[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ explains that they are a very special partner.]
Ah, so it’s a partner!
Finally understanding, I moved on to the next line.
Under normal circumstances, an Awakener can conceal their Bijou. It only appears if they lose control—like when they are excited—but in truth, aside from combat, there is only one reason an Awakener would lose control.
For that reason, this Bijou is commonly known as a secret token of love shared only with one’s soulmate. Allowing someone to touch one’s Bijou is a sign of immense trust and love, and touching it without permission is a great rudeness. While it is not common, sometimes when dealing with non-Awakeners, one might deliberately reveal their Bijou to lend authority to their words.
“Eeeing, why don’t you tell me the only reason!”
I’m curious about what kind of situation causes one to lose control! This book is truly very unkind to children. I pouted my lips. However, the Spirit Kings were quiet this time as well. Since no one offered an explanation, I had no choice but to move on.
I’ll ask the Admiral about this part later!
The Bijou is blindingly beautiful and often charms people in an instant. There are various shapes of gems, and among those known so far, the famous ones are as follows:
Sun. Crescent moon. Star. Circle. Diamond. X. Question mark. Inverted question mark. Water droplet. Swirl. Heart. Clover. Musical note. Treble clef.
Sometimes, an entire family shares a similar Bijou shape. In these cases, the color, size, or shape might differ just slightly. Since the shape of a Bijou varies from Awakener to Awakener, more unknown shapes may emerge in the future.
‘Then, what shape are the Admiral and Older Brother Elzen’s Bijou?’
What about me? I have a Bijou spot too. ‘Who is my partner?’
I became so curious that I couldn’t stand it, so I rolled over and lay down flat.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ whispers that when I grow up big and tall, I will be able to know who my partner is.]
“To grow big and tall… how many sleeps do I need?”
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ bursts into laughter.]
[About one hundred times a hundred nights.]
I stretched out my fingers. I can count up to a hundred. Ten fingers ten times is enough.
‘But a hundred times a hundred…?’
It’s too hard. Clutching my head, I struggled for a bit and then just gave up.
“Then… is it possible I might not meet my partner?”
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ nods their head.]
“I’d be sad if I couldn’t meet them……”
I want to meet them. My destined partner. I’m so excited to know what kind of kid they’ll be.
“Then, who decides who that partner is?”
[The Spirit King of ◇◇ ‘■■■■■■’ sneaks into the conversation.]
[The Fate Spirit King decides it in coordination with the Administrator of Causality and the gods.]
Ah, seeing them say that, I guess the Spirit King of ◇◇ isn’t the Fate Spirit King. Having gained a small clue, I tucked it away in my heart for now. Then, I returned to the book.
In the case of the Imperial Family and the four great Dukedoms, there are times when, if a Bijou does not manifest, the child is not even treated as one. The existence of an Awakener is extremely important in the struggle for the Estate. However, just because they have many children doesn’t mean they will all awaken. Therefore, a culture has emerged in some families where they accept Awakeners as adopted sons or daughters.
‘I know this one.’
That’s why I became the Admiral’s daughter. Research results show that if an Awakener marries a partner connected by a Bijou and has children, the first child is usually an Awakener. For the second or third child, the probability gradually decreases.
A baby. A baby…
I rubbed my chin, acting serious. ‘The Admiral had three babies.’
The first, Micard. The second, Elzen. Then who is the third? What is their name?
‘Well, I’m the fourth.’
But as if it were a promise, no one spoke of the third child.
“Lina, you know.”
After agonizing over it, I called for Lina, who had come in to tidy up the laundry.
“Yes, Young Lady. Do you need something?”
“Un! Where is the family portrait? Older sister said there was one, is she in the portrait too?”
*Clatter, thud!*
The basket fell from Lina’s hands.
“W-w-w-where did you hear such a thing……?!”
Is it such a surprising thing? Rolling my eyes, I told her the truth.
“I met Older Brother Elzen when I went to the library today. He said there’s a family portrait. But since I haven’t seen it……”
“Ah.”
Trouble spread across Lina’s face.
“Um, I can’t speak of it carelessly. I’m sorry, Young Lady. I can tell you where the portrait is, though……”
“Un.”
“Hmm, it’s not that it’s forbidden to enter. But the Admiral doesn’t like it when people go there.”
But if I don’t go, I can’t do my homework.
“I want to go. I’m curious about Older Sister.”
“Ah……”
“What is Older Sister’s name?”
Again, a troubled expression.
“T-that, their name is considered a taboo, so……”
“I see.”
“I will tell you where the portrait is. Instead, you must look at it for just a moment and come out. Do you understand?”
Lina’s voice was full of worry. Actually, I had been sensing it too.
‘Maybe Older Brother’s mother went to a distant star. Same for Older Sister.’
Then the Admiral lost his partner. ‘He must have been very, very sad.’
The Carrot Class teacher taught us: if someone says it hurts, you should blow on it to make it feel better. There are visible wounds, but she said there can also be wounds in the heart. The Admiral must have a hurting heart because he doesn’t have his partner.
‘That must be why he doesn’t smile much.’
Opening my room door stealthily, I thought: I wish the Admiral’s heart also had a door, and that I could open it.
* * *
The Pashayen Mansion was long and stretched horizontally. Usually, portraits are hung in the Hall of Records, but the one I was looking for wasn’t there.
‘Right next to the Admiral’s bedroom. He said it was in an empty room.’
And this is it. There was no one in front of the door. As if I could go in whenever I wanted.
“Excuse me.”
Greeting them politely, I opened the door slightly and twitched my nose at the fragrant scent wafting from inside.
‘What is this?’
It smells like very sweet flowers.
“Waaa.”
The inside of the bedroom was very bright. Warm sunlight poured in through the slightly opened window. The light yellow-green couch looked very cozy in that sunlight. Next to it were pots with green-leafed trees, and every one of them looked fresh and vibrant. As if someone were still living there.
‘It’s clean…….’
It was cleaned without a speck of dust! On top of that, there were bouquets of flowers everywhere I looked, so it was quite beautiful even to me.
‘Lily of the valley, ranunculus, and roses!’
The water in the vase was wet, as if it had been newly changed and carefully arranged this morning.
[The Earth Spirit King ‘■’ likes the bedroom.]
[The Spirit King of ◇◇ ‘■■■■■■’ points to the table.]
Following the Spirit King’s words, I approached the table and widened my eyes.
“A gift?”
It looks like it’s for the owner of this room… why hasn’t anything been unwrapped? It’s even wrapped with a ribbon on it! Just as I lightly lifted the end of the pink ribbon out of curiosity, a breeze blew from somewhere.
“Ah.”
*Thump.*
A card fell at my feet. Picking it up, I strained my eyes and read the letters clearly.
*To my Aul.*
*Our 13th wedding anniversary, where you do not exist.*
*With a longing that feels like death, Egon.*
So this was sent by someone named ‘Egon’ to a person named ‘Aul’.
“Egon……? Diegon?”
That’s the Admiral’s name.
“Then all of this…….”
Did the Admiral send this to his partner?
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■’ makes a sorrowful expression.]
[The Earth Spirit King ‘■’ says that most deaths are merely returning to the soil.]
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ says that some deaths, however, go to the sea.]
Leaving the bickering Spirit Kings be, I counted the gifts one by one.
‘Seven.’
Even though there was no one left to receive them, the Admiral had consistently prepared these gifts.
‘So this is what it means to be a partner.’
I felt as if I had touched something I shouldn’t have. It was right then, as I carefully placed the card back on the table.