Editing Rakuin no Monshou:Volume8 Chapter5 (section)

=== Part 3 ===

A group of Zerdian pedlars were walking along a road that branched off from the highway.

Although that was certainly how they appeared, and the horse-carts were carrying packages, an onlooker would, however, have definitely noticed an unusual sharpness in their eyes and behaviour.

They were more than fifty and most of them were Zerdians, although none of them were currently living in the west. Instead they dwelt in the Dragon Gods' shrine in Solon, the capital of the west's current enemy, Mephius. When the elders had still resided in the mountains at the border, they had been the warriors charged with guarding them and thus were familiar with the surrounding terrain.

The twenty following behind them were Mephian soldiers.

They were the party that had been sent from Apta to search for Vileena. The Mephians wore tense expressions. When they had been told that they would be crossing the border north of the River Yunos, they had wondered – ''Are you serious'' – but the Zerdians did not hesitate. They had previously split into small groups and had separated, probably to go and get information from members of the same mountain tribes as themselves, but now they had stopped dividing their numbers and, after everyone had regrouped, they advanced with firm steps.

Moreover, the Mephians were given a humiliating task when they crossed the border. They were made to strip to the waist and had their hands bound by rope. This was so that when they were challenged by the garrison guards, they were able to give the excuse that "we caught soldiers who fled from the battlefield." They completed the story by explaining that they were going to sell them as battlefield slaves. Guards stopped them two or three times as they proceeded along the border but, since Zerdian merchants were unquestionably burly and bold, everyone believed them.

Since they were dealing with Zerdians, the Mephian soldiers suspected on more than just one or two occasions that they were being led into a trap, but they had received orders from General Narbal; besides, they could not see any advantage for the Zerdians to capture them anyway.

They travelled south down the River Yunos for about a week.

The Zerdians stopped.

There was a village in sight. The houses were like stone bulges rising from the gently undulating ground.

"Is it there?" the Zerdian who was leading – the man called Kiril whom Nabarl had met with – pointed when he saw the village. A Zerdian who was slightly older than the rest of those chosen to be part of the search party nodded.

Which meant that Princess Vileena was there.

Kiril scratched his pointed goatee.

"Would it be best to eradicate it so as to not leave an undying grudge?"

"Eradicate what?" One of the Mephian soldiers berated him. "That village?"

"Don't be stupid," another one of them objected. "We just need to tell them that we've come to fetch the princess from Mephius. They won't particularly put up any resistance."

"This is enemy territory."

"I-In which case, it'll be fine if you Zerdians pretend to be on a mission from Taúlia. We'll lend you our armour and weapons. If you disguise yourselves as Taúlian soldiers..." Realizing that the others were serious, the Mephian soldier made a hurried suggestion.

They should avoid unnecessary fights. As Kiril had said, they were in enemy territory. An uproar might attract the attention of nearby enemies.

Then –

"Over there," a Zerdian who was around the same age as Kiril pointed to the only road leading to the village.

Kiril stared hard then in a harsh voice said –

"Your suggestion is rejected."

A line of people was approaching the village. Judging from their appearance, the armed group was undoubtedly Taúlian soldiers.
 



Vileena had already spent eight days in the village. In the time since her waking up, she had recovered to the point of helping the Jayce family with their work.

With that said, the work that Vileena could help with was very limited. In the morning, she fed the chickens then received fodder from Rone, after he returned from the mountains, and took care of the horses. She also drew water from the village well and carried it to Rone's wife who was working in the fields.

She had once taken a meal to the man who slept in the detached room. She had heard beforehand that Rone had saved the man's life, but he was lying with his back towards the door and took absolutely no notice of Vileena. He sometimes let out a voice as though he was having a nightmare.

Although she was limited in what she could do, the time passed in a blink of an eye while she worked. She had often heard Garberan nobles go on about how "when I left the city, I went to do some work in a village and it was truly leisurely, like a completely different world from this bustling court," but she had always thought that was an outright lie.

In the evening, she ate her meal and then spent the time before the sun had completely set with Layla.

Layla loved Vileena like a real little sister. Each of them had their own circumstances, and they never talked together about their pasts, but from that Layla was able to understand all the more that Vileena carried a wound in her heart.

