Hardross Helio lay on his sickbed.

He had never been a physically strong monarch. He was enthroned king of the city-state of Helio at 21, but on that occasion, he had not lifted a longsword one-handed and held it high before the people as was the custom.

And yet, during the more than thirty years that Hardross had sat on the throne, he never once allowed an enemy to breach the high walls of Helio and invade. p.r.o.ne to collapsing in the heat, p.r.o.ne to catching colds from the wind, still Hardross spurred his frail body on and continued protecting his country and his people.

Then, about ten years ago, he had handed over the family heads.h.i.+p to his son, Elargon. However, perhaps because his mind was no longer under tension once released from the exhausting duties of king, Hardross’ health became even worse than before. Even though he was no longer king, he was the hero who had run through a violent age of strife in Western Tauran. In their worry over his illness, his loyal retainers had continuously come to visit him in his sickroom. And each time, Hardross would wave his hand and say,

"I am fine. If you have time to come and look at my pallid face, please use it to stay even a second longer by His Majesty Elargon's side to lend him your strength."

The va.s.sals were touched by the words of the former king, in whom the embers of life gently flickered.

And so, having raised their loyalty to the royal family even further, from his sickbed Hardross had contentedly watched their backs as they left.

"With this, I can leave in peace." It was said that Hardross expressed himself thus to the chamberlains who were taking care of him.

However –

Now, Hardross' face as he lay in his sickbed had completely changed from the calm countenance he wore then. He was only in his sixties but in one go, he looked to have aged ten or twenty years, his wrinkles had increased, his hair had fallen out and his body had grown even thinner. His ever gentle voice turned angry and harsh words were quick to gush from his mouth, he would rebuke the chamberlains for even the smallest mistakes and would often have them trembling so violently that they couldn't do their work.

Being eaten away by disease wasn't the only reason for this change. For the past month, Helio had been like a small boat tossed about in a gale. Upheavals arose one after another.

It had all started with an insignificant rumour from the northwest area of Tauran.

A checkpoint had been erected in the mountainous district in order to levy a tax on caravans and travellers. A dispute had arisen between the Zerdians and the mountain people over the revenue from that checkpoint, but had suddenly been brought to an end by the appearance of a certain person. Upon learning that he professed to be a sorcerer who could freely manipulate ether, Hardross lost interest in the rumour, but then two weeks later, the situation took a sudden turn.

Near the gorge that separated the western desert from the steppes was Lakekish, the westernmost city-state of Tauran. Lakekish fell. As there had been neither reports nor messages about a war breaking out, it must surely have fallen at the hands of some concealed, unknown person.

No, from that point onwards, that unknown person – that sorcerer – had certainly claimed a name. "Garda", a name known to every person within Tauran.

After having annexed the strength of the mountain people, the nomads and then of the soldiers from the city he had just s.n.a.t.c.hed, Garda immediately proceeded east. In no time at all, he had destroyed the villages on the outskirts of Lakekish and before the blood on the swords had even dried, he had seized the fortified stone city of Fugrum.

For the first time, all of Tauran truly became aware of the menace. The next to be targeted for invasion by Garda's forces was Eimen, a city-state northwest of Helio. Eimen was where Ax Bazgan's older sister had married a man from the south. It was not in an alliance with Helio. However, it was the nature of the Tauran region to unite against outside threats. Hardross' son, Elargon, decided to send a force of nearly eight hundred soldiers as reinforcements which he would personally lead into battle.

The combined forces of Helio and Eimen numbered two thousand. In the Tauran area where skirmishes were frequent, armies were large. Furthermore, Garda's troops had until then won through surprise attacks. Since this time every preparation was being made in order to intercept them, everyone within Tauran believed that the sorcerer's ambitions would be thwarted.

Before three months had pa.s.sed, this combined military force was annihilated.

Eimen fell. A few days later, a soldier whose entire body was riddled with arrow wounds staggered back to Helio and, just before his life ran out, cried,

"King Elargon died in battle."

n.o.body knew the details of the battle. Hardross had survived for a long time in a world of war, but this was the first time he encountered an enemy like this one. And what tormented Hardross above all, even more than the death of his son, was the strife that death had caused within Helio. The enemies of the royal family were not only on the outside...

