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CHAPTER 2 - THE GRAND EVENT UNFOLDS SUDDENLY
The next day's meeting welcomed a man who was the head of the diplomatic department, around his thirties to forties, introducing himself as Wang Eiketsu. Wearing a unique outfit called Kaso, the distinctive attire of Karetsu, with overlapping collars in front and a mysterious belt tied around his waist without buttons. When neatly arranged with hair and crowned, it gave an appearance of dignity despite its initially loose impression.
Women adorned in dazzling Kaso placed hospitality items on the table. Wang Shoushu explained that the tea poured into beautiful ceramics and the peach-shaped sweets called Peach Jyu celebrate longevity, expressing hope for a long-lasting relationship between the two nations.
Prince Mericul smiled, enjoying the tea and sweets. Coral, standing behind the prince, felt relieved in the cheerful atmosphere. She earnestly wished for everything to end peacefully.
The first day's meeting concluded smoothly, relieving a collective sigh.
After the meeting, a feast hosted by officials directly under the emperor was held. Coral and Vire, as high nobles, received invitations. They engaged in conversations through interpreters, creating a moderately lively atmosphere.
They were freed from diplomatic duties during a time that felt like the long hours.
"...I'm tired."
Vire lay down on the prepared bed in the room.
"Um, Vire, aren't you going to take a bath?"
"I'll do it later."
Coral and Vire shared a room. The officials did not recognize Coral as a woman.
"It can't be helped... Women in this country, even as adults, look childlike. They're short, too."
The misunderstanding extended beyond Coral's gender; sixteen-year-old Vire was also mistaken for an adult male. Vire seriously contemplated which was preferable: being perceived as young in one country or as old in another.
"More importantly, I feel dizzy..."
"Vire, did you drink alcohol?"
"They kept pouring, and I couldn't refuse..."
"In our country, it's only allowed from the age of eighteen."
"But, this is Karetsu..."
Attempting to give a lecture, Coral approached, but Vire was already in a light sleep. Coral sighed and decided to talk about it tomorrow.
In the quietness, an unsettling feeling gradually crept in.
Staring at the faintly shining moon, the unease was yet to subside. Concerned, a court lady approached and, using awkward words and gestures, Coral conveyed her distress. Misinterpreting the situation, the lady hugged and comforted Coral. To avoid being taken to a private room, it took time to clarify the misunderstanding. Later, Coral immersed herself in the bath prepared by the lady, exhaling a sigh. It had been another long day.
"――Hm?"
In the morning, Coral felt something fluffy and warm nearby, triggering a sense of unease, and she instantly awakened. She grabbed the dagger placed under her pillow with one hand and abruptly sat up.
Drawing the blade and peeling back the futon revealed...
"Cold."
"..."
Sharing the same futon was Vire, the unexpected intruder. Disheartened by this unforeseen visitor, Coral dropped her shoulders. The fluffiness was Vire's cat-like hair. Coral sighed, patted her chest, and sheathed the dagger.
"Vire, why are you sleeping in my futon?"
"... I'd like to know that too."
Vire shrank, curling up in the futon. With words of apology, Vire mentioned having a headache.
"Why on earth are you here?"
"I think I was half-asleep."
"I see."
"Your body temperature was high, so I felt like I slept well."
"Is that so? Did you expect me to say, 'That's good'?"
"No, well... sorry."
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Although Coral tried to remove the futon, she let it slide when Vire mentioned being unable to get up right away.
After washing her face and tidying up, she returned to find breakfast arranged on the table. Coral and Vire sat together to eat.
Today's menu was egg porridge made with chicken broth. Over ten condiments were prepared. Vire took a bite, displaying a melancholic expression.
"I want to eat bread."
"Oh, is that so?"
"It's like hospital food, eating this three times a day..."
"I like porridge."
"Lucky you... I wish I had adaptability like Coral."
While listening to Vire's words, Coral scooped up the smoothly cooked porridge with a lotus-shaped ceramic spoon called Renka.
The richness of chicken flavor was concentrated, offering a deeper taste than the soup Coral was used to in her homeland. Personally, Coral enjoyed the cuisine in Karetsu.
