Chapter 18
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* * *
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
A warm morning, filled with the sound of birds.
Prina woke up in bed, her hair sticking out in every direction.
"Wow..."
It felt like something monumental had happened last night. Her head was foggy.
'Hugh is Declain...'
And now, Declain is suspicious of me.
This has to be a dream, right?
Please...
Has there ever been a moment in my life more desperate than this?
Looking back, even our first meeting was strange.
Prina and Hugh first met at a shabby temple.
It was a place where the poor went to receive free bread...
Why would Declain ever go there?
'He knew my identity and approached me intentionally!'
He must have known she was an illegitimate child of the Orbanon family, one of the ten great houses.
...After all, it was one of the families Declain would eventually destroy.
'It’s been ages since I cut ties with that household...'
Prina had lived in the Orbanon Marquisate only until she was sixteen.
To the Orbanons, who valued honor above all else, she was an eyesore, so even when she left the family, their reaction was closer to relief.
Why had she never doubted Hugh’s heart?
"I fell in love at first sight. Without you... I am nothing."
"...Though you would be fine without me."
The trembling eyelashes and flushed cheeks as he said those words had seemed so sincere. Sincere enough that she had no choice but to believe him.
'...I suppose that level of acting is why the protagonist was fooled so many times.'
But for some reason, it was clear that the past Declain had felt a need for Prina.
'What happened to that illegitimate child in the original story?'
Since it was just a passing line, there was no precise information.
But knowing Declain’s nature, he probably killed her.
Luckily, Declain had lost his memories and didn't remember Prina, but there was no telling when those memories might return.
'Then what about my asylum plan?'
At this rate, there was a high chance it wouldn't be executed safely.
Ah, no...
I just need to hold out for one more year...
Just until my younger siblings graduate...
Feeling faint, Prina looked at the nightstand beside her bed.
Resting there was the ring Hugh had left behind.
Prina carefully picked it up.
'This ring...'
It looked like an old antique.
Sharp thorn patterns were coiled tightly around a blackened, oxidized metal base.
Prina’s gaze lingered on the ring for a long time.
Because it reminded her of a certain ring described in the original story.
'...No way.'
A chilling assumption crossed her mind, but she ignored it.
There’s no way Declain would give me a family heirloom of the Caesar house, right?
What kind of object is that?
It was an object as precious as Declain’s own life.
It was the source that granted him his most formidable power, and the very thing that caused the protagonist, Havel, to die countless times...
It couldn't be.
...It has to be that way, please.
* * *
A thousand years ago, the Emperor personally bestowed holy relics upon the ten families who had helped found the Empire.
'One of them is the Caesar heirloom.'
Each of the ten holy relics possessed different abilities.
In the case of the Caesar heirloom, it was a terrifying object that could dominate a person’s body and suppress their actions.
Surely Declain wouldn't have given such a ring to me, but...
For some reason, she felt uneasy.
'...For now, I’ll just keep as low a profile as possible.'
The actions Prina had shown at the banquet hall were surely enough to arouse Declain’s suspicion.
So, she could only hope that Declain would forget about her existence...
Fortunately, the next few days passed peacefully, just as she had hoped.
"Prina, what are you doing?"
Just then, a colleague from Daisy Hall approached Prina.
I’m reading the newspaper.
Declain would never let things slide, yet there was nothing in the paper about Count Seaton.
Prina scoured the newspaper to see if there was anything related to Caesar, but...
[Where is Caesar’s gaze fixed? Attention turns to the rare holy relic, the ‘Tracking Orb,’ at the upcoming auction!]
'...This man, Declain, is truly laid back.'
Prina was dying of anxiety, yet he was only showing interest in a tracking orb.
'But why would Declain covet a tracking orb?'
Is there something he wants to find?
As far as Prina remembered, the tracking orb was ridiculously expensive and a one-time-use item.
Even if it was a high-ranking holy relic that could find almost any lost object...
'Yeah. Not worth the cost.'
In the first place, what kind of idiot would lose a high-ranking holy relic?
"Ahem, Prina."
As it neared lunchtime, the head chef approached Prina.
"Prina, there’s a group training session for the 3rd Knights today. They said they don't have time to come all the way to Daisy Hall for a meal, so we’ve decided to deliver the food to them ourselves."
"Then should I take it and distribute it?"
"Yes. It’s already loaded onto the cart, so hurry along."
Prina followed the chef’s orders, pulling the cart filled with food as she left Daisy Hall.
Her mind was still lingering on what happened a few days ago.
Seeing as nothing had happened so far, it seemed she had luckily gotten away with it...
'I don't know when or how Declain might come looking for me.'
She only hoped things would pass quietly, but if they didn't...
The ominous thoughts were shattered by the sharp sound of metal striking metal that hit her ears.
Clang—!
In the wide training ground, a fierce competition between knights was in full swing. Savage blades clashed terrifyingly in the air.
She had arrived at the training ground while lost in thought.
Come to think of it, the 3rd Knights were...
Prina’s gaze landed on a man with hair as white as snow.
Standing under the pouring sunlight, the man’s snow-white hair shone coldly.
"Havelion, victory!"
It was where the protagonist, Havel, was.
Even though sweat beads flowed down his forehead and gathered at his chin, there was no sign of exhaustion from the sparring to be found on him.
It was a stark contrast to his opponent, who was pale and sprawled on the dirt floor.
Is the protagonist different even from a sprout?
Just as Prina was feeling a small sense of admiration, her eyes met his amethyst gaze in the air.
As their eyes met, Havel’s pupils shook violently.
"Hello, Havel."
Prina simply waved her hand gently.
Immediately after, he closed the distance toward her with his long legs. But he started running before he had even gone a few steps.
'Fa, fast...'
She couldn't tell if it was because he felt the distance was too great, or if he was just that eager because she was waiting.
Soon, the man stopped in front of her.
"What brings you here, my lady..."
Havel’s breathing, which had been perfectly steady after finishing his spar, suddenly became ragged.
"Did you perhaps come here personally to see me?"
As he met Prina’s gaze, Havel’s cheeks flushed deeply.
Somehow, it looked as if a snow-white tail was wagging furiously behind him.
"Aren't you tired? You could have come slowly, Havel. You must be exhausted from training."
"How could I take my time when you were waiting for me?"
"Were you worried about me? You’re such a good boy, Havel."
Just then, whistling sounds erupted from all around them.
"Hey, Havel! Give it your all!"
"Yeah! Take this chance to make some real progress!"
Knights were watching them from everywhere.
"What are you all saying right now—"
"Come on, kid! Don't be shy like a boy! We’re rooting for your passionate youth!"
Havel didn't know what to do with himself.
'You, you’re quite sensitive to teasing.'
Seeing the usually stoic Havel so flustered, it seemed they wanted to tease him even more.
How mischievous.
"Knights, please stop teasing him."
"Oh, come on, did we say anything that bad? Hey, Prina! Don't be like that, just try to get along well with our Havel. He’s a much more solid and reliable guy than he looks!"
Get along well, my foot.
"Everyone... it seems you aren't very hungry."
"Huh?"
"Then I’ll be heading back now..."
"Wait, Prina! We were wrong! Don't go!"
"We were wrong! We’ll starve to death! Please, just leave the cart behind!"
The knights, who had spotted the cart behind Prina, pleaded pitifully.
A wise choice. If you’re hungry, you have to bow your head.
Prina turned her back again.
"...So you came to distribute the food."
Havel muttered, looking deeply disappointed for some reason. His drooping, puppy-like face was dripping with regret.
Is he not hungry yet?
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