Chapter 42. Rain, come down! 2020.06.27.
“Your Majesty the Emperor. They say they will be leaving soon.”
When I raised my head at the voice I heard close by, there was a face I had never seen before. It was an impressive knight with reddish, curly hair.
“Ah, sorry, Your Majesty. My name is Cicero, one of the Templars in charge of escorting His Majesty.”
Excluding the servants and servants who looked after me, I could count on one hand the conversations I had with them, so I didn’t know what to answer. Unknowingly, the hand holding the hem of Oscar’s clothes was strained.
“Ah… Oh no. Did I frighten Your Majesty?”
He scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly. Then, the knights around him, who did not even know they were there, began to boo.
“Boo-! Scaring His Majesty!”
“It’s the worst, Cicero! Get out and die!”
“Hey, Your Majesty is listening, so please speak kindly…”
The atmosphere of the knights was somewhat floating, perhaps because it was outside the imperial castle. I could hear small words intermittently. What did you do with ‘rock, paper, scissors’? What did you do? Anyway, I don’t think I’m a dangerous person, so I greeted Oscar while clinging to him.
“Hello Cicero.” (Hello Cicero.)
“Kuh. you’re right. From now on, my name is Shisheo!”
“….”
I was looking up in a daze because I was dumbfounded, but I heard the shouts of other knights around me.
“Damn I should have won…!”
“One of the luck of rock paper scissors is a good child. Next time I will win.”
‘It’s like a penalty game…’
said Enrique, who was standing next to Oscar, smiling happily.
“Your Majesty is still very popular.”
“…Inkki?” (…Popular?)
Is this really popular? But Oscar, who had been still, took another bite.
“of course. Because our Mabel is the cutest and cutest in the world.”
Then Enrique as well as everyone who was paying attention to us nodded.
‘Why is the shame on me…?’ As
I covered my face with my hands to hide my reddened cheeks, exclamations erupted from all over the place.
“Look at those tiny hands!”
“Going crazy. I’m going to pass out…”
I developed resistance to the reception of servants, but it was not the reception of knights.
‘I can’t. I have to listen to the business and chase it away!’
“Cicero.” (Cicero.)
“Kuh. Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Hagu Sifun Maroon Guge da?” (Is that all you want to say?)
“Yes. I wanted to inform you that we are leaving soon. Get into the carriage.”
“Arseo. Now go to the curb.” (Okay. You can go now.)
Then Cicero grimaced as if he had something to say, then his shoulders drooped and he turned around and walked away. For some reason, I could see other knights tapping Cicero on the shoulder or kicking him in the shin.
“We’re leaving soon. Shall we ride Mabel?”
“yes.”
Enrique took a step back as he took Oscar’s outstretched hand.
“Then I will return to my seat for 20,000, Your Majesty.”
“Goodbye Enrique.” (Goodbye Enrique.)
While waving to Enrique, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. There was no chattering atmosphere, and there was still silence.
‘…what?’
Looking around, I immediately met eyes with the cause of the fighting atmosphere. Sang Hwang Je, who had a cool atmosphere as if all the darkness had been driven away, was staring at me.
‘What are you afraid of…!’
The situation agent quickly came to my side.
“What is your name?”
The person he asked the question in a cold tone was none other than Enrique. Enrique also responded calmly with a pale complexion, probably surprised by the sudden situation.
“Meet His Majesty the Emperor. My name is Enrique Javier.”
“Enrique Javier…. Yes, you are said to be Oscar’s swordsman classmate.”
“yes. That’s right.”
The Emperor laughed. I laughed, but the atmosphere only cooled down. Enrique’s smiling face when dealing with a powerful man made me feel sorry for him.
‘Why is Situationje acting like that all of a sudden?’
As I pulled Oscar by the hem of his clothes, he smiled troubledly. In the meantime, the conversation between Hwang Sangje and Enrique continued.
“Did you come to see your father off?”
“no. I also decided to follow this procession.”
“…anyone?”
“That’s it…”
Enrique couldn’t bear to speak at the momentum of the sad situation. Just as I was in conflict over whether I should step in and help the poor thing, someone intervened in the conversation.
“Meet the two of you, Your Majesty and His Highness the Prince. Didn’t the poor son of a god do something disrespectful to His Majesty? haha.”
