AS the banquet continued, Yura’s anxiety only worsened.
Leaning against the impeccably designed throne, Ashes jovially tipped back his cup.
Yura stood back in amazement, ladling alcohol into his cup.
It’s so strange. No matter how I think about it, it’s strange. No matter how I turn it over in my head, I can’t understand it.
It was something that shouldn’t have been, but feeling a slight chill, Yura began to look around. Every person whose gaze she met genuinely complimented her.
Each person praised her, with utter sincerity, despite the fact she wore no makeup.
They said things like “Your looks are peerless in this realm.”
Everyone looked intoxicated as they complimented her looks. But Yura looked down. She couldn’t believe their words to be anything but sarcasm. She remained silent, clasping her decanter.
“Lady Yuura, there is no need for you to do that…” Leila chided her with a hint of nervousness.
However, Yura shook her head and refused to surrender the decanter.
A new chair had been brought and set out, facing Ashes’ throne as soon as he invited Yura to join him on the platform.
That chair was currently vacant. Instinctively, Yura felt she couldn’t sit, declining the offer and instead snatching the decanter one of the maids was holding, proceeding to walk around and serve others.
“Don’t keep offering it to me. I can’t keep up.”
Ashes’ laughter caught Yura off guard.
Yura had been mindlessly serving Ashes, relentlessly offering him more alcohol every time his cup got half-empty.
“…I’m so sorry,” she muttered, and Ashes flashed her a gentle smile. No matter how sardonic his expression, there was always a hint of playfulness.
“Is there nothing here that strikes your fancy?”
Yura suddenly felt something tug her sleeve and came to her senses. Leila was staring at her, worry tinting her features.
She was bending over, knitting her brows together, giving Yura a reproachful look.
“I beg your pardon, but it is unseemly to make such a face before His Majesty…”
Yura looked up in a panic. She covered her face, wondering what kind of expression she had been making. At that moment, a thought flashed through Yura’s mind like a lightbulb going off over her head.
That’s right… Why don’t I find out myself?
Yura nodded to herself without realizing it.
Everyone here was probably just exceedingly good at being polite, right? There was no way they could’ve really meant it.
She spun around.
“Um, Ashes, is there a mirror nearby?”
“A mirror?”
At first, he met her gaze with a blank stare, then quickly seemed to light up with realization.
“You mean the Twin-Gazing Mirror?”
Any mirror would do, so Yura nodded vigorously. Ashes laughed once more. He then lifted his hand, pointing straight ahead.
“You have such random knowledge. The mirror you’re talking about is over there.”
Yura looked in the direction he’d pointed. She saw the balcony they’d originally descended from when they first arrived. Above that was a smaller balcony she hadn’t noticed before. Gazing up at it, a light suddenly flashed in her eyes. Something was catching the light of the chandeliers and reflecting it back out. Situated on the balcony was something round.
An elliptical mirror. It captured the light from the hall and reflected it back with a startling white light. It was facing out toward the banquet.
Yura suddenly froze.
It’s…
Her body seemed to shrivel up. Everything around her became distant, even the sounds becoming inaudible.
It’s…
Yura stared up at it in amazement.
It’s that mirror, isn’t it?
The mirror she’d seen in Tomoko’s shop was hanging right there.
It looked good as new, polished reverently…
Yura blinked. It was so far away, and yet, she could see it perfectly.
That double-sided mirror that’d sucked Yura into its silvery light was hanging right there.
There’s no mistake about it.
The waves of shock finally receded. Yura blinked, then slowly looked at Leila. Leila, in turn, looked a little frightened.
“Hey…”
Yura closed her eyes, taking deep breaths and trying to calm her pounding pulse. Lifting her trembling hand, she slowly pointed to it.
“How can I get up there?”
Leila looked truly troubled at this question.
She was completely baffled and glancing all over, looking for help.
“‘How?’ I’m afraid there isn’t a path that leads there directly,” Leila replied, struggling with each word.
“That mirror is a Tolkinian national treasure. Every year, only on this day of the Festival of Gratitude, it is brought out from the mirror chamber…”
Yura shook her head. Then she gave a little nod.
Leila had a dubious expression on her face and quickly looked away.
What…do I do? It doesn’t seem like there’s any way I can get over there.
She took a breath and somehow calmed down, glancing around at the festivities. The dancing people, the lively music. The crowd of people surrounding the platform showed no signs of dwindling.
If only I could get to it.
Yura searched for some alternate route.
First, I have to convince Leila and then slip off by myself. Then, I need to find a corner of the room… If I can just get to that balcony. But then what?
Yura looked up. Could she climb that high?
From the time she was a small child, she was so afraid of heights, she couldn’t even play on the swings at first.
Not to mention with what she was wearing, there was no way she’d be able to climb up there…
How can I get to it…? Is there really no way?
At that moment, she heard an indistinct voice.
The sound of something breaking.
A sharp sound.
“Dammit!” someone shouted, outraged at the mistake.