Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Dangerous Secret
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“Huff, huff...”
Lia, the Imperial Princess, who had been sprinting through the forest with cat-form Kairen clutched in her arms, came to a momentary halt, panting heavily.
-Ku-ku-kwa-kwang!
Right after, a massive shockwave emanated from behind her.
“Ugh.”
She nearly lost her balance and tumbled to the ground but gritted her teeth and staggered toward the half-collapsed hillside.
-Thud...
The place she wobbled toward was none other than the black cave, somewhat familiar to the two of them.
“For now, we can hide our bodies here.”
“Meow?”
Lia, the Imperial Princess, plopped down there and whispered softly while holding Kairen.
“...Do you remember, Kairen?”
“......”
“You treated me here.”
Of course, there were no traces left from that day, but it was an unforgettable memory for Lia, the Imperial Princess.
“That time, I pecked at the back of your hand...”
“Grrr...”
But as she recalled the memory with a smile, Lia, the Imperial Princess, saw Kairen growling while pawing at her hand and let out a wry smile.
“...Of course, you wouldn't know that Peep is me.”
She had thought about telling him someday but hadn't mustered the courage yet.
“Well, everyone has their secrets, right?”
If it weren't for what happened when she flew into his room on the day Kairen rampaged, she might have confessed her secret long ago.
“Since you have secrets from me too...”
The memory suddenly vivid, Lia, the Imperial Princess, averted her gaze and blushed.
-Whooo...
Then, she shivered at the sudden cold wind blowing into the cave.
“...Cold.”
Darkness was gradually settling over the Mist Forest.
For her, who had expended so much energy all day, enduring the cave's chill was difficult.
“A little while should be fine...”
But making a campfire would risk detection by Astridje, so after some hesitation, Lia, the Imperial Princess, briefly turned her eyes golden.
-Pop...!
And in the next moment, she transformed into the familiar small canary.
'Just for a little bit...'
Lia, the Imperial Princess, burrowed into the fur of cat-form Kairen in that state, murmuring inwardly as she closed her eyes.
“......”
Silence fell over the cave for a moment.
“Haha, what a sight.”
“......”
“They're quite smitten.”
The silence was broken by the Emperor, speaking in a somewhat weary voice.
“So, what will you do, Astridje?”
“......”
“Is he ultimately disqualified?”
Her picnic mat, surrounding her who had paid dearly for blocking the picnic's final boss, was torn in places. She glanced at Astridje, who had followed behind, and asked.
“A promise is a promise.”
Astridje replied in her usual cold voice to the Emperor's question.
“However...”
But then, her expression suddenly grew complicated.
“What I was chasing was my son and the youngest princess, not a stray cat and an injured bird.”
Astridje sat weakly beside Lia, the Imperial Princess, and Kairen, who were huddled together sharing body heat, and muttered in a subdued voice.
“A bit underwhelming ending for flipping the entire forest upside down.”
“......”
“Well, shouldn't expect much from ten-year-olds...”
It was then, as the Emperor smirked while adding those words upon watching the scene.
-Tremble...
A heavily trembling hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Astridje's sleeve.
“Got you.”
Astridje's eyes widened as she turned her head, frowning for a moment.
“Your ability... has been nullified.”
Lia, the Imperial Princess, who had reverted to human form, picked up the clothes scattered on the ground to cover herself and murmured in a strained voice.
“Pfft.”
The Emperor's laughter began to echo through the cave.
“Puhahaha!!!”
As the laughter turned into roaring guffaws, Astridje's brows furrowed more, with Lia, the Imperial Princess, still gripping her sleeve.
“You've nullified my ability, but not me herself.”
“...We'll see about that.”
Yet Lia, the Imperial Princess, added defiantly, unflinching under Astridje's icy glare despite her displeased expression.
“Even at ten, I nullified your ability. What do you think will happen when I become an adult?”
“......”
“I'll only get stronger from here.”
Astridje's icy gaze wavered slightly at her bold declaration.
