125 Episode 21: Payback From The Empire
"... so that's all I can tell you from here. Depends on how the empire moves, but this one's gonna have a dialogue, and I'll have it ready."
"I see. I like this country, too, so if we don't have to fight it, we've never crossed it."
"I feel the same way about not wanting to fight. As soon as Priscilla returns, she'll be able to connect with you..."
When Priscilla's name came up, Falgana looked just a little hoaxed.
Immediately afterwards, after tightening his expression, Falgana bowed his head against me deeply.
"Not now, Her Royal Highness the King of Anisphere. Thank you very much."
"... suddenly, what?
"It's not all about attitude toward the Empire, it's also about Priscilla. I can't trust you, I had an ambiguous attitude... but let me apologize with thanks again. My personal wish is not to be a hostile country to the Kingdom of Palettia, but to be able to go along with it in the future as a friendly country. I pledge once again to do my utmost to do so."
I become indescribable in the words that make me feel the sincerity of Falgana. I know you're someone who can still talk to if you're just an individual dater, but I'm having trouble reacting because I don't allow myself to be in a position.
"... what does Master Falgana think of Priscilla?
I can't tell you anything. I can't stand the air and ask about Priscilla to change the subject. Falgana then replied with an indescribable look on his face.
"... at first I felt sorry for him because of his origins. I thought he was a pretty guy, but because of the environment, he couldn't afford to guess how others felt or think about it. Honestly, I was worried. However, if Her Royal Highness the King of Anisphere will take it from me, I will be worried."
"Oh well. I'll take care of it as much as I can once I get it in my nostalgia.... Well, that concludes my story. I won't be able to stay very long, so I'll be back."
"Oh, contact me through the guild if you need anything. I look forward to seeing you again, Sister King Anisphere."
Falgana took a seat after smiling. I'm done talking to Falgana. If we needed any sudden contact, we could recognize each other through the Adventurer Alliance, and that's all we can do now.
I dropped Falgana off and put on my hood to hide my face, too, and left the Adventurer Guild behind as it was.
"Priscilla, are you coming in?
Coming back to the outhouse, I headed straight to the room addressed to Priscilla in the outhouse. I knock, then wait for permission to enter, make sure Priscilla responds, then go inside.
Priscilla in private clothes still has a different impression than when she is a samurai. Priscilla looked at the book with only her upper body awake on the bed and smiled softly at me.
"Thank you for taking the time, Sister Wang"
"Fine, 'cause I'm just here to like it.... How's it going? How's it going?"
"Looks like Moya cleared up after all these years,"
Close the book and place it on the provided table. Priscilla looks terribly relaxed putting her hands together holding the book.
Priscilla has often had these expressions since counseling began using Raini's vampire abilities. Although I still often showed a faint face when it started, it seems to have settled down a lot lately.
You noticed how I was watching Priscilla, Priscilla shrugged with a smile on her face.
"Raini's power is great, isn't it?"
"You started calling out Raini's name?
"They pushed me off because I'm older and the house has the same character..."
"Oh, I see. Raini was originally a civilian, so he doesn't seem to like being respected."
"I think you're doing enough to be respected..."
In counseling, Priscilla is told that Raini is a vampire. Priscilla was also surprised at first, but was fortunate that she didn't feel overly horrible or anything about Raini in particular.
I would have had more conversations with counseling, and I think Raini would be happy to have more people to talk to after finding out who he is. I really burden Raini with all that.
"Raini really made me feel better.... because now I think I was more grudgingly solidified than I thought I was"
"Oh well. I can hardly grasp my pain, especially heartache. Because the shape is not clearly visible, and it is difficult to see from others."
"... right"
I look at Priscilla snorting small, and the counseling seems to be going well, and I'm horrified.
"If I may ask, but what kind of counseling did you actually get?
"Right. At first, you've had a lot of dreams, and then you've repeatedly told me what you're dreaming about, and you've been joining me to figure out what I'm thinking."
"... what dreams did you have?
Priscilla deflected her gaze from me in my inquiry and turned her gaze toward the window.
Priscilla's eyes staring far away are staring somewhere, not here. Not the world in my eyes right now, but the scenery that must be in my dreams and mind.
"I dream of traveling with my mother."
"... with your mother"
"Yep. I wanted to jump out of that house and return my mother to her hometown. I wanted to go home with my mother. I've always wanted to get out of that house. I didn't have the very idea of running away, so I kept this wish sinking at the bottom of my heart."
