FSW Chapter 36

If obsession required talent, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Nishina possessed quite a natural gift for it. Though she was inherently patient by nature, that bottomless tenacity transforming into obsession was a tragedy for one person alone.

Having succeeded in getting him to eat the porridge, Nishina made a firm resolution. Even if it earned his hatred, she would not stand by and watch him overwork himself again.

Though she didn't want to admit it, her image was already in the negatives anyway. It couldn't get any worse, in other words. Receiving his contempt a few more times was far better than him collapsing from illness again. Even if she shrank beneath that gaze.

Fist clenched boldly, Nishina didn't hesitate to stay up through the nights with him to prevent his overwork. When their eyes met as he returned to find her sitting vacantly before his door waiting for him—oh, that disgusted look on his face.

After she repeated such behavior several times, perhaps because he so hated seeing Nishina until dawn, at least the all-nighters disappeared. Moreover, if his complexion looked even slightly worse, she'd hound Hugh relentlessly. Then Hugh would come rushing to the office in a fluster and, under the pretext of checking his health, would pester him annoyingly.

Thus, unintentionally, Aiden came to eat better and rest somewhat more than before.

'Although the way Brother's gaze grows colder day by day is definitely not just my imagination.'

Even if his favorability toward her had broken through rock bottom and descended all the way to the earth's core, she had no regrets.

'...No, I'm a little melancholy about it.'

Still, it wasn't as if this busy situation had produced any leisure, so despite Nishina's efforts, as the visit date approached, the complexions of Aiden, Oscar, and Nishina all worsened in good company.

Thanks to the hard work of not just the three of them but also the diplomatic envoy, the knight order commanded to provide escort, the staff and managers shouldering various tasks, and even the servants beneath them, they were able to finish preparations safely within schedule.

And finally—the day of the delegation's visit.

Wearing a neat navy uniform, Nishina roughly wiped her sweat-dampened palms on her trouser legs. Finishing preparations perfectly was good, but buried in work, she hadn't thought of a good move to check the King.

Especially since this visit technically wore the modifier "goodwill." She needed to block the King's machinations while simultaneously hosting carefully enough not to interfere with renewing their treaty. She hadn't even finished mentally preparing when the horn announcing their arrival rang out.

Beyond the great doors, the main character finally revealed themselves. The delegation gradually closed the distance, treading the splendid carpet that ran straight from the entrance of the vast space to just before the imperial throne.

At the head was naturally Rain's King—Rebecca.

Her gentle eyes and benevolent impression were completely different from the comparatively sharp atmosphere Empress Kiyonné had radiated. However, only her rare violet hair was exactly like hers.

At this image completely different from what she'd imagined, Nishina was inwardly flustered. For someone who'd devised such insidious plans and betrayed Aiden, she had an impression that seemed to drip with goodness. But one mustn't judge people by their faces.

While Nishina forcibly recalled her ancestors' wisdom, the King passed the vassals standing in line and approached just below the imperial throne. The Emperor rose leisurely at last to receive the King.

"You've worked hard coming such a long way."

"This is the first time since Kiyonné's state funeral. Have you been well?"

The King bowed her head lightly in greeting. Since the Rain Kingdom wasn't a vassal state of the Empire, there was no need to kneel or bow deeply, but courtesy toward the Empire had to be observed.

Having finished ceremonial greetings with the Emperor, the King extended greetings to the woman standing beside the Emperor as well.

"I am Rebecca de Rain."

To her, she must be an unpleasant person who'd taken her younger sister's place—or to put it worse, stolen her younger sister's position. Yet she displayed a more favorable attitude than expected.

With a smile whose true feelings couldn't be read, the King abruptly extended her hand.

"Pleased to meet you."

Melissa, who grasped her hand, answered with an equally bright, beaming smile. Once greetings with the two were finished, Rebecca called the attendants as if she'd been waiting.

"Coming empty-handed seemed wrong, so I brought modest gifts."

At her gesture, attendants brought forth the precious items they'd carried from the kingdom one after another.

Silk of various colors gorgeously embroidered with the Rain Kingdom's unique patterns, and all sorts of ingredients obtainable only in that region. Not only spices never heard of or seen before, but they'd even brought wine whose reputation for excellent quality was renowned—bringing quite a variety.

"Hoh, the journey itself must have been troublesome enough, yet you prepared gifts as well? We should be the ones hosting, so this is quite embarrassing."

"These were prepared in gratitude for the invitation, so please accept them."

Even if it weren't a king personally visiting, exchanging gifts when delegations traveled between countries was proper etiquette. However, increasing bulk meant more labor for transport, and when crossing borders where magic and spirit arts were restricted, they easily became targets for raiders. In other words, it became needless baggage, so normally people sent just a couple expensive items.

For a simple expression of goodwill, the gifts still piled high behind them seemed a bit excessive. As if noticing people's questions, Rebecca gestured further.

"And this is a gift celebrating His Imperial Highness's birthday. Since it fortunately overlaps with our stay, I prepared it."

The large cart was heaped with jewels and quality paper. That paper—durable without tearing, resistant to ink bleeding easily, and relatively strong against moisture—sold expensively everywhere outside its production site, the Khlois Kingdom.

Its value would be the same in the Rain Kingdom. Yet she'd brought several boxes of it, so it was definitely excessive.

"When you think about it, though you're my nephew and precious family, I haven't looked after you until now, have I?"

Sending a subtle glance toward Aiden, the King added words. She even emphasized "family." There was no room for doubt. She really intended to tempt Aiden with this opportunity. Those gifts were probably all schemes to win Aiden's favor too.

