Chapter 13
Henriette’s tea party, disguised as a simple gathering, had in truth been a test, one devised with Zakhar’s counsel.
Dragons, who valued intellect as much as strength, sometimes chose to mediate disputes not with force, but through conversation.
“Give the noble ladies riddles,” Zakhar had said. “But make sure there is no fixed answer.”
“Why? You know as well as I do that humans grow uneasy and suspicious in the face of uncertainty.”
“If there’s no correct answer, they’ll each respond differently. From those answers, you can choose the ones you agree with most, the ones whose thinking aligns with yours. Repeat the process a few more times, and you’ll quickly narrow down those most similar to you. That’s how we always selected the finest among us.”
Though Zakhar’s words were tossed out with his usual offhand tone, Henriette listened carefully.
“Humans may think dragons are nothing more than bloodthirsty, barbaric lizards, but… we didn’t always solve everything through combat. In fact, if you look closely, humans are several times more violent than we are. What I’ve told you was a method often used by our elders, those who disliked quarreling. It won’t work on fools, but you’ll know how to make use of it.”
Henriette, who had been idly tapping the edge of her desk with her fingertips, folded her hands neatly in her lap.
“Thank you, Zakhar. I’ve been wondering how to win over those who are wary of me. Even if I put forward the card of the mining venture, I had to consider carefully with whom to share it. As expected of the Dragon Lord.”
“Hah. And just a moment ago you were saying I could be childish?”
With a playful glint in her voice, Henriette replied, “Doesn’t everyone have their strengths and weaknesses?”
“Tch.” Zakhar clicked his tongue.
“It seems my decision to seek you out without hesitation was well worth it.”
Henriette murmured the words almost absently, a soft smile on her lips.
Still wearing a faint scowl, Zakhar turned from the window to look at her, capturing in his mind the shape of her smile in his pale violet eyes.
She’s smiling far more than usual today, he thought, and for a long while, he simply watched her from his place beside her.
✮⋆˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡
Recalling her earlier exchange with Zakhar, Henriette looked at Hilde, who had just answered her last question.
“Miss Cardia, why did you say the Black Dragon Zakhar?”
In truth, this particular question had an answer all but set in stone.
Those desperate to curry favour with Wilhelm would, of course, name the Emperor. Those who valued wealth above all would name mines or jewels.
But Zakhar’s name, that was not an answer Henriette had anticipated.
“Our Elhide Empire possesses countless treasures. Among them is the majestic Mount Horeb. Within it lies the Black Dragon Zakhar, ruler of the ancient land of Libern, who has slept for centuries. As Dragon Lord, his very name commands great power. No nation, however tempting the offer, could persuade us to give him up. Should Zakhar awaken and join hands with the Empire, he would be a force mightier than any army.”
Hilde spoke firmly, her clear and deliberate words carrying a weight that was unusual for such a lighthearted riddle.
Perhaps that gravity was precisely why, the moment she finished, a few young ladies let slip mocking little laughs.
“Miss Cardia certainly lives up to her reputation for… imagination.”
“Why, what an intriguing answer, one even Her Majesty could not have foreseen. Though I do suspect Miss Cardia might prefer the company of a library to that of a tea party. It is difficult for the rest of us to match your erudition.”
Despite the barbed tone of their remarks, Hilde lifted her teacup with serene composure, betraying no reaction. She seemed well accustomed to such slights.
Henriette, who had been quietly watching her, spoke in a gentle voice.
“I have listened to your thoughts with interest. Now, let us move to the next question. What is the one thing that never changes?”
This time, the young noblewomen looked momentarily blank.
The thing that never changes…
After some thought, a few raised their hands to speak.
“The one thing that never changes is a jewel. Even after decades or centuries, its colour and form remain the same. For this reason, many houses pass down necklaces or rings as heirlooms.”
Henriette’s gaze moved to the next young lady.
“I disagree. The one thing that never changes is a book. No matter how much time passes, the knowledge and content it holds remain intact. A book that preserves unchanging wisdom is truly everlasting.”
“Then wouldn’t it be more accurate to say it is knowledge itself that never changes, not the book?”
“I agree with Miss Lake. If someone were to tear a book or distort its contents, it could no longer be said to hold correct knowledge.”
