Asha pursed her lips. She didn’t know what to say for a moment. She couldn’t gauge when the emperor would bring up personal matters. Normally, the wind would drop some hints, but this time, it remained silent.
“How did you know?”
“What?”
Asha blinked, taken aback. The emperor, who had been speaking in incomprehensible words until then, rose from his seat and approached Asha. Kneeling in front of her, he met her eyes.
“Grandfather?”
“I’ve only now realized.”
“What… what are you talking about?”
“I’ve never asked what abilities your spirit possesses.”
The emperor spoke while gently enclosing Asha’s hand in his old, wrinkled one.
For the sake of a stable imperial authority and the future of the empire, he abandoned his sons and left only one grandson. He kept behind the only daughter of his youngest son just to raise his grandson strongly.
It all started with clear intentions. However, just like getting drenched in a drizzle without realizing when, he found himself drinking sweet wine, admiring the falling snow, and then when he came to, a pile of snow had silently accumulated on his shoulders.
The reason for leaving his granddaughter in the imperial palace had lost its significance over time. Now, it was simply because he enjoyed seeing the child’s smiling face, and nothing else mattered…
“Is the ability you gained from contracting with the spirit the power to read people’s hearts?”
How, until now, had he not even thought of finding out what power his granddaughter, who could even talk to a spirit, had?
However, the emperor also had something he wanted to say. What importance did that power hold? His granddaughter enjoyed baking cookies, having tea parties with friends, holding hands with her cousins, and occasionally being a bit cheeky with him while wearing well-made nightclothes. If that was all…
“Oh…”
He met the emerald eyes of his granddaughter, who still seemed small and young. How could a mere ten-year-old have seen through his heart? How could she have known so well?
In those eyes, what exactly was revealed? The emperor knew that it couldn’t be achieved with just a kind and pure heart.
“I don’t read minds.”
Asha spoke without realizing, speaking as if she were a child.
“But… it’s more like… I can sense the colors of emotions that someone is feeling. So, I can pick up on things a little?”
“…Then, what colors do you see in me right now?”
Asha tilted her head.
“Well, apricot? Pale pink… cream, gray, and… lastly…”
Looking down at what began to emanate from the emperor’s fingertips, Asha spoke hesitantly.
“Lavender…”
“What do those colors mean?”
“I’m not exactly sure. It’s more of a vague feeling. Warm colors usually represent love, gray is strong determination, and light purple is… concern.”
“…”
“…Grandfather, what are you worrying about?”
In response to Asha’s question, the emperor silently brushed away Asha’s hand.
“I see. That’s what you saw…”
The emperor met Asha’s eyes again.
“Even if it was your ability that allowed you to know my heart, it was your choice to tell me what I wanted to hear. Why did you do it?”
The emperor’s gaze now wandered into the past. Four years ago, on a day just before the arrival of winter, the day before Asha went down to the shores of Lake Bishti.
The day his little granddaughter shot back and criticized him without knowing anything, but told him he could be a “loved dad” again.
Yekaterina was right. On that day, his granddaughter told him everything he wanted to hear, from one to ten, and that was still the case until now.
‘Just tell them you’re worried because you love them, don’t be angry.’ Those words seemed like carefully crafted words just for him, as if to push his hesitant self forward.
“You had no interest in the imperial throne, and you had even less interest in winning my favor for your own gain. Saying such things, even if they were the words I wanted to hear, could have earned you my resentment. Yet, why did you tell me what I wanted to hear?”
Seeing into someone’s heart to that extent is a task that cannot be accomplished with only a kind and pure heart. To speak the words one wants to hear, even if they are the result of potential criticism or resentment, is a…
“It’s not like I said what Grandfather wanted to hear. It was just my incredibly audacious thought.”
“…”
The emperor’s gaze indicated that he would not let such a superficial answer pass without a more definitive response. Asha sighed deeply. Suddenly, she felt a bit warm.
“If I told you what you wanted to hear on purpose… It’s because you’re the father of my dad… You’re Alyosha’s grandfather, you’re also… It’s because you’re Grandfather.”
“…”
When the emperor heard that, a strong wind blew from behind him. In the milk-tea-colored swirls, gently brushing her cheeks and hair, she couldn’t help but smile a little and continued.
“But I didn’t say things that weren’t my thoughts. Grandfather always says you want to be a father, but in reality, you act more like an emperor, right?”
“…Are you still telling me what I want to hear?”
Asha looked stern with his hands in her hands.
“If it seemed that clear, then when Grandfather first told me to call you ‘properly,’ I would have called you Grandfather right away! Not ‘Your Majesty, the radiant sun of the empire.’”
“Do you remember everything from when you were ten?”
“Oh, yes. I remember everything from the first time I met Grandfather.”
“…It’s obvious that you’re saying something you don’t even mean. Yes, I know very well, you ferocious pea.”
“What I’m saying is that I think it’s just because you love your youngest granddaughter so much. And I’ve grown up a lot. I’m a kidney bean now.”
The emperor snorted at Asha’s words and opened the hands that were holding his.
“You’re being very keen. And what kind of kidney bean are you? It’s like the second bean of the pod bean.”
“Oh no! Don’t tell Alyosha. He’ll probably get all excited and want to count how many beans are in the pod.”