Duke Javier, who was watching us from afar, finally spoke to us.
“Your son is also attending the rain ritual procession. What is it?”
“God put it on the list. It’s because I decided that observing the rain ritual would be a good experience as the heir of the family, and since Enrique is His Highness Oscar’s swordsmanship mate, he will be my companion during the trip.”
“I have never been empty.”
“However, since I accompanied him as a knight of His Majesty Javier, in principle there is nothing wrong with it.”
“….”
“Moreover, isn’t the order prohibiting entry into the imperial castle not valid now outside the imperial castle?”
It seemed disapproving, but the Sanghwangje couldn’t catch any more faults. Duke Javier was unlucky, but he felt sorry for Enrique, who was in trouble. As soon as I met Enrique’s eyes, I gestured for him to go quickly. Then, to divert Hwang Sang-jae’s attention, he pulled the hem of his clothes.
“Puhang.”
“Yes Mabel.”
He smiled and looked down at me, but he still didn’t look happy.
“Go ride a carriage?”
“You mean me?”
“yes.”
“I’m thinking of going on horseback…”
“Grukuna.”
“Why are you asking that?” “It’s
like the week you go to the game of Puhangdu.”
However, I don’t know how I interpreted this, but Hwang Sangje smiled and hugged me tightly.
“Mabel…!”
There was no more situation system that made me feel bad.
“If my cute Mabel wants it, we should get on the carriage together!”
“Use it.” (It’s okay.)
“Then, shall we ride together on the way back?”
I gestured once again to Enrique, who looked behind Hwang Sang-jae’s shoulder, who was smiling happily. After greeting Enrique, who smiled brightly, he said something with his mouth.
‘See you later, Your Majesty.’
***
The procession finally departed. In the end, Hwang Sang-je couldn’t get on the carriage with me because of my opposition. The seats were spacious, but it was obvious that the nanny or Larima, who was riding with her, would be uncomfortable. Including Oscar, the inside of the wagon with a total of four people was as orderly as on the road to a picnic. I rested my chin listening to the chatter of conversation.
‘In the end, I never met Aidan.’
At this point, I wondered if I would ever be able to meet them on the way. I didn’t think Sang Hwang Sang-je, who hated Aidan, had arranged it so carelessly that he could easily meet me. For a moment, I was distracted by the rapidly changing scenery outside the window. It was not yet out of the center, so it was possible to see the lively life of the people.
“Is it fun, Mabel?”
“yes. Fresh.”
Actually, since I was only in the imperial castle, I didn’t realize it normally. That this is another world where ordinary people live. The carriage passed a family holding hands affectionately. I turned my head.
“Are you going to stop watching? Not funny?”
“yes.”
“Is that so?”
Oscar smiled shyly and lowered the curtain. After running for a long time, we entered the outskirts of the capital. There were no people, and what led to it was a well-paved forest road. There was no conversation anymore, and a peaceful silence flowed in the carriage. It was just a moment when I leaned my head against the backrest and was lost in thought.
[Open it, please!]
A familiar voice came through the curtained window. As I pulled back the curtains, my eyes met a sparrow flapping its wings vigorously along the carriage.
[It’s so filthy.]
Maybe it was just one sparrow, so the knights surrounding the carriage laughed and looked at it, but they didn’t stop it. The sparrow flew and landed on my lap.
“Wow. A bird has arrived. Be cute!”
Larimar clapped her hands in admiration. I thought I should have a similar reaction, so I covered my mouth with a smile.
“Cheep!”
I asked right away.
‘How did the request go?’
[The stork said that there was nothing wrong with that country.]
‘I see.’
My request to the birds was to find out about Abelardo’s movements. In case he emptied the palace for rain, he might have other plots. There may be limits to the information obtained from birds, but it is better than not preparing at all.
‘Thanks, Chirp.’
[Then please feed me now!]
“Ouch.”
At that moment, I realized that I hadn’t packed the bird feed. I didn’t expect the sparrows to come to me, so I’m sure I’ve got a chance to feed them. The sparrow looked up at me with bright eyes.
[I’m hungry!]
“Nanny Larima. Somehow… Is this tweet ready for rice?”
It was an earnest question, but the reactions of the nanny and Larima were different from what I thought.
