168 – Return (3)
“I want to hear why you want the abandoned land. Did you discover any possibility while drifting in there?”
Not having to manage anything was the most important thing to me. There should be no need to become embroiled in political disputes because of land. The fief received along with a knighthood is generally limited to providing assistance in maintaining a minimum livelihood. How much of a difference would it make to my livelihood if I tended an orchard or vineyard?
But I couldn’t express this thought as it is.
“Numerous medicinal herbs grown in a primitive environment. And the undiscovered mineral veins captured my heart.”
The corners of Grand Duke Gainax’s mouth moved as if he was satisfied.
“Choose a challenge rather than seek stability. “It’s a choice that shows manly spirit.”
I found a place where I could just leave it alone, not as a challenge, but it felt strange. Why do you think you like it so much?
“….”
“The magical power of the earth is essential for the creation of a circulatory system, and the magical power of the earth probably comes from the magical stones condensed in the ground.”
“….”
“Just by finding that magic stone vein, you will be able to obtain enormous wealth. Indeed.”
Wait a minute, that’s different from what I thought. I believe that they are not intentionally overvaluing abandoned land to show off.
“Good. “Your request will be reflected after review with the treasurer.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Business is over, so you can go. “My daughter seems to be very bored and I would like you to comfort her for the rest of her time.”
“… “We will keep this in mind and implement it.”
“It’s not coercion, it’s invitation. “She doesn’t have much time left with him, so I hope she has as good a time as possible.”
“… “Can I ask you one thing?”
“Good.”
“This may be a presumptuous question.”
“I will allow it.”
“Is the princess’s illness truly incurable? “Is there really no way?”
“It sounds like you are blaming us for not finding a way when there is a way.”
“I’m sorry.”
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“No, such greed is not a bad thing. However, we tried everything we could, and in the end we couldn’t find it. Your teacher is also one of those who have worked hard for years to find a way to purify the ‘Blood of the Goddess.’ “She never found her way.”
Silverine spent years trying to cure that disease? But why are you on such bad terms with Vivi?
“Master, how many years have you devoted to the princess’s problem?”
“Oh, the Archmage was just obsessed with the matter for personal reasons.”
It’s Sylverin’s personal problem… ?
Grand Duke Gainax continued.
“Maybe there is a solution in the elves’ archives. All the records in the world are there. But it is a principality, or perhaps an area where humans cannot do anything.”
What on earth is the elves’ archive? This is an area that even Erzebet, Eternia’s vice principal and elf, cannot do anything about.
No, if that were possible, Sylverin would have asked her favor first.
“Is the archive a place where humans are prohibited from entering?”
“It’s been more than four hundred years since interaction with humans ceased. “It’s not off limits, we don’t even know where it exists and we can’t say for sure that there’s a cure there.”
This must really be the last resort.
“…… “It may be weak, but I will do my best to find a cure for the disease.”
Grand Duke Gainax nodded his head, but did not look very expectant. I also didn’t think I could find a way. Even people greater than me have not been able to find the answer.
***
Dozens of knights stand at regular intervals on both sides of the carriage road and guard their positions. Bibi and her servants waited for us in front of the carriage.
Silverin glanced at me and Vivi and said.
“Finish and come up.”
Then he got on the carriage first.
As Silverine disappeared from sight, Vivi came towards me holding a small box tied with a ribbon.
She seemed to have words stored inside her, but she was unable to open her mouth willingly.
“Princess.”
“….”
“I’ll see you again during vacation.”
And only then did the shadow on her face disappear.
“If you do not keep your promise, I will execute you.”
I guess he said it for a laugh. Her expression was so serious, but Vivi seemed to have no talent for joking.
And he handed me a small box.
“What is this?”
“This is my humble gift. “Open it.”
I untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was platinum stitching and a bracelet of the same material.
The bracelet was not an ordinary item, as it had a magic formula engraved on it.
And suddenly I looked at Vivi’s wrist and saw that it was decorated with a bracelet exactly like the one in the box.
