夏日祭堪稱羅蔓沃居國一年中最盛大的節慶,傳說中夏神喜愛熱鬧,於是在這一天,全國各地皆會用上整個白晝載歌載舞,在夕陽西下前還會有獻給夏神的戲劇表演,當天的晚餐當然也吃得特別豐盛。409Please respect copyright.PENANAFc4re9d6or
409Please respect copyright.PENANAJjUb0mWPVl
每年,國王都會挑選不同的城鎮做為主祭場,並派一名王室成員前往該地主持祭典。今次的主祭場是鹿角森林邊的白鹿鎮,主祭者則是二王子沃雷特。409Please respect copyright.PENANAjj9GebJ9aP
409Please respect copyright.PENANASzn5mgRcma
白鹿鎮的別宮背靠樹林,亨利站在庭院角落的圍牆邊,耳邊是夜鶯啼鳴,不遠處則是一排被矮樹花叢遮掩的宴會廳窗口,整棟建築在今夜燈火通明,宴會廳的門往兩側大大敞開,大部份的賓客皆已步入廳堂。409Please respect copyright.PENANA5KTtu9yupQ
409Please respect copyright.PENANAwGUSYwViN6
「亨利。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAgzW9tvbyHn
409Please respect copyright.PENANAQJcpe5F6yw
熟悉的嗓音自身後傳來,涅澤爾不知何時來到了白鹿別宮的庭院內,亨利立刻轉身拉住他的手。409Please respect copyright.PENANAaSItKOoyVC
409Please respect copyright.PENANABKFiIWYHt5
「涅澤爾!我還以為你不來了呢──」409Please respect copyright.PENANA6DcLoxX8iY
409Please respect copyright.PENANAmevhPryw8V
「我什麼時候失約過?」409Please respect copyright.PENANAlQkoF0Of0X
409Please respect copyright.PENANAtVfPbjBTRN
「從來沒有。」亨利漾起微笑,搖了搖頭,「那我們進去吧?」409Please respect copyright.PENANAjBcutjNSvX
409Please respect copyright.PENANAOpImRkYh2d
「不,我待在這附近,等你吃完再來院子裡找我。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAITYFzS1kHN
409Please respect copyright.PENANA1gCqIDF203
「咦……」409Please respect copyright.PENANATWimoor10c
409Please respect copyright.PENANAbv2EowcEjv
「你邀我應該不可能是想找我吃晚餐吧?」409Please respect copyright.PENANAGWcPWuuSsj
409Please respect copyright.PENANAcbhUPAq0at
涅澤爾揚起面對亨利時富含寵溺意味的笑容,巫師無需進食,小王子當然也曉得,但亨利還未回答,便有另一道嗓音插入他們之間。409Please respect copyright.PENANAA6DA2WFrUY
409Please respect copyright.PENANAn9avyQk7wE
「這不是魔法師大人嗎?方才我在招待其他賓客,沒注意到您大駕光臨,真是不好意思。」409Please respect copyright.PENANADeMfiC3uyB
409Please respect copyright.PENANAIuMK3ehsBF
一名金髮青年朝兩人走來,亨利連忙應了聲「王兄」並低下頭,二王子沃雷特是國王的三位子嗣裡唯一由王后所生的孩子,長得與亨利一點都不像,舉手投足間散發的氣質也迥然不同。409Please respect copyright.PENANAk3y51MFxXI
409Please respect copyright.PENANAxzBXFrvVJM
「亨利應該已經告訴過您了吧?他可是今晚的主角喔。」409Please respect copyright.PENANA3ypRIlwyXc
409Please respect copyright.PENANAjiEok1IsQL
原本對二王子殿下不屑一顧的涅澤爾因這句話挑起了眉,只見亨利用有點不好意思的表情低聲接話:409Please respect copyright.PENANAHZKCAU3Qxo
409Please respect copyright.PENANA237Q8V2CFq
「就是……每年的主祭者不是都要在晚宴上表演嗎?王兄說今年要讓我上台。」409Please respect copyright.PENANA5V7gElKS73
409Please respect copyright.PENANASizXBmTVK1
堂堂二王子殿下,還老是把自己的工作扔給別人啊──涅澤爾止住了未脫口的嘲諷,他瞪了沃雷特一眼,心底明白這傢伙打的是什麼算盤。409Please respect copyright.PENANATSfcdd378c
