Extra Side Story: A Stay in Shisui
ON the way home from Nigren, we rode through the capital city of Bulben, crossed the border, and arrived back in Najir. After reentering Najir, we headed to the town of Shisui.
Shisui was the closest city to the border, so this was where the Transportation Magic Sigil was located. We could take the Magic Sigil straight from Shisui to Kanaya, the Najirian capital.
“Princess Annabel, we’ve arrived.”
With a clatter, the carriage stopped, and the door was opened from the outside. My knight, Hendrick, offered me his hand. I took it and stepped down from the carriage.
“Princess Annabel, I hope you’re not too tired after your long journey.”
I was immediately met by Count Armilla, the governor of Shisui. He had a wrinkled, kindly face. His brown hair was peppered with white streaks.
“Thank you for the welcome.”
“It is our pleasure. I am delighted to see that you’re back safe over the border, Princess Annabel.”
Smiling, Count Armilla ushered me inside his residence. As we walked inside, I looked out one of the windows. A river ran parallel to the building, a few feet wide.
Shisui was right next to Nigren, which was a peninsula surrounded by the ocean. A river ran right through Shisui and led to the sea. Instead of roads, Shisui was filled with waterways, and the people got around using small rowboats instead of horses and carriages.
I was shown into a guest room and served tea. I took a sip and smiled. It was Najirian tea and the taste was instantly familiar.
So delicious.
The tea in Nigren was good too, of course, but there was nothing like the taste of home for relaxing.
“The Magic Sigil will be ready for use soon. Do you plan to return to the palace straight away?”
“Hmm.”
Count Armilla smiled from the seat opposite me.
“We get royal visitors so rarely. If you’d like, Princess, I do encourage you to stay a while and see the sights. We’re close to the border, so our town market is particularly exciting, with a variety of goods from many countries.”
Count Armilla gestured to the large map on the wall with a big smile. Shisui was located just north of Nigren, which was located south of Najir. In other words, Shisui was Najir’s southernmost tip.
I’d studied about Shisui at Grail Academy. As I recalled…
“Is this what they call ‘the floating city?’”
“Indeed, it is.”
Count Armilla nodded and smiled.
I looked at the clock in the corner. It was still before noon. I could send a letter ahead by magic to tell everyone that I’d be staying to see the sights of Shisui and returning to the palace in the evening.
“I think I will see the sights. Do you have any recommendations?”
“The waterways are our main attraction. You can see the entire city by rowboat; it’s really quite something.”
“Would it be possible for a boat to be arranged for me?”
“But of course.”
Count Armilla looked delighted.
✦ ✦ ✦
DESPITE having learned about them in school, Shisui’s waterways were much more impressive than I could’ve ever imagined. The buildings had been built around the waterways, and you could even go shopping by boat!
From where we floated, I could see a bakery, a florist’s, a fishmonger’s, and all sorts of dry goods stores! Everyone here seemed very happy as they went about their day with smiles on their faces.
“How far do these waterways go?”
They seemed endless, leading through the whole town. I turned to our guide—Count Armilla had lent him to us. He wore a green vest and a red cap.
“If we keep going this way, we’ll join up with the Moule River.” Our guide smiled at me.
“The Moule River…”
I went back over the geography I’d learned in school. The Moule River flowed down from the Barlay Mountains and through Sunruta, Arista, and Najir.
“So if we keep going along this river, we could go to the Sunruta Kingdom?”
“Indeed.”
Our guide nodded as he continued to steer the boat.
Just then, I noticed a woman standing in the doorway of a building. She was leaning out into the waterway, offering me something.
“Local souvenir, milady?”
It was a beautiful little trinket box decorated with shells.
The white casing was studded all over with seashells. It must’ve been a souvenir meant for tourists.
It’s so cute…
But I didn’t have any money on me, so I couldn’t do any shopping. Just then, my guardian knight, Hendrick, caught my eye from his position at the back of the boat.
“Hendrick, why don’t you buy a souvenir for Lietta?”
“I can’t. I’m on duty.”
Hendrick’s solemn expression never cracked as he shook his head. I smiled wryly to myself. He was always so serious.
