The Imperial Tower was noisy from early morning.
"The Angel of the Empire…?"
"The 3rd Princess has visited the Tower again?"
"You fools, instead of panicking, be respectful! How dare you act like that
in front of the Princess?!"
The reason was simple.
Solana had visited the Tower again without notice.
"It's alright. Just act as you normally do. As you normally do."
Of course, the 3rd Princess kindly smiled and soothed the magicians
instead. After all, she had another reason for visiting the Tower.
The Auditor of the Tower, Jaekiel, of course it was him.
"…Solana?"
Just then, Jaekiel appeared in the hallway. He had a schedule to head to the
Imperial Palace today.
"Ah, found you!"
The 3rd Princess's eyes immediately lit up.
Facing Jaekiel, Solana smiled brightly and showed the basket she was
holding in one hand.
"Breakfast… you haven't eaten yet, right?"
.
.
.
.
.
Rattle. Rattle.
Inside the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace.
It was said to prioritize comfort over speed. In fact, the interior was almost
like a reception room.
Jaekiel and Solana.
The two sat facing each other. It was an unplanned ride together, and on the
table between them were lunch boxes that Solana had made herself.
"I hope it suits your taste."
"It's delicious. You were good at cooking then, and you still are."
Solana laughed at Jaekiel's compliment.
"Really? It's not just a polite remark, right? I'm very happy."
"Yes."
Having breakfast with the Princess in a carriage heading to the Imperial
Palace, Jaekiel quietly realized how much his life had completely changed
compared to a while ago.
For a while, they continued eating in silence.
Solana, who was chewing food quietly, suddenly stopped and blinked her
eyes like a rabbit.
"…Why are you staring at me like that? Is something on my face?"
"No, just."
Jaekiel shook his head.
"I didn't expect to ride with you on the way to the Imperial Palace."
"Aha, it wasn't planned, but I prepared it urgently."
Solana gave a faint smile.
"As soon as I heard that the 2nd Princess had rushed to the palace, I
prepared the lunch boxes. I couldn't miss the chance to ride alone with you,
Teacher."
She put a finger to her lips and pondered a word.
"However, meeting in a place where there are many eyes would be a
burden… So I used my head a little. Cultured people would refer to it as a
'secret rendezevous or something.'"
"It's not 'rendezevous', it's 'rendezvous'."
"Oh, rendezvous. Rendezvous… It's still morning, so I'm still sleepy…"
Solana put a hand over her mouth and avoided his gaze with a laugh. As
always, she was herself today.
Jaekiel took out a Sun Grass from his bosom. He habitually brought it to his
mouth but hesitated when he saw Solana.
But Solana waved her hand instead.
"It's alright. I understand your circumstances."
"…Excuse me. let me know if it gets too smoky."
Crunch, the Sun Grass popped slightly in his mouth.
"So, why did Hedera rush to the palace?"
"I heard she had something urgent to prepare. It's probably about the
Ascension Ceremony? Well, even if it's not the Ascension Ceremony, the
2nd Princess is always busy."
"The Royal Treasury of the Imperial Palace must also be well prepared."
"Hehehe, I heard you won the bet?"
Solana smiled happily and took something out.
"Tada, but I have something to give you too."
Jaekiel received a piece of paper from her.
A small piece, but it was very ornately decorated.
[ Jaekiel ]
[ Show your face once a month. ]
[ Five conditions, the progress will be checked. ]
Just as the sun doesn't need to introduce itself as the sun, the identity was
clear even without the sender's name.
It was a letter from the Emperor.
Solana's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"How is it? What's it about?"
"He wants to see my face regularly."
"Hmm, he likes fruits. That might help."
Jaekiel almost asked, "That man?" but barely held it back. Anyway, it was
quite surprising.
"…I'll keep that in mind."
Hooo.
As he exhaled the smoke from the Sun Grass, Solana quietly extended her
palm upwards toward the ceiling.
"Teacher, me too."
"What?"
"You need to show me your hand regularly. We used to do it often when we
were young, remember? The infirmary game."
Yes, we did.
We did it countless times, but the roles never changed. I was the patient,
and Solana was the saint. Still the same.
