Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Is This the Lark I Knew?
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Is this the Lark I knew?
Of course, I was deliberately trying to take the blame for Lizbet's mistakes, and Lark was supposed to help me out of a sense of conscience...
Even so, it was unlike him—the staunch principle-follower who always strictly separated public and private matters.
I gave an awkward smile.
"That's not like you, Your Highness."
"I'm sorry it came across as a joke."
Lark shrugged, but his expression looked utterly serious.
"Um, you really can't draw your sword or anything like that. I'm anxious, sure, but I've already thought through the worst-case scenarios and acted accordingly."
"The same goes for me. I'm planning to think through how to handle things even after drawing my sword."
"Ahh, Your Highness! You can't draw your sword, period! Aren't you the one famous for being a stickler for principles? Why are you acting like this? It doesn't suit you!"
"That depends on the person. Aren't you seeing me as too dry and emotionless?"
Lark shrugged nonchalantly and added,
"If I were some heartless monster without blood or tears, would I have even considered burdening you just to try and get Lizbet out of this mess?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"I'm human too, so I have my priorities. From now on, you'll be the exception in everything I do."
Lark's smile was genuine as he chuckled softly. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I fidgeted with my hands and replied.
"I'm grateful for that, but I can handle things on my own. If you start acting out of character because of me, it just makes me uncomfortable."
"Hmm... Duchess."
Lark suddenly called to me with a serious gaze.
"You've only seen the future—you haven't actually lived through it."
"..."
"Yet you act so mature, nothing like a fifteen-year-old kid. You're still at an age where you can throw tantrums, make mistakes, and whine, and it'll all be forgiven. You don't need to act like some independent adult already."
Lark gave a wry smile and continued.
"That future you saw probably turned you into this. Your father and brothers probably weren't people you could rely on without worry."
"..."
"Isn't that kind of sad? So, if it's okay with you, let me give it a try. Give me a chance."
"...Pardon?"
"Someone you can whine to without holding back. Someone who'll try even the most unreasonable requests without hesitation. Someone who can clean up your messes. Someone you can turn to when things get tough."
I stared blankly at Lark, then averted my gaze, my heart suddenly feeling shy.
A few steps away, Wishit—who had been watching us—pretended to gag playfully. That guy, ruining a perfectly good moment...
"...Thank you anyway."
"I mean it."
"Yeah, I believe you. Come to think of it, you looked the other way when it came to me contracting with Vista, a dangerous-class spirit. Though, it probably helped you out too..."
"Even if it didn't benefit me, I wouldn't have ignored it if you'd asked for help."
Lark tilted his head back and let out a sigh.
"Sealing a dangerous-class spirit user is hardly ethical. Sure, it's an old imperial tradition to prevent unrest..."
"Oh? You really think that? So, even if I'd contracted with some other dangerous-class spirit instead of Vista, you would've turned a blind eye...?"
Excited by the possibility, I asked. Lark nodded casually.
"You're not the type to misuse a spirit's power."
"Right? That's what you think too?"
This was tempting. Keep lying and feel guilty, or just spill it? Tell him I'm actually Wishit's contractor?
Torn in that split-second dilemma, Lark chuckled and added,
"As long as it's not something like a Wish Spirit."
*Cough!*
...So close.
I could see Wishit snickering like he'd seen the best show ever. As if the culprit behind all this had any right to laugh.
Sulking, I shot back sarcastically.
"Yeah, right? Me, who won't do anything stupid even with Vista, might suddenly turn evil if I contracted a Wish Spirit?"
"Whoa, misunderstanding."
Lark raised both hands and shook his head.
"It's not that I don't trust you—it's that I don't trust humans."
"What do you mean?"
"Wishit, the Wish Spirit... he's too ambiguous to classify as a mere spirit. Granting any wish? That's not human territory anymore—that's the realm of gods."
I wanted so badly to say, *But that amazing power only works three times...*
"Even the most selfless person might change with that kind of power in their hands. And it's not just about the contractor staying vigilant."
"...I suppose so."
"If you were Wishit's contractor and the 2nd Prince had caught your eye instead of me, he'd be emperor by now without a fight. Anyone who wins your favor—a poor man could become rich overnight, a sick person could be cured by morning."
In short, if the contractor willed it, they could grant wishes for not just themselves, but dozens or hundreds of people.
Just as Lark said—it was humans encroaching on divine territory.
No, theoretically, a spirit that "grants wishes" would naturally raise these massive concerns...
*But he's just a clueless spirit who limited it to exactly three times! Who'd waste those precious chances?*
My inner scream echoed, too risky to voice. Instead, I probed gently.
"But is such a powerful spirit really limitless? What if it turns out to be some second-rate spirit with a set number of wishes?"
