Hari itu, suara biola dan piano kecil kembali bergema di Chouonkaku, bengkel alat musik di dalam istana kekaisaran Darwei. Namun di luar, tepatnya di salah satu panggung terbuka, seorang pendekar pedang sedang mengayunkan pedangnya sendirian.
“Mengayunkan pedang di benteng musik seperti ini—benar-benar tindakan yang kasar!”
“Yah, aku hanya bosan.”
Penyihir atribut air yang baru saja berlatih piano menegurnya, namun sang pendekar pedang menepisnya dengan santai. Biasanya, Kepala Bengkel Ron berlatih dengan fokus yang sangat tinggi. Jika ia menemui jalan buntu atau memiliki pertanyaan, ia akan bertanya pada Abel, selebihnya ia berlatih sendiri. Ryo juga sering menghabiskan waktu sendirian dengan bermain piano atau membaca buku-buku alkimia yang dibawanya. Akibatnya, Abel tidak punya kegiatan lain. Sepertinya itulah alasan mengapa ia berlatih pedang.
Chouonkaku memiliki banyak panggung, baik di dalam maupun luar ruangan, untuk pertunjukan. Ukurannya bervariasi, dan panggung luar ruangan yang terbesar cukup luas untuk konser terbuka, jadi tidak ada masalah bagi Abel untuk berlatih di sana.
“Yah, ilmu pedang Abel cukup memukau. Jadi, ini pemandangan yang tidak buruk.” Ryo, yang tadi menyebutnya kasar, segera mengubah sikapnya.
“B-Benarkah?” Abel tersipu. Ya, Abel memang cukup pemalu.
“Kenapa kau tidak berlatih alat musik juga, Abel? Ada banyak biola di sini.” Seperti yang ditunjukkan Ryo, bengkel itu penuh dengan biola buatan Ron. Ada juga viola yang lebih kecil, selo yang besar, bahkan kontrabas yang lebih besar lagi—hampir seluruh keluarga instrumen gesek ada di sana. Bahkan ada piano, yang menurut Ryo secara pribadi adalah instrumen gesek yang bermutasi. Ya, piano adalah instrumen gesek. Meskipun suaranya dihasilkan dengan menekan tuts, palu di dalamnya memukul senar untuk menghasilkan bunyi. Secara teknis, piano diklasifikasikan sebagai 'instrumen perkusi senar dengan papan tuts'.
“Aku hanya... tidak terlalu ingin memainkannya.” Saat Abel berkata demikian, ekspresinya tampak sedikit kesepian. Ryo memiringkan kepalanya, tidak mengerti alasannya.
“Aku berlatih biola dengan sangat keras demi kakak laki-lakiku.”
“Kakakmu? Putra Mahkota Cain?”
“Kakakku sempurna, bahkan dalam bermain biola. Kurasa itulah yang disebut jenius.” Tatapan Abel menerawang jauh, seolah melihat sesuatu yang sudah tiada.
“Aku masih berpikir permainanmu sekarang sangat luar biasa...”
“Aku bahkan tidak ada apa-apanya dibandingkan dia.” Abel menggeleng pelan, menolak pujian Ryo.
“Aku berlatih karena ingin sedikit lebih dekat dengan kakakku...”
“Dia adalah aspirasimu, bukan?”
“Aspirasiku, ya... benar juga. Tapi...” Abel terkekeh getir. “Begitu aku sadar aku tidak akan pernah bisa menyamainya, aku jatuh dalam keputusasaan.”
“Apa...” Ryo tertegun, tak menyangka Abel yang pekerja keras bisa merasa begitu putus asa.
“Lalu, apa yang kau lakukan saat itu, Abel?”
“Kakakku memintaku untuk mendukungnya dengan pedangku.”
“Ah, begitu.”