After a while.
Solana's expression became subtly complex after examining his condition.
"Teacher."
"I'm listening."
"…Amazingly, you've become even stronger."
For an ordinary person, it would be great news, but it was somewhat
different for me. It meant that the chill my body couldn't handle had
become that much more intense.
"Really? It means the day I die has come closer."
"That's not true. I will find a way somehow. The Emperor will change his
mind too."
Solana smiled brightly.
"Don't worry about that part; let's talk about something else. How is your
life as an Auditor? Are you satisfied?"
"Even if I'm not satisfied, I have to do it. It's something I brought upon
myself."
"That shouldn't be the case! You should be satisfied!"
Solana puffed out one of her cheeks.
"The content of the letter you sent me—you remember every word, right?"
"Of course."
"What was the last letter?"
"…"
The man's jaw, who was chewing the Sun Grass, momentarily stopped.
He couldn't remember. It was something he had sent while drunk.
He couldn't not answer, so he quickly made a plausible guess. He assumed
he might have written many sentences ending with '─da.'1
He wasn't
certain, though.
"Da."
"…Da?"
The radiant divine power like a sunflower.
It turned slightly cold.
"…"
There was a brief silence.
─We have arrived!
Just then, the coachman announced their arrival.
"Next time… let's talk about it when we have time."
"Alright. But then, I'll ask for the entire last sentence. You may go if you
wish."
"…"
From one letter to one sentence. An outrageous demand.
"Of course, it's fine."
With those words, Jaekiel left the carriage.
Inside the carriage, the woman was left alone.
Solana elegantly took a sip of tea.
"Sigh."
Only then did she relax and let out a long breath. No matter how many
times she rehearsed, she always got excited or nervous in front of her
teacher. It was always like this.
"…You remember, Teacher."
Solana gave a faint smile.
It ended with 'da.'
It was correct.
The last letter of that letter ended with 'da.'
The 3rd Princess slowly began to recall the past.
─Solana, I have nothing more to teach you.
─Divine power is something you must realize on your own.
When she heard those words, it felt like being struck by lightning.
For Solana, who wanted to stay with her teacher for a long time, there
couldn't be more despairing words. She cried and clung, using all means,
but it was of no use.
─Teacher, it's the power you guided me to…!
─Your divine power is great.
─You might become the best.
The best.
When she heard that word, Solana thought to herself.
Wasn't the best referring to the Teacher?
Since that day, Solana held one goal and plan, and she moved earnestly for
it.
─Amazing divine power…!
─You might become a saint.
Is this all that's great?
No, our Teacher was much greater.
─3rd Princess, this time in the Krati region…!
─We need your power, 3rd Princess!
Events that shook the continent.
None of them were great. None compared to her teacher. At least, that's
how Solana felt.
─Look at her appearance! Truly the Face of the Empire!
─Angel! An angel! The Angel of the Empire!
─Ah, Saint…!
This is not the fame I should receive.
Teacher.
It's the fame the Teacher should receive.
─Solana. I acknowledge your abilities.
─As the Emperor, I grant you this much authority.
So she worked tirelessly and finally achieved it.
For Solana's plan, she first needed authority.
For Jaekiel to rightfully gain the fame he deserved.
For Jaekiel to rightfully gain the happiness he deserved.
For Jaekiel to finally find his rightful place.
Yes, that was Solana's plan.
'Teacher, am I being too arrogant?'
But Solana wasn't as devout as others thought. Since embarking on the path
of a saint, she had never prayed for the Sun God even once.
─Please help the Teacher find his rightful place.
Jaekiel.
It was a prayer solely for him. For everything.
Because the world as it is now is too unfair.
So she would create a stage for Jaekiel.
That was the mission deeply ingrained in Solana's heart.
Recently, good news kept coming. He had already made an impact at the
Imperial Tower, and this time he even won a performance bet against the
knights.
Solana suddenly took out a letter from her bosom.
She read the last line, and read it again.
[ Sometimes, I think. I want to become the best that everyone
acknowledges. ]
"Yes, Teacher."
Solana quietly nodded.
"Soon, it will be so. For everyone to see."
Inside the carriage, there was a blooming smile.