Chapter 163 - Recognition (7)

Another knock sounded.

"D-Damian, are you in there?"

Normally I would have greeted her without concern, but after hearing about the castle's customs from Silveryn, hearing Bibi's voice felt strange. Did she come knowing that scandalous rumors might be posted on the castle walls? She surely must know.

Silveryn's expression changed to a sharp glare after hearing Bibi's voice.

It had been a while since I had been in such an awkward situation.

With Silveryn in the room, I couldn't open the door to greet Bibi. I didn't even want to imagine what might happen if these two women faced each other in my room.

Silveryn whispered in my ear, "Ignore it."

"..."

"Stay with your teacher."

Even I thought... ignoring was the best option in this situation.

But Bibi didn't seem to be just passing by.

"I know you have very sensitive hearing. Come out. We need to talk privately."

Silveryn whispered to me again, unconcerned, "Ignore it."

"Teacher... this..."

"No need to explain to me. Ignore it. If we show ourselves, it'll become troublesome in many ways."

Right, lying together on the bed... it was more than enough to cause misunderstandings. We absolutely couldn't show this.

My heart constricted and my breath halted under the subtle pressure from these two women.

"Come out. I know you're awake."

Bibi wouldn't back down easily either.

Silveryn smiled slightly and said, "My disciple, you've become close with quite an unusual person while I was away."

"Teacher... I think I should smooth-talk her into leaving."

"...Fine. But wear this when you go."

Then she pulled my neck with both arms and planted a firm kiss on my cheek.

Without looking in a mirror, I knew Silveryn's lip print would be clearly marked on my cheek.

I squeezed my eyes shut then opened them, got up from the bed, and walked to the door. I opened it slightly and blocked the interior view with my body.

Bibi spoke in a bright voice, "I knew you'd come out!"

"What brings you here?"

"I urgently need to..."

Bibi couldn't continue after seeing my cheek. Her eyes widened in shock and her lips trembled helplessly.

After maintaining silence for several seconds, she spoke again, "Come closer."

"Pardon?"

Bibi pulled out a handkerchief and, without permission, grabbed my clothes to pull my upper body forward. Then she began vigorously wiping the mark on my cheek with her handkerchief.

"You can be quite careless sometimes. Your master must have expressed her joy rather roughly while you were sleeping. Since you're particularly close, I can understand completely."

I was anxious that Bibi might peek inside the room.

"This isn't necessary."

"No, it is. Tomorrow you'll attend an important ceremony and meet the Principality's high-ranking officials and knights. Such an unkempt appearance is only acceptable until dawn today."

"..."

"I'm now used to washing your body."

"..."

"This won't do. I'm coming into your room. How long will you keep me standing in the corridor?"

"Your Grace, I've heard about this castle's traditions. Wouldn't rumors spread if you entered a knight's room in the middle of the night?"

"That peculiar custom has been performed so often that everyone's grown tired of it. Now hardly anyone looks at or believes the banners on the castle walls. I'm coming in. Move aside."

As Bibi tried to push her way in, I blocked her with my body and said, "Unlike Your Grace, my position isn't secure, so I must be careful about my conduct. I've already encountered nobles who view me unfavorably. Let me escort you back to your quarters instead."

Though she looked displeased, she reluctantly agreed and stepped back.

I glanced briefly at Silveryn lying on the bed.

She had somehow moved to sit on the edge of the bed, resting her chin on her hand while glaring at me with piercing eyes. Something had seriously upset her mood.

How should I handle this now?

With pressure from both front and back, my nerves were on edge.

However, sending the Duchess away was the priority for now.

I stepped outside and hastily closed the door. Then I said to Bibi, "...Shall we go?"

"A moonlit walk... that's not bad either. It reminds me of when we were pressed together in Barbisia."

"..."

"Wait a moment. There's still a vulgar mark on your cheek. I'll clean it off properly."

***

We moved toward the castle annex. The garden we were walking through was filled with cool breeze and bright moonlight.

"Why did you come looking for me?"

Bibi walked matching my pace with her hands neatly folded and said, "We don't have much time left. You'll return to Eternia after tomorrow's ceremony, won't you?"

"Yes."

"Though it was brief, spending time with you seems to have planted a sense of camaraderie in my heart."

"Do you regret it?"

Receiving such a direct question, Bibi hesitated momentarily. But she didn't try to deny it.

"...Yes. I do regret it."

Then there was silence for a while. Only the sound of footsteps on grass could be heard.