When Asha pretended to sulk, the emperor rose only then. The wind inside became softer. At that time, the emperor crossed his arms and said as if teasing.
“Well, it’s quite a nice ability you’ve gained. It would be a shame to keep it hidden.”
“Yes?”
“Empire’s Protection Day is coming soon. Everyone will come to the ball to say hello. For your dear cousin, your brother…”*
*[TN: The emperor is talking about Alyosha.]
The emperor, lifting the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth into a smile, whispered words that made Asha scrunch her face in a mock expression of dismay.
“Do we have to go through that tiresome ritual again?”
“Indeed, it’s sacrilege. Do you think I only enjoy such arrogant things?”
“Yeah. Our grandfather has quite peculiar tastes.”
“…Still, if you follow my words, I’ll grant you one wish.”
“I don’t have any wishes from Grandfather. I’ve already received everything.”
“…”
Asha smiled, thinking that if the aura emanating from the emperor took the form of the wind, she would probably be floating in the air by now.
“Phew. It’s all because of Alyosha, so what can you do?”
The emperor smiled as he looked down at his granddaughter, who insisted that this was a one-time special favor.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
Asha held a card in her hand, wearing a perplexed expression. Lise, standing nearby with a face barely containing a suppressed smile, asked while tying a ribbon.
“Is this a card from Lady Lyudmila again?”
“She’s asking if it’s okay to come in two days…”
“She came two days ago. Again?”
“Well, that’s the thing.”
Asha dropped her head into her hands, groaning, causing the ribbon to get disheveled. Lise continued to tie the ribbon with an even deeper smile.
After finishing making rose jam, Lyudmila’s attitude could be summarized in one word: “persistent.” Lyudmila promptly sent a letter asking if it would be acceptable to visit again in three days.
Asha was worried about what she would do if Lyudmila said she would never see her again. Of course, she replied that she was glad to see her and welcomed her quickly. But now, the moment was tinged with nostalgia. Considering that it took three days for letters to go back and forth, if not for that, Lyudmila would have undoubtedly come every day.
“She gave the impression that she would be saying that invitations should be sent at least a week in advance!”
When Lyudmila did come, she wanted to do whatever Asha did. As a result, Asha made rose jam once more – the rose greenhouse was completely bare – and since then, she had created a chocolate tart with plenty of freshly harvested strawberries, thick almond cookies to share with the knights, and sorbet made from the remaining shaslings infused with alcohol.
At first, Asha was obviously very happy with Lyudmila. Since Prasti was inside Lyudmila, she wanted to somehow feed her creations to her. Moreover, since Lyudmila came willingly, could there be anything better than that?
However, the scrutinizing glances that seemed to say, ‘I will dissect your strengths,’ were quite awkward to endure. Lyudmila clearly made an effort to learn and understand what aspects of Asha were liked by Karnov.
“Lady Lyudmila seems to like you so much.”
“Haha.”
The determined gaze could be misleadingly seen as a sign of favor. Asha pondered how to express that the direction of that determination wasn’t toward her but decided to let it go.
“Your Highness, Lord Karnov Neustadter is here.”
“Ah! Tell him to come in quickly.”
Today was the day for practicing waltz with Karnov. Karnov, wearing the outer garment of his uniform draped over his arms, came inside, nodding toward Asha.
“I greet Your Highness.”
“Oh, you’ve come, Karnov? Wait a moment. I’ll just finish replying.”
“Who are you replying to?”
As Karnov, who drew near, asked quietly, Asha, with a mischievous expression, held a pen as if she were about to talk about her troublemaker cousin.
“Lady Lyudmila, she said she’d come the day after tomorrow.”
“Again?”
“Again…”
“Your popularity is extraordinary, Your Highness Anastasia.”
“Don’t tease. I’m serious. Lately, Lyudmila’s gaze has been terrifying. She even came to learn the recipes first. Of course, that’s a good thing, but…”
“The number of competitors keeps increasing…”
“What competitor?”
“You haven’t met Lady Natalya lately, have you?”
“Huh? Uh…”
With Lyudmila visiting every three days, it seemed unlikely that Asha would have time to go elsewhere. Karnov chuckled teasingly in response to Asha’s anxious answer.
“She might get struck by lightning someday too.”
“Am I the only one trying to save the world? Am I the only busy one?”
“I mean, I’m talking about cookies.”
“But even so, you can’t just touch and go anywhere…”
“Then let’s call it physical contact.”
“Kyaa.”
Asha burst into laughter, causing Karnov to eventually laugh as well. After quickly writing a reply to Lyudmila – thanking her if she came, considering Prasti was still there – Asha stood up.
“Have you heard from your spirit, Karnov? Not yet?”
“Not yet.”
With a sigh of disappointment at Karnov’s response, Asha, feeling nostalgic, wound the pedals of the ballet dancer music box she received as a gift when she was young.
Tick-tock, after winding up the box, the little ballerina began to twirl, playing a beautiful melody. Holding one another’s hands and dancing, Karnov and Asha moved their feet to the music.
“Asha, I brought something today.”
“Huh? What is it?”
Asha looked up and met Karnov’s gaze. Karnov spoke after locking eyes with her.
“Something from the mine of Lumen Vasilice.”
