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—
The Princess's coming-of-age- ceremony is an important event. Nobles from across the land will visit the city to celebrate. The reception, the ceremony itself, everything will be handled by the ministers.
During these three days, the city is holding festivals and parties. My coming-of-age will make this year memorable. Meanwhile, I, the main character, only need to appear at the ball as a formality.
Natasha: Your Highness, the birthday ball is tonight. A princess should not appear before her people-
Sitting at the dressing table, Miss Natasha places the tray in front of me.
Natasha: Choose a mask. Your Highness will wear it the whole night.
MC: ...
She stands behind me again and brushes my hair.
Natasha: Your Highness will have the first dance to start the ball. A duke is the best choice. The guests are anticipating it. None of them will wear masks. I heard a few are quite handsome.
I don't care about handsome nobles or the ball. My gaze returns to the window.
MC: Why isn't the sun setting?
Natasha: Is Your Highness nervous? Relax. If Your Highness fancies someone, take his hand.
Head Maid: Natasha, is Her Highness ready? We ought to leave now.
MC: Doesn't the ball start at night?
Natasha: Your Highness must greet the King and Queen before walking into the ballroom with them.
MC: (...I won't be able to meet Rafayel!!)
Remembering how Rafayel contacted me, I quickly ask Miss Natasha to leave and pull out a pen and paper.
MC: What should I write...? "A promise is a promise. Please wait for me till the moon rises." That... should do it.
I pick up the arrow and tie the note to the fletching.
Startled by a loud noise, I turn to the source. Rafayel was at the foot of my bed. I quickly hide the written note behind me.
MC: What brings you here?
Rafayel: Sparing you the trouble of sending a note. Come closer?
MC: This isn't how you act in someone else's bedchamber, is it?
Rafayel: I'll remember for next time. Has Your Highness never used a Fishtail Beacon before? It's not being used correctly.
Rafayel: Let me teach Your Highness.
Rafayel: Holding it like this, I'll sense Your Highness's presence. The beacon is a unique form of Lemurian communication.
Rafayel: Keep it.
Rafayel: What is Your Highness doing? Lemurians aren't obedient, little lambs.
Rafayel: Is Your Highness wondering the reason for my attire? Tonight, we're going on an outing, further from here.
MC: A trip far from the city? Lovely! But the ball...
Rafayel stands.
Rafayel: We won't make it. Shall we?
MC: This... Isn't it too daring?
MC: Oh, the Head Maid and Miss Natasha are outside the door. We--
Rafayel takes me to the balcony.
Rafayel: Are you afraid of heights?
I look down. My knees shake, yet I force myself to stand firm.
MC: I'm not.
Rafayel: Well, I am. Hold on tight.
Rafayel picks me up and gracefully leaps off the balcony. The wind howls against my ears, and I hold on tightly to his neck.
MC: Rafayel! Have you gone mad--
As we fall, a giant illusionary beast from The Deep leaps from the ground and swims toward us. Chains fly from Rafayel's hand and ensnare the creature. We land on its back.
MC: What is it...!
The beast swishes its tails and swims to Moonbath Lake. Rafayel's gaze is locked onto the horizon. A slight smile is on his lips.
Rafayel: A mount befitting the God of the Sea.
Natasha: Your Highness! Where are you going?!
The palace becomes a dot in the distance, and I can see Miss Natasha's panicked expression. I wave.
MC: The mask is on the table! Miss Natasha, I'm counting on you–
公主的成人礼是隆重的大事，所有公爵贵族都会从各自的封邑来到王城觐见，接待宾客、典礼流程等一应事务都会由内阁大臣专门操办。这三日来，不论何时，不论哪个角落，城中到处都在举办聚会和庆典，一切都昭示着这场加冕将会是这一年中最盛大的狂欢。而我，作为这场狂欢的主角，却只要在生日当晚的舞会上象征性地出现一下就可以。
娜莎：殿下，今晚就是您的加冕舞会了，公主容貌尊贵，不会轻易示人，所以——
梳妆台前，娜莎将端进来的精致托盘放在我面前。
娜莎：这些面具挑一个吧，今晚您全程都得戴着。
玩家：……
娜莎来到我身后，为我梳理头发。
娜莎：第一支舞是您开场，您要在所有在场的小伯爵里选一位做舞伴，这可是大家最期待的环节了。
娜莎：伯爵们都是不戴面具的，我听说，有几位非常英俊呢。
我没有心思去想那些乏味的伯爵和舞会，视线落向窗外。
玩家：太阳怎么还没落山……
娜莎：殿下这就着急了?放轻松，到时候看到喜欢的，直接上去拉住他的手就好啦。
侍女长：娜莎，殿下准备好了吗?我们该出发了。
玩家：现在?不是晚上才开始吗?
娜莎：您要先去向国王和王后行礼，再随他们一起入场。
玩家：（……那不就要和祁煜错过了!）
想起祁煜联系我的方式，我赶忙把娜莎支走，翻出纸和笔。
玩家：怎么写好呢……
玩家：“约定既成，定会相赴，请等我到月亮升起之前”……·嗯，就这样。
写好后，我拿起暗标，准备把字条系在标尾。
我吓了一跳，连忙向声音的来源转头，只见祁煜正斜倚在床尾的软上。
我赶忙把写好的字条背到身后。
玩家：你怎么来了?
祁煜：省得你送字条。
祁煜：怎么不过来了。
玩家：你知不知道，造访别人的房间不应该是这样的?
祁煜：下次改进。
祁煜：那你知不知道，鱼尾标的真正用法，也不应该是这样的。
祁煜：过来，教你。
祁煜：像这样把它握住，我就能感应到你了，这是利莫里亚人特有的联络方式。
祁煜：收好它。
祁煜：干什么?
祁煜：利莫里亚人不是陆地上乖顺的羊。
祁煜：你是不是在想，我今天为什么还是这个打扮。
祁煜：今晚，我们要去一个远一点的地方。
玩家：你真的要出城?太好了!可是晚上的舞会……
祁煜：肯定赶不回来。
祁煜：走吗?
玩家：这种行为，也太叛逆了吧……
玩家：对了，侍女长和娜莎在门外，我们……
祁煜拉着我走到阳台上。
祁煜：怕高吗?
我向下看一眼，有些腿软，但还是强迫自己站稳脚跟。
玩家：当然不。
祁煜：算我怕，抓紧我。
说着，祁煜将我抱起，轻巧地跃下阳台。耳旁风声呼啸，我赶紧搂住他的脖子。
玩家：祁煜!你疯——
坠落之际，一只虚幻的海底巨兽忽然从地面跃出，高高向我们游来。
祁煜手底飞出锁链将那巨兽绕住，带着我稳稳落在它的脊背上。
玩家：这是……!
美丽的巨兽一个灵巧摆尾，向宽广辽阔的洗月湖面游去。
祁煜凝视着前方，唇角有一抹不易察觉的笑。
祁煜：海神的坐骑。
娜莎：公主殿下!您要去哪儿!
回过头，整座宫殿在我的视野中越来越小，我看到阳台上娜莎惊慌失措的脸，冲她挥挥手。
玩家：面具在桌上!娜莎，帮我——
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