I knew that my behavior was childish and stupid, but I still couldn’t stop acting like that. I didn’t think Assisi would go along with my words, but when he said ‘I understand’ so casually, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling horrible. I felt hurt, and I tried to deny what I heard. I wanted to laugh, thinking it was a joke.

  At the same time, I could feel myself getting into an endless cycle of guilt.

  Since that day, I hadn’t said a single word to Assisi. I would smile and greet him, but the coldness between us made an awkward air for the party. Even Havel’s guards were shocked by it.

  Surprisingly, Valer didn’t react to it much, but he was very annoyed. I convinced myself that he would get over it and somehow untwist the situation, but when I looked at his eyes, filled with anger, I decided to keep my mouth shut. I hated myself for letting things go this far, but I couldn’t stop halfway.

  Oh shit, I didn’t know. I would stop thinking about Assisi! I wouldn’t do this anymore!

  “It was easy crossing the border.”


  “Shocking, brother. Look here. It was all because of this man.”


  Ahin laughed at Valer’s words.

  With a certificate from Agrient and an invitation that acted as a passport, it was easy to cross the border. No matter how close we were to the enemy country, many traders and merchants still went back and forth between Bureti and Shertogenbosch. Ahin could make us pass without creating suspicion.

  “We will be arriving at the capital.”


  “This is a small country.”


  Agrigient and Schertogenbosch had significantly large landmasses; coming to Bureti made me realize how small it was in comparison. Bureti made me realize how huge the other two countries were.

  After getting used to God’s Wall, which made the sky look pale, seeing a blue sky made me feel weird. I was sure I came into Bureti; however, I couldn’t see any witch’s barrier.

  Would a witch’s barrier look different from God’s Wall?

  “The roads are well maintained.”


  Havel hadn’t said a single word.

  It didn’t seem like a big deal, but the roads of Bureti were a lot wider and comfortable than in Sherto. Even the roads between villages and towns differed for wagons and people.

  Although a small country, this was a country so developed that it couldn’t be ignored.

  That could probably be why the country still stood after hundreds of years of persecution from Sherto.

  The weather hadn’t changed much compared to when I was in Sherto, but considering that Bureti was far from Sherto, the weather was still great. Anyway, others treated this place as a weak country, but there were so many things to see in Bureti since it had a history longer than Agrigient.

  The most impressive thing above all was the number of working women.

  Of course, women worked in other countries, too, mainly in handling shops, farming fields, or raising livestock. However, in Bureti, women were ruling the city.

  I sort of had a cultural shock. Indeed, this was a country ruled by a queen. Others said that the world was slowly falling into a patriarchal society, but things were happening here, which the other countries couldn’t even dream of.

  “Well, it’s small, but I think it’s great precisely because it’s small.”


  Small was a lot better than having a colossal but unmanaged land.

  From a distance, I saw flags with the country’s symbol, the Deer-horn Opal.

  It was the same pattern on the necklace my mother left for me. I wasn’t an opal. Ahin said that it was a special kind of gem. As I took out the necklace and looked at it, I could feel a strange feeling captivating me.

  Valer or Ahin thought that I had come to Bureti to deal with some sort of business. I didn’t speak, and they didn’t ask.

  Of course, I came here to do something. Go on a trip.

  However, if I told them my reasons, it was obvious what they would say. Thus, I just shut up. Sometimes, one had to protect their dreams.

  All I knew was that I had to come here, but when I arrived in Bureti, I realized how reckless I was. I thought I knew why I wanted to come, but I couldn’t put it in words.

  “Uh? I can see the city’s wall. It looked like that’s the capital!”


  Finally, we had arrived.

  There was Uprichit, which we had to see, but after coming to Bureti, I thought the trip would come to an end. Seeing my dad’s act, it felt like he would catch me soon.

  The necklace kept on vibrating. Was it because of my mood?

  Maybe it was like a cell phone. Or beeping? There was no sound, so it wasn’t a beep.

  Hey, hello?

  “This necklace, why is it crying?”


  Did I do something wrong? I did no such thing.

  Ah, Assisi? Was it because I behaved wrongly with Assisi? That couldn’t be. The necklace vibrated as if I was getting a real phone call. As we walked along the avenue with our horses, I wondered why the necklace was acting up. That was when Valer took my hand and pulled me back.

  Uh. Huh?

  “Abandon your weapons and raise your hands!”


  Soldiers? I was embarrassed.

  It wasn’t just men who were embarrassed. The tips of their spears were sharp.

  “Uh? Huh?”


  What kind of situation is this!?