Soredemo Sekai Wa Utsukushii for Chapter 73
Click here for Chapter 72
Summary:
Nike is happily running through a glade. She missteps and falls down. She is fine though and declares that "Being healthy is the best!" She has already recovered from what happened to her before.
Suddenly, Livius knocks on her head, berating her that she shouldn't be too excited and wander around all by herself. Nike replies that she is just too happy and before she realized it, she has already ran off.
Cassandra then appears, handing Nike a blanket because it is too cold outside. It was then that Nike asks if Cassandra is indeed leaving the next day. She asks if she could stay with them for another month. Cassandra tells Nike that she can't leave the forest for too long. Nike tells them though that Cassandra hasn't even seen the capital yet.
Livius and Jishin was listening to the women. Livius sheepishly tells Jishin that Cassandra not seeing the capital might be fine. Jishin asks Livius if he has time later. They apparently need to talk about something. Nike then suddenly butts in and childishly asks if Livius and Jishin were having a secret meeting. It turns out that Jishin wanted to take Cassandra on a sightseeing trip in the capital so that she could appreciate the place before she leaves. Jishin believes that deep inside, Cassandra wants to go sightseeing. Moreover, when she goes back, she can't leave the forest easily again as witches need to stay with the forest. Add to that Cassandra's recent injury. To this, Livius and Nike heartily promise that they will give Cassandra a full sightseeing trip.
Nike's sister, Kara, helps them out with the disguises. Can't expect royals just freely walking around the capital, y'know. They dress up as a family. Cassandra is the pretend mother, and Livius and Nike are the children. The person playing the father is... Neil.
Neil immediately protests to Livius, asking him what kind of punishment he is being subjected to, to being made to play a father and with Cassandra as his wife. Neil says that Bard would be more suitable. Livius tells him that he's on vacation though.
Jishin then arrives, declaring that he will kill Livius. Turns out they made Jishin cross-dress. Now, Jishin is dressed as a girl, complete with a wig.
Cassandra then arrives, dressed in a matronly attire. She then tells them, "Let's go my sons." And off they went.
At the last moment, Kara remembers that in the capital, people know of Cassandra being the concubine. But then again, perhaps it doesn't matter, she decides.
First in the agenda, the greatest reservoir in the kingdom, the Hills of Tears. In front of the group is a huge wall with multiple arches and steady rush of water from the holes at the top. The reservoir gets water from the East River in the Gemini District. It is the water used by the citizens everyday.
Next stop, Dragon's Knight. It is the floodgate between Libra and Sagittarius Districts. It looks like a guardhouse tower.
And then Butterfly Lady (about water again), White Water Gate (water again)...
The group protests to Neil, who is the tour guide, why they're only visiting water facilities. Neil is making the tour a social studies lesson because he is playing the part of the dad.
A few meters away from them, someone from a group of women spots the royals and asks each other if what they are seeing are the royal king and his concubine together.
To dispel suspicion, Cassandra turns to Neil and asks if he could carry her. This seems to have stopped suspicions. The royal group then decides to eat at a nearby diner. They then start to walk.
At this point, Nike finds a handkerchief on the ground and goes to the other group to return it to one of the women. The women couldn't see her as their backs were turned to her. They didn't see Nike approach as they talk about how disappointing that Livius took a concubine. They wanted Livius to be exclusive to Nike.
Nike is stunned.
The royal group is now at Violetta's diner. Violetta is enamored at Cassandra's beauty.
Cassandra was about to go inside the diner when she trips. Livius catches her and holds her balance. Livius tells her that if her legs hurt, she shouldn't wear heels.
Nike simply stares at them.
Livius notices this and asks why she is looking weirdly at them. Nike said it's nothing. Cassandra then tells Livius that it might be best if they don't continue with dining at that time. Livius asks why not. Cassandra says it's noisy there and that the gossip about the concubine has reached Nike's ears. Livius tells Cassandra that it's fine as he as already explained the situation to Nike. Livius then starts to walk to the diner, saying that Nike is not that sort of woman who would worry about boring matters. Cassandra is infuriated that Livius doesn't fully understand what they're all getting into.
Inside, Nike wondered why her heart skipped a bit when she saw Livius and Cassandra together. It hurt.
At a nearby table, men talked about the concubinage.
"Despite being twelve, he got himself a concubine," one said. "I guess because she is so beautiful, of course he'd want her."
"I couldn't do that because I'm scared of my mom. But I guess it's different for royalty," another said.
Terrible, Nike thinks. It's completely different.
"Well, the king is a man after all. At first I thought one would be too much."
Even though it's not true, Nike thinks.
"Two, or three, or no matter how many more concubines..."
One of the men accidentally brushes his elbow at Nike. He mumbles an apology. Nike says it's alright but when she turns to them, Nike looks like she was about to cry. Nike runs out the diner and encounters Livius at the door, about to enter. He is confused why Nike is bolting. Cassandra strongly pushes Livius forward. She orders him to run after Nike immediately. When something is breaking, it doesn't immediately reflect on the surface at first. Nike is now breaking, Cassandra says.
"If your fiance is that important, don't ever think that she would accept this too easily!" Cassandra shouts at him. To this, Livius runs after Nike.
Nike is walking by herself. She seems to wondering why she is hurting when Livius fully explained to her the situation fully. She thinks that Livius is growing up and that the Livius that had no friends except her is no longer here. Livius has expanded his world. Livius used to belong only to her and she somehow wanted it to stay that way.
Livius catches after her. He is out of breath.
"I don't want this," Nike starts.
She looks up and she has tears falling on her face.
"I dislike it after all," she says. "Even if it's fake. Even if..."
"I understand," Livius says. He then hugs her. "I'm sorry."
"I'll listen to it all so... just let it all out," Livius tells Nike.
Posts
Comments
Post a Comment