The likeness was striking, and Egbert couldn’t deny it. “More importantly, even if we know the Light is causing this, what’s making it happen? Any ideas, Sidis?” he tried asking.
“I’ve pored over volumes upon volumes on the Light, yet never have I read about anything like this. But you should know that, Your Majesty. You read all the same books.”
“I was hoping you’d remember something I didn’t. Guess we’ve got nothing.” Egbert folded his arms, and by some mysterious facet of the Light, his clones did the same.
It was so outrageously weird that Lyse wanted to say something, but she was too dumbfounded to do so. “Until just now, the first one was a dog. Perhaps Your Majesty was...”
“Indeed, I was out and about in my dog form until I heard that noise. I panicked and transformed back to normal, then rushed over here.”
“And where exactly did you hide your clothes, Your Majesty?” Sidis looked defeated as he asked.
“Why, in the new villa, of course. I have my own room there, remember?”
Already putting it to use, Your Majesty...? Construction had only been completed on the new wing a few days ago, and here Egbert was already using “his” room before the owners had even moved in. It was all Lyse could do to smile politely. Still, for what it’s worth, we’ve learned the copies imitate the real thing.
“In any event, it doesn’t seem like Your Majesty’s mirror images are going anywhere anytime soon,” Alcede said as he glanced over to the clones.
“Fine by me. Imagine all the trouble if they got out,” said Sidis.
“I wouldn’t want to bump into His Majesties around the palace, that’s for sure,” Alcede agreed.
“You two jesters are acting like this doesn’t concern you at all,” Egbert cut in with a sigh. “It would be a major incident for all of us if anyone finds them roaming about.”
“Then we ought to investigate more. Perhaps studying the Light will illuminate Your Majesty’s situation,” Alcede suggested.
“Who’s going to do it, then?” the emperor asked.
Alcede responded as if he had an answer prepared already, “It must be someone prudent and, preferably, part of the imperial family. I recommend Karl, as he’s well versed in mana, Your Majesty.”
“He’ll have to do,” Sidis concurred.
“I suppose he’s our only option,” Egbert conceded.
“We wouldn’t want word of this getting out, Your Majesty. If you’d like the extra insurance, we can bind him to silence by magical contract,” suggested Alcede.
“I agree. At this rate, we’re going to end up with more. A couple of copies is one thing, but a couple dozen is a different story entirely...” Lyse imagined it and could barely contain her horror. She pitied Karl, who would undoubtedly be boggled by the sight of the multiplying Egberts. “Er, anyway, we can assume this was caused by the Light of Origin, yes?”
“Mm, but I wonder why it happened out of the blue. The only person who could even influence the Light like that would be...Seren?” Alcede threw his hands up in despair.
“But he’s been here for months now. I don’t see why he’d act out suddenly,” Egbert refuted.
As a precaution, Sidis volunteered to look into Seren while Alcede hurried to enlist Karl’s help. Thus, without a job to do herself, Lyse was left to her thoughts.
“I mean, I know ladies-in-waiting aren’t responsible for investigations...” Lyse sighed to herself in the emperor’s empty office.
Egbert was busy with councils to assuage the imperial family amidst the ruckus caused by the previous day’s events. Lyse wasn’t normally invited to such meetings unless she was personally involved in the matter being discussed. Sidis also had his own aides to assist him, so he required no help in his own affairs.
“No, I need to get a hold of myself. It’s times like this that I need to watch out for His Majesty most.” Lyse kept her head down as she concentrated on her lady-in-waiting duties. As she patrolled the palace, she came to realize that it was more desolate than usual. “Huh. I suppose that’s because of the Light.”
The knights posted at the villa had fallen ill first, and more and more of them had gradually followed suit. Those stationed farthest were fine, especially since the Light hadn’t acted up again in the past twenty-four hours. Most of the court ladies also seemed to have held up fine, although that wasn’t the case for the servants with weaker mana. Lyse inquired with colleagues and confirmed that more and more victims were turning up.
