Side Story 2: The Night of the Wedding
IT happened before our wedding, ten days after I awoke from my slumber.
“You wish to speak to the man who almost killed you? You’re a strange one, aren’t you?” Silverio spoke with an elegant, yet mocking tone of voice.
I was very nervous, but I still sat face-to-face with Silverio, who’d taken his form outside of the sacred sword. King Glenreed was asleep on a sofa next to the table with this sword on it. That made me feel even more helpless, but it seemed he needed to sleep temporarily due to how exhausting it was to maintain two consciousnesses at once.
“There’s something I desperately need to discuss with you.”
That was why I consulted King Glenreed on this beforehand. He agreed to let me temporarily transfer Silverio’s consciousness into the sacred sword so that we could talk. Lord Featherio was watching closely from the sidelines, ready to step in if Silverio took over King Glenreed’s body again.
“Getting a Heaven-Wing clan member to help you too? They’re not supposed to intervene in politics. He must really like you, huh?”
“No. Well, I do like Queen Laetitia. But you’re wrong. That’s not all.” Lord Featherio spoke in a faltering manner, refusing to leave his words in the hands of someone else this time. “Emperor Ishnad is going to change the world in a big way. The Heaven-Wing clan might not be able to fulfill the role we always have. That’s why I wanted to talk to you too.”
For the past hundreds of years, the existence of the Wing Chord and the Renewal were kept in strict secrecy. But Emperor Ishnad was now trying to change all of that. When we went through our negotiations, he’d hinted that he wanted to publicize the existence of the Wing Chord and the Renewal someday.
He’d only just gained control of the Maldion Empire and was too busy ruling the massive new territory he had acquired. While he wasn’t going to go public with his knowledge yet, it seemed he would find the right timing a few years from now, once he was able to focus on matters outside of his own country again.
Emperor Ishnad had immobilized the Maldion Empire’s royal family and nobles by abusing the Wing Chord. If he revealed the nature of that achievement to the world, other countries wouldn’t be able to just ignore it.
Wolfvarte was no exception, of course.
I explained what King Glenreed, Lord Featherio, and I had already discussed about that.
“Once the Wing Chord becomes widely known, nobles will probably rebel, since they’re the ones targeted by the Renewal. Countries will also have to face the threat of Emperor Ishnad abusing other Wing Chords to invade their lands. Even average citizens are likely to distance themselves from the Wing Chord and the Heaven-Wing clan.”
“Probably. Humans and beastfolk are all so ungrateful. They forget their homelands have been protected by the Heaven-Wing clan’s Wing Chord for hundreds of years, turning to persecution when it suits them. Well, the Heaven-Wing clan won’t be the only victims. Blood will probably be shed between those who approve of the Wing Chord and those who don’t. Would you call that reaping what you sow?” Silverio spoke quietly, seeming to both mock and pity the narrow-minded mortals.
“We won’t let that happen,” I asserted. “We’re going to explain the Wing Chord to nobles before Emperor Ishnad reveals it to the world and causes chaos. Our goal is to aim for a softer landing.”
It was still a difficult path that could fracture nations if things went wrong. This problem was one that couldn’t be avoided, so our only option was to put our heads together and try to guide the world to a more peaceful future, even if it did little good.
“Perhaps mortals all seem foolish to you, Silverio, but there are many wise people in this country. They’ll realize that Emperor Ishnad is using the Wing Chord to disrupt and fracture countries. Little by little, humans and beastfolk are coming together to understand each other these days, so that’s why I’m confident the Heaven-Wing clan won’t merely be persecuted until their extinction either.”
“Brilliant. Such brilliant, delusional, wishful thinking you’ve come up with.”
“Isn’t it our job as statesmen to bring wishes into reality?” I steeled my resolve. I was sharing the future I desired with this god, the first-generation king, who’d kept Wolfvarte alive for hundreds of years.
“…I see. Then do what you’re able to. I won’t return unless someone plays the Wing Chord.”
Silverio smiled.
It was a detached expression, yet I felt like some part of him was giving me his blessing. The light in those greenish-blue eyes reminded me of a parent watching their child become independent.
“Of course, I’m going to work as hard as I can for this country’s sake. But before that, I have a favor to ask of you, Silverio,” I said.
“You want a favor? After that whole speech you just gave?”
“I thought you have to sort out the past if you want to look to the future, isn’t that right? This is something only you can do.” I thought of the adorable young lady with the black hair—someone I still held contempt for, but knew was a reliable person. “I’m speaking of Lady Fillia. She only became a candidate for queen because she met you in the royal capital. Am I mistaken? I want you to speak to her one more time.”
I didn’t know why Silverio chose to take over King Glenreed’s body on that day. Perhaps it was a mere whim, or maybe he noticed the sickly King Glenreed had transformed into the silver wolf and was wandering the city in a daze, with Silverio leading him somewhere he knew he’d be safe…
All I knew for sure was that Silverio had chosen to engage with the young Lady Fillia and offer her words of encouragement. Maybe he pitied the poor child, or maybe it was a calculated decision to form a connection with her family. It could even have been both. But regardless, it was a memory Lady Fillia would never forget for the rest of her life.
“Lady Fillia managed to track down the secret of ancestral reversion all on her own. This is another seed you planted, Silverio. Won’t you see her, settle things between the two of you, and go back inside King Glenreed?”
“…You’re a tough cookie, aren’t you? I don’t hate that. But I sure don’t like it either.”
With that, Silverio shrugged his shoulders and agreed to see Lady Fillia.