I hope Caldmellia and Wein’s discussion goes well…
This thought kept Ninym on edge. She wanted to make herself useful somehow but couldn’t concentrate at all. If only she’d stayed with Wein.
There’s definitely something very wrong with me…
Burning herself out and being incapacitated during an emergency was no laughing matter. Since troubled sleep was surely healthier than frenzied impatience, Ninym collapsed on the bed and chose to relinquish consciousness. Squeezing her eyes shut, she pushed aside a river of worries, let time pass, and drifted off to sleep.
“Yeah, not bad at all.”
Ninym gave the food she’d prepared a nod of approval in the kitchen. Then she walked down the hallway toward a room farther within the mansion—the study.
“Your Highness, I’ve brought lunch.”
When Ninym opened the door and called to him, Wein’s shadow stirred in a corner of the room.
“Hold on. I’m almost finished,” he replied, a book in one hand.
When instructed to wait, a proper servant quietly obeyed. A young apprentice like Ninym could follow orders well enough but had difficulty remaining silent.
“What are you reading today?”
It was a forward question, but Wein didn’t seem to mind and answered regardless. “A book about the Empire.”
“The Empire? Isn’t that the big country to the east?”
“Yeah. You can read it later if you want. This book goes into Earthworld’s history and its culture. Might be useful if you visit someday.”
“Me, visit the Empire?” Ninym pondered the notion.
There were countless places and regions within Natra that she’d never seen, let alone the Empire. Plus, a foreign country would be, well, foreign. Ninym broke into a sweat at the thought.
“Have you ever been to the Empire, Your Highness?”
“Nope. I might someday, though.”
“In that case, I bet we’ll go together.”
Ninym gave a tiny smile. If fate was kind, she hoped their “somedays” would cross and permit them to travel together.
Wein turned a page, as though to say he had no interest in the subtleties of a young girl’s heart. However, Ninym was used to this and paid it no heed. In fact, she kept talking.
“Your Highness really does love books.”
This was Ninym’s honest observation. She didn’t dislike books but couldn’t read around the clock like Wein. “Bookworm” was a common taunt, but it fit him perfectly.
However, his response was unexpected.
“Not really.”
“Oh? You don’t?” Ninym blinked. As far as she knew, Wein spent most days with his nose in some volume or another. How could he claim not to like reading?
“I’m just giving the people the illusion they want,” Wein explained. “A diligent, academic prince.”
“So, what do you like?”
“Nothing.”
“‘Nothing’? That can’t be.” Ninym wanted to laugh it off but remembered he’d never tell such a joke. Was there truly not a single thing he enjoyed?
What a depressing thought. Ninym fiercely wanted to say something to this boy in front of her, but…
“Wait.”
…Wein’s attention shifted. He stood noiselessly and approached the study’s window to peer outside.
“Have the scales tipped in their favor?”
“Your Highness?”
His voice was hardly a whisper, and Ninym tilted her head in confusion.
“Look over there but don’t show your face.”
At Wein’s insistence, Ninym peeked out from a corner of the window.
“I think I see someone…”
There was a stranger outside, and they weren’t alone. From what Ninym saw, at least three were hiding in the trees’ shadows.
“There’s undoubtedly more of them. We’re surrounded,” Wein stated.
“S-surrounded? What for?”
“To kill me.”
An arrow broke through the window.
“Eek!” Ninym almost fell as she instinctively leaned backward, but Wein caught her arm.
“Be careful. I’m their target, but they’re not above getting rid of anyone in their way.”
“Wait, um, ah…”
Ninym was hopelessly confused and unable to comprehend the situation. However, she was still aware enough to recognize that the arrow that had flown into the mansion was alight.
“Your Highness, the fire. We need to put it ou—”
“Don’t bother. The entire mansion is under attack. Come on, this way.”
Wein half-dragged Ninym from the study; a burning smell already choked the hallway. As Wein had suggested, it was too late to stop the growing blaze.
“Aren’t they going to storm the building? Maybe it’s a siege to prevent any chance of escape,” the prince muttered.
“U-um, Your Highness.”
“It must’ve been easy since Raklum is away.”
“Your Highness!” The quiver in Ninym’s voice finally caused Wein to turn around.
“What is it?”
“What in the world is going on?!”
There was no time to waste. Fire was rapidly consuming the estate. However, Ninym wanted an answer more than anything.
Wein took a moment to think it over.
“I’ll leave out the specifics, but some powers in this nation would benefit from my death. They’ve found me and made their move. Now, here we are.”
“S-so why are you so calm?!”
“Because I saw this coming.”
Wein entered a storage room, and Ninym watched as he heaved a shelf out of the way to reveal a cellar door.
“Beneath here is a path that leads out beyond the forest. It’s an easy escape.”
Ninym’s lost, terrified heart knew a touch of relief. She still had no idea what was going on, but this was a sliver of hope.
“Then let’s hurry, Your Highness!” She tugged Wein’s hand, but he didn’t move.
“You’re going alone, Ninym.”
“What?” she asked, baffled. The mansion was on fire. They had an escape route. And yet he refused to go. Ninym couldn’t help but question Wein’s reasoning. “Wh-what do you mean? Then what about you, Your Highness?”
Wein’s answer was swift.
“I’m going to die here.”
“‘Die here’…?”
There was a part of Wein that Ninym never wholly understood, and she’d always found him a bit strange.
This, however, was beyond anything she’d ever seen from him.
“What’s the point in that…?!” Her anguished cry echoed against the narrow storage room walls, threatening to attract some of the assailants. Still, the prince remained unfazed.
“Because those who wish for my demise came here.”
“Those who wish for your demise…”
Obviously, Wein referred to the people attacking the mansion.
“I don’t get it at all! Why would you let them kill you?!”
“Because it’s what they want, and I have the power to give it to them.”
“…!”
Lightning surged through Ninym. Although she tried to deny it, the prince’s broken logic began to paint a bigger picture.
It couldn’t be. There had to be some mistake.
“F-fine!” Ninym shouted in desperate protest. “But there are other people who want you to live!”
“Yes, and both hold equal value to me. So I’ve prioritized the side with more enthusiasm,” Wein replied plainly. “That’s why I spent my days here—to avoid needless casualties once the fervor of those who seek my death won out.”
Pieces of the puzzle rapidly assembled themselves in Ninym’s mind. She’d always had questions.
Why had a nation’s prince chosen to live in such a remote place? And why had he brought only one guard? Was it truly to make his death easier? Could the truth be so absurd?