“You’re absolutely beautiful, Miss Lyse. Here, take a look for yourself.”
Thus beckoned by the court lady attending her, Lyse stepped in front of the mirror. Pure white silk draped her from head to toe. Her brown hair and blue eyes stood out against its sparkling beauty. Indeed, Lyse’s image reflected in the glass was that of a young bride in her wedding dress.
Layers of lace and organza formed the gentle, sweeping curve of the train, and the garment was studded with countless small pearls and diamonds that glittered every time Lyse so much as stirred. Perhaps because of the corset tightly binding her waist, she seemed even more delicate than usual. To make up for her bare arms, the long gloves added a sense of modesty to the ensemble.
I’ll be wearing this when Sidis and I wed...
The thought that she’d soon be married flustered Lyse to no end as she anxiously fiddled and twirled the ends of her hair. Her family back home in Olwen would have undoubtedly been shocked to see her now. No longer did she look like the sword-toting Boar Girl, but a perfectly ordinary wife-to-be.
“Your fiancé commissioned this necklace and matching tiara bejeweled with yellow topaz and diamonds. They’re guaranteed to complement your beautiful fair skin, Miss Lyse,” explained Atoli, who was overseeing Lyse’s fitting session. “Your veil was handwoven as well over the past few months. With the dress finished, everything will be complete.”
Lyse nodded. “All the furniture that Lord Sidis has been fussing over has been crafted now too. Once that’s moved in and arranged...”
“I heard something about a room for a dog in the villa.”
This brought an awkward chuckle forth from Lyse’s lips. “His Majesty said he wants to go for plenty of walks, so...”
“Not even I knew His Majesty adored dogs so much,” remarked Atoli, who’d attended the emperor from a young age.
Does he like dogs? Or does he like being a dog? Lyse had to wonder. After all, Emperor Egbert hadn’t asked the couple to add a room for a new pet puppy. He’d asked it for himself so that he could freely frolic in doggy form away from prying eyes—not that Lyse could reveal this detail to anyone.
Just as she was about to take off her dress, a silver-haired man walked into the room. “Oh my, how gorgeous,” he muttered, pressing his hand to his mouth and visibly trembling as tears welled in his green eyes. Atoli and the other ladies giggled as they swiftly left the room so the couple could be alone. The new arrival—Lyse’s fiancé, Sidis—drew close, extending a hand to stroke her hair and caress her cheek. “I came as soon as I heard you were trying on your dress. You’re exquisite perfection, Lyse.”
“Thank you...” As if she’d caught the burning blush from her groom-to-be’s cheeks, Lyse, too, turned bright red. She looked down at the ground as Sidis wrapped his arms around her.
“Knowing I’ll have you all to myself makes our wedding day seem even further away...”
Accompanying those passionate words, Lyse felt a gentle touch atop her head. She blinked in surprise at the sensation. Huh? Did he just kiss me?
✦ ✦ ✦
“I wish you’d resign from your position as a lady-in-waiting once we’re married,” Sidis continued between showers of smooches. With every one, Lyse couldn’t help squirming from embarrassment.
“Lots of imperial women continue to serve after marriage, so I don’t think it’s out of line.” That much was true. In the empire, even married noblewomen worked as knights. “Moreover, we’ve planned to announce at the ceremony that I’m a Light bearer.”
It wouldn’t look good if Lyse spent her days lazing around the palace once everybody knew she had special powers. The empire was a meritocracy, after all. More importantly, I can’t overstate how happy I am to be able to keep protecting Egbert.
Lyse wanted to defend the imperial crown as a lady-in-waiting just as Qatora had as a knight a century ago. She’d longed to return to Razanate after her reincarnation, and her dream had finally come true. That overjoyed Lyse. The empire ordinarily only enlisted court ladies who were skilled with both magic and a blade in order to ensure their safety against monsters, so she was especially grateful that she, too, was allowed to serve even as a manaless foreigner.
As familiar as I am with fighting monsters, I don’t have any magical power. That means I’ll never be able to fight shoulder to shoulder with the imperial knights. Lyse didn’t lack combat prowess, but magic was a different story. She’d thus resigned herself to life as a lady-in-waiting. Still, being close to the people she wanted to protect meant that she would be their last line of defense. That honor thrilled her.
Sidis heaved a heavy sigh. “Do as you please until you are with child. That said, I wish you’d stay out of harm’s way. I cannot bear the thought of losing you again.”
Lyse’s face flushed even redder. He’s thinking about children? I suppose it’s only a matter of time... The topic had her on tenterhooks. It was all she could do to stammer, “I’ll be fine. Things are different this time around since I know I have you to protect me.”
Sidis embraced her tightly. “But of course. I’m not a boy anymore. I’ll keep you safe.”
While in his arms, Lyse recalled her checkered past. She’d perished protecting a younger Sidis a hundred years ago—and now she had a second chance at life as his wife. Preparations for the wedding day were progressing steadily. The invitations had already been sent and now the couple’s attire would soon be completed. After the wedding, it was only natural that children would follow. Still...
“Still, I have to ask... What’s the reason for announcing I have the Light of Origin at our wedding?” she inquired.
“Oh, that? It’s so people won’t bother you,” Sidis explained, though that didn’t clarify much for Lyse. “If our children aren’t born with the Light, there are those who would take it out on you, as everyone currently believes you have the power to control monsters but do not possess the Light itself. They will feel differently once they know we are both bearers, however.”
“I see. I appreciate the consideration,” Lyse said, then hesitated for a moment. “And I’m sorry for the bother...” She knew this was all for her sake, but she didn’t see the reason for the fuss.
Sidis separated himself from her, staring deep into her eyes as he smiled. “So fret not and bear many children. I hope one will be like you,” he said without batting an eye. His lack of shame was unfathomable to Lyse.
“What if they take after His Majesty?” she asked, avoiding eye contact. It was a valid question too, as Sidis was Egbert’s cousin.
“Having a rapscallion like him would be quite the headache. But even so, any child of yours is bound to be adorable.” Sidis’s straight face tickled Lyse. She was familiar with Egbert’s mischievousness—and the many headaches it caused—from her last life.
As she reminisced about the past, her eyes wandered to the window. They fell on the grove of trees that separated the palace from the villa, then moved on and up to the Light of Origin—the beautiful beam of light stretching into the sky. This radiant pillar blessed the empire with fertile soil. Its power was coveted by other nations and this had incited many a war, but because the Light also bestowed the imperials with magic, Razanate remained undefeated. She pacified her neighboring nations by annexing them or making them vassal states. However, the Light brought more than just blessings to the empire; it also lured monsters to her doorstep. The imperial capital and the palace were frequently beset by the beasts, necessitating that the nobility be well trained with sword and sorcery alike. For all of these reasons—not to mention the awe-inspiring spectacle of its beauty—the Light of Origin was revered as a gift from the gods.
“Huh?” Lyse’s eyes went wide as she stared at it...for the normally perfectly straight Light had just undulated. Accompanying it was a loud, piercing ring. “What’s happening?”
“What in the—?!” Sidis noticed too, clamping his hands over his ears.
The pillar of light was now rhythmically waving like a beating pulse.