“Oh my goodness. Take care of your heart.”
“I will, Madame. Our Majesty loves animals too and is wonderful.”
I asked if there was rice, but they only praised me.
[Bob…]
I felt a great remorse at the grungy sparrow’s eyes. I felt a sense of crisis that I might become a high treason if I didn’t feed her. No, the worst outcome would be a bad relationship with the birds!
“Bar Bob Joe!”
“Whoops. Be cute.”
Larimar still couldn’t grasp the atmosphere. I grabbed the hem of Oscar’s still clothes and shook him.
“The chirp is a volleyball player. Bob Joe! Panni…!”
[Bob chit.]
It was the nanny who saved me from a crisis.
“I don’t have anything to gather with, and I brought some snacks. Would this be okay?”
Fortunately, the sparrow took the crumbs and left satisfied. I let out a sigh of relief.
‘Should I bring food for each animal…’
Hogu’s life is difficult today.
***
After a few days of traveling, we arrived at an altar that has been held for rain for generations. It is said that it is far from the capital, but there are many people who come to see the rain ritual because the small and medium estate is nearby. Preparations were made quickly. The altar that had not been used for a long time was cleaned and torches were lit on both sides. On the way to the altar, a white carpet was laid and blue petals were scattered. As I tilted my head looking at the petals, Oscar explained.
“Those petals symbolize rain.”
“Gurukuna.”
I looked around again as I watched the scene of the rain ritual being prepared smoothly. But as expected, Aidan didn’t even show his nose.
“Who are you looking for, Mabel?”
“Aye.”
“Aye? …devlin’s devil?”
The nickname Devlin’s Devil sounded unfamiliar to me because I called him by his first name.
“yes. (Yes. They said they came, but they’re not there.)
I looked around for a while, but I couldn’t find it either. Oscar asked me when I was drooping with some disappointment.
“Are you familiar with that Devil from Devlin?”
“That’s not it.” (It’s not that.)
“I see…”
Oscar, feeling a little better, smiled brightly and stroked my hair. Why are you doing this? Before long, a noisy crowd gathered. It seemed that everyone from the nearby estates had come to see it. I was waiting in a makeshift tent, avoiding people’s eyes.
“Mabel. You come out last and you just have to stand there. Don’t worry, Dad will do the rest.”
“Ugh.”
I nodded my head politely.
‘I had no intention of doing anything anyway.’
Dung Dung-! I heard the sound of drums announcing the start of the rain festival. From outside the tent, I saw a huge number of people crammed under the altar.
“Ugh…”
It’s all about standing still, but the thought of having to stand in front of them made me scared. But… my gaze turned to Duke Javier, who was standing next to the altar. He seemed in a pretty good mood. The sky was clear today without a single cloud. It wasn’t raining at all. If this is the case, of course the rain ritual will not be rewarded, and it will not rain, so you will have no choice but to feel good.
‘I will never let that happen.’
I clenched my fists and made a promise to myself. Didn’t you save your divine energy as much as possible for today? It was my goal to make it rain even for a few seconds. It was Hwang Sang-je who first appeared in front of the people. After going up to the altar, he began to conduct the ceremony according to the procedure.
“your majesty. You have to go up now.”
“yes.”
I came out of the tent in my nanny’s arms, dressed in a ceremonial dress. The stares of people who were immediately pinned to me were stinging.
“That person is His Majesty the Emperor…?”
“Are you the Emperor I’ve only heard about in rumors…!”
“Wow!”
Occasionally, people’s voices could be heard. Unintentionally becoming a celebrity, I stood in the middle of the altar. The ceremony was almost over. The ritual for rain ends when Sanghwangje extinguishes the flames of the torches at both ends of the altar. I glanced to the side, then met Duke Javier’s eyes. I looked at him and smiled.
‘Then shall we make it rain just a little bit?’
It didn’t take much know-how to talk to animals or grow plants. Just the natural belief that it will happen. All you need is that. I thought earnestly after taking a peek at the dry sky.
‘Let it rain!’
And… shoot ah-! Suddenly, heavy rain started pouring.
“It’s raining. It’s raining…!”
“God granted the wind!”
Hearing the shouts of the people, I opened my mouth wide.
‘I didn’t mean to drop this much…!’
I was stronger than I thought!
