Chapter 46
Brilliant strategy, cunning schemes, ingenious stratagems, and clever ploys.
The Roa=Stein portrayed by La Verno Ale's actors leads Rudek to victory through a dazzling array of exploits worthy of a great strategist.
Although, being a play, the protagonist Roa=Stein's exploits have probably been greatly exaggerated, the Roa depicted in it is still astonishing.
Still, their ability to make it all feel real speaks to La Verno Ale's skill.
In a word, it was entertaining.
"—And so, Roa brought lasting peace to the continent.—"
When the storyteller brought the tale to a close, applause broke out not only from Rocabill and the others but also from the soldiers on guard.
Why was Rivote the only one with a somewhat troubled expression? Was Rivote on bad terms with Roa? No, that hadn't seemed to be the case when I'd seen them in the Imperial Capital.
When the applause ended, the troupe members bowed respectfully and left the stage.
Salisha-sama called out to the last man remaining.
"...If I remember correctly, your name was Gubeck? You're the one who manages the troupe, aren't you?"
The man called Gubeck bowed again and replied without raising his head.
"I am deeply honored that you remembered the name of someone like me, Salisha-sama."
"La Verno Ale is famous, after all. The next time you're in Dentaros, the Imperial Capital, I'd like to invite all of you to a banquet or something, but..."
Gubeck kept his head lowered as he replied,
"It's an offer far too generous for the likes of us... but if it's for a performance, please call on us again."
he replied, gently turning her down.
"Oh my, I've been turned down. But you love your freedom, so I suppose it can't be helped."
Salisha-sama did not try to force the matter. Still, I, Rocabill, couldn't help wondering, and though I knew it was an unnecessary question, I asked Gubeck,
"What if the invitation came from Roa=Stein?"
At my words, Gubeck's shoulder twitched.
"No, I'm sorry for putting it in a way that could be misunderstood. I didn't mean it as a jab. It's just that the play we saw seemed unusually devoted to Roa=Stein."
Though I'm no expert in theater, I'd seen several plays when La Verno Ale and other traveling troupes came to the Imperial Capital.
But this play seemed to have a different kind of intensity. I couldn't tell whether it came from the passion of the person who wrote the story or from the performers.
Hearing my honest assessment, Gubeck finally raised his head.
"Prince Rocabill=Delassa, you have a discerning eye. As you say, this play is special to us. That is why, from the beginning, we decided to perform it here, before those who fell on this land. Roa=Stein-sama is also a special figure to many traveling troupes. As for your earlier question, if Roa-sama were to call for us, we would go."
"You hold Roa=Stein in very high regard. May I ask why?"
"There is nothing particularly secret about it. I don't mind telling you, but it will take some time. Aren't you in a hurry?"
Gubeck's question made me realize that it was already quite late. How long would it take us to reach the lodging we'd planned to use?
"Say, Ryuzel-sama, can't we make it work somehow?"
Luluria looked at Ryuzel with shining eyes, plainly fascinated.
"But..."
Ryuzel looked troubled as well. Rivote was the one who stepped in.
"Ryuzel, why don't we stay at Ocle Fortress tonight? It's close by."
"Ocle? Well, if we have them make preparations now, I think we can manage it."
"Yay!"
Luluria cheered, while Ryuzel smiled wryly. Even I, not just Luluria, felt uneasy about stopping at such an in-between point without hearing the rest.
Once we'd settled the matter and waited for Ryuzel to send several subordinates racing to Ocle Fortress, Gubeck opened his mouth. "Then, may I tell you about it?"
The story Gubeck told was no less a tale of Roa's greatness and fearsome nature than the play we'd just seen.
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Inside the carriage, after the play and the unexpected story about Roa=Stein, we hurried along the road, now completely dark, toward Ocle Fortress.
I said to the humming Luluria, "You're in quite a good mood."
"Yes. I have a wonderful story to bring back to Tsetsii!"
Salisha-sama smiled at Luluria, who looked delighted.
"I'd heard about it, but you and Tsetsedra are quite devoted to Roa-dono, aren't you?"
"Yes, Salisha-sama. Tsetsii loves Roa too. Apparently, they've been exchanging letters quite often lately."
"Oh my. What about you, Luluria?"
"No, mine are only about business dealings in my homeland. I'm a married woman, after all! Instead, I often write to Lapiria and Lufa!"
"Lufa was Zackhart's adopted daughter, wasn't she? I believe I'd heard she was close to Rivote as well."
I'd met her only once, but I remembered her as a very friendly girl.
"Yes. Lufa's letters are full of stories about her having fun with Rivote. Apparently, they often clean the Tenth Knight Order's food stores together."
"Cleaning the food stores of Rudek's knights? Rivote? Why?"
"Who knows?"
I instinctively leaned out of the carriage and looked at Rivote, who was keeping watch beside it.
"Is something the matter?"
Rivote, who had noticed me, looked toward me, his dignified features lit by torchlight.
"No, nothing."
I tilted my head, then pulled it back in through the window.