I bent down and breathed in the fragrance of the plant. The faint, spreading scent of green, and within it, a trace of gentle sweetness.

I savored the familiar smell for a moment, then looked up to find Heliones standing with his head bowed, his face deeply flushed.

It was not warm in the room. Was he feeling unwell? Had he been overexerting himself on my account?

Concern moved my hand before I could think. When I touched his forehead to check for fever without any particular intention behind it, Heliones startled so sharply that I caught myself and quickly withdrew my hand.

“Oh! Your face was red, and I thought you might be feeling ill. I’m sorry!”

He was someone I had never even brushed against when we were husband and wife, and it was clear I had grown far too comfortable lately. The ease of friendship was a good thing, but I could not overstep. Too embarrassed to look at his face, I bowed my head low.

What do I do? He won’t think I’m a forward woman, will he? Why did I do something like that?

As I waited for his reaction, Heliones’s large, broad hand settled quietly over mine.

“It seems I have a bit of a chill, uncharacteristically.”

“Oh.”

“No one else noticed. Thank you for your concern.”

Heliones patted my hand twice and then his hand was gone.

Despite the embarrassing thing I had just done, I felt an odd pang at the warmth leaving my hand, and the feeling flustered me.

Ah, what is wrong with me lately. Unable to lift my head, I was turning my gaze away at an awkward angle when Heliones made a rather bold proposal.

“The Summer Night Ball is being held again. It will not run the full duration, but an extra day has been added to hold a grand banquet in its place. It is, after all, an event meant for the people.”

By now it had become an occasion for nobles to show off their fine clothes, but the Summer Night Ball had its origins in a tradition where nobles and the imperial family held a celebration for the people before the harvest season. It was only natural to make adjustments given what had happened because of me.

“It is a little unfortunate that the scale has been reduced.”

“Is that in any way Miss Lucian’s fault? House Balthar donated twice the usual amount, so the event will actually be grander than usual despite the shorter duration. Please do not trouble yourself over it.”

“That is a relief, then. How is Miss Delmir getting on?”

I had heard she was imprisoned, but I was curious how difficult her situation actually was. I hoped it was not too comfortable. I hoped she was experiencing at least a fraction of the discomfort I had felt.

Not wanting anyone to see the petty darkness in me that wished for another person’s misfortune, I put on a gentle smile and performed the role of a woman overflowing with generosity and grace.

“Not a single visitor has come. Even her own family has turned their back on her, so she will have to make do with the two cotton tunics she was given when she was locked up. Even Miss Dylan and Miss Whitney, who were always at her side, have cut off all contact, apparently.”

Heliones wore an expression entirely at odds with his refined features, openly delighted in the way of someone trading gossip, and gave a thorough account of Delmir’s current circumstances.

I had been worried my own petty feelings would show, but seeing him speak so frankly without a care for appearances, I laughed with genuine amusement.

“Good.”

I had no wish to be someone who took pleasure in another’s misfortune, but when the person in question had tried to harm what was precious to me, that was a different matter. I would gladly stake everything I had to grind them down, again and again, until they had no desire to rise.

At my unhesitating answer, Heliones held his expression for a moment, then let out a small, satisfied snort of laughter.

“Yes. Quite right. Good indeed.”

* * *

He had put his heart into it. He had pressed his lips reverently to the red flower that resembled Lucian, the way one might approach her, and hoped his sincerity would somehow reach her.

When Lucian bent down to breathe in the fragrance of the plant, Heliones felt a flush of shame, the kind a boy in the throes of adolescence might feel at being caught harboring impure thoughts. At the same time he found himself envying a plant that would wither when its season passed, and was startled by his own pettiness.

He was standing with his head bowed, face red with embarrassment, when he felt Lucian’s pale hand settle over his forehead, and he startled before he could stop himself.

Heliones immediately regretted his reaction when he saw Lucian’s response, but there was no taking it back. And he could hardly wag his tail and beg her to touch him again like some eager dog, so he reined in his feelings as best he could and patted Lucian’s hand with a composed air.

