Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Keeping the Promise
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"Why did you stop me?"
On the way back, Prince Edmund spoke in a dry tone.
Millennia, the lady knight who knew this was a rebuke, bowed her head and said nothing. But when the prince stared at her, clearly expecting an answer, she replied as if she had no choice.
"It was because of my own shortcomings."
"Was that wolf really that strong?"
"I could have definitely killed her. But Your Highness would not have emerged unscathed. I couldn't take such a dangerous gamble."
This woman, who prided herself as the strongest below the Master level—not only against Kyle but even Roca—knew she could kill them both. Yet she hadn't, and it wasn't out of mercy or forgiveness.
It was because of the blazing sun-like figure behind Roca, poised to explode at any moment.
"It wasn't a noble wolf—it was just a mad dog. It was ready to die with us at any time. The moment I killed that priest, she would have detonated the sun and taken Your Highness with her."
She had instinctively sensed that if that figure, which resembled the sun so closely it could be called a mini-sun, truly exploded, the entire area would be obliterated.
She was first-rate at killing people, but she couldn't guarantee protecting the prince from the flames and heat that would engulf everything.
Of course, such an act would incinerate Roca right next to the epicenter as well. It was a mutual destruction mindset.
She was the type who would casually burn her own life without hesitation. It wasn't a threat—it was a firm declaration, without a shred of doubt or wavering.
It was a lesson learned from the battle with Lady Kamira. That fight had defined Roca's combat style.
She wouldn't back down even if faced with a pit of fire—she would charge in headfirst. No matter what, she wouldn't retreat; she would bite and tear at her opponent.
The prince narrowed his eyes.
"Is that how it was?"
"If she had opened her mouth to threaten us to retreat, it wouldn't have been so frightening. Trying to persuade means she's hiding fear deep down. But that wolf..."
She hadn't even attempted verbal threats or intimidation. Silently, she had only conveyed her intent: touch my master, and we all die together.
It wasn't desperate thrashing—it was a quiet declaration. The threat that wasn't quite a threat had succeeded, and Millennia could not embark on such a perilous venture.
Even if she survived the explosion, the third prince, who could barely produce colored Mana Aura, could not. Was she supposed to let the prince perish in mutual destruction with this priest named Kyle?
Prince Edmund was not that desperate. He still had much at his disposal, and the temple's support remained firm. What use was killing Kyle if he died too?
"Even as a mere entry-level Expert, the form and quality of her mana were extraordinary. It's astonishing that she was born with solar mana affinity, but somehow she gained an insight and condensed it into her own form—that power far surpasses an ordinary Expert."
"I thought she was just a priest or my sister's maid, but she's a hidden gem."
The prince sighed and asked,
"Then why not take the priest hostage and force the wolf to submit? She had no intention of killing him from the start, fearing the Ancient Gods' retribution."
"If I may be so bold, I am not a Master."
It wasn't that she hadn't considered it.
She simply couldn't.
"With my current abilities, I could kill that wolf, but I couldn't overwhelm her. Once combat began, it would have caused a commotion, and it wouldn't have ended in a short time."
"That formidable?"
"If we caused that much disturbance in the palace, neither Your Highness nor I could bear the consequences. It couldn't be handled quietly—it would inevitably draw the attention of the Heavenly Knight Order."
The prince was surprised. He knew better than anyone how exceptional this woman was.
She was the hidden blade he kept in the shadows. For such a woman to admit she couldn't subdue Roca quickly and retreat without protest, the prince could only groan.
"Her talent is beyond ordinary."
"It's more than that. If we don't cut her down now while she's just a sprout, she'll grow smoothly into a great tree—a leader of Ardaine's faction. In my view, she's even more threatening than that priest."
The Ardaine faction in the empire was nowhere to be seen at present, but with the princess breaking through to the Master realm upon her return, it was only natural for her to gather followers.
Those who had stuck by her from before—especially from when her lord had fallen—were founding merits. Their treatment would naturally surpass that of later arrivals.
To the lady knight and the prince, Roca was already Ardaine's close aide and seemed destined to become the next leader of her faction, a sword in her hand aimed at them. They could not afford to lower their guard.
"We'll have to consult with the Archbishop and devise a plan."
The prince muttered.
"Subtly convey my intentions to Archbishop Armata."
The Goddess of the Earth, Lady Nemi.
The Goddess of Light, Elysia.
And the Goddess of Healing, Hila.
Outwardly, the three goddesses were equal high deities, but there was a clear hierarchy among them, determined by faith and the size of their denominations.
Lady Nemi at the top, Elysia second. Hila always lingered in third place. Thus, the priests of the Hila Church secretly yearned for change.
