Chapter 7
Kesenor curled his lips into a faint smile and swept a hand over the desk.
A translucent map of the world appeared in midair.
A single red dot glowed on the eastern edge of the continent, slowly moving toward its center.
Aser studied the point, trying to guess where it had originated. Then her face stiffened in shock.
“Beyond there… isn’t that the territory of the fairies?”
“It is.”
“They’re crossing the Non-Aggression Pact?”
“They have a reason worth doing so.”
With another wave of his hand, Kesenor dismissed the map. His palm fell onto the table with a dull thud.
“You were right.”
“She possesses a treasure unlike any other.”
“What kind of treasure?”
“It means nothing to ordinary people.”
“But to those who need it…”
“It is priceless.”
“Valuable enough to break the Non-Aggression Pact.”
On the continent of Astanium…
Even before history was ever recorded, humans and the various races had coexisted, locked in endless conflict.
To end those wars, the Empire’s Fourth Emperor, Roberto Cardiam, summoned the leaders of every race.
Together they established clearly defined territories and signed the Non-Aggression Pact, swearing never to trespass upon one another’s domains.
The pact was bound by powerful magic and sealed with sacred oaths.
Only extremely limited exchanges between races were permitted.
As a result, every race had enjoyed peaceful lives within their own lands.
If anyone crossed beyond the boundaries of their territory…
High-ranking magicians could detect the violation through magic.
The information would immediately be transmitted to the Empire.
Aser’s expression grew grave.
Resting his chin on one hand, Kesenor smiled at her.
There wasn’t the slightest warmth in that smile.
“Now…”
“Do you understand why I’m doing this?”
Several days later…
Just as Kesenor had predicted…
A very unusual guest arrived at the Waldemar estate.
The first to spot him were the twins, who were busy playing in the forest.
“Cedric, look over there!”
“Huh?… W-What is that?!”
There was someone in the sky.
Flying toward them.
Transparent wings like those of a dragonfly shimmered behind his back.
When he noticed the twins from afar, he gracefully descended and landed in front of them.
“Whoa…”
Both boys gasped without realizing it.
The man standing before them looked as though he had been sculpted from gathered light.
Silvery hair tinged with pale blue fell across his fair forehead.
His clear, water-colored eyes sparkled beneath the sunlight.
His clothes were pure white, yet every movement reflected colors they had never seen before.
As if his breathtaking appearance weren’t enough…
He stood a full head taller than an ordinary man.
His long, elegant limbs naturally drew the eye.
“Could you be… a fairy?”
“Are you really a fairy? How can you fly?”
The twins bombarded him with questions.
The man merely frowned slightly and stared down at them.
His expression was so intimidating that both boys immediately fell silent.
Come to think of it…
Isn’t he an intruder?
He flew here through the sky, but he still entered our estate without permission.
The man reached into his pocket and produced a silver bracelet.
After fastening it around his wrist, he finally spoke.
“What did you ask?”
“I-I asked if… you were a fairy…”
“Correct.”
“I am.”
“Is this the Waldemar estate?”
Even his voice was beautiful.
The twins found themselves staring all over again.
The fairy frowned once more.
“I’ve activated the translation device…”
“Can you not understand me?”
“No!”
“We understand!”
“You’re just way too handsome!”
“Mister, you’re really a fairy!”
“Your whole body is sparkling!”
The man quietly looked down at them before giving a small nod.
“I’m looking for a woman named Agnes.”
“If you know where she is…”
“Take me to her.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Agnes was practically dragged into the drawing room.
Servants whispered among themselves as she passed.
Curious gazes followed behind her.
“First the Marquis…”
“And now a fairy straight out of an old legend?”
“What on earth is going on?”
“I wish someone would tell us.”
Only a few days earlier, those same servants had openly looked down on Agnes.
Now…
Because visitors impossible for ordinary people to approach kept seeking her out…
Their attitudes had changed completely.
She knocked on the drawing room door.
Someone inside immediately stood up.
When the door opened…
Agnes froze.
He looks… like moonlight given human form…
His entire body shimmered in silver, changing into countless colors depending on the light.
He was so tall she had to tilt her head upward to meet his eyes.
Perhaps noticing her discomfort…
He took a step back and bowed deeply with perfect courtesy.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Agnes.”
“My name is Silmare.”
“I heard…”
“You came looking for me.”
“I did.”
His beautiful eyes curved into a gentle smile.
He whispered with unmistakable emotion,
“I have waited for you.”
