Driving a dragon carriage really wasn't hard—Shichen picked it up in no time.
Soon he was the one holding the reins while Rem leaned on his shoulder as they rolled along.
That alone got a little dull, so he started telling her the saga again. He'd already finished the fifty-two main episodes back with Petra and the kids, but he hadn't covered the prequel or the final battle yet.
Consider this Rem's private showing. As for Petra and the others, he'd tell them the sequel about the Horn-Breaker's second brother next time. He had so many stories he could never run out.
Rem especially loved the Horn-Breaker—no clue if it was because she had a horn herself. It certainly wasn't because her sister Ram had lost hers. Rem was more and more confident now, herself again, free of the shackles; she wasn't the type to get catharsis from a story that mirrored her sister.
She probably hadn't even made that connection. Shichen told the Horn-Breaker for one reason: to help her let go a bit and stop caring about horns. He hadn't expected her to like the Horn-Breaker this much. He'd thought she might hate him.
"A long, long time ago…"
As Shichen spun the tale, Rem nestled into his shoulder, eyes closed, listening. Her legs dangled and swung lightly; her mood was buoyant. If she could always be like this with Shichen, she felt it would be happier than anything else. But happiness can't last forever—getting a taste now and then was enough.
The prequel wasn't long. They hadn't even reached the capital before it ended, so Shichen rolled straight into the final battle. Emilia inside the coach forgot her shyness and tilted an ear to listen. Roswaal even opened his eyes to pay attention. He hadn't heard the main run, but the prequel had him hooked. The Horn-Breaker really was a good listen—though, where was the "broken horn"? Well, the prequel and the finale both happened at horn-less points, so…
He got halfway through the finale—right when the hero reverted to his true dark form—when they arrived. He had to save the rest for later. He had to admit: converting people to the Horn-Breaker was a little addictive.
"Shichen~ If you've got time, tell me the main story sometime, hmm? I'm really curious~" Roswaal asked as he climbed down.
"No problem. After meals, maybe," Shichen said.
"That would be lovely~"
The capital's bustle put a country town to shame—people everywhere, an endless flow. Rem and Roswaal went to arrange lodging; with Ram absent, a lot of servant work fell to Rem, though she had experience. Shichen, meanwhile, wandered with Emilia. He'd get a separate stroll with Rem later.
They weren't just wandering aimlessly; they had a destination. Seeing the crowds, Shichen took Emilia's hand just in case.
"Sh-Shichen?" Emilia looked up at him, startled.
"The capital's packed. Let's hold hands so we don't get separated."
"I—I'm not a child; I won't get lost…" Emilia protested, blushing.
"What's there to be embarrassed about? Didn't we hold hands all the time in the village?" He lifted their joined hands and grinned.
"T-this is different…" She couldn't meet his eyes.
"So you know what hand-holding means now? Then from now on, no holding hands with other men, got it?"
"Then what about now—what are you doing?"
"I don't count."
"…" Emilia pressed her lips together, half amused, half helpless. She'd noticed his possessiveness—but didn't fight it, and let him lead her. What she did think about was why, after confessing, he hadn't asked for an answer. Was he giving her time? Not wanting to add pressure before the Royal Selection? As always, thinking of her first.
…
"Hey—long time no see, boss."
In front of a fruit stall, Shichen waved to the scar-faced, scary-looking man. This was exactly where he'd arrived in this world—the same stall owned by the father of the lost little girl they'd helped. He looked fierce, but appearances deceived; he was kind—a gentle, charming wife and a cute daughter proved as much.
"You two again… What brings you? Finally here to buy apples?" the boss asked flatly.
"You remember us, huh," Shichen laughed.
"Dressed like that, hard to forget… Will you buy or won't you? Don't tell me you didn't bring money again."
"Your head's really full of apples, huh. Fine—twelve, then. Brought money this time."
With Roswaal-level privileges, a bit of coin from the manor was nothing.
"Twelve? Thanks for the business." The boss picked out a dozen glossy red apples and handed them over. Shichen took the bag and paid. He'd noticed the man selected the best ones—maybe for the favor of rescuing his daughter.
"Where're your wife and kid?" Shichen glanced inside and saw neither the gentle woman nor the little girl.
"What do you want?" the boss asked, wary.
"What do you think? My companion wants to say hi to your daughter, that's all," Shichen said, rolling his eyes.
"Is that it? Come around noon, then. My wife brings my lunch, and the girl tags along."
"Sounds good. Want to wait a bit?" he asked Emilia.
"May we?" Her eyes shone.
"Of course—if you want to," he replied softly.
"Mm…"
"You two—can you not flirt in front of me?" the boss groused.
"F-flirt!?" Emilia squeaked.
"Oh? So we are," Shichen said, a little smug.
"Stop iiiit," Emilia huffed, shooting him a glare.
Near noon the wife and daughter arrived; they remembered them, too. Shichen stayed with Emilia, munching crisp, sweet apples while the women chatted. Emilia got on with the girl immediately; her heart, after all, was still young. Did that make him a scoundrel for pursuing a girl at heart…? He left the boss to his lunch; after a friendly catch-up, he and Emilia moved on.
"What now?" Emilia asked, cheerful.
"Back to the inn. Rem's probably finished lunch," he said.
"Okay."
Back at the inn, Rem had finished. Shichen released Est and Beatrice, and the five of them dined—Roswaal too, though Shichen felt he was one mouth too many. Still, as Margrave and Emilia's patron, his presence mattered. Shichen put up with it.
Afterward he took Rem and the others out again, leaving Roswaal alone at the inn, and continued roaming the capital with Emilia. Shichen cast a muffling charm to ward off nosy passersby. Subaru was in the capital too, but Shichen didn't look him up—they weren't close, and with Reinhard watching him, the kid's life would be peachy.
"Shichen, want an orange?"
"Shichen, grapes?"
"Shichen…"
One perk of shopping with Rem: her head was full of him. Anything tasty, she wanted to buy for him. He never refused. Good fruit, a strange city, a charming girl at his side—pretty pleasant, really.
"Hmm?" Suddenly his brow furrowed and he halted.
"Shichen? What's wrong?" Rem asked.
He didn't answer her; he was staring across the street at a dazzling woman. Vivid orange hair swept back with a clip blazed in the sun. A pure scarlet gown, like fresh blood, demanded attention and lent violent grace to her beauty. He recognized her at a glance—she'd left an impression.
But it wasn't her looks that caught him; it was the aura within her—an aura he knew better than any.
A Divine Fragment.
Why did she have a Divine Fragment?
~~~
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