Although it was slightly cloudy, it was in a corner in the imperial garden where the sun was warm. Asha squeezed the hem of her sleeve with a rather nervous expression, then turned around as soon as she heard a voice behind her. As the day grew hotter, Karnov was approaching, pulling back a hanging wisteria branch with his hand.
“Kar, Karnov. You’re here?”
It was the first time they’d met since the confession – about the reality of his spirit. Karnov, who was looking at Asha’s face, who was very nervous, with an expressionless face, tilted his head as if looking for something in her.
“Kar… Karnov?”
“What about the flower I gave you?”
“Huh? Uh… It’s in my room. I put it in the room, in the vase.”
“I thought you’d have at least one in your ear. Was the flower bad?”
Asha was flustered by the sudden direction, and Karnov smiled and looked around. Then, he found flowers with swollen buds and touched them. The white Marguerite buds, which were still undergrown, bloomed quickly as if they had met a miracle. Karnov came up to her, plucking some freshly bloomed Marguerites.
“Please forgive me for my rudeness, Your Royal Highness.”
“Oh, uh?”
And he put the flower in Asha’s ear. Asha glanced up at Karnov, looking bewildered from the blooming of the flower in Karnov’s hand to the flower sticking in her ear.
Karnov had a calm expression. Strangely, it seemed that he looked more relaxed than before.
“And I have a favor to ask of you, Your Highness.”
Karnov deliberately spoke in the guise of a serious voice. Asha also nodded in tune.
“Yes, Lord Karnov, speak.”
“I want you to keep it a secret about my spirit.”
Asha blinked and looked up at him. Karnov shrugged his shoulders. It was a signal that the “serious play” was over.
“The first reason is that old people will come to ask for their youth back.”
“Oh! That’s possible.”
Wasn’t it human psychology to think that if you hear the name of the Spirit of Time, you can rewind as much as you fast forward?
“The second one is…”
“What’s the second one?”
“Because the Noctis Elves feel a bit unusual.”
Karnov said so and glanced at Asha’s complexion.
“Even if the power of the Time Spirit is actually more than ‘the Spirit of Death’, there is something that people can feel when they hear the name. Although we signed a peace treaty with the Elves…”
Karnov said so, recalling the day when the Noctis Elves returned. He could sense the unease within the Noctis Elves, especially when they sent a member of the so-called “hardliners” as an envoy.
Judging from the ominous gaze of that hardline elf, there was definitely someone among the elves who had other thoughts.
“I don’t like that.”
Asha spoke with a pained look on her face for the second reason. Karnov blinked with some surprise.
“Asha?”
“I don’t know why Karnov is the only one responsible for the war.”
“Asha.”
“But…”
Asha pouted her lips and nodded.
“I see what Karnov is saying. Let’s keep it a secret.”
“All right.”
“Why didn’t you come all this time?”
Asha changed her posture at once and asked interrogatively. Karnov shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m here, now.”
“No! Before I called you! Why didn’t you come?”
“Why should I have come?”
Before Asha could retort to Karnov’s remark, he finally gave his response.
“After learning about the reality of the spirit, I felt a new sense of power. I was busy adjusting.”
If you put it that way, there’s nothing more to say. Asha slowly closed her mouth, which she had opened to respond.
“Why didn’t you write me a letter?”
“I’ll do that next time. By the way, why did you call me now?”
“Oh! Uh, because I have a favor to ask. I need someone’s help, so I was wondering if there’s anyone among your close friends.”
“Someone? What do you mean by ‘someone’?”
“Is there anyone suitable among your acquaintances, someone close to you?”
Karnov briefly closed his mouth, then sighed with a furrowed brow.
“All of a sudden like this?”
“No one? Not even one person?”
“Do you really think there would be?”
Seated by the tea table in the garden, Karnov leaned back, and in an amazed voice, he retorted.
“You call me here without any prior notice, claiming it’s urgent, and then you don’t even offer a glass of cold water, and now you ask if I have someone suitable to help you, Your Highness?”
Asha stared at such a Karnov for a long time, then took out a small box that had been put down by the chair and put it on the table. Then, from the pocket of her dress, she pulled out a small glass water bottle equal to two of her fists. In a transparent crystal glass bottle, small orange slices and light purple petals floated beautifully.
“This is the picnic cake I made today, and the bottled one is orange and violet water.”
“…”
Asha opened the box with a restrained movement. It contained a piece of picnic cake that had been baked with Baroness Saratov this afternoon.
She placed a fork beside it and extended it along with a water bottle toward Karnov, who looked somewhat perplexed.
