kscans

Chapter 6 - The Rabbit, the Little Bird, and the Decoy

He stood at the entrance to the room.

The large, ceiling-high doors were open. The two guards who saw Litt bowed their heads.

"Good work."

"Sir!"

With a flick of his rank mantle, Litt proceeded with a composed stride. Touli followed behind him. Past the connecting room was a large hall filled with desks.

"Hello, everyone. Working hard, I see."

The Court Secretaries all turned at once.

"Lord Litt!"

A young boy rushed over. His rank mantle bore a single pheasant feather—the mark of a Third-Class Court Secretary.

"Mizuha, is the Court Secretary-General in?"

"Yes. He's in the back room."

Mizuha's eyes fell on the letter box in Touli's arms.

"You're already finished?!"

A murmur went through the large room. Voices of amazement flew back and forth.

"—There are five hundred and fifty-six pairs, you know?"

"—As expected of Lord Litt, the speed-writer."

"—So he's not just loafing around all the time."

"—Hey, you'll be in trouble if he hears you."

"I heard every word."

A collective gasp went through the secretaries.

"Don't worry, I'm not angry. Besides, I hate to disappoint your expectations, but I still have about a fifth of them left."

"That's still incredibly impressive..."

Mizuha gave a wry smile.

"It seems you'll make the deadline."

"If nothing happens."

"Ah, a messenger from Lord Raoul was here earlier. He wants you to make a fair copy of the records he reviewed with the government officials."

Mizuha gestured with his palm, and another secretary held up a large, rolled-up sheet of paper.

"Do it yourself!"

"Lord Litt. Please don't contradict yourself,"

Touli sighed.

"You're a Court Secretary."

"I wonder if I can go back to the country."

"Before that, a letter of recommendation to the Royal Knights for me, please."

"Not a chance."

Hmph, Litt snorted.

"I'm sure Lord Raoul wouldn't allow it. Neither would the Court Secretary-General."

With a wry smile, Mizuha gestured toward the back room. Litt's face twisted in annoyance.

"What a load of 'an elegant life of drinking tea, working a little, drinking more tea, and the day is done.' His Highness tricked me."

As Litt grumbled, Touli and Mizuha exchanged a look.

"Isn't that more or less what you do?"

Mizuha let out a small chuckle at Touli's observation.

"He barged into my humble country life. He told me he'd have my head chopped off if I didn't come to the Royal Castle."

"Even now, if you don't work, you'll get your head chopped off,"

his merciless attendant said. Litt looked up at the ceiling.

"Ah, what a cruel world!"

"—And yet, while you lament so, you seem to have plenty of time, Litt."

At the clear, elderly voice, Mizuha bowed his head.

An old man sat at a rosewood desk in the back room. Bald stroked his long white beard with a wrinkled hand.

"The night party invitations?"

"Not all of them, but this is the completed portion."

Touli placed the ebony letter box on the desk. Litt took a list from his pocket and handed it to Bald.

"Hmm, indeed. The collation of the invitations and the list, and the sealing, I will leave to Spirld—"

The sound of confident footsteps echoed.

"Pardon the intrusion."

"Ah, Spirld. Perfect timing."

After bowing to Bald, he glared at Litt, who was standing before the desk.

"...Your presence here means you have finished, Litt?"

"Only a portion of them,"

Litt replied with a cheerful smile.

"My sincerest apologies for the d-e-l-a-y, Lord Furas. Thanks to you, I can finally hand over my duties."

Spirld's brow furrowed, and he looked at Bald, who nodded.

"I am entrusting you with the collation of the list and the sealing."

"...Yes, sir."

As if to say such work should be left to a lower-ranked secretary, Spirld glanced at Mizuha, whose shoulders flinched.

"That's right, Mizuha,"

Litt said, as if just remembering.

"About that fair copy from before, would you mind taking it to my office for me? Right now."

"Y-yes, sir!"

Looking relieved, Mizuha left the room.

"And Touli. Go to the library and find this document for me."

Litt handed him a memo.

"As you wish."

"Like a rabbit... and I mean that in terms of speed, too."