On the evening of the eighth day.

"Your hair is really so beautiful, Luna," Layla marvelled as she combed Vileena's hair from behind.

'Luna' was the fake name that Vileena was using.

Except in the higher-class families, Zerdians did not have custom of bathing in hot water. In this village also, as there was a river nearby, people would go and wash themselves in it or would take water in a bucket to wash their hair and body with. At first, Vileena had been embarrassed to be naked in front of another person, however had no choice but to go along with it since her life was dependant on others. At times like these, Layla took care of Vileena like a little sister.

"There aren't any Mephians nor, although this rude of me, Zerdians with hair this beautiful. You're..."

Layla suddenly fell silent. She felt bad about prying thoughtlessly. Although Vileena was grateful for all the consideration she was receiving, it was also painful.

Layla smoothed over the situation by talking about various funny stories that had happened in the village. While doing so, she took the time to carefully clean Vileena's hair.

Suddenly reminded of her mother and Theresia, Vileena looked up through the window to the sky that was studded with innumerable small lights.

''It's all so far away''.

Her chest felt constricted from the overwhelming homesickness.

Garbera, the country of meadows. A country defended by gallant knights and fast airships. As she vividly recalled the royal court, where she had lived until she was fourteen, with its familiar paths and the flower gardens that they each had led to, Vileena's eyelids grew hot.

How she would run away from her studies and play about here and there. Theresia would chase after her every time but Vileena had hiding places all over the palace. There were also the times when she would go to where the adults were working, but the cooks, the gardeners, the blacksmiths, and everyone working on the air carriers were all Vileena's allies; so when Theresia came calling, they would feign ignorance.
When her brother Zenon was at court, they would often play tag or have duels with toy swords.

And then there was also her grandfather, Jeorg. How she looked forward to going to have fun once a twice a season at the royal villa where her grandfather lived.

''Grandfather...''

The heat behind her eyelids became unbearable so Vileena closed her eyes and let the flowing water wash away the tears she shed.

She wondered if the people from her native country heard that she had turned traitor on Mephius and betrayed secret information. How had her grandfather reacted when he had heard? Had he applauded her, exclaiming that he expected nothing less from a daughter of Garbera and his granddaughter, or had he lamented that his grandchild had been swayed by the feelings of the moment and had hurt their national interests?

Thinking about it was to no avail. She had already long since passed through that inner conflict and reached her decision. But saying that she had reached a decision did not contradict the fact that she still had doubts.

Perhaps because she had noticed Vileena’s feelings, Layla invited her to her own bedroom that evening and talked with her for a long time after the lights had died out, their pillows lined up side by side. She talked about some of the young men from among the villagers. Even though 'Lennus from next door' was younger than Layla, having the unsophisticated boy look at her warmly left her feeling not only half embarrassed but also half proud.

“But doesn’t it look like you’re going to steal him? At any rate, since you arrived he’s constantly been looking at you.”

“Something like that…” Vileena denied it, feeling uncomfortable. She was not used to this kind of girly conversation.

Layla giggled unintentionally.

“Don’t worry about troubling anyone. Look for someone good, Luna. But you have to tell me if you find him.” Layla gave Vileena a light nudge to the side with her elbow. “Marrying someone, having your own child… That happiness can definitely be found anywhere. Even if the culture and values are different, even in a different land and different country, that’s the normal course, definitely.” Layla’s voice was almost a whisper.

''That kind of life'' – was probably possible, Vileena thought. If she had not been raised in the royal palace... if she had been born as an ordinary town girl, although her unruly personality might have caused trouble for her parents when she was little, but as she grew into an adult she would also have grown conscious of the opposite sex, spending entire nights gossiping about it with other girls her age. And then, before long, she would have married someone, becoming a parent with a child of her own in her arms…

Layla’s words, which were saying – ''you can stay here forever if you want'', echoed a voice in her heart.

Vileena was afraid of the her who almost wanted that kind of life; and if her stay here was prolonged any longer, that desire would surely grow stronger.

''I was born in the royal family''.

That was a fact that would not change, no matter what kind of life she hoped for.

Since she was born in the royal family, she had a duty. Even if she barely had any power.

