“It’s better to show than to tell.”
Instead of answering, Goyo summoned Wartin.
A droplet of water that appeared in midair grew round and transformed into a sleek form. The whale’s appearance, which she summoned daily, had become familiar, yet something felt off.
“Has it gotten bigger since this morning?”
While Goyo gauged the whale’s size, Rajin, whose mouth had fallen open, blushed.
“My goodness, it’s a spirit! It’s the first time, the very first time I’ve seen one!”
“You mentioned it was your first time seeing magic.”
“Yes, it’s my first time seeing magic! But really, it’s truly my first time seeing a spirit!”
The excited knight circled the whale curiously, then suddenly froze.
“…But is it okay for you to show it to me? A spirit, I mean, it’s a rare talent.”
“I’ve heard so, but this little one can’t even blow out a candle.”
“Pardon?”
“It can put out a match, but that’s about it, so it’s not particularly useful. It’s just a pretty and rare talent. Honestly, I’ve only been summoning it for about a month.”
As she ran her fingers over the whale’s fin, Goyo recalled Annecy’s words.
He had said that this whale might one day wield significant high-level magic. When he told her to expect great things, Goyo had nodded with a faint smile, but, well…
For Goyo, there was no “one day.”
“Even if Wartin becomes stronger, it wouldn’t change much.”
“So its name is Wartin! Hmm… perhaps you could use it to escape from potential threats?”
“I rarely leave the mAnnecyon. Things like that only happen in heroic novels.”
“That makes sense.” Rajin nodded awkwardly.
At that moment, as if Goyo’s focus had wavered, the whale rippled and vanished. The knight let out a regretful sigh.
“Still, it seems quite useful for small matters like what happened earlier. I don’t think there’ll be any more ruffians splashing tea on the lady, though.”
“Thank you.”
Rajin continued to ask questions about Wartin. How did she summon it? How big was it initially? What would happen as time passed? How far could its magic extend…?
True to someone who had chased magic all the way to the mAnnecyon, Rajin’s questions were deep and varied.
Since it was a type of conversation she’d never had before, Goyo found it a bit challenging, but also somewhat enjoyable. After all, she did have a small affection for the little whale she had summoned.
Rajin’s questions eventually led to wondering how to accelerate Wartin’s growth, a question she had heard from Annecy.
“It’s good to have a clear purpose for wanting to help it grow. I’m not very motivated, though. I often just summon it and watch. I don’t really feel the urge to do anything.”
“Hmm, then how about participating in a hunting competition?”
“A hunting competition?”
Goyo asked back at the unexpected suggestion.
“Yes, the Imperial family is hosting one in February and opening the Ramona Forest.”
Usually restricted for the sake of preserving the ecosystem, the Ramona Forest was occasionally opened by the Imperial family during joyous occasions in the Empire.
Ramona Forest was said to be home to the most diverse life forms in the Empire, barring Avalanche, and was a place so mysterious and beautiful that there was even a legend of mermaids living at the bottom of its lake.
“Even if you don’t hunt, just sightseeing would be fine. At the forest’s edge, there are only gentle animals like rabbits and deer, and many people go just for the scenery.”
“I’m not a knight.”
“You just need to submit an application. The only privilege knights have is that they don’t need to submit one.”
After hesitating, Goyo spoke slowly.
“I’ll… think about it.”
“If you decide to participate, let me know. I can help you as often as you need.”
“But you have your own schedule, don’t you, Sir?”
“Oh, I’m a free knight, so you don’t have to worry about that! It would be an honor if I could keep seeing the spirit.”
A free knight, meaning he’s unaffiliated? Goyo blinked at him, and the knight smiled wryly.
“I’ve joined a few places before, but I got kicked out of all of them. It’s impossible to escape the rumors, you know.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes… With a face like mine, I tend to be quite popular with the ladies. Most of them think I’m a man at first, but when they find out I’m a woman, they usually leave. However, there are a few who, well…”
As Goyo looked at her sheepish smile, she nodded in understanding.
* * *
Annecy had returned to the mAnnecyon briefly to retrieve something he had forgotten. As he was about to enter through the front gate, he stopped in his tracks.
What caught his eye was a carriage being serviced. It was the one that had taken his wife to the tea party, yet it was back at the mAnnecyon.
Has it gotten so late already? Annecy glanced at his watch. It was only lunchtime.
Avoiding the hassle of greetings, he intended to go straight to his room, but then he called out to Lucullui, who was attending to matters in the drawing room. The butler wasn’t surprised, as it was a common occurrence.
“I noticed the carriage Goyo used is back outside.”
“Oh, you’ve returned already, sir.”
“I forgot something, so I’m just here briefly.”
“My lady returned early. She brought a guest, though I haven’t yet asked why. They’re currently in the parlor.”
“A guest?” Annecy’s face showed curiosity, prompting Lucullui to explain further.
“Yes, a tall and handsome knight. It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone look that good in a uniform.”
Tall…? Handsome?
These were descriptions Annecy was very familiar with, but despite their familiarity, he felt a slight discomfort.
Forgetting about the papers he had come to retrieve, Annecy strode towards the parlor and opened the door. The action wasn’t particularly cautious, but the well-oiled door swung open smoothly.
His wife and her “guest” were sitting opposite each other on the sofa, engrossed in conversation. They were so absorbed that they didn’t even notice someone new had entered the room.
Without making any noise, Annecy walked up behind Goyo and met the eyes of the “guest.”
Long black hair, sharp and refreshing features. The eyebrows were thick but not overly so, and the light blue eyes looked exceptionally clear.