Archbishop Armata was thus the most radical among the three archbishops of the Grantera diocese. Someone with little in hand but much to gain was perfect for negotiation.
"Shall I also convey your will to Archbishop Arize and Archbishop Halonen?"
At the lady knight's question, the prince nodded.
"Proceed that way."
In any case, the masters of the empire's temple faction were the three archbishops dispatched from the Holy Kingdom, and he was merely their figurehead. Lacking authority to make key decisions, he had no choice but to defer to them.
Everything would be decided by the three archbishops.
*****
After withdrawing from the audience chamber, Ardaine's first destination was her own room.
Rather than returning to Kyle, she headed to a remote side chamber that was hard to find. One wouldn't even reach it without knowing the way, but it was familiar to the princess.
"Edmund. Father said to forgive you."
It was a room that was simply quiet, simply lonely, simply desolate. Ardaine's eyes filled with anger as she gazed at the shabby space that didn't suit the imperial palace.
How could she forget her cunning younger brother, who had conspired with Archbishop Armata to drive her to the brink?
"But I cannot."
Whenever she looked inside the neatly ordered room—sparse though its contents were—Ardaine's heart warmed.
Half in rage, half in emotion. Naturally, the objects of those feelings differed.
"Even though I've been away for so long, you haven't abandoned me."
Though she had been gone for nearly half a year, the room remained spotless. All items were in their proper places, with no dust on the floor or table. She took a seat at the center of the small room, clasped her hands, and prayed.
Her eyes moistened as she glanced at the clock on one wall. It was about time.
For a princess who could barely leave the room, the daily routines of her caretakers—practically nurses—had become naturally known to her over time.
Lacking the courage to face them, she turned her back to the door and sat.
They say you know loyal retainers in hard times. The two maids who had cared for her until the end were no longer mere servants to Ardaine—they were family. At least to her.
"Haa."
Unable to bear the wait, the princess reached out and took a doll from the shelf.
Then she let out a sigh. After contracting leprosy at a young age, she had spent nearly every day in this cramped room. Here, she constantly regretted her past life. Yes, her life had been a chain of regrets.
Sometimes, in this corner room, she burned with vengeance. Against those who followed her yet betrayed her, hurling stones. Against the countless royals who, despite being kin, bit at her. Against the temple forces, including Archbishop Armata.
But now, she wasn't sure. It would be a lie to say she felt no anger toward the fratricide Edmund and his accomplices, but hearing the emperor's words brought something to mind.
She wasn't ignorant of why Edmund hated her so much. Did she even have the right to vent her fury at him?
"Meabil. What are you doing out there? Come in at once. Your load must be heavy."
Sensing hesitation outside the door, the princess spoke tenderly. Yet her voice trembled.
As if sensing the presence inside, the maid who had been dithering opened the door slightly and peeked through the crack.
"May I... ask who it is?"
With a trembling but resolute voice, Maid Meabil spoke.
"This is the chamber of Princess Ardaine. You cannot enter without permission."
Holding back tears at those words, the princess slowly rose and turned. At first, they didn't recognize her. The maids were used to her masked face.
That radiant golden hair hadn't existed before, making her look like a completely different person from the invalid.
Like before eating the Firefly Crystal Fruit and falling ill—perhaps even younger—the princess's transformed appearance was unfamiliar to them. But still, she was the same person.
Meabil dropped the bundle she was holding without realizing it. The atmosphere had changed drastically, her features utterly transformed, yet she recognized her. The pre-illness Ardaine, glimpsed only in sidelong glances.
"It's me. I've truly... returned."
The princess couldn't continue. She had to hold back the rising tears.
Maid Meabil screamed. Only after the room echoed with her cry did she realize, clapping both hands over her mouth in shock.
Then she couldn't speak. Her voice wouldn't escape. Shock clogged her throat, chills twisted her vocal cords.
Only after time passed could she speak, but her eyes were wide as coins.
"Truly... truly, Your Highness... You..."
"If a miracle came and allowed me to shake off this curse-like illness, I promised then that I would not forget your grace."
The princess approached first, embracing the mere maid with open arms. Overwhelmed by the honor, Meabil didn't know what to do, but the princess wouldn't let go.
A maid. Not even a lady-in-waiting, but a mere handmaid. A commoner drudge, not an equal.
But what did that matter? This person deserved such treatment.
"I've returned to keep that promise."
Those who grasped her hand in her fall deserved to share in her glory, no matter who they were.
If given just one more chance.
To repay her debts to those she owed,
To reward those who helped her.
How often had she repeated and reaffirmed it?
Now, that day had truly come. She vowed never again to overlook those by her side as she once had.
Never to spurn with her own hands those who stood with her. So resolved the princess.
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