The Island of Beloved Children
All the kings of the nations, even all of them,
Lie in glory, every one in his own house.
—Isaiah 14:18
I
The hot wind finally began to cool down after the sun set beyond the sea.
Esther got up from the sofa to add kindling to the fireplace, then closed the window that had been open. Gazing down the hill, she sighed. "Pretty .. ."
As the calm of the night fell upon the sea, it became a pitch-black mirror. On its surface, a few thousand lights danced like spirits playing in the night. The prow lights of countless kayaks anchored at this, the only inlet to the Island of Beloved Children, twinkled.
Fertile green mountains and fields occupied the entire landscape. Quaint mountain villas dotted the spaces between the green trees. At first glance, they looked like nothing more than tranquil holiday homes. To those who didn't know the circumstances, it would be difficult to imagine that each of the structures were actually mausoleums, and that the quiet island, which floated six miles southeast of the Imperial capital, was hallowed ground to which all Imperial nobles must return.
"This island is the place to remember those who've left our world," said Astharoshe.
The mausoleum of the Marquise of Kiev's family was built at a high elevation in the center of the Island of Beloved Children.
Although the sites were referred to as mausoleums, the tombs were underground, while the portions at ground level served as pleasant lounge areas for visitors.
Aste spoke to Esther as she cleaned the photographs and plates that adorned the lounge. "We don't have religions like you people. There is no concept of a soul. When we die, our body is buried in the ground, and returns to the Earth."
"No souls?" asked Esther.
A wide path wound between the green trees. Esther fervently watched the numerous human shapes that arrived from the inlet, strolling as they conversed under the moonlight.
"If you don't believe in the existence of souls, why do you have this kind of funeral service? Why gather on this island and stay the night?" asked Esther.
"Because our funerals aren't held for the dead. We mourn the dead for the sake of those left alive," said Astharoshe.
Perhaps because the wind strengthened, the clouds' pace hastened. Illuminated by the two moons, whose faces peeked out from between the clouds, the young Marquise of Kiev added a polite explanation. Her eyes, as she gazed at the goods that served as reminders of the dead, were unusually kind.
"Family, friends, admirers . . . Even we are sad to lose loved ones. But we must go on living; we must not stop walking. So the people left behind come to this island to remember the dead. They stroll for one whole night and speak of their memories of the dead. When day dawns, they return to the Imperial capital, to the place where the living dwell, to walk their own path again. That is our tradition," said Astharoshe.
Aste broke into a sad smile as her amber eyes stared at the back of a short person who had been gazing down at the night.
"Are you all right, Your Excellency?" Esther timidly asked the silent boy.
Although the ceremony for his grandmother was being held outside, and many acquaintances were discussing their memories of her, Ion, her grandson, couldn't take part in it.
If Aste hadn't made special plans to mix in with a party of citizens, it would've been difficult to come to the island at all. Ion's aunt and cousins, every one of the Duchess of Moldova family, were doing penance in their own territories, all of them affected by Ion's scandal. How he must have regretted that strangers were burying his grandmother, and he couldn't even watch. Esther's heart hurt thinking about the boy's feelings. But Ion showed no sign of noticing. He just stared down into the abyss. For the past few days, no matter what Esther had tried to talk about, she never got a proper answer.
Did I say something to make His Excellency angry? Esther thought. When she considered that Ion had followed her around like a puppy until a few days prior, Esther realized that he had become an entirely different person. When she'd awoken in Seth—that strange girl's—house, he'd still been the same old Ion. It was after he'd left the house to go shopping that he'd changed. What could've happened after that?
Esther had tried to discuss the girl who'd disappeared under mysterious circumstances with Ion three times, but he'd cut it short with the excuse of being busy or engaged every time. This time he hadn't even tried to look at her. It can't be helped, I suppose, she said silently. I don't know what he's sulking about, but I won't be able to stand it if he holds on to this grudge any longer.
Putting on a forced expression of happiness, Esther said, "Your Excellency, um—"
"By the way, Marquise of Kiev," said Ion, completely ignoring Esther's attempt to speak.
