Lost In Character: Transmigration Chronicles Of A Nameless Heroine 48 The Funeral Ix

Farther up the small hill, after they'd cleared the edge of the forested path and came upon the purposely uncultivated meadow surrounding a large mausoleum, it was as if an invisible wall suddenly rose up, muting the noise from all directions.

At almost four hours past noon, the sun had mellowed out. Combined with a light wind blowing from the east, the heat had taken on that pleasant, even sleepy quality. In happier circ.u.mstances, it would have been the perfect weather for a day out, and that was the very illusion given by the image that met Hilde's eyes.

The first bier had been arranged on the rightmost edge of the royal tombs' entrance; to its left, the second bier was likewise being positioned. These had now been left in the care of attendants who'd been here since before, waiting to take up the baton from the exhausted.

As for the families, soldiers, and those who were with them from the beginning, blankets were even now being spread on the gra.s.s, at least a yard away from the wheeled contraptions and their pa.s.sengers. Many who'd arrived first were already gratefully atop them, sitting on their calves or with their legs crossed, accepting cloths, fortifying drinks, and – for those who had the stomach for it – food.

Still near the Lord General's family, which was missing two members instead of just one, a panting Leal and another countryman had claimed s.p.a.ces. A few of the soldiers sat on their haunches directly on the gra.s.s, not even moving away from their a.s.signed biers.

If not for how disarrayed and drained they all looked, it really could have been your everyday picnic at a beautiful garden of wildflowers.

Under the shade of a lone tree to the left side of the meadow, servants had spread a thick, wide blanket for the royals' use. Once they had led Prince Dieter's bier directly before the heavy doors of the rectangular white building at the center of the meadow, Captain Judda and his men also forwent dignity, choosing to rest right where they were. Inge didn't so much sit as slid to the ground.

Wis.h.i.+ng she could just drop where she stood as well, Hilde gave the young soldier a glance – he would still not meet her eyes – and nodded in thanks at Raban and the others. When she turned to walk away, she was then pleasantly surprised to find Frieda before her, waiting to a.s.sist her to their reserved spot.

Her expression immediately melted into grat.i.tude. "How are you this wonderful?" she said, taking the maid's offered arm in an almost familiar manner.

Blus.h.i.+ng, the older girl answered, "I'm just doing my job, Princess."

Hilde laughed weakly.

"But I'm not your job, Frieda – I'm hers." Saying this last, she nodded towards her real attendant, who'd long ago drifted away in the crowd and was only now arriving with the fourth bier. Wistfully, she went on, "Would that you could train her… no, would that she COULD be trained."

Well aware that Nadia was exactly the person she had wanted around, back when she still hadn't known any better about anything, Hilde was resigned to the fact that she was stuck with many of her choices, this one first among them – it wasn't in her to simply sack the poor, slightly addled woman.

She and Frieda, with Nadia trotting towards their direction not far behind, were the last to arrive under the tree. As soon as she sat, Hilde told Lady Ilse, "You have a very fine staff, Lady. Thank you for lending me their services."

Fanning herself, the Lady grunted her acknowledgment. "Our Steward has a knack for finding earnest workers. I lay all the credit at her door. As for your staff, Princess…" It was with visible distaste that she eyed Nadia, who'd just arrived only to collapse somewhere behind Hilde, with nary a cloth, drink, or a simple "Is there anything you need?" for the mistress she ought to be serving. It was once again Frieda who saw to her care. "You really might as well not have one."

Her critical gaze next slid towards the Queen, who was quietly looking off at the direction of the royal tombs, seemingly unmindful of the exchange happening by her. Likewise, Gisela was gazing absently at her lap, her hands worrying at the edges of a gray drying cloth.

'I really wish you wouldn't do that, Aunt,' Hilde thought, now fully knowing the possible dangers of confronting her elder sister – about anything.

Thankfully, all Lady Ilse said was, "We'll have to see about changing that, after today."

Thinking about a soldier whose thin connecting thread on life was now presumably in her hands, she sighed. 'It's already changed.'

After a peaceful interval wherein Hilde replenished her energy through eating some more, another commotion took place. Coming from a side path to the left of the meadow, Theodar and two of their household soldiers rejoined their company.

He was quite a distance away from where the royal women sat; it was difficult to gauge whether the redness of his complexion was due to exertion, the lingering heat, or something else entirely. Winding through the s.p.a.ces between blankets, he stared straight ahead, making a clear beeline to where his family waited.

He could not have been unaware of all the stares, yet bore it, he did. Then again, it was already a point in his favor that he had returned at all.

Subtly, Hilde's eyes slid sideways to look at her cousin's face. At first, it didn't appear like she noticed Theodar's arrival at all, though that should have been impossible given the whispered commotion it had caused. Then she noticed the focused s.h.i.+ne on Gisela's eyes that wasn't there before; she noticed the sudden heaviness of her breath, which was no longer brought on by exhaustion.

'It couldn't be…' Hilde thought, absolutely dumbstruck. 'Are you serious, cousin mine? Haven't you only just met the man?' She recalled their earlier conversation and nearly snapped out loud, 'He even insulted you!'

Due to her distraction over the vagaries of human emotions, Hilde had been unaware she'd likewise become the focus of her sister's observation until she spoke.

"It would appear the Lord General has a good reason for seeking a subst.i.tute heir." After saying this in an uninterested tone, the Queen paused and eyed Hilde from head to toe, her gaze lingering on the spread of her skirts. "Such as it is, it's still perhaps a closer replacement for the one he'd lost."

Before Hilde could respond, Lady Ilse cut in. "But, Queen," she said, her brows knotted, "it's his daughter who's now his heir."

Though she already knew this, Hilde joined the others in turning their gazes towards the family in question. Theodar had just reached his destination, and after a brief exchange of words between himself and his father, he sat down. The Lord General clapped him once on the back while Sieglind, his sister, ruffled his already-untidy brown hair. Now unable to keep looking up, Theodar's face appeared to redden even more.

Watching this scene, aware that it could simply have been a show put on for all the eyes watching, Hilde nonetheless felt her chest constrict.

'Even if it's fake, it would have been nice…'

"Ah," Queen Heloise suddenly went on, humor now coloring her tone. She turned squarely to Hilde and said, "He's the same as you, then."