IYTTEPAAK Chapter 36

How much deeper. How much higher. Can my dominion bear it?

Still caught in thought, I trimmed the thorns and leaves clinging to the rose stems. Flower arranging was, alongside painting, instruments, dance, and embroidery, one of the required accomplishments of an imperial princess, and I had a fair degree of skill in this discipline too.

I handled the cut flowers sent over from the palace greenhouse one by one, arranging them into vases. Regen stood attending beside me and occasionally passed me whatever tool I needed.

Regen had grown curious about my dominion. Something from our conversation a moment ago must have raised a question in him, because he asked:

"Is it also a burden to House Magnalorde when a knight's body and mind are healthy?"

"More dominion is needed, certainly, but calling it a burden isn't quite right. If it feels like a burden, that would mean I'd taken on a knight beyond what I could properly support. In that case it would be better to let that knight go."

Hoping I'd never come to be ashamed of my own words, I went on.

"Of course, people are greedy and foolish creatures. Looking through the imperial records, there have been members of the royal family who used dirty means to obtain knights beyond their station."

"When you say dirty means……"

"Since they couldn't raise their own dominion, they ground down the knight's mental fortitude instead. Addicting them to drugs, or using violence, that sort of thing."

"......"

"There are records claiming some used a honey trap too, though I couldn't say whether that's true, or whether it actually works."

Regen's expression darkened. I supposed that sort of story didn't quite fit with the Rohengrin royal house, which had produced knight-kings for generations. I added, as if excusing myself:

"Still…… there have been many wise emperors among the past rulers too. The imperial bloodline's oath keeps them from losing their good intentions."

Regen handed me a single blue rose and said:

"The history of the imperial house doesn't matter. Blood is only the smallest part of what makes a person. What matters is that Sasha becomes a wise ruler."

"……That's true."

As the Mad Emperor’s daughter, those words were a great comfort, and an encouragement besides.

I finished decorating the vase by fitting in the flower Regen had handed me. There were still a few larger and smaller blooms left over, and after some thought, I wove them into a very small bouquet.

A boutonniere with green lisianthus as the centerpiece, dressed around with asters.

"Sir Regen."

I pinned it to his left breast.

"Did you know? A boutonniere is said to come from the flower once pinned to honor the courage of a knight returned from war."

"The first medal Her Highness the Princess has ever given me, then."

He seemed pleased, which was a relief.

"Your Highness."

A calm summons came from the direction of the door. Hamel stood there, carrying the air of the outside world thick about her, her face serious.

"You must have brought important news from outside the chamber. Report it, then."

"Sir Jerome has died."

"I see."

It was the expected outcome.

The fifth princess, Cehera, had now completely lost her direct knight. Since that stripped her of her qualification to remain in the contest, her circumstances would surely change too.

"We'll have to watch how the Mad Emperor deals with those who drop out."

"Your Highness."

"Is there more to report?"

"Yes. The date for the charity auction has been set. One week from now."

"Ahh."

The time for the oath to be fulfilled was drawing near.

I sat down on the couch and lifted my teacup. Thinking of the dominion I would soon devour, I let the maple-colored liquid slide down my throat.

The week passed quickly, and the day of the charity auction arrived.

Since today's schedule was also a kind of imperial court social gathering, I'd taken care to dress well. I wrapped myself in a violet gown trimmed with close-worked lace and received Regen's escort.

The charity auction was to be held at the Imperial Opera House, situated within the main palace. We received wooden paddles marked with our assigned numbers and entered.

There was still ample time before the auction was set to begin, so the interior was sparsely populated.

As we made our way toward the seats prepared specially for the princesses, I could hear the nobles opening their little rounds of society talk here and there.

"I hear His Imperial Majesty's own collection of artworks and antiques will be featured heavily today?"

"The competition should be fierce, then. Given His Majesty's discerning eye, it would be an honor to secure even a single piece."

"And I understand all the proceeds are to be donated entirely to the Order?"

"Ha, well—perhaps this time the Holy Maiden will recognize His Imperial Majesty's devotion. She really ought to hand down a new oracle soon and ease His Majesty's troubles."

