BSPD 43

Chapter 43

I swallowed my saliva as I gazed at the dazzling, radiant carriage, when suddenly a voice greeted me.

“Linnegrimm. You came.”

“Hello, Lord Lunaris…!”

Beside the carriage stood Lunaris, shining just as brightly. He was dressed in golden ceremonial attire that matched the carriage. His beauty alone was already overwhelming, but with those splendid clothes, the brilliance was unbearable. I felt like I might go blind if I kept staring too long.

I struggled not to look directly at Lunaris, but Eve tugged me forward and dragged me right before him.

“Brother. Linne should come along too, right? We can’t just tell her to watch from afar.”

“Of course. I’m glad she’s coming with us.”

“No, no! Eve! I’m really fine! And how could I possibly sit among the divine beasts looking like this?!”

“Why not? What’s wrong with how you look? Don’t say that. It hurts me.”

What do you mean, “what’s wrong with me”? Unlike them, all I had done was tidy up my hair. There’s no way I could insert myself among those glittering beings! The moment I did, I’d instantly become the squid among them. My social dignity would be destroyed in an instant!

“The carriage is too small for me to ride too…!”

“Linne’s small, so it’s fine…!”

“Ugh…!”

I resisted desperately, but then a low voice called out.

“Eve.”

Behind Lunaris stood Leikis.

With his long red hair tied up high, Leikis radiated dignity. He wore a strong crimson cloak, and the sight of him was simply majestic.

“Can’t you see Linnegrimm is uncomfortable? Don’t force her.”

As expected of Leikis! He had come to rescue me from my predicament!

“Linnegrimm. If you’re worried the carriage will be too cramped, I’ll walk alongside it so you can sit in my place.”

Leikis, you too….

Because of his needless gallantry and that striking appearance, my heart skipped a beat for just a second. How pathetic of me.

“I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention! Please, just go without me!”

“What a pity~”

“A shame.”

“Truly unfortunate.”

No—fine, if the kids say that I can accept it, but you grown men too?! Come on! This is the procession of divine beasts! How could it make any sense for a mere human to ride along?

Frustration boiled up in my chest, but I just gave an awkward smile and stepped back.

And then, of course, it was the children’s turn.

They clung to my legs and hands, holding me in place so I couldn’t move.

“No! Linne come! Come with Kinya!”

“Sit next to Hina! Hina will protect Linne!”

“H-hey, kids… could you let go, please?”

As I twisted about, trying to escape from Kinya and Hina’s grip, my eyes met with Luka’s. Luka stood apart, simply watching me silently.

“…Linne.”

He only called my name, but his face looked as if he were about to cry.

I instantly dropped to my knees and pulled the small boy into my arms.

How could I possibly act indifferent? This was his first flight festival. The very first time he would reveal his powers before the citizens of the Empire. The burden was far too heavy for a child of only five.

And yet, all I could do was cheer him on.

“Luka, you’ll do great! You’ll finish your first festival wonderfully. You practiced so hard, remember?”

“But… without Linne?”

“I’ll be watching the whole time. I’ll be the very first to cheer when you soar into the sky. I promise.”

Luka hooked his tiny pinky around mine and nodded.

“Promise?”

“Mm. I promise! Luka, you’ll fly the highest, okay?”

“Uh-huh…!”

I hugged Luka’s smiling face tightly once more.

But then, as he watched us, Leikis approached and wrapped me in his arms too.

“L-Leikis?”

“Rey! Not fair! I’m hugging too!”

Not to be outdone, Eve joined in, pulling both Luka and me into his embrace. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, Kinya and Hina clung to each of my legs in turn. Surrounded by them all, I could only gasp in the sweltering heat of their affection.

“Enough, everyone. Can’t you see Linnegrimm is struggling?”

Just as I was about to be crushed from the competing strength of Leikis and Eve, salvation came in Lunaris’s quiet scolding. At once, the brothers released me.

“Haaah… thank you, Lord Lunaris….”

I was nearly crushed by the divine beasts’ overwhelming affection. Without Lunaris to intervene, I might have suffocated.

“The procession begins soon. Everyone, return to your places.”

“Yes, sir!”

At his words, the children hurried to move. With attendants’ help, they climbed onto the carriage and took their seats.

“Lord Lunaris, I’ll watch the parade with Letty. Thank you all for your concern!”

“As you wish.”