Esther's attempt at concern once again ended in a complete strikeout.
Ion turned toward Aste. His face didn't show a fragment of emotion. "Have you found Radu's — I mean Baron of Luxor's — whereabouts?"
"No, not yet. I've sent my family's citizens throughout the island, but they haven't reported back yet," Astharoshe replied. "After all, this island is pretty big. Besides, tonight the nobles are scattered as they please. Count, I understand how you feel, but wait a little longer."
"There isn't any time before Her Majesty's arrival. Hadn't we better join the search, too?" asked Ion. The boy's expression wavered between impatience and irritation. Neither Esther nor Aste could ignore Ion's twitching eyes as he continued to plead. "As it stands, he'll carry it out as planned before our eyes. We have to prevent that, no matter what!"
"Will Baron of Luxor really come here?" asked Esther carefully. Ion looked as though he might explode if asked the wrong question. "If the plot Your Excellency heard is true, will he choose tonight, and this place? Would he deliberately cause an incident in the midst of so many nobles gathered here?"
"He'll do it for sure," said Ion calmly, without letting his eyes meet Esther's. "Normally, Her Majesty stays deep inside the Inner Court, and her location can't be pinpointed. But Her Majesty is conducting this funeral personally. Tonight would be the best night to guarantee her location, so he'll definitely do something tonight."
"I agree. If I were Baron of Luxor, I would probably aim for tonight," said Astharoshe, stroking her chin. "I do have doubts, however. Even supposing he succeeded in regicide, how would he escape afterward? It would be impossible to escape without being seen by this many nobles."
The Marquise of Kiev jutted her jaw toward the inlet below the hill. Now it was occupied by close to a hundred boats. Other than that inlet, there was no place where boats could land on the island, which was surrounded by sheer cliffs. After Radu committed the deed, it would be impossible to escape. Or had he always intended to sacrifice his own life?
Abel and another man entered the lounge and interrupted the discussion. "Sorry, Aste, I'm really late," he said. "Tired, so tired. I searched around thoroughly, but I could find neither hide nor hair of Baron of Luxor."
"I'm very sorry, Mistress. All of the citizens have come back, too," said Chadarli.
It was an odd couple: a tall young man wearing citizen's garb and a large white-haired old man. Abel and Chadarli, who'd led the Marquise family's citizens and taken charge of the search for Baron of Luxor, sighed in unison.
"I think it's absolutely strange that we've searched around this much and haven't found anything. Did Baron of Luxor not come to this island after all?" asked Abel.
"Are you suggesting that I'm lying, Father?" asked Ion. The boy had looked embittered for a while, but now he glared at the priest who sank to the floor, fatigued and bewildered. He threatened in a murderous voice, "You're actually saying I'm lying?"
"Huh? That's a-absurd! I'm not particularly .. ." Abel began as he hid, using Chadarli's huge body as a shield. But the boy only looked grimmer, as if he weren't satisfied.
Aste interrupted, as if to pacify Ion. "You'd better not throw a fit, Count of Memphis. Don't worry, Father. The Count is just a little impatient right now." She could certainly understand Ion's impatience, but she still tossed back her head in irritation.
The news that they hadn't found Radu wasn't necessarily bad. But it would be an extremely grave situation if he were hiding somewhere. More worrying was that the Empress's arrival was closing in on them while they waited.
"It can't be helped. I didn't want to cause him inconvenience, but I'm going to borrow his strength for a while," she said. All of a sudden, she snapped her fingers as though something had dawned on her. "Father, you come with me for a bit. I have an idea."
Taking her hand off her chin, she rose and walked quickly, grabbing Abel's ear as he hid behind Chadarli, and dragging him along.
"Aste, owww! My ear hurts! Pardon me, I do have weak ears, you know," Abel moaned.
"Oh, don't be such a wimp. And stop slouching! You need to come with me now. We're going to go see Sulayman," said Astharoshe.
"The Duke of Tigris? Why, at a busy time like this?" asked Abel, blinking in surprise. He wondered what business she could have with the Second Privy Counselor.
