I knew that my behavior was childish and stupid, but I still couldnât stop acting like that. I didnât think Assisi would go along with my words, but when he said âI understandâ so casually, I couldnât 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 hadnât 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 Havelâs guards were shocked by it.
Surprisingly, Valer didnât 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 couldnât stop halfway.
Oh shit, I didnât know. I would stop thinking about Assisi! I wouldnât do this anymore!
âIt was easy crossing the border.â
âShocking, brother. Look here. It was all because of this man.â
Ahin laughed at Valerâs 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.
âWe will be arriving at the capital.â
âThis is a small country.â
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 Godâs Wall, which made the sky look pale, seeing a blue sky made me feel weird. I was sure I came into Bureti; however, I couldnât see any witchâs barrier.
Would a witchâs barrier look different from Godâs Wall?
âThe roads are well maintained.â
Havel hadnât said a single word.
It didnât 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 couldnât be ignored.
That could probably be why the country still stood after hundreds of years of persecution from Sherto.
The weather hadnât 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 couldnât even dream of.
âWell, itâs small, but I think itâs great precisely because itâs small.â
Small was a lot better than having a colossal but unmanaged land.
From a distance, I saw flags with the countryâs symbol, the Deer-horn Opal.
It was the same pattern on the necklace my mother left for me. I wasnât 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 didnât speak, and they didnât 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 couldnât put it in words.
âUh? I can see the cityâs wall. It looked like thatâs the capital!â
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 dadâs 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 wasnât a beep.
Hey, hello?
âThis necklace, why is it crying?â
Did I do something wrong? I did no such thing.
Ah, Assisi? Was it because I behaved wrongly with Assisi? That couldnât 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?
âAbandon your weapons and raise your hands!â
Soldiers? I was embarrassed.
It wasnât just men who were embarrassed. The tips of their spears were sharp.
âUh? Huh?â
What kind of situation is this!?