While the things that were created on the ground were within the realm of her client’s domain and beyond her control, the sky was Sonidor’s domain. Not only the time but also the weather was her exclusive domain. There was a way to manipulate situations by forcing it through a change in weather. However, the emperor showed signs of displeasure for the first time as he slightly furrowed his brows.
“What makes you think I would know such useless things?”
“...”
“The nanny he’s had since he was young might know these things. It was Viscountess Emboros… Ah, I had her executed. I couldn’t help it since she was so talkative. She brought it upon herself.”
“...”
Having no information. This was the thing she feared and loathed most.
A very dead-end job…
She thought about running away, but that option was closed off. That was because they were being watched by the Raizel Guard that the emperor had left behind to befriend them.
Becoming acquainted, what a load of bullshit. She had a hard time trying to figure out where they were even being watched from. She had heard that the Raizel Guards were the finest knights, but never that they were as invisible as air. Do they work as assassins on the side or something? While thinking about it, Sonidor unnecessarily glanced around before narrowing her eyes as she stared suspiciously at the ceiling.
“I’d really like to visit my mother’s grave one last time.”
Just as she was about to say that, there was a sudden knock on the office door. Sonidor spat out an unseemly ‘Eek’ and as Terry shot her a reproachful look, she responded with a small cough. Before she could ask who it was, a familiar black-hooded man opened the door and stepped through.
It was the Raizel Guard the emperor had left behind.
“Let’s go. His Majesty asked me to give you time to organize your belongings, so our departure will be postponed to tomorrow.”
Somehow, she could hear the hallucination of someone laughing hysterically while saying, ‘Enjoy your last meal!’ I’m so thankful that I don’t even know what to do. Sonidor had grumbled sarcastically to herself as she followed him. Terry stayed behind to finish packing, so she was now walking alone with the faceless man. As they turned corner after corner through the familiar alleyways, a small temple that she recognized came into view. Of course, they hadn’t exchanged a single word up to that point. There was no need to after all.
However, because of the emperor’s insistence on becoming acquainted, she often glanced over at the man. He didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so though, so she gave up after a while.
Originally, it was unusual for an artisan’s remains to be placed in a temple, but it was not impossible in an empire where money and materialism prevailed. Sonidor had turned twenty-two this year, but amassed quite a fortune from her mother’s inheritance. With that money, she held a funeral, buried her body, and even opened up her office. Artisans usually made good money unless they were tied to a contract or had a very minor ability. Especially if their abilities were as rare and useful as hers.
“Geez. Are they even managing this place properly?
Sonidor muttered as she bent over and plucked out the weeds around the tombstone.
“Why don’t you help me since you’re here?”
“...Are you talking to me?”
“Who else is here but you, Mister Knight?”
Christian, the man who stood like a stone statue, grunted as he walked over and quietly pulled out the weeds. He had been ordered to do as he was told, but to think a Raizel Guard would pull weeds. Although many were familiar with his intimidating reputation, doing this kind of work was a first for him. Unaware of his inner thoughts, Sonidor burst into laughter as the big, bear-like man crouched down and diligently plucked out the weeds.
“You’re doing a good job. As expected of a knight, you sure are strong and fast. Well, there’s really nothing you can’t do.”
With a smile on her face, Sonidor spat out soulless compliments before slipping away. Christian noticed, but he was so focused on pulling the weeds that he didn’t say anything. It would’ve been better if she had just requested that he kill an enemy of hers before leaving.
Sonidor gazed silently at her mother’s grave for a moment before sighing.
“If my mother was alive, I’m sure she would have given me a lot of advice since she was better at using her ability than me. Though she did die in a ridiculous way.”
“And now you’re the only dream artisan left in the empire.”
“That’s right. His Majesty said he’s betting everything on me. It’s quite the heavy burden.”
“Don’t be so weak-willed. The crown prince’s fate is dependent on you.”
“Everything is.”
She traced her fingers over the words on the tombstone, then knelt before it and kissed it. After a brief kiss of respect and love, she stroked the tombstone again.
“So please forgive me for making this decision, mother.”
The corners of her mouth quivered as she forced them up. Christian thought her smile was almost pathetic. Perhaps it was harsh to ask her, a member of the Descencian tribe, to awaken the crown prince of the Arche Empire. He felt little sympathy for her, but he had a vague idea of what she must’ve been feeling. After a few moments, Sonidor got up and brushed off her knees, sighing heavily with a troubled look on her face.
The expression on her face was grave.
She was agonizing over whether she should say a final goodbye to her only friend before leaving.