“Tentu saja, aku sudah menyukai pedang sebelum itu. Namun pada saat itulah aku memutuskan untuk mendedikasikan seluruh kemampuan pedangku untuk kakakku.” Dengan tatapan penuh kesedihan dan nostalgia, Abel menatap ke kejauhan. Ketika seseorang mendedikasikan diri untuk orang lain, mereka bisa menunjukkan kekuatan yang luar biasa. Namun, apa yang terjadi ketika 'orang tersebut' telah tiada? Bisakah seseorang terus memberikan segalanya?
“Kakakku selalu sangat peduli pada bangsa dan rakyatnya. Bahkan saat terakhir kali aku melihatnya, ketika ia tidak bisa lagi bangkit dari tempat tidur, ia tetap melakukannya.” Ryo mendengarkan dalam diam. Abel tersenyum tipis dan melanjutkan, “Jadi, pedang yang dulu kudedikasikan untuk kakakku, kini kudedikasikan untuk bangsa dan rakyatnya.” Saat Abel menyatakan hal itu, kesedihan di wajahnya menghilang, digantikan oleh ekspresi tegas seorang raja.
“Pedangku didedikasikan untukmu, Abel. Aku akan mendukungmu dengan seluruh kekuatanku.”
“Ah, aku mengandalkanmu.” Ryo dan Abel saling tersenyum.
Selama lima hari, Ryo dan Abel terus mengunjungi Chouonkaku. Selama itu pula, ibu kota kekaisaran tetap damai. Namun...
“Utusan khusus dari Kekaisaran Choouchi?”
“Mereka datang besok?”
“Ya, itulah yang kudengar. Makanya Taikan-sama berulang kali melarang kita tampil di luar ruangan besok.” Ryo memiringkan kepala, Abel mengonfirmasi, dan Kepala Bengkel Ron menghela napas. Sepertinya pertunjukan Ron masih belum diakui oleh Sang Bendahara Agung.
“Kau terus berkembang sedikit demi sedikit. Tidak perlu terburu-buru.”
“Terima kasih banyak!” Ron merespons dengan senyum.
“Kekaisaran Choouchi... itu negara Jenderal Yun, yang dibekukan dalam es, kan? Setelah membuat keributan seperti itu, beraninya mereka menunjukkan wajah di sini!” Ryo berbicara dengan geram.
“Mereka mungkin di sini untuk mengambil kembali tawanan mereka. Bahkan untuk prajurit biasa, jika diketahui mereka tertangkap, negara akan bernegosiasi untuk membebaskan mereka. Itu wajar, apalagi jika itu seorang 'jenderal'.”
“Itu diskriminasi!”
“Maksudmu, orang harus diperlakukan setara tanpa memandang pangkat, kan?”
“Tentu saja.” Abel mengonfirmasi, dan Ryo mengangguk mantap.
“Jadi, seandainya adipati utama Kerajaan tertangkap, Kerajaan seharusnya hanya melakukan negosiasi standar untuk pembebasan?”
“I-Itu masalah yang sama sekali berbeda.” Ryo segera mengoreksi diri.
“Kerajaan akan tetap berjalan lancar tanpamu, Ryo.”
“Bagaimana bisa kau berkata begitu! Aku juga berkontribusi pada kerajaan.”
“Oh? Contohnya?”
“Contohnya... ah! Aku makan banyak makanan dan kue, mengurangi limbah makanan kerajaan!”
“Apa itu 'limbah makanan'...”
“Cara terbaik untuk menghindari tawanan adalah dengan tidak memulai perang sejak awal.”
“Yah, itu benar... Tapi terkadang, negara menangkap pelancong atau pedagang biasa untuk dijadikan alat tawar-menawar. Hal seperti itu terjadi antarnegara.”
“Ah...” Ryo teringat kasus serupa dari sejarah Bumi. Perbedaan ideologi dan perspektif nasional sering kali memicu situasi seperti itu. Ini adalah salah satu aspek dari negara berdaulat. Dunia ini tidak sesederhana itu.
“Jenderal Yun yang membeku di taman manor—hanya kau yang bisa memindahkannya, kan?”
“Ya. Tidak ada orang lain yang bisa.”
“Kalau begitu, jika kita setuju untuk membebaskan tawanan, kita perlu memindahkan balok es itu ke istana, bukan?”