"Hmm, no. Nothing like that."
"Huh?"
Lark's confident tone puzzled me.
"Wishit appeared once before. His first contractor was the 1st Duke Diorus—my ancestor who founded the empire alongside Emperor Decard the 1st."
"I know that."
"They say the 1st Duke Diorus was practically worshipped as a god for being Wishit's contractor."
"And he used wishes without limits?"
"You didn't know? It's your family's history."
"Oh, uh, no. I knew."
My ancestor, the 1st Duke Diorus, Wishit's contractor—said to be capable of anything.
Healing the sick overnight, enriching the poor... she was truly revered as godlike.
*But wasn't that just exaggerated founding myths? Like the bear turning human after eating garlic and mugwort, or Park Hyeokgeose hatching from an egg?*
Since Wishit had told me wishes were limited to three, I'd assumed the tales were embellished legends.
*Did he grant unlimited wishes back then?*
I glanced at where Wishit had been, but he'd vanished.
*Ugh, he always bolts like the wind when things get inconvenient for him.*
Trembling, I listened as Lark continued.
"The 1st Duke Diorus's life was tragic. She was incredibly sacrificial and altruistic, but that became poison to her."
"Mm, yes. She granted others' wishes too, right?"
"Exactly. Plenty begged with crocodile tears, claiming it was for the greater good."
"..."
"What she did out of kindness ended up causing countless tragedies. Imagine the guilt for someone so good-hearted."
So that's the backstory. I vaguely understood why Wishit imposed the "three times" limit.
"Anyway, it's not that I don't trust you, so no misunderstandings. For the empire's future, Wish Spirits should never appear again."
"Ah, got it..."
Lark smiled at me nodding vigorously with pursed lips, then exclaimed, "Ah!"
"I came here to talk about something important, but I keep rambling."
He hurriedly pulled a paper from his pocket and showed it to me.
"Today's the final meeting deciding your fate. These are the proposals narrowed down so far."
Rubettria Diorus
-Home confinement 1 month (2)
-Lubon confinement 12 months (0)
-Widro confinement 12 months (9)
-Widro confinement 24 months (1)
-Hebanon confinement 12 months (14)
-Hebanon confinement 24 months (6)
Scanning the territory names like Lubon, Widro, and Hebanon, I asked curiously,
"The numbers next to them..."
"Indicate how many noble assembly members voted in favor."
I nodded and scanned the paper carefully again.
Widro and Hebanon were our family's estates in the central continent.
*If the capital's like Seoul, Widro's about Daejeon distance, Hebanon like Daegu...*
Roughly gauging the distances, I swallowed a sigh.
No high-speed rail here—just horse carriages back and forth. Felt impossibly far.
*Stuck rotting away. I expected it, but still a pain.*
"Hebanon 12-month confinement has the most votes? So, am I headed to Hebanon?"
"No. The assembly decides up to here. The final ruling comes from the 13 justices, declared in court. They just consider these proposals and votes."
"Ah. So, then..."
I swallowed dryly and traced one line with my finger.
-Lubon confinement 12 months (0)
My heart pounded with tension.
"N-No way? Zero votes, but it could still get picked...?"
"Ah."
Lark paused, then smiled wryly and shook his head.
"The odds of Lubon confinement are basically zero."
"Phew... Right."
"Widro and Hebanon are the most likely and realistic. I'll do my best in today's meeting to shift votes toward Widro—it's closer than Hebanon."
"I'd appreciate that."
Lark chuckled and placed a hand on my head.
"Don't worry too much."
* * *
"Don't worry too much."
That's what Lark clearly said...
*Don't worry?*
Standing in the center of the courtroom, I trembled as I looked up at the high justices' bench.
"Next, we announce the verdict for witness Duchess Rubettria Diorus."
The justice began reading the verdict in a dry tone.
"The witness has admitted contact with the suspected 'sorcerer' and introducing him to the 5th Princess."
"..."
"No evidence of collusion with the suspect, but she provided the cause to the 5th Princess and engaged in illegal transactions, so responsibility cannot be overlooked."
The verdict sounded strangely menacing.
My heart raced.
"Until the imperial investigation team verifies the truth and apprehends the culprit, the witness is obligated to cooperate fully, and during the investigation period..."
The justice reading the verdict fixed me with a chilling gaze and declared,
"...she is sentenced to 12 months confinement in 'Lubon' of the Diorus territory."
*Bang, bang, bang—.*
*...What? Lubon?*
In that instant, my heart plummeted.
*Crash!*
At the same time, a loud noise erupted from the assembly seats.
Turning, I saw my father had shot to his feet.
Unable to hide his fury, he glared at the justice with murderous eyes, breathing heavily.