Chapter 2

　　Brillin gently stroked her head. Even under her sister’s touch, Astina remained stiff as a board. "B-Brillin," she stammered, standing at attention. "You’re… you’re having a baby?"

　　"Yes, I’m having a baby."

　　"Woooow…" Astina breathed, her gaze dropping to Brillin’s still-flat stomach. Though she was rapidly learning how to live among people, a baby was still a magnificent, unknown territory.

　　Brillin smiled at her adorable sister, who was staring at her belly with an open mouth. "Are you happy you’re going to be an aunt?"

　　Astina nodded so vigorously her hair flew. "Yes! I’m so happy! Congratulations, Sister! From the bottom of my heart!"

　　"Thank you, Tina." Brillin pulled her joyfully innocent sister into an embrace. Astina, determined not to press against her sister’s stomach, stuck her bottom far out and wrapped her arms very gently around Brillin’s waist. The bizarre posture made Brillin burst into laughter.

　　Hafen and Theo watched with fond smiles as the happy sisters walked toward the reception room, arm in arm. Grinning, Hafen started to follow, then leaned toward Theo and whispered, "Theo, is there any magic that’s good for pregnant women?"

　　"Your Majesty, what on earth do you think magic is?" Theo replied, his tone bordering on exasperated. "No such thing exists."

　　Hafen was undeterred. "Even if it doesn’t, you could create it. Anything at all. I will provide all the necessary materials and funds."

　　"No matter what you say, what doesn’t exist, doesn’t exist."

　　"But won’t your wife need it someday?"

　　The question struck a chord deep within the resolute mage. His wife. Once he and Astina were married, they might have a child of their own. The thought of Astina, pregnant… suddenly, creating such magic felt like the most important task in the world. He made a mental note to start by reviewing every medical text he could find and nodded grimly.

　　After their hushed agreement, the four gathered in the reception room. Conversation about the future heir of the Dresden Empire and the Tower Master’s niece or nephew flowed for hours. It was only when dinner was approaching that Astina remembered her original purpose for coming.

　　At her sister’s innocent declaration that she was going to visit a friend in the Gail Kingdom, Brillin’s eyes widened. "You’re going to the Gail Kingdom? Now?"

　　"Yes, Sister. Hingis asked me. I want to help." When Astina spoke with that tone, her mind was made up. This was the girl who had once harbored dark magic that harmed others. Since becoming Tower Master, she had yearned to use her power to help people, sharing her strength without expectation of reward and finding a pure, childlike happiness in it. And Brillin would do anything to see her sister happy.

　　The Empress of the Dresden Empire stroked the back of Astina’s hand. "Alright. But you are not to do anything dangerous. If anything happens, you come running straight to me. Understood?"

　　"Oh, Brillin, I’m not a child."

　　"They are not empty words, Tina," Brillin said, her smile bright but her eyes deadly serious. "If anything were to happen to you, I might just be inclined to redraw the map of the southern continent."

　　"Redraw the map?" Astina didn’t understand the strange comment, but Hafen and Theo understood perfectly. They heard the chilling resolve of a sister willing to wage war on the Gail Kingdom for the sake of the other. People often said Astina was the one who caused trouble, but they didn’t truly know the Berhi sisters. If a truly monumental conflict were to erupt, Theo and Hafen knew without a doubt that Brillin, not Astina, would be its architect.

　　Theo swallowed hard and swore an oath to the Empress. "I will attend to her with my life, Your Majesty. I will protect Tina and ensure no harm comes to her."

　　"Y-yes, Theo," the Emperor chimed in, patting his shoulder in encouragement. He had no confidence that he could stop his wife if she went on a rampage. "You must protect our precious Astina." The peace of two kingdoms now rested squarely on Theo’s shoulders.

　　"Yes, Your Majesty."

　　Leaving behind Theo’s solemn vow, the pair returned to the Berhi Territory. Brillin waved until her sister’s form vanished from the teleportation circle, lingering long after she was gone.

　　Hafen watched his wife’s profile and asked quietly, "Shall I order troops to be deployed to the southern border?"

