Come and Cry at My Funeral - Side Story 19

But then, when Nova begged them to play hide-and-seek, finding them became way too hard.

When playing hide-and-seek in the ducal castle, finding Papa had never been hard.

But why did it suddenly become so difficult just because Mama joined him?

〈Hiiiing, Mama, Papa. Where are you?〉

In the end, when Nova’s voice cracked in defeat, there would come a hurried bumping sound from somewhere, and Mama would come dashing out from her hiding place.

〈Nova! Mama’s here!〉

But even though they’d only been playing inside the mansion, Mama’s face would be flushed pink, as if she’d been overcome by heat.

〈Mama, are you sick? Should Nova blow on it to make it better?〉

〈Ah, no, Nova. Mama’s not sick. Did it take you long to find us?〉

〈No! But Mama, did a bug bite you again?〉

〈Ah, no, this is…!〉

Mama would quickly try to hide the mottled marks on her neck, looking close to tears, as though bitten by mosquitoes.

At times like that, Papa would quietly appear from behind and scoop Mama up in his arms.

〈Izar…!〉

〈Papa, why are you carrying Mama like a baby? Mama’s a grown-up!〉

〈Mama hurt her legs just now, that’s why.〉

〈Gasp! Mama, then you need to go to bed!〉

Mama kept insisting no, but Papa would still carry her straight back to their room.

When Nova saw Mama sitting on the bed with a red face and a pout, she couldn’t help but think that Mama must have times when she’s like a baby too.

‘Then it looks like the only grown-up here is Nova.’

What a sad thing this was.

Before going to bed, Nova knelt before Adamant’s sacred flame and shook her head firmly.

Because Freesia carried heavy responsibilities at the temple, Nova too had learned how to pray once they returned to the manor.

“Lord Adamant, Nova has been very, very patient. So now Lord Adamant should give Nova a little sibling.”

But Nova had turned what was supposed to be solemn prayer time into an intense bargaining session with God.

She carefully listed all the things she’d sacrificed and tried to strike a deal.

She had endured not sleeping beside Mama and Papa.

She had given up her chance to be loved as their only baby for longer.

With so much given up, wasn’t it only fair that God grant her a sibling to help her rule the duchy one day?

She couldn’t risk losing all her playtime to the burden of running things alone.

“And please make the sibling look more like Mama. Nova looks like Papa, so Nova doesn’t want another one just the same. Um, and also…!”

This time, Nova pressed her small, chubby hands together and pleaded earnestly.

“And when we go back to the ducal castle, please let Mama come with us too…”

Soon Uncle would become Emperor, and after that Papa would have to return to the duchy. Lord Daphir had told her that, so it had to be true.

Nova liked the rolling hills of the ducal lands far more than the bustling capital anyway.

‘I want to go with Papa. And this time, I hope Mama can come too.’

But she worried Mama might still be unwell…

Even with her young heart, that one thing she dared not nag about.

So instead of pestering Mama and Papa, Nova prayed harder and harder before God’s image.

‘Please let us all spend spring together at the ducal castle this time.’

For some reason, Nova felt like someone really was listening to her deep, desperate wish.

Sometimes she had felt a gentle hand rest on her little shoulder.

When she looked at Mama’s button necklace.

When a terrifying demon with red eyes had invaded the canyon palace…

“Hehe.”

Feeling suddenly safe, Nova smiled brightly and went to look for Mama and Papa.

That night, she would sleep with them again for the first time in a while.

Curled up like a hibernating baby animal between the two, Nova dreamed.

She was clinging to Papa’s chest, Mama wore a lovely flower crown and was gently holding Papa’s hand, fingers interlaced.

But in that sweet dream, a baby she’d never seen before came toddling toward her from afar.

‘Who are you?’

Nova tilted her head and asked, but the baby didn’t give any real answer.

Instead, with black hair and pale green eyes, the baby only babbled “Mummum, mummum…” and waddled after Mama.

Like a little soul that had slipped quietly out from between God’s fingers.

* * *

The glorious day had finally dawned when the Imperial Prince would ascend as Emperor.

After completing the ceremonial rites long established in the imperial palace, Riegel and his bride’s procession made its way to the Great Temple in the capital.

Traditionally, the final rite was to receive the High Priest’s blessing. But this time, for the first time since the founding of the Betelgeuse Imperial House, that custom was broken.

Yet no one dared voice objection to the unique decision of the Prince receiving the blessing of his cousin instead.

After all—even if the High Priest’s seat stood vacant—who else but this imperial descendant could claim the right to bestow divine favor as God’s own chosen?

‘The one who returned from death.’

‘The imperial descendant beloved of the Divine.’

A woman once mourned and buried beneath a shattered glass coffin now stood alive before them.

People whispered in awe, holding their breath. If this was not a miracle, then what could be?