Chapter 61 – Desert Flower (2)

The “Desert Flower” was my ring, obtained from a trader who returned from Rwibt. It had been handed down through the generations by the desert tribe’s greatest warriors, and also contained a powerful healing spell. I didn’t use it much, so I didn’t mind lending it to him…

However, my gaze unknowingly turned to Sovieshu’s smooth hands. It had neither a scratch nor scar.

“Do you truly need it?”

Sovieshu answered bluntly.

“I just want to lend it to someone who has injured hands.”

“Who is it?”

“Let me borrow the ring, and I promise to return it.”

“Rashta’s hands must be rough.”

Sovieshu’s eyes widened. I set my fork down, then wiped my mouth with a napkin and smiled at him.

“You don’t need to use it on yourself. You can’t lend it to other nobles out of the blue, and you can’t sell anything you borrow. You’re certain that you can get it back. Surely the person you want to give it to must be Rashta.”

Sovieshu stared at me in silence, then sheepishly placed his forehead in his hand. He gave a long sigh.

“Won’t you lend it to me?”

“I will.”

“Really?”

“However, there is a condition.”

“A condition…”

“Please lend me one of your magical items as collateral.”

Sovieshu gave a shocked laugh.

“Do you think I will not return it?”

“No. But I may have a person I want to lend it to.”

“To lend it to…Who?”

“Did you not tell me yesterday? You didn’t want me to associate with foreigners, so I will look at our young countrymen instead.”

Sovieshu’s face stiffened.

“So, you will lend the Emperor’s items to a young countryman?”

I nodded my head and coolly took a sip of my water. It was a lie, but if he was going to take my ring, I needed security. Sovieshu threw me a dirty look and stood up.

“If you don’t want to lend it to me, just say no. I’ll pretend this didn’t happen.”

*

*

*

I couldn’t finish my bowl of stew after that, but I was still hungry.

‘I’ll have to ask Countess Eliza for some ice cream.’

I would feel a little better after I ate. Perhaps it was satisfaction from Sovieshu’s twisted expression, but my stomach felt less upset than when he accused me of spreading rumors about Rashta being a runaway slave or when he thought I brought Viscount Roteschu.

I was walking through the Western Palace when I spotted a couple of figures.

“Prince Heinley? Queen?”

Prince Heinley was standing and holding Queen. My heart lifted as I approached them, but I discovered that I was mistaken.

“That is not Queen, is it?”

The bird was a little smaller than Queen, and his feathers were blue instead of gold. Its face was completely different as well.

“This is Queen’s underling.”

“Underling? Not his friend?”

“He is his friend, but officially he’s an underling.”

Prince Heinley smiled as he patted the bird’s heard. The bird made a disgruntled expression, and I chuckled.

“Prince Heinley’s birds are all very expressive.”

“Is that so?”

“Queen has a surprised face, a sad face, and a shy face.”

I reached out and touched the bird’s head. He, too, was very gentle in nature and remained still, even though he was being touched by a stranger.

“He has a grumpy face.”

“He always looks like this. He always has a face like, ‘I don’t want to do that.’”

At the end of Prince Heinley’s words the bird turned even sulkier, but the bird was so cute that I kept stroking him.

“Can I hold him?”

I assumed I could, but Prince Heinley answered with surprising firmness.

“That’s not possible.”

“I can’t hold him?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t seem willing to explain further, and I nodded.

‘I would also like to raise a bird of my own…’

The bird looked so pitiful that I touched its neck, and Prince Heinley suddenly stepped back. When I looked up, he smiled softly.

“I think the bird is anxious to go back to the room.”

“…He looks calm.”

“His heart is beating louder. He’s actually a shy and cowardly creature, unlike the brave Queen.”

I didn’t know if the blue bird was a coward, but he was certainly glowering at Prince Heinley. Instead of deigning the prince with his displeasure, however, the bird stood up and wearily flew away.

“I’ve never seen such a spiritless bird.”

“He’s always like that.”

“Is he sick?”

“He’s fine. He’s just complaining.”

“Complaining? What for?”

“Hm, indeed. Am I in trouble because I stopped the Empress from giving him a hug?”

I didn’t know if he was talking to himself or asking me. Prince Heinley had an unusual look on his face as he stared at the bird’s back with his arms folded. Then, as if he felt my gaze on him, he turned and smiled at me.

“I’ll have to ask him later why he’s angry.”

“Can you talk to birds?”

“Yes. He’s probably angry because I stopped the Empress from hugging him, and he’s going to hit me ten times on the rear.”

I burst out laughing.

“What is it?”

“Oh, I was reminded of Queen.”

“What?”

“I sometimes pat Queen on the rear.”

“!”

“He has a cute behind.”

“Oh…thank you.”

“What?”

Why was Prince Heinley so red? I looked at him quizzically, but his eyes refused to meet mine.

Ah. Was it because I was so plainly talking about rears? With a face that red, he really wasn’t a playboy as the rumors suggested.

‘He is surprisingly pure.’

I thought he would laugh, but I didn’t continue because he was so embarrassed. I quickly changed the subject.

“I remembered I wanted to ask you something, Prince Heinley.”

Prince Heinley looked at me with one hand covering his flamed cheek.

“Yes. Ask me, Queen.”

“I met Duke Elgy yesterday…”

“Ah. I see.”

He frowned as if he disapproved of the encounter.

“Did he disrespect you?”

“Not at all.”

“That is a blessing.”

“Instead he said something strange…”

“What do you mean?”

Prince Heinley’s expression was tense.

‘I’m not sure I can tell him the bad names, can I? Duke Elgy said he was a frivolous man.’

While Duke Elgy and Prince Heinley were best friends in name, I doubted that relationship right now. Instead, I asked about something else.

“He said it was you who called him here.”

“…Yes.”

“He also said you’ve been setting up something for years.”

“!”