“So, this time, even Charon’s pride must have taken quite a hit. Is that why he overturned the boat?”
“Pride…?”
“I’m saying you’re better looking.”
At the casual remark, Annecy’s eyelids twitched slightly.
Even though it wasn’t unusual for Goyo to compliment his appearance, why was it always so hard to take it lightly? He could remain unmoved by others’ admiration without batting an eye.
“Annecy, you seem to take great pride in your looks, but you also seem surprisingly innocent.”
“It’s not that I’m innocent… Never mind. Thank you.”
“Haha, why are you thanking another guest for being handsome? You’re adorable. Anyway, I’m sorry about the boat overturning. I’ve played pranks over the years, but I’ve never gone so far as to tip the boat. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been dating lately.”
Lanier tilted his head quizzically.
“You must have been in the ferrying business for a long time.”
“Well, yes. Even elves need to make a living. Originally, I went to the city to learn cooking—dedicated myself to it for centuries, but after a few hundred years of nothing but cooking, I got tired of the smell of fire. So, I came to enjoy the smell of water instead.”
“Cooking?”
“Humans might not realize this, but there are quite a few elves in society. There might even be some in your household… or maybe not, since this guest seems to have a knack for sensing elf energy.”
Annecy might knowingly hire one and pretend not to know. Goyo mulled over the employees at the Bethelgius estate, one by one.
They were all exceptionally competent, making it hard to guess who could be an elf.
“Anyway, please keep this matter a secret.”
“If this had been before the boat overturned, I might’ve done so without asking for anything in return. What a shame.”
“Annecy?”
“Well, the world operates on give-and-take, doesn’t it? Do you have anything in particular you want?”
For a conversation with an elf in a peaceful forest, it sounded oddly transactional. Goyo’s expression became subtly ambiguous.
“Let’s see. There’s nothing I’ve ever wanted but couldn’t have… though what I’d ask of you wouldn’t be possible anyway.”
“Are you saying you don’t want anything?”
“I’m saying it’s not something so grand. I just wondered if there might be something only an elf could do.”
“Ah! If that’s the case, it’s not difficult. Madam.”
Shall I summon the spirit?
Both pairs of eyes turned toward Goyo. While she wasn’t sure of the reason, she guessed it wouldn’t cause harm and silently summoned Wartin. The bluish whale, who had been summoned earlier, appeared again, swishing its tail gently.
“Then, excuse me for a moment.”
The whale hadn’t grown much since the hunting tournament, still small enough to be cradled in her arms. But the moment Lanier touched it, the whale’s body began to expand.
Its previously round, balloon-like shape stretched out, its short snout and tail elongating.
The whale, once resembling a round water balloon, had doubled in size, taking on the sleek form of a dolphin.
Startled by the transformed Wartin, Goyo’s mouth opened slightly. Annecy also looked visibly surprised.
Enjoying their bewildered expressions, Lanier straightened his shoulders proudly.
“In a sense, I’ve given it nutrients. To help it grow.”
“…Water?”
“Of course not! Mana. I’m an elf, so I can share a bit of natural energy with spirits.
Now its capacity for fluid movement will increase, and its additional abilities will be easier to use. The spirit’s intelligence will also improve. I’d say it’s about equivalent to a ten-year-old human now.”
The whale stretched its tail as if it were waking up. It then swam through the air, approaching Goyo. Its fresh scent, distinct from the forest, accompanied it as it came closer.
Looking at Wartin rubbing its forehead against her hand as if asking to be petted, Goyo mechanically moved her hand despite her confusion.
‘Has it turned into a dog instead of a whale?’
“By additional abilities, do you mean things like purification or regeneration?”
“You know well! I don’t know how much you’ve been using it before, but now it should be twice, no, three times as effective.”
“Is that so? Oh, I forgot to thank you.”
“It’s just the price for secrecy, so there’s no need for thanks.”
“Still… Ah!”
The elf’s form suddenly began to blur. Like rippling water, their figure wavered and faded, and Goyo’s eyes widened in surprise.
Lanier smiled brightly.
“Resignation is a beautiful yet sorrowful emotion. Please overcome it and find happiness.”
The transparent figure of the woman stepped closer and lightly kissed Goyo on the forehead. Then Lanier disappeared, dissolving into the air.
* * *
“Dig.”
Even at Rante’s command, the workers hesitated, unable to move hastily.
Even with the family’s permission, digging up the grave of the dead and pulling out the coffin would surely invoke the wrath of the gods.
But what was closer than the gods was the nobility. With a sharp glare, the workers had no choice but to begin shoveling.
The earth before the tombstone was dug up, and soon a metal coffin emerged from the shallow grave.
The workers hesitated again as the coffin came into view. This time, Rante didn’t tolerate it. The crack of a whip struck down on a worker’s back.
“Aargh!”
“Shut your mouth and open the coffin.”
“But…”
“Or do you want to take my friend’s place in that coffin?”
The words, spoken casually, carried a chilling edge. Trembling, the worker reluctantly opened the coffin.