“For a very long time.”
“Ever since the beginning of my life.”
“…What?”
“I knew of you long before you were born.”
“I dreamed of the day we would finally meet.”
He extended a hand.
Thinking he merely intended to shake hands…
Agnes reached out.
Instead…
He gently took her hand.
At that very moment…
A golden pattern emerged across the back of her hand.
Leaves.
And a seed.
Exactly the same mark that had appeared with Kesenor.
Silmare’s long fingers trembled.
His crystal-clear eyes shook as though witnessing something impossible.
With the reverence one would show something sacred…
He lowered his lips and kissed the back of Agnes’s hand.
His behavior was so unexpected…
She completely missed her chance to pull away.
“U-Um… Lord Silmare!”
“Please.”
“Just call me Silmare.”
“How did you find me…?”
“Did you perhaps meet my younger sister Amy?”
At her anxious question…
Silmare smiled with lips as red as flower petals and guided her toward the sofa.
“Marquis!”
Someone was already sitting there.
Agnes jumped in surprise.
“Y-You were here?”
“I was.”
“I’ve been here the whole time.”
He smiled.
But somehow…
His eyes looked darker than usual.
His lips even seemed to be pouting ever so slightly.
He looked thoroughly displeased.
Did the two of them argue?
“Were the two of you already in the middle of a conversation?”
“What would I possibly have to discuss with someone like him?”
Though this should have been their first meeting…
Silmare interrupted her with unmistakable hostility.
“The owner of this estate merely brought me here.”
“Oh… the Countess…”
“You needn’t concern yourself with him.”
“Please, listen to what I have to say.”
Apparently…
Kesenor had different ideas.
“I told you.”
“There would be another candidate for husband.”
“How rude.”
“‘Candidate for husband’?”
“In the end…”
“Both of us are merely seeds.”
“The one whom you must choose.”
“Nonsense!”
“You don’t even know which generation of Celesta you belong to.”
“And yet you dare compare yourself to me?”
“I’ve been waiting for two hundred years.”
“Two hundred years?”
Startled by the unimaginable length of time…
Agnes stared at him.
Silmare smiled warmly.
“That’s correct, Agnes.”
“Fairies live far longer than humans.”
“From the very moment I was born as a Seed of the World Tree…”
“I have waited for the day I could meet you…”
“And cultivate a new world together.”
“Heh.”
Kesenor let out a mocking laugh.
Silmare ignored him completely.
His attention never left Agnes.
“When I learned that you…”
“My soulmate…”
“Were here…”
“I cannot describe how happy I was.”
“So you really did meet Amy!”
“I did.”
“A very adorable little lady sought me out herself.”
“She told me everything.”
“Is Amy doing well?”
“My little sister fell into the Rift…”
“I heard what happened.”
“She was treated with the greatest hospitality in the Naopa Forest.”
“Afterward, she said she had business elsewhere and departed.”
“I see…”
Just when does she plan to come home?
From Celestial, the Magic Tower in the far north…
To the Naopa Forest on the eastern edge of the continent…
Was an unimaginably long journey.
Even adults would struggle with such a trip.
So how could someone as young as Amy…
Seeing Agnes sink into worried silence…
Silmare reached into his robe.
“This is a letter from Amy.”
Agnes’s face immediately brightened.
She eagerly accepted it and unfolded the letter.
Dear Miss, I hope you are doing well. This is Rupert.
We thought you might be worried about us, so let me reassure you—we’re all doing very well.
You’re not still suffering at the Waldemar estate, are you?
Lady Amy says that if you don’t come home soon, she’ll cry for a hundred days and a hundred nights.
She’s watching me as I write this, so I have no choice but to record her exact words.
Please don’t keep working yourself so hard.
I hope you’ll make good use of everything we sent you.
P.S. Big Sis, make sure you buy yourself something delicious to eat!
“Have you finished reading?”
Without realizing it…
Tears had filled Agnes’s eyes.
Her vision blurred.
Silmare gently brushed a tear from her cheek with his fingertips.
“Didn’t she tell you…”
“To return home?”
“She did.”
“She made me promise as well.”
“She asked me to help you leave the Waldemar estate as soon as possible.”
“I gave my word to that young lady.”
“So I intend to keep it.”
“But…”
“Our house has nothing.”
“We don’t even have a proper place to receive guests.”
“I heard…”
“That your family earned more than enough wealth in the Dragon’s Lair.”
“And that you entrusted its management to this Celesta.”
“Is that correct?”