409Please respect copyright.PENANA3MmjvLYdK5
把晚宴的表演交給三王子,無疑是向外宣示三王子和二王子是同一陣線的。國王尚未訂立王諸,大公主與二王子已為了王位明爭暗鬥了數年,這些事情,縱然亨利從未說過,涅澤爾藉由麒麟感應生物情感的本能也能略知一二,而自從二王子發覺不起眼的弟弟竟與傳說中的巫師有來往後,顯然想藉由亨利跟涅澤爾拉近關係。409Please respect copyright.PENANAiHNBW4XaGf
409Please respect copyright.PENANAmeq965sXuU
涅澤爾當然知道以亨利的腦袋根本想不到這一層,也沒有和哥哥結盟的意思,即使對方的目的明顯得毫無遮掩,這孩子八成只為了自己竟能得到如此殊榮而受寵若驚吧。409Please respect copyright.PENANAF1Cmp6UVVk
409Please respect copyright.PENANACAxX5KjbSm
巫師望著小心翼翼瞄向自己的三王子,「既然要表演的話,你得去準備吧?」在少年點頭後,巫師溫言道:「我在台下等你。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAyQ20BXaNBx
409Please respect copyright.PENANA2STHEbDDTO
「嗯……!」409Please respect copyright.PENANAAdLONZ9ZJI
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亨利展開笑顏,與情人和兄長告別後便先行進入別宮。409Please respect copyright.PENANAv9tp2Muazr
409Please respect copyright.PENANAh1BWG6CZUw
涅澤爾無視沃雷特的問候,在原地佇足幾秒後便跟著走往宴會廳,即使覺得整座宮殿的人都煩得要命,他也不想破壞亨利的好心情。409Please respect copyright.PENANA5aU9YXAnHM
409Please respect copyright.PENANAPaXGE1ZvWm
409Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8CqXrkQbZ
宴會廳的四面牆壁都亮著燈,挑高的天花板固定著十數顆燈籠,每顆燈籠的材質皆與壁燈相同,白色魔焰在透明的燈罩內活力十足地躍動燃燒,面對大門最底端的那堵牆建有不怎麼高的木造平台,台下有條紅毯一路延伸至大門口,地毯兩邊擺著數張桌椅。409Please respect copyright.PENANAIdwLB0olp7
409Please respect copyright.PENANAb2LxOycX41
依循沃雷特的安排,他本人與涅澤爾及亨利的座位在最靠近舞台的位置。409Please respect copyright.PENANArRYuiKsQEK
409Please respect copyright.PENANAdg2ySbpwFf
此時,二王子正在台上發表例行性的開場白,涅澤爾則坐在舞台左側的第三個座位。409Please respect copyright.PENANABbRUiRujJy
409Please respect copyright.PENANAkR9FIVLWeE
麒麟擁有能接收其他生物情感的本能,無論本人願不願意,他都能明白身邊的生命體目前是什麼心理狀態,就算自己不想知道也沒用。這場宴會不只有二王子的親信,還有大公主的人,整間屋裡的人表面上和樂融融、實則各懷鬼胎,對涅澤爾而言,光是待在這種環境下就足以造成精神疲勞。409Please respect copyright.PENANAh0qjdRqMF5
409Please respect copyright.PENANAkrUlzxpVtL
人類是種麻煩的生物,與其他動物不同,僅有人類的心思不會因為巫師的存在變得平靜。409Please respect copyright.PENANAJdSRm3MryG
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但是,亨利和這些人都不一樣。409Please respect copyright.PENANA7uozHOuhBA
409Please respect copyright.PENANADgUpljHjEr
二王子前腳剛走,三王子便上台了。依涅澤爾所知,夏日祭晚宴一向是由其中一名王子或公主舞劍拉開序幕,接著才輪到儀隊上台表演。409Please respect copyright.PENANA3zW5mPsXvf
409Please respect copyright.PENANATLC0NxvVix
就算對武器沒有研究,涅澤爾也「感覺」得出亨利手中的劍肯定是價值不凡的藝術品,不只劍柄前端鑲著一顆祖母綠、劍身刻滿一點都不實用的華美花紋,最重要的是,就他感知到的,這把劍若是再放個幾十年或許就能成為器靈了。409Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1k0vMBPh7
409Please respect copyright.PENANA7AWJwvdd1R
「王弟的劍術實在是不錯,想必您也這麼認為吧。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAX2f9jpmgfC
