The ribbon arrived neatly packaged in a box. It was a simple ribbon—nothing more, nothing less. The velvet lining of the box itself was probably worth more than the ribbon that sat upon it. The young man who delivered the ribbon was Reinald’s page, whom I had met before in Falkrum.
“Thank you so much for bringing this all this way,” I said. “With all the work you have to handle for Reinald, I imagine you must be very busy.”
“It’s my pleasure,” replied the page. “It is an honor to be able to deliver a gift on behalf of Master Reinald.”
His name was Jorn, and he held nothing but the utmost respect for Reinald. That much was clear in the fact that he spoke his words with nothing but earnestness in his features, his eyes glimmering with honest joy. So praiseworthy was the page’s obedience, in fact, that Emil commented on it after he had left.
“He really adores Prince Reinald, doesn’t he?”
His brow was furrowed with a mix of admiration and perplexity.
“Emil, you should know it’s bad manners to eavesdrop,” I replied.
“Jill came bolting out thinking a guest had arrived to give her pats,” said Emil. “I had to hold her back to make sure she didn’t jump all over our visitor. I couldn’t help hearing what I heard.”
“I wonder if it’s a problem that she expects that of all our visitors...” I mused. “In any case, I apologize. Thank you for keeping Jill under control.”
I paused for a moment. Emil spoke as though he and Jorn were already acquainted. As it turned out, that was exactly the case.
“Of course I know him. He’s come to school before—he’s a senior of mine who graduated early. So talented he skipped grades, even.”
“He’s skipped grades?!”
But he can’t be any older than Emil.
When Emil saw my reaction, he understood my shock and nodded a few times.
“He graduated at about Wendel’s age and entered the military. Apparently you get special treatment if you apply for the military immediately after graduating.”
“That’s astounding... I’m surprised you even remembered his face, to be honest.”
“Well, the truth is that he didn’t come to school to give a speech, the way the other graduates usually do...”
“Oh, I see. That makes sense, given how young he is. Then where did you see him?”
“So the school has a music club, and one of my friends invited me to take a look at it one time. That’s where I saw him. He was playing the flute, and I’ve never forgotten it...”
I remembered then that Emil had been learning the flute himself, back when he lived in Falkrum. That must have been why Jorn impressed himself upon my younger brother’s memories.
“He was so good I just had to ask who he was,” Emil continued, “and that’s when I found out he’d already graduated.”
“Well, then...I gather he’s quite well known?” I mused. I couldn’t help thinking that Reinald kept a lot of very capable people around him. “But didn’t you say that you don’t enjoy music? Did something spark your interest in it?”
“Ah... No, but...more importantly, what’s in the box? It’s from the prince, isn’t it?”
“You mean this?”
It was easier to show than to explain, so I opened the box and tilted it in Emil’s direction. The moment he saw the ribbon a veil of disappointment fell upon his face. I suppose he expected more, seeing as the box itself was of such splendid make.
“I don’t get it,” he said. “Is it like a special ribbon or something?”
“Well, no, it’s not an especially amazing ribbon or anything like that...”
“So maybe there’s like a secret letter in the box somewhere, then?”
“Someone’s been reading too many adventure novels...” I muttered.
Emil couldn’t understand why someone would go to the trouble of sending a trusted servant to deliver nothing more than a ribbon. He wanted there to be something more to it—some special meaning—but unfortunately it was exactly what it looked like.
“The prince was wearing a ribbon just like this in his hair when we last met,” I explained. “I told him I thought it was adorable, and he said he would send me a spare that he had. I never actually expected him to remember the conversation, to be honest.”
Emil thought this to be exceedingly strange.
“So you and the prince have matching ribbons now?”
“Oh, well... I don’t imagine it’s anything like what you might be thinking.”
“But I mean, you do. Right? You have matching ribbons now.”
“What?”
Emil stood up straight and put on his most serious expression. We stood there by the front door as he looked me in the eye.
“Look, we’re siblings, and I thought it would be rude to just ask, so I haven’t, but...I’ve been curious about this for the longest time, sis. Are you and the prince...a couple?”
“Huh?”
“You know. You, the prince, together...?”
How does the saying go...? Children say the darndest things...? Is that it?
Now, it was true that Reinald was very kind to me, but I didn’t think he harbored any such romantic feelings for me. However, when I told Emil that it was unthinkable for one of his standing to date a noble from a fallen nation, he looked even more perplexed.
“No, that’s not really what I’m getting at,” he said. “I mean, you like him, right?”
“I wouldn’t entertain the company of one I detested, if that’s what you mean.”
What a strange sense of déjà vu... It’s like I’ve had this conversation before...
It was at that point that Wendel passed by with Blacky in his arms. It wasn’t at all uncommon to see the two like that—they were practically inseparable, they were so close.
“Emil, give it up,” he said. “It’s no use even trying with her. She doesn’t even realize that she’s head over heels for him.”
“But Wendel,” replied Emil, “don’t you think it’s just...too much?”
“I told you, didn’t I? She wasn’t going to give that Lubeck guy even the flicker of a glance.”
“But he’s the lord of his family, and he’s so dashing.”
“Like I said: give it up. I’ve seen it way too many times already.”
Seen it way too many...?
“If she’s not even aware of it herself, she can’t be helped,” continued Wendel. “So just let it go. Come and hang out with me.”
I might as well have been invisible as far as Wendel was concerned. He disappeared down the halls with Emil in tow. I felt as though the closer those two got, the less respect they showed me. Wendel was having a clear influence on Emil, and I wasn’t sure I liked it!
“Stop putting weird ideas in my brother’s head!” I cried.