The Empress smiled bitterly and lowered her gaze.
On the back of her hands, gathered demurely on her knees, wrinkles she couldn't hide had settled.
"Time that seemed like it would never flow, yet it flows somehow."
The Empress uttered words like a sigh. Heinrich, who had been quietly gazing at her, spoke in a calm voice.
"It's not too late."
"What isn't?"
"……Whatever it may be."
Of course, the Empress would be Empress until she died. She had received the crown of Empress, would be buried beside the Emperor even in death, and would remain Empress forever in history.
However, that didn't mean her entire life had ended. Though Heinrich didn't know exactly what the Empress wanted, judging from their previous conversation…….
"Once the major matters are settled, you can travel peacefully and refresh your spirits."
"My son is so kind."
The Empress let out a dry laugh and rose. It was hard to believe she was the same person who had lost all motivation and been blankly staring at the garden just moments ago; she quickly regained her innate dignity.
Adjusting the shawl she wore more snugly, she turned her back on the garden. Her strides showed no lingering attachment.
Rather, it seemed like she wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible.
"Now I understand clearly why God sent a Resurrector. If those monsters were left alone even a little, the entire empire would fall into chaos immediately."
At the Empress's cold words, Heinrich nodded calmly.
"Yes, that's right. At such an important time, His Majesty's health has deteriorated, and I'm deeply concerned."
Hearing this, the Empress raised her eyebrows and murmured as if to herself.
"His Majesty's health has deteriorated?"
"Since Mother has awakened like this and he cannot come, how severe must it be?"
At Heinrich's answer, the Empress glanced at him. Her lips, which had been pressed into a straight line, curved slightly upward.
"My, so that's why he couldn't come."
The Emperor and Empress were originally not close, rarely seeing each other except at official occasions. So it wasn't strange that the Emperor wasn't visiting the Empress's palace now.
Heinrich's words, wrapping this up skillfully, were nothing if not smooth.
"Yes. I suppose he must have felt a great burden from the recent series of events."
"To the extent that it interferes with state affairs."
The Empress readily accepted that the Emperor couldn't distinguish right from wrong. The truth of that wasn't particularly important either.
Heinrich bowed his head exaggeratedly.
"I'm concerned that Mother, who has been through such harsh experiences, is taking on too great a responsibility as soon as she awakens."
"Where I stand is not inside a dream. Heinrich, didn't I tell you."
The Empress's voice rang out a bit lower.
"That I wouldn't confuse the reality I'm in."
Until now, the Empress had devoted herself to managing the inner palace without causing any major disturbance. That was also what the Emperor wanted. For the Empress not to step forward wielding her authority.
It was Heinrich who was deliberately pulling out the Empress who would want to live quietly in the future. Even without the Empress pointing it out, Heinrich clearly recognized this fact.
When he felt apologetic, his apology was filled with sincerity.
"I'm sorry."
"Enough. The Imperial Crown is not light enough to be won by kindness alone."
The Empress waved her hand as if annoyed.
"Having realized the danger of monsters with my own body, I can no longer just idle away in the palace. This mother will henceforth attend state councils, guard His Majesty's side, and look into the nation's affairs. You prepare for it."
Heinrich bowed his head. After confirming his utmost respectful attitude, the Empress walked away expressionlessly.
And a few days later, all the rose trees in the Empress's palace garden were uprooted.
* * *
The hawk that had been circling the sky finally descended to the ground.
Fluttering wings wrapped in black smoke, and then transforming into a Dullahan—the sight was surprisingly elegant.
[Sixth Knight, Soana.]
As I gazed at the Dullahan bowing toward me, I was seized by a strange feeling.
A kind but strict teacher, a learned clergyman, a knight who was like an aging mother.
Listening to the Dullahans' explanations, I had imagined Soana's image in my own way. However, none of what I had imagined matched the appearance before my eyes.
That she would be this captivating…… I truly never imagined.
[I apologize for being late. I was teaching the young hawks how to avoid hunters' traps. They would be left defenseless once I leave.]
How should I put it. Listening to Soana's explanation, the Dullahans' descriptions didn't seem entirely false.
The fact that she was late from looking after young hawks, her clear and excellent pronunciation, and her impeccable etiquette even in a Dullahan's body were all true.
However…….
[Also, there's a hunter who's been bothering me lately, so I had to be wary of him. He's someone who doesn't easily back down even when threatened.]
Soana's voice carried an undeniable beauty.
Wait, wasn't she a clergyman? A strict teacher?
[But I never intended to make the Captain wait long.]
"So, Soana."
[Yes, Captain.]
Was it the voice's influence? The Dullahan in headless armor looked so beautiful. Somehow the armor seemed a bit different from other Dullahans too.
"Can you transform into a hawk?"
Soana willingly transformed into a hawk. After the black smoke cleared, seeing the hawk's face that appeared, I let out a low sigh.