"You imbecile, you should know that much without asking. He's in charge of this funeral service," said Astharoshe. She grasped onto the priest's ear as if it were the vilest thing she'd ever encountered and whispered, "Even though we can't find him, maybe Sulayman can locate him. Of course, because only the five people here know about Baron of Luxor's plot, we can't tell the Duke the truth. However, if we come up with some plausible excuse—"
"If it's that kind of thing, I'll go, too!" Ion replied excitedly. He'd been watching the situation dumbfounded, but finally grabbed the short sword on the table and prepared to follow Aste.
The white-haired beauty shook her head sharply. "No, Count of Memphis. You remain here. No matter what you say, you're being sought throughout the Empire as a rebel. If anybody spots you, that's the end of us."
"B-but!" said Ion, his eyes flashing like those of a pesky kitten.
Aste coldly ignored Ion's zeal. "No 'buts'! Esther, you stay here, too, because your body still isn't healed."
By the time Esther nodded, the tall beauty was leaving the room, dragging the writhing priest. The old steward also followed Aste and disappeared, leaving only the boy, the girl, and the sound of the wood burning in the fireplace.
"Ah, w-wait, Your Excellency!" said Esther. She was trying to stop Ion, who was starting off somewhere with his sword hanging at his hip. "Your Excellency, where are you going?"
Without one glance at Esther, the boy answered over his back, "To look for Radu. Her Majesty will be on the island soon. I have to find him before then."
"But Marquise of Kiev said to wait here," said Esther.
"Yes. So you should wait here," Ion replied curtly as he resumed his stride. Esther hurriedly jumped in front of him, but Ion raised his slender hand that could destroy her in an instant. "Out of the way, Terran."
Esther reeled when Ion's hand struck her in the chest. For an instant she couldn't even breathe.
Ion peered down at the panting girl before opening his mouth. "Why are you so serious?" he asked.
Gasping like a broken whistle, Esther barely lifted her eyes. "Eh?" she murmured.
"I asked why you're getting so serious," said Ion. "Both the Empress's murder and my safety are Methuselah issues. What is the reason for you, a Terran, to be that serious? Or is it something else? Do you ..."
The boy's throat seemed to clog with emotion. Wearing a wicked smile, the first Esther had ever seen, Ion made a venomous suggestion. "Do you have some reason you want to stop me from finding Radu and preventing the Empress's murder?"
"That's ... that's..." Esther fell speechless. She was shocked at being called "Terran" by the boy for the first time since coming to the Empire, but his latter words were far more disturbing. "Is Your Excellency saying that I hope the Empress gets killed? Or that I'm hoping Baron of Luxor's plot succeeds?"
"We're vampires. To you people, we're monsters who suck blood!" said Ion. The dike that had been holding back the flood of emotion finally broke. For the first time tonight, there was a genuine expression on Ion's face. Hatred and anger seethed from his warped eyes. After twisting up his pretty lips, the boy bared his long fangs. "In your eyes, the Marquise of Kiev and I are disgusting monsters!"
"Why me?" said Esther shrilly. I need to speak more calmly, she thought. But because she was in shock, the right words wouldn't come out. "I-I've never thought Your Excellency is a monster!"
"Then why were you silent about Bishop Vitez!" Ion asked.
Vitez. Esther was fairly certain that when she heard that name, her expression froze. She never thought she'd hear that name come from Ion's mouth. How in the world did this boy know that name?
"I know that bishop, who was acting as your mother, was killed a year ago by Methuselahs just like me. Why didn't you tell me that?" asked Ion.
"How d-do you k-know that?" Esther asked.
There really wasn't any particular reason. She didn't think it would do any good if she did tell him. That was all. She couldn't figure out why it made the boy so angry.
"Can't you answer me? Words have failed you, have they, Terran?" Ion mocked. "Well, I won't let you do what you want. I'll stop Radu for sure. Even if it costs me my own life, I'll save the Empress's life!" With that, Ion turned on his heel.