“Strong enough to defeat you in this state.”
But due to severe stamina depletion, Lia, the Imperial Princess's hand gripping Astridje's sleeve was gradually losing strength mid-sentence.
“So...”
Nevertheless, she stared into Astridje's eyes until the end before finishing.
“Please take care of me, Mother.”
The moment she finished, her hand dropped to the floor, and her unconscious body swayed.
“I see...”
Astridje unconsciously steadied Lia, the Imperial Princess's shoulder and began murmuring softly.
“...Huh?”
Beside her, Kairen—who had reverted from cat form due to the aftermath of Lia, the Imperial Princess's ability—tilted his head in confusion.
That dawn. Belverk Ducal House.
“Sleeping so soundly.”
“......”
“But is it okay to combine rooms already?”
The Emperor peered down with interest at the two pairs tangled asleep on Kairen's bed, then casually asked Astridje, who was silently gazing out the window.
“Just for today.”
“Haha, that's unusual.”
“Even if I try to separate them, they won't let go easily.”
But Astridje, still fixated on the view outside, merely muttered with a wry smile.
“......”
How much time passed like that?
“I announce to all kin of Belverk.”
Astridje finally turned from the window, her eyes glowing red as she spoke.
“Do not interfere with the personal meetings between Kairen and the youngest princess.”
“......”
“This is the right I have granted her.”
The moment she finished in a low voice.
-Goooo...
The killing intent that had briefly permeated the entire mansion was crushed and vanished under Astridje's intensified red-eyed menace.
“Come to think of it, Belverk has great unity.”
“......”
“My subjects always go 'No, Your Majesty, please understand' and obstruct everything... Nom nom.”
The Emperor watched the scene as if it were an amusing play, munching snacks, then reached into Kairen's desk drawer for more.
“Hm?”
Suddenly, the Emperor's eyes widened.
-Sizzle...
Something grabbed instead of a snack emitted black smoke from her hand, staining it.
“The cyan Marquis Magnaris sent...?”
“......”
“Why is this here?”
Realizing it was the Purity Stone that Marquis Magnaris had boasted as a once-in-a-century invention and sent recently, the Emperor looked puzzled.
“Hmm...”
A mischievous smile crept onto her lips.
“Hey, Astridje.”
The Emperor suddenly called out to Astridje and hurled the Purity Stone—Marquis Magnaris's birthday gift to Kairen—with all her might.
-Zing...
But just before it collided with Astridje's face, the darkly stained, faintly vibrating Purity Stone abruptly halted in midair.
“What are you doing?”
Astridje, eyes red, had fixed the Purity Stone in the air and glared at the Emperor with a chilling expression.
“Tsk, what a shame.”
“......”
“It was the perfect chance to verify your truth.”
Only then did Astridje realize her intent, flashing a cold smile as she spoke.
“A century too early.”
“Sigh, I can't live that long.”
Hearing that, the Emperor shook her head, muttering exasperatedly.
“...I might die without even seeing my illegitimate child reach adulthood.”
With those words, she headed toward the window.
“The illegitimate child you mentioned is the youngest princess?”
“Haha... It's complicated.”
The Emperor answered with a bitter smile to the question from behind, pausing her attempt to use an imperial ability.
“Well, everyone has their secrets, don't they?”
“......”
“Isn't that right, Astridje?”
With that, she transformed into a golden-furred cat and swiftly leaped out the window, as if she had no more business there.
“......”
With the Emperor gone, silence draped the room.
“...Secrets.”
In that silence, Astridje turned her gaze to Kairen, tangled asleep with Lia, the Imperial Princess, and murmured lowly while extending her hand.
“Sorry, but...”
She retrieved the Purity Stone hovering in the air and placed it back in Kairen's drawer.
“...My secret is too dangerous.”
Though only for the brief instant before the drawer closed, the Purity Stone, illuminated by moonlight from the window, had somehow returned to its original pristine white, gleaming.