The spreading Light sickness left the palace shorthanded, and the court ladies had to pick up the slack by adding domestic chores to their knightly responsibilities. They carried clothes to be laundered and served meals—although most of the manual labor was readily handled with the use of magic. Lyse did lose out on her afternoon training, however. It was about then that the Light rang out once more. Lyse looked toward the shaking beam with concern.
“Does this mean another copy of His Majesty?” Though everyone had been barred from the villa, Karl was there to study the phenomenon and was surely surprised by what appeared before him. “I wonder how Sidis’s investigation is going too...”
Lyse hoped that her betrothed would be able to find any lead at all, however small. If he did, he would be sure to let her know as soon as possible. She thus anticipated he’d drop by sometime that afternoon, so she returned to her chambers after completing her tasks for the day. She occupied herself by baking some not-too-sweet pastries, as she expected Sidis to come for a spot of tea before dinner. Time ticked by as she waited.
“No sign of him.” Lyse could only assume he was too busy for a visit. “If only I could help...”
Though Lyse was normally allowed inside the villa as a Light bearer, she wasn’t formally part of the imperial family just yet. That made it tricky for her to accompany Karl for his work. All Lyse could really do was offer Egbert her assistance the next day.
Since Sidis didn’t come for dinner, then he’ll at least come before the night’s out, thought Lyse as she prepared for bed. She changed into her sleepwear and threw on a robe over top of it, torn between wanting Sidis to see her in her nightclothes and being embarrassed by the thought. Her only other option was staying in her dress, but then she’d simply have to kick Sidis out while she changed once he arrived to watch over her as she slept.
“That’d be super embarrassing too...” she muttered to herself. “Still, sitting around in my pajamas when I’m expecting to see him?”
Being dressed this way made her feel uneasy and vulnerable, so she checked under the pillow for her dagger. It wasn’t to be used against Sidis, of course. In the event anything happened, she wanted to have a weapon at the ready. Without it, there’d be little she could do but buy time.
Lyse entertained the thought of pretending to be asleep. It no longer seemed Sidis was coming, so she slipped between the sheets and pulled the duvet over herself. As soon as she bedded down, her mind began to wander. What if Sidis comes while I’m sleeping? He has a key to my room, so he might see me like this! Wouldn’t it be a little awkward if we start cuddling or kissing while I’m dressed this way? Yet more for Lyse to be anxious about.
“Maybe I’m just too worried about being defenseless. He’s my fiancé, so it’s fine, right?” She had trouble letting go of her chivalric sensibilities. Since Sidis wanted to be as intimate with her as he possibly could, she believed she had good reason to be on guard. “But if I can fall asleep with him by my side, that means I trust him, right?”
She was sure of that—she would be too tense to let her guard down around him at all otherwise. In reality, she appreciated that Sidis returned the gesture. Lyse liked waking up with a cute little animal at her side, which meant Sidis had to spend the night as a house pet. He couldn’t possibly be any more vulnerable than that. Lyse found it amusing that she’d only notice him after waking. And the next thing she knew...
“Good morning, Lyse.”
She awoke to a gentle whisper calling her name. She opened her eyes to see her betrothed, fully dressed and ready for the day ahead.
“Lord Sidis! Since when did you get here?”
“Only just now. I apologize for leaving you alone all day yesterday.” He looked genuinely remorseful as he planted a kiss on her forehead. He then cradled her in his arms as she sat up in bed. “I wish to spend more time with you, but I’ll be busy today as well. If only things weren’t such a mess...”
Lyse embraced his affection. “Don’t be sorry. Duty calls. If anything, I wish I could help since this involves the Light of Origin.”
“I’ll let you know if I could use your assistance. With our wedding on the line, I’m determined to wrap this up as quickly as I can.”
“Huh. I suppose you have a point.” With the Light misbehaving, it would be difficult for them to proceed with their wedding plans. At this rate, the ceremony might even be delayed.
“Hey, do you actually want to be together with me?” Sidis asked her.