Although Priscilla speaks peacefully, I think it was terribly painful when she realized the thought. Even I can't weigh in on what Priscilla, a party, thinks just because I'm asking, it hurts my chest.
"By the time I was sure my mother was my biological parent, my mother had already died. I guess what I wanted to die of in my mother's hometown was the result of such distorted thoughts. But that's not a wish I really want to fulfill, so I said I was sinking in the bottom of my heart smoking. That's what Raini said."
"... well"
"Admitting it made it a lot easier. As much as I've gone far, I've lost my strength."
That's what Priscilla said after smiling bitterly. The look on Priscilla's face now changes so much that she thinks that her smile was really masked.
"Do you want revenge on the Sorcerer family, on your own father?
Priscilla turns off her smile at my inquiry and gives her a contemplative look. Once you lay your eyes down, you look like you're holding your thoughts together. As Priscilla opened her eyes, she spoke softly of the answer.
"I hate you for hate, but that's enough"
"... good enough?
"Yep. If it's going to happen, I want to keep my distance from this anymore. I want my father and my wife to never get involved again and die wild and out of my sight."
"Oh, yes..."
"I don't want those people swinging at me anymore and my life going crazy..."
Priscilla smiles with her eyes narrowed. That was something that resembled a grin that had been floating around for a long time, but felt definitely warm. Is this warmth because Priscilla has been untied for years of trauma, or is it just my assumption?
I just don't mind either. That's fine if I'm satisfied. Priscilla looks more focused on the future now than she did in the past. That's enough for me.
"I could also talk to Master Falgana. I don't mind if I keep in touch, but I'll let you censor me, okay?
"Yes, again, thank you from what to what"
"Fine. Priscilla is my squire."
"... although I usually find it odd to use annoying squire heavily"
"If it wasn't malicious, fine. If you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice."
"... looks like you"
Couscous and laughing Priscilla. However, Priscilla's expression inadvertently turns into a worrying one. I shrugged with a grunt as I turned my gaze away.
"... living is a very scary thing to try to live. Her Highness Sister Wang."
How was it right to return to the word? I could only look at Priscilla's side, unanswered.
My days of tranquillity continued when I did not go to the City of Magic and began to live in the outhouse.
If you don't leave the palace, you don't have to worry about assassinations or anything. Security seems to be thorough, and even the Empire can't move around so easily.
Although the serene routine had passed, it was Uffi who informed me that there had been movement.
We are now meeting with the Emperor of the Aylene Empire.
"A meeting. Where's the place?
"Carlise, right? This will be our explanation for the assassination of Annis, who protested, and our upcoming talks on national communications."
I guess the letter Uffi has in his hand is a seal delivered by the Empire. I also get the impression that it seems aristocratic when I take it, but somewhat tough compared to the aristocratic literature of the Kingdom of Palletia.
The contents are not particularly apologetic, and they are content such as wanting to forge mutual perceptions in the context of talks. It is the city named Carlise that will be the venue for the talks.
"Carlise."
"Has Annis ever been to Carlise?
"A few times as an adventurer."
Carlise. That is the name of a city that guards the border between the Kingdom of Palletia and the Aylene Empire. The reason it's called a fortified city is because it's surrounded by robust fortifications. I've had a few trips as an adventurer, too.
It's just a place you don't go if you ask me if I like it. Because of the proximity of borders, development is underway in defence, so less nature and less acquisition of spiritual resources. So I wouldn't have gotten to my feet if I hadn't been an adventurer or a request.
"Of course, so am I. Right?
"Yeah, in addition to the usual members, I guess."
"Okay, I know you've been talking to Navre and the others, but I'll let you know."
"Yes.... anise"
"Hmm?"
"I will try to calm down quickly and return to the City of Magic again."
Yuffi said that with a slightly tighter look. Besides, I laugh bitterly. Although I couldn't make it back to the City of Magic, Uncle Drags is doing something about the scene.
Besides, city building is still halfway down the road, and it will be a little while before I get my hands on the study of magic in earnest. I don't think I'd be so worried about it.
"I can't do things that never happened, so let's not have the next one. On the contrary, let's think of it as a chance, if we keep our relationship with the Empire strong here, we might even reduce our cross spears."
"... I hope it's easy."
"I'll see what I can do. I'm not studying magic to make you use it in war."
Walk over to Yufi's side and slap him on the shoulder. Smiling to reassure me, Yufi soothed my expression as well.
And the emperor of the empire, huh? I wonder what the hell he's like. I thought of it with my gaze out the window.