“Oh, there’s no need to worry about that! I’m here sightseeing, not on official royal duties. So you should relax a little too, Hendrick.”
“I couldn’t possibly.”
“Now, now. You’ve been away from her for days, and now you plan to return without even a souvenir? If you keep this up, Lietta will leave you for being too married to your job.”
Hendrick’s stiff expression slipped a little. I smiled to myself.
Aha, he’s starting to realize that he sometimes takes his duties a little too far. One more push?
I hid a chuckle behind my hand.
“I think she’d really be pleased if you got her a souvenir.”
“Do…do you really think so?”
“I do. Don’t worry about me at all. Just go and choose something nice for her!”
Hendrick’s gaze slid back over to the seashell cases. Hesitantly, he reached out and picked one up.
I felt like giggling again as I saw him scrutinizing the object carefully. No doubt Hendrick was analyzing them to see which one would bring Lietta the maximum amount of joy.
“This one.”
“Thank you, kind sir!”
Hendrick held up one of the cases and the shopkeeper grinned. He ended up choosing a case that was just big enough to fit in his palm.
I hope Lietta likes it!
Although the gift itself didn’t really matter so much. No, Lietta would just be delighted to receive something from Hendrick. I imagined him giving it to her. Ooh, it would be so romantic! I felt a pang of envy, but I hid it as best I could.
After an afternoon spent sightseeing, we returned to the palace by Magic Sigil that evening. The sensation was like floating. The next thing I knew, my feet touched down on the Magic Sigil located in the palace’s research lab.
“Thanks for everything you did for me on the trip, everyone!”
I turned to my companions and smiled with gratitude.
My maid Ellie and my guard Hendrick—I was going to give them tomorrow and the day after completely off so that they could do whatever they pleased.
After going to see my parents and Charles to let them know I’d returned, my first solo royal trip was officially complete. My time in Nigren had seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and yet so much had happened…
✦ ✦ ✦
THE week after my return, Ed came to give me my magic lesson as usual, and he’d brought a small package with him.
“Hmm? What’s that?”
“It’s for you, Princess.”
Ed sat down opposite me.
Ooh, what could it be?
I opened it curiously. Inside, I found a familiar box. It was one of the seashell boxes they sold in Shisui.
“This is the same one that Hendrick bought, isn’t it?”
I smiled, touched by the unexpected gift. Whenever did Ed find the time?
“I saw you looking at it with longing in your eyes.”
“Oh dear, was I really?”
“You were.”
Ed nodded.
Oh my, how embarrassing…
I certainly never intended to let my desire for the seashell box show. I suppose I was just feeling a bit envious, seeing Hendrick choose one for his love.
How embarrassing! Does my face show everything?!
“But really, I just wanted to give you a present, Princess.”
“R-Really?”
I looked up at Ed, and he grinned as our eyes met. I realized he’d been teasing me a little. I could feel my cheeks growing hot.
“Hmph! It’s cruel to tease me.”
“I apologize. But your reaction was so very cute.” Ed chuckled, shoulders shaking with mirth.
I pouted, but only for a few moments. Then I returned my attention to the box. The seashells were arranged in patterns to look like flowers.
So cute…
I couldn’t help smiling, pleased by the unexpected gift.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Ed grinned.
“But when did you find the time to buy it? I didn’t notice!”
“Once we returned to Count Armilla’s residence and you were preparing to return home, I snuck out to buy it.”
“After we’d already gone back to Count Armilla’s residence…?”
He went back out? For me?
I was stunned.
Ed really must’ve noticed me staring longingly at the seashell boxes. He must have Transported back there to buy one in a hurry…
I was so touched by his kind gesture, I could feel a warm glow spreading through me. As Ed opened up the textbooks and checked he had the right page for today’s lesson, I cleared my throat.
“Hey, Ed?”
“Yes, Princess?”
“I’ll treasure it.”
Ed lifted his head, smiling, his red eyes sparkling.
“I’m pleased you like it.”
A warm breeze rolled in through the slightly open window, gently ruffling our hair. The afternoon sunlight was warm and comfortable. It was another beautiful spring day.