Chapter 176: Chapter 176
The confidence in the Princess’s words had the Empress baffled for the girl not only seemed to be sure of her statements... Yet also delighted.
"Your dreams?... That is truly a surprise darling... If I remember correctly, did you not tell me those dreams had ceased completely some time ago?... I believe it was little before the Royal Spring Ball took place."
"Yes. They abruptly became dark and silent dreams. I have no recollection of any, unlike before."
"... I see... This dream must have been last night’s. What makes you so certain that Lady Marianne, The Ninth, is more special?... Besides her new Title of course."
"..." — Grinning to herself, the Princess who appeared more youthful in her joy reached for her teacup and announced, playfully enticing her Mother’s curiosity. — "I wonder~..."
"My! Jasmine, it ought to have been a nice dream for you to dare rise my interest in this way."
"... Mother... The dream did not... It did not show much as always... It is only that... Whilst dreaming, a feeling I seem to have forgotten yet yearned for was reminded... I am not sure what this is all about but..."
"... Jasmine?..." — The Empress, attentive to her only daughter, widened her eyes at the unexpected sight and, leaving her teacup aside, as Ingrid, the Princess’s Mother, She came to seat by her side, to rest her hand in the young girl’s shoulder. — "Darling... What in the world is it that you dreamed... that tears fall this easily now that you tell me this?"
The child was crying from the big impact the short peek in her dreams had shown her. From young, the girl had been blessed with marvellous dreams of magical places she had never been to in her life.
Beautiful sights of flowers and lights, shy and lovely giggles, fluttering nature and leaves surrounding her.
Drought lands that bloomed streams in later dreams and meadows that seemed to welcome her in those dreams with elated dances of the flora... almost celebrating... Almost as if communicating...
Yet, last night’s dream did not exhibit any of that. Only a tiny second had been kept for her to recall.
"... Mother... The voice that always giggled in my dreams... I believe it was me."
"... What?"
"... I heard myself last night in my dream, giggling to say what overwhelms me with happiness now."
"..." — Ingrid stared at the pained expression of her usually composed daughter, and within the distortion of her fair features, she could see joy and relief.
Wiping her stream of tears with her thin finger, Ingrid smiled softly and fondly at the child.
"Then? What is it that you said, darling?"
"... ’We friends can dance again. My waited friend is here’... Mother... My chest feels tight for some reason... When Father announced she had entered those chambers successfully... I felt inspired."
’... She called Francois, Father...’ — Stunned by the word she never let out because of pride, Ingrid understood her daughter was truly shaken by these events.
"... I understand... Your dreams have always been mysterious yet wonderful..... Do not feel troubled. If you feel this strongly, I will not be an obstacle. See for yourself if these sayings are true in the day. The Lady shall stay for a few days more."
"... Thank you, mother... I am aware these notions are not well founded... Yet her arrival and the return of my dreams... I cannot oversee the coincidence."
The girl was not mistaken. Her suppositions were stretched in rationale. Yet it was not odd for her to feel this deeply connected to the whispers heard in her dreams.
For the generations that followed Calla’s lineage, it was unknown. Yet guardian spirits were loyal beings. And their love for the fortunate ones that gained it was extraordinarily vast as the love they held for their birth element.
Strong, smooth like their silky wear of wings... And craved into their lightful speck of a heart.
The legends did not tell. Nonetheless, it is known to us.
A guardian spirit’s life is not eternal. Their death is to become an existence all gods and any of the world’s beings are to treasure.
As delicate as their tiny yet lovely bodies, the guardian spirits, the fairies’ mothers, are to become the Wondrous Ancient Cristal Flowers that are to bloom within the Pulchra Flore’s Lost Garden... Where their children that resonate with their cease-to-exist, will watch over them and revitalize the beauty they portrayed in life with the glow they inherited.
When Bloomcrown season arrived for the fairies... A new Ancient Flower was added to the Lost Garden...
Calla’s Guardian Spirit, Aenean, was not an exception.
However, the Guardian held stronger love for her previous owner... And first.