The face of her grandfather, whom she had remembered earlier, once again came to her mind. That of her father did too.

There was also one more in Vileena’s heart: the face of a young man who, despite coming from an exalted lineage, was looked down upon by the people of his country and neglected even by his own father, but who had overcome every hardship.   

And so she decided, as she greeted the morning of the ninth day, that after working until dusk, she would broach the matter with the Jayce family during the evening meal.

''Tomorrow, I will leave''.

Taúlia or Apta. The time to make a decision was approaching.

Vileena turned her back on Layla’s kindness and, as though that back was being pushed, she made her decision.




The end of that day came in the blink of an eye and a certain group was drawing near to the village.

As though they had been waiting for Vileena’s decision, those figures appeared like the embodiment of the future she had chosen. Wearing light armour and armed with slightly curved swords as well as old-fashioned guns, the ones advancing on horseback were the group of thirty that had been despatched from Taúlia. Before long, about half of them were waiting at the ready outside the village while the remaining half were having a talk with the village chief.

“We heard that there was a girl who looks as though she is from a foreign country in this village.”

When he heard what their business was, the village chief thought that the girl had, after all, proved to be a cause of trouble; but the soldiers simply said that they had “come to fetch her” and the air about them did not make him feel that there would be a fight.

“Please wait a while,” for the time being, the village chief seemed about to step out of his house.

Since he could not grasp the situation, he thought that he should ask the girl’s opinion but –

“Ah!” He heard the soldiers near the house raise a clamour.

The moment he himself exited out of his house, the cause of that was right before his eyes.

Vileena had personally stepped forward. Before the confused Jayce family that was accompanying her, she called out to the leader of the search party.

“I have caused you trouble.”

“The only thing that matters is that you are safe,” said the captain with heartfelt relief. “We were saved thanks to you, Princess. If we had lost our benefactress, we would have been able to face neither our ancestors nor our descendants. By good fortune, we have received the honour of being able to come escort you, Princess; you who stand equal with the hero who slew Garda.”

The villagers were speechless.

Vileena politely expressed her gratitude to the village chief and then walked up to the Jayce family. Even though they looked about to speak, she did not know what to say. So Vileena simply placed a hand to her chest like a Garberan court aristocrat and bowed deeply.

Included in it was the meaning of leaving behind the her that was not the princess of Garbera.

Rone and his wife exchanged glances. Layla could only let her mouth hang open in amazement.
 



“Now’s a good time,” said Kiril at the same moment.

They were lying low not far from the village. He had chosen several of his men, as well as the Mephian soldiers, to follow him. Then he had given separate orders to the remaining Zerdians and had them go off and do something else.

The place where Kiril and the others were lying hidden seemed to be the public cemetery and, from a hill of densely piled up earth, they had an excellent view of the Taúlian group as well as Princess Vileena.

“A good time?”

“To attack them.”

The Mephians gazed at Kiril in horror.

“Don’t be stupid. If we come out now, the princess might get hurt. We should draw back instead and place soldiers ahead in ambush along the way they’ll be going. Once they’re far enough away from the village, we can attack them by surprise and…”

“There are currently only a few enemy soldiers. We should be able to recover the princess with a swift surprise attack.”

“You’ve gotta be joking.”

“If you ''won’t'' do it, I will ''make'' you do it.” Both his eyes gleaming strangely, Kiril raised his hand.

In the next instant, gunshots resounded. The Mephians had no time to reign in their surprise.

The men that Kiril had left behind had crept up to the Taúlian soldiers waiting near the entrance of the village and, at his signal, had started shooting. After firing first, one then two volleys, they immediately retreated. Several soldiers who had escaped from becoming casualties hurriedly threw themselves on horseback and gave chase.

“E-Enemies.”

“An attack!”

It was a trap to divide the soldiers in two.

The mood in the village did a complete about-turn.

The people, who had been gathering in the area in front of the village chief's house, all screamed and, while pulling the women and children by the hand, started fleeing towards the houses.

While the Mephian soldiers were in shock, Kiril once more waved his hand.

More gunshots. This time, they came from close by.

Smoke rose from the walls and surrounding ground of the houses. One man, who had been slow to escape, was hit in the stomach and folded without a sound. Kiril’s men spread out around the village.