Clear eyes, a beak with a slightly downward-curving tip, glossy black feathers. Flawlessly beautiful.
A beautiful hawk. Since being resurrected, I've only been seeing animals, and now I've reached the point of finding beauty even in animal forms.
"Your beauty is truly outstanding."
[You say that as if it's something new.]
Soana let out a low laugh and flapped her wings. The softly moving wingbeats further emphasized Soana's elegance.
Nadav, who was watching her from my side, explained nonchalantly.
[The Captain used to often admire Soana's beauty.]
Admired her beauty? That was somewhat unexpected. Thinking of the Captain's image I'd heard about so far, I would have thought he'd lecture in a stuffy manner that external appearance isn't important and inner nature matters most.
Seeing my puzzled expression, Nadav continued his explanation.
[He said that appearance is also an excellent ability, so there's no reason not to be proud of it. Soana didn't really like her own appearance, but thanks to the Captain, she gained such confidence.]
With just that brief additional explanation that she didn't like her appearance, I could guess a few situations.
I too could say I know a little about the problems that inevitably arise when someone is an outstanding beauty.
Especially if a woman walking the path of clergy was a beauty? I could guess that the difficulties Soana must have experienced were not few.
Having understood this much, I nodded and organized my thoughts while Soana exchanged greetings with the other Dullahans.
The ones most happy to see her were Zigor and Mori.
[Tristan is a rat-sized bumblebee, but Soana became a beautiful hawk!]
[S-Soana!]
[My, you two little ones met the Captain first.]
They said she took care of the two knights like a mother, and that didn't seem to be wrong. Zigor and Mori's voices carried undisguised spoiling. Their whining seemed familiar.
[Now we just need to find Dasha and we're all together!]
Zigor shouted in an excited voice and scurried around on the ground. But for some reason, Mori's reaction to Zigor's words wasn't good.
Mori, who had been blankly watching the Dullahans greeting Soana warmly, slowly backed away and approached me.
Seeing Mori looking around here and there as if searching for a silk pouch, I quietly extended my palm.
Mori, looking up at me with startled eyes, hesitantly climbed onto my palm.
"Nadav, Minte. Explain the situation to Soana and let everyone enjoy their reunion. We're leaving this place tomorrow."
[Yes, understood.]
[Yes.]
Leaving the Dullahans in the care of Nadav and Minte, the most rational among the Dullahans who could lead everyone, I turned around with Mori. I entered the tent and sat on the makeshift bed.
After placing Mori on my knee, Mori, who had been looking around while watching my expression, cautiously coiled up.
"Mori."
[Yes, yes?]
"Why are you downcast again?"
Due to several incidents, Mori had become extremely secretive about their inner feelings. However, being clumsy at hiding their own heart, it showed through every time.
Since they were visibly showing discomfort, I couldn't help but find it bothersome. It would be a big problem if I left it alone and some discord arose among the Dullahans.
That's why I brought them in like this. I thought they might speak more easily if we were alone together.
At my question, Mori hesitated before slowly lowering their head.
[N-Now only Dasha is left.]
"Right."
[Th-The knights will regain their memories.]
"That seems likely."
Mori's large eyes grew moist. As I gazed down at that sight, I narrowed my eyes and asked.
"Do you dislike that?"
Was there something, some memory they wanted to hide from the other knights? With suspicious feelings, I examined Mori, when Mori muttered in a depressed voice.
[I wish they wouldn't remember.]
"What……."
I was about to ask what they didn't want them to remember, but stopped.
Mori remembers everything. Everything. Even the knights' final moments, all of it.
[A-At first I didn't like it. But now it's okay. So…… the other knights, just.]
And Mori was a knight with an extremely tender heart. A tender knight who couldn't even pass by an evil monster and would fret about wanting to save it.
How much more would Mori, who valued even complete strangers so dearly, care for those close to them—there was no need to ask.
[I wish they stayed unaware.]
What should I do with this young snake, anxiously fretting over something they can't do anything about on their own?
I was originally not compatible with people of such kind nature. To my eyes, they just seemed frustrating, not touching or noble.
But I didn't particularly want to scold Mori as foolish.
I had thought of them as a snake to release at any time, but it seems I've unknowingly accepted this one as my knight too.
"My knights are all strong, so even if they regain their memories, they won't collapse."
[But…….]
"If you can't trust them, then trust me."
Mori looked up at me intently. At this very moment, is Mori thinking of the Captain of the past?
Thinking back on a past life I don't even remember, I soon emptied my mind. She is a person of the past, and right now, Mori's Captain was me.
"As I said, I don't lie to you."
Mori looked at me with wavering eyes, then quietly curled up. I gently stroked Mori's scales.
Mori's breathing settled more calmly than before. That seemed to represent my influence on Mori, and I felt a bit pleased.