Rebecca extended her hand toward Aiden as if she'd been waiting, like a hyena eyeing prey.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Rebecca de Rain, sibling of Your Highness's mother."

"I am Aiden Heinrich Aren of White Snow."

"Since Your Highness is my sibling's child, you're no different from my own child. Please treat me comfortably."

"Yes."

"Hmm, you've grown much more than I'd heard. You've grown well."

With a pleased smile, her sparkling gaze didn't leave Aiden.

It wasn't just the King. All of Rain Kingdom's envoys couldn't take their eyes off him. It wasn't the gaze of looking at a noble one who'd inherited half the kingdom's blood, but rather a blatant gaze coveting a delicious apple.

Whatever the meaning, she didn't like them eyeing him. Nishina, full of dissatisfaction, needlessly sidled one step closer beside Aiden. Then she kept watch over them like a squirrel with its tail raised high.

As if just now discovering Nishina who'd suddenly entered her field of vision, Rebecca's interest shifted to Nishina.

"You are..."

"I am Nishina Ea Rhonne of White Snow."

"Oh my, I'd heard the Snow imperial bloodline runs thick, and you certainly do resemble His Imperial Highness greatly."

Though 'even though you're from a different mother' was hidden within, Nishina momentarily rejoiced at being told she resembled him.

'Wait, this isn't right!'

Warning her inner self, Nishina raised her guard sharply again.

But the King seemed unable to even perceive the threat, let alone be threatened by it. Perhaps she'd had no interest in Nishina from the start—her gaze that easily fell away returned once more to the Emperor.

"I'd like to offer flowers to Kiyonné first—would that be possible?"

"Hmm, everyone must be tired from the long journey, so how about resting comfortably today instead?"

The Este Temple where the Empress was laid to rest was quite a distance away.

"Instead, I'll tell the Prince to guide you tomorrow."

At the Emperor's command, Aiden obediently nodded.

'No!'

Nishina barely swallowed the scream that seemed ready to burst out vocally.

She'd intruded even earning Aiden's needless misunderstanding just to avoid leaving them together! If it came to this, it was all for nothing. However brazenly Nishina had acted recently, visiting the Empress was a problem of a different dimension.

As the Imperial Consort's child, she was in a position where she couldn't say anything to him before that matter. Neither comfort nor visiting the grave—both the same.

Even while planning the schedule, that part had worried her, but before she could establish countermeasures, they'd leave just the two of them tomorrow of all times! Separate from Nishina falling into a pit of confusion and despair, the King nodded readily.

"Let's do that then. Thank you for your consideration."

...A bloodbath—no, she'd accepted.

Following the Emperor's command, guiding them to Scarlet Palace.

At the head were positioned the King, Aiden, and Nishina, and behind them Rain Kingdom's vassals, knights, and attendants mixed together with Snow's knights as well in a great migration.

Curious gazes stabbed at the backs of Nishina's and Aiden's heads, but currently Nishina had no leisure to mind those gazes. It was because of the two people beside her. To put it bluntly, she was busy eavesdropping on their conversation.

"I heard the new policy implemented in Snow's southern granary region this time came from Your Highness's mind? I'd heard rumors you were exceptionally clever, but seeing you like this, it seems you were rather underestimated."

"You're too kind."

"Too kind, nothing! I can't speak empty words."

The small talk didn't seem particularly substantial, but the intention alone was clear. The will to win his favor somehow was brimming.

'Hey! Subtly closing the distance too?!'

If she'd known it would be like this, she should have wedged herself between them. She didn't have the nerve to be that brazen, so insisting on accompanying them had been her best option.

Instead, Nishina stuck closely to his side along with them. At least she felt she could relax if she stayed closer than the King.

At the excessively shortened distance, Aiden's eyes hardened slightly. Though he looked ready to push her forehead firmly and drive her away immediately, unexpectedly Aiden tolerated Nishina's boldness.

Probably he was just enduring it because they were before the King.

For Nishina, it was fortunate. No—this was actually an opportunity.

Nishina, who'd been following obediently, chimed in brightly.

"You're absolutely right! The tutors are always singing Brother's praises. They say he's like a peridot who will become the Empire's light."

Peridot glowed nobly even in darkness, so in the past it was sometimes used as a word comparing someone to the sun. In other words, saying he was the Empire's light and a peridot was no different from saying in a roundabout way that he'd become the Empire's sun someday.

For the first time while accompanying them, his gaze touched Nishina. Even Nishina couldn't interpret the meaning this time. All she could read was slight disbelief. The rest of the emotions scattered too quickly for her even to have time to gather them up.

The King watched the two of them with narrowed eyes before soon drawing Aiden's attention back to herself.

"Hmm, it seems you're quite close with Her Imperial Highness."

"Not exact—"

"Of course! We're family."

Before Aiden could object, Nishina quickly snatched up the answer. Even nodding her head enthusiastically.

Nishina also knew well how unpleasant this answer must be to Aiden. But recalling the original work's Rebecca who'd approached him emphasizing she was his "only family," she couldn't help but say it. Even after that, whenever the King casually dropped praise for Aiden, Nishina poured out even greater praise.

"His sense of responsibility is so strong too. Working together this time, I came to respect Brother all over again."

"And what about his swordsmanship! From what I heard from the knights, he's an unparalleled genius...!"

As the praise relay continued like that, the face of Aiden caught in the middle visibly hardened, but Nishina couldn't lose this battle.

Finally, the endless praise came to an end only when they arrived at the palace. The result was naturally Nishina's victory, as she'd had more information.