“Ah, kalau begitu aku harus ada di sana. Kurasa kita harus memberi tahu Yang Mulia bahwa aku akan berada di Chouonkaku.”
Keesokan harinya, istana tampak cukup sibuk. Ryo dan Abel mengunjungi Chouonkaku seperti biasa. Mengikuti instruksi Bendahara Agung, Kepala Ron berlatih di dalam ruangan. Ryo juga memainkan piano bengkel dan membaca buku-buku yang dibawanya. Di sekitar Chouonkaku, waktu mengalir dengan lembut.
“Seni memperlambat jalannya waktu.” Penyihir atribut air itu berkomentar dengan angkuh sambil menyesap teh.
“Utusan dari Kekaisaran Choouchi itu datang siang ini, kan?”
“Begitu yang kudengar. Datang dan merusak aliran waktu artistik yang indah—benar-benar kasar.”
“Aku tidak mengerti maksudmu.” Ryo merasa kesal, sementara Abel tidak mengerti bagaimana seni bisa disamakan dengan waktu yang indah.
Siang hari, utusan itu tiba di istana sesuai jadwal. Audiensi diadakan di Aula Taiji.
“Utusan Kekaisaran Choouchi, Lord Berke Holan dari House Erdenet.”
Seorang pria dengan tinggi lebih dari 180 cm melangkah masuk. Jubah timur hitamnya yang bertepi benang emas kontras dengan rambut putihnya yang tergerai. Ia tampak berusia sekitar tiga puluh tahun. Dengan pembawaannya yang bermartabat, jelas ia adalah seseorang berpangkat tinggi. Beberapa pejabat bahkan merasa sesak napas di bawah tekanan kehadirannya.
“Utusan, kau telah menempuh perjalanan jauh.” Kaisar Tsuin berbicara singkat.
Utusan Berke menangkupkan tangan dan membungkuk. “Kali ini, karena kesalahpahaman besar, terjadi konflik yang tidak menguntungkan. Akibatnya jenderal kami menjadi tawanan. Saya di sini untuk menyelidiki masalah ini dan terlibat dalam negosiasi diplomatik selanjutnya.”
Nada bicaranya sopan, namun isinya jauh dari rendah hati. Ia mengklaim itu adalah kecelakaan, bukan kesengajaan.
“Jangan mengejek kami!” Seorang bangsawan muda, Pangeran Bin, berseru.
“Pangeran Bin, meskipun Anda berkata begitu...” Utusan Berke merespons dengan senyum tipis. Banyak yang terkejut karena utusan itu bisa mengenali siapa yang berbicara dengan tepat. Bahkan Kaisar Tsuin pun merasa terkejut secara internal.
“Utusan, kau menyebutkan 'negosiasi diplomatik selanjutnya' tadi.”
“Ya, Yang Mulia. Negara kami ingin menjalin hubungan diplomatik resmi dengan Darwei. Saya telah diberi wewenang untuk menegosiasikan perjanjian perdagangan guna mendirikan kedutaan di masa depan.”
Bisikan menyebar di pengadilan. Sebagian besar pejabat tidak tahu apa-apa tentang Kekaisaran Choouchi. Hanya Kaisar Tsuin dan Perdana Menteri Byan yang tahu sedikit, itu pun hanya perkiraan lokasinya.
“Perjanjian akan memerlukan berbagai persiapan.” Kaisar Tsuin berkata, menyadari betapa minimnya informasi mereka.
“Kami mengerti, Yang Mulia. Dan kami siap jika itu memakan waktu.”
“Kalau begitu, rombonganmu akan tetap berada di ibu kota untuk sementara waktu.”
“Terima kasih, Yang Mulia.”
“Perdana Menteri.” Kaisar Tsuin memanggil Perdana Menteri Byan. “Untuk akomodasi, saya rasa Kediaman Ryusen akan tepat.”
“Baiklah, lakukanlah.”
Setelah detail dibahas, utusan itu berbicara lagi. “Jika diperbolehkan, Yang Mulia, saya punya satu permintaan. Saya ingin meminta izin untuk merawat Jenderal Yun kami yang saat ini dalam tawanan.”