“Like offering dog food.”
“What? What are you saying? Is Karnov a dog?”
“…”
“Why are you saying it like that when I’m recommending snacks to a friend?”
“All right, I’ll eat it quietly. I will.”
“Good, you’re a good boy.”
“…”
Karnov looked at the cake with a complex expression, and then took a fork in his hand with a sigh. And when he took a bite, Karnov had to think about whether or not to say what he felt and how he felt now. There was a strange feeling of wanting to talk but not wanting to talk at the same time.
Soon, however, he had to doubt whether he had not spoken.
“Karnov…”
“…Why?”
“You like sour things.”
“…Why all of a sudden?”
“…Do you want me to bake you a lime pie next time?”
“I don’t know what it is, but it’s okay.”
The girl’s expression seemed somewhat delighted and happy, and yet, a bit complex as if a young child was attempting something intricate. Karnov intended to voice his discontent about her expression, but Asha swiftly changed the topic before he could.
“So, about the person I want you to introduce. If you don’t have anyone you’ve been close with like Karnov, then someone who seems sincere to you? Kind, diligent, and skillful with their hands… Even if they’re just like Karnov, it’s fine.”
“If it’s someone like me, they would be really remarkable.”
“Are you saying that about yourself? That’s really incredible.”
“…”
“So there’s no one like that?”
“For what?”
Asha looked at Karnov with a troubled look and said with a sigh.
“Karnov, you must keep this a secret.”
Karnov paused and nodded. Asha, noticing that he was holding back his laughter, quickly raised her eyes and glared at him.
“You know the day I sprained my ankle. Karnov pushed me.”
“…Why are you suddenly talking about it here?”
“Hold on.”
“Ha, I can’t help but hold on.”
Asha continued to talk regardless of Karnov’s expression of defeat.
“Olga that day… Baroness Saratov was also there, in the kitchen. Did you see?”
“I did.”
“At that time, I made a contract with the baroness. That… Opening a patisserie in the capital with my chocolate cake recipe… It was like that.”
“Has the baronet family been possessed by spirits?”
“So, we finished the patisserie, but we haven’t found a patissier yet.”
“Seems like some seriously powerful spirits have taken over. Could it be that you’re asking me to recommend a retired soldier for that patissier position?”
“That’s… just my idea.”
Asha smiled back. Karnov frowned with a look of wonder.
“Even if you’re looking for someone from the military, all they would have cooked is bland stew.”
“That cake isn’t some incredibly difficult cake to make. With a little learning and practice, anyone can do it easily. It’s not about finding someone from the military. The crucial part is sourcing the ingredients, and I trust the baroness will handle that well.”
“Hmm…”
“It’s important to have a reliable person.”
At Asha’s words, Karnov looked down at her with his arms folded.
“Do you think a soldier is a reliable person?”
“What are you talking about?”
Asha pouted her lips.
“I thought they would be a good person if they got along well with Karnov.”
“…What’s that… No, if that’s the case, it’s better to ask Alexei and find someone.”
“Alyosha is busy. Oh, it slipped out now that I’ve mentioned it.”
Asha clapped her hands together.
“How can I contact you separately?”
“Contact? Me?”
“Yes. I feel bad for asking Alyosha every time to call you.”
“That…”
Karnov’s expression became exceedingly complicated, and he hesitated for a long time, pursing his lips. Eventually, he let out a deep sigh and wiped his face.
“I’ll give you my mailbox number… I mean, it will take a few days.”
“It will take a few days?!”
“Usually, it takes a few days for a response. It’s actually quite rude to expect an immediate answer like today.”
“But… Can’t I reply with a carrier pigeon?”
“When people talk, they just pretend to listen… No, what?”
Karnov responded with a puzzled voice. Asha replied seriously.
“I’ll send something similar to a carrier pigeon. Don’t be surprised, okay?”
“No, it’s not the Othrov era where… What is this, sending something similar… Ha, do as you please. And as for finding someone… I’ll try to help.”
“Really?”
Asha leaned over and looked at Karnov with sparkling eyes. Karnov furrowed his brow and gently pushed her forehead with his fingertip.
“So this is all you need? Your Highness Anastasia, the shining star of the Empire.”
“Oh! Oh, actually, I called Karnov for another reason. The timing was right.”
“What is it?”
Asha hesitated a little and then opened her mouth.
“Now that the Elves have gone back. Now, the territory you received as war reparations… You said you would receive it soon?”
“Ah, that. I suppose so.”
“You still don’t know which of the two lands Karnov will get, right?”
