Chapter 5: A Belated Funeral
“…My name is Bai,” she replied, then, sensing a potential problem, quickly added, “Just Bai.”
“Alright, Little Sister Bai. It’s a beautiful name,” Lilia said, a gentle smile playing on her lips. Then her tone turned slightly more serious. “So, Little Sister Bai, can you tell me… where did you get that dress?”
Her gaze seemed genuinely curious, as if simply inquiring about the dress’s origins.
Bai hesitated, then shook her head. “I can’t say. But Your Highness could probably find out if you wanted to.”
“If Little Sister Bai doesn’t want to say, then I won’t pry,” Lilia said with a smile. But something about her gaze seemed… off.
It was as if she was looking at Bai, yet not quite focused on her.
Her eyes seemed unfocused, staring straight ahead, but she could clearly see; she wasn’t blind.
“Little Sister Bai?” Lilia called out softly, adjusting her gaze slightly, finally focusing on Bai.
Bai could now clearly see the unfocused, almost vacant look in her eyes.
As if sensing Bai’s confusion, Lilia chuckled. “My apologies. I have a… condition with my eyes. I can’t see clearly… but I can tell you’re very pretty, Little Sister Bai!”
Bai frowned slightly. She had never heard of Princess Lilia having any eye problems, and she hadn’t seemed so frail during their previous encounter.
“Bai, was it? …You’d best not pry into Her Highness’s affairs,” Erlya said, her scarred face even more menacing as she narrowed her eyes. “If I find out you intend to harm Her Highness…”
Bai glanced at Erlya, wondering why she was so paranoid, then, ignoring her, addressed Lilia. “Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.”
Her usual serious tone, combined with her childish voice, sounded slightly comical.
Lilia giggled, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Erlya. “Erlra, see? Such a cute little girl…”
Erlra remained unconvinced. She didn’t find Bai cute at all. On the contrary, she sensed a chilling aura around the girl, a subtle menace.
But such a small child, even if she had been killing since birth, shouldn’t possess such an intense aura.
Unless…
A demon?
But she didn’t look like one. Her aura was unusual, but still essentially human.
“Erlra, you’re so boring. Not nearly as fun as Little Sister Bai,” Lilia pouted, turning away slightly.
Bai looked at Erlya, sighing. “I’m just passing through. I mean no harm to Her Highness.”
Being constantly scrutinized by this paranoid woman was uncomfortable. Her attempt at reassurance seemed to have no effect.
Erlra simply sneered, offering no response.
As far as she was concerned, anyone who approached the Princess through unusual means, even by coincidence, was suspicious.
And if it weren’t for her… the Princess wouldn’t be in her current state.
Lilia, seeing Erlya’s hand trembling slightly on her axe, knew she was remembering that incident. She sighed. “Little Sister Bai, please sit across from me. Erlra, come here—are you satisfied now?”
“Your Highness…” Erlya looked flustered, sensing Lilia’s growing impatience.
Bai nodded and quickly sat down.
“Remember, Erlya, you are my maid. You will obey me,” Lilia’s voice hardened slightly.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Erlya said, her expression darkening as she moved behind Lilia, carefully placing her axe against the wall, away from the princess.
Bai, suddenly self-conscious about her elaborate dress, wondered if Lilia had any more… ordinary clothes.
Even a simple dress would be better than this conspicuous gown.
“By the way, Your Highness—” Bai started, but Lilia interrupted her.
“Just call me Lilia,” she said, her eyes smiling. “Or Miss Lilia? We’re friends now, Little Sister Bai. ‘Your Highness’ sounds too formal.”
Friends…?
Something flickered in Bai’s eyes.
This was the first time she had made a friend outside the battlefield, and a princess, no less.
“Alright, Miss Lilia,” Bai nodded. “If you don’t mind me asking, do you have any… more ordinary clothes? This dress is too conspicuous. I’d like to change.”
“Ordinary clothes? I don’t have anything that could be considered ordinary, and they would be far too big for you…” Lilia tapped her chin thoughtfully. “If you don’t mind, Little Sister Bai, we could go to the palace. I might have some smaller, more ordinary clothes there.”
“If it involves going to the palace, then I’ll pass,” Bai said, sighing. She didn’t want to go to the palace.
That would only cause more trouble.
It didn’t matter for now. Once they were inside the city, she could buy some new clothes. Lin Yan had given her enough money.
With the princess’s carriage, even if something happened, she would still be able to enter the city.
“But Little Sister Bai, why are you wearing such a dress?” Lilia asked, studying Bai intently. “If I’m not mistaken, although it’s an old style, from at least a century ago, that dress is meant for… funerals?”
“And it’s exquisitely made. I can sense the deep mourning woven into its very fabric.”
Bai was slightly surprised that Lilia recognized the dress.
She herself didn’t know its significance; she had simply worn what Lin Yan had given her.
“I attended a funeral earlier, so I’m still wearing this,” she said softly. It wasn’t a lie; Commander Lugner had been a respected elder to her.
“Oh, I see… my apologies. I shouldn’t have pried,” Lilia said with a regretful smile, then looked out the window, a hint of sadness in her eyes, murmuring,
“I’m also going to a funeral.”
“A… belated funeral.”
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