[266] The Kingdom of Kazura (3)
"Are you really going? I'm honestly fine."
Shirone hated that Amy was letting her mind wander to other things with the graduation exam coming up.
No matter how much she was the top candidate for graduation, anything could happen in a competition. If she were to fail, he'd feel partly responsible.
Of course Amy would never think that way, but as someone who wanted her to succeed, he wanted to stop her.
"It's important to you. Reina will be busy overseeing the royal procedures, so she needs someone to stay close and escort her. Why, don't you want me to go?"
If Amy came along, Shirone would feel more secure than ever.
She was an absolute ally in terms of ability—just as she had been on Galliant Island.
"No, I'd much rather it be me…."
"Then it's settled. That's that. Besides, you owe me, so this is my chance to pay you back."
Shirone couldn't remember what debt Amy meant, but a hundred memories flashed through Amy's mind.
It had been Shirone who saved her from the cliff during the Arcane raid, and when she'd been captured by Kariel in the heavens, if not for him she wouldn't have come back alive.
When Amy stubbornly insisted on staying, Reina let out a resigned sigh and gave the driver his orders.
"Depart."
Objectively, Amy joining wasn't a loss. Having a friend at Shirone's side to help would be far better. It just felt like giving up initiative from the very start, and that stung.
Reina propped her chin on her hand and pursed her lips toward the window.
She could almost see Amy's smile.
@
The carriage was headed for the Thorn Mine, midway up the Origin Range where Shirone's house stood. On the way, Reina briefed them on the broad situation.
Tormia, Kazra, and Yakma had once been a single unified state. As noble power grew, factional strife erupted and they split, and now the three formed an alliance.
"In a sense it's a newborn country. Kazra hasn't even been independent a hundred years. Especially the Yakma Republic didn't recognize Kazra's separation until recently. There was almost a war—nearly broke out. That was eighteen years ago. In short, when Kazra's internal affairs became unstable, they whisked the first prince Shirone away."
At least Shirone found some comfort in knowing he hadn't been abandoned out of hatred. The fate of a kingdom had been at stake, so some things couldn't be helped.
That didn't erase the hurt, of course. He was simply forcing himself to ignore his rising emotions while everything was still uncertain.
"I heard about it too. It almost reached civil war. Yakma had finished preparing to deploy troops. But…."
Amy cut off her sentence. It wasn't something she could say in front of Shirone.
It was the same for Reina, but as the escort leader she couldn't avoid it.
"Yes. The unrest ended when Kazra's king, Orkamp IV, married the Empress of the Kashan Empire, Teraje."
Shirone had read the history books and knew what had happened. He'd never imagined it would involve him.
The Kashan Empire controlled a third of the human realm's territory and was the continent's dominant power.
Moreover, its ruler had been female for generations.
Teraje, the Kashan Empress, was said to be so beautiful every man would fall for her.
At the same time, she was cold-blooded enough to sacrifice anything to secure victory.
She had proposed marriage to Orkamp, the king of Kazra.
"Orkamp IV had no choice. The country was on the verge of collapse. And by accepting Teraje he gained a powerful ally. After marrying Teraje, Kazra's politics stabilized rapidly and its finances strengthened."
It was such an extraordinary event it was detailed in the history books.
Above all, Orkamp already had a wife, and Teraje also already had a husband.
"Arranged marriages among royalty and nobility are common, but this was unusual. Teraje—or rather the rulers of Kashan—had been women through the generations, and marriage was the strategy they used most to expand influence. Besides Orkamp IV, Teraje had three other husbands. Of course they were all kings. Teraje married Orkamp and visited Kazra from time to time, and each time she gave birth, so she now has sons and daughters there."
"Did Kazra's original queen, Eliza Orkamp, have any other children besides Shirone?"
"Unfortunately no. During the unrest, when the newborn child was sent abroad, Teraje immediately intervened. There was probably an agreement—no more heirs to be born. Teraje wanted her own children to inherit the kingdom."
Amy sighed.
No matter the rank, using the human ability to conceive as a political tool was chilling.
As a result, Shirone was the only bloodline left from Queen Eliza. Beneath him were the half-siblings Teraje had borne.
As Amy reached that thought, she suddenly realized the reason for the unease she'd felt since they left.
"Wait. So if Shirone becomes the first prince of Kazra…."
Reina nodded seriously, as if that were the core issue.
"Yes. Teraje's children would be pushed down the succession order. Conversely, Queen Eliza's line would gain strength. The envoy from the kingdom coming to the Magic Academy and making that big announcement was probably related to this."
Amy frowned.
Come to think of it, Kazra's internal stabilization had happened a decade ago. They could have looked for Shirone much earlier if they'd put in some effort.
So there were clearly political reasons behind searching for Shirone now.
Even if they were his biological parents… the invitation wasn't motivated purely by wanting to see Shirone, and that fact weighed on her.
