CHAPTER 56……………………..
When I wrapped a bandage around Sordim’s tattered tail, he pouted unhappily.
“Even if it feels stuffy, bear with it. Your scales are about to fall off. And swallow the medicine too. Quickly.”
-Ugh….
Unable to resist my urging, Sordim screwed up his face and downed the medicine.
“Then I’ll come back this evening.”
-Shall I see you off?
He reached his hand out to me.
“I can swim by myself now, you know.”
-Oh, right… that’s true.
Just as he was about to awkwardly pull his hand back—
“Still, see me off.”
I clasped his cold hand without hesitation. Sordim’s eyes widened, then his face brightened into a radiant smile, as if grateful for my warmth.
When I returned to my room in the Divine Beast Palace, three little shadows rushed at me as though they’d been waiting.
“Linne! Where have you been?”
“We waited for Linne!”
“I missed you.”
I had only meant to change clothes quickly and head out again, but clearly that wasn’t happening.
“What are you all doing here?”
“Came ‘cause we wanted to see Linne~”
Kinya, smiling adorably, ran to hug me but froze mid-step, recoiling.
“Linne’s cold!”
“Linne, why are you wet?!”
“Linne must be freezing!”
Hina dashed to the bed, grabbed a blanket, and all but threw it over me.
“I’m not cold… but thanks, Hina….”
“You smell like the lake.”
That was Luca, sniffing around beside me.
At that, Hina’s expression grew grave.
“The lake? Linne, don’t tell me…”
Gulp. I swallowed without thinking. They were children, but divine beasts nonetheless. The word “lake” might have triggered something.
“You went swimming alone! That’s not fair!”
…Well, maybe not. Even divine beasts could still be kids.
“What’s ‘not fair’?”
“It just is! You had fun all by yourself, so it’s unfair! Hina wants to splash too!”
“Luca too. Luca likes swimming.”
The children started pretending to swim, splashing their arms and kicking their legs on the bed.
I sighed at the chaos and drew in a deep breath before shouting firmly.
“Everyone, stop!”
The trick was to keep a stern expression and press my lips tight.
It must’ve worked—because the children quickly sat in a row, folding their hands neatly.
“Children. Look out the window.”
I pointed outside, and three little heads turned toward the still-dark garden.
“What do you see?”
“…It’s dark.”
“Pitch black!”
“The moon’s out.”
“Right? It’s still dark and cold. Now, if my little ones go splashing in the water in weather like this, what will happen~?”
“Kinya! Kinya!”
“Kinya, you answer!”
Kinya, eager to be called on, waved her hand first.
“It’ll hurt!”
“Alright, everyone clap!”
I clapped, and Hina and Luca followed along.
“Just as Kinya said, swimming at night without the sun will make you sick. And when you’re sick, you’ll have to take medicine made by Linne… but none of you have forgotten the taste of that medicine, right~?”
Gasp!
The three little ones, who had once tasted deworming medicine, all sucked in a horrified breath. They scrunched their round faces in disgust at the memory.
“N-No! I don’t want medicine!”
“I hate bitter things! Hina can’t eat bitter stuff!”
“Luca doesn’t want it either….”
“Exactly. So if you don’t want to get sick and take medicine, swimming is for the daytime! Only when the sun is shining, okay~?”
“Yes…”
“…Mm.”
“…Okay.”
“Good. Now, Linne has to go out for work again. Listen to Lady Leti and behave, alright?”
“Linne, come back safe….”
“I’ll miss you again today.”
“Bye-bye, Linne….”
As expected, medicine was the most effective deterrent for children. Instead of trying to follow me, they stood rooted in place like statues, waving their little hands.
I hurriedly changed clothes and was about to leave again when a large figure suddenly blocked my way.
“W-whoa… Lord Tearn? And Lord Tehinra, too…? What brings you here so early?”
Their overwhelming presence made me instinctively take a step back. Arms crossed, Tearn studied me closely, brows furrowed as if displeased.
“Hm….”
“W-What’s wrong…?”
He began circling around me, and I froze in place, forced into attention.
“Just as Tehinra said. The stench of fish is heavy on you.”
“See? Didn’t I tell you? That sea serpent must be plotting something with Linnegrim.”
Tehinra clicked her tongue, eyes sharp as she gazed out the window.
“Poor little Linnegrim. Tell us—what did that sea serpent do to you?”
The word “sea serpent” again. Now I knew—it meant Seran, the dragon divine beast of the eastern sea.
“Huh? He didn’t do anything to me.”
“Impossible. That sea serpent only acts friendly when he wants something. He must have laid a trap for you!”
“Ow! Lord Tearn, please let go! You’re hurting me!”
“Ah, sorry.”
He hastily released my shoulder and stepped back. Even so, his grip had been so strong it still ached.
Still, I hadn’t expected such a poor opinion of Seran. How could someone with such an easy smile have a reputation like this?
