Bride Hunt (3)

A creak of the door and the noisy voices of women rang out.

“The kitchen is so steamy—hate how it ruins one’s makeup.”

“Lord Kardia, shall we take a cup while looking over the gardens?”

“Gazing at the midday moon—how elegant that would be.”

It seemed the women were speaking to Kardia. No doubt the higher-ranking mages in this Weavers’ Enclave had earned the right to be near him.

Kitchen work was surely handled by apprentices or ordinary folk who were not mages.

“That’s why I’ve been searching for my bride—”

It might have been good that her head was being held down. This way, no one could see her face. No one would notice the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.

(If Kardia chose a new bride, maybe I should ask to stay here as well.)

She might not have been able to cook, but, as Aidoni had said, she might at least serve as a test subject.

(I wouldn’t mind if they adjusted my body a little…)

With her slender hands she clutched her chest tight. Even though she had decided it herself, her chest ached unbearably.

“Ah, there you are.”

The arm pressing Noi’s head lowered lightened.

“Eh—”

She lost her balance, and a large palm steadied her.

“Bride. Were you out for a little walk? Was it fun?”

As usual, Kardia scooped Noi up with ease, smiling brightly. Noi blinked, looking between Kardia and the women around them, who were all agape.

Just as confused as they were, Noi opened her mouth.

“…E-excuse me, this is me, you know?”

“? I know that.”

Blinking just like Noi, Kardia tilted his head.

“…Huh? B-but…”

Confused, Noi held her head.

“Didn’t you come here—to this Enclave—to look for a new bride…?”

“‘New’? What does that mean…? I’ve been walking all over looking for you.”

“?”

“?”

Both Noi and Kardia stared at each other in perplexity.

Seconds later, Noi shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Misleading!”

Surely Kardia had said something to Kukuvaya like, “I’m looking for my bride.”

All of it was a commotion born of misunderstanding—only because Kardia insisted on calling Noi by that pet name, “bride.”

“L-Lord Kardia. That girl there is…?”

One of the glamorous women Kardia had brought along asked, her face stiff.

Looking at the Noi in his arms, Kardia seemed to grasp the source of their confusion; he raised one eyebrow, pressed his cheek flat against Noi’s, and flashed the women a beaming smile.

“Sorry for the late introduction. This is Noi—my bride. Please, treat her with full courtesy.”

The onlookers, who had taken Noi for a disciple or a maid, flipped in an instant. So as not to draw Kardia’s displeasure, they treated Noi with the same deference they gave him.

“Come.”

What she held changed from a raw turnip to a steamed ear of corn, and Noi sat on a sofa in a reception room at Kardia’s call.

“This is Kukuvaya—my first disciple.”

“Welcome, Lady Noi. I beg your pardon for the Enclave’s discourtesies.”

At Kardia’s introduction, Kukuvaya, still seated deep in her chair, spoke with a smile. Having heard of her condition, Noi nodded deeply.

“Of course, Lady Kukuvaya. If you don’t mind—may I sit beside you?”

“Yes.”

Noi had been sitting across the low table from Kukuvaya, but now lowered herself to the floor right at Kukuvaya’s feet.

The attendants in the room started, but none would scold a guest received as Kardia’s bride.

“…Ah. Thank you. It is much easier to speak this way.”

Kukuvaya’s voice, addressed to the Noi at her feet, was far lower and smaller than before. When Noi sat straight across, Kukuvaya had needed to sit up and project her voice; at her side, even a small voice could be heard.

Noi’s grandfather had often lost his energy all at once after evening fell. As years piled on, some could not manage a full day of activity.

“It seems my people have inconvenienced you…”

“I don’t mind. Both the turnip and the corn are very good.”

When Noi smiled, Kukuvaya smiled back gently.

“Oh my, you look merry.”

Kardia plopped down beside Noi as well. Kukuvaya laughed in a girlish, lilting tone.

“My, my. To think I’d live to see Sensei sitting on the floor.”

Kukuvaya laughed “ho-ho-ho,” and Kardia looked at her with narrowed, tender eyes. Seeing that gentle profile made Noi’s heart jolt.

To Noi, she looked only like a grandmother—but to Kardia, perhaps she looked like someone closer to his own age.

Tight—again, her chest ached.

“I brought you here so they could see to an outfit for the royal palace.”

Smiling, Kardia hefted Noi—still holding her corn—onto his knee.

“I’m no good with women’s attire.”

Noi blinked several times, then gathered the information she’d heard so far and spoke solemnly.

“So that means… I’ll go greet the palace—as your bride?”

“Yes. Hm? Did I not say so? Sorry.”

Noi knit her brows and shut her eyes. If only she’d heard that first, she wouldn’t have suffered that silly misunderstanding about “bride hunting.”

“…I see.”

“There are many girls here, and they’re all dressers. I thought they’d be a help to you. I’ve spoken with Kukuvaya as well.”

When Noi looked up at Kukuvaya, the woman narrowed her eyes and nodded slowly to Noi.

“I have chosen the Enclave’s most stylish—near in age, and with a lively charm. Aidoni. Come in.”

“Yes.”

At the name, and the dainty voice from beyond the door, Noi let out a small “ah.”

Then an “eh” followed it.

—Aidoni’s eyes were wet and rabbit-red.

She had clearly been crying her eyes out.

(…S-she was crying!?)

If anything, the ones who had been verbally pummeled were Ornis and Noi.

Noi whipped around to glare at Ornis, who stood in the corner with Kukuvaya’s attendants. Though his posture was proper, he wore a thoroughly fed-up face as he looked at Aidoni.

Perhaps because her eyesight was poor, Kukuvaya did not seem to notice Aidoni’s expression; in a calm yet authoritative voice, she spoke.

“Aidoni. Assist Lady Noi.”

“As you wish, Grand Master.”

Aidoni bowed slowly to Noi and Kardia.