Chapter 82
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Chapter 82
The Peletro Family was in chaos, suppressing evidence and rumors while dealing with the families of the affected cadets.
The Wedge had also sent information about Loaz. It was simply an unremarkable, respectable noble house. The only noteworthy thing was that a mage they had sponsored without great expectations had become a disciple of The Sage.
Echinacea Loaz had lived like any ordinary noblewoman. She had never wielded a sword, never even held one in her life. Once I confirmed this, I understood why Echinacea was so desperate to hide her strength, let alone acknowledge the Demonic Sword. It made sense that she had started as a cadet to become a Knight Instructor. It was simply unavoidable given how suspicious everything appeared.
'I still don't fully understand why she wants to become a Knight Instructor, though....'
I had vague suspicions about her reasons, but I couldn't be certain. In any case, if she had decided that path would make her happy, all I could do was quietly support her. It didn't matter much either way.
For me, all of this was not particularly difficult. The investigation results on the other people I had commissioned also arrived, and I weeded out those who seemed suspicious. That too was not difficult. The investigation into the Wedge was proceeding smoothly.
What truly troubled me began with a single telegram waiting for me when I returned from the subjugation.
―Princess Rosalind Diasant will arrive in Agenka shortly. You are to become engaged to her. I trust you understand what this means without further explanation.
It was a telegram sent directly by Crown Prince Cruien. It was more of a unilateral notification. As he wrote, I understood far too well what that engagement meant.
The Demonic Sword sent to Loaz had vanished. The 2nd Prince's faction must have grown anxious, unable to determine the cause. In the meantime, I had designated Loaz's daughter as my squire. It was tantamount to a public declaration that I would protect Loaz.
On the surface, nothing had happened. The Commander of the Changtian Knights had simply designated a squire. However, to those who knew the truth behind the Demonic Sword incident, it raised suspicions—had the 3rd Prince discovered the Imperial Family's conspiracy?
If the 3rd Prince Yurien knew the Emperor's intentions and was openly showing his will to hide the Demonic Sword and protect Loaz, this would be the 3rd Prince's first act of defiance after being obedient until now. Moreover, if the missing Demonic Sword was in my possession, I would have obtained evidence of the conspiracy the Emperor had orchestrated against noble houses.
It was already unsettling that I might have noticed the Demonic Sword incident, but in circumstances where I clearly had noticed it, I was remaining silent without protesting or revealing the matter. What exactly was I scheming? Where was the missing Demonic Sword? The 2nd Prince's faction had no choice but to move busily behind the scenes. And the Crown Prince's faction, which had been continuously monitoring the 2nd Prince's faction, read those movements.
They probably hadn't discovered the exact truth yet. Still, they must have grasped the general picture, and they would have realized that the continuous psychological warfare was showing signs of entering a completely different phase with the 3rd Prince's change. That's why Crown Prince Cruien made a bold choice. He made the first move before the 2nd Prince could act.
Whose side are you on? If you do not submit to me, I will make you my enemy. If you truly have no ambition for the throne, support me with certainty. That was what the fiancée sent by the Crown Prince meant.
I had anticipated that the choice to protect the missing Demonic Sword and Loaz would cause a stir, but I hadn't expected it to result in an engagement.
'...It might be the most peaceful method for her.'
If I became engaged and became his sword according to the Crown Prince's will to face the 2nd Prince's faction, I could obscure the Demonic Sword's whereabouts and not affect Echinacea Loaz's life. Though it would be difficult to avoid the Changtian Knights being drawn into the Imperial succession struggle.
'Stepping down from the Commander position would be meaningless.'
If I were to resign now, it would appear as though I was seriously aiming for the throne. Moreover, the Changtian Knights Commander stepping down due to Imperial pressure would damage Agenka's independence. Rather than accept the Commander changing in such a way, Changtian would maintain its independence even if it meant going to war with the Empire.
'Crown Prince Cruien understands Changtian quite well. He won't try to use it forcefully. The Crown Prince's faction won't accept it willingly, but if I can carefully adjust things to focus on me rather than Changtian....'
Submitting to the Crown Prince was not an easy path, but it was the most peaceful one. On the other hand, refusing the engagement meant falling into chaos with an uncertain outcome. Both the Crown Prince and the 2nd Prince would become my enemies.
If I only considered myself and Changtian, enduring the chaos and maintaining independence wasn't a bad option. Changtian was certainly not a weak organization. However, doing so would likely completely destroy Echinacea's peace. It would also be difficult to obscure the Demonic Sword's whereabouts. She would inevitably be drawn in.
For Echinacea's sake, I had to accept the engagement. But I didn't want to. Even thinking it was a vain hope, even thinking such a day might never come, I couldn't completely close the door on the possibility of being with her.