“Sir Seran is kind and gentle… is there some problem with him?”
The temperature around me seemed to drop a few degrees at my words.
“…She’s already been taken in. Too late.”
“That’s the problem! That sly thing only ever acts kind when he’s scheming!”
Frustrated, Tearn struck his chest with his fist, the sound reverberating loudly.
Maybe at first Seran had a reason to be kind—because he wanted me to examine Sordim. But even after that goal was met, he remained kind.
I couldn’t understand why the Rudeel siblings worried so much.
“Oh, come on. What grand scheme would Sir Seran have with me? I appreciate your concern, but it’s fine.”
“You naïve child.”
Clicking her tongue, Tehinra openly shook her head at me.
Surrounded by the two adults lecturing me, I decided to change the subject.
“Lord Tehinra! Thank you for the divine stones, I received them well!”
“Good. Are they enough?”
“Yes, more than enough!”
“That’s a relief. Producing those drained Tearn’s divine power.”
No wonder Tearn looked pale…!
“Thank you, Lord Tearn… are you alright?”
“I’ll manage… compared to the blessings our Rudeel clan has received, it’s nothing… cough…!”
“Stop pretending to be weak. Pathetic.”
Tehinra jabbed her fist into Tearn’s side, then held something out to me.
“The stones were Tearn’s gift. This is mine.”
It was a necklace—simple, strung with a small bead.
“What is this?”
“Keep it close. I condensed my divine power into it. If used right after the breath stops, it can even bring someone back from death.”
“What?!”
That was possible? What kind of broken item was this!
“Be honest, Tehinra. Standing here is already exhausting, isn’t it? Creating that thing will leave you bedridden for three years.”
“Shut it.”
At Tearn’s teasing, my face drained of color. Was it really okay for her to give me something forged from three years’ worth of divine power?
I held the bead with both hands, flustered, but Tehinra only smiled faintly and patted my head with her large hand.
“Lord Tehinra… such a precious thing….”
“It’s fine. I rarely leave the forest anyway. Three years will pass in a blink. As long as it helps you, that’s enough.”
“It’ll help, more than enough….”
If that wasn’t helpful, then what on earth would be?
“But don’t rely on it recklessly and throw yourself into danger.”
“Of course not! I treasure my life, you know!”
“Good. Now off you go. Didn’t you say you had somewhere to use healing power?”
“Yes!”
I bowed deeply to both of them, then headed to where Marianne was. My steps felt light.
“Miss Marianne! Are you inside?”
I knocked at her door, and soon Marianne appeared, face drawn and teary.
“Why are you crying?”
“During the festival, I thought I’d be stuck in here all alone… but seeing you, Linnegrim, makes me so happy.”
She tugged her scarf higher to hide her face. Too late—I’d already seen her flushed cheeks. I clasped her cheek with one hand, holding a divine stone in the other. Warmth radiated from my palm.
“Why hide away during a festival? You should be outside.”
“Looking like this? How could I?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Well—”
I picked up the mirror from her desk and held it before her. Her mouth slowly fell open.
“M-My face…?”
Disbelieving, she touched her cheek. Clear, flawless skin.
“Heavens! My face is back! The beauty that ruled the Treasury has returned!”
“C-Congrats.”
Her arms, too strong in her joy, wrapped my neck in a chokehold. Breathless, I could still tell her happiness was genuine.
“It’s thanks to you, Linnegrim. Thank you!”
Tears spilled as she began sobbing like a child. I dabbed her eyes with the scarf that had once hidden her face, then gestured to the wide-open door.
“Are you just going to cry? The festival’s only just begun.”
“Sniff… you’re right. I’ll go. I’ll enjoy myself as much as I’ve been cooped up.”
“That’s the spirit. Eat good food, too.”
“Of course!”
“Dress up nicely and enjoy the festival.”
“Definitely!”
“And since you’re dressed up, confess to Senior Benjamin?”
“Of course—!”
Her cheeks went crimson in an instant.
“Kyaaah! N-No way! What are you saying?!”
Her slender hands smacked my shoulder, making dull thuds each time.
“Ow—this isn’t the time for that. Forget hitting me, we should be off to the festival!”
“Ah, right. First I need to borrow a dress! I hope Shannon’s in her room!”
Clutching my aching shoulder, I waved at Marianne as she dashed out of the room.
“Have a wonderful festival, Marianne.”
“Thank you, Linnegrim!”
She smiled—a smile brighter than I’d ever seen while she was bedridden.
I waved until she disappeared down the hall, then sat at the desk and pulled open the drawer. I knew Marianne’s room well enough to find the stationery without trouble.
“…Maybe I’ll write to Mother.”
She’d be able to run around like that too soon, wouldn’t she? Next year, we could enjoy the festival together.
Since entering the imperial palace, I’d been too busy to send even one letter. Now, I began to write down the longing I felt.