Touli glanced at his master. The jade eyes spoke volumes.

"Yes. Should I bring the document to the office?"

"That's right."

"Then, I shall take my leave."

With polished movements, the young attendant gave a bow.

When Touli peered into the library shelves, he found someone was already there.

"—Lady Sumika."

Dressed in a pale pink dress, she turned around. Her blue eyes widened.

"And you are?"

"Ah! M-my apologies. I... I mean, I am Touli, an attendant in service to the First-Class Court Secretary, Lord Litt Liton."

He stood ramrod straight, clutching two thin books under his arm.

"I am Sumika of the Scott Viscount Family."

She grasped her dress and dipped into a light curtsy. Touli panicked at Sumika's proper execution of a lady's curtsy.

"I'm just an attendant. Please, don't be so formal."

"But you are in service to the renowned Court Secretary, Lord Littrald Liton, are you not? You are of a higher standing than I."

"I do not hold a title!"

Flustered, Touli's face turned red. "Oh, my,"

Sumika said, placing a hand on her cheek.

"That will not do, Lord Touli. To say that you do not deserve courtesy because you do not hold a title is, in turn, to disparage your master, Lord Littrald."

"M-my apologies."

She's just as clever as the rumors say, Touli thought. She had admonished him with gentle words.

If this had been Spirld or Valona, they would have seized the opportunity to mock him with a sharp tongue. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

Touli subtly observed Sumika. Her chestnut hair was tied up, falling in gentle waves. Her gaze was calm and blue.

Her pale pink dress was, in all honesty, not of the highest quality, but its modesty suited Sumika's atmosphere. A loveliness that stirred a desire to protect. An ill-fated young lady, like a character from a story.

"Are you looking for a document?"

Sumika's eyes fell on the books Touli was holding.

"Yes. Um, it's a collection of botanical sketches..."

"In that case, it would be this one."

Without hesitation, Sumika's white finger pointed to a single book. As she tried to pull it from the shelf, Touli stopped her.

"Please wait, Lady Sumika. The book is heavy, allow me."

Touli took it first.

"Oh my. Were you a knight, not an attendant?"

Fufu, Sumika smiled. At the clever compliment, Touli's eyes lit up.

"Thank you. —It would be rude to let a princess carry anything heavier than a rose."

"That's from 'The Snow-White Knight's Tale'! I absolutely love that story!"

Her previous loveliness was nowhere to be seen. Touli was overwhelmed by her forceful voice.

"Oh! My apologies! When it comes to literature, I tend to get a bit carried away."

Touli smiled.

"Me too. If I talk about it too much, Lord Litt gets annoyed with me."

"That must be because you are a person of talent, Lord Touli."

Praised for having talent, Touli was taken aback.

"You used an appropriate quote in an appropriate situation. That is difficult to do without a proper education. As expected of the attendant to a First-Class Court Secretary."

—He's going to fall for her.

Touli nodded to himself. She was too perfectly suited to the tastes of a certain story-loving prince. She was simply fun to talk to. Her knowledge of stories and literature was deep, and their verbal repartee was delightful.

"What do you think of Lord Tagi?"

At the unexpected question, Sumika's expression stiffened. A guarded light appeared in her blue eyes.

"My apologies for being so forward. I'm sure it's a persistent question you've been asked by many people."

"Yes. That is correct."

Lord Litt is rubbing off on me, Touli thought in a corner of his mind.

"I was just a little curious."

On top of the two books he was holding, Touli opened the collection of botanical sketches. A complex vine, a type of grape, was drawn in black ink.

"About the daughter of a minor noble house buzzing around the second prince?"

"Do you have romantic feelings for him?"

"As expected of an attendant. Your words are swords."

"Lord Litt says the pen is mightier than the sword. Well, that man is mighty with his deceptions."

"As a loyal subject, I hold him in high esteem."

Their gazes met.

"Besides, he has a fiancée. It is not my place to interfere."

"Then, what is it that you wish for, Lady Sumika?"

Touli closed the book and turned to face her.

"You called yourself a minor noble. Is it your wish to be recognized as a friend to Lord Tagi?"