However, it seemed that Vire didn't find it to his liking.
"Vire, why not try eating a Pao, then?"
Pao was a Karetsu-style bread made by kneading wheat, fermenting, and steaming.
Even that seemed a bit delicate for Vire.
"It's too soft."
"Don't you like fluffy things?"
"Yeah. I want bread with a good chew."
Hard, chewy bread with a satisfying bite was not available in Karetsu. Coral decided to attribute it to cultural differences.
She smoothed out the wrinkles on her forehead with her fingertips and let out a sigh.
"What's with the sigh?"
"Well, I was just thinking that you are a real little lord."
"Is that so... Spoiled growing up?"
"Yeah, that's right. I thought I'd serve someone who was spoiled just like Mericul."
So, Vire ended up serving under Prince Mericul, who was raised in a similarly pampered manner. In the end, Vire didn't finish the meal, leaving the spoon untouched. Coral pressed her forehead, sighing along with a single word of concern.
"I hope nothing happens today..."
"That is something only the gods know."
As Coral and Vire solemnly discussed, the moment they were about to change shifts, someone rushed into the room, banging on the door.
What could have happened?
Simultaneously asking the question, Coral felt an unprecedented sense of unease.
"Sorry for coming before duty hours! U-um, His Highness, he—"
"Calm down, please, take your time."
The knight who came for the report was visibly shaken. Whenever he tried to convey the information, he coughed violently. Coral poured water from a pitcher into a ceramic cup and slowly let him drink. She gently stroked the tearful eyes of the young knight to calm him.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yes."
Once the knight regained composure, he resumed the report.
"Prince Mericul and the emperor's martial officer are having a heated argument..."
The cause was that Prince Mericul had seduced the wife of a martial officer, who was specially entertained at the banquet, and spent the night with her.
"The prince denies the facts."
"In that case, we have no choice but to believe it."
Coral instructed him to report to other superiors. Watching the knight rush out of the room, she took out gloves from her pocket and put them on.
Rising to her feet, Vire inquired, "Coral, what are we going to do?"
"Let's go to His Highness. There may be nothing we can do, but..."
Though she had a bad feeling, voicing her anxieties would only make them real. There was an old saying about words having power, and Coral chose not to speak ill of the situation.
Suppressing the pounding in her chest, she left the room. Coral and Vire hurried to Prince Mericul's sleeping quarters.
---
Outside the room, a man's angry voice echoed.
Coral couldn't understand what the man was saying due to his rapid speech, but she could sense intense anger.
Pushing aside court ladies and knights gathered in front of the room, Coral entered.
"Prince Mericul!"
At that moment, the man in front of Prince Mericul drew his sword from its sheath.
Coral ran between them.
"What's going on, who are you? Step aside!"
Speaking a foreign language, the man showed obvious displeasure and hostility.
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Kneeling before the angrily scowling man, Coral pleated. Not to spare the prince but to take her life.
"Coral, stop! Why should you be the one getting slashed!?"
Taking advantage of the fact that the man couldn't understand her words, Prince Mericul ordered her to slash the man. However, such things were impossible in this foreign land where they came for diplomatic purposes.
"I am innocent. That woman sneaked into my bedroom on her own!"
"Yes, I understand your feelings..."
Coral hadn't even noticed when Vire sneaked into her bed last night. She confessed to being unworthy of being a knight.
"I heard that adultery is punishable by execution in this country..."
"Coral, do you doubt me?"
"No. I believe you. But in this situation, there's nothing we can do."
"..."
"In exchange for my life, please settle this matter. With your skills, it will surely work out."
With determination, Coral looked up at the martial officer. Then, she made a declaration.
"Could you not be satisfied with my life instead of His Highness's life?"
"You! If you interfere— I'll cut you down!"
The man raised his sword.
Coral closed her eyes quietly.
But the tearing impact never came.
Someone had appeared to stop the martial officer.
"Wait."
People gathered around and promptly made way for the newcomer.
It was the Chief of the Ministry of Rites, Minister Wang.
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