Thanks to preservation magic often used on noble corpses, Emily Renier looked exactly as she had at the moment of her death.
Kicking the trembling worker aside, Rante gazed down at Emily. The face of the deceased was twisted in pain.
Rante’s face also contorted. Turning away, Rante addressed the mage who had accompanied them. “Verify.”
“There are no traces of magic. If she died from magic, it would have been the work of an exceptional caster or black magic. But black magic has been virtually eradicated, so likely…”
The mage trailed off. Sending the mage away, Rante slowly bent down. The face before her, pale with fear and pain, drew closer.
Rante extended a hand over Emily’s face. The touch of her skin was so cold it seemed to freeze her fingertips. Her hand trembled from the chill.
Rante grabbed her trembling hand with the other. But the shaking didn’t subside easily.
‘I overheard, miss. The Marquis refuses to show the weapon that could eliminate Bethelgius. Not even to the heir. That’s rather harsh, isn’t it?’
‘Why are you pretending to be indirect? You’re the one who said not to show that baseless evidence you brought.’
‘Yes, I asked for secrecy, but it’s not supposed to be a secret from you, miss.’
‘I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting, but leave. Speaking with a lowly person like you is disgraceful.’
‘Miss Rante, do you know about the incident ten years ago in the imperial palace? When the late empress and the first prince passed away from heart failure?’
‘I told you to shut up… What?’
‘Just like Lady Emily, the two of them also passed in the same manner. Strange, isn’t it?’
Abandoning any attempt to calm herself, Rante clenched both fists tightly. The veins bulged across the backs of her hands as she gripped them with all her strength.
With eyes filled with rage, not unlike those staring at a mortal enemy, Rante glared at Emily.
‘I’ll kill you.’
* * *
After walking a little further in Almeroph, the two returned to the train.
The departure time wasn’t too early, so after spending time in the forest, the dark night had already fallen outside. After washing in the train’s attached bathroom, the two entered the sleeping compartment.
With a bathroom and even a sleeping compartment, this train could very well be called a moving house.
As Goyo idly wondered if this could truly be called train travel, she lifted her head. Her husband was immersed in a mountain of documents.
Though she had only glanced at him briefly, Annecy seemed to notice her gaze. He looked up, meeting her eyes, and smiled. “What’s the matter, Madam?” His voice was sweet, as if he’d been waiting to speak.
“Didn’t you say it was supposed to be a leisurely week?”
“It is during the day.”
“Surely you’re not planning to stay up all night?”
“Well, I believe there are times in life when one might forget to sleep for a day or two, or perhaps even three.”
“You’re planning to forgo sleep for the entire trip?”
“Don’t worry, Madam. I can process these documents even in complete darkness, so your rest won’t be disturbed.”
“How selfish do you think I am?”
Goyo muttered in disbelief. She wasn’t altruistic enough to insist on him working in darkness just to make her comfortable, but neither was she selfish enough to demand it.
Realizing his words had come out wrong, Annecy quickly apologized.
“Besides, there are plenty of compartments on this train. There’s no need for you to work right beside me. And why insist on the dark?”
“I prefer being by your side. I promise not to make even the slightest noise. Please allow it.”
“Annecy, you channel your competitive streak into the strangest things.”
“It’s not competitiveness…”
“It’s overwhelming.”
Goyo tilted her head slightly.
“…if I were to say that?”
“Then I would give up on the documents.”
“I can’t follow your logic. Fine, you can work. Don’t even bother turning off the lights. I can sleep just fine in a lit room.”
“But, Madam—”
“I wasn’t going to mention this, but for the sake of your social development, I will. No one would find it unburdensome to have someone working in silence, in the dark, right next to them.”
“Kolabe Perroto might appreciate it.”
“…Has Baron Perroto ever slept beside you?”
“No, and I apologize. Please spare me from such horrifying imaginings.”
At his shuddering tone, Goyo chuckled softly. She watched him with a faintly amused expression, and before long, Annecy let out a small laugh as well—a sigh-like chuckle.
“Very well, then. I’ll work just a little and then join you in sleeping.”
If there were unfinished tasks, he could delegate them to his subordinates. After all, he paid them generously; such responsibilities should give them a sense of purpose.
After justifying his decision as an employer, Annecy felt oddly refreshed.
He pulled up the blanket that had slipped down from Goyo’s shoulders, tucking it securely around her.
“It’s late. You should rest, Madam.”
“All right. I’m tired. I’ll go ahead and sleep first.”
“Sweet dreams.”
With a kiss to her forehead, Annecy returned his attention to the documents. Through her drowsy, unfocused eyes, Goyo gazed out the window.
The train was running close to the eastern coastline, and the sea stretched out into the distance. The pitch-black night seemed capable of swallowing everything, with waves breaking white against its darkness.
The darker the sea, the brighter the moon’s reflection appeared above it. Goyo stared at it through her blurry vision before finally closing her eyes.
The train rattled on, its clatter echoing through the night.
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