"That is the most peaceful path. Allow me to be clear."

She stood tall with her chest out.

"I love books. I love stories and literature. And if I can share the joy of reading with someone else, there is nothing that would make me happier."

Sumika gave a soft smile.

"Are you not the same, Lord Touli?"

"That comeback... is unfair."

"Oh, my comrade!"

Sumika said playfully.

"I've read 'The Lion King Comes!', but for me, 'The Snow-White Knight's Tale' is still the best."

"I love 'The Snow-White Knight' as well! Isn't Sir Leon wonderful?"

Touli and Sumika walked along a stone-paved path lined with fresh green shrubbery.

Sumika's father, the Viscount, worked in the government building, which was some distance from the library. Touli had offered to escort her.

They bonded over their shared topic.

"I admire the amazing relationship of trust between Sir Leon and his lord, King Evon. I even pestered Lord Litt to play-act it out with me."

To hide his embarrassment, Touli readjusted the three books in his arms.

"Oh my. You mean how they communicate through their own secret codes and gestures, just the two of them. That is truly—"

Sumika placed a hand on her cheek, entranced.

"It sends shivers down my spine."

Sumika let out a rapturous sigh.

"The master-servant relationship is delicious enough on its own. But a secret between just the two of them. And one of them is a peerless knight, handsome and talented! That scene where King Evon is agonizing over whether to speak to a lady he fell in love with at a night party, no, the difference in their status is too great, and Sir Leon encourages him, saying, 'If you've been struck by love's golden arrow, you must be true to your own heart!' Ah, what a heart-pounding development! Something I could never experience in reality!"

She said it all without taking a breath. Then, snap, Sumika returned to her senses.

"My goodness, what an unladylike display. My apologies."

"You truly love stories, don't you, Lady Sumika?"

At Touli's smile, her blue eyes widened.

"Lord Tagi... said the same thing."

The stone path ran alongside a building. The elegant structure shone white, bathed in sunlight. In contrast, the stone path was cast in shadow.

"—Lady Sumika."

Touli stopped walking.

"What is it, Lord Touli?"

"Pardon me, but have you ever played tag?"

At Touli's serious expression, Sumika sensed the ominous atmosphere.

"I am a reader who admires the Snow-White Knight, you know?"

"Run back the way we came, along the building."

"And you, Lord Touli..."

Two men dressed as guards were walking toward them from up ahead.

"They're not official guards. Their steps are unsteady, their center of gravity is off."

The two men held long spears, the kind a guard would carry. The tips were dully gleaming blades.

"Run!"

At Touli's shout, Sumika bolted like a rabbit.

But another man emerged from the shadow of the bushes, pointing a long spear at Sumika.

Slowly, the three men closed their circle. Touli shouted.

"Who are you people?!"

"You think we'll answer?"

One of the men in front thrusted his spear forward. Touli twisted his body to dodge.

The books he was holding fell to the ground. Touli's face contorted.

"My master is going to be angry with me!"

"Don't worry. Dead men tell no tales."

The three men closed the distance at once.

"—Then we'll just have to make you talk while you're still alive."

The sky suddenly darkened. As he landed, his mantle spread like wings.

"As a friend of mine who loves quotes would say, heaven and hell are both here on earth."

The grey-haired knight drew his sword. A well-used longsword that glinted sharply even in the shade.

"Lord Jin!"

"Hey, Touli. Good job not trembling like a rabbit."

Touli did his best to shield Sumika behind him. The rest was over in an instant. Jin sheathed his sword. The three men were unconscious.

"Um, the Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights, Lord Jin...?"

Sumika said, bewildered.

"You know of me? I am honored."

Swishing his mantle, Jin placed a hand on his chest. At the perfect knightly gesture, applause rained down from above.

"Well done, Lord Vice-Captain, the charmer of all people."

"Lord Litt!"

"Lord Littrald."

Touli and Sumika looked up at the second floor of the building. Litt was leaning against the window frame.

"...Wait a minute, Lord Jin. Did you jump down from there?!"

"Yes. I did?"

At Jin's nonchalant nod, Touli was at a loss for words.