160 – Repayment (4)
“Wait. “I will change into my outing clothes and come back.”
“I will go out for a moment.”
“No. “You can stay here.”
Then he got up and moved towards the closet. Then, I pulled down the white velvet curtains inside the closet booth. There, Vivi’s shadow, taking off her underwear, was reflected on the curtain.
Then he hums a song while adjusting the clothes on his body.
“Hmmm hmm~”
Seeing how happy Damian was, he didn’t feel too bad either. Since you’re going to die anyway, it’s much better than giving up and being depressed. Suddenly, I felt that what I had done was not meaningless.
“It looks quite fun.”
“It’s fun. I really hated the saying that you have to be at rock bottom to find the true joy of life. Now that I look back, I think there is some truth to that statement. “I am enjoying life like never before.”
“… “It’s nice to see.”
“Yes, and you will have to work a little harder for my entertainment.”
“… It is an honour.”
Vivi walked out after changing into a black linen dress with a long skirt that looked comfortable to move around in without the help of her maid. She wore black shoes that matched her dress and even her hairpin with a black jewel.
After confirming that preparations were complete, Damian got up from his chair.
“Let’s go.”
“Good.”
But Vivi stood still and she just looked at his face.
“… “Why are you doing this?”
“Is this your first time outing with a nobleman? You must escort me. “If you just leave like this, your servants will click their tongues when they see you.”
“….”
Damien was wondering if he had missed something, then bowed her head slightly as per etiquette, then placed his left arm behind his back and lifted her arm towards Vivi.
She smiled a little at the corner of her eye, and then she placed her own finger lightly on Damien’s hand, as if she had placed a feather on it.
“I thought I only learned how to grab it with a cruel force, but I learned how to make noble gestures as well.”
“… “It’s something I learned when I was young.”
Damian felt a strange feeling that was difficult to describe. This etiquette was something I learned from Lisa. We only used it often in our own play. When she used iron dust in the workshop, she thought she would never use it again in her life. But now he was preparing for an outing with the second-highest person in the principality.
“You said you had no family. “The blood must have been inherited from a noble family.”
“No. It was low blood from beginning to end. And this is something I learned through eye candy.”
Bibi smiled kindly and said.
“A man’s value is not determined by what he has at birth. It is completed by enduring adversity and being reborn. Your blood is no longer base. “I will guarantee it.”
“… Thank you.”
Following that, Bibi said something meaningful.
“And… “When the trial is over, you too will realize this for yourself.”
“… ?”
“And… “Your outrageous gestures were actually not bad.”
Damian said with a grin.
“… Let’s go.”
Damian squeezed Vivi’s hand gently and walked out her door. Then, an attendant waiting in the hallway came up and spoke to Vivi.
“As always, as you commanded, carry a parasol….”
Then Bibi interrupted her.
“It’s okay.”
And what Damian couldn’t see was that he put his hands behind his back and made a hand signal.
The order was not to follow even a single person.
***
An old tree was casting shade on a slightly sloping lawn. Damien and Vivi’s steps naturally headed there. From the shade, Damian took out the handkerchief he had brought before and laid it on the floor.
Vivi squatted down on it and stretched her legs.
“I always missed this weather.”
The blue sky was noticeably different from what we saw in Barbisia. Just watching the puffy clouds float by made me feel at peace.
Damien sat one step away from Vivi, leaning his back against her tree.
Then Vivi looked at Damian and said.
“Stick a little closer. “If anyone saw it, they would think there was a fight.”
“There are quite a few eyes to see. On the way there, it also attracted a lot of attention from other people. “Shouldn’t you be concerned about scandals?”
Because this castle was operated like a resort for nobles, you could often see other vacationers.
“I thought you were reckless, but at times like this, you are as careful as a cat. “Do you know that it’s already too late to worry about scandals?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Two young and energetic men and women were stranded on a deserted island and returned alive. Just the two of us in a place cut off from the world. “Then what do you think happened between the two?”
Vivi turned her head away from Damian, as if she was a little embarrassed by what she said.
Damian was momentarily speechless. This is because I was at a loss as to how to explain what had happened so far to Silverin.
“… “It was closer to hell than a desert island.”
“They won’t care about that. “If he doesn’t say anything in front of us, he’ll be imagining things in the back room.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“If a scandal breaks out, wouldn’t the princess be hit harder than me?”
“The time allowed to me is too short to worry about what others think.”
Looking at her lively appearance now, she didn’t look like someone who would die around 30. So he sometimes forgot that Bibi was terminally ill.
“… How are you going to spend the rest of your time?”
“I plan to dedicate time to my life. We will eat delicious food, visit nice places, find people we love, and enjoy the rest of our lives together. “What are you going to do?”
“I have to graduate from Eternia.”
