Chapter Seven: No One Lives Forever
“YOU seem to be in a good mood, Selena.”
“As I planned, I’m going to have Shaghad handle all the visitors from Rienbul on his own starting tomorrow,” I said to Rick, who was waiting for me in my room after I returned from Shaghad’s first real-life combat experience after training.
“It’s your job to protect him. You sure that’s a good idea?”
“I’ll keep an eye on him so he doesn’t die.”
“Nothing’s certain, though. You know that better than anyone.”
“Dare mo eien in ikirarenai,” I said in the language from my past life.
“What’s that?”
“Something someone I used to know would say.”
What was it again? Lyrics of that song my teacher in my past life used to sing? Well, he used to say it sarcastically sometimes before killing his target or someone he didn’t like.
“Not a language I’ve heard before,” said Rick.
Of course not. It doesn’t exist in this world.
“What’s it mean?”
“No one lives forever.”
It was a good night. I opened the window, and the breeze pleasantly caressed my cheek. I liked nights where you could see the moon, but my favorites were nights of a new moon. I liked it when all that bothersome light was eliminated from the world.
“And if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter where you die,” I said. “Besides, if he’s killed by assassins this weak, he doesn’t deserve to be king.”
Rick’s eyes were sharp. My current mission was of the utmost importance amongst the King’s orders. Maybe Rick couldn’t determine how much he could trust me to handle this.
It wasn’t like I felt even the tiniest scrap of loyalty. I wasn’t cut out for serving a king; it wasn’t in me. I’d kill anyone if someone ordered me to. Just as before, I was still an assassin.
“It’s not like his life is more valuable. Everyone is equally worthless,” I said.
“That’s not something you should say while smiling,” said Rick, going back to his normal self after deciding there was no point in lecturing me. “If no one lives forever, then, yeah, it doesn’t make that big a difference when and where someone dies. Except that the wrong when and where can lead to a bigger hassle for the rest of us. I have no idea what whim made you agree to train Prince Shaghad, but don’t go overboard.”
He slipped out the window and left.
“Will you be going to bed?” asked Tiegel.
“Yes. I have class tomorrow.”
“I’ll help you get ready.”
He undid my hair and removed my hairpin. I was surprised by how gentle his hands were, considering his exceptional combat abilities as someone of a war tribe that he used during his duties.
I thought of Shaghad Rienbul, my first-ever protegee. I was happier than I thought I would be to see someone I trained use what they gained. Did my teacher feel the same way?
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” said Tiegel.
“I do?”
“Yes.”
Enjoying? Hm. I’m experiencing all sorts of things for the first time in this life.
“It makes me happy to see you enjoy yourself,” he said.
“Does it?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Tiegel’s reflection in the mirror and was brought back to the cell, where I picked him up. What would I have done with him before I was reincarnated? Thrown him aside for being weak, probably. It wouldn’t even occur to me to take him with me. I probably wasn’t even capable of that thought process back then. That that whim happened, could happen, showed how much more capacity I had now.
It was the same with Shaghad.
I never used to care what happened to others. If someone had come to me and asked me to train them because they were weak, to teach them how to fight because they wanted to be strong, I would’ve just snorted at them with laughter.
“I’ve changed quite a lot,” I murmured.
“What was that, my lady?”
“Nothing.”