Chapter 111
****
Sponsored by Virginie. Thank you ❤️ (2/3)
***
On long nights, when she lay exhausted in his arms, unable to move a muscle, she would invariably feel his hand running through her hair. It was less a conscious action and more of a habit. He would idly fiddle with her hair, and on other days, he would get irritable, wondering what on earth that hair color was made of.
“Should I just cut it all off?” he would mutter with a shudder, only to sigh and carefully comb her tangled hair back into place. Her body trembled, as if the sensation of his touch on her scalp still lingered.
I have to cut it all off.
Short strands of hair scattered wildly through the air. Once her long hair was cut short enough not to even touch her shoulders, she flung the scissors aside and shook her head.
She would never know the man’s face, but in its place, other sensations clung to Diana’s heightened senses.
That captivating, deep voice; the touch of his hands, dotted with calluses; the sweat and heat weighing down on her entire body. Diana compulsively tousled her hair to erase those memories.
Let it all be cut away. Never again shall anything of his take root within me!
Unable to bear watching any longer, Zoe stepped in.
“I’ll fix it for you, Diana. You’ll hurt yourself.”
But Prince Elliot stopped her.
“Leave her be, Zoe.”
“Your Highness. But….”
“She is not someone we must look after. Her Majesty said so.”
Elliot spoke matter-of-factly.
“If she asks for help, assist her wholeheartedly, but do not go out of your way to protect her. Spirits are not beings who need human aid. If you try to possess a spirit, you will surely pay the price….”
The Queen of Ormance had repeatedly urged her son.
“There is nothing as merciless and terrifying as the wrath of nature, Elliot. No one can hold nature in their hands and wield it at will. The Empire will inevitably pay the price for trampling on the spring someday. Ormance must be different from those fools.”
Elliot concluded calmly.
“Take care that what you do for her does not become coercion disguised as kindness. It is enough for Ormance to quietly offer itself as her ally.”
“……”
“Then the Spring will surely repay you.”
Diana smeared mud mixed with mountain grape juice onto both cheeks. She had requested this along with the scissors.
As the mud hardened into a white crust, her smooth skin transformed into a pockmarked red surface. During her childhood working in Hilde’s brothel, she had disguised herself this way to avoid having her bare face recognized. Since none of the clients knew her true appearance, the effect was guaranteed.
A hallucination pounded in her head like thunder.
“Catch her. Diana. Please!”
I won’t be caught.
I’ll run as far as I can. Until I reach a place where I no longer have to hide, a place where I can exist fully as myself.
Diana clenched her fist tightly around the wanted poster bearing her own face. She didn’t even need to look to know how the man had depicted her. He must have drawn her like a pretty, obedient doll, devoid of any vitality. Like a possession that could be taken anywhere, by anyone.
Even if she bore his child, or lost that child, as long as her shell remained beautiful, that was all that mattered… a being less than human.
Diana lowered her head to catch her breath, then pushed herself up from the floor.
When she sat back down at the table, Elliot felt as though he were looking at a different person.
“The disguise isn’t bad, but it’s going to be hard not to attract attention, Diana. Still.”
Zoe muttered. Elliot agreed.
Even with hair cut short like a boy’s and skin that wasn’t exactly fair, the woman was still beautiful. Her delicate eyes and nose, pale crimson lips, slender neck, and a slender, dancer-like figure—Diana’s unique, mysterious aura remained completely unhidden. It was far too flimsy to pass for a man.
“We can bind the chest and change the clothes. Let’s try applying a little more mud to the face.”
Diana showed no sign of disappointment.
“Where is the branding iron?”
“That’s for later. Use it once your eyes have fully recovered. Though I can’t even begin to guess what it’s for.”
Elliot’s tone was firm. Diana, who had been planning to erase the mark of Karman imprinted on her chest while she was at it, felt disheartened only then.
But he wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t a part of her body she could ask someone else to handle, and if she wanted to do it thoroughly, it would definitely be better to wait until her eyesight had fully returned.
Elliot pulled up a chair and sat down, changing the subject.
“Well then, it’s time to discuss the most important matter. We must decide your future.”
Diana nodded. Before she could speak, Elliott beat her to it.
“Before that, I’ll recite what Her Majesty instructed me to memorize word for word. You may consider what I’m about to say a direct message from Her Majesty Queen of Ormance.”
“…Go ahead.”
Diana stood up straight. The conversation they were about to have would determine the path her life would take from here on out.
“To put it bluntly, the Queen wishes for Diana to seek asylum in Ormance.”
“Asylum.”
“Yes. First of all, the Queen is concerned for your safety. She was overjoyed to learn that the daughter of her longtime friend was alive and well. She says she would very much like to meet you at least once.”
Diana gave a slight nod to indicate she was listening. Elliot continued in a calm, measured tone.
“Second, Ormance needs you.”
“Please explain in more detail.”
“I admit this is a proposal with some political implications. But I want to be honest with Diana. Ormance is sandwiched between the Karman Empire to the southwest and the Kingdom of Lelon to the northwest, making it the weakest of the three nations.”
“……”
“In particular, sharing a border with Karman, a military powerhouse, is a constant source of anxiety. We maintain an alliance for now, but no one knows how long this peace will last.”
“So you’re saying Ormance needs strength.”
“Exactly. However, I don’t mean I’m asking you to physically wield the power of the spirits to confront the Empire. The existence of the only Spirit Master in this era, and the Valestega Spring that has not vanished—the mere fact that they protect Ormance is enough to elevate the kingdom’s standing.”
“……”
“There is nothing specific Diana needs to do for Ormance. I won’t make any bothersome requests, such as inviting you to the royal court or asking you to appear before the people. Instead, all you need to do is remain within Ormance’s borders. If you do that, Ormance will protect you. From everything except us.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”
Diana spoke calmly, her eyes cast downward. Elliot faltered, unable to continue.
“Spirits must not become a measure of power. Nor should they be used in power struggles between nations. Those who possess power beyond that of humans must always be wary of the world and exercise caution.”
Diana’s expression remained composed. Seeing her expression—as if she had expected him to say that and was not at all surprised—the young prince felt his pride slightly wounded. It implied that Ormance was, after all, no different from the Empire; it suggested she hadn’t even expected it to be any different.
“I hear many have perished in the floods. Such is the nature of nature and the power of spirits. I have no intention of using this power for the benefit of any particular faction, just as I have not done so until now.”
Diana smiled as if apologetically.
“That is also my father’s legacy. If she knew my parents, Her Majesty would have anticipated this answer.”
“Of course, it’s not an unexpected answer. I understand. However.”
“However?”
“Realistically, it would be impossible for Diana to exist as an island without the help of some ‘power.’ Just as the spirit world has its own rules, so does the human world.”
“……”
“I can assure you that no nation approaching Diana in the future will be as honest and self-restrained as Ormance. Haven’t you already seen the true face of the empire, which is praised as the most noble in this land?”
Diana’s eyelashes twitched noticeably. Elliott seized the moment and spoke with conviction.
“I propose a fair deal, Diana. Ormance will neither infringe upon your freedom nor threaten your safety, and we will always respect the path you choose. I am merely the one making the proposal; the choice is yours, Diana.”
Choice.
It was a right Diana had never once enjoyed until now. Diana pondered for a moment.
And soon reached a conclusion.
“I wish to see Her Majesty, the Queen of Ormance.”
Write a comment