“… Is it really necessary to stay there? “Your abilities are already too great to be confined to the academy.”
“It’s still not enough. “If it weren’t for what I learned there, I wouldn’t have survived in Barbisia.”
“… I get it. “If you happen to have nowhere else to go, come to the principality.”
“… “If I get a chance, I’ll stop by.”
The conversation stopped for a moment there. Vivi glanced at Damien and opened her mouth.
“Don’t just say it, but set a specific date. And when are you going to keep your picnic promise? “About two days from here, there is a lake with emerald water and fairies like fireflies.”
“If I leave here, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to come back.”
“… Are you saying it’s not worth investing even a few days of time? “There will be ample vacation time.”
Bibi’s eyebrows drooped slightly as if she was sad.
“….”
“That’s it. “If you can’t keep your promise, why are you talking about it?”
Vivi crossed her arms and turned her back to her, showing off her disappointment.
Damian thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“I will come. But… “Maybe someone else will follow me.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Maybe two more people will come.”
“I don’t like two people.”
“I will try my best.”
“Good. Didn’t you risk your life to keep the covenant? “I will believe it.”
“But we also prioritize things based on importance.”
Vivi stood up from her seat, dusting off her skirt, and looked at the cityscape unfolding down the hill.
“Wake up. Do you see it over there?”
Then she pointed to a place with her hand.
The army was marching down the main street through the center of the city. It was hard to see because it was far away, but it was as colorful as a parade.
“What is that?”
“Your father is back.”
“… !”
“There is always a big event on ‘St. Ruminas Day,’ one of the principality’s national holidays. “It seems that your father has moved for this purpose.”
“Shouldn’t the princess come pick you up?”
“It’s okay. “My father has already given permission.”
“…… “So great is the anniversary that the Archduke is coming in person?”
Bibi answered with a grin.
“It is one of the few festivals in the principality. This day is celebrated by Ruminas, my long-time ancestor and one of the saints of the past, who said he would put all evil spirits in the world to rest and bless humans. Therefore, an important event to pray for long-term well-being is held on that day. “House contracts are signed on this day, newborn babies are baptized, knight investiture ceremonies are held on this day, and academy entrance ceremonies are also held on this day.”
“I always wondered what the blood of the goddess was, and it turns out she had a saint as her ancestor.”
“Yes, as you know, I am a failure.”
“… How long until that anniversary?”
“It’s tomorrow. Coincidentally, it coincides with your trial date.”
Then, Stitch flew from the sky, cutting through the wind, and stopped in front of Damian. There was a scroll with the seal of Eternia on it.
Damian carefully held the scroll and unfolded it. He read in silence for about a minute and then spoke.
“How long does it take to get to that city?”
“If you go quickly, 30 minutes will be enough. “What happened?”
“… “My guests were also in that procession.”
***
The princess’ carriage accompanied by knights stopped at the plaza. She waited in a corner so as not to attract the attention of the crowd, but she couldn’t help but stand out thanks to the numerous bodyguards that came with her.
I quietly watched the large procession outside the carriage, complete with banners and trumpeters.
Bibi couldn’t come out because the crowd was so crowded.
She didn’t seem very pleased with this situation.
As time passed, the long line of paraders slowly began to enter the square. And at the last rear, there was a carriage surrounded by knights, as if guarding the Shinju complex.
Everything from the exterior of the carriage to the horses is black, and the pattern of Eternia is painted in an old-fashioned way on the door.
When I saw this, my heart started pounding without me knowing. I couldn’t tell if it was anticipation or nervousness.
I took one step forward. As he stood still in front of the crowd’s border, the knights passing by pulled their reins and the carriage procession suddenly came to a halt.
Because they were the only ones who stopped, they were moving further and further away from the line. And everyone who was watching this became quiet.
He craned his neck upward and rolled his eyes, looking as if an accident had occurred.
I couldn’t hear properly because of the loud noises, but the knights all bent their heads and looked down at me as if some kind of order had been given.
Soon, the knights moved to the side and began to clear the way for the carriage. In this way, a passage was opened in a straight line with the carriage.
The carriage’s windows are tightly shut and the pitch-black curtains are drawn. Are there people inside it? How did you check me?
The crowd and the knights are all looking at me. The gaze is very stinging.
I walked forward. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. What should I say? I never had any concerns like this when I was staying with Wiesel. Maybe it’s been too long since we’ve been apart.
The moment I approached the carriage door, took a deep breath, and was about to knock.
The door opens suddenly.
And then the familiar dark red hair fluttered before my eyes. It felt like my heart stopped.
Next, a pure white forearm appeared.
A hand popped out from the black curtain, grabbed my collar, and pulled me into the carriage.
“…!”
Unable to overcome the strong force, he was immediately sucked into the carriage.
It happened in a split second.
Oh no no no.
He was captured…