Capítulo 50: Guests (4)
Raphael Earhart
Violet stood a short distance behind me, her gaze fixed on the ice creatures I had conjured. Her face remained utterly devoid of emotion, but the slight lift of her brow and the faint dilation of her pupils betrayed her genuine curiosity.
— I didn't think such simple magic could impress you, — I remarked, casting her a brief glance.
When we'd met this morning, she had left the impression of someone utterly unshakable. Apparently, I had been mistaken.
Violet, however, ignored my comment, neither acknowledging nor responding. Deciding not to press the conversation, I turned my attention back to Alice, who was happily playing with the ice-crafted dog. At that moment, the peaceful harmony of the scene was not something I wanted to disturb.
We remained like that for another ten minutes.
— …My brother and I have only ever been taught combat magic, — Violet suddenly spoke. Her voice was soft yet steady, with a subtle hint of hesitation.
I didn't turn my head, continuing to watch Alice stroke the icy dog, but her words registered clearly.
— That's why I've never seen such a beautiful use of mana before, — she added after a brief pause.
— Your brother sounds rather fixated on brute strength, — I commented, offering my thoughts.
Violet gave a faint nod. Even now, as she spoke of something so personal, her expression remained neutral. It didn't come off as indifference—more as if she simply didn't know how to display emotion.
No, she definitely cares. She's just… disconnected.
— I wish we had been taught how to create things with magic, not just how to destroy, — she murmured, her voice laced with a barely perceptible sadness.
I listened silently. As a princess of Alcyon, one of the most militarized nations alongside Hafelto, Violet and her brother had likely been groomed from childhood to master destructive and combative magic. Their lessons would have revolved around domination and triumph. It wasn't surprising that she knew little about the more delicate uses of magic.
Then again, not entirely. Surely she'd witnessed magical fireworks or healing magic at some point. But it seemed unlikely she'd ever seen magic used to create something new, something as innocent and whimsical as these animated ice sculptures.
To me, this was just a simple trick—mechanical, requiring little effort. But to Violet, it might have been something extraordinary, something she'd remember for a long time. A small but genuine touch of magic.
— Sister, there you are! — came a loud voice from the distance.
I didn't need to turn to recognize it. A glance confirmed what I already suspected: a blond-haired boy, flanked by a small entourage of royal guards, was striding swiftly toward us. Despite his haste, Violet remained completely unfazed. She continued watching the ice creatures as though her brother's arrival were a trivial background event.
Moments later, Richard reached us. Sweat beaded on his face, and his breathing was uneven. Unsurprising, given he was still clad in the ceremonial armor he'd worn earlier, unlike Violet, who had changed into a comfortable outfit of simple trousers and a shirt.
— Raphael, I apologize for this intrusion, — Richard said, inclining his head politely.
Though there was no real need for an apology, I nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
— Violet! Mother and I have been searching everywhere for you! You said you were going to the restroom, but it's been half an hour!
Richard's return drew the attention of the others. Alice and Harumi paused their play, while Erin and Chinatsu rose from their bench and bowed respectfully to the prince.
Richard, unexpectedly, blushed slightly and returned a small bow to them.
It's unusual to see a royal bow to bodyguards. Still, I like that he doesn't look down on them.
— …I got lost. This estate is rather large, — Violet replied, her tone as calm and detached as ever.
— Hah… Fine. Let's go. We shouldn't intrude on Raphael and Alice's time to relax, — Richard said, attempting to lighten his tone.
Not that their presence was bothersome. If anything, I found myself increasingly intrigued by Violet and wanted to understand her better. But it seemed Richard had his reasons for wanting her to leave.
— No, — Violet said abruptly.
— What? — Richard blinked in confusion. His expression shifted to one of genuine surprise.
— If Raphael, Alice, and the others don't mind, I'd like to stay and continue watching these ice creatures, — Violet said softly but with quiet determination.
For the first time during our entire conversation, Violet turned her head toward me. Her icy blue eyes locked with mine, and I saw something beyond her usual calm demeanor. There was an unspoken request in her gaze—a quiet expectation, as if she were genuinely asking for my permission.
— I don't mind, — I replied, then turned to the others. — Alice, Chinatsu, Erin, how about you?
— I don't mind at all! — Alice chimed in enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Erin and Chinatsu gave small nods, silently expressing their agreement.
— Are you sure this won't be a bother? — Richard asked, his tone tinged with hesitation.
— It's no trouble, — I reassured him calmly.
His uneasiness puzzled me. He clearly didn't want Violet to stay here. Perhaps he feared she might come off as rude, or maybe his concerns stemmed from something deeper. Regardless, their family dynamics weren't my business, and I refrained from asking further.
— Then… very well. Raphael, would you mind if I stayed too? — Richard asked.
— Of course. Have a seat, — I said, gesturing to the bench beside me.
Still a bit awkward, Richard dismissed his guards and sat down.
— Thank you, — he murmured, lowering his gaze.
