YSLM 137

Chapter 137

The face that had been filled with anticipation soon changed to one of horror.

“Hey, look at this…”

“Hm?”

“…I look like a crazy woman.”

At Rea’s words, Kevin let out a little laugh. Then, just like when he had once seen Rea have her banana stolen by a monkey, he began laughing happily.

“You bought this just to make fun of me, didn’t you?”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s just a flower on your head.”

Seeing Kevin’s mischievous face, Rea eventually nodded as if she had given up.

“Fine, whatever. I can volunteer for something this small. Go ahead and laugh as much as you want.”

Then, with all sense of embarrassment gone, she continued walking around with the large flower on her head. Perhaps Rea’s appearance was too funny, because Kevin occasionally laughed for no reason.

The two continued walking until they arrived in front of a small performance stage where an exotic show was taking place.

Dancers in colorful outfits moved their bodies to the lively sounds of traditional instruments played by musicians. Rea tugged at Kevin’s clothes and said,

“Kevin, look at that. They’re having a performance, too.”

At Rea’s suggestion to change their mood, the two had bought a cup of traditional liquor each on their way there. Rea said that she liked the taste of the liquor and kept taking small sips. Perhaps the alcohol had put her in a good mood, because she was wearing a huge smile.

Seeing her like that, Kevin chuckled and opened his mouth.

“You know your face looks really stupid right now, right?”

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“Never mind. Let’s not talk about it.”

As Kevin turned his head away as if he was done with the conversation, Rea suddenly grabbed his hand and handed him her cup.

“Hold this.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

When their eyes met, Rea grinned and answered,

“I want to show you that I can do something even more stupid.”

Wondering what she was planning to do, Kevin silently took her cup.

At that moment, Rea raised both hands above her head and began dancing along with the dancers on the stage.

Her cheeks were red from drinking the alcohol too quickly, and she danced awkwardly with a silly, goofy smile on her face. The sight was so funny that Kevin burst out laughing without realizing it.

“Oh, you laughed! You laughed!”

At Kevin’s laughter, Rea seemed excited and shook her body even more enthusiastically.

“You’re really having fun, aren’t you?”

Although he said that, Kevin could not stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

“How is it? I really look stupid, right?”

“Yeah. You look so stupid that I have nothing to say.”

Kevin let out a pleasant laugh.

How long has it been since I felt like this?

Warm, humid air wrapped around his cheeks, while a street filled with endless lights stretched as far as he could see. Lively music pleasantly tickled his ears, beautiful dancers moved gracefully, and the people shouted happily.

And more than anything else.

Among all those things, Rea stood out brightly, happily shaking her body with a huge smile on her intoxicated face.

Kevin felt as though this scene would remain forever engraved in his mind.

＊ ＊ ＊

At the very moment Rea and Kevin were heading toward ‘Rildsengju,’ an unexpected visitor came to see Queen Jasmond I, who was working in her office.

The door suddenly opened without even a knock, and the person who appeared was—

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

It was her husband, Duke Willem. The king’s husband was famous for maintaining a youthful and fresh appearance even though he was already in his forties.

Unlike his usual appearance, where he was always perfectly dressed from head to toe, he looked extremely disheveled today.

Jasmond I greeted her husband in her usual gentle voice.

“You have come, my Willem. Please, sit.”

Willem sat in the chair across from her. After barely calming his excitement, he spoke.

“Your Majesty, I heard the news and came running. I heard that Sir Oscar Donnan disappeared from prison…”

His face was red and he was breathing heavily, as if he had hurried all the way to the office.

Jasmond I looked at her husband affectionately.

“Did you come running because you were worried about me?”

Her words struck directly at the truth, making Willem’s face even redder. He hesitated before speaking.

“…Didn’t Your Majesty say so before? Since Duke Ronin had died suddenly, Sir Donnan was the only person suitable for calming the citizens’ anger.”

“I certainly did.”

“But then I heard that Sir Donnan had disappeared from prison…”

Willem bit his lip tightly, his face darkening.

Although he did not directly involve himself in politics, he was responsible for personally overseeing all the affairs of the royal palace, big and small. Naturally, there was no way he could fail to understand how serious the situation was.

“I was so worried that I could not bear it, so I came here.”

“Duke Willem.”

The Queen quietly looked at her husband before gently stroking his cheek. Willem raised his head, and his eyes met hers.

At Jasmond I’s calm expression, Willem’s eyes widened.

“You do not need to worry, Duke Willem.”

“…Your Majesty, could it be—”

Jasmond I nodded and continued.

“Yes. All of this was my plan.”

“……”

“Sir Oscar Donnan’s escape was planned in advance.”