When a Guardian who pledges friendship and loyalty loses their owner, the guardian is to come back to Pulchra Flore and teach the new fairies the power of their glow. Nonetheless, this was not the case for Aenean. She became owned by her beloved friend’s daughter as a petition from Calla, who needed to make the necessary preparations in sight for a Pact.
Aenean agreed out of love. Yet her spirit suffered away from her beloved owner and friend.
Restraining the pain from turning into tears, the guardian Spirit kept quiet and only dropped the hurtful tears once it made sure her soulmate had perished.
The Spirit continued to veil for her friend’s daughter... However, the sadness never subsided.
It is written in the laws of this Realm... That spirits meet their natural death mostly out of sorrow.
It’s demise was surely to come once it’s beloved became dust.
And so, aware of the Pact Calla had made with their friend Fenrir, Aenean did an ancient spell that only high guardians could permit themselves to do.
— Princess... I am to vanish soon...—
The spirit had announced as it’s existence came to an end.
— My pain has withered my heart and it is not possible for me to be kept within these vast lands without Calla... Yet I want to remain and witness the arrival of a new friend. —
The spirit’s sincerity was overwhelmingly beautiful for it’s body flickered in it’s essential glow as it’s time to leave rushed by the pain it’s own words inflicted on it’s heart.
—... Hold this glow of mine in your hands, Princess... It shall trespass your skin and reach your blood... A part of me is to remain in it and be passed down... Once the time is near... This tiny piece of me will resonate within your descendants... And I shall grant them happiness just as they will by letting me meet a new friend...—
This event the spirit had announced had arrived... And the speck of Aenean had been passed to remain in Jasmine.
What Jasmine felt by her dreams... Was the spirit’s joy.
The pact it had helped with in great sorrow had found its final stage. The Ninth... The Friend Aenean wanted to meet had appeared.
In honour to the loyalty it kept for Calla, the speck remained and shall witness besides her arrival, the fulfilment of the Pact both it’s owner and the spirit itself has burnt their lives in.
*******
Time for dinner came and I couldn’t shake the nice cosy feeling Marianne made me feel with her cute waves. I stayed laying in bed bickering with her trying to get more of those wonderful reactions from her.
If I think about it this might really be what having a little sister is.
Definitely annoying at times... But cute enough to make me forget all about it... However, it’s weird since we share the same body.
... I did have a bit of fun teasing Theressa.
Anne also did her best to trick my eyes with all that glitter she added when the dwarf seemed scared.
However, I guess I have a favourite between "my little sisters"...
’Theressa should work hard~... I’m difficult to please when it comes to cuteness. Her attitude is not helpful...’
But I noticed her little peeks at me while I tried to rest. I do not know if it was meant in a condescending way, though.
She could have been thinking when looking at me things like I’m a lazy bum and I wouldn’t know since I can’t read.. her... mind.
"..."
Was SHE reading my mind?...
Heh... Nope, if that would have been the case I could be laying at the side of the road at this moment instead. Murdered since I called her a shitty wig and a f*got very affectionately earlier.
’Indeed~ Can’t read my, can’t read my~’
"... mh...!!" — ’Uh!?’
Oh, God.
"Hmm? Did you hear that?" — The Duke, escorting us, asked.
"I did not hear anything Father."
’Marianne! Oh, Holy cow! It came out without me knowing!!! He heard it too?! What do we–?!’
"Oh... Is it so?..."
’D–Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me. I’m mute. Make it deaf too. I know nothing, mate.’
"Marianne?"
’Can’t hear you~ my~ look at that! A window! Let’s jump.’
Why speak to me, Mister?! I get all nervous!
You shouldn’t have such a nice hearing at this age... How old is he again? D*mn it. Maybe he can have a nice hearing???
"Dear you–"
Grow~~~l
"..."
"..."
"... Maybe we ought to hurry for dinner."
’...’
I do not know... If I should be grateful my stomach is this self-conscious...
’Hing... D*mn it, hic!... Ugh... At least you didn’t decide to make it a fart! Anne!!’