Kays Translations

Chapter 76: The Three of Us Together…

Chloe recovered remarkably quickly once Caro entered the salon. She immediately began complaining.

“Listen, Caro. Julius is a coward. We were moments away from obtaining a familiar!”

“A familiar?”

Caro’s eyes widened while servants arranged lunch before us. Although Chloe had originally said we would eat in the royal family’s private dining room, the meal had apparently been moved to the salon.

Perhaps she would be scolded later. Still, a princess couldn’t wander unwatched. However impossible it seemed, the royal household had to consider what might happen if one of her guests meant her harm.

“Where did you learn to read those letters, Big brother?” Rosalia asked.

Chloe and Caro both turned towards me.

Of course. I could read books written in a script that no one else understood. They would naturally demand an explanation.

“I don’t know. Perhaps I’m someone’s reincarnation.”

I offered the possibility lightly. Treating it as a joke might prevent a more complicated discussion.

“Perhaps you’re the reincarnation of an ancient person,” Chloe said. “Then reading the ancient script would make sense.”

This world had a popular theory that an advanced civilisation had existed in the distant past. Some scholars even claimed its ruins remained undiscovered somewhere, although no convincing evidence had been found.

“I think Julius may be the reincarnation of an ancient sage,” Caro said. “That would explain why he can use unfamiliar magic.”

She had seen me perform strange magic before, so her conclusion was understandable.

“Big brother must have been a great magic-tool craftsman,” Rosalia declared.

That had little to do with literacy.

The three girls each insisted that her theory was correct. Their argument grew increasingly animated over lunch. At this rate, we would be reprimanded again.

“Let us eat before everything becomes cold.”

“Do you truly never wonder who you were?” Chloe asked.

“There’s no way to investigate it. I was only suggesting a possibility.”

I already knew who I had been. If I announced that I was an apostle sent by a god, however, the resulting commotion would be unbearable.

“This afternoon, we’re going to the highest point in the castle,” Chloe declared.

She looked unusually delighted. Was she planning something?

“The highest spire? Excellent. From there, we should see the whole royal capital.”

I had wanted to visit it since first seeing the castle.

“Is there a princess imprisoned at the top?” Rosalia asked.

“I doubt it. We already have a princess here.”

I gestured towards Chloe. She was a genuine princess, after all. Discovering another one locked in a tower would be excessive.

“There was once a princess confined there for causing trouble,” Chloe said. “She’s no longer there, of course.”

“That makes it rather frightening,” Caro murmured.

Perhaps this was Caro’s first visit to the tower too. Was that why Chloe had invited her to join the tour?

I grinned.

“Be careful, Chloe. Her Majesty may put you there next.”

“She would never!”

Chloe’s face tightened as she remembered her mother’s expression in the library. Her Majesty might actually consider it.

After lunch, our afternoon tour began in the grand ballroom.

“The ceiling is enormous,” Rosalia said.

“And there are so many paintings,” Caro added.

Several ornate chandeliers hung above us. Beyond them, a ceiling mural seemed to depict the creation of the world. More paintings covered the walls, including one larger than any I had seen before. Amber-coloured wooden panels formed regular rows around the room. I wondered what species of tree had produced them.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Chloe said. “The final ball before winter is held here.”

“I’ve never seen it empty,” Caro said. “I didn’t realise how large it was.”

She had evidently visited the royal capital several times, perhaps for Chloe’s birthday celebrations. Marquis Mulan’s territory might be closer than ours.

“With guests, decorations, and musicians, it probably feels much smaller,” I said.

“Since it’s empty, let us dance.” Chloe seized my hand.

“Without music?”

“Caro and Rosalia can clap the rhythm. Come on.”

Chloe was bright, energetic, and relentlessly positive. Caro and Rosalia began marking the beat, and Chloe pulled me into a waltz.

As a noble, I had taken formal dance lessons. I had practised diligently, partly because situations like this might arise and partly because dancing was good exercise.

Chloe danced skilfully and enthusiastically, forcing me to match her pace.

Afterwards, I danced with Caro. She was quiet and preferred to follow her partner’s lead, so I guided her gently around the floor.

Finally, I danced with Rosalia. We had practised together many times and moved in perfect harmony.

“That’s unfair,” Chloe and Caro complained together.

There was nothing I could do about our familiarity. Nevertheless, I ended up dancing with both of them once more.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter