Chapter 101 — The Beginning of Superion's Tragedy
Chapter 101 — The Beginning of Superion's Tragedy
Translation: Godtl
Uncle Zenon had died in battle against those heretics. In the original work, it was the beginning of the misfortune that befell the Superion family.
While thinking it was fortunate she had returned to the territory at this time, Lelia hesitated about how to respond.
Duke Superion's expression softened.
"You're worried Zenon might be in danger, aren't you? How kind-hearted...."
"Our kind Lelia."
Though her grandfather and uncle spoke with completely melted expressions, Lelia protested.
"I know Uncle Zenon is an excellent knight. But... it could be dangerous. So...."
If I say I'll go, they'll object, won't they?
Lelia hesitated, unable to continue speaking easily.
Then it happened.
"If we just need to eliminate the armed forces that appeared in the adjacent territory, can we handle it? Then please leave it to us."
Romeo spoke up.
Lelia looked at him in surprise. Romeo grinned at Lelia.
As if he understood everything inside without her saying a word, he winked with one eye as if to tell her not to worry.
Seeing that signal, Lelia briefly recalled memories from her childhood.
Romeo had always inferred what she wanted to say without her speaking and helped her first. And like now, he would send signals while winking....
"......"
Staring blankly at Romeo with strange emotion, Romeo spoke respectfully to Duke Superion.
"Coincidentally, these two are experts at killing such people. They'll wipe them out thoroughly like they're beating monsters."
What Romeo pointed to was Griffith and Oscar.
"They're very, very close friends. They'll demonstrate a fantastic harmony and annihilate the heretics."
Griffith and Oscar, who happened to be sitting side by side, looked at Romeo with annoyed expressions.
Who's close with whom?
However, seeing Lelia across from them clenching both hands and sending them desperate looks, they softened.
With those two, even Lelia could feel at ease. To the two people who had even defeated the Mad Dragon, heretics would be nothing.
'Please....'
Romeo looked at the two and spoke.
"Of course you'll step up, right, guys?"
Griffith and Oscar, who had been staring blankly at Lelia, nodded as if they had no choice.
Having received confirmation, Romeo was about to say something to the Duke with a smile.
Griffith spoke first.
"Then Romeo and Kalix, you'll need to go with us for Lelia to feel at ease, won't you?"
Romeo's brows furrowed. His own expression clearly showed he found it troublesome.
"If you fellows step up... we can only feel relieved and grateful. Will it really be alright?"
At Duke Superion's words, Romeo nodded with a sour expression.
"Ye... s. Then we'll take care of it as quickly as possible and return. Is the problem area far from here?"
"No, it's closer than you think."
"Then...."
Just as Romeo was about to speak after finishing his calculation, Oscar opened his mouth.
"We'll depart tomorrow immediately. One day. No, half a day will be enough."
"Oh...!"
At Oscar's reliable words, Duke Superion's eyes grew wide.
Though Karius didn't like Oscar, Duke Superion had already started to think well of him.
"Half a day? One hour will be plenty."
Griffith sneered at Oscar as if engaging in some childish competition.
Lelia's eyes widened in surprise at such childishness, but Griffith and Oscar actually had quite serious faces.
"Is that so? Then I'll take one hour."
Romeo said as if joining this childish competition.
"Huh? Then I'll take 30 minutes. No, 10 minutes!"
Finally, Kalix capped it off.
Lelia shuddered at the scene that seemed like they were ten years old, no, even more childish than back then.
The next morning, having overslept, she had a light meal in her room.
For the past two days, it had been difficult to get proper sleep, but yesterday she had fallen asleep more deeply than expected.
It must have been because her friends agreed to help with her great-uncle's matter, putting her mind at ease.
After finishing her meal and changing clothes, Becky entered.
The maids who had been helping her change exited, and Becky finished buttoning the dress Lelia was wearing as she delivered the news.
It was news that her friends had left the main estate early this morning.
'They've already departed?'
She had intended to go with them.... Lelia felt both grateful and apologetic toward her friends who had left without a word.
Still, knowing her friends had stepped forward brought her great relief.
Having four of them go together was far more reassuring than just one or two. They would watch over each other, so there would be no injuries.
Lelia thought she would definitely need to express her gratitude when her friends returned.
Becky seemed to want to ask various questions about them. Pretending not to notice, Lelia asked her to bring some tea.
Once she was left alone, she immediately pressed the circular mark in the corner of her vision.
Since this morning, all the 'Alchemy Lottery' system menus had suddenly stopped appearing.
Only the game mark floated in the right corner.
Curious, she pressed it again, and only a notification message appeared.
[Inspection is in progress for a large-scale update. Please look forward to an even newer! (୨୧ ❛ᴗ❛)✧]
'So when exactly does this inspection end?'
Why wouldn't they tell her the end time while conducting the inspection... Her insides boiled with frustration.
If they were going to conduct an inspection like this, they had better prepared compensation thoroughly, right?
