IWIAHC Chapter 21

"They're not exactly a realm one can meddle with so easily."

Julia manipulated the work desk. This desk with its secret mechanism had been a gift from the Duke, and when she'd moved rooms, it had relocated here with her.

By operating the drawer handles in a particular sequence, the desktop lifted to reveal a hidden compartment. The precise method remained a secret even from Lily.

Unless one took an axe to the thing, the space was impossible to discover. Julia's work was stored there.

Julia retrieved her translation notes.

"It's an exceedingly slim possibility. One almost feels sorry for the Duke, caught in such a spell."

Julia handed the notes to Lily. The handwriting was densely packed, each character meticulously recorded.

"That which grows from the human body, the slender lifeline rising upward and descending, the growing stone, the transparency that springs forth until death, namely the proven traces of the spirit on the day when the Five Sacred Stars align in formation, the sacred tears of the altar under the guidance of those who pray for the peace of the supplicant, the blessing without light, following one bucket of red path..."

Lily stopped reading aloud. She kept going and going, but no period appeared.

Rather than using clear words, the text deliberately spoke in circumlocutions, making it impossible to understand precisely what it was trying to say.

She gave up on comprehension and skimmed the page. The period could be found on the next sheet.

"I have no idea what this is saying..."

At her revolted expression, Julia began explaining.

"It's one type of funeral rite from Solmonism. What you read is the method for holding a funeral for the living."

"Ugh, why would anyone hold a funeral for someone who's still alive?"

"To leave this mortal realm of hardship and trial and enter the confirmed land of rest."

She took the notes back from Lily.

"I once read about mass suicide in the travelogue of an explorer who visited Solmon in the past. This method seems related to that."

Julia continued her explanation, which bore no resemblance to reality whatsoever.

"The reason I said it's difficult to execute is that the day when these 'Five Sacred Stars align' comes once every 99 years, and obtaining the materials mentioned here is deceptively complicated despite appearing simple."

"The slender lifeline, the growing stone... things like that?"

"Yes."

Julia gave Lily's stray hair a gentle tug.

"Hair, saliva, fingernails and toenails—gathered on the night of the day that returns every 99 years, at an altar where no light enters, with the high priest using their own blood to draw forth and guide their spirits. One wonders how they obtained such materials from the Duke and the Emperor."

Perhaps the congratulatory banquet had been the opportunity? Collecting those filthy materials there, and then the cult leader using his own blood...

She abandoned detailed imagination. Tonight's nightmares were guaranteed.

"At any rate, they failed in the end. The Emperor's and Duke's souls didn't enter the land of rest."

"True. However, there's no content here about the possibility of failure. And nothing has appeared yet about souls transferring to other people's bodies. More research will be necessary for the time being."

Lily peered at the notes once more. Life in this world was truly harsh. Having to safeguard one's hair, fingernails and saliva!

'But really, how did they get their hands on it all?'

Did people trim their nails before entering Imperial Palace banquets? How was saliva obtained? How did the cult leader acquire these things? He'd been imprisoned in an underground dungeon!

Even if a guard had been swayed by the cult leader's words, approaching the Duke to obtain materials was another matter entirely.

Moreover, there was a second victim—the Emperor. The Duke was one thing, but approaching the Emperor to obtain materials was nearly impossible.

"Ugh, at this rate I'll get a headache. I'll have to tell the aide to puzzle over it later."

"Do that. You don't need to think about this much."

Julia returned to her work. With nothing immediate to do, Lily leaned back on the sofa as if lying down.

'Around now I'd normally be taking dictation in the office...'

She stared blankly at the wooden ceiling. This was truly a rare moment of rest.

The scratch of pen on paper, heavy breathing that stopped and then came in gasps, and the small sounds of various books being rifled through reached her ears faintly.

Listening to those small sounds while leaning back against the sofa, her eyes gradually closed. Her chest rose and fell slowly.

'I wonder if His Grace is doing well... The storage closet is too cramped, it worries me... He doesn't have claustrophobia or anything, does he? Still, it must be stuffy. That man insisted on going to the main building... Surely he won't lose his temper again because he can't stand it? Maybe I should secretly drop by tonight? All the windows are open anyway...'