I swallowed back a laugh. Women who bore a grudge against the Mad Emperor weren't confined to the palace alone.

The Holy Maiden, confined in the great abbey, was one of them—there was no chance she'd whisper anything favorable to the Mad Emperor.

The special seating reserved for the princesses turned out to be the central first and second rows, closest to the stage.

"It seems there are only seats for the princesses."

"I'll stand attending along the wall. Send for me whenever you need."

Once parted from Regen, I greeted the elder sister who'd arrived before me.

Vivian, my eldest sister, her blue hair swept up, sat with the corners of her eyes drooping, her expression gloomy.

"Hello, Vivi."

"Ah, Sasha. Hello."

"You don't look well. Are you unwell somewhere?"

"I slept a little poorly. I had a nightmare."

Sister Vivian suffered from anxiety every time a palace social event came around.

I took a seat beside her and drew out, from within my dress, a candy meant to soothe the nerves.

"Would you like one?"

"A candy? I'm not a child."

But contrary to her words, she snatched it up at once.

"Thank you."

Vivian was soft and had no courage to stand against anything, but she was someone who made an effort to live rightly within whatever circumstances she'd been given. I didn't dislike that about her.

Just then, a small commotion broke out in the row ahead. My third sister Gwendolyn, her black hair loosely tied and hanging down, seemed to have gotten into some friction with a young nobleman.

The young nobleman, having nearly stumbled and only just caught his balance, spun around to face Sister Gwendolyn.

At the sheer impertinence of his look, Sister Gwendolyn flinched instead of showing anger.

"Y-you all right, there?"

"It would have been nice if you'd moved your dress out of the way."

"Ah…… I'm sorry. I didn't see it."

"Never mind, it's fine. You've probably been on edge with the competition and all—let me be the one to understand, here."

"Ah, yes, thank you for understanding."

It seemed that since the last contest, Sister Gwendolyn had been branded as someone safe to disregard—going by how a mere second son of some minor noble house was carrying on with such airs.

I couldn't quite hold my tongue.

"Blaming the lady. Not very gentlemanly of you."

"Ah, Your Highness the Silver Bird Princess!"

Unlike his high-handedness toward Sister Gwendolyn, he bowed to me at once. That he behaved so differently depending on who he was speaking to only made it more distasteful.

"I thought you couldn't even see who was standing in front of you, but I suppose you recognize me well enough. I'd hope you might also recognize that Sister Gwendolyn is my elder."

"I—I'm terribly sorry."

I had no intention of making more of this than it was. I only meant to demand the apology Sister Gwendolyn was rightfully owed, and let it end there.

But there was an ambush I hadn't expected.

"Sasha, that's enough! I have no intention of throwing my weight around as royalty."

"......"

"Lord Vendern, I'm sorry. I'll apologize in Sasha's place, so please go on."

"Y-yes!"

This was a ridiculous turn of events I hadn't foreseen at all.

Even the way she'd seemed cowed in front of the nobleman a moment before now looked, in hindsight, almost like a lie—when scolding me, Gwendolyn looked positively composed.

How could anyone handle themselves this badly?

Sister Vivian, watching beside me, seemed to have found it just as frustrating. The moment the young nobleman left, she said a word to Gwendolyn.

"Sasha helped you. Gwen, how could you turn around and do that to her?"

"Wh-why are you scolding me? I never even asked for help. And besides, I only said it because I thought talking back to a nobleman wasn't very becoming of a princess……"

"......"

Sister Vivian fell silent too.

If even my kind eldest sister had given up on the conversation, there was no reason for wicked me to keep making the effort. I only picked out one part of what had been said and smiled.

"Not very becoming of a princess, is it."

"......"

"Didn't expect to learn what befits a princess. From you, of all people, Sister Gwen."

"......"

It was barely even sharp enough to call cutting, but for someone already carrying an inferiority complex, it seemed to have been more than enough to strike home.

Gwendolyn bit her lip and looked away.

As time passed, the empty seats filled one by one.

"Shushu, move over one seat."

"Eek! Nana, why are you coveting my seat! I'm allergic to deer!"