The night is over. I feel a bit tired, having not slept for almost two whole days.
I sit at the dining room table, breakfast in front of me. I am staring at the sight of Shenlong-sama eating a bowl of rice in a daze. To my surprise, this man is eating all the sponge cakes and cakes in the house from one end to the other. He bites into the sponge cake from the head and munches on it as if he were eating a Pokey.
They are so good! I like this sponge cake, too.
He is a very pleased-looking Shenlong-sama. It's a little uncomfortable to look at, but right next to me sits Soleil in her coquettish pajamas. She is snuggled up against me, saying she is cold, though she could have put something over her top, which wakes me up.
Sadie vomits loudly in my room and is carried to her room by Mei and the others. Yesterday she was half-awake after I woke her up from her sleep by yelling at her while she was inhaling a powder to help her sleep. Now she is sleeping again with the powder that Feri gave her.
"Master ......"
I hear voices behind me. I turn around and there is May.
"Rico-sama has ...... awakened."
"Okay."
I take a deep breath and stand up. Then I left Mr. Shenlong with Soleil and headed slowly with Mei to the room where Riko was.
I could have walked there in less than 30 seconds, but it seemed so far away to me today. I had strangled Rico, even though I had been controlled by the psychokinesis that Sadie had sealed. And I almost died. I wonder if Rico will be disappointed in me. If I apologize sincerely, and if she still does not forgive me, then I have no choice but to accept her decision.
Thinking about this, I arrived in front of my room. I still stop in my tracks. May gently urged me to open the door, and I did so.
Rico was on the bed. Next to him, Matkal was holding Erile in his arms. When Eryl noticed me, he got off Matkal and came running to me, jumping up and down.
"Toutan!"
"Elilou."
I took her in my arms, and she was still sleepy, her face on my shoulder. I sit down on the chair next to the bed with her in my arms.
"Rico ......"
"......"
She stares into my eyes. Silence falls for a while, as words fail to come out.
"...... Rico-sama's health is fine. The baby is doing well.
May follows up.
"I'm glad that Rico ...... that ...... is safe and all is well. I'm also glad that the child in your belly is ...... fine."
Rico slowly lowered his gaze to his stomach and stroked its bulge lovingly.
"Rico,...... I'm so sorry,......"
I slowly bow my head.
"There's no need to apologize, Linos."
Suddenly I hear Rico's voice. I look up and see her face. Rico is looking at me with straight eyes.
"Is it a telekinesis ...... already? Did you exterminate it?"
"Yes. Sadie did a good job of containing it."
"Then I guess we're all set."
"Rico, ...... are you sure about that ......?"
What?
"I tried to kill ...... Rico, remember?"
"Is it a thought ......? You were being manipulated, weren't you? That's not an option. Rather, it was able to slip through the iron walls of Llinos. You should be praised for your telekinesis.
"Rico, still ......"
"Linos."
Rico is looking at me with serious eyes. I gulp and wait for his next words.
"If you are going to kill me, I would like it very much.
"If Llinos kills me, I'll be happy. If I'm going to die, I'd rather end my life by your hand.
"Rico ......"
"But even so, I have one favor to ask."
"Please?"
"At least ...... this baby in my belly ....... I want to have this baby, no matter what it takes.
"Rico ......"
I hugged Riko with my right hand while holding Eryl in my left arm. What happy words! I want to savor this happy moment for a while. .......
"I'm hungry!"
One word from Eryl brought me back to reality. I stare at Eryl's face. She slips out of my arms and falls into Rico's bed, looking embarrassed. Rico saw this and opened his mouth with his usual smile.
"Come on, Eril, Linos, let's eat!"
Her smile was surprisingly beautiful and lovely. I could see a halo of light shining from Rico's body.
That evening, I had accompanied Sidi to King Maintia's room. Patterson and the others were surprised to see us because of our sudden arrival. Actually, I was surprised myself.
Shortly before that, I was working in my office in Agartha when Siddee came in unexpectedly. She looked better than usual, probably because she had had a good night's sleep, but I guess that's why she was in such great shape. He suddenly said that he wanted to go to the Maintian king's office.
I tried to confirm his availability, but Sadie insisted on going right away. In the end, I had no choice but to follow behind her as she strolled toward the king's room without asking why. As soon as she reached the room, she opened her mouth to the king of Maintia without even a word of greeting.
What has happened in Hradime? King Maintia, you were possessed by a spirit of hatred. I have sealed it in the dagger now, but I am sure that one day it will be broken. When Linos-sama dies, ...... this seal will be broken. It is not good for the Hladime nation nor for the nations of the world to release this spirit again into the world. If possible, I think it is necessary to comfort this spirit. My king, who is this square-faced man who is imprisoned here?"
Patterson and the others were clearly upset immediately after hearing Sidie's story. However, King Maintia slowly opened his mouth with his usual soft smile.
"Square face: ....... Is that Cavaletto's uncle?"
"Cabaret?"
My father, the Great King's brother. So you're Cavaletto's uncle. ......
"Why does this Master Cavalet have so much hatred that he is half-spiritualized? What in the world happened in the Hladime country?"
King Maintia does not answer Sidi's question, but closes his eyes and quietly remembers something.
"Your uncle is ....... He was a master of kemari. He loved the arts. He was the complete opposite of my father, but they got along well. I would call him my father's right hand man."
"So, why would such a man ......"
"I don't know the details myself. Patterson and the others may know something."
The king slowly turns around and looks at Patterson and the others. They turned away from him at once.
"No matter how many times we ask him, he says he doesn't know. I can't ask you to tell me something I don't know. But what I have heard is that shortly after your aunt's death, your uncle went mad and took his young son, Gregor, by the hand and then took his own life. It is true that your uncle and aunt were very close. I liked my aunt very much and I was also very close to my cousin Gregor, so it was indeed a great shock to me when I heard this story."
King Maintia looks into the distance, as if remembering something, and is silent for a while. Then he slowly opened his mouth again.
"So ...... your uncle possessed me. And with hatred ....... I don't remember that he would hate me, though. I wonder why. I'd like to meet him and talk to him, if possible. My queen, where is the dagger ...... in which your ...... uncle is sealed?"
It's enshrined in a place over there.
May I have it?
We have sealed it with a powerful ward, so it will be difficult for you to see it. You can start by going to ......."
Sidi closed his eyes and placed the index and middle fingers of his left hand on his forehead, thinking about something. Then he slowly looked up and opened his mouth to King Maintia.
"First of all, I think it's important that we caress this spirit. How can we do that? ......"
"I see. Then let me take care of it.
Do you have any idea what's going on?
"Oh. I have an idea. Let me deal with your uncle.
King Maintia is more confident than ever. Sidi watches him with a blank expression on his face. I feel a slight headache with the feeling that something troublesome is about to happen.