Chapter 33
Clack, clack.
The train was running.
Irix was on a train bound for the capital. It was an opportunity she had obtained after nearly spending a whole day sleeping rough at a nearby station.
At last, she had boarded—and incredibly, there was a special suite that was always kept empty for the Empress. If the previous cabin had merely been one the Empress liked, this one was a room she adored so much that she forbade anyone else from using it. The Empress’s maids reportedly purchased a full year’s worth of tickets for this cabin in advance every year.
Originally, it was reserved for when the Empress yielded it to royalty from neighboring nations, so not even a duke’s son could ride in it—but the Dowager Empress had given permission.
As for how Irix had come to borrow connections as powerful as the Dowager Empress—well, the Duke had contacted her. The ducal house shared an especially close relationship with the Dowager Empress. When the Duchess suddenly disappeared, it was the Dowager Empress who had brought Irix to the palace and looked after her for a while.
Irix did not particularly like being tied to the Dowager Empress’s network, but it was true that she was the most powerful connection in the Empire. Within the imperial palace, she wielded authority even greater than the Empress. It was common belief in the Empire that the Dowager Empress’s words at the dining table carried more weight than the pillow talk of the Empress or even the Emperor’s consort.
“You’re to visit later and offer your thanks.”
Zephir relayed their father’s words.
Irix immediately felt like getting off and taking the next train back—but the cabin was far too luxurious to give up, so she endured it for now.
Zephir and Maimon, who would accompany her to the capital, would sleep in the adjoining cabin. That cabin too was kept vacant because the Empress purchased it to house her maids.
It was only natural for Zephir to follow, since his workplace was in the capital, but Irix hadn’t expected Maimon to come as well.
“His Grace’s orders.”
“You’re not Father’s subordinate, are you?”
“I’ve left the Camellia Corps. I’m free now—and I’ve freely chosen to obey His Grace’s command.”
Irix was stunned. The Camellia Corps was not somewhere one could simply walk away from.
“You can just quit like that?”
“Of course not. But His Grace comes first for me.”
Irix was genuinely curious. What on earth did Maimon see in her father to be so loyal? He was not someone worthy of trust or affection.
“You’ll regret it later.”
“I won’t regret it now.”
Irix gave up. Fine. The most important thing in Maimon’s life was repaying the Duke’s kindness. She couldn’t take that purpose away from him.
Two suitcases sat inside the cabin. Irix read the name tag dangling from one of them.
“Elfini from Sanzuna.”
Sanzuna. Elfini.
A senior’s luggage.
She looked beside the suitcase. The item she had expected to see wasn’t there.
“Is there no other luggage?”
The cabin steward answered politely.
“There isn’t.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why don’t you know?”
“Well, because I don’t know.”
The steward remained perfectly courteous.
Zephir, who did nothing, didn’t answer. Maimon, who at least did something, replied instead.
“I believe your belongings were in that cabin.”
That cabin had been destroyed so thoroughly that not even a chair remained intact.
Her shirts and trousers were probably scattered somewhere at the bottom of that deep gorge. She couldn’t exactly go retrieve them. Which meant there was a problem.
“…I don’t have any clothes to change into.”
The clothes she was wearing were ragged from battle. Splattered with blood. She couldn’t keep wearing them.
“Isn’t there anywhere we can buy clothes along the way?”
Her senior asked. The viper lifted its head as well, flicking its tongue.
“No. It’s a direct route to the capital.”
Her senior had already changed clothes. They were similar to what she’d worn before: a plain blouse, wide trousers, striped shoes. Just like last time, they resembled a rural school uniform.
Did she only own clothes like that?
Her senior pointed at the suitcase.
“Want me to look for something in here that might fit you?”
“How could I wear your clothes? Forget it.”
“Then why not contact your house in the capital and ask them to bring clothes to the station? You can change right away.”
She pointed at the telephone on the table.
“I live separately. There’s none of my luggage at the Verkarte estate. And my attendant always managed my things, so I don’t even know the state of my own belongings.”
“Then contact that attendant.”
“He’s not around.”