"Your Excellency, please wait a moment!" Esther pleaded, extending her hand. But all her hand could grasp was air.
The boy's body, in haste mode, disappeared from before the girl's eyes at a speed impossible for a Terran's eyes to register. Esther ran out too, but by the time she got outside, there was no sign of the boy. Below the hill, there was only the boisterous sea, dancing madly amid the bright lights, sinking into the darkness.
Gazing down at the unpaved mountain road, Esther sighed. Why did it come to this? she wondered. What in the world did I do to lose his trust? No matter how many times she asked herself, she couldn't come up with an answer.
It seemed as though hours had passed, but in actuality, only a very short time had. Esther, who'd been staring absently at the mountain road, rubbed her eyes. People were still strolling in between the green trees. Before long, the Empress, who was the sponsor of the funeral, would arrive on the island. The nobles' shadows seemed to be walking around remembering, talking together, or enjoying a rest as they reached their respective mausoleums. The simplicity of the ritual gave Esther a sense of solemnity. It was very different from an Outer funeral.
But what caught Esther's attention wasn't the sight of the nobles resting. A short shadow was edging down a side path as if trying to avoid being seen. Esther had initially regarded the figure without any interest, but the instant the moonlight peeked out from between the clouds and lit up its white face, she gasped involuntarily.
"Impossible, that's ... Seth?" Esther exclaimed.
It was a small girl with short hair. Beneath the moonlight, her eyes, the color of new leaves, sparkled mischievously. Except for the fact that she was wearing a black citizen's uniform, she was a definite match for the girl Esther's memory.
Showing no sign of noticing Esther, the girl headed toward the back side of the island at a slow pace. Still staring at the girl, Esther gulped. Why was she here? And how did she escape unharmed from that situation?
"All right," said Esther. She was very worried about Ion, but she knew it was impossible for her to catch him in haste mode. Instead, she decided to confront the girl to find out what had happened and who she really was. Confirming by touch that the shotgun hidden beneath her uniform was still there, Esther began to descend the mountain path almost at a jog.
***
Because of her black clothes, it was easy for Seth's figure to melt into the darkness. Esther had to use all her senses to avoid losing sight of Seth, who was about a three hundred feet ahead.
"Where in the world does she intend to go?" asked Esther.
The winding path continued toward the back of the island. The Marquise of Kiev's mausoleum had already disappeared from sight long ago. And the inlet that had shone so brightly before had grown dim in the distance.
Seth's endurance was astonishing. Esther had confidence in her own physical strength, but she simply didn't measure up. One would think skipping steps should be more exhausting, but after all this time, Seth didn't seem a bit tired. On the contrary, Esther's energy had bottomed out.
Have I failed? Esther said silently. Should I have looked for Ion first? Would it have been wiser to find the Marquise of Kiev or Father Nightroad, and explain the situation to them? No, maybe I should've followed orders and stayed in the mausoleum. Pointless hesitation had become her worst enemy.
Esther noticed that girl's figure had disappeared. She visually searched through the trees, but Seth was nowhere to be seen. Something entirely different entered Esther's field of vision instead: an isolated mausoleum, hidden among the branches of the thick, black trees.
Relying on the moonlight, Esther examined the family crest carved into the gatepost of the mausoleum. "The Unicorn Rampant" was the family crest of the proud Duchess of Moldova family.
"Could this be His Excellency the Count's family grave? Why would it be in a place like this?" Esther wondered aloud. There didn't seem to be any other mausoleums in the area, and there was no sign of anybody on the mountain path. Was Seth inside? Esther couldn't see any sign of anybody inside the quiet mausoleum.
It was then that a hand suddenly extended from behind and covered Esther's mouth. "Don't move," said a hushed voice.
Esther started to scream.
"Shhh! Quiet!" said the voice in a harsh whisper.
Esther finally realized that the hand over her mouth belonged to a small, delicate person.
"You really are a bother, Sister . . . coming to a place like this," said Seth.
"Seth!" said Esther. She tried to shout her companion's name, but the girl was stronger than one would imagine. Only warm breath leaked from between the girl's soft fingers.