Fortunately, Lucian’s expression eased almost at once. Seeming reassured, she asked about Delmir, and Heliones, all dignity forgotten, recounted Delmir’s circumstances with a face that made no effort to hide how satisfying he found it all.

The moment he finished speaking, he regretted his own behavior.

Ah, I must have come across as petty. Should I have answered with more gravity?

But contrary to his expectations, Lucian laughed brightly. She laughed openly and genuinely, agreeing with what he had said.

Since their reunion, no, going all the way back to when they were husband and wife, it was the first time Lucian had laughed so freely at something he said.

‘Hmm. Count Fonta was not entirely wrong after all.’

Be honest enough that she does not recoil. His advice had worked, for once. He would have to give the man a holiday after tomorrow’s banquet.

Heliones returned to the imperial palace and hummed to himself as he worked through the backlog that had piled up. The attendants had no idea what had put the Emperor in such uncommonly high spirits and were puzzled, but since it was far easier to be around him than during the low mood of the past few days, they soon set their questions aside.

* * *

Before returning to the imperial palace, Heliones had asked me to attend the ball. A letter delivered by Elren also carried Elise’s request, written with eagerness to see me, and I hesitated briefly, but I soon made up my mind against it. There was no point in showing my face in public and stirring up an already volatile public mood.

Today’s gossip papers carried Lucian’s movements again. Most of it was speculation, but the use of inflammatory words like war and rebellion made things outside the lodgings a little louder than usual.

I had eaten an early lunch and was painting to settle my mind when a sound of a different quality from the usual noise began coming from outside.

“Let go of me! Let go!”

“Get your hands off me! Have you all lost your minds! Do you have any idea who that woman is!!”

The voice itself was somewhat thin and high, but the screaming carried such raw force that the sound alone seemed to cut through the air.

Hanna moved to draw the curtains that were slightly open, telling me not to pay it any mind, but I was already at the window, looking to see the woman’s face.

I was not particularly good at remembering faces, but this was not one I recognized. It seemed we did not know each other personally.

Having confirmed she was a stranger, I was about to draw the curtains as Hanna wanted, when I saw the guards forcing the slight woman down without mercy and throwing her to the ground.

What was this?

“Out of my way! Traitors! My husband and my son were burned alive by that seductress’s father!”

I had heard grievances like this more times than I could count. Father used to burn people alive when he was in a foul mood, as a way of lifting his spirits.

The woman had clearly been thrown to the ground more than once already. Her entire body was covered in dirt, and bruises had already formed beneath both cheekbones.

“That woman should die too! It’s only fair she burns to death!”

No matter how roughly the soldiers blocked her, the woman kept throwing herself forward without giving up. She was clutching a small bottle in her hand, and it appeared to be oil. Every time the soldiers tried to take it, she pulled it to her chest and shielded it desperately, twisting her body toward the lodgings. Laying hands on a woman was dishonorable, but they could not stand by and allow a fire, so the soldiers pushed her back a little harder than before.

The woman’s thin body flew into the crowd, and the onlookers who had gathered began slowly backing away. The bottle shattered on impact, and the oil soaked over her.

“Right. You’re safe and comfortable, cozying up to your ex-husband. Must be nice! Take a good look! See how deep the hatred your family created runs!”

I do not remember clearly what happened after that. The moment I saw the woman pull a match from inside her clothes, something took hold of me and I ran outside.

Flames caught across the woman’s body with a whoosh. Fire fed by oil does not go out with water. Without a moment’s hesitation I lifted the hem of my skirt and beat out the flames on her body. The embers kept catching again, so I tore the hem away entirely and beat at them over and over until the fire was finally out.

“A doctor! Someone get a doctor!”

At my call, one of the soldiers ran toward the imperial palace.

“Are you all right? Your face is fortunately unharmed, but you have burns on your back. The fabric has adhered to the skin, so it will need to be removed carefully.”

The oil had apparently spilled mostly toward the back, and the damage there was far worse than the front, which was surprisingly intact. I bit my lip as I looked at the skin that had already begun to soften. It must hurt terribly.

“What do you think you’re doing?”