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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAPANIX1Q5ug
335Please respect copyright.PENANAWxyCuUFf1h
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAeMNdtoYlZw
335Please respect copyright.PENANAQcyh0nhDt9
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAxujIk4eTru
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「亨利。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAb5fwNru2mY
335Please respect copyright.PENANAxFN0Fdyubm
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAVMpRR1bxSJ
335Please respect copyright.PENANAK9KEbPyHLX
「涅澤爾!我還以為你不來了呢──」335Please respect copyright.PENANA5OyzDCTvb8
335Please respect copyright.PENANAdeNvLMvRHb
「我什麼時候失約過?」335Please respect copyright.PENANAxaOoMgXkUa
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「從來沒有。」亨利漾起微笑,搖了搖頭,「那我們進去吧?」335Please respect copyright.PENANALBLLutMTBJ
335Please respect copyright.PENANAeQBRu9r3h2
「不,我待在這附近,等你吃完再來院子裡找我。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAIIunMDwsFi
335Please respect copyright.PENANAQFkM0SeA8N
「咦……」335Please respect copyright.PENANAGl7Qbw1AJz
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「你邀我應該不可能是想找我吃晚餐吧?」335Please respect copyright.PENANANVuru1VU7O
335Please respect copyright.PENANAb9EknPGSNE
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4RN9hfpRt
335Please respect copyright.PENANA1TgCO30WqX
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAQCYYtTU8nj
335Please respect copyright.PENANA5ii9v7ZQfx
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZsOmym28t
335Please respect copyright.PENANABsf0GCcNbq
「亨利應該已經告訴過您了吧?他可是今晚的主角喔。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAYNlsMVcxfe
335Please respect copyright.PENANAfqGeI0tg8u
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:335Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZVgphrzy3
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「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAtqp6lqJ3Oe
335Please respect copyright.PENANA5XfYt6eEHK
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAoQbYYdEHJS
335Please respect copyright.PENANAF1cRyDRQnV
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAHRj2Rw8OnS
335Please respect copyright.PENANAroWWjM4Ru4
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAuhc34C61c6
335Please respect copyright.PENANACE4tukuXRt
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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAnfN03N26aJ
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「嗯……!」335Please respect copyright.PENANA1KTs5eOahd
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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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAzX1j0vwxQ2
335Please respect copyright.PENANAyaD1rDiFud
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAw8dMlEF50i
335Please respect copyright.PENANAPaVRJRMLgE
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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。335Please respect copyright.PENANA7fgQYmbAnn
335Please respect copyright.PENANApuP5FozN2C
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANATyS4hR3ZHx
335Please respect copyright.PENANA32YRcpbZyF
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAuFnw1kkU0o
335Please respect copyright.PENANAUNbIaz4CMK
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAt0fPpM3hbG
335Please respect copyright.PENANAragj4DVeEK
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANALc3CqPJpvz
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但是,亨利和這些人都不一樣。335Please respect copyright.PENANAo7e8MBEcWo
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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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAVQDGkzedoW
335Please respect copyright.PENANA1DNZeMlMzs
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAJmqNNHlv7G
335Please respect copyright.PENANA1fkyFORblX
「王弟的劍術實在是不錯,想必您也這麼認為吧。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAl9fzcYyIC5
335Please respect copyright.PENANAQw2akUmRu4
「觀賞開幕式時與他人交談是應有的禮儀嗎?殿下。」335Please respect copyright.PENANA5LHX4yoWlQ
335Please respect copyright.PENANAlnt6rjqTm1
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAEaFhZjSa4k
335Please respect copyright.PENANAiKKvkfIONQ
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAL0cnafMJSi
335Please respect copyright.PENANAdEjCKsfFVA
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAsdMgkRZYuH
335Please respect copyright.PENANAUPWd9HaEw2
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAnkkO7vWfYN
335Please respect copyright.PENANAKDyqMF5Qdq
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAH1x9ZN7MSz
335Please respect copyright.PENANApCnqjVrbKf
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANABpfb6tIV9K
335Please respect copyright.PENANAyD2h1rQ7Iq
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAUQ12srEgjV
335Please respect copyright.PENANATW9iWMTs9N
「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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAhyGPjqycmE
335Please respect copyright.PENANAPHH3yk7zQZ
「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……」335Please respect copyright.PENANA2B8w8IEl9s
335Please respect copyright.PENANAbxdxHLEQIf
「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。335Please respect copyright.PENANALpwmMFPPKj
335Please respect copyright.PENANAXLJKnuLTYv
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAkiZM9ZPmK4
335Please respect copyright.PENANA2sESMuqOsv
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直到用餐時間結束,涅澤爾依舊半道菜都沒碰。335Please respect copyright.PENANAnkSHtuAX9s
335Please respect copyright.PENANA83qMXWKghp
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAMH3lF0KRKY
335Please respect copyright.PENANAHe3wloolc1
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAXhhyGsqTtm
335Please respect copyright.PENANArEtGtIFROL
「啊、涅澤爾,等等我……」335Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZGzIwsVEB
335Please respect copyright.PENANAD1Kl1mKowz
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:335Please respect copyright.PENANAwaJErME2j5
335Please respect copyright.PENANAUzzTqd2Frs
「晚餐好吃嗎?」335Please respect copyright.PENANAVlomN8a5zA
335Please respect copyright.PENANALiqBvfyNHV
「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……?」335Please respect copyright.PENANAZUhTU4ej44
335Please respect copyright.PENANA5Wa1JQNGou
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?」335Please respect copyright.PENANAjkvJnk43YH
335Please respect copyright.PENANArcyknQdJqS
「你不開心吧。」335Please respect copyright.PENANA9hybnxL1tH
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「嗯。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAq8l2VLRlVA
335Please respect copyright.PENANAvDpVTWeLZT
「我剛剛在王兄面前是不是也說錯話了?」335Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4sCVGNb6o
335Please respect copyright.PENANAs8KdvE9AYx
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANA4mvz29gfrs
335Please respect copyright.PENANAs4JZmlJrgU
「真的嗎?」335Please respect copyright.PENANA4JZLJcqvC4
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「因為你在維護我嘛。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAT6qmMlRwnz
335Please respect copyright.PENANAQwUfVRMiHg
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANAkBIhI3dg3q
335Please respect copyright.PENANAuVblEq6ewM
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAFiJKgpEsQY
335Please respect copyright.PENANAIsIRA5tnlS
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?」335Please respect copyright.PENANAAV8TTQrN1u
335Please respect copyright.PENANA64l7arB82Y
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAgWG7zKGH04
335Please respect copyright.PENANA9NLFjzRqpK
涅澤爾眨了眨眼,隨後在亨利唇上落下一吻。335Please respect copyright.PENANAosDgNMECYt
335Please respect copyright.PENANAJTPKBT9Pf3
「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。」335Please respect copyright.PENANAtR2v2CA3ef
335Please respect copyright.PENANAhEBSPEBThb
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。335Please respect copyright.PENANALDpTWbTZYZ