409Please respect copyright.PENANAvWL6gKQNG7
「觀賞開幕式時與他人交談是應有的禮儀嗎?殿下。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAZPBQ7hyXlS
409Please respect copyright.PENANAjXWcAavzG0
低聲與身旁人搭話的沃雷特聽了涅澤爾冷淡的回答,只得笑著搖頭。409Please respect copyright.PENANAaI3KwjlhfA
409Please respect copyright.PENANAtT9xwvaLXP
或許是因為持劍產生的氣勢,三王子的身影看來不若平時瘦小,並且如二王子所言,這是什麼都不會的亨利難得擅長的活動。409Please respect copyright.PENANAuBk9Kz3H9a
409Please respect copyright.PENANAVfuqwpXg4q
半晌,亨利退場來到涅澤爾身旁的空位,緊接著數名僕人替各桌上菜,室內隨著眾人吃喝閒聊的聲音熱鬧起來,賓客們一面進食一面欣賞接下來的儀隊表演。409Please respect copyright.PENANA7VTug2JlM7
409Please respect copyright.PENANAtUTqFhnrMn
黑髮少年與褐髮青年相視而笑,涅澤爾感覺得出、亨利礙於長年對二哥的畏懼因而不敢多作交談,於是也沒主動開口,倒是沃雷特在上菜的同時、不停向另外兩人介紹菜色,涅澤爾不為所動,亨利則照單全收,哥哥說翠蘭鴿排配紅酒最好、他就絕對不會加海鹽。409Please respect copyright.PENANAI3cSW90qtA
409Please respect copyright.PENANABlMWgDLuXd
「這是從藍鵝鎮運來的萵苣,你們也知道,藍鵝鎮出產的菜最是有名,更別說這還是今天早上現摘的,保證鮮嫩脆甜。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAZQbvtCkuN2
409Please respect copyright.PENANAykfZ4p8rnw
「左邊這鍋是牛肉湯,中間的是雞湯,右邊是蔬菜湯,亨利,你先挑吧。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAXTJriRkAHL
409Please respect copyright.PENANA7MPtoCiyyl
「要吃魚類的話,我推薦搭配帕西里尼醬,這醬汁的味道據說與傳說中的蛟龍膽汁所差無幾,是白鹿鎮鎮長花了三天熬製的,今早才特地送來白鹿別宮。」409Please respect copyright.PENANARB6Wy76333
409Please respect copyright.PENANAvQgWsHeSln
「你們聞,這魔羯腿的味道是不是特別好?涅澤爾先生,你要不要來一點?我想你應該知道裹在這條腿上的香料是用什麼做的吧?」尊貴為二王子總不好在有他人的場合喊誰為大人,沃雷特顯然也不打算讓其他人曉得身邊的人是能呼風喚雨的巫師,只有私下會討好地喊涅澤爾魔法師大人。409Please respect copyright.PENANAHMl2wPUsOt
409Please respect copyright.PENANAnJNjjawd7N
「那、呃,王兄,對不起,」亨利略為尷尬地看向沃雷特,嗓音細弱蚊蠅,「涅澤爾不吃晚餐……」409Please respect copyright.PENANAlWCA2YF9nh
409Please respect copyright.PENANABopp7WSYVO
「香料是用北莳草磨成的?」還沒等二王子回應,涅澤爾便輕笑一聲,把大盤子裡的其中一條魔羯腿夾到亨利的盤中。409Please respect copyright.PENANAxmhZDYK8Lf
409Please respect copyright.PENANABsPmVHhIJx
「是。」沃雷特瞟了弟弟一眼,又把黑瞳轉回巫師身上,「那是僅生長於黝鯨海岸的香草,先生果然見多識廣。」409Please respect copyright.PENANA68RmpwoE4l
409Please respect copyright.PENANA4QDfjc2Sdk
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直到用餐時間結束,涅澤爾依舊半道菜都沒碰。409Please respect copyright.PENANAelVKVNPLAs
409Please respect copyright.PENANAoS4qAebIu6
奴僕們端走空盤、同時撤掉大部份的桌位,只保留幾張放飲料或點心的長桌。儀隊退下後,樂隊到台上演奏,客人們隨著樂聲站起,拿著飯後甜點與他人寒暄起來。409Please respect copyright.PENANAcqHo26vPyO
409Please respect copyright.PENANACtOAg1CcIB
二王子離席去問候他三名妃子兩名男妃的親家,亨利剛因哥哥走掉鬆了口氣,涅澤爾便站起身來。409Please respect copyright.PENANAv1Phm6oK7U