"I told you to be quiet, all right?" Seth said, smiling wryly. "I'll take my hand off you now, but you absolutely mustn't scream. We're in a very dangerous place now. If you value your life, be quiet."
"Good evening, Sister," said Seth. Her green eyes glistened as she smiled.
"It is you, Seth! Why are you here? And dressed like that?" asked Esther.
"Please, would you ask me questions one at a time? I'm getting confused," said Seth. With her hands still thrust in her pockets, the girl shrugged as if stumped. A small curved knife hung loosely at the hip of her functional black citizen's uniform, and a few slender darts were fastened to her wrist. That couldn't possibly be the outfit of a medical student studying at the high-class medical institution.
"It's too bad you found me. I didn't want to see you again, if at all possible," said Seth.
"You ..." said Esther. Suddenly feeling as though the smiling face before her was strange, Esther took one step backward. The tea-selling girl had been attacked by an assailant, then she disappeared like magic, and later, she loitered around here. When Esther thought about it really hard, everything about this girl was far too suspicious. Who in the world is she?
Seth smiled broadly, as if she'd read Esther's mind. "I'll answer your last question first. It's the reason for this uniform. I'm really a secret agent for a certain noble."
"Secret agent?" Esther repeated skeptically. Her face tightened.
"Your face says you don't believe me, but it's true. I can't tell you the noble's name, but my master is an Imperial noble, and a very high-ranking person at that. I was ordered by this person to investigate the so-called 'hard-liners,' so I've been going to various places. It was a part of my duty to approach you and Count of Memphis."
"Hard-liners? 'Approach'?" asked Esther. That meant they hadn't met the girl by accident. Esther appeared flabbergasted.
"It was hard work to approach you. Right after you arrived in the Imperial capital, you went missing, right? Because I knew Mimarl had made contact with the hard-liners, I thought I'd probably find you at some point if I kept watch near there. But when I did, it became a situation. My heart was really pounding," said Seth.
Esther stared, bewildered, at the girl who was talking too garrulously for a secret agent. In general, the story sounded logical, but there were too many holes in it. For one, who was the girl's master?
In the brief lull between Seth's words, Esther quickly interjected with a question. "Why are you here tonight?" she asked, biting her tongue. "This is the Duchess of Moldova's family mausoleum, isn't it? What business do you have in a place like this?"
"That's simple. Her Majesty the Empress will be here soon," Seth replied confidently.
The two girls gasped and shut their mouths after hearing a faint grating sound. They peered at the mausoleum towering under the moonlight.
"It's those guys!" Esther exclaimed, trying to stop herself from screaming.
Three human shapes emerged from the front entrance. All of them were tall. Esther was already familiar with two of them. They wore Outer-style military overcoats, along with helmets and gas masks that veiled their identity. But who was the other tall man who came out of the mausoleum? He wore the blue court uniform of a noble, and was a large, rather majestic and dignified man. In his deeply chiseled face, eyes that burned like coals shone threateningly in the moonlight.
"Who are they?" asked Seth.
"Shhh!" ordered Esther.
The three figures left the mausoleum and descended the mountain path. Their long strides were sure-footed, even in the darkness, and they disappeared from sight almost immediately.
"Seth?" Esther called out urgently.
The girl had leapt from the shadow of the trees and sprinted toward the mausoleum as fast as a bullet. The front gate was locked, but no sooner did her nimble fingers insert a pin, moving it a few times, did the gate magically open.
"Oh, Seth ..." Esther sighed as she trailed behind.
Seth had entered the mausoleum and was glaring at something with a grim face. Esther instinctively followed the girl's gaze, gasping at what she saw: countless white sacks all over the floor.
"Impossible! It's ..." Esther cried with a tangled tongue. The nightmare following her arrival in the Imperial capital replayed vividly in her mind. That white light that had torched the Duchess of Moldova's mansion in an instant—No matter how hard she tried, she would never forget the calamitous flames of thermite napalm!