And they were not only armed with guns, as the sound of arrows also whizzed over people’s heads.

With fire at their tips, the arrows pierced the roofs of the houses and the piled-up stacks of hay. Smoke and flames started to rise from all over the village. The chaos grew even worse.

In the instant that those flames brilliantly lit up the side of his face, Kiril suddenly stood up and started racing down the hill. As he did so, he shouted –

“Mephian soldiers! I’m being chased by Mephian soldiers. Please help me!”

And there were undoubtedly armed soldiers from Mephius lying undercover where he pointed.

''This is ridiculous!''

More than being surprised or angry, the Mephians were completely dumbfounded.

From among the mothers and children, who were trying to escape from the gunshots and the flames, several of the Taúlian soldiers, as well as a number of ardent young men armed with hatchets and hoes, rushed one after another to where the Mephian soldiers were hiding.

They closed the distance before they could escape.

“Ngh!”

Unable to endure it, one of them rose up drawing his sword and sliced at the villager who was in the lead. He had a remarkably pockmarked face and was at an age where he could still be called a boy. The arm in which he held his hoe was severed halfway and sent flying in the sky.

“Lennus!” Layla screamed, but of course, the name meant nothing to the Mephian soldier.

Further screams and roars exploded with ear-splitting force.

Vileena instinctively held back Layla as she was about to run to the crouching boy whose arm had been cut off.

Thrown off balance and forced to fight back, the Mephians could not fathom Kiril’s intentions.

Having used the Mephian soldiers as bait, Kiril and his men were easily able to get closer to the princess. But it would, of course, be difficult to get her out of the village. Which was why the Mephians could not understand what he was thinking. The answer however was simple.

Kiril did not intend to get her out. He would draw up to her in the midst of the chaos and would kill her. Furthermore, it was not necessary for they themselves to survive. They were to accomplish their duty as they were ordered to, and die as they were ordered to. That was all they existed for.

''Such fun.''

Every time he kicked away from the ground, the distance to Vileena shrank. Kiril’s usually apathetic face was now radiant and lively.

Just as that Mephian had said, of course it would have been easier to take down the Taúlian soldiers if they had shot at them once they had left the village, and they certainly would have been able to capture the princess as well.

But that wouldn’t have been any fun.

As he felt the ether that was rising up from the many dead stream across his face, he yearned for death. Because then he would be called to the Dragon Gods. He was a pious believer who had offered them many deaths and much ether.

While paying careful attention to what was going on behind, and pretending to flee, Kiril measured by eye the distance between himself and Vileena. He put a hand to his breast. What he withdrew was a smallish, V-shaped battle-boomerang. It was mainly composed of the weightless metal made from refining dragon bones and was a weapon for assassination.

With it in hand, he made a large swing in an upwards motion and threw it.

The air had become so hazy that it was hard to see anything anymore and the boomerang was swallowed by the sky. From there, it drew an arc and returned, cleaving through the wind. He had calculated that it would strike Vileena’s head perfectly.

At that moment, Layla pushed Vileena aside to race forward but stumbled to the ground. Surprised, Vileena reached out her hand and leaned down. The boomerang sliced by above her head. A few strands of hair scattered in mid-air.

Kiril clicked his tongue but as the startled Vileena turned to look back, she was the very picture of defencelessness. He wiped all expression from his face and started running straight towards her.

“Princess, this way!”

The captain of the search party broke in between them. Naturally, he had not seen through Kiril’s scheme and was planning to lead the princess to a safe place because of the attack from Mephius. This was to earn him harm.

Kiril ran past him. Blood spurted from the captain’s neck and he toppled sideways. A dagger was clasped in Kiril’s hand. Its tip dripping blood as though to sketch a red line behind him, he drew closer to Vileena.

“Who!” Vileena cried. But she had no weapon at hand. She was going to dodge Kiril’s charge when, at that moment, she stumbled over Layla who was crouched at her feet.

Vileena fell, her body covering Layla’s. Instinctively, she tried to at least protect that life. The warmth that Vileena felt against her own body was the same warmth that had been protecting her these past several days.

Seeing a perfect opportunity, Kiril raised his blade.



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