, it was sincere,
“Hic, sob.”
How should I take this?
Can I hold onto my lingering feelings?
My head is a mess.
But as much as my head is confused, my heart is at peace.
His answer comforted the heart of the woman who had struggled to end the crisis.