But why was this sort of stuff here? Was the great man she'd just seen one of the hard-liners plotting to kill the Empress? If so, what about Radu? Did he not intend to do it himself?
"This is no time for standing around. We h-have to inform the Marquise of Kiev a-at once!" said Esther.
"We'd better do that. The Empress will be coming here soon," said Seth. She gazed out the window at the wide ocean as she mumbled expressionlessly. The dark sea was as quiet as a ghost, but a black shadow was approaching, gliding on its quiet surface. It was an unbelievably large boat.
"That's the Empress's boat. Come, let's hurry, Sister. This place is dangerous," Seth warned.
The fact that the Empress had finally arrived on the island meant there was no more time for the assassination plot. As soon as the girls hurriedly turned around, they ran outside in the dark, striking their shins on sticks and branches that obstructed their path. Even running at full speed, it would take half an hour to get to the Marquise of Kiev's mausoleum. Would they make it in time? They had to make it.
"You have to inform the Marquise of Kiev? So Astharoshe Asran is the one sheltering you?" asked a deep voice.
Esther came to a full stop. Three shadows stood before the girls, blocking their way. The great man, accompanied on either side by giants in military overcoats, stared at Esther and Seth with a calm expression on his swarthy face. "I know you're in a hurry, but can I get you to talk in a little more detail?" asked the man, who had unusually long fangs, even for a Methuselah.
The wind whipped up as the two giants, hefting their battleaxes, stomped the ground.
"Esther, run!" Seth shouted as she watched the axes prepare to descend. A loud metallic clank shook the air as Seth nimbly deflected the battleaxe with the short knife she'd unsheathed. "I'll manage here somehow. You escape quickly. Let the Marquise of Kiev know about this!"
"Who is this girl?" asked the man. For the first time, he revealed signs of uneasiness. The battleaxe, which could shatter rock, had been deflected by a tiny knife held in the most slender hand. "Impossible. This girl is a boyar, too?"
As the man spoke, the dainty knife gouged into the necks of the giants. Under the moonlight, two heads flew up in the night sky, trailing red sinews.
"As you can see, I'm fine, Esther. Go now!" said Seth.
"I will!" said Esther. She was shocked by the girl's unbelievable fighting strength, but came to when she was urged by Seth to move on. Nodding like a puppet, she quickly turned on her heel.
The man in blue glared at the nun's back as she ran down the mountain path. Clicking his tongue sharply, he also began to run, but a small shadow stood before him, blocking his way.
"I won't let you go!" Seth said defiantly.
The man skillfully avoided the white flash that swooped before his eyes by bending the upper half of his body. The knife thrashed twice more, seemingly at the speed of sound, but the man avoided his demise by jumping backward. But as he landed on the ground about sixty-five feet away, he noticed the chest area of his blue clothing had been slashed wide open. A thin red line of blood tickled down his exposed, muscular chest.
"Little girl!" shouted the man. A foreboding flash danced before his eyes as he saw his own blood. Shaking the cuff of his clothing, he extended an arm toward the girl. His hand wasn't holding a weapon, but a large ring with a strange luster that glistened dully under the moonlight. It seemed to be an alloy of brass and iron, and it had a twisted form. The great man's lips trembled as he held up the ring. "Die," he said.
All of a sudden, a deep hole about ten feet in diameter appeared below the girl's feet. The conical crater, which was so perfectly round that it had to have been previously plotted, wasn't born of bullet holes or anything like it. Even stranger, the interior of the crater was covered in white frost, and the earth that burst from it was also completely frozen. If Seth hadn't jumped backward, her body surely would've frozen and burst into atoms.
The girl had appeared collected until that point, but now her expression grew grim. As soon as her feet touched the ground, a second crater gaped, grazing her feet. Seth's mouth opened in the shape of a scream when she tried to jump a third time. "Argh! "The ground disappeared from behind her, revealing a steep cliff directly over the sea. "Uh-oh ..."
