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Chapter 58
Parting was something every child had to learn as they grew up.
That every meeting inevitably presupposes a farewell.
“I think it’s about time I head back to the capital.”
[And I should return home as well.]
Daphne and Theophanes heard this and thought, So the time has come.
But it didn’t seem that way to Jaquet.
While eating cake, she stared at them with a shocked expression.
“You have to go? If we say goodbye… does that mean we’ll never see each other again? Then…”
Jaquet’s gaze moved from Helio and Ponti to Michael.
He was the first friend Jaquet had ever made in her life.
And now she had to part with that first friend not long after meeting him.
Michael, who had been about to cut a small piece of cake and put it into his mouth, froze when he noticed Jaquet’s gaze. He slowly set down his fork again.
“Um, Jaquet. Just because we say goodbye doesn’t mean we’ll never meet again. I may go back to the capital, but you could come visit the capital too. We can send letters. I could come back to Anaxis to visit again.”
Daphne nodded at Michael’s words.
“That’s right, Jaquet. Farewells aren’t always forever.”
“But… when we said goodbye, we never saw each other again. That’s how it was at the orphanage…”
At Jaquet’s words, no one there could respond.
That was because the goodbyes children experienced at the orphanage were different from ordinary children’s farewells.
Nothing was more unfortunate for those children than ending up back at the orphanage.
So the only farewell they knew was wishing for the other person to escape that place and never return.
In the silence, Daphne carefully parted her lips.
She was deeply thinking about how to respect the child’s feelings while giving her a new understanding of what farewell could mean.
At that moment, Theophanes spoke.
“Jaquet, not every farewell is the same. At the orphanage, you chose a farewell where you wouldn’t see each other again because everyone wished the other wouldn’t return there. But do you wish that Prince Michael would never come back to Anaxis?”
“No! I want him to come to Anaxis! And… um… I want us to watch festivals together!”
Jaquet fiddled with her fingers as she mentioned the festival they had seen together a few days ago.
Their outing had ended abruptly because of the appearance of the Gate, but for the child, it had clearly become an unforgettable moment.
“Next time, let’s go on a picnic too.”
Michael, who had been quietly listening, smiled brightly and held out his pinky finger toward Jaquet.
“What’s that?”
“It’s called a promise. Like this— it means I swear I’ll keep the promise I made with you.”
Michael straightened Jaquet’s little finger and hooked his own pinky around it.
“I promise.”
Jaquet stared at it for a moment before breaking into a bright smile.
“Yes, Jaquet. There are farewells where you promise to meet again next time.”
“A promise for next time!”
This farewell would probably become a moment when Jaquet’s world grew a little wider.
“Ponti too! You have to come back again!”
[Technically speaking, Anaxis is my home…]
“But you’re harder to see than people who don’t even live in Anaxis.”
Theophanes added in response to Ponti’s words.
“That’s not allowed! Ponti lives close by, so we’ll see you again next week!”
[W-What?! My plan to sleep lazily has been ruined!]
“Promise!”
Jaquet walked straight up to Ponti and grabbed his front paw.
She pressed on the tiger’s paw pad, making the claws come out, and hooked her own finger around one of them.
“Promise!”
[To treat an old man who can’t even see like this…!]
Although the tone sounded indignant, Ponti’s voice was filled with joy and peace.
And just like that, the farewell arrived suddenly.
The next morning, Ponti left.
Two mornings later, the two royals departed as well.
Jaquet, who should have been tired and sleepy, came out to see them off anyway.
She said she wanted to say goodbye to everyone.
The child didn’t cry. She bravely waved until they disappeared from sight.
“Bye! See you… again!”
Jaquet stood there until they were completely gone.
She didn’t shed any tears, but even in the cold morning frost she remained standing there.
Daphne and Theophanes realized that this was Jaquet’s own way of saying goodbye.
* * *
Without any time to dwell on sadness, they had to prepare to welcome the guests who would soon arrive.
Whenever Daphne blinked, she found herself busy preparing the banquet and organizing things to receive them.
“I wonder who will be coming this time?”
As the adults grew busier and Michael had left, Jaquet naturally spent more time alone.
Iverno filled that empty space somewhat.
But humans and divine beasts fundamentally thought differently.
[They said other members of Spring’s family are coming this time.]
“Family? Father’s family?”
At Jaquet’s words, Mari and Letty flinched.
When Jaquet talked with divine beasts, others couldn’t hear them, so it looked as if she were talking to herself.
They still weren’t used to that sight, so it sometimes startled them.
“My lady, calling them family is a bit… complicated.”
“Hm?”
Letty spoke up after hearing Jaquet.
“Letty.”
“Oh! Sorry.”
At Mari’s warning look, Letty quickly covered her mouth and looked sullen.
Even though she got scolded for interrupting like this every time, she didn’t seem inclined to stop.
“No, it’s okay, Letty! Could you explain it in more detail?”
Letty looked between Jaquet and Mari before speaking.
“The Duke doesn’t have any blood relatives right now. They’re called collateral families, but they aren’t actually connected by blood. It’s more of a relationship between lord and vassal.”
“Lord and vassal?”
“Um… they’re branch families and vassal houses. People who work for Anaxis.”
Jaquet had asked for a detailed explanation, but Letty’s words were difficult for her to understand.
“And anyway, I won’t be able to eat with them… or even meet them.”
Jaquet still hadn’t properly learned etiquette, and Daphne and Theophanes wanted to introduce her properly at a more suitable occasion.
But that was the adults’ reasoning.
Jaquet, who didn’t know any of that, searched for a reason she could understand.
“Maybe they’re embarrassed because I’m an orphan who doesn’t know my real parents…”
Jaquet murmured quietly while staring at Iverno, who was cracking nuts beside her.
Hearing that, Iverno jumped up and flapped his wings angrily.
[That can’t be true! Spring and Winter care about you so much! And besides…!]
Iverno suddenly stopped flapping and moved closer to Jaquet, sniffing her carefully.
Then he tilted his head as if something seemed strange.
His whole body leaned sideways with the motion.
[Jaquet, you smell like Spring and Winter.]
“Huh? What do you mean?”
[The scent of energy I smell isn’t the kind that comes from simply being around someone for a long time. But you said you’re an orphan, right?]
“Yes. My mom adopted me from the orphanage.”
At those words, Iverno fell into deep thought.
“Ivi?”
Even when Jaquet called him, it seemed he didn’t hear her.
“…If Mom and Dad are embarrassed of me… I’d really hate that.”
But Iverno was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear her quiet murmur.