“Why?”
Irix answered, as if scraping the words out.
“He’s dead.”
“…I feel like everyone I ask you about turns out to be dead.”
“You’re the one who keeps asking about dead people.”
Her senior’s expression turned subtle. Irix suddenly felt utterly pathetic.
“So when did that attendant die?”
“Right before vacation.”
It had been after she’d sent her luggage to the summer villa. She didn’t know how much had been shipped and how much left behind.
“The villa servants organized what arrived. Since it was vacation, we decided to hire a new attendant before the new term and just left it at that.”
Compassion flickered in her senior’s pale green eyes.
“It’ll take more than three days for this train to reach the capital. You can’t stay like that the whole time.”
Her clothes were shredded and filthy. With the slightest movement, they looked ready to fall apart.
“Fine. Then wait.”
Her senior stood and opened the wardrobe. Inside hung a splendid nightgown.
She tossed it to Irix.
“Wear this.”
Irix unfolded the garment. It was as dazzling as if plucked from a peacock’s plumage. Clearly the Empress’s gown.
“…How am I supposed to walk around in this?”
“I didn’t say forever. This train must have a laundry or mending service, right?”
“Yes, it does.”
The steward, who hadn’t left yet, answered. Her senior pointed to the gown.
“Change into that for now and send your clothes out to be fixed.”
Irix stared at the glittering fabric. She didn’t even want to touch it.
“As long as you don’t go outside, it’ll be fine. And no one here will mock you for wearing something like that.”
The moment she finished speaking, Zephir snickered.
“If you’d rather go naked, just do that. I can step outside.”
Irix’s face flushed bright red.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Glaring at the gown, she stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door. Feeling like she was wrapping herself in snakeskin, she put it on, then shoved her ragged clothes through the crack in the door. Her senior caught them and handed them to the steward.
After inspecting their condition, the steward looked troubled.
“Um… we only handle very simple repairs here…”
From inside the bedroom, Irix shouted,
“That’s fine! Just patch the holes!”
“Yes, of course. But truly, only simple repairs.”
“Simple repairs are fine!”
After the steward left, Irix stepped out.
Originally, the nightgown trailed like a peacock’s tail. The Empress would sweep the floor with its long hem as she walked. But on Irix, it barely brushed the ground. The butterfly-shaped sleeves posed no problem for her arms, but the bodice was tight, threatening to gape at her chest.
“Does it fit?”
“More or less.”
Irix sat in front of her senior and looked out the window.
Beyond the green plains, a city filled with vivid blue rooftops came into view. The building walls were white as salt.
Her senior’s viper flicked its tongue at the window, flapping its wings excitedly as if amused.
“Viper.”
It whipped its head around. Though it carried instant death in its fangs, it was… rather pretty. Its black eyes blinking with anticipation were, well—almost cute.
“Come here.”
Irix placed a cushion on the table.
“Lie here and watch, Viper.”
The snake looked between her and the cushion, then happily slithered over and stretched out.
Her senior gazed at it fondly and said,
“Irix, let’s give it a name.”
“Huh?”
“You’re right. It feels wrong not to name it.”
“I’ll just call it Viper. That way no one will try to touch it. You saw how everyone wanted to.”
“What if it gets confiscated as a dangerous animal?”
“I’ll protect it.”
“It’s already killed two people. It might bite someone before you can protect them.”
“Who said I’d protect people? I meant I’d protect the viper from being taken away. And you saw it—it only bites people worth biting. Those who died deserved it.”
“…I don’t know whether I should give up on your morality or your sense of safety.”
Irix scoffed.
“You say that, but you didn’t care that people died either. And you didn’t abandon the snake.”
“Senior, get a grip. We received the viper’s help. From now on, we should protect and care for it. People ought to repay their debts.”
Her senior’s eyes widened.
“People?”
“Yes. If we’re human. The viper bit them to protect us. We should be grateful and repay that kindness.”
Her senior’s eyes widened even more.
“…Why are you so surprised?”
“Because I’m surprised you have the decency to repay a debt of gratitude.”