At some point, she dozed off.

"Ugh... hand... let go..."

Why wouldn't the words come out properly? Lily struggled to move her tongue.

"Ugh, ugh... let... let go of my nails!"

She woke with a labored shriek.

"Lily, you're awake at just the right moment."

Julia, who must have been about to wake her, was looking down at her.

"Grandmother?"

Lily gasped for breath and looked around. It was Julia's room.

Evening had drawn near. She must have napped quite extensively.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

"Yes..."

She shuddered. It had been a wretched dream of a hideously ugly old man chasing her with tools to extract her fingernails.

"A maid came looking for you."

When she craned her neck toward the door, Marie stood waiting for her with a somewhat flustered face.

Walking down the corridor with Marie, Lily asked shyly.

"D-did you hear?"

"Your sleep-talking was quite a commotion."

Marie giggled and asked.

"Still scared of working in the main building?"

"I thought I'd adapted, but apparently not."

Lily deflected vaguely, then asked what the matter was.

"You were supposed to come but didn't, so I came looking! The head maid said you were in Mrs. Dienta's room and grabbed her forehead. You'd better be careful, hadn't you? Going to the east building on your own like that. You'll really fall out of favor at this rate. It hasn't been that long since you extended your leave without permission."

"Right. I should be careful. But it doesn't go according to my will."

"Not napping in Mrs. Dienta's room is within your will, isn't it?"

"That's true."

The two giggled as they descended the stairs.

The first floor bustled with people. Appetizing food smells filled the air. Servants in Imperial Palace livery were ceaselessly carrying food.

Along with cheerful murmuring, the staff headed to the dining hall in small groups.

"What's all this?"

"His Majesty shared banquet food with us too, as consolation for our hard work. He bestowed wine as well. It's a party!"

They followed the crowd into the dining hall. The table overflowed with delicious food.

Though they occasionally ate leftovers after banquets, this was the first time a table had been set specifically for the staff. Everyone seemed moved by the Emperor's kindness.

When people took their seats, the butler raised his glass first and spoke.

"Long live His Imperial Majesty!"

"Long live His Imperial Majesty!"

Everyone ate and drank merrily. Only Lily picked at her food with uneasy feelings.

To someone who didn't know better, the Emperor would appear exceedingly benevolent, caring for his subordinates. However, Lily could only feel suspicious about what this person actually wanted.

Had he developed a taste for playing king? Or had he poisoned the food to massacre everyone in his enemy's household? The latter didn't seem to be the case, at least.

People truly ate tremendously. Once the alcohol went to their heads, their tongues loosened and all manner of stories emerged.

"Long live His Majesty! They said he'd become an imbecile, but apparently not!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Like our Duke, His Majesty also collapsed unconscious. Fortunately he arose from his sickbed, but he became an imbecile, didn't he? Can't speak, forgot how to write, his memory comes and goes. So there's much worry among His Majesty's close associates. The only heir is the infant Imperial Prince."

"Where did you hear such talk?"

"You learn everything when you're at the stables."

The stableman swaggered.

Gossips who loved to talk existed everywhere, apparently.

No matter how tightly lips were sealed, while giving hay to horses, while handing over cleaning areas, while opening storeroom doors or meeting at wells, rumors transferred from mouth to mouth.

No one knew the cause of the visible phenomenon. However, everyone sensed that something had gone wrong in the Imperial Palace, that the Emperor was somehow strange.

The Emperor attempted to pacify this by loosening his treasury's purse strings, and the effect was good.

Even at this small staff dining table, the topic of the Emperor's strangeness was replaced by capital gossip after a single drink.

'If I hadn't seen the ghost, I'd be chatting comfortably too. Honestly, I'm almost envious...'

Lily thought to herself while spearing peas with her fork.

Regardless of her troubled heart, the night deepened. Lily endured the tedium without touching a drop of alcohol, sitting there.

Finally, when people left their seats and only the remains of food covered the table, she rolled up her sleeves and began cleaning up.

It was her own effort to recover points lost with the head maid.