Instead of responding to Etern’s question, Ziggkart placed the bag he had set on the ground earlier onto his lap.
“What’s in there?”
Curious, Etern stretched her neck to peer inside, but when she couldn’t see, she pulled her chair closer and sat right next to Ziggkart.
Noticing this, Ziggkart glanced at her indifferently before speaking.
“I told you, I slept outside.”
Out came pieces of dried jerky wrapped in paper, a curved knife, a blanket shedding sand grains, and other such items.
“I can’t believe this.”
Etern murmured quietly as she picked up a small pouch. It was heavy and jingled faintly when she shook it.
“What’s this? What’s inside?”
“Oh, that. It’s full of iron balls.”
Untying the pouch, she found it indeed packed with iron balls. Tugging at the weighted pouch, Etern asked curiously.
“Why are you carrying so many iron balls around?”
“They’re weapons. If you tie a string to the pouch and swing it, you can knock out most animals of decent size.”
“………”
“Where is it…? I know I put it in here…”
As Ziggkart rummaged through his bag, his crimson eyes widened when he didn’t find what he was looking for.
“What…”
Before he could say more, his lips froze as Etern grabbed his cheeks firmly with her small hands.
“Why are you doing such dangerous things?!”
Ziggkart’s eyes grew even wider. His fiery red eyes mirrored Etern’s face like a reflection in a polished mirror.
As his plump lips parted to speak again, Etern pressed his soft cheeks even harder with her hands.
“Do you even realize how dangerous it was to carry all this and travel here?! What were you thinking, coming all this way alone as a child?!”
“………”
For a moment, silence fell. Only Etern’s sharp, shallow breaths filled the quiet.
In the distance, a bird cried out. The flapping of wings broke the stillness, and Etern abruptly pulled her hands away as if she had touched something burning.
‘What am I doing?!’
Avoiding Ziggkart’s bewildered gaze, Etern whipped her head to the side.
Seeing the sand-covered bag filled with tools for survival made her emotions surge uncontrollably.
To others, Ziggkart might look like just another child. But to Etern, who had been through so much and lived through rebirth, he seemed fragile—someone who could be toppled over with a light push.
Even though she found Ziggkart infuriating as her ‘former husband,’ he was currently just a child who looked as if he’d crumble with a single touch.
Realizing how reckless his actions had been, she couldn’t stop herself from scolding him.
“…Are you worried about me?”
“I’m not worried; I’m reprimanding you!”
Ziggkart frowned slightly and gently pushed Etern away.
“You should just be glad I got here safely.”
“You…”
“Isn’t this the more important matter?”
Ziggkart placed something on the table. It was wrapped in paper and emitted a bitter scent, like the ash left behind after burning wood.
“What’s this?”
“Herbs.”
“Herbs?”
Etern sniffed at the bundle, wrinkling her nose slightly.
“What kind of herb? What’s it used for?”
“Its name probably differs depending on the region. The descendants of the Grand Duchy call it ‘Berimare’, though even that’s not the exact name. It means ‘the herb that revives the dead.’”
The herb that revives the dead.
Though the Empress wasn’t dead, Etern felt a chill run down her spine. She understood why Ziggkart had chosen to explain its meaning so pointedly.
Technically, the Empress—Etern’s mother—wasn’t dead but was in a state close to suspended animation.
‘If this herb could wake Mother…’
It was as if a light had been switched on in her mind. As unbelievable as it seemed, she couldn’t help but want to believe it.
The mere thought of her mother waking up and embracing her filled her with such joy that she sprang to her feet.
“But reviving the dead is just a myth.”
Ziggkart’s comment was like a splash of cold water, and Etern’s brow furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“This herb is indeed effective for people who have lost consciousness. And I’m confident it will work for your mother. But its effects aren’t permanent. It might only last a few days—or just a few hours.”
“That’s fine!”
Etern, forgetting her initial resolve to keep Ziggkart at a distance, grabbed his shoulders.
“A few days? A few hours? Do you call that short?”
Her mother had spent over eight years lying in bed without opening her eyes even once. A few hours? Even just one hour would be enough for Etern to hear her mother’s voice.
To feel her touch, share the warmth of the sunlight, and cast shadows on the ground together—Etern would gladly trade ten years of her reborn life for that.
“That’s good enough. Please, I’m begging you. Use it for Mother. I’ll do anything to help. Whatever you need, just tell me.”
“I do need help.”
Ziggkart carefully wrapped the herb back in its bundle. Even that made Etern feel nervous and uneasy; she wanted to grab his wrist and stop him.
“What kind of help?”
Ziggkart answered.
“You need to help me get permission to use this herb for the Empress.”
Etern froze for a moment, then glanced behind her at the empty space as if expecting someone to appear. She turned back to Ziggkart and asked cautiously.
“Wait… you’re saying we need my Daddy’s permission?”
“Were you planning to secretly feed this to the Empress without his permission?”
“You said it would work!”
“It will. But secretly? How? Everyone says the Emperor’s mood has been worsened because of the Empress’s illness. How would you hide it?”
He had a point. Recently, her father had been visiting her mother morning and evening without fail.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have told him to visit Mother more often…’
Though it was too late for regrets, Etern let out a sigh.
“Do you really think the Emperor of Sidernell will believe the words of a little boy from the border?”
That’s true, Etern thought. Even if it weren’t her father, anyone would scoff at such an idea. Even Dora would likely dismiss it as nonsense and throw a fit.
But what could she say to convince her father…?
“Then here’s the plan, Ziggkart.”
He nodded, as if telling her to go on.
“I’ll go with you. But you’ll have to explain everything to Father. That’ll be far more convincing.”
“What if he doesn’t even give me the chance to explain and just chops my head off?”