"Lord Hardross,"

A chamberlain rushed in as he lay in bed, lost in thought. Seeing his tense expression, Hardross thought for a moment that a host of Garda's forces were finally descending upon Helio, but,

"Lady Marilène wishes to pay you a get-well visit."

The chamberlain gave the name of Helio's queen.

The wrinkles which had been deeply carved in Hardross' forehead this past month squirmed as he twitched. Seeing the former king's expression, the chamberlain asked "Should she be refused?"

"It's fine, let her in." Hardross shook his head.

The door promptly opened and Marilène appeared, lifting the hem of her long dress.

The queen was from the neighbouring state of Cherik. Hardross had often crossed swords with that neighbour situated on the other side of Lake Soma. Twelve years earlier however, repeated negotiations bore fruit and the two countries were bound together in a peace treaty. As proof of the treaty and of the alliance, the king of Cherik's daughter, Marilène, married into Helio. Marilène was fourteen years old at the time. But she was already renowned for her beauty throughout Tauran.

Far from being spoiled, that beauty was at its height now that she had reached maturity. She was dazzlingly adorned with golden necklaces and bracelets. Her sleeveless tunic open at her breast and her transparent silk skirt were so bold that within Tauran, which made a virtue of not exposing skin, she would probably be rebuked for being "immoral" simply for standing there.

Appearing not to notice that the irritation in Hardross' eyes had deepened, the queen lightly curtsied.

"It has been a long time. How are you doing, Father?"

Her voice was as clear as a bell but Hardross glared angrily.

"You are no longer my daughter in any way. You know that and yet you still call me "father"? Is it so that I will have to correct you myself? Marilène, you have made clear that you no longer share a blood relations.h.i.+p with the rulers of Helio."

In front of her former father-in-law who spoke in gasps, Marilène smiled calmly.

Even though Elargon had died, she was still "queen". What on earth did that mean? If they were to happen to come across the name "Marilène" being whispered on one of Helio's street corners, even a traveller unaware of the circ.u.mstances would share the fury of the people of Helio.

"I'm in your way. I whose existence is the last remaining symbol of Helio's royalty am trying your patience, you who covet sole possession here. That's why you've come on pretence of paying me a get-well visit. You've come to measure with your own eyes how long this old man has left to live."

"My lord."

One of the chamberlains hurriedly rushed up as Hardross' face as he lay in bed had turned bright crimson. But the former king shook off the chamberlain's soothingly outstretched hand.

"You vixen!" His voice was loud enough to shake the very air within the room. "A wh.o.r.e who chose to become the wife of a rebel to protect her own social position. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that this was all Cherik's plot. No doubt you'll tell me that everything is going according to plans laid twelve years ago, from when you were married!"

He was so vigorous it looked as though any moment now he would seize the longsword decorating the wall behind him and run the queen through with it.

"I am glad that you seem to be doing well." Marilène didn't move an inch as she smiled. "Please continue to keep up your strength. The people will not forget the power of the Helio family. As long as the father of the nation is in good health, even this predicament that all of Tauran finds itself in need not be feared."

She curtsied once then, having no further business with the old man and, without paying him any further attention, she left the room accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting.

Hardross' head fell with a thud.

"My lord."

He raised his thin hand like a master of ceremonies would. But his eyes glittered with anger and he snorted from overwhelming impatience and frustration.

Within less than a day, the exchange between the former king and the current queen turned into a rumour and spread throughout the city of Helio. Marilène's infamy grew even more.

But –

"Soma"

What did not become gossip, perhaps because those present did not understand its meaning, was what Hardross suddenly muttered only a few minutes after the queen had left.

"Will lake Soma sparkle again this morning?"

Lake Soma was the halfway point between Helio and Marilène's home country of Cherik. While it could be said to be the symbol of the two countries' history of quarrels, there was probably no one within Helio who would be able to understand what Hardross was feeling or what he was thinking of when he murmured that name.

– There was probably not a single person within Helio who could understand his meaning.

That it concerned none other than Marilène could be considered to be Helio's greatest sorrow at that time.