I couldn't give her up without even hearing her answer. So I had no choice but to ask her.
* * *
It was the day of the appointment ceremony.
Echinacea attended the ceremony while ill with a fever, without even mentioning her discomfort. It was a ceremony that could easily be postponed, yet why did she always push herself? Why did she never take care of her own body? With an aching heart, I ordered the ceremony to proceed quickly.
"I hereby declare that Echinacea Loaz has become the squire of Knight Instructor Yurien de Harden Kirie. This oath shall remain in effect eternally until death or rebirth. The 19th day of the 5th month, 1629, Ar Sebattiem."
As I performed the formal procedures—the declaration swearing eternity, the exchange of oaths, the signatures inscribed side by side—I thought of the engagement.
If the person I was forced to become engaged to was Echinacea. If what took place here was not an appointment ceremony but a wedding ceremony. If this paper was not a squire's oath but an engagement oath. I made such assumptions while looking down at the oath.
I had thought about wanting to be by her side, and eventually realized that I loved her, but I was only now imagining marrying her. It was such a sweet imagination that I momentarily forgot all of reality. Marriage to Echinacea Loaz—something I had never even connected before, yet the moment I did, that was all I could think of. The word "marriage" floated around in my dazed mind. I was half-lost in thought.
"Commander, or rather, Lord. I heard you're getting engaged."
But Echinacea's words brought me back to reality.
"Congratulations."
Her face as she said those words was composed. She was congratulating my engagement without any sign of disturbance. A thin, cold blade followed her words and cut through my chest. If I could only lift that veil draped over her face, wouldn't it be different? Wouldn't there be some wavering? A futile hope rose and faded.
I had thought it would be fine even if I could no longer watch over her, as long as she lived happily. That conviction hadn't changed. Her happiness was more important than my love. Still, if there was even the slightest possibility, I could do anything. I didn't want to give up. So I asked.
"If, if by any chance, there is something you desire, could you sacrifice your peace to obtain it? Could you endure being caught in chaos?"
"...I won't make the choice to sacrifice my peace."
Her answer was inevitable. Echinacea did not love him, and moreover, she found him uncomfortable. Even if by some miracle she came to love him, a future where she would choose him would never arrive. Choosing him would shatter her peace.
Even if a miracle occurred and she loved him, chose him—if she discovered that he was the source of all those nightmares she had endured....
There had never been any possibility to begin with. I knew that. Yet the despair welling up inside me was unstoppable. I barely managed to suppress the rising tide of emotion. And I forced myself to craft a response as indifferently as possible.
"I understand, Echinacea."
* * *
I gazed down at the sword wrapped in white leather. The name I had given it, inspired by her eyes, was engraved on the blade's fuller.
Amethyst.
I traced the letters with my fingertips. The sword I had commissioned before Echinacea Loaz enrolled had been completed and delivered days ago. I had not found the opportunity to give it to her, so it remained in my hands. Perhaps I would never give it to her at all.
I had decided to become engaged.
[A wise decision. It is the better choice for the Demonic Sword Owner as well, and better for you too.]
The Holy Sword was subtly pleased. It had been displeased with my falling in love and changing all this time, so this was a natural reaction. Now I would simply tell the Diasant Princess of my engagement, order the betrothal ceremony prepared, and everything would proceed smoothly.
Rosalind Diasante was a woman who understood the significance of this engagement well. She was beautiful and appeared intelligent. Since she seemed to have no great expectations of marriage, we could live together without difficulty.
Echinacea would remain peacefully as my squire and advance smoothly to knighthood. As my squire, she might become entangled in my movements as the Crown Prince's blade if I were careless, but conversely, as my squire, she could be safer than anyone else. I would ensure it.
Now I only needed to announce the decision.
Yet the heart is a beast beyond control, and I could not easily surrender. If there was even the slightest possibility, I did not want to give up. No—I simply did not want to give her up. The thought of abandoning her made me feel as though I would go mad.
That decision would not leave my lips.
I postponed announcing the decision as I postponed the day I would give Amethyst to her. The Holy Sword often urged me forward, but I could not abandon my lingering attachment. I threw myself into work to empty my mind. There was much to do. The Summer Sun Festival was next month, and there was something I had resolved to prevent once I learned that time had turned back.
The Saint's murder. The charred corpse of the girl found with the cottage, and Elgiosa.
"I will announce my decision after saving the Saint."
[What difference does that make? You are only postponing it.]
"I need time to put my heart in order."
Rangiosa was about to ask whether my heart would ever be put in order, but stopped. My expression looked far too anguished.
What made my suffering even worse during all this was the existence of Baraha.
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