Ekspresi Utusan Berke tidak berubah, ia tetap tersenyum tipis. Mungkin senyum itu yang membuat Pangeran Bin kembali berseru, “Hal seperti itu tidak bisa diizinkan!”
“Tahan dirimu, Pangeran Bin.” Suara Perdana Menteri Byan tidak keras, namun kata-katanya menohok sang pangeran muda. Pangeran Bin pun berpaling dengan cemberut.
“Menteri Kehakiman, bagaimana pendapatmu?”
“Selama dia tidak meninggalkan ibu kota, tidak ada masalah.”
Kaisar Tsuin melirik ke arah pria tua di tepi pengadilan, Sekretaris Shau, Wakil Direktur Censorate yang menangani penegakan hukum. Sekretaris Shau mengangguk kecil, menandakan bahwa semua informasi telah dianalisis dan tidak ada masalah dalam mengembalikan tawanan tersebut. Ia juga memahami bahwa ini adalah masalah politik yang sangat krusial.
“Baiklah. Kami akan segera mengirimnya ke Kediaman Ryusen.”
“Belas kasih Yang Mulia sangat dihargai.”
Demikianlah, penyambutan utusan Kekaisaran Choouchi pun berakhir.
That day as well, the sounds of violin and a small piano echoed through Chouonkaku within the imperial palace. (TLN: Chouonkaku is the music instrument workshop within the imperial palace of Darwei)
Outside, however, on one of the outdoor stages, a lone swordsman was swinging his sword.
“To swing a sword in this bastion of music— such utter boorishness!”
“Well, I’m just bored.”
The water-attribute magician, who had been practicing the piano moments ago, rebuked him, and the swordsman deflected it lightly.
Typically, Workshop Chief Ron would practice with single-minded focus.
When he got stuck or had questions, he would ask Abel, but otherwise, he practiced alone.
Ryo would also play the piano or read the alchemy books he had brought, spending time alone.
Books & Literature
As a result, Abel would end up with nothing to do.
That, it seemed, was why he was swinging his sword.
Chouonkaku had many stages, both indoor and outdoor, for performances.
They varied in size, and the largest outdoor stage was big enough for open-air concerts, so there was no problem with Abel practicing sword swings alone there.
“Well, Abel’s swordplay is quite a spectacle. So it’s not a bad sight.”
Ryo, who had just called it boorish, immediately reversed his stance.
“R-Really?”
Abel blushed.
Yes, Abel was rather shy.
“Why don’t you practice an instrument too, Abel? There are plenty of violins.”
As Ryo pointed out, the workshop had many violins made by Ron.
There were also smaller violas, large cellos, and even larger contrabasses—practically the entire family of string instruments.
There was even a piano, which Ryo privately considered a mutant string instrument.
Yes, a piano is a string instrument.
While sound is produced by pressing keys, a hammer inside strikes strings.
Which produces the sound.
Thus, it is classified as a string instrument.
However, some view it as a percussion instrument because the strings are ‘struck’ with hammers.
Technically, it is classified as a ‘keyboarded string percussion instrument’... so, in essence, it is both.
A piano is a piano.
“I just... don’t really feel like playing that much.”
When Abel said that, his expression seemed a little lonely.
Ryo tilted his head, not understanding why.
“I practiced the violin so hard for my older brother.”
“Your brother? Crown Prince Cain?”
“My brother was perfect, even with the violin. That’s what you call a genius, I suppose.”
Looking as if he were seeing something that was no longer there, Abel’s gaze grew distant.
“I still think your playing now is quite amazing...”
“I can’t even hold a candle to him.”
Ryo praised Abel’s playing, but Abel shook his head slightly, denying it.
“I practiced because I wanted to get even a little closer to my brother...”
“He was your aspiration, wasn’t he?”
“My aspiration, huh... yeah, that’s true. But...”
Abel chuckled bitterly before continuing:
“Once I realized I could never reach him, I fell into despair.”
