Chapter 26

In the afternoon, she practiced horseback riding.

Ririka enjoyed riding the horse, walking and running in sync with Satsuboshi.

Bryn smiled contentedly as he watched her from a distance.

"We need to order a few more riding outfits. Once you get used to it, you should also learn to ride side-saddle."

Riruka was a bit confused about whether he was talking to her or not. Her eyes flicked to Bryn, then back to Ririka.

"Aren't you just too cute?"

Holding her hands tightly, she said in a blissful tone, and Riruka agreed.

"Yes."

"Wow, you can talk?"

"……"

For a moment, Riruka was at a loss for words, then she replied.

"Yes, I can."

"Oh, I see. I talk to myself a lot, so you don't have to answer."

Then, Ririka waved at her, and Bryn waved back with a broad smile.

When Riruka also waved, Bryn said,

"Don't get the wrong idea. You're waving to me, right?"

"I'll remember that."

Riruka replied, and Bryn's eyes narrowed. Ririka approached quickly and asked,

"How was it? You seem to be riding quite well now?"

"Yes, your posture is very straight, and you're riding very well."

"Now you can probably ride at full speed."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Suddenly, a servant ran over from the other side. Since she was sitting high up, she could see clearly.

The servant stopped and said,

"Princess, they say the Grand Theater is on fire."

"The Grand Theater?"

Ririka suddenly thought, 'This is bad,' then remembered that her mother had gone there earlier.

"No way!"

Without thinking, Ririka spurred Satsuboshi. Satsuboshi immediately responded and started running.

"Princess!"

Bryn shouted in surprise, and Laub quickly dashed out. In an instant, he ran faster than the horse and blocked her path.

Ririka pulled the reins in shock. Fortunately, Satsuboshi wasn't at full speed, so she stopped immediately. Ririka felt her heart drop, almost thinking she had hit Laub.

"Laub!"

When she called out, Laub said,

"Where are you going?"

"Where? Of course—"

"To the Grand Theater, right? I'll call a carriage."

Bryn quickly added. Ririka then realized she didn't even know where the Grand Theater was.

There was no way she could get there on Satsuboshi alone.

"Sorry, I—"

Trying to stay calm, her hands began to tremble.

"Excuse me."

Laub carried her down from the horse. Bryn gripped Ririka's hand tightly.

"Her Majesty also has a protective charm, right? She'll be fine. Come on, let's go quickly."

Ririka, who thought she was taking good care of herself, realized she wasn't.

While Bryn was quickly organizing everything, Attil came running over after hearing the news.

"Ririka!"

Ririka felt like she was about to cry.

"Attil……"

"Are you okay? We're going now, right?"

"Yes, yes."

"Ah."

At that moment, Attil, who was sensitive to the atmosphere, said,

"It's going to rain."

"!!"

Ririka quickly opened the small carriage window. Raindrops were falling.

Tap, tap

'Faster, faster, faster—'

As if her wish had been heard, the rain started pouring down. The carriage slowed down. It was a tremendous downpour.

Thunder rumbled very close by, and the sound of the rain was deafening.

"It's Uncle."

Attil said in a low voice. Ririka turned to him in surprise. Attil smiled crookedly.

"Who else could make it rain like this? At such a timing, like this."

He looked at Ririka.

"Now it'll be fine."

* * *

When they got out of the carriage, the rain had already stopped. Still, the acrid smell of smoke filled the air.

The Grand Theater, which boasted the grandeur of the empire, was more than half burned and collapsed. The area around the theater was crowded with rescuers and onlookers.

However, it wasn't hard to find Rudia, as the knights had formed a circle to protect her.

"Mother!"

Ririka called out and ran over. Rudia, who was sitting on a makeshift chair, looked up.

"Riri!"

"Mother!"

Seeing her mother unharmed, Ririka finally burst into tears. Her mother, drenched and with soot on her face and body, showed the urgency of the situation.

Ririka threw herself into her mother's lap.

"Y-You're okay, you're safe, sniff"

"Mother is fine. I'm okay. It's all thanks to the charm you gave me."

Rudia stroked Ririka's head. Then, she looked up and saw Attil, smiling.

"I didn't expect to see both of you here."

She playfully tapped Attil's arm and sighed.

"The fire was really intense."

"But thanks to Her Majesty, the casualties were greatly reduced. She didn't leave until everyone was evacuated. I was so worried."

The head servant sighed, appealing to the crowd. Rudia smiled.

"But it's lucky that it rained like this."

"Maybe it's lucky to have a husband like me."

"Really? Altears."

Rudia looked surprised.

"What are you doing here?"

Altears strode over and held her chin, examining her.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

Altears let go and folded his arms.

"Stand up then."

Ririka was startled and quickly stood up from her mother's lap.

"Are you hurt? Is anything wrong?"

"Just a slight sprain. Altears, if you try to lift my skirt, I won't let you."

Altears stopped, looking at her for a moment before turning to Ririka.

"Don't worry. I'll protect your mother now."

At that, Rudia momentarily looked disappointed but quickly reassured her daughter.