Giorgio. Like Sonidor, he was a member of the Descencia tribe and from a young age, he would always roll his eyes at the sight of imperial citizens who were caught up with imperial supremacy. Unlike Sonidor who was friendly and tried to solve things as harmoniously as possible, Giorgio was a man of unbreakable steel. For a long time, he would listen and argue back with logic or grit his teeth and fight whenever he was ignored or discriminated against. I even heard that he recently founded the Revolutionary Army with like-minded tribespeople and that they’re steadily growing…
If I were to contact Gio, he'd immediately tell me to stop this insane thing and join the Revolutionary Army or flee. He’d probably spit blood and scream at me, saying how dare I betray the will of my ancestors from 500 years ago and help the enemies of my people. If it was the will of my ancestors, it’s evident he would tell me to just let the crown prince die to the curse. Or he might even give me a dagger to kill him right there and then.
‘Hm… Let’s not do that.’
She made a quick decision and turned to Christian with a blank expression.
“What do you like, Mister Knight?”
“What?”
“His Majesty has commanded that we get acquainted with each other, and there’s no easier way to do that than having some good food.”
“Forget it.”
“I’ve got a lot of things I really want to eat since it might be the last thing I eat. Have you seen the dessert shop across the street from our office? Their Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is to die for.”
*note: Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is a German dessert and can also be called Black Forest Cake
Schwar what? What was to die for? Christian was unable to keep up with her rapid change of mood. Seeing as how they ended up in a dessert shop, she must’ve been talking about desserts. Sonidor who had been feeling so down instantly became lively at the mention of food.
“Such things can be eaten at the palace.”
“Oh, that’s true. If it’s coming from an imperial palace chef, then the food must be so delicious that the food here can’t even compare. Then how about having food that’s only available here? We can go to Aunty McRan’s tavern over there. The steamed chicken there is very…”
She then started rambling on and on about all the foods she absolutely had to eat before leaving. She was quite a scatterbrained woman. Christian didn’t respond much as she could chat and enjoy herself just fine on her own. On their way, she ordered two bags of carp bread which were sweet red-bean filled pastries made by pouring flour batter into some kind of fish-shaped mold. He made an uncomfortable face as he held the bags against his sides.
*note: carp bread is the Korean equivalent of taiyaki
Judging by the way her shoulders twitched at even the slightest raise of the hand, she seemed to be quite scared, but had she gotten so used to him that she was going to take advantage of him who was a knight? Was she not nervous?
“Hehe. It seems I didn’t bring any money.”
“Don’t laugh.”
“Yes. But the candy over there is tasty… The imperial palace wouldn’t have such cheap candy, right?”
“...Wait here.”
If it hadn’t been for His Majesty’s orders, he wouldn’t have even bothered to look in the direction of the candy shop. Christian’s expression turned bewildered as he entered an unfamiliar world, a place he’d never been before. Though his face was hidden under the hood, he looked like he wanted to run. Despite being told to wait, Sonidor insisted on tagging along, peeking her head through the crack in the door and making demands on what kinds of candy to get.
“Eyeball candy and candy canes. Oh, and caramels too while you’re at it!”
“Eyeball?”
Why would they make candy out of that? Coming from a prestigious noble family, he had never known anything other than the sweets made at his home. In the first place, he didn’t really like sweet things like cookies or candy, so he wasn’t familiar with the kinds of snacks that commoners usually ate. And as he wondered what in the world could humans not eat if they were already eating eyeballs, he grew stiff. He thought it was insane to already eat them… but even more so that they were being served to children as snacks.
As Christian stood there frozen, the shopkeeper, who had heard Sonidor’s words, began to sort out the various candies and put them in a bag. Upon closer inspection, they were just candies in the shape of an eyeball. Sonidor strode in, hugged the bag of candy, and held out the lemon candy that had been given as a complimentary service.
“Oh, your hands aren’t free.”
She then recalled that Christian was holding a bag of carp bread in both hands and peeled off the wrapper, holding it out to him.
“Ah.”
“...”
“Don’t worry, they’re not real eyeballs.”
“I already knew th…”
He tried to add an explanation, embarrassed that he had thought they were real eyeballs, but he couldn’t finish his sentence. It was because Sonidor had shoved the candy in his mouth as if she had been waiting for him to open his mouth and what filled his mouth was a sweetness he found abhorrent.
“...”
I must hold it in. His Majesty ordered me to give her what she wanted and to safely bring her back. Unable to spit out the candy, he swallowed in his irritation.
Sonidor had managed to finish half a bag of carp bread on her own. She even ate all of the candy by herself and now she was begging that they go eat dinner. Just what in the world is going on with her stomach? Eventually, Christian found himself going to eat steamed chicken with Sonidor and Terry. To eat, he had no choice but to take off his hood and as a result, he had to deal with the intense stares of the tavern owner, McRan or whatever her name was. And Terry, who had been demanding an autograph from him since their first meeting, admiringly remarked that Raizel Guards didn’t lose even in appearance. He had no idea if the chicken was going through his mouth or nose.
“You’re pretty handsome, Mister Knight.”
Sonidor nonchalantly spat out those words and tore off a chicken leg. Somehow, Christian began to feel a little embarrassed after hearing her pure admiration that was devoid of any self-interest.