Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii Summary for Chapter 68

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CHAPTER 68: FARANDOLE

Summary:

Bardwin's brother, Spilaari, was born from a different mother and is 20 years older than Bardwin. He was supposed to be the next in line on the throne back at his time but he stepped down from the title "second prince" to become a priest. It appears that he does not like the royal life. Living with him is Aristes. After getting banished and nowhere to go, Spilaari offered his place to Aristes. (Who here remembers Aristes? He's the priest he tried to put a stop to Nike and Livius' engagement way before.)

"Even so, it surprised me. I mean, a sudden visit from you Bardwin," Spilaari said as they sat at a receiving room around a round table. Sitting in front of him are Bardwin and Neil. Standing on Spilaari's left is Aristes. Bookcases lined the walls and draperies decorate a huge semicircular window.

"So, how is your family doing?" Spilaari asks.

"Who knows? Hardly anyone shows up," Bardwin replies as he hold a cup of tea with his right hand. "I wonder if they are still alive."

Neil painfully nudges Bardwin with his elbow.

"Ouch, that hurts!" Bardin complains.

"You promised you wouldn't say anything to ruin his mood," Neil said.

"I know but..." Bardwin is terrible with dealing with his brother. While he is indeed his brother, he is 20 years older and have a different mother. But most of all, his way of living bothers him. Spilaari has complained of not liking the strife of a throne but Bardwin thinks he is just being a coward. If only he could learn a thing or two from Livius, Bardwin thought.

"But you are not the only one surprised," Neil addressed Spilaari. "We have been told that you live alone. Why is Aristes-sama with you? I had heard that Nike-sama has given you an amnesty but..."

"I wouldn't have minded living the rest of my life in a prison either though," Aristes comments.

"Hey!" Spilaari exclaims.

"But that's how it is, isn't it? Nike-sama might have felt like she did something noble but it was nothing short of bothersome for me. When I got out, my rank of priest has been revoked and I had also been banished from the board of priests. There's no way I could've returned to my relatives. I had no place to go. Princess Nike who didn't even think about that, does not have a shred of delicacy. I absolutely hate bone-headed people like her!" Aristes suddenly rants on.

Bardwin and Neil ends up staring at Aristes who does not seem to realize what he's saying.

"At that time, Spilaari-sama allowed me to live here since I have no place to go. Despite his own status..." Aristes continues.

Spilaari nervously chuckles. "No... this position of Rani...I only got this because I was formerly royalty," Spilaari says. He explains that the other priests didn't take him seriously and that he is a Rani in name. He was like air.

"Ahh...the ghost treatment huh?" Bardwin comments.

"Bardwin-sama!" Neil exlaims. Neil then looks at Spilaari. "Even so, the status of a Rani is a high status. Please won't you lend us your power? To protect his Majesty's bethrothal, I want to receive the High Priest's definite promise."

"So that is what this is all about after all," Spilaari calmly says. "For me, indeed it is possible to meet the head priest. But I don't think my audience alone will be enough to influence the decision of the head priest. What's more, Landress and the others could oppose me and that's very..."

"Even so, there must be something you can do," Neil interrupted. "I don't think they'll be able to oppose you."

Bardwin places his cup back on the platter, making a clattering sound. "Before we start talking about whether you can do it or not, has there ever been a time that you bared your fangs?"

"Bard-sama?!" Neil exlaims.

"After all Neil," Bardwin says as he stand up from his seat. "This is hopeless. He does not think that he can influence the head priest. He does not think that he can win. It's always no to him. 'I don't want strife.' That's all to it, isn't it?"

Bardwin stands and looks at Spilaari. "You just want the easy way out and turning into air and setting adrift, right? Even if this country falls into chaos, this has nothing to do with you. Are those the words of somebody who used to be royalty?"

Bardwin then continues to say that the strength of a Rani is different from an ordinary person. Why won't Spilaari lend that power that Bardwin doesn't have? Why doesn't Spilaari show that power? It is infuriating, Bardwin declares.

Bardwin and Neil then leaves without properly greeting Spilaari goodbye. Aristes tells Spilaari not to let Bardwin's words bother him.

"Oh my, how rare of you to worry about me. This must be a good day," Spilaari teases Aristes.

"No, that, I'm not worried at all about you. This is nothing on my mind. I am simply stating the truth!" Aristes says as he face grows red.

"It's okay, he didn't hurt my feelings," Spilaari tells him. "In fact, it made me happy. I always knew that my little brother didn't like me so I took it upon myself to place distance between us. But the truth is that I wanted to talk to him."

The two are interrupted by the children who they are teaching. Spilaari teaches them free of charge. Aristes thinks about all those times that Spilaari has been so kind to everyone, including him. He is not as weak as Bardwin makes him out to be, Aristes believes.

