Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Factions, Huh?
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“I’ll take my own life!”
The Knight Commander raised his sword straight to his own neck,
“Stop!”
and all I could do was cling desperately to his pant leg, trying to hold him back.
“Please don’t stop me, Your Highness! I must die!”
“I didn’t even die, so why should you?!”
“You were nearly hurt!”
The Knight Commander kept the blade pressed to his throat, his face twisted in fury.
But contrary to what he said, I hadn’t been in any real danger.
By the time I’d blinked, it was all over.
Even if Clue hadn’t blocked that dagger, the assassin’s knife wouldn’t have touched me.
The Knight Commander had moved that fast.
Of course, that just meant Clue was even faster.
“But...!”
“Don’t die. Stay alive and serve the Empire even harder instead.”
His eyes widened at my words.
“Your Highness...!”
“I’m begging you.”
“...Your Highneeeeess...!”
The massive man dropping to his knees and gazing up at me with a voice thick with emotion was more than a little overwhelming.
Then my gaze shifted to the Tower Lord,
“Heh heh, as for me, suicide is a bit...”
“Thank you for making sure I don’t have to work twice.”
If that old man had tried to off himself too, I’d have been exhausted.
Thinking that, I turned to Clue.
She’d already shooed away the crowd and cleaned up the blood without a trace.
“Master, are you hurt anywhere?”
She looked subtly angry, though.
“Clue, are you mad?”
“Yes. A little.”
“Why?”
“If something like that had killed you, Master... what would I do?”
If I died?
I hadn’t even considered it.
But since I’m...
Ah. I got it.
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Pardon...?”
“Can we do the oath right here?”
A magic contract, huh.
Truth be told, I didn’t know much about them.
I’d never learned contract magic.
“I’ll make sure to specify that if I die, you’re immediately free. If need be, I’ll ask the Tower Lord to handle the contract...”
Thud.
Before I could finish, Clue reached out and covered my mouth.
“Master, don’t say things like that.”
“...”
Why not?
Isn’t that how it usually goes?
“...”
“...”
Clue and I exchanged glances for a moment before she pulled her hand away.
Our eyes met in the air,
“Want some mana?”
“A lot, please.”
And with that, our conversation wrapped up for now.
It was chaos.
Assassins had suddenly lunged at Prince Theodor.
Even though he emerged unscathed thanks to his guards, the Knight Commander, and the Tower Lord, that did nothing to quell Milla Castina’s rage.
Naturally, the Holy Kingdom issued a statement denying any involvement.
And from what I could see, they truly weren’t involved.
Anyone with even a shred of political sense would know this was an idiotic last resort.
Mother knew it too, of course.
So she’d put on a show of fury to extract whatever she could from the Holy Kingdom.
With that in mind, I looked toward her.
Sure enough, Mother sat there with eyes blazing in apparent wrath.
She’d spent about six hours after hearing of the attack inspecting every inch of my body from head to toe. Only once she confirmed I was completely unharmed did she finally settle onto her throne.
“...”
Mother let out a sigh.
She’d verified I had no injuries, so this could probably end with some diplomatic pressure.
That’s what I thought as I watched her.
If she’d just go along with my plan to some extent now...
Before I could voice my thoughts, Mother raised her sword.
A sharp ching rang out as the blade lifted.
“From this day forward, the Holy Kingdom will be erased from the map.”
“...?”
What?
“Mother?”
“Attempting to wound Theodor’s body is no different from a declaration of war against the Empire.”
Mother continued, sword still raised.
“If they’d tried to kill me instead, I might have been merciful.”
She muttered to herself, staring ahead with the blade poised.
“But trying to kill Theo? That’s something I can never forgive.”
“...Mom?”
“Summon the ministers and the Knight Commander. We’ll raze the Holy Kingdom to the—”
“Mom!”
“Let go! I can’t forgive the ones who attacked Theodor!”
“Wait! Mom! You know this isn’t—”
It took about two more hours of rushing in to calm her down.
Two hours later, Mother had me on her lap, stroking my hair.
This was awkward.
But it didn’t seem like the right moment to say so.
“Theo.”
“Yes, Mom?”
“I worry because you’re too kind.”
Isn’t being kind a good thing?
I turned to look at her, only to meet her gentle gaze from inches away.
“That’s exactly why I worry.”
“Huh?”
“The world is so cruel and dangerous... yet you always seem to overcome it with love.”
“...”
That’s not true.
I might not be like Mother, but I’ve lived among people, rubbing elbows with them.
There’s no way I could navigate everything just with love.
They just see me as an innocent kid, that’s all.
With that thought, I smiled at her.
“Really?”
“...But I love that about you, Theo.”
Before I could respond, she pulled me into a tight embrace,
“Ugh...”
and as I sat there in her arms, I pondered for a moment.