409Please respect copyright.PENANAveNdNJlfMZ
「啊、涅澤爾,等等我……」409Please respect copyright.PENANAvcOpCbHHvu
409Please respect copyright.PENANARxxrIP2hTj
巫師徑直走出宴會廳,小王子慌忙跟上,直到他們一前一後地步入庭院深處,涅澤爾才在杜鵑花叢邊停下腳步,踅身對黑髮少年笑道:409Please respect copyright.PENANA17IKkY64UC
409Please respect copyright.PENANAhDrevKYHyt
「晚餐好吃嗎?」409Please respect copyright.PENANABdaX4dxFfz
409Please respect copyright.PENANAA20k5C3ctq
「嗯,很好吃。」亨利愣愣地點頭,走到應了「那就好」的涅澤爾身側,「對不起……?」409Please respect copyright.PENANAA13NldQUPv
409Please respect copyright.PENANAU6Mv4JWQPj
涅澤爾拉起亨利的手,沿著石磚路繼續走往庭園中遠離建築物的暗處,「為什麼跟我道歉?」409Please respect copyright.PENANABSLd0ugQsn
409Please respect copyright.PENANAJAcXlSPq2U
「你不開心吧。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3RNUa9Mct
409Please respect copyright.PENANA7dVejpIXqk
「嗯。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAAOIpYy9Y1I
409Please respect copyright.PENANA5W8YCj5RBm
「我剛剛在王兄面前是不是也說錯話了?」409Please respect copyright.PENANAfSPojvelpN
409Please respect copyright.PENANARgy6HdCaPH
「說錯話?」潛伏於草叢裡的動物追隨巫師的腳步移動,有幾隻蟋蟀跳到了地磚上,涅澤爾牽著亨利繞過牠們,同時想起三王子所指為何,「沒有哦,我那時候很高興呢。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAF4O4hujN6v
409Please respect copyright.PENANA0YkD9L7jhn
「真的嗎?」409Please respect copyright.PENANAVN4vs51vth
409Please respect copyright.PENANANwyjxj6lsD
「因為你在維護我嘛。」409Please respect copyright.PENANApxuD06uTvs
409Please respect copyright.PENANAPZtv4GFvza
亨利與涅澤爾緩步至離宴會廳最遠的圍牆邊,此處已聽不見任何人聲。409Please respect copyright.PENANAIPxuYqrQAw
409Please respect copyright.PENANANaGNGrwf2C
「嗯、我以為……對了,這個送你。」少年解下表演結束後一直掛在他腰上的劍,停下腳步露出靦腆的笑臉,「王兄說,這把劍我可以拿走,我想說這樣我就能送你禮物了。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAhZHrIZYIIN
409Please respect copyright.PENANAKBJXiIPUEI
一隻夜鶯躍上離他們最近的枝頭,不一會兒牠的同伴隨之來到,涅澤爾空著的左手沒有接過長劍,僅是帶著笑意問:「送我這個做什麼?給小白當玩具嗎?」409Please respect copyright.PENANArm2MOENh5N
409Please respect copyright.PENANAPujEP3sxG4
「因為涅澤爾平常對我很好,可是我都不能像王兄那樣不停送你禮物,所以,這個給你。這把劍很漂亮,我想當作禮物也很適合吧。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAUJhlrfZteo
409Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7pFHZpAep
涅澤爾眨了眨眼,隨後在亨利唇上落下一吻。409Please respect copyright.PENANAT5BTyk08gJ
409Please respect copyright.PENANAVyMAkWjXAU
「禮物我收到了,」小王子怔愣地看著巫師燦爛的微笑,下一秒才會意過來這番話是什麼意思,「劍你自己留著吧。晚安。」409Please respect copyright.PENANAKVe3ADDPbf
409Please respect copyright.PENANA8hoZuUqKxe
語畢,旋風以涅澤爾為圓心颳起,樹葉花瓣紛飛,幾秒後黑袍巫師就成為天空中的小點了。409Please respect copyright.PENANAferJ64Fmjo