Chapter 36: The Rose Will Soon Bloom

The rain that seemed so relentless finally stopped Monday afternoon. Then, sunlight came in, acting as if rain had never come.

In Kailis, where the winters are very cold, a warm breeze came along. The clothes that swung due to the wind were like different colored flowers. It was a spring day that brought along relaxation and sleepiness.

Hina, looking outside, signaled at Kirie with sign language.

– Sparkle sparkle.

Kirie, polishing the sword on the table, looked at Hina’s eyes and hands. He was trying not to miss any of the words that Hina was saying. Due to this, he made a habit of looking at Hina whenever she moved.

“Hina, does the sun sparkle?”

Hina, shook her head and moved her hands again.

– No. The people. They are the ones who are sparkling. They look happy.

People sparkling. Kirie laughed silently. It was a laugh only Hina could see. Hina, having saw that, pointed at Kirie.

– You too.

At those words, Kirie turned his attention to the palace. The gash on his face was now healed. He nodded.

“Yes. I’m happy about it.”

– The palace. Tomorrow.

Hina was clearly very excited.

Calian, when he asked for them to come five days later, was for them to come on Wednesday. That was because the time he met them was Friday morning. Kirie thought of that too, but HIna was different.

She thought that because they had met on Friday after morning had come, Friday should also be counted as a day, which meant that they were to go on Tuesday.

Therefore, the two of them decided to go to the palace on Tuesday night.

After that, Hina had counted the days to go the palace. Kirie, sheathing his sowrd, said.

“Hina, if we go, we will have to work again. Is that alright?”

Hina nodded. Then, she smiled brigher than the Sun that had risen.

– I want to see the prince.

Kirie’s face turned rigid upon hearing this. Hina added a few more actions.

– He’s handsome. Way more handsome than you.

The grip of Kirie’s hand got stronger. At that sight, Hina made a playful face.

Actually, Hina knew that Kirie was the real one anticipating their arrival at the palace. This was because he was always practicing fighting and polishing his sword. Then, Hina’s hand pointed at Kirie’s sword.

– How are you going to take the sword?

Of course, you couldn’t bring a sword into the palace. It was Calian’s fault for buying Kirie a shield out of old friendship. Calian didn’t think it through enough. Kirie smile and nodded.

“Calian probably has a way.”

Kirie had already a lot of trust for Calian. Although it may seem a bit excessive. Hina didn’t go over it though, as there were more things that were important.

– I want ice cream again. It tastes good.

Hina, thinking of the ice cream flavored with strawberries, happily begged. Kirie stood up and nodded. There was plenty of money left that Calian had given them.

“Let’s go. I’ll buy you ice cream.”

Hina’s face straightened. Kirie, looking at Hina being so happy, smiled too.

***

The rain that continued for four days didn’t allow constructions to be finished, so the opening of the Royal Museum of Art in Astrisha was delayed by a week.

Althought Rumein should have had more time due to that, he didn’t. It was because of the magician’s unexpected visit.

“Please, take a look.”

They say that the magicians’ main point goes on forever and ever. However, this magician was on the contrary. The first day they met, he demanded a house and told him to take care of his children. Now he came up with this.

Rumein looked at the packet of documents in front of him. It was so thick, maybe even thicker than his arms. Rumein asked.

“Do you have anything against me as of now?”

Alan’s sharp eyelines softened.

“No. Just think of it as an old, leisurely man having come up with a small job.”

Well, Alan wasn’t that old, but wasn’t that young either.

Anyways, Rumein put down the document he was holding. Alan, after taking a brief look at that, said.

“Eline doesn’t look into those kinds of things. You’re working hard.”

It could be taken as a sarcastic statement, but it was clear that wasn’t Alan’s attention. He could see it after he was talked to sarcastically so much on the first day they met.

Rumein, after thinking of the king for a while, straightened his back and sat in an upright position.

“I’m not as calm and tranquil as that woman.”

Then, he walked towards the couch with the packet.

“Please, sit.”

Alan, after nodding, sat on the other side of the couch than Rumein, and two servants soon came in with tea and dessert. Rumein briefly swirled the tea around his mouth and swallowed it.

“I heard you were out.”

Alan thought of the day he and Calian went outside the palace.

“Oh, he’s of the age that wants to go outside.”

“Is he that well?”

Rumein was asking if Calian was rid of poison. Alan shook his head. He couldn’t go into the specifics, so Alan just briefly said.

“It’s at a state where it’s not yet dangerous. I’m still looking at it.”

“So, he drinks it while knowing that there is poison?”

Alan told Rumein to calm down.

“He’s very meticulous. However, he is taking his medication so it’s not dangerous for him… yet. He does seem to have a plan.”

“The Calian I hear from you always makes me surprised. It’s different from what I heard from others.”

Alan answered.

“Is that so.”

Because Alan might take problem with the words “hear from”, Rumein said more.

“Now similar with Franz, smaller than Randel. I know he comes to beneath my shoulders.”

He was talking about Calian’s height. It meant that Rumein was finally caring about him, so Alan smiled rather than answering.

Rumein spoke again.

“Then.”

Rumein put down the teacup. A small clank was heard.

“I hope there’s no hating myself due to his meticulousness.”

Alan nodded without answer. He then pulled out another packet and handed it to Rumein.

Such a thin bag but so much stuff.

Rumein felt like his duty was increasing and smiled. If somebody saw it, they would be surprised, but Alan didn’t know how straight-faced Rumein can be, so he opened his mouth and started talking.

“You should read it over when you’re bored.”

What Alan produced were the documents about Silike. They were the same as what Alan gave Calian. Rumein, after sifting through some of the pages, put it back down. Then he spoke.

“You have done something useless.”

As Alan expected, Rumein knew everything. Alan took a sip of tea. Maybe it was the tea, or Rumein’s words. He felt a strange bitterness.

Clink went the sound of Alan’s cup when he put it down.

“I don’t know if you’ll say that in the future.”

Alan picked up a piece of chocolate and put it int his mouth. Because his mouth was tasting bitterness, he could instantaneously feel the sweetness. Alan’s fingers pointed at the documents on Rumein’s lap.

“If it’s not those, maybe you should turn it over.”

Whether it be the documents or this country.

Rumein, now having already pledged to himself to filter out the rudeness, started flipping through the documents. Soon, his voice changed.

When the chocolate had all melted in Alan’s mouth, Rumein’s voice was shaking.

“Order of Magicians…”

“Do you like it?”

The words felt like those said by a snake. It had a peculiar chill to it. Alan was observing Rumein’s reaction, although he had heard from Calian that Rumein was thinking of making an Order of Knights.

“This is…”

Rumein, having said that, shut his mouth. After a long silence, he spoke again.

“Who thought of it?”

“Not me. I’m just a useful master…”

Rumein now figured out that Calian was on the same line of thinking as him. He was in awe and shock.

Rumein now flipped through the document and talked with Alan. The night passed and dawn came, and their talk never stopped.