The light-colored eyes and long hair reminded him a bit of Terio Alte. Although, comparing them might be considered an insult.
“You’re certainly handsome, Sir.”
‘Handsome, my foot.’
His wife had absolutely no eye for these things. Feeling somewhat cynical, Annecy wrapped his arms around Goyo’s shoulders from behind.
Apparently, she really hadn’t noticed his arrival, as her shoulders flinched. Resting his chin on her straight shoulders, Annecy spoke.
“Wife, it’s not proper to have an affair right here in the mAnnecyon.”
“Annecy?”
Sensing something off about the way he phrased his words, Annecy quickly corrected himself.
“Of course, it’s not allowed outside the mAnnecyon either.”
“When did you—what are you even talking about?”
“My innocent wife. I know how it goes. They come across as kind and harmless, but knights who approach like that are all…”
“This person is a woman.”
Annecy blinked slowly. A woman?
Indeed, upon closer inspection, her frame and bone structure seemed a bit more delicate. It wasn’t as if Annecy’s sharp eyes couldn’t tell the difference.
“Tall and handsome knight, you said.”
Annecy slowly remembered the face of Lucullui, the butler, who had deliberately left the gender ambiguous. Annecy slowly curved his lips into a smile.
“I was joking.”
“You think I’ll believe that?”
“A lack of trust between a married couple is a sad thing.”
“You’re the one who doubted my judgment first.”
“Well then, from now on, I’ll doubt my own judgment.”
‘Who would have thought Lucullui would take after Kolabe.’
Annecy released his hold on her and walked around the sofa to sit next to Goyo. Rajin, who had been silently watching the awkward situation, finally acknowledged Annecy.
“Oh, you’re the Marquis of Bethelgius.”
“Indeed, I am the Marquis of Bethelgius.”
“Sir Rajin is a guest I invited. We met at the tea party, and somehow the conversation turned to magic, so I invited him over to continue our discussion.”
“Of course, you’re welcome to invite anyone you like.”
Sensing that Goyo might be feeling a bit uneasy, Annecy made a point to sound cheerful. He resisted the urge to add a remark about avoiding male guests as well.
He extended his hand to the knight, who was staring at him blankly.
“Annecy Bethelgius.”
“Oh, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Rajin Eliom.”
Annecy was about to dismiss the name as unremarkable when the surname caught his attention. Eliom?
The face of a man who had once knelt before him and screamed flashed briefly in his mind.
His gray eyes gleamed coldly for a moment, but it was just a fleeting moment. Putting on his usual familiar mask, Annecy smiled as he always did.
“Pleasure to meet you, Sir Eliom.”
* * *
Rajin Eliom left shortly after Annecy arrived.
Annecy, being a renowned magic swordsman, thought Rajin would eagerly ask him about magic, but surprisingly, Rajin seemed slightly uncomfortable around him. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by Annecy’s flamboyant appearance.
After Rajin left, Annecy found his documents and returned to the Imperial City, coming back home in the evening.
After dinner, the two of them shared a glass of wine at a table by the garden. The topic of conversation naturally turned to Rajin Eliom’s suggestion.
“The hunting competition?”
“Yes, I received such a proposal. But with my current skill level, it would be impossible to even extinguish a candle.”
“Having a goal will help you grow quickly, so it’s not a bad idea. Since the Ramona Forest is rarely open, it would be good to take this opportunity to look around.”
Participate?
The hunting competition was scheduled to be held in February, less than two months away, so Goyo naturally thought Annecy would dissuade her.
A newborn whale, struggling even to hunt candle flames, couldn’t possibly hunt a living, moving creature.
‘Do spirits grow that quickly?’
Annecy spoke as he observed Goyo, who was lost in thought.
“I like rabbits.”
“What?”
“Deer and squirrels are nice too.”
“Don’t tell me… you want me to catch them?”
“Isn’t it a hunting competition?”
I’ll prepare a handkerchief for you. I’ll try to avoid making it too fancy.
Annecy’s attitude made it seem as if her participation was already decided. Was he telling her to do everything she wanted before she died?
Feeling uneasy, Goyo replied in a hesitant tone.
“I’ll try, if I end up participating.”
“Thank you. But Goyo, what brings you back so early today?”
Annecy, who had been choosing the right time to bring up a certain topic, decided to speak first.
Goyo was now the Marchioness of Bethelgius. She couldn’t simply swallow important matters on her own, just because she was okay with it.
Since it was something that needed to be discussed, Goyo briefly mentioned Rante Frittil. She explained how the conversation at the tea party had turned mocking and how she had ended up spilling tea on herself and leaving.
“The Frittil family has always been like that. The family is full of aristocratic supremacists who look down on commoners as if they were insects. Come to think of it, they seem to have had a falling out with Rubiette recently… Did they cause you any trouble?”
Annecy’s expression remained calm, as if he was already familiar with the Frittil family.
When Annecy asked, Goyo thought back to the earlier incident, but most of the insults had been directed at Annecy, and the spilled tea had landed on someone else. She hadn’t been harmed.
“No. Although it was indirectly, they just mocked me as someone who married into a wealthy upstart family.”
“…What? A social climber?”
“Anyway, that’s enough about it. As you said, Lady Frittil has always been that way. She can’t stand those who are above her in status or those who are incompetent. Since I’m the eldest daughter of a duchy with a high status but am incompetent, I must have been an easy target.”
Annecy’s eyebrows subtly furrowed.
“Incredibly poor judgment on her part. In that case, shouldn’t she have served Terio Alte tea first?”
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