“It is an artifact that connects life. “If something happens to you, my artifact reacts blackly, and vice versa.”
“….”
“I made this out of concern for your safety. Shouldn’t I know if something happens so I can help or not? I would like to be handcuffed with steel, but the situation is not conducive….”
“What is a stitch?”
“It is proof that I am a certified person. When the principality needs help, offer up that stitch. It will be helpful.”
“I will keep this in mind.”
Then he cleared his throat for a moment and added.
“And the stitches are delivered directly to me.”
“….”
This is getting more and more stitches, but I don’t think I’ll be able to remember where to use them later.
“I’ll say hello sometimes.”
“… “I will also say hello sometimes.”
The farewell ended like that, but she looked at me as if she still had regrets. Sometimes it is better to say goodbye with regret. Because that regret makes the next meeting come forward.
I got on the carriage. Vivi just folded her hands neatly and looked helplessly at our carriage leaving.
She put the platinum bracelet that Vivi had given her on her left wrist. There are two bracelets hanging there, following Erzsebet’s artifact. Her right wrist felt uncomfortable when she wielded the knife, so she didn’t want to wear anything.
Silverine said while looking at me.
“It seems you have become very close with the princess.”
“Actually, I decided to come see you again this vacation.”
She nodded her head quietly.
“Yes, it’s good to form bonds with good people, but don’t go too deep.”
“… Yes?”
“The princess’s remaining lifespan may be shorter than ten years. “If you attach affection, there is only pain afterward.”
“But you can live well while you’re alive, right?”
“The blood of the goddess not only places a burden on the body, but also affects the mind and personality. As she approaches death, Bibi will no longer be the person you knew. It’s not just painful to watch her die. “It is extremely painful to watch someone you love fall apart.”
“How does it change?”
“If you’re going to see Vivi’s face more in the future, it would be better not to listen.”
“….”
It was a terrible story. Are you saying that the disease destroys a person’s personality? I looked back at the back of the carriage again. Even though we were far away, the baboon stayed there and watched us.
And then I suddenly remembered a story about Silverine’s past.
“Teacher too… I heard that she once studied Princess Vivien’s illness.”
“That’s right. “He must have hung on harder than anyone else.”
“Is there really no way? “Isn’t it possible that it’s an elven archive or secret magic or something like that?”
“The elf archives are an area not permitted to humans. Even Erzhebet was expelled from the elf realm for being with humans, and now she can never set foot there again.”
“Did humans go to war with elves?”
“No, I hate humans more intensely than that. “The elves you rarely meet on this continent are all descendants of an exiled clan.”
“….”
“And there is no guarantee that the answer will be there. “It’s just a place with the most extensive records in the world, so there’s only a small possibility.”
Bibi’s future is not very hopeful. She knew, but she felt more depressed as she faced reality specifically.
“Teacher, how did you come to study that disease?”
Said Sylverin, looking out her window with her still face.
“…… “My younger brother suffered from the same disease.”
***
I didn’t ask any questions after that. The advice she gave me in her carriage came from her own experience.
The portrait of this person, believed to be Sylverin’s younger brother, was accidentally discovered while searching the study of the Wiesel mansion. I knew that she died young for some reason, but I never imagined that it was the same illness that Princess Vivi had. Questions of this and that followed, but she could not get them out of her mouth.
Silverin’s mood seemed to have calmed down a bit, as if I had bothered him for no reason. Outside her window, a drizzle fell for a long time, enough to stop it with a broom, and at some point, a strange sense of distance developed between her and me.
I wanted to ask how far Sylverin would accompany me and where she would part ways, but she couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.
It seemed like if I opened her mouth, Silverine would immediately tell me to get out of the carriage because she wanted to be alone. Her mood had changed that much.
As they left the capital of the principality and passed the quiet town of Josi, Sylverin stopped her carriage.
And she said to me.
“Disciple, aren’t you hungry?”
“Yes?”