“You’re fourteen years old, but you’re still playing in the water? Forget about the dignity of the nobility…”
“Cough, cough! Cough!”
When Asha pretended to cough, the emperor closed his mouth with an uncomfortable expression. At the same time, Asha’s cough stopped. Asha smiled bashfully.
Seeing this, the emperor groaned and rubbed his forehead. He interrogated the doctor as soon as he approached, but even after hearing that Asha was fine, the emperor’s mind still couldn’t rest.
“What in the world were you doing that you fell into such a small lake during a boat ride?”
“The surface of the water looked so beautiful, so I reached out my hand, but my body slipped and I fell in. I’ve grown quite a bit in these past few years, you know. So Karnov fell into the water with me.”
“…Every time you get into trouble, I’ve rewarded the Deputy Commander Neustadter for helping you, but now there’s nothing left to give him. What are we going to do?”
“What did you reward him so much for? Karnov, did you really receive everything?”
“You keep getting into accidents without taking a break!”
The emperor ranted and then swallowed his groans. At the same time, Phoebe fluttered over.
<Oh… Our child! Uhh…! That’s… It’s possible to have a little accident in shallow water too…!>
Since Asha was indeed causing worry, Phoebe’s argument lacked the usual conviction. The emperor looked at Phoebe with a clouded gaze. Meanwhile, a gentle breeze brushed Asha’s hair.
<Why are you all making such a fuss? It was just a little splashing in shallow water for a child.>
<This foolish peach didn’t just splash around from the beginning, she fell, that’s why! Do you know how surprised I was!>
<Even if you were surprised, she would have swam out quickly, being your contractor.>
<We’ll see if you’re surprised even when your contractor falls on ice.>
<Don’t say that. A very old Mikhail would now break his bones if he falls and wouldn’t heal properly.>
<Bones won’t heal?>
<Have you seen an old branch of a tree heal when it breaks>
<But don’t new branches grow?>
<Humans don’t grow new branches. That’s why it’s really serious…>
Asha gripped Phoebe’s beak as she was about to retort, then quickly shook the pamphlet that was placed next to her, causing the wind to flutter. The emperor now had a face of resignation, giving up on being angry.
“We need to fill up the lake.”
“Really, Grandfather! You come up with extreme conclusions for every problem, what did I tell you?”
“…!”
The grandfather, who had been subjected to his granddaughter’s vehement criticism over the past few years, swallowed his grimace. Seeing this expression, Asha smiled mischievously.
“But! I’m sorry for causing you worry… But it’s not like I did it on purpose…”
“Who said you did it on purpose?”
“Then don’t get angry, just worry.”
“…”
At Asha’s words, the emperor seemed to be at a loss for words and fell silent. As a result, the surroundings fell momentarily quiet. The emperor let out a deep sigh and responded.
“…It’s just because I care and worry too much.”
“I know. But still. You just need to say, ‘My princess, are you okay? I was surprised and worried.’ Instead of making extreme conclusions, even though you know I didn’t fall into the water to worry my grandfather.”
“Does Yuriev always tell you that?”
“Mom, too.”
“Your mother and father call you a princess every day, and you didn’t know you’re a princess until you were ten years old and came to the palace?”
“Why are you suddenly bringing up the past? Or is it because you regret not seeing me until I turned ten?”
“Both!”
The emperor shouted, wiped his face once, and got up from his seat.
“If you fall into the water one more time, I will fill every hole in the palace.”
“Just say you were worried and ask if I’m okay.”
“I’ll even fill up the Vichegda River.”
“Your Majesty is unruly.”
“Again! If it doesn’t suit your taste, you’ll say ‘Your Majesty’ again.”
“You do whatever you want, Grandfather.”
“Hmph.”
The fact that she switched from ‘Your Majesty’ to the title ‘grandfather’ seemed quite satisfactory to the emperor, as he disregarded any other criticisms and once again made his authoritative statement.
Then, he gestured a farewell to Karnov, who had been standing by Asha’s side all along, turned around swiftly, and left. Taking advantage of the moment when the court attendants hurriedly escorted the emperor, Asha cautiously handed what she had been holding to Karnov.
“But Karnov, what’s this? What should we do? Looks like it’s not okay at all…”
“You…”
The old, thick paper was dry, but the ink had spread in a mess, and it was impossible to identify what was written. Karnov sighed and picked up the paper. Asha tried to pick it up even when she fell into the water.
“This is fine. You’re the one who’s not okay.”
“I’m sorry, it’s because of me… Because of what I did…”
“Why would it be your fault that I took out my own handkerchief? You have no responsibility for my actions.”
“But I might have some responsibility.”
“No, not at all.”
“But what kind of paper is that?”