She felt she would need to receive at least 10,000 crystals to calm her anger.
Fortunately, she had taken out the medicines she might need before the inspection began.
Especially the treatment for her grandmother—she had taken out plenty just in case. Since taking large quantities would cause stomach upset, she should only give her one bottle.
Just then, along with a knocking sound, Becky's voice came from beyond the door.
When she said she could enter, Becky pushed a tray and came in.
"Miss, I've brought your tea."
Becky set the cup down on the table and delivered one more piece of news.
"The Duke gathered the vassals who attended the Elder Council and shared the news. He said heroes who achieved merit in the war against the Light Dragons have visited the territory to meet Lord Karius."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So he said he'll hold a welcome banquet in a few days."
"A banquet?"
"Yes, Miss. So I was thinking of calling the seamstress right now—how would that be?"
"I'm fine."
"Then I'll call her right away. Ah... how wonderful would it be if Miss's coming-of-age ceremony could be held together as well?"
"...."
Becky murmured with an enraptured expression, clasping her hands together.
"There are such wonderful guests visiting right now! Someone among them might fall for the Miss!"
"That's not possible..."
Lelia murmured with a lukewarm expression. Becky was creating her own fairy tale from imagination and started prattling on to Lelia.
Lelia listened with glazed eyes, letting the words go in one ear and out the other.
It was around afternoon.
Lelia was summoned by her uncle and grandfather for a conversation.
The two asked Lelia what had happened in the capital.
"...."
When Lelia could not easily answer, Duke Superion nodded, saying it was alright.
"If you do not wish to speak, I will ask no further."
He had no intention of forcing an answer.
If she wouldn't say, he assumed she had her reasons. At the Duke's gentle tone, Lelia's lips trembled dejectedly.
"Actually...."
Lelia knew she could no longer hide it.
To prevent any potential tracking by the Temple, she needed to explain the general situation to her grandfather.
"While staying in the capital, I was at the Imperial Palace."
"What?"
"Where? The Imperial Palace?"
At Lelia's shocking confession, Duke Superion and Karius's faces turned pale.
"But that was... somehow I ended up entering in disguise as a man."
"Disguise? As a man? You?"
"Ah! So that's why you were dressed like that on the day you returned to the territory...."
"Yes...."
"Did you meet the Emperor?"
At the Duke's question, Lelia nodded slightly.
"But he didn't recognize me. He thinks I'm a man."
"Didn't you become a complete fool? How could he believe you're a man?"
"That's... thanks to the alchemy potion I created."
Lelia explained the general story. Including the fact that Kalix also believed her to be a man.
Karius, who had intended to connect Kalix and Lelia, pressed his hand to his forehead.
"Please keep it a secret from Kalix for now. There's something I absolutely must tell him myself. I plan to tell him then. I can't explain in detail right now, but...."
"Very well, I understand."
Unexpectedly, Karius accepted this easily.
Lelia was grateful to her grandfather and uncle who always believed her words without needing explanation.
The Duke covered Lelia's hand with his own and stroked it with a pitying expression.
"Poor thing. Did they not harm you?"
"...."
Lelia nodded, saying she was fine. Her eyes grew hot for no reason.
Then, 'Wait!' Karius asked.
"What about those twin fellows? Were they unaffected after seeing you?"
At the mention of those two, Lelia's lips trembled. It was because she recalled the expressions of the two who had been desperate to kill her.
Her nose stung and sorrow washed over her.
At the time, she had truly been unaffected... but now that her grandfather and uncle were asking, she realized she had been deeply wounded back then.
Though she had immediately received healing magic from Griffith, the wounds from that time left bruises on her heart.
"They didn't recognize me either."
Lelia forced herself to wear an unaffected expression.
To her uncle and grandfather, Cedric and Damian were also precious beings.
She didn't want to trouble them unnecessarily.
Lelia forced a smile and changed the subject.
She mentioned that the Temple might be tracking her.
Having heard the general situation, the Duke slammed his fist on the table. Bang!
"Those insolent bastards! How dare they target—!"
"That fellow Lute, he's no ordinary fool. I thought Princess Julianna was innocent, but she's remarkably cunning...."
When mentioning Princess Julianna, Karius glanced subtly at Lelia.
Lelia maintained an unaffected expression.
"Poor thing... my poor child. My granddaughter."
As if he had never been angry, the Duke turned sorrowful and embraced Lelia.
"Grandfather...."
"There, there."
Karius wore a complicated expression, then embraced the two of them.
"You get away."
"Father, please have some pity on your son too."
Her grandfather tried to push away such an uncle. Looking at the two, Lelia finally burst into laughter.
Karius patted his father and Lelia while invisibly furrowing his brow.
Judging by the signs, it was clear the twin princes had tormented Lelia.
Thinking he should investigate properly, he acted as if nothing was wrong.
It was when she had been worrying for a while about when her friends would return and whether they might be hurt.