Meanwhile, Violet remained standing, her hand lightly resting on the back of the bench. At that moment, Alice bounded over to her, her radiant smile stretching from ear to ear.
— Violet! Let's play together! — Alice beamed, her voice brimming with excitement.
— …With me? — Violet asked, her tone tinged with genuine surprise.
For the first time, an emotion flickered across her face—confusion. It seemed like no one had ever addressed her like this before.
— Of course! — Alice affirmed with unrestrained enthusiasm. — You're our guest, and I'm so happy someone besides Erin and me appreciates my brother's magic. Most of our family dismisses anything that isn't fire magic. Seeing you enjoy it makes my heart so warm!
Despite Alice's playful tone, her words carried a surprising weight. Thanks to her early education, Alice had developed a maturity and insight that belied her years. I was used to her thoughtful remarks, but for Richard and Violet, who likely only saw her as a cheerful child, this revelation caught them off guard.
I noticed how they both hesitated, momentarily stunned by her unexpected candor.
— I… suppose, — Violet finally said, giving in to Alice's persistence.
Alice immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the icy animals, still animated and frolicking around.
Richard and I watched them in silence, neither of us in a rush to speak.
— I never thought anyone could capture Violet's interest, — Richard finally said, breaking the quiet. His voice was soft, laced with genuine amazement. — Especially not your little sister.
— Is that so strange?
— It's… unpleasant to admit, but yes, strange, — Richard replied, a slight frown crossing his face. — When we were young, our family—Violet, our parents, and I—traveled to the Federation of Atreya. It was our first trip as a family, and Violet had been eagerly awaiting it. Father was usually too busy, but she adored him. That journey was her chance to spend real time with him.
I remained silent, sensing that his story would not have a happy ending.
— We gathered the best guards and mages the empire could offer, creating what we thought was an impenetrable convoy. But midway through the journey, while Violet was playing with Father, there was an explosion. Bandits ambushed us, wiping out half the knights in minutes.
Richard's words gave me pause.
Half of the empire's elite guards and mages taken down in mere minutes? By bandits? That sounded like a convenient cover for something far more sinister.
The timing of the attack—during a royal family trip—strongly suggested treachery. The route must have been leaked by someone from within.
— Later, we discovered that the head of the guard had conspired with the enemy, along with a quarter of the knights. That's how they caught us off guard.
Richard paused, his face calm, though I noticed the faint tremble in his pupils.
— Father protected us. He was a first-class water mage and managed to eliminate a third of the attackers on his own. But it wasn't enough…
Even if the king had been both a mage and a skilled warrior, it wouldn't have saved them. The conspirators likely anticipated his abilities and tailored the ambush to exploit his weaknesses.
— We escaped thanks to his defense and the sacrifices of the remaining knights, — Richard continued, his voice steady despite the heaviness of his words. — But when we returned with reinforcements… we found his body. It was so mutilated that we wouldn't have recognized him if not for his robes. And Violet saw it.
The pieces fell into place.
A young girl, watching her beloved father die in the most brutal way imaginable. The trauma of that day had scarred her deeply.
— From that moment, she shut down, — Richard's voice wavered but did not break. — It was as if she lost all her emotions. She rarely spoke and often cried. Many of our peers, noble children, tried to approach her, but her demeanor seemed aloof or rude to them. And while I can understand their perspective, they had no idea what we endured…
He trailed off. I noticed his fingers trembling slightly, though he tried to hide it.
— I'm sorry for your loss, — I said softly, shifting my gaze to Violet, who was cautiously reaching out to touch an icy rabbit. — Even so, I believe she can heal with time. She hasn't lost her love for life entirely.
Richard studied me intently, as if gauging the sincerity of my words. Slowly, his expression softened, and he nodded faintly.
Though our circumstances differed, our tragedies mirrored one another. Both of us had been betrayed, and all three of us had lost loved ones. But unlike Violet and Richard, I had been granted a second chance to correct my mistakes. Perhaps that's why their pain and contradictions felt so relatable.
Yet fate had shaped them in starkly different ways.
Richard, driven by guilt and a desire to protect, sought strength as a warrior—a power capable of shielding those he held dear. Violet, disillusioned with the magic that had stolen her father, longed for creation rather than destruction.
They were like yin and yang. Opposites, yet complementary.
I couldn't help but wonder: would their differences ultimately bind them together, creating harmony? Or would the chasm between their views on magic grow so vast that it tore them apart?
Only time would tell.
For now, I simply watched. Selfishly, perhaps, but their story intrigued me.
We spent another hour in the garden. Alice and Violet played with the ice creatures, giving them commands, while I occasionally adjusted their movements to keep things interesting.
Even Richard eventually relaxed. The tension in his shoulders eased, and he allowed himself a genuine smile as he watched Violet engage with something pure and joyful for the first time in years.
As the sky darkened and a cool breeze signaled the arrival of night, we parted ways.
I watched their figures retreat into the growing shadows, my gaze lingering on Violet's silhouette.
Perhaps… we're more alike than I thought.
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