"Ugh, why does everything have to be so complicated? I'll never understand how the high-ups think."
Teraje became Orkamp's concubine, and Orkamp became one of Teraje's husbands.
It was an absurd situation that couldn't even be drawn into a sensible family tree.
While each of them drifted in thought, the carriage sped on and soon turned into the Thorn Mine.
It had once been a coal-mining area; because the stalactites in the caves were sharp it had come to be called the Thorn Mine, and the name stuck.
The mine was now closed and sealed, and the air had a faint acrid tang. But to Shirone it was above all the smell of home.
Seeing Shirone's hardened face soften a little, Amy inhaled the acrid air deeply.
Before stepping down from the carriage at Shirone's house, Amy straightened herself.
It was her first time visiting Shirone's home. Meeting his parents made her naturally cautious.
She was determined not to make a mistake, but the situation felt delicate.
Since Shirone's parents were commoners, she worried how to behave. If she was overly formal they might feel awkward; if she acted as she usually did she might come off as presumptuous.
Unlike Amy, Reina opened the door and stepped out as soon as they arrived.
Vincent and Olina were ready to depart and waiting.
While butler Temuran inspected the carriage, Reina took Shirone to meet his parents.
"Hello. How have you been?"
"We're well, thanks to your care. We've been comfortable."
Vincent and Olina offered their greetings with as much courtesy as they could muster.
Reina ignored the formalities and moved on to the schedule.
"We'll travel by carriage north and cross the border. We should arrive around midnight, so please bear with us until then. From there the Kazra escort will take over, so you won't be inconvenienced."
"Please don't worry about us. We're just sorry for causing trouble because of our son."
Reina gave a sympathetic smile. Looking at Vincent and Olina, it was clear they hadn't slept a wink.
Temuran had probably explained things several times, but it must still feel unreal to them.
How could they understand that a child they'd raised like their own for eighteen years after finding him left at the stables could suddenly be claimed by his biological parents?
And those parents were the king and queen of another country.
It was good for Shirone, but they were human. How could they not feel hurt?
Besides, they couldn't sue a king—there was no way to stop their child from being taken.
"Don't worry too much. Nothing's certain yet, and even if they are his biological parents, Shirone won't waver. It was the same with the Ozent family."
Vincent, his true feelings exposed, waved his hand in surprise.
"Worry? Not at all. This is truly the best thing for Shirone. Still, thank you for caring."
At that moment Amy's bold voice called from the carriage.
"Hello!"
All eyes turned and Amy's face flushed. She'd awkwardly barged in at a strange moment, anxious at seeing Reina chatting with the parents.
"The young lady is…?"
Olina's eyes sparkled with interest. It was the first time Shirone had brought a girl his age home.
She was pretty and sincere-eyed—a proper young woman.
"Oh, yes. I'm Karmis Amy, Shirone's friend. I'll be accompanying him to Kazra. Pleased to meet you."
Amy bowed stiffly before she realized it. Her confidence in staying composed in any situation had splintered.
It was only Amy who felt awkward; Vincent and Olina exchanged delighted smiles and whispered that she seemed a fine young woman.
Shirone remained silent. He honestly didn't know what face to show his parents.
He could've firmly refused adoption by the Ozent family, but this time they were his real parents.
And they were royalty, leaving him no choice. He felt as if he were betraying the people who had raised him.
Vincent, already anticipating his son's feelings, stepped closer.
"Are you all right, Shirone? That must have been a shock."
"I'm fine. Father… I'm sorry."
"Ha! What are you apologizing for? Just don't make any mistakes at the palace. Temuran taught you a lot, but it's a hard place."
Shirone forced a smile.
"I'm fine too. But don't worry. With Amy by my side, I'll be all right."
Seizing the moment, Amy tapped her chest with her thumb.
"Of course! I'll look after him, so you don't need to worry."
Olina smiled.
"Thank you. Now I remember the name. I heard Shirone's been helped a lot."
Amy felt a little proud. As her tension eased, her stiff lips moved more naturally.
"I've also been helped a lot by Shirone. Please treat me well."
Reina clapped her hands to bring everyone's attention back.
It was nice to keep the pleasant mood, but there was no time to waste.
If they were to reach the border before midnight, they had to hurry.
"All right, let's go. Butler, wait at the manor. Be ready to move as soon as word comes to Louis."
"Understood. Travel safely."
The carriage carrying Shirone and his party set off for Kazra.
@
It was a forced march.
Being on a jolting carriage for over six hours leaves every muscle aching. With a schedule of an hour's travel and five minutes' rest, there was no time to soothe sore backs.
Still, no one complained.
As the border drew near, the pain faded and tension rose.
For Shirone, this was a great gamble.
Having heard the tangled circumstances of the Kazra royal family, he couldn't relax even if an escort awaited them. If Teraje made a hasty decision, she could even send assassins.