Sea of Golden Sand: Chapter 4
A princess’s coming-of-age ceremony is a momentous occasion. All of the nobility will come from their fiefs to pay their respects in the royal city, and the reception of guests, the flow of the ceremony, and other such things will be specially handled by the cabinet ministers. These three days, , no matter where, all through the city are gatherings and celebrations, everything signifying that this coronation will be the greatest revelry of the year. And I, as the guest of honor of the revelry, only have to symbolically appear for a bit at the ball on the night of my birthday.
Natasha: Your Highness, tonight is milady’s coronation ball. Witnessing the princess’s noble countenance is a , so—
Before the vanity, Natasha sets down in front of me the intricate tray that was brought in.
Natasha: Choose one of these masks, tonight milady must wear it for the entire event.
MC: ...
Natasha comes to stand behind me, and styles my hair for me.
Natasha: The first dance is milady’s to lead. Milady should choose a dance partner from all the young counts in attendance, this is the part everyone is most looking forward to.
Natasha: None of the counts will be masked. I hear there are a few that are very handsome.
I have no interest in thinking of those unappetizing counts and the ball, and my gaze falls outside the window.
MC: Why hasn’t the sun set yet…
Natasha: Your Highness is already fretting? Relax, when the time comes and you see what you like, just directly go up to take his hand and that’ll do.
Head Lady-in-waiting: Natasha, is Her Highness all prepared? We should get going.
MC: Now? Doesn’t it only begin at night?
Natasha: You must first pay your respects to the king and queen, and then make your appearance with them.
MC: (...that would mean missing Rafayel!)
Thinking of how Rafayel contacts me, I quickly dismiss Natasha and pull out pen and paper.
MC: How should I word it…
MC: “Since we promised, I’ll definitely make it, please wait for me until the moon rises”... Hmm, this will do.
After I finish writing, I pick up the beacon, preparing to tie the note to its tail.
I startle, and quickly turn towards the source of the sound, to see Rafayel is reclining on the soft cushion at the end of the bed.
I hurriedly hide the finished note behind my back.
MC: How are you here?
Rafayel: Saves you from sending a note.
Rafayel: Why aren’t you coming over.
MC: Do you know, this isn’t the way you should visit other people’s rooms?
Rafayel: I’ll do better next time.
Rafayel: Then do you know, this also isn’t the correct way the fishtail beacon should be used.
Rafayel: Come here, I’ll teach you.
Rafayel: Hold it like this, and I can sense you—this is a communication method unique to Lemurians.
Rafayel: Keep it well.
Rafayel: What are you doing?
Rafayel: Lemurians aren’t one finds on land.
Rafayel: Are you thinking, why am I still dressed like this today.
Rafayel: Tonight, we’re going to a place that’s a little further away.
MC: You really mean to leave the city? How wonderful! But tonight’s ball…
Rafayel: We definitely won’t be back in time.
Rafayel: Are we going?
MC: This kind of action, perhaps it’s too rebellious…
MC: Oh right, the head lady-in-waiting and Natasha are outside the door, we…
Rafayel pulls me along onto the balcony.
Rafayel: Afraid of heights?
I glance down, and feel my legs wobble, but I force myself to stand steady on my feet.
MC: Of course not.
Rafayel: Consider me the scared one. Hold tightly to me.
Saying that, Rafayel picks me up and nimbly leaps off the balcony. Wind whistles past my ear, and I quickly hug his neck.
MC: Rafayel! You’re crazy—
As we fall, an enormous illusory deep sea beast suddenly leaps out from the surface of the ground and swims up high towards us.
Chains fly from Rafayel’s hands and encircle the enormous beast. He brings me to a steady landing on its spine.
MC: This is…!
With a swish of its tail, the beautiful enormous beast swims towards the broad surface of Moonbath Lake.
Rafayel gazes forward, an almost-undetectable smile hovering at the corner of his lips.
Rafayel: The Sea God’s mount.
Natasha: Your Royal Highness! Where is milady going!
Turning my head back, the entire palace is getting smaller and smaller in my field of vision. I see Natasha’s frantic and helpless face on the balcony, and wave my hand at her.
MC: The mask is on the desk! Natasha, help me out—
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