Duke Willem’s eyes widened. He swallowed unconsciously before asking,

“Planned… in advance?”

“Do you remember the birthday banquet from some time ago?”

At her seemingly unrelated question, Willem nodded.

“You greeted her then as well. Lady Rea Flynn. No, she is Countess Flynn now.”

“…Could this incident be related to her?”

Willem knew very well that Rea Flynn had made a great contribution to capturing the Lion Group without suffering major losses.

And since he knew that her relationship with Sir Oscar Donnan was more than simple friendship, he had thought that Rea Flynn would not simply remain still after hearing of Donnan’s imprisonment.

“Indeed. You can consider this incident a kind of deal with Countess Flynn.”

“But…”

Willem was uneasy. Was the price not too serious for something as simple as gaining the support of someone like Rea Flynn?

As if she had noticed her husband’s anxiety, the corners of Jasmond I’s lips formed a gentle curve.

“Give up something small and gain something big. …You know that is my political principle, do you not?”

“I do not doubt Your Majesty’s abilities, but…”

“Duke Willem. This matter is not a deal to reward Countess Flynn or win her favor.”

“Then what is it?”

“That is merely an extra benefit. The real purpose is this.”

The Queen handed her husband the documents she had been holding until just a moment ago. As Willem slowly looked through them, his eyes widened.

“This…”

It was a list of nobles who, just like Ronin Stewart, were secretly raising private soldiers without royal approval.

Jasmond I intended to use this incident as an opportunity to completely eliminate the possibility of rebellion or civil war.

“There are still remnants of the Lion Group within the Council of Nobles.”

“……”

“And they are the ones who made Oscar Donnan escape.”

“Your Majesty.”

Jasmond I gave a seasoned smile.

“Is this not enough?”

Willem knew very well that his wife never let even the smallest matter go to waste.

A born politician who knew how to use even the escape of an important prisoner for political purposes.

Jasmond I intended to uncover the nobles who were expanding their power by raising private armies and pin the blame on them.

“But Your Majesty, what if the truth is discovered—”

“Duke Willem.”

Jasmond I took Willem’s hand. His beautiful hand was trembling slightly, perhaps because of his anxiety, and she lightly kissed it.

“My beloved Duke Willem, in this country, my words are the truth.”

“……”

“You only need to focus on the duties before you.”

Instead of answering, Willem nodded. Perhaps because of her calm and confident attitude, his anxiety gradually faded.

“Guide our princes onto the right path, and teach them what true love is.”

“…I have shown Your Majesty that I am lacking.”

Jasmond I shook her head.

“How could you be lacking, Duke Willem? You are more than enough just as you are.”

“I wish I could be of more help to Your Majesty.”

At Willem’s regretful reply, she firmly answered once again.

“Just remain as pure and sincere as you are now.”

You should continue to see only beautiful things and hear only happy stories, just as you do now.

…I will be the one with blood on my hands.

The Queen did not say those words aloud. Instead, she looked at her husband with eyes filled with love.

Duke Willem, unaware of his wife’s true feelings, suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke.

“How about inviting Countess Flynn to the royal palace sometime? I would like to ask the Countess to teach our two princes.”

“You mean you want to make her their magic teacher?”

Willem nodded.

“You also had the Great Mage Fiona Flynn as your teacher, Your Majesty.”

The Great Mage Fiona Flynn.

At the name of her teacher, whom she had not heard in a long time, the corners of Jasmond I’s lips slowly rose.

“That is a good idea.”

＊ ＊ ＊

After the performance on the stage ended, the two continued wandering around for quite some time, with the snack in Rea’s left hand constantly changing.

As they wandered aimlessly through the coastal village, they eventually reached the beach.

Everything around them was dark. Countless stars were shining in the pitch-black sky without a single cloud. It was impossible to tell where the sky ended and the sea began, and the starlight was reflected clearly across the dark blue surface of the water.

“Kevin, look at this!”

Rea shouted brightly as she looked at the waves that had reached her feet.

Where the crashing waves had swept over the fine sand, particles of light remained behind and sparkled.

“There must be something in the seawater. It stays on the sand and sparkles.”

“Beautiful.”

At Kevin’s brief comment, Rea smiled brightly.

“Should we sit down and rest for a while?”

The two found a place to sit on a flat rock. For a while, they simply looked at the scene before them without saying anything.

The beautiful night scenery clearly seeped into their hearts, the sea breeze occasionally blew past and lightly brushed their cheeks, and the salty scent of the sea tickled their noses.

It was a perfect moment even without any conversation.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to forget this view for a long time.”

At Rea’s quiet words, Kevin nodded.

“Me neither.”