Chapter 85: CH 84

The Harvest Festival has begun.

The royal capital in the evening is overflowing with people, the streets are lined up with various food stalls.

Food and decorations made of the autumn harvest are selling like hot cakes, it’s the liveliest day in the capital.

Speaking of myself, I’m in a room of the cathedral preparing for the Offering Dance.

I’ve changed into a costume for the dance and awaited my turn.

“Rei, are the ‘preparations’ going fine?”

“Yes. They’re going smoothly”

“Li, Lily’s getting nervous…”

For those unaware of anything, it would sound like we’re normally talking about the Offering Dance, but between us the meaning is different.

Of course, it’s the conspiracy to solve Yuu-sama’s problem.

“Claire-sama, Lily-sama, do you understand what you should do?”

“Naturally”

“Ye, yes”

Everyone’s cooperation is essential for this strategy.

Of those not here, there are also Rod-sama and Sein-sama.

Although I feel a little uneasy about Lily-sama’s careless attribute, there’s no choice but to trust her.

“Lily-sama, the items we talked about before”

“Ye, yes, here they are”

When I prompted her, Lily-sama presented two bracelet-like items.

“Then, proceed as planned”

I separated from those two and spoke to the head priest in charge of the Offering Dance.

“I’m sorry, head priest. Could I go flower picking”

“The dance is about to start. Can’t you hold it in?”

“No”

“It can’t be helped. Go quickly”

“Thank you”

I bowed and hurriedly left.

◆◇◆◇◆

The Offering Dance is held at the festival grounds right outside the cathedral.

There’s a wide stage made of marble in the center that’s surrounded by the audience seating.

The seats are filled to the brim with people, including those standing, thousands of people came here.

Honestly, I think beyond the people who can be seen, the crowd is still increasing.

The Offering Dance is considered a lucky charm, the reason being it’s thought you’ll receive a divine blessing just by being present.

Everybody is eagerly waiting for the Offering Dance to begin.

On the seats for nobles adjacent to the stage, there are also figures of the royalty.

His Majesty Rousseau, Queen Lishe, Rod-sama, Sein-sama, Yuu-sama, moreover even Salas-sama are there.

Among the commotion of the festival, a low sound of a bell reverberated.

It’s the main bell of the cathedral.

At last, the Offering Dance begins.

The noise of the voices quieted down as if a tide receded.

Tonight is the full moon.

The stage illuminated by the moonlight and torches holds an air of mysteriousness.

The dancers clad in ultrathin silk clothes gracefully enter.

They wear silver diadems on their heads and hold bell fans in their hands.

Among the dancers are Claire-sama, Lily-sama, and also “I”.

As the dancers enter the stage, they go down on their knees alongside each other as if forming a circle.

Breaking the silence, a high-pitched sound of flutes resounds.

Following it, a low sound of large drums heavily echoes.

String instruments play a chord, small drums beat out a rhythm.

Then, shan, shan, the sound of bells joins in.

The dancers ring their bell fans held in the right hand, weaving the sounds into the gaps in the accompaniment.

With calm movements the dancers start moving.

The dancers’ costumes are designed to not obstruct them, but here and there fluttering pieces of cloth are attached.

Together with motions of the dance, sleeves and hems beautifully draw arcs in the air.

The dance’s accompaniment that was quiet at first, gradually greatly intensifies.

However, the dancers’ movements remain just as slow.

That difference arouses mysterious excitement in the crowd.

“That dancer is wonderful”

While I was hesitant to speak, unintentionally, I voiced my admiration.

Other people who heard it, understood which dancer I meant.

Among the dancers, there was a remarkably tall person.

Although her movements weren’t different from other dancers, she was clearly unlike them.

“I wonder why. It’s like she’s crying, and like she’s delighted…”

“Ah, somehow or other it feels like she expresses such emotions”

Slow motions as if she’s restrained by chains.

But, with one swing of her hand, with one step forward, the audience’s hearts are for some reason shaken.

That dancer seemed like her prohibited emotions were permitted for the first time, was what someone later wrote in a book.

“That is Rei Taylor. Remember, the commoner who was permitted to enroll into the Royal Academy”

“Ah, that girl. But, that girl isn’t a nun? Why is she participating in the Offering Dance?”

The audience was puzzled for a little while.

But――.

“Who cares about such things. She’s amazing”

As somebody said, few people cared about such trivial things.

The dancer was simply that overwhelming.

I want to keep watching forever.

The audience even wished for that, but eventually the piece approached its end.

The dancers gathered in the middle, as if dancing in desperation, or perhaps in great joy.

And――.

Shan.

Swinging the bell fan grandly one last time, with both arms widely spread out they knelt on the stage.

After a moment of silence, a loud cheer rose from the audience.

――And soon.

“Listen, citizens!”

The dignified voice that resounded belonged to the dancer whose dance overwhelmed others just now – that is to say, it was “me”.

However, the voice wasn’t mine.

The first to notice was Queen Lishe.

“Wha…. Yuu!?”

“I” bit the bracelet off the wrist.

My appearance in a flash changed to Yuu-sama’s.

No, that’s not accurate.

The height may be tall, but Yuu-sama’s body has a curvy silhouette.

The ultrathin silk clothes covering the chest are without a doubt being pushed up from inside.

To get straight to the point, it is the body of a woman.

“What does this mean!? Then, who’s this Yuu!?”

“I am sorry, Lishe-sama”

I removed the bracelet from my wrist and revealed my true form.

“Rei Taylor!? Why!?”

The queen shrieked.

“I was ordered by Yuu-sama. I don’t know the reason. Just that I had to be here instead of the prince”

Actually, it was me who proposed this, but this lie is necessary to guarantee my safety.

These bracelets Lily-sama supplied are magical tools that change one’s appearance.

They aren’t ritual tools but Lily-sama’s personal belongings.

“What’s going on? That wasn’t Yuu-sama?”

“No, but, a woman”

“Yuu-sama was a woman…?”

The audience at last began understanding the situation, and gradually started raising a noise.

However, the uproar suddenly stopped.

People immediately realized they couldn’t speak.

(Misha, you did well)

She didn’t show herself, but this is her work.

To manipulate noise over such a vast area there can be none other than her.

“I feel sorry for deceiving everybody until now. However, this is my – no, my1 true appearance”

Only Yuu-sama’s voice loudly resounded throughout the silence.

This is also Misha’s work.

“Until now I’ve been lying about my sex, but I’m a woman. From now, true to myself, I will live as a woman”

Yuu-sama declared resolutely.

Lishe-sama is opening and closing her mouth trying to say something, but no words come out.

Salas-sama is also trying to give some instructions to his subordinates, but because his words are blocked, he can’t get the point through.

“Citizens, please forgive me. To make up for it, I renounce my throne succession rights”

Hearing those words, the queen collapsed.

It seems she fainted from the shock being too big.

At the same time, everybody’s voice returned.

The surrounding erupted into an uproar.

“You did it, Rei Taylor”

It was His Majesty Rousseau who addressed me.

For some reason, there was no censure in that voice, it remained calm to the end.

“What might that be about?”

“… No, that’s right. You know nothing. Nothing”

Saying so, His Majesty Rousseau smiled wryly.

“Ultimately, this might be for the best”

After saying this much, His Majesty got up from the throne.

“Salas. Bring the situation under control”

“Yes”

Salas-sama promptly gave instructions to his subordinates.

The result being, I was detained.

1) Yuu switches from her usual boku to watashi