"That's right. His Majesty is the strongest in the empire. You don't need to worry so much. You must have been scared, right?"

Ririka wanted to say more but held back. Altears said,

"We should return to the palace. It's too chaotic here."

"That sounds good."

Rudia said, and Ririka hugged her mother tightly before letting go. Attil clicked his tongue and handed her a handkerchief.

"Then—"

Rudia turned to find the carriage, but Altears picked her up.

"Altears!"

"You said your ankle was hurt."

"Really."

Rudia sighed but wrapped her arms around his neck. The sight of the royal couple getting into the carriage left a strong impression on the people.

"Long live Her Majesty the Queen!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

Ririka couldn't follow them. She twisted the handkerchief and stood still, watching her mother and the Emperor leave.

"Why?"

Attil asked, and Ririka was startled, shaking her head. Attil looked around.

"I guess I need to tidy up and return. You go ahead."

"Huh?"

"Anyway, I can't just do nothing. Since I showed up, I need to help. His Majesty has left, so I need to take care of things here."

"Can I help? Is there anything I can do?"

"No. It's dangerous, so go back."

"But, but……"

Ririka wanted to do something. Attil firmly said,

"No, that's enough."

"……Okay."

Ririka replied softly and stepped back. Bryn said from the side,

"Your Highness, it might be better if you stay. It's already known that the Princess is here."

"What?"

Attil frowned. Ririka's head snapped up. She raised her voice.

"I can help too."

"With what?"

"What?"

"What can you do? Don't get in the way—"

"Cough."

Bran, standing behind, cleared his throat. Attil held back the words he was about to say.

'You're not trying to hurt her, right?'

Recalling Pai's words, he took a deep breath.

Right.

He's not trying to hurt her.

"Ririka, the tasks here are beyond your capabilities. Besides, there are too many outsiders. It's hard for Laub to protect you alone. Go back, I'm worried."

Ririka's shoulders slumped. She nodded.

"I understand."

Bryn placed a comforting hand on Ririka's shoulder. As she got into the carriage, she glanced back.

She saw Attil giving orders skillfully among the crowd.

'Ah.'

Beyond the ruins of the Grand Theater, a rainbow appeared. The puddles shimmered in the rain.

For some reason, she felt incredibly sad, yet incredibly beautiful.

The carriage door closed. The carriage moved more smoothly than before.

Bryn, who was riding with her, asked cautiously,

"Princess, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Mother is safe. It's a relief."

Ririka smiled bravely, and Bryn smiled back.

"Once you grow a bit more, you can work with His Majesty."

"Okay."

Ririka nodded.

Back at the palace, Ririka stood beside her mother, who was being examined. His Majesty was scolding the doctor.

Ririka's expression was not good, and Rudia comforted her several times.

The ankle was a mild sprain, and there were minor burns, so ointment was applied.

"Stupidly standing there watching the fire rage."

"No, who was watching the fire? I was evacuating people. If I hadn't stepped in, the chaos would have been much worse."

"That's right."

The head servant agreed.

"Her Majesty suppressed the situation with her authority and evacuated the people. The women in crinolines were falling and couldn't get up, getting trampled. They couldn't do anything even if they caught fire."

The head servant shuddered at the thought. Crinolines were impossible to put on or take off alone, leaving the women helpless when they caught fire.

They couldn't help each other as the crinolines bumped into each other, and the fire spread from skirt to skirt in an instant. One person could block the entire passage.

Fortunately, more than half of the women were wearing bustle-style dresses, which were much easier to move in.

'If Her Majesty hadn't made bustle dresses fashionable……'

The head servant shuddered. If all the women had been in crinolines, no matter how hard they tried, there would have been significant casualties.

Rudia clenched and unclenched her trembling hands.

She had been complacent, thinking she knew.

The fire raged so fiercely that it spread in an instant. The acrid smoke and flickering flames made her body stiffen.

Raging.

The flames of the execution pyre.

As fear washed over her,

Clang!

The charm Ririka had given her fell to the floor, making an unbelievable loud noise, piercing through the chaos and screams.

She was startled back to her senses. Seeing the charm, she strongly felt, 'I have to return to Riri alive.'

After that, she somehow managed to command and direct people in a daze.

The royal box was designed to be visible from anywhere, so everyone could see her standing there.

—Until the last person is evacuated, I'll stay here!

Her cry held people's hearts.

Part of the Grand Theater collapsed, blocking the flames and buying time. But if it hadn't rained……

A chill ran down Rudia's spine, and she rubbed her arms.

"Anyway, I'm really fine. Thanks to Riri's charm. And thank you, Altears. If it hadn't rained, it would have been difficult."

"It would be a bigger problem if my wife burned to death there."

"Altears."

Rudia signaled Ririka, and Altears shut his mouth.

Ririka smiled.

"Then I'll take my leave. Mother, rest well."

"Would you like to stay with me tonight? Okay?"

Rudia smiled and invited her. Ririka glanced at Altears and shook her head.

"No, I'm fine."

She said bravely, "I'll come again tomorrow morning," and left.

Rudia watched her daughter's small retreating figure with concern.

'Does she still not trust me?'