“What...”
Ryo was so shocked by Abel’s words that he was at a loss for words.
It was hard to imagine the hardworking Abel falling into despair from understanding he could never reach someone.
“So, what did you do then, Abel?”
“My brother told me he wanted me to support him with my sword.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Of course, I had already liked the sword before that. But it was at that moment that I decided to dedicate everything about my sword to my brother.”
With a gaze filled with sadness and nostalgia, Abel looked into the distance.
When people devote themselves to someone, they can display unbelievable strength.
But what happens when that ‘someone’ passes away?
Can one continue to give their all even then?
“My brother always cared deeply for the nation and its people. Even when I last saw him, when he could no longer get up from his bed, he still did.”
Ryo listened in silence as Abel continued.
Abel gave a faint smile and continued:
“So, the sword I once dedicated to my brother, I now dedicate to the nation and its people.”
When Abel declared this, the sadness and nostalgia disappeared from his face, replaced by the determined expression of a king.
“My sword is dedicated to you, Abel. I will support you with all my strength.”
“Ah, I’m counting on you.”
With that, Ryo and Abel smiled at each other.
For five days, Ryo and Abel continued to visit Chouonkaku.
During that time, the imperial capital remained peaceful, and the palace was calm.
However...
“A special envoy from the Choouchi Empire?”
“They’re coming tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’s what I heard. That’s why Taikan-sama told us repeatedly not to perform outdoors tomorrow.” (TLN: Grand Chamberlain)
Ryo tilted his head, Abel confirmed, and Workshop Chief Ron sighed as he answered.
It seemed Ron’s performances still had not been recognized by the Grand Chamberlain.
“You’re improving little by little. There’s no need to rush.”
“Thank you very much!”
Abel comforted him, and Ron responded with a smile, pleased by the praise.
“The Choouchi Empire... that’s the country of General Yun, the one frozen in ice, right? After causing such a commotion, how dare they show their faces here!”
Ryo spoke indignantly.
“They’re probably here to reclaim their prisoner. Even for a regular soldier, if it’s known they’ve been captured, the country will negotiate to have them released. It’s only natural, especially if it’s a ‘general’.”
“That’s discrimination!”
“You mean, people should be treated equally regardless of rank, right?”
“Of course.”
Abel confirmed, and Ryo nodded vigorously.
“So, even if the Kingdom’s premier duke were captured, the Kingdom should only conduct standard negotiations for release?”
“T-That’s a different matter entirely.”
It seemed anyone would change their stance when it concerned themselves.
Ryo quickly corrected himself.
“The Kingdom would run just fine without you, Ryo.”
“How can you say that! I contribute to the kingdom too.”
“Ooh? For example?”
“For example... ah! I eat lots of meals and cakes, reducing the kingdom’s food waste! ”
“What is ‘food waste’...”
Ryo’s earnest comeback didn’t seem to resonate with Abel.
“The best way to avoid prisoners is to not wage war in the first place.”
“Well, that’s true... But sometimes, countries capture regular travelers or merchants to use as bargaining chips. Such things happen between nations.”
“Ah...”
As Abel pointed this out, Ryo recalled similar cases from Earth’s history.
Differences in national ideology and perspective often led to such situations...
It was bothersome for the people, but sometimes inevitable.
This was one aspect of sovereign nations.
The world was not a simple place.
“The frozen General Yun in the manor’s garden—only you can move that, right?”
“Yes. No one else can.”
“Then, if we agree to release the prisoner, we’ll need to move that frozen block to the palace, won’t we?”
“Ah, I’ll have to be there, then. I guess we should let His Majesty know I’ll be at Chouonkaku.”
And so, the fact that Duke Rondo was staying at Chouonkaku was conveyed to Emperor Tsuin.
The next day.
The palace was somewhat bustling.
However, since the palace was unbelievably vast, not all of it was busy.
Only certain parts.
That day, Ryo and Abel visited Chouonkaku as usual.
Following the Grand Chamberlain’s instructions, Chief Ron practiced indoors.