“Che. A pity. Ow—ow ow! Rey, that hurts! Ow!”

Pulling firmly on Eve’s braid, Rey dragged him into the carriage.

“Linne. Linne.”

Luka poked his face out of the carriage window and beckoned me closer with a small hand.

I had been about to join Letty, but at once I rushed over. Leaning close to hear him, Luka whispered:

“Linne. I’m really, really nervous. But if I think of you watching me, I think I can do it. So you must watch. Promise?”

“Of course, Luka. You’ll do amazing!”

Peck.

Soft warmth brushed my cheek and vanished. Luka had leaned out as far as he dared to kiss me on the cheek.

“You really must keep the promise, okay?”

As I touched the lingering warmth on my cheek, Luka beamed. His smile was impossible not to return.

“…Of course!”

“Luka, you’ll fall.”

Eve grabbed him by the scruff and sat him back down. Luka obeyed, but even as he did, his eyes never left me.

“Hmph! Linne! Watch me too! Afterward you have to tell Hina how amazing she was, okay?”

“Hina, you’ll do great too!”

I encouraged Hina as well, then reached out a hand to gloomy Kinya. Though the height of the carriage meant I couldn’t touch him, it was enough to catch his attention.

“Kinya. Outside the palace, there are so many people waiting for you.”

“Mm…”

“They don’t care if you can’t fly. To them, just your existence is already a blessing.”

“Mm.”

“So for now, fold your wings just for a little while. Until the day you soar again. Understand?”

“Mm!”

Kinya’s face brightened, his chubby cheeks tinged with pink. His eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

Bwooo—

A horn sounded, echoing through the entire palace. The founding festival had begun.

“Lady Linnegrimm! Please, this way! You’ll get hurt!”

“Kids! Do well out there!”

Waving both arms, I quickly ran back to where Letty waited. The three little ones craned their necks after me, only to be scolded by Lunaris and straighten up properly.

Soon, the palace gates swung open and the carriage carrying them rolled forward.

“Waaah—!!”

“The divine beasts! It’s the divine beasts!”

Outside the gates, a massive crowd filled the streets like a mountain. All had gathered just to catch sight of the divine clan.

As the parade began, the citizens showered the carriage with flowers in blessing. Petals fluttered on the breeze and scattered above the divine beasts’ heads. A clear laugh rang out, though whose it was, no one could tell.

It was like a painting. The splendid procession, the immense crowd, the radiant faces, the laughter soaring into the sky, and the petals dancing against the clear blue.

But that wasn’t all. From Leikis’s hand, divine power arched into the sky, bursting with a crack before fading into embers. The people roared with delight. Smiling faintly at their joy, Leikis looked breathtaking.

I was transfixed. This festival was far grander than I had imagined.

The people were rejoicing for the divine beasts. They rushed out to the streets to welcome the very symbols of the Empire.

I had never felt this before. Though I understood it with my head, my heart had never grasped it. I came from a modern world with no such sacred religion or national symbol. To me, the divine beasts were just foreign beings.

But to the citizens, they were the Empire. They firmly believed the divine beasts drove away the monsters that threatened them and brought peace to their land.

Their love was sincere. They stayed up all night just to glimpse them, gathered armfuls of petals only to scatter them without hesitation for their sake.

In this moment, I came to understand the love the people held for the divine beasts.

And at the same time, I felt the burden that would one day weigh upon those small shoulders. Those children, smiling innocently and waving tiny hands, would one day bear the weight of the entire Empire.

Even shoulders so small that my own hand barely covered them—those very shoulders would hold up an entire nation.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Truly magnificent… and worrying.”

I gave Letty a bitter smile. I couldn’t help but feel anxious for the children’s futures.

“I know what you fear. Once, I too tormented myself with those very thoughts.”

“And now?”

“Even now, my heart aches. Because I know of the towering expectations placed upon such young divine beings. That pain will never vanish… not so long as I love them.”

“…As long as we love them…”

I blankly echoed Letty’s words.

I see. I must have already come to love those little ones.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be worrying so deeply about their futures, nor wishing so sincerely to be their support.

Gaining precious ones is painful. In my past life I had no family, no lover, no one I could even call a friend. Back then, such bonds were just a vague longing. But now, with my new family bedridden, I understand it with cutting clarity: the greater the love, the greater the suffering.

The more I love these children, the more it will hurt. Their pain will become mine.