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.
ā Sparkle sparkle.
Kirie, polishing the sword on the table, looked at Hinaās 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.
āHina, does the sun sparkle?ā
Hina, shook her head and moved her hands again.
ā 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.
ā You too.
At those words, Kirie turned his attention to the palace. The gash on his face was now healed. He nodded.
āYes. Iām happy about it.ā
ā 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.
āHina, if we go, we will have to work again. Is that alright?ā
Hina nodded. Then, she smiled brigher than the Sun that had risen.
ā I want to see the prince.
Kirieās face turned rigid upon hearing this. Hina added a few more actions.
ā Heās handsome. Way more handsome than you.
The grip of Kirieās 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, Hinaās hand pointed at Kirieās sword.
ā How are you going to take the sword?
Of course, you couldnāt bring a sword into the palace. It was Calianās fault for buying Kirie a shield out of old friendship. Calian didnāt think it through enough. Kirie smile and nodded.
āCalian probably has a way.ā
Kirie had already a lot of trust for Calian. Although it may seem a bit excessive. Hina didnāt go over it though, as there were more things that were important.
ā 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.
āLetās go. Iāll buy you ice cream.ā
Hinaās face straightened. Kirie, looking at Hina being so happy, smiled too.
***
The rain that continued for four days didnāt 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 didnāt. It was because of the magicianās unexpected visit.
āPlease, take a look.ā
They say that the magiciansā 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.
āDo you have anything against me as of now?ā
Alanās sharp eyelines softened.
āNo. Just think of it as an old, leisurely man having come up with a small job.ā
Well, Alan wasnāt that old, but wasnāt that young either.
Anyways, Rumein put down the document he was holding. Alan, after taking a brief look at that, said.
āEline doesnāt look into those kinds of things. Youāre working hard.ā
It could be taken as a sarcastic statement, but it was clear that wasnāt Alanās 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.
āIām not as calm and tranquil as that woman.ā
Then, he walked towards the couch with the packet.
āPlease, sit.ā
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.
āI heard you were out.ā
Alan thought of the day he and Calian went outside the palace.
āOh, heās of the age that wants to go outside.ā
āIs he that well?ā
Rumein was asking if Calian was rid of poison. Alan shook his head. He couldnāt go into the specifics, so Alan just briefly said.
āItās at a state where itās not yet dangerous. Iām still looking at it.ā
āSo, he drinks it while knowing that there is poison?ā
Alan told Rumein to calm down.
āHeās very meticulous. However, he is taking his medication so itās not dangerous for him⦠yet. He does seem to have a plan.ā
āThe Calian I hear from you always makes me surprised. Itās different from what I heard from others.ā
Alan answered.
āIs that so.ā
Because Alan might take problem with the words āhear fromā, Rumein said more.
āNow similar with Franz, smaller than Randel. I know he comes to beneath my shoulders.ā
He was talking about Calianās height. It meant that Rumein was finally caring about him, so Alan smiled rather than answering.
Rumein spoke again.
āThen.ā
Rumein put down the teacup. A small clank was heard.
āI hope thereās no hating myself due to his meticulousness.ā
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 didnāt know how straight-faced Rumein can be, so he opened his mouth and started talking.
āYou should read it over when youāre bored.ā
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.
āYou have done something useless.ā
As Alan expected, Rumein knew everything. Alan took a sip of tea. Maybe it was the tea, or Rumeinās words. He felt a strange bitterness.
Clink went the sound of Alanās cup when he put it down.
āI donāt know if youāll say that in the future.ā
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. Alanās fingers pointed at the documents on Rumeinās lap.
āIf itās not those, maybe you should turn it over.ā
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 Alanās mouth, Rumeinās voice was shaking.
āOrder of Magiciansā¦ā
āDo you like it?ā
The words felt like those said by a snake. It had a peculiar chill to it. Alan was observing Rumeinās reaction, although he had heard from Calian that Rumein was thinking of making an Order of Knights.
āThis isā¦ā
Rumein, having said that, shut his mouth. After a long silence, he spoke again.
āWho thought of it?ā
āNot me. Iām just a useful masterā¦ā
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.
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