The Princess Imprint A Traitor - Chapter 31: Requiem of the Imperial Capital (6)

“Ah….”

The sweet words hit her out of nowhere, accompanied by his gentle smile. The weighty despair she had been drowning in felt almost ridiculous now. Eve’s face turned bright red.

Since awakening as king, Mikael had become more and more dangerous—to her heart, at least.

Whether he was seducing her or comforting her, it worked on Eve either way. Though her sorrow didn’t vanish entirely, Mikael’s presence pulled her away from the crushing depths of self-reproach.

Unfortunately, the surrounding circumstances were far from ideal.

“It’s almost the rainy season in winter! How are we supposed to live in these tents?!”

“This is the best the imperial relief effort can do? Did they give everything to Chansley and leave us with scraps?”

“……!”

At the loud voices, Eve turned her head. Not far away, a group of citizens was gathered, arguing heatedly with the guards. Their protests grew louder.

“This is all the imperial family’s fault! The fire happened because they coddled Chansley!”

“If they had just distributed magic stones, this disaster wouldn’t have happened!”

“And yet, they still throw banquets in the palace every night, feasting and drinking! Pah! Spit!”

Some began shoving the guards, hurling curses. Rage and resentment spread like an epidemic, fueling the growing unrest. Within moments, the crowd had swelled in size.

“Execute Marquess Chansley! Off with his head! Kill him! Kill him!”

“Bring my father and grandfather back! Give them back to me!”

“My entire life’s savings burned to the ground! Who’s going to compensate me, huh?!”

“I don’t care about the money! Give me back my wife, my child!”

Eve felt her chest tighten again. But it wasn’t just the grief in their voices that suffocated her.

This is dangerous. If the higher-ups order the guards to suppress them with force, people are going to get hurt!

Some protesters had already begun grabbing at the guards’ collars. Others returned with wooden canes and fire pokers. If the guards perceived this as an escalation, they would have an excuse to retaliate.

She had to calm the situation before it worsened. But simply stepping forward and trying to reason with them didn’t seem like the best approach. If anything, revealing her identity as a royal might make her the direct target of their wrath and worsen the crisis.

“Eve.”

Mikael had clearly reached the same conclusion. He pulled the hood of her robe down further to conceal her lime-blonde hair.

“Your safety comes first. We should move.”

Eve bit her lip and nodded. She resolved to find the captain of the guards as soon as possible and discuss how to de-escalate the situation. Just as she was about to take a step in the direction Mikael led—

Huh?

The shouting, the crying, the desperate pleas and screams— the cacophony of the crowd— was fading rapidly. And at the same time, a different sound pierced through the silence.

It was singing.

“Ah!”

Eve whipped around toward the plaza. Her gaze locked onto the scorched clock tower’s peak.

Rimona.

The gypsy girl was singing a song for the dead, her voice soaring in lament for lost souls.

The citizens recognized her almost instantly.

“Rimona Lund…”

“Miss Lund is singing the funeral hymn…”

“Did Her Highness the Seventh Princess send her…?”

The autumn wind swept through the plaza, carrying Rimona’s clear, mournful voice along with the strands of her dark hair. Like a cure to an epidemic, her song wrapped around the entire square, soothing the unrest.

Hands that had been gripping the guards’ collars fell away. Those who had raised fire pokers and wooden staffs now let them drop to the ground. The riot that had been on the verge of explosion subsided— as if by magic.

“…Hhhk…”

The requiem for the living echoed across the plaza for a long time. She sang, mourning again and again, until her voice was hoarse and breaking, until it was drowned out by the people’s sobs.

By the time the sunset faded into night, a strong gust of wind swept through District 13. The ashes lifted and scattered into the sky.

The people clasped their hands to their hearts, silently hoping— that the souls of the departed would rise with them.

❇

By the time the night had deepened and the moon had risen high, Rimona’s requiem finally came to an end. She pulled her coat tightly around herself and descended from the clock tower.

A small group of five or six citizens immediately recognized her—the greatest singer in the imperial capital—and hurried toward her.

“Miss Rimona Lund, thank you so mu— Agh!”

That was the moment the people behind them shoved forward in a rush.

“P-Please, keep singing! Just a little longer, Rimona!”

“Miss Lund, I beg you! Sing a bit more for my son, please!”

Desperation shone in their eyes as they clung to her, searching frantically for comfort and something—someone—to depend on. But Rimona’s throat was raw and hoarse after singing until her voice reached the heavens.