“But formless knowledge is even more fragile. Passed from mouth to mouth, it is easily altered and lost, is it not?”
The exchange sparked a lively debate.
It seemed they had forgotten entirely that they had mocked Hilde moments ago, each now intent on making her own argument.
“All of your ideas are fine ones,” Henriette said at last. “In particular, Miss Lake’s was quite interesting. Let us take a sip of tea before we continue.”
When the discussion grew a little too heated, she raised her hand to calm the room.
The noblewomen, suddenly conscious of themselves, sat back and lowered their voices.
Hilde, as though she had been waiting for this lull, lifted her hand.
“All the answers so far are valid and reasonable. But I believe the one thing that never changes… is kindness.”
“And why is that, Miss Cardia?”
“Because kindness breaks down human suspicion, and where suspicion is gone, intimacy and cooperation take root. Humans cannot live alone, since ancient times, we have formed close bonds with others, building alliances and, eventually, nations.”
“My, that is a surprisingly ordinary answer from you, Miss Cardia.”
It was Miss Lake again, interrupting with a touch of sarcasm.
“Let her finish.”
“Kindness is one of the most effective means of fostering trust between people. I believe that gentle, benevolent hearts have guided human history to this day. Faces differ, thoughts differ, origins and genders differ, but kindness is the same in all. That is why I consider kindness a resource unchanged through the ages, allowing humanity to endure and prosper across time.”
Hilde paused briefly, glancing around before adding, “And kindness is not limited to humans alone. Even the dragons, who once flourished upon this land… were surely the same.”
Her answer was so earnest, so grounded in reason, that no one could bring themselves to scoff this time.
Pleased by Hilde’s composed manner and well-founded reasoning, Henriette smiled warmly.
“I have listened well, Miss Cardia. Your insight is most commendable.”
“I am unworthy of such praise, Your Majesty. I merely spoke what I believe to be true, though my poor words may not do it justice. That you understand them gladdens me.”
Hilde’s smile, faint but genuine, was the first she had shown since arriving at the tea party.
Yet not all gazes upon her were kind.
In the social circles of Botain, Hilde Cardia was an outsider.
Even before her debutante year, she had been quiet, lacking any remarkable skill in dance or music.
Her plain looks and modest demeanor meant her name might be mentioned once or twice among eligible bachelors before being forgotten entirely.
Knowing this better than anyone, Hilde had chosen not to force herself into society’s mould, but instead to retreat into the library, where she lost herself in books.
In time, her serious and reserved nature, coupled with her vast knowledge, drew a different sort of attention.
Those who loved study and debate praised her as deeply thoughtful, but the majority dismissed her as a pretentious oddity.
Yet now, the so-called eccentric, long an object of scorn, had received the Empress’s public praise, and the nobles could not hide their surprise.
Henriette, watching Hilde’s genuine pleasure at the compliment, spoke again.
“Then let us move on to the final question. What is the most beautiful flower in the world?”
Not wishing to be outshone again, the young ladies quickly began a fervent discussion, naming common blooms like roses, lisianthus, and lilies, as well as rare, exotic flowers unfamiliar even to the Empress.
But Henriette was not interested in a mere list of flora.
One young lady, stealing a glance at Hilde, asked softly, “And what do you think, Miss Cardia?”
Once more, all eyes turned toward her.
Lowering her head to hide a shy expression, Hilde drew a slow breath.
Then she straightened her shoulders and spoke.
“The most beautiful flower is a child. The fairest blossom to bloom in the garden of family and a mother’s embrace.”
Henriette’s eyes widened, then softened into a deep smile.
“Yes. The most beautiful flower in my own arms… is Princess Emilia. I am sure your mother felt the same when she held you.”
“Children think so as well, to them, the most beautiful world is their mother. To a young blossom, she is everything.”
At that moment, Henriette understood the true purpose behind Zakhar’s advice.
Choosing one’s allies meant finding those who genuinely wished to be your allies.
“…Heh. Though many of your answers were wise and interesting, it seems the winner of this little game has been decided.”
Thanks to the old wisdom of the dragons, Henriette felt the stirrings of a peculiar intuition that if this eccentric young lady became her ally, unexpected and exciting things would follow.
And she found she did not mind that feeling in the least.