　　At the consideration of an Emperor ready to stand with his Empress no matter the cost, Brillin shook her head. "Why bother, when Tina is going?"

　　"Fair enough," Hafen conceded with a faint smile. With Astina and Theo together, few on the continent could stand against them. In a real war, Astina’s power alone would be more decisive than tens of thousands of soldiers. But even knowing her sister’s immense strength, Brillin was still a sister, and so she worried. She remained rooted to the spot, her gaze lost in the distance.

　　Hafen smiled at his wife worrying over the continent’s strongest mage. He moved to sweep her into his arms. "Let’s go inside, my Empress. I will carry you."

　　"I can walk by myself, Your Majesty," Brillin said, pushing his arms away with a glare. She thought he was being overly fussy because of the pregnancy, but in truth, his affectionate antics had always been this dramatic.

　　A sly, teasing smile played on his lips. "Very well. Then you can carry me."

　　"What?"

　　"You hold me." He wrapped his arms around her neck, making himself ready to be lifted.

　　Brillin stared at him, dumbfounded. "How am I supposed to lift you, Your Majesty?"

　　"Then we have no other choice. Here, let me hold you."

　　Faced with the two options, Brillin’s dumbfounded expression only made Hafen’s smile deepen. Seeing the sheer delight on her husband’s face at the prospect of carrying her, she finally broke into laughter. As she readily wrapped her arms around his neck, he kissed her cheek and carefully swept her into his arms.

* * *

　　While Astina and Theo were at the palace, Mikhail and Hingis had finished their preparations. It wasn’t much—they had informed the fourteen loyal vassals of the Countess’s departure and readied a single carriage. The entire party consisted of Astina, Theo, Hingis, and Mikhail. Though they planned to travel discreetly, it was an exceptionally small retinue for a Countess and the Master of the Magic Tower.

　　"Sir Mikhail," Hingis asked, concerned. "Are we truly going with just the four of us?"

　　"Yes. The Countess wished to travel with a minimal party."

　　"Then will you be her guard?"

　　"Guard her?" Mikhail asked, his expression one of utter disbelief. "How on earth could I guard the Countess?" Of course, he would throw himself into danger for her without a second thought. He was a formidable swordsman, second only to Dorius, and Prince Hafen’s former escort knight. But he knew where he stood.

　　Hingis, belatedly remembering that Astina was not someone who needed protection, nodded slowly. "Ah…"

　　Mikhail, having finished stocking the carriage with Astina’s favorite snacks, spoke with grim importance. "I have other, more critical duties."

　　"Critical duties?"

　　"Driving the carriage, arranging our lodgings, and securing the Countess’s snacks."

　　"Ah…" Hingis nodded again, feeling as if he’d been hit over the head with a rock. The resourceful butler of House Berhi, he decided, was a very strange man.

　　Just then, Astina and Theo returned. With an excited expression, Astina immediately climbed into the prepared carriage and beckoned to Theo. "Theo! Hurry up! We need to get going!"

　　Theo chuckled as he sat beside her. "You’re like a child off on a picnic. Are you that excited?"

　　"Yes! It’s my first time leaving the empire. Have you ever been to another country?"

　　"I visited a few with my master when I was young."

　　"Have you been to the Gail Kingdom?"

　　"I have."

　　"Really? What was it like?"

　　"I remember the fruit was delicious and the buildings were beautiful."

　　As Astina’s cheeks flushed and her golden eyes sparkled, Theo felt his own heart lift with excitement. They were traveling to solve a mystery, but anywhere was wonderful as long as he was with her.

　　Hingis watched them chattering shoulder-to-shoulder, a warm feeling spreading in his chest. But he couldn’t bring himself to climb into the carriage, not when Theo’s fingers were so naturally twined in Astina’s hair and her forehead was resting on Theo’s shoulder. Forgoing the comfort of the carriage, he went to join Mikhail in the driver’s seat. Hingis, who had been too absorbed in magic to ever care for romance, felt a pang of loneliness for the first time. The carriage, driven by two lonely men, set off toward Olgen, the capital of the Gail Kingdom.