Aristes tells Spilaari that he is angry at the "female-faced prime minister" and tells Spilaari to admit that he had plans of helping Bardwin anyway.

Spilaari tells Aristes that he did have plans but that he doesn't know how because he is not very good in expressing himself.

"Leave stuff like this to the former corrupt priest," Aristes says, referring to himself. He will do the underground movements for Spilaari so that Spilaari can remain in his flower garden. Aristes knows certain Rani's already anyway.

Spilaari comments about how Aristes is reliable and jokes that he doesn't want to be in his bad side.

Back at the castle, Livius' allies receive a letter from Livius who wrote the battle plan on their return.

They are all shocked.

"Livius thought this out? But is this really going to be alright?" Bardwin asks nervously.

"As expected of his majesty," Neil says.

"No, no, this is definitely an out," says another.

"But to be honest, this is kind of exciting," another added.

"Well, anyway, let's follow his instructions and do as he says," Bardwin says. "They have already entered the Arnest estate right?"

Neil wipes his eyes. "They seem to have left Ecoat three days ago so that is very likely. But really, to think that he will finally return tomorrow. Uhh...."

"Which reminds me Bard. How did it go with your brother?" one of the library priests says. (I can't remember his name but he's one of the trio priests who suggested that Livius go to Cassandra to find the cure.)

It's useless, Bardwin says. They'll have to think of something else.

Neil was optimistic. Since Livius is already coming home, they'll be able to save Nike.

Later, in the middle of the night, Nike partially opens her eyes and clenches her hands into fists. She moans as if she is in pain.

At the west of the capitol, around the main road, Madame Maraiya of the Arnest estate greets Livius and asks why he is still outside when it is a cold night.

Madame Maraiya tells Livius that Cassandra and the others have already gone to sleep. Livius thanks her and Maraiya winks and says Livius has done a great job in choosing Cassandra to fill the most vital part. She says Cassandra is a valuable person and so she got ahead of herself and overdid it.

Jishin then appears and Maraiya invites him for tea and then goes inside.

Livius tells Jishin that he is glad that he is the first one he met back then as he wouldn't be able to do this if it weren't for him and Cassandra.

Jishin face falls. Jishin back then thought that he has met "the one."

"Oops, I seem to have reopened old wounds," Livius thought.  

For the first time back then, Jishin thought that he met someone he liked more than Cassandra.

"Ehm? Since when? Since when have you felt like that?" Livius nervously asks.

"S-s-s-shut up!!!" Jishin shouts. "That's why I'm entrusting her to you! Got it?" Jishin holds Livius' shoulder. "Protect Cassandra at all costs!"

"Of course," Livius says in a serious tone. Finally, Livius can see Nike.

The next morning, there was a lot of activity at the Nike's chamber. Her seizures have become more frequent. The doctor there says that if the seizures are drawn longer that day, she won't make it.

Bardwin tells Kara that they expect Livius to arrive before noon. Kara tells him that before Nike's husband arrives, she will keep Nike stable.

Somewhere near the castle, a young boy off to get a bucket of water yawns. He quickly notices a procession.

Clack, clack, clack. The hooves of the horses sound.

Above, a flag with a crest waves against the air.

"A golden sun on a red cloth... A crest with white lions and roses..." the boy mused.

The boy gasped. "That's the royal house and King Livius' crest!"

Soldiers walked on and others led the horses drawing well-ornated carriages. Flags of the royal house and the crest were everywhere. Inside the carriage, sat Livius. Beside him is a woman. Her hair was twisted into a bun and feather decorate her hair. She wore a cloth choker and a long dress. She also wore an eye patch on her left eye. It was Cassandra.

"Mom, Dad, everyone wake up!" the boy screamed as he got back inside the house and tried to wake everyone.

"What's going on? It's still so early in the morning?" his family complained.

"Now's not the time for that! I was told to wake everyone in the town!"

"By whom?" his parents ask.

"By King Livius," the boy answers.

"I'm telling the truth! Look outside!" Catching his parents' attention, the boy continues, "So then, the king told this to me. He said to make sure that all people in the vicinity come to know about this."

"About what?" His mother asks.

"Uhm... if I recall correctly... I memorized it," the boy said. He then goes and recite what the King told him:

"Livius the First is welcoming the Witch of the Forest of Wonders, Cassandra, as his concubine. Together with his chivalric order, she shall be shown into the capitol as soon as possible. The people and the nobility of the capitol shall be the first ones whom Cassandra is to be introduced to. Everybody ought to welcome the Sun King's first concubine."

Cassandra calmly smiles as people look up to see her in the carriage.

-chapter end-

  

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Otakumole's Soredemo Sekai Wa Utsukushii Manga