That moment of hesitation, when Seth had no choice but to try to change her course, was fatal. When her thin legs kicked the ground, it exploded beneath her feet. It was hard to tell whether the curdling shriek was her voice or the sound of the ground exploding. Her short figure, along with a smattering of dirt, spiraled toward the bottom of the cliff. It was about three hundred feet to the ocean's surface. Any Methuselah would have difficulty surviving such a fall.
The man's countenance was dour. "She ran that way?" he muttered as he peered at the mountain path.
The girl's figure had been swallowed by the dark forest. The dense trees served as a natural barrier, shrouding the girl's figure from the Methuselah's visual power. But it didn't take long before a pair of long fangs peeked out from the great man's mouth, indicating his confidence.
"She won't make it on time running on Terran legs. Or rather, she'll make it at the perfect time," the man snarled. He turned toward the dark, undulating sea. With his penetrating eyes, he followed the pitch-black ship that had just entered the inlet.
II
"Ugh" said Ion. He kicked a pebble at his feet, launching it into the dark ocean's surface. The sound of a light splash was audible beyond the darkness. Even he didn't know why he felt so impatient.
"I've never thought Your Excellency was a monster." The sad voice from before reverberated in Ion's eardrums and wouldn't stop. His heart grew heavier and heavier. / don't feel particularly guilty or anything, he thought. Why should I feel bad for saying what I wanted to say to a Terran, of all people? He kicked another pebble, ruffling his hair impatiently. Turning to face the ocean, he breathed deeply. Now is no time to be thinking about that Terran girl.
Covering his face with the hood of the citizen's uniform, Ion walked toward the pier, where many people had gathered. Several ceremonially dressed nobles and their citizens looked on, respectfully silent, as a huge shadow, about the size of a small mountain, entered the inlet.
The Bad Hanmon, the Imperial Navy's supreme flagship, was the vessel of the only ruler of the Empire. The massive battleship, and all of its twenty thousand tons, made contact with the pier that thrust out from the coastal wall, as if it were gliding. Upon the ship's arrival, the gangplank silently lowered from the gunwale.
A reverent sigh stirred among the nobles looking up at the short figure that appeared on the gangplank. The petite Empress quietly regarded her children of the night, her face remaining shrouded under the veil. But her supreme air of dignity radiated outward, awing the nobles.
"We've been waiting, Your Majesty," said a voice. One of the Privy Counselors, Feron Lin, Marquise of Damascus, took the hand of the Empire's ruler with a respectful bow. The Empress nodded, descended the gangplank surrounded by Privy Counselors, and began to cross the pier toward land.
The ranks of the Imperial Palace Guards lined up like a red wall on both sides of the pier. They looked suitably menacing, ensuring that as long as they were there, there was no need whatsoever to fear for the Empress's safety.
Ion knew, however, that the Imperial Palace Guards might not be completely trustworthy. Still battling impatience, Ion scanned the nobles gathered before the pier, wondering if the man he sought had disguised himself and mixed in, in the same way Ion had. For that, he was grateful that his relatives, the members of the Duchess of Moldova's family, weren't attending his grandmother's funeral. Otherwise, even if he'd disguised himself as a citizen, his identity might have been revealed sooner than later.
Where is he? Ion wondered. His eyes ceaselessly surveyed the crowd, but he couldn't find that blue-haired Methuselah anywhere. Did it mean Radu wasn't stupid enough to carry out the deed in front of this many nobles? He must be here. Ion wasn't so convinced because he had a low opinion of his former friend's judgment. Rather, the opposite—he knew how spot on Radu's judgment could be.
It might seem foolish to attack in the presence of so many people. However, Ion, who was the Chief Imperial Sword Bearer, knew that to attack now was the only way to bury the Empress. As long as she was shut up in the Inner Court, Radu couldn't strike at the Empress. But here…
Where is he? Where are you hiding, Radu? His thoughts growing more horrific by the second, Ion glanced at the Empress and lines of courtiers, then to the nobles gathered to pay their respects. All of a sudden, it felt as though he were hit over the head. The moment his gaze returned to the Empress's group, he recognized the man. "R-Radu?" he said, his voice cracking.
