Chapter 7: The Night of the Holy Grail Festival
HER dream smelled like sunshine. It was a dream wrapped in milky white and, when she finally stirred, it was like the altitude had changed.
She had no sense of equilibrium.
All was silent. All was safe.
There was a warmth there that’d cooled.
Like gazing into a cup filled with hot milk. Yura heaved a sigh. Inhaling that gentle scent, she smiled contentedly.
Oh, what a lovely smell.
Pulling in her arms and legs, Yura grasped at the fading traces of her dream.
It’s all right, my alarm clock still hasn’t gone off.
She should’ve been able to sleep a little longer. But someone was watching her. She could tell, even with her eyes closed.
It was her mother.
Mom, you dried my futon for me, didn’t you? Yura beamed.
She tried to reach for her.
“Lady Yuura.”
Yura’s eyes snapped open like someone had splashed her with cold water. It was as if that milky white dream had been blown away by some chemical reaction.
“Good morning, Lady Yuura.”
Yura struggled to sit up. Leila was standing right by her bed. She was wearing a white dress like the one she’d worn during Yura’s first night there, with an animated smile on her face.
Looking out the window, Yura saw that the sun had only just risen.
“L-Leila…”
With a sudden, uncomfortable feeling, Yura pulled the comforter up over her mouth. Leila was smiling her usual affable smile. Yura inched deeper under the covers.
“Wh-What is it? Why are you wearing that…?”
“It’s for church,” she replied, lifting the comforter. “Now, please get up!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Ugh… I’m so tired. I can’t keep doing this every morning…”
The early morning air was so cold, it made her shiver. It was even worse inside this drafty castle. Since they were going to church, Yura was dressed in a tidy, silky pink dress and grumbled about it until it was time to head to the chapel. It was late at night when she’d finally fell asleep. Being someone who needed nine hours of sleep a night, Yura was finding this lifestyle hard to deal with.
“It’s cold. Let’s go back, Leila!”
“Oh, you’re such a whiner, Lady Yuura!”
Leila stomped her foot in frustration.
Having fallen silent in shock, Yura held her book dejectedly.
“I still can’t read this language, though, you know?”
“You may just pretend to read it.”
“So, are these hymns? Prayers? I won’t be able to sing or say them with everyone else.”
“For now, you may just mouth along with everyone.”
That feels so wrong…
Yura lowered her brows. Leila sighed in frustration and turned away indignantly.
“At any rate, no matter what you say, please have patience over the next ten days. This is also for your sake, Lady Yuura.”
“What do you mean?”
Leila peered into Yura’s bored face.
“Once every two years, we are able to see the elites at this time,” she said softly.
“Ohh,” Yura replied vaguely. “And so?”
“We can see them on the third day of the Festival of Cleansing. The governor’s family and all the senior officials gather. Did you know that you will be counted among them?”
“What’s that? Nobody said anything to me about this!”
“They didn’t have to,” Leila eloquently threw Yura’s words back at her. “You would likely have heard about it tomorrow.”
This is a violation of my rights, Yura thought, on the verge of tears.
“That doesn’t make any sense. I won’t go! It doesn’t even have anything to do with me.”
“How absurd!” Leila grew angry. She drew close to Yura. Intimidatingly close. “It has everything to do with you,” she boomed. Her eyes fixed on Yura. “Lady Yuura, you are under the care of His Majesty, are you not? Are you not receiving protection in the name of the emperor?”
“Uh…”
“Besides, if they’ve prepared a seat for you, then it very much does concern you, yes?”
Yura hung her head silently as Leila turned and stepped back, her fake polite smile back in place as if nothing untoward had ever happened.
Sisty gave Yura a comforting look.
“This is so upsetting,” Yura mumbled wearily. “I don’t know anything about anything. I’m in no position to show up with the elites of this kingdom.”
At that moment, Leila and Sisty exchanged glances.
“So, is that why you don’t want to go?”
To Yura’s surprise, Leila’s features softened and it made Yura feel like she wanted to tell her what she was feeling. Maybe she could help.
But then Leila smiled broadly and began to speak again.
“In that case, please rest assured,” she said, looking eerily proud. “We will be sure to make appropriate preparations so that you will fit right in.”