Asha pointed with a gesture at the paper that had been transferred to Karnov’s hand. Karnov swept the paper with a gentle hand gesture, and again pressed it into his pocket.
“Secret.”
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
“What? She fell in the water?”
Valery suddenly stood up from his seat. As a result, the saucer beneath the teacup fell and broke. A servant quickly came to clean up the broken pieces. The butler, who had delivered the news, nervously spoke with a strained voice.
“They said she fell while boating in the palace lake… It wasn’t deep, and Karnov Neustadter was with her, so there were no major issues.”
Valery glared at the butler who delivered the news and extended his hand outward. It was only when the surroundings fell silent that he nervously placed the teacup back down on the table.
“Hmph, how audacious. Not knowing how to act like an adult and taking risks like that.”
But Valery’s voice, muttering like that, trembled a little. Valery shook his legs nervously, then was frightened by his son’s sudden rush and nearly knocked over the teacup.
“Father! The butler just mentioned that Asha fell into the water. Did you hear the news?”
“That… that fearless child, even if she falls in the middle of the ocean, she’d come back the next day riding a flower carriage. What on earth are you worried about?”
“Well, still… shouldn’t we at least go and offer our well wishes?”
“Are you worried about Anastasia even though she’s robbed us of everything we have in Kerum every time?”
Valery raised his voice as much as possible to criticize Ilya, but Ilya only smiled shyly.
“But she always sends us snacks to eat. And in winter, we all wear matching coats…”
“Do you feel good when you receive sympathy? Do you like it?”
“It’s not sympathy… it’s empathy. Asha is like a sibling since we’re cousins, and…”
“…”
Valery finished his meal. His son was always timid and unable to assert himself, never able to join in when he was with peers and unable to speak up when scolded, only shedding tears. When did his son start speaking his own thoughts with such a clear voice?
“…You used to hate going to the palace so much, and now the day has come when you suggest going there on your own.”
“Ah…”
This clouded way of ending sentences hasn’t changed since he was young. Valery was silent for a moment, then waved his hand.
“What could be happening to the royal descendant who His Majesty and the crown prince adore so much?”
“But still…”
“If you’re truly worried, then you can go.”
“But, Father… won’t you come with me?”
“Why should I confront that demanding face?”
Valery impatiently waved his hand. Ilya looked at Valery’s face and bowed his head.
“Yes. I will go and make sure she’s okay.”
Then, without listening to Valery’s answer, he quickly exited. Valery tried to shout, ‘When did I show interest in that child’s well-being!’ but put his arms down weakly.
“The palace…”
In the past, he would have jumped up laughing at the news that the princess had fallen into the water.
If it were before, he would have found an excuse to visit the palace under the pretense of being concerned about his niece who got into trouble. He would have quickly donned his coat to give the appearance of a loving uncle, and eagerly went to see the emperor’s face once again. It would have pleased him to run to the palace, as eager as his son Ilya was to avoid it. He would have blamed and criticized his timid son for not wanting to go to the palace, despite his own excitement to run there.
“What could I possibly do by going there, what could I become by going there…”
The passing years flickered by, as he longed to say that his father was wrong, believing it was possible, and yearning for it.
And what remained as a result?
The false adoration and distrust of the people, the webs of compromise and arrogance that entangled him like spider’s silk in this mansion. It was even difficult for him to extricate himself from the webs he himself had woven.
In the end, the only one who remained free from it all was his son, Ilya, whom he had criticized for being timid and weak. And it was Princess Anastasia who had set his son free.
Ilya had no skill to make others happy, no strong convictions to entertain himself, and being by his side would be boring. But still, she reluctantly coaxed him into playing together.
And then, at one point, the child blossomed like a wilted flower, regaining his laughter. Now he even challenged Valery with phrases like ‘still’ or ‘nevertheless’. The day came when he declared that he would go to the palace, despite always being afraid to go. Valery pushed the half-empty teacup irritably.
“Foolishly, what do you mean by falling…”
Since he was caught in a downpour in early spring, it was the perfect time to catch a cold. Especially, as the weather gets colder, everyone seems to catch a cold.
Still, Valery had made up his mind to never go to the palace again.
It was enough now.
The world was full of things he disliked and nothing went according to his own will, but his beloved niece never forgot to send cookies and his son started to laugh, so that was enough.
Whether his niece got water up her nose from falling in the lake, or if water entered her ears making them feel stuffy, Valery had no interest in those details. He mumbled to himself like that.
But as he pondered over those thoughts, he started to feel a tightness in his chest. Valery took a deep breath, pressing his fist against his chest.
“It’s all because of that fearless child.”
Because of that child, Valery grumbled bitterly.