Well, fine.
If this is what it takes to avert war, I’d do it a hundred times over.
“Still, it’d be good to give them a warning first.”
“What?”
“Nothing, Theo dear.”
I closed my eyes, listening to her tender voice.
Her embrace was warm, after all.
That night.
“...We’re doomed.”
The Pope pressed his fingers to his brow, muttering.
“Doomed in the worst way.”
“...”
The other Cardinals bowed their heads at his grumbling.
“You’re absolutely sure no one ordered this madness?”
“Yes, Holy Father.”
The Cardinals nodded at his question.
No one was foolish enough to greenlight something this stupid.
“Word is, the Empire’s already mobilizing troops.”
“...”
The Pope rubbed his eyelids.
His head throbbed.
“Looks like there’s no way out now.”
“Not yet. We still have...”
“...”
As a Cardinal opened his mouth, the Pope started to sigh—
Bang!
A crash echoed from afar, followed by screams.
Screams?
The Pope shot to his feet, and everyone whipped their heads toward the sound.
The sturdy doors of the Papal Palace lay shattered.
“...”
For a stunned moment, they all stared.
Then came the slow, heavy footsteps.
“...Theo is kind.”
A chilling voice murmured as a figure approached.
“Too kind. He doesn’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
A sigh, and she stepped into view.
Moonlight slowly illuminated her.
A woman in armor.
Her long white hair hung loose, and her red eyes gleamed ferociously.
“But I know.”
She muttered, eyeing them.
“...Milla Castina...!”
“The world isn’t that forgiving.”
“Wait, let’s talk—!”
“The world is vicious. It always betrays expectations and wounds people.”
Milla Castina muttered, raising her sword.
A prickling chill crawled up the Pope’s spine,
Bang!
and by the time he thrust out his hand, her blade had already descended.
A crack split the air as the barrier he’d hastily conjured fractured.
“But Theo doesn’t need to know that.”
She muttered, turning her gaze to them.
“Parents are breakwaters.”p>
“Hah, haaah...!”
“When the world’s storms batter a child, shielding them is a parent’s role.”
Her calm voice droned on, cold sweat pouring down the Pope’s back.
That single strike was faster and stronger than anything he’d ever blocked.
This was the Empire’s Empress.
He’d met her at formal events, but facing her genuine killing intent for the first time was another matter.
His sweat didn’t last long.
“...”
She shifted her gaze to the others.
Goosebumps rippled across everyone,
“I won’t ask for much.”
She said calmly, looking at them.
“Just one thing.”
“...”
“Hand over Saintess Isfil.”
“...E-even so, Saintess Isfil belongs to the Holy—”
“How can a place that doesn’t treat people humanely save others?”
“...”
The Cardinal fell silent. Milla swept back her hair and eyed the rest.
“Theodor said as much.”
“...”
“We’ll talk again when the Holy Kingdom treats people in line with its doctrines and beliefs.”
With that, Milla Castina strode out.
Silence fell.
“...How long to the Empire?”
“Riding nonstop... about a week, I’d say.”
The Pope closed his eyes at the answer.
“Hand her over.”
“But...”
“Or go fight her yourself. I’m not confident I’d win against that monster.”
“...”
The Cardinals who’d tried to argue backed off, glancing nervously. The Pope sighed inwardly and looked away.
Treat people in line with doctrines and beliefs.
“...The Cardinals stay.”
He hated to admit it, but she wasn’t wrong.
“Time for some re-education.”
He sighed.
It had been ages since he’d felt like the hero of old.
In the end, the Holy Kingdom bowed its head.
It went according to my plan, but things wrapped up much faster than expected.
With that thought, I glanced around,
“Theo.”
and met Isfil’s soft smile.
She looked much more mature now. No— a lot more.
Her figure had developed curves, and her feminine charm was starting to bloom.
What am I even thinking about a kid like her?
I muttered to myself as I stood.
“What is it, Isfil?”
“Nothing, really. Want some tea?”
“Sure.”
I matched her pace as we rose.
Three years had passed.
I was twelve now.
And,
“Everyone’s starting to form factions, right?”
Isfil’s question came as we walked the corridor. I closed my eyes.
Yeah.
Factions were forming.
“Pretty much.”
“You forming one too, Theo?”
“...Mm.”
My faction, huh.
I’d actually prepared for it.
As I opened my mouth to speak,
“Theo.”
“Theo!!”
Two people threw their arms around me before I could finish.
Both the same age as me, just starting to grow up.
Their budding curves...
You’re insane, Theodor. Nothing you wouldn’t say to your sisters.
But they still hugged me like a little kid, eyes sparkling innocently.
I closed my eyes in Lily and Ravire’s embrace.
Why haven’t they changed at all?