"It's not like you'll never be able to come to Eternia again, right?"

"But because of this incident, I won't be able to go near there for several years. And for me, several years is... far too long."

I understand. With only about ten years of life remaining, even those few short years were a major constraint for her.

"There must be some way."

"That's why I came to get a firm promise from you. I'm anxious that you'll disappear like the wind without saying goodbye once everything's done."

"Isn't visiting during breaks enough? What kind of promise do you need?"

"...Could you come to the Principality once every year? More specifically, to my palace?"

"..."

Bibi lowered her head as if nervous, looking at the ground as she spoke, "For my remaining life, I must deal with lustful old men and flatterers trying to use my authority. I won't have many joyful days ahead. You're the only person in this world who makes me feel at ease, who's genuine, trustworthy, dependable, and who can protect me. The time we spent rolling through the swamp will be unforgettable for life. Could you give me brief moments of respite in my miserable life?"

I was momentarily speechless.

For me, Silveryn was my only such person. Perhaps that role should have been filled by family. Bibi's words about me being her only person to rely on stabbed at a corner of my heart.

Bibi must not have lived a happy life either. Presumptuously, I felt sympathy for her life, and also felt somewhat of a kinship.

"...I promise. As long as you don't refuse me, I'll visit every year."

Bibi raised her chin and looked up at me. Her face held joy I'd never seen before.

"Good. I'll remember your promise."

She walked ahead first. Her steps were so energetic they seemed almost like skipping. 

So Bibi can show such innocent joy too. 

Considering her cold, authoritative impression from our first meeting... this is an incredible change.

And once a year... shouldn't be a big problem. After all, I wasn’t like Silveryn, someone the whole world needs.

***

When I returned to my room after escorting Bibi, Silveryn was gone.

I collapsed onto the bed, and my tension finally released. At the bedhead was a note from Silveryn.

[I'll come again in the morning.]

She seemed upset—I wonder if she'd be alright. My head was filled with various thoughts after being ambushed by both women.

I fell asleep like that and woke to a servant's knock when the morning sun was brightly lighting the room.

Without waiting for permission to enter, five or six servants came in carrying a bathtub with water, a gown, and other clothes, and called for me.

"Sir Damian must be properly groomed for the ceremony."

It was almost an order rather than a request.

Then they showed me an elegantly tailored black tailcoat.

"The Archmage asked us to tell you to be ready and waiting in the courtyard."

"Is Teacher attending the ceremony too?"

"As far as we know, yes. Many noble persons, including the Archmage, will attend."

No one had properly explained to me what this ceremony was for yet.

I already felt uncomfortable just attending such occasions... this was rather awkward.

I quickly finished bathing and put on the tailcoat with the servants' help. Though they said it was custom-made to my measurements, it just felt ill-fitting and uncomfortable. I couldn't raise my arms high or move my legs freely due to its stiffness.

After finishing preparations, I went down to the courtyard Silveryn mentioned.

In the corridor bright with morning sunlight, a woman with snow-white skin was leaning against a pillar.

"My disciple."

Silveryn spotted me and gestured lightly. She wore a black tube-top dress revealing her shoulders and thighs, adorned elaborately as always. And around her neck was the ruby necklace I had given her.

"Teacher."

"You look handsome dressed up. Though you're cuter when disheveled... this look isn't bad to see occasionally."

What does she mean I'm cuter when disheveled?

"...You look beautiful too, Teacher."

"I know. I've been hearing that since birth until I'm sick of it."

"..."

"Come here."

Silveryn grabbed my wrist and pulled me into an embrace. I fell into her arms like a doll. Silveryn tightened her arms and pressed close.

Then she showered that same spot with multiple kisses.

In front of Silveryn, I was still a child.

A strange discomfort gripped me. It was quite troublesome doing this where others might see. Though I wanted to yield to her embrace, thinking of my age made me hesitate. 

Don't people my age go to war in the North?

"Um, Teacher..."

Silveryn's lips gradually moved down to my neck.

Suddenly her movement stopped. Then, as if sensing something strange, she started unbuttoning my shirt.

"Teacher?"

"Stay still..."

She pulled back my shirt to expose my bare shoulder. There, Trisha's bite mark remained.

Her eyes grew somewhat serious.

"My disciple... what is this?"

I didn't know how she detected what was hidden under my clothes. 

Anyway, how should I explain this?

"...It's a mark from being bitten by a beast."