After secretly leaving the guesthouse, Kira and I headed straight for the northern side of Semme. Unlike the southern side, which faced the royal capital and had many fields and footpaths, the northern side was full of residences and shops and had proper stone paving.
It was like we were on a secret expedition! Just looking at the townscape made my heart flutter with excitement. I hadn’t felt so light in a long time.
“It would’ve been nice if Karin could’ve come,” I said.
“She’s at school,” Kira explained.
Karin—Lord Theodore’s beautiful little sister, who dressed like a boy—went to school in the royal capital and was basically never around during the day.
“Speaking of which,” I said, “Kira, are you still not going to school?”
Lord Jackson was very fond of Kira and treated him like a son. He’d even brought up the possibility of adoption and said he could handle the formalities necessary for Kira to attend school. But Kira had, so far, declined. Lord Jackson hadn’t asked me to convince Kira to go or anything, but I was curious.
Since, you see, having lived in the Grand Basilica from age five, I had never attended school. I wanted Kira to enjoy school life now that he had the chance.
“Not yet,” he replied.
“Why not?”
Kira glanced up at me, then turned away. How puzzling.
But then he murmured in a small voice, “If I’m not around, a certain someone will cry alone.”
I gasped. My heart skipped a beat.
“Oh, Kira, I love you!” I exclaimed.
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
He smoothly dodged my attempt at a hug and played it cool as always, but I’d caught a glimpse of pink on his cheeks. That was enough for me.
Kira would be so popular if he went to school...
Other students would probably line up to be shot through the heart by Kira’s natural attitude and way of speaking. He was truly a terrifying child.
We continued to chat, walking side by side as we left the town and crossed into the woods. After a while, the vegetation grew denser, and the branches and foliage blocked the sunlight, dimming our surroundings.
There were no dangerous creatures or demons in these woods. Lady Europa must’ve been doing a great job as the saint. Though the forest wasn’t threatening, I’d gotten stuck in a bog here before. And then the directionally challenged Prince Igna had found me, and I’d been forced to rough it and suffer. Horribly.
Though the memory made me a little tense, Kira’s presence eased my mind, and my heartbeat remained calm. Also, after my hellish experience here, a wooden walkway and stairs had been erected in these woods. I really couldn’t thank Lord Jackson and Lord Theodore enough. Thanks to them, even someone like me with no stamina could walk for an hour without issues.
Finally, we emerged from the darkened woods, and the scenery opened up before us.
“Wooow...!” I exclaimed, shading my eyes with my hand.
Looking down from the elevated forest exit, I was greeted with the breathtaking sight of a magnificent lake, as blue as the clear sky above. The surface of the water glittered a brilliant white.
“Is this why it’s called the Cradle of Jewels? It’s gorgeous.”
My hair and robes swayed gently in the cool breeze as I took in the scenery.
“Want to get closer?” Kira asked after a while.
“Yes! It’ll probably be beautiful up close too.”
Side by side, we walked down the gentle slope. The path to the lake wasn’t paved, so I had to mind my footing to avoid tripping. As we crossed the grass, it hit me—hadn’t Kira mentioned a legend about this place?
“Hey, Kira, didn’t you say...”
I tried to prompt him, but he was silent. Huh.
I turned around to find him staring at the lakeshore. Was he looking at a small animal, maybe? I followed his line of sight and found, at the lake’s edge, a tall noblewoman holding a lacy parasol. She had long purple hair, loosely tied back, and kind drooping eyes that were a mystical blue like the lake’s surface. She was gazing serenely upon the water.
She’s beautiful, I thought.
The lady had an elegant, dignified bearing—exactly what I hoped to one day have as an aristocratic lady. I was completely captivated.
She’s kind of familiar, though...
I exchanged glances with Kira. The woman turned her face toward us.
“May I help you?” she asked. How had she noticed us there? Was she sensitive to people’s presences?
Kira and I nodded to each other and approached her.
“Ah, sorry,” I said timidly. “Um, you look familiar is all.”
The woman tilted her head, puzzled.
“Pardon the question,” I continued, “but are you Lady Europa’s...?”
“Oh my! You know my daughter, then,” the woman said. The wariness vanished from her features, and her lips curled slightly. She gave us a perfect, mesmerizing curtsy, then said, “I am Europa’s mother, Mamaropa Caté. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Her mother?!
I reflexively took a defensive stance. Lady Europa’s mother, of all people! An immediate sense of dread gripped me. My body began to tremble.
Also, Mamaropa? Really? That’s one hell of a name. Although I suppose it’s rude to think that about someone’s name...
My fear did not subside, however. I continued to shake like a leaf as Lady Mamaropa brought a slender finger to her chin and tilted her head.
“Are you cold, dear? You’re shivering. Shall I lend you a blanket?” she asked.
“N-No. I’m fine. Ha ha. Ah ha ha ha...”
I mean, based on her appearance, I’d figured they were related, but... Her mother...
Doing my best to suppress my agitation, I forced a smile. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t introduce myself! I’m Evelyn, and this is my friend Kira.”
“Hi,” Kira said after an awkward pause. He, too, was gradually backing away and seemed ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
“What a polite young duo. It’s a pleasure, Evelyn, and Kira.”
Lady Mamaropa sounded unbothered. Her response had been quite ordinary. So far, she showed no signs of abnormal behavior such as shouting, drooling, dancing, or spontaneous hair dishevelment.
“Are you two friends of Europa’s?” she asked. Of course she’d ask.