The blue-haired man was there, but it wasn't simply his existence that shocked Ion; it was his location. Radu, of all people, was right next to the Empress! He accompanied her, standing just to the left and behind the ruler who walked deliberately along the path. His face remained stern, just like the Chief of the Palace Guards, Baybars, who walked on her right side.
"What is he doing there?" Ion gasped, frozen in shock.
The Empress's party finished crossing the pier onto land. From there, they would visit the Duchess of Moldova's family mausoleum, the place where the dead slept. The corpse that should have been sent there had been badly burned in the mansion fire. It was because of that horrid cause of death that the Empress walked downcast, respectfully carrying Mirka’s remains in an urn.
Think . . . think, Ion! Ion desperately tried to think, despite his panic-stricken mind. / don't know by what circumstances he's there. I don't know, but as things stand, the Empress's life is in his hands. He could break her like an egg in his fist with the slightest wave of his hand. What should I do?
Since being informed of the assassination plot, Ion had reviewed various means of attack with the Marquise of Kiev, and had practiced countermeasures against them. They discussed an attack from a sniper, an explosion, and poisoning, but it was beyond their comprehension that Radu would try something so reckless right in front of the Empress.
Ion, desperately trying to think, returned his gaze to the group. Little did he know, bronze eyes were boring through him. There were about a hundred and fifty feet and throngs of people between Ion and the ranks of the Empress's party. Even with a Methuselah's eyesight, it would have been difficult to pinpoint the boy's face in the crowd. Nevertheless, Radu's eyes had made contact with Ion's.
Smirking, Radu mouthed the words, "We will kill the Empress."
Ion heard the message clearly, just as he had that night on the eastern coast. "Radu!" Ion cried, instantly losing all reason. Without hesitation, the boy kicked the ground and jumped across the ranks of citizens, darting toward the Empress's party.
It was Baybars who first noticed the shadow descending upon the Empress's entourage with the swiftness of a peregrine falcon aiming for its prey. "Count of Memphis?" he said. "Out of the way, Baron of Luxor!" By the time he stepped forward to push Radu out of the way, the Chief of the Palace Guards was drawing his favorite sword from his back.
But Ion's shadow disappeared like a mirage. Brushing past the drawn seven-pronged sword that whirled around, he landed on Baybars' back, raising his short sword. "Radu, you traitor!"
With an evil roar, the naked blade gleamed as it arced through space. Radu's smile remained fixed as he gazed at the dangerous weapon closing in on him. To Ion's surprise, Radu took one step toward the dangerous weapon as it twisted upward, placing himself directly in front of the blade.
Ion's eyes bulged as his sword stopped directly before Radu's eyes. The blue-haired Methuselah clapped his hands around the naked blade just as it skimmed his eyelashes. But he didn't give Ion time to contemplate the exquisite sword-catching trick. The short sword still frozen, Radu lifted his left arm with a smooth swoop.
"Ugh!" moaned Ion. Kicked in the pit of his stomach, Ion's body flew far, rolling near the rows of roadside Terrans. If he hadn't summoned the strength in his abdomen, his body would have been broken in two. The blood flow from his shattered stomach lining caused violent nausea and made his gorge rise. Still unable to stand up, the boy doubled over and vomited red goop.
"Sorry, Ion," Radu whispered sarcastically.
When Ion glanced up, Radu was standing right next to him. The attacker's voice was quiet as he stood with Ion's sword in his hand: But Ion had never heard him so clearly. "With this, you've turned yourself into a traitor. Now you will kill the Empress," Radu said with his mind.
"What?" asked Ion. Without wiping off the filth that clung to his mouth, Ion looked up with weak eyes at his former friend. What does he mean? Although short of breath from his windpipe being half-clogged with vomit, he asked, "Radu, what in the world are you—"
"Oops, no more talking," said Radu, dodging the boy's question. Radu put on a serious face and brandished the sparking weapon over his head. "You will die as the Empress's assassin. Meanwhile, in order to protect Her Majesty the Empress, I will take care of you with my own hands. Old friend, it's time to say goodbye. Doesn't it make you want to cry?"