CH 5

Isabelle’s next big memory was the solar eclipse when she was thirteen. It was seven years after the first time they met. 

That night, Isabelle sat in front of a small mirror in the attic, combing her hair thoroughly. When the combed silver hair became smooth, she smiled.

I’m becoming an adult. I’m going to go to the festival without the saints knowing.

Today, Isabelle was going to the solar eclipse festival. She will use a doll roughly shaped like a human to replace her on her bed. Of course she wasn’t going alone.

When is Riggs coming?

As usual, if the saints fell asleep early, she planned to meet Riggs in the bushes. It’s the first festival they’ve ever attended, so she was sure Riggs was looking forward to it too. 

After grooming herself, Isabelle got her pocket money that she had saved little by little, and laid the doll on the bed. She covered the doll with a blanket to make it more believable. 

Don’t worry ladies, I’ll be back safely.

In the mirror, a girl with her hair neatly pulled to one side while wearing a dark wine-colored cape could be seen. She was smiling like a villain.

Isabelle used windows and ladders to exit the temple. It went smoothly because she had practiced it a few times. 

Riggs had already arrived. Isabelle crept up to the bushes and tapped him on his shoulder. She surprised him.

“Riggs, did you dress up for the festival?”

Obviously, the plain-colored clothes and the old hats were still the same, but the overall impression was very smart. He also smelled good.

“No, it’s because I came right after work. Delivering letters was pretty hard.”

“There’s nothing easy in the world. I don’t know how mailmen are always smiling.”

No matter how close they are, they have a lot to talk about after only meeting once every two weeks. Isabelle and Riggs went to town talking softly.

“Finally, I get to see fireworks. You don’t know how upset I was that I couldn’t see them during the solar eclipse festival 7 years ago.”

“Isabelle, why do you like fireworks?”

“Fireworks are like shooting stars exploding in the sky. Wouldn’t it be possible to make a wish come true?”

“What do you wish for?”

“I’ll wish not to be alone.”

“……”

Riggs was a little calmer than usual. He wasn’t usually very excited, but he was completely subdued today. If she didn’t talk to him first, he would remain silent. His face seemed to be immersed in deep anguish and was suspicious.

“Riggs, is there something wrong?”

“It’s just… I’m thinking about something. I can’t make a decision.”

“What is it?”

Riggs rolled his eyes for a while and continued.

“……Something like vocational education. Just because I don’t get that education doesn’t mean I can’t work as a postman. If I get the extra training, I’m going to have to focus on that for about half a year.”

“So I won’t be seeing Riggs for half a year? That’s a shame.”

“I haven’t decided yet whether to go through half a year of hard training or just live as I am now. I should be off by the end of the day.”

Riggs, who had a deeply gloomy voice, added that he was sorry to say this on his way to the festival. Isabelle couldn’t respond easily.

As they reached the entrance of the village, a lot of loud noises could be heard. Riggs asked as if he were unsettled.

“Isabelle, what do you want me to do?”

“Um…. It’s hard to answer, a lot to process. Is vocational education worth it?”

It was Isabelle who shrugged her shoulders.

“Isabelle, you don’t like the idea of not seeing me?” Riggs seemed to have a satisfied look on his face.

Since entering the fountain square, Isabelle was in awe. Cardiego’s solar eclipse festival was completely different from what she had imagined.

Maybe it’s dark since it’s a festival from the family that uses the underground power.

Children in white cloth passed by dressed as ghosts. Burly young men painted their face black and chuckled, calling themselves underground reapers. Human bones and eyeball-shaped decorations were hung everywhere, and all the villagers wore black clothes. The whole atmosphere was eerie.

“When we celebrate in the temple, we decorate it with white flowers and make butterflies out of white paper to hang up. It’s pretty bright when we use the gold ribbon.”

“Because the temple is a place where the power of the earth is worshiped, it is decorated with symbols of the goddess Isis.”

“But Cardiego also believes in Isis.”

“It’s Cardiego who believes in the underground power that goddess Isis has separated from. And the people of Cardiego like the dark.”

It wasn’t her cup of tea, but it was worth it to see fireworks.

Isabelle thought to sit back and quietly eat a festive meal with Riggs. It was time to spend the pocket money she worked so hard to save. Her fairly heavy coin purse made her happy.

“Riggs, let’s have something to eat. Grilled skewers over there…. Oops!”

It happened in an instant. A large, distracting gangster stole Isabelle’s money then took off. 

Isabelle and Riggs immediately gave chase, however, it was difficult to trace him among the parade of people.

“Riggs, let’s just not look for it… Riggs?”