“I-I’m sorry… I can’t…”

Just those few words of refusal were enough to turn their gazes into ones of betrayal.

Then—

“Ah! Look! A royal carriage!”

“What? Where?! Where?!”

A noble’s passing carriage became a convenient distraction, drawing the crowd’s attention away just in time.

In that instant, someone swiftly pulled a hood over Rimona’s head and grabbed her wrist.

“Huh?!”

“Don’t panic. This way.”

“…!”

The familiar voice made Rimona flinch. Her body, devoid of resistance, was easily led away.

Her rescuer successfully guided her into a narrow alley, pulling her to safety. They ran with all their might, and just as the shouts of “Rimona is gone!” rang out behind them, they slipped into a waiting carriage parked on a larger road.

Click!

The moment the door shut, the carriage started moving.

Now alone inside, Rimona pulled down her hood, trying to catch her breath. The person across from her—also panting slightly—met her eyes and smiled.

“It’s been a while, Rimona.”

“You…!”

Rimona’s lips parted instinctively, about to say a name—but then they trembled and shut tightly.

Eve assumed it was because her throat hurt and wordlessly handed her a warm glass bottle of milk.

“You’re a big star now. I figured escaping might be difficult, so I arranged for a carriage. Was that too much interference?”

“N-No, not at all. It really helped.”

“Good. Your home is in District 7, right? I’ll take you there.”

“T-Thanks.”

For the record, the carriage they were in was a disguised imperial vehicle, and the one currently sitting in the driver’s seat—

Was none other than Mikael.

It’s been way too long since we last met… Why does this feel so awkward?

Eve grew serious as she studied Rimona sitting across from her. The girl was sitting stiffly, fidgeting, and darting her eyes around nervously.

Rimona couldn’t help it. This was her first time facing Eve since she had learned the huge truth during the opening ceremony of the martial arts tournament. And worse, she hadn’t even had time to mentally prepare for it.

Her dry throat bobbed as she swallowed.

“Rimona.”

“Y-Y-Yeah?!”

“…….”

Eve had only meant to ask if she was feeling uncomfortable, but Rimona’s exaggerated reaction made her hesitate. A brief but painfully awkward silence settled between them, each lost in their own thoughts.

‘Is she mad at me for not keeping in touch?’

‘Ahhh! I overreacted from nervousness! That must’ve looked so suspicious—what do I do?!’

Eve decided she needed to break the strange tension first.

“Sorry I haven’t been in touch much. I had to go far away for a while because of… well, an order from someone very important.”

“Oh, um, I… I know— I mean, I see. That makes sense. You don’t have to apologize.”

“So… you’re not mad at me?”

“Mad?”

Despite her jumbled thoughts, Rimona tilted her head in confusion. Eve’s demeanor was oddly cautious.

“It just seemed like you were uncomfortable being around me… I thought maybe you were upset.”

“N-No way! I’m definitely not mad!”

Rimona frantically waved her hands to deny it. Though, truthfully, she was uncomfortable—just for an entirely different reason. In her panic, she nearly flung the milk bottle she had been holding.

Eve chuckled at the sight.

“Really? That’s a relief.”

“…….”

Rimona found herself staring blankly at Eve’s face. Her expression looked so genuinely relieved.

“More importantly, how have you been, Rimona?”

“I-I’ve been fine! What about you?”

“Honestly? I was feeling pretty down… but after hearing your song, I feel better now.”

Eve barely finished her sentence before she had to quickly cover her mouth. A deep yawn forced its way through, her eyes watering at the corners.

“Sorry. I think I relaxed too much after realizing you weren’t mad at me.”

“O-Okay! So s-stop apologizing already!”

“Alright. I’ll just make sure I don’t do anything to apologize for in the first place.”

“…….”

The carriage was well-lit with magical lamps, allowing Rimona to see Eve’s face clearly. Eve, visibly exhausted, was biting her lip in an attempt to stifle yet another yawn. Seeing this, Rimona momentarily forgot her nervousness and blurted out—

“Your eyes look like a dead fish’s. Are you even sleeping at all?”

“A dead fish? I thought you only used that phrase for guys who cling to you too much.”

“Th-That’s not the point! Your eyes are done for! You haven’t been sleeping properly, have you?”

“Well, um, a little… I didn’t expect to get nagged even outside the palace.”

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Because…”

Eve lowered her gaze.

“I just… can’t.”

“…….”