Ryo also played the workshop piano and read the books he had brought...
Books & Literature
Around Chouonkaku, time flowed as gently as ever.
“Art slows the passage of time.”
The water-attribute magician remarked smugly while sipping tea.
“That envoy from the Choouchi Empire is coming at noon, right?”
“So I heard. To come and break the beautiful flow of artistic time—how utterly boorish.”
“I don’t get what you mean.”
Ryo was indignant for some reason, while Abel could not understand how art equaled beautiful time.
To Abel, it seemed like Ryo was simply complaining without reason.
Noon.
The envoy arrived at the palace as scheduled.
The audience was held in the Taiji Hall.
“Envoy of the Choouchi Empire, Lord Berke Holan of House Erdenet.”
The herald announced, and a group of five men and women entered, led by a single man.
The leading man was over 180 cm tall, with a commanding presence.
However, what drew the courtiers’ eyes was not his stature.
His black eastern robes, edged with gold thread, contrasted with his white hair flowing down to his back.
He appeared to be around thirty years old.
With his dignified bearing, it was clear at a glance that he was someone of high rank in the Empire.
Some of the officials even felt a tightness in their chests and averted their eyes under the weight of his presence.
“Envoy, you have traveled far.”
Emperor Tsuin spoke briefly.
In response, Envoy Berke placed his hands together before him and bowed.
In the Eastern nations, an ‘envoy’ is someone dispatched with full authority by the sovereign.
They are, in essence, the embodiment of their nation.
And thus are treated with the utmost respect by the host country, while the envoy behaves with awareness of their role as a national representative.
“This time, due to a great misunderstanding, an unfortunate conflict occurred. Resulting in our general being taken prisoner. I am here to investigate this matter and engage in subsequent diplomatic negotiations.”
Envoy Berke stated.
His tone was polite, and his words carefully chosen, but their substance was far from humble.
‘A great misunderstanding’, ‘unfortunate conflict’, ‘investigation’...he accepted no responsibility on behalf of his country.
He was claiming it was an accident, not intentional.
“Don’t mock us!”
One of the courtiers raised his voice.
He was fairly young... around twenty years old.
Not a minister...
“Prince Bin, even if you say that...”
Envoy Berke responded with a faint smile.
At that moment, several people’s expressions shifted.
They were surprised.
That the envoy, who had just arrived from the distant north, could accurately identify who had spoken.
However, some did not show their surprise outwardly but felt it internally.
That was Emperor Tsuin himself.
“Envoy, you mentioned ‘subsequent diplomatic negotiations’ earlier.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Our nation wishes to establish formal diplomatic relations with Darwei. I have been authorized to negotiate a trade treaty to establish an embassy in the future.”
A murmur spread through the court.
Most of the officials knew little about the Choouchi Empire itself.
Only Emperor Tsuin and Prime Minister Byan, who had ordered investigations, knew anything... yet even then, only roughly where it was located.
They did not know its population, resources, or even the name of its capital.
“A treaty will require various preparations.”
Emperor Tsuin said, aware of how lacking their information was.
“We understand, Your Majesty. And are prepared for it to take some time.”
Envoy Berke replied with a respectful bow.
“Then, we will have your party remain in the capital for a while.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Prime Minister.”
Emperor Tsuin called upon Prime Minister Byan.
“Yes, Your Majesty. For accommodations, I believe Ryusen Residence would be appropriate.”
“Very well, make it so.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Prime Minister Byan responded without delay, and the lodging was decided.
Ryusen Residence was not too close to the palace, yet offered excellent hospitality, making it the most suitable choice, a fact Emperor Tsuin also recognized.
As the details were to be discussed from the following day onward, the atmosphere suggested the envoy’s party would now withdraw... but Envoy Berke spoke up.
“If I may, Your Majesty, I have a request.”
“Speak.”
“I would like to request permission to treat our General Yun, who is currently in captivity.”
Envoy Berke’s expression did not change; he continued to wear a faint smile.
Perhaps it was the content of this request combined with that smile that irritated someone.
As a voice rang out once more.
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