Due to the crowd, Isabelle was separated from Riggs. She struggled just to get out of the procession, constantly being crushed by shoulders. Since she got lost, it’s best for her to wait where she is.

Isabelle held on and waited for Riggs. But he didn’t come.

You’re not in trouble, are you?

She felt anxious, but moving was an unwise choice. Isabelle groaned and chewed her nails.

How long has she waited? She was listening to the conversation the people on the stairs next door were having. 

“By the way, I don’t understand why armed soldiers roam the square during the festival. Who are they trying to catch?”

“Anything that bothers them will be taken, and they do as they please.”

Their gazes moved to one place. It was Cardiego Castle located in a military hub.

“If you’re not a legitimate heir, don’t use fear to take power.”

“Rather, since you aren’t legitimate, you must be more disciplined. If you keep using force, your little nephew will get scared and won’t challenge your authority.”

“Now that Duke Cardiego has come to light, I wonder if the emperor will be elected. This will only lead to the vicar’s tyranny.”

“No, it’s just a matter of concealing the identity of a young heir. He was born during a solar eclipse.”

It was a difficult conversation for a 13-year-old, but Isabelle understood what they were talking about.

Cardiego has a complicated history of succession.

Isabelle wore a hooded cape and moved to the back to be less eye-catching while she waited for Riggs. She didn’t know if the conversation she heard while eavesdropping was true, but grumpy armed knights passed by often. 

The fireworks were going to be next, so she was about to look around a little to find Riggs, but suddenly her hood and cloak were removed. Isabelle looked back in astonishment and stiffened.

“Silver hair… Are you a Pilsburg?”

“You’ll be quite a beauty when you grow up. Of course it’s not bad right now.”

It was two drunken knights who took her cloak and started a slurred quarrel. Isabelle instinctively cringed. Since there were just two of them, she could figure out a way to use magic to overpower them. However, the aftermath would be too much to handle.

“Come here, young lady. I’ll let you enjoy the festival.”

“Don’t come near me.”

At the moment when she was thinking about how to respond, a coin flew in from afar and hit the knight’s forehead.

Thump.

The huge knight was instantly knocked unconscious and fell to the floor. Everyone’s eyes all turned to the boy who threw it.

“Why don’t you come to me.”

There stood Riggs, who threw a heavy bag of coins in the air.

Isabelle was amazed.

Riggs was always the one who got hurt when he fought the other boys and would cry loudly. It has even happened once recently.

To soothe her tearful baby deer Riggs, she had to apply the medicine carefully and whisper comforting words that his wound would get better.

Even if it’s bloody, it was a daily routine to give a brief kiss to his forehead, then hug him for a long time, and sweep his back until he calmed down.

It’s Riggs that I have to soothe like a toddler who fell after taking their first step….

Then he expressionlessly approached the knights and made a small gesture. The knight’s face paled and quickly disappeared while carrying his fellow knight.

The spectators who were gathered around like clouds had completely disappeared. 

Riggs then smiled as he gave Isabelle her bag of stolen coins.

“Riggs, what did you do?”

“The thief fell not long after, so I was able to catch him quickly. Just now I told the knights I’d report it to the noble lord, and they disappeared on their own.”

“…throwing coins? You hit his head.”

“I was lucky. Isabelle, are you hurt?”

Isabelle was unfamiliar with this Riggs, who scrutinized her. He picked up her cloak and put it around her again. It felt like the baby deer she took care of was all grown up.

“You must be surprised. Let’s go back for today. I’ll take you.”

Isabelle grabbed the hand he offered. Does St. Maria feel like this when she celebrates her birthday every year? Her heart fluttered at the strange feeling that she had raised the baby deer.

On the way back to the temple, Riggs spoke carefully.

“I should have come back to you when you fell. I’m sorry, Isabelle.”

“It’s nothing for you to be sorry for. Now I’m scared to sneak out at night to hang out.”

“…Really?”

He looked very disappointed. Isabelle was playful and shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, it would be different if Riggs were strong and protected me. I was a little surprised today. I don’t know when my baby deer grew up like this.”

“…baby deer?”

His nickname made Riggs quite shocked. He didn’t talk for a while.

He opened his mouth again when they reached the bushes near the temple.

“Isabelle, I’ve been thinking, and I’d better get that vocational education.”

It was a confident voice, unlike when they left for town. Isabelle smiled and gave him a big hug.

“I’ll miss you for half a year, Riggs. I’ll wait.”

Riggs didn’t contact her even once in those 6 months. While he was gone, Isabelle turned 14.

It was a lonely 6 months for Isabelle, but people remembered it as a historic time when Cardiego’s legitimate successor overpowered his uncle, who was the Chief Deputy, and took control of the family.