Chapter 102 — Grandmother Returns
Chapter 102 — Grandmother Returns
Translation: Godtl
Before they arrived, others reached the main castle first.
Her grandmother, aunt, and great-uncle.
"Grandmother!"
Lelia ran at once to embrace her grandmother, who was being supported in by her aunt.
Her face was haggard, having deteriorated since before she left.
"Child...? My daughter, Elizabeth...."
The Duchess did not recognize Lelia at all and only murmured her daughter's name.
At the sight, Lelia burst into tears.
"Why is my daughter crying... hmm? Who upset you...?"
Her grandmother spoke in a slow voice while stroking Lelia's cheek. Lelia quickly wiped away her tears as if she had never cried.
"I'm not crying."
"I see... when my daughter cries, this mother's heart breaks...."
Lelia forced a smile and nodded vigorously.
"Let's take her to her room first."
At her aunt's words, Lelia immediately supported her grandmother toward the room.
Perhaps the journey to the main castle was exhausting, for the Duchess fell deeply asleep as soon as she lay on the bed.
Lelia shared the joy of reunion with her great-uncle and aunt belatedly.
Atias hugged Lelia with all her might and kissed her forehead.
"Our princess. I'm glad you returned safely."
At her aunt's affectionate touch, Lelia felt her heart grow peaceful.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Unlike the gentle Atias, Zenon asked gruffly. However, the content of his question was incredibly tender.
"No."
When Lelia nodded with a smile, Zenon stroked her head.
"Did nothing happen?"
At her aunt's question, Lelia nodded repeatedly.
Apologies, but the story she told her grandfather and Uncle Karius was a secret for now.
They too asked Lelia no further questions.
As if her safe return alone was enough.
That sentiment reached her fully, and Lelia felt an empty corner of her heart being filled.
It was late into the night when my friends finally returned.
Lelia had been waiting for them all along and greeted them more warmly than anyone.
She looked them over carefully, worried they might have been hurt somewhere, but everyone seemed fine.
"Neither of you is hurt, are you?"
Lelia asked, but Griffith and Oscar passed by without a word and headed straight to their quarters.
Lelia looked at their retreating figures, not understanding what was going on.
Romeo placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered,
"The heretic matter was resolved without issue... but those two almost came to blows, that was the problem."
"W-why? Why would they fight?"
Lelia asked in bewilderment. Since yesterday, the atmosphere between them had been unusual... just why was that?
In her memories, the two of them had never had such a bad relationship.
Romeo looked at her and said,
"Unfortunately, those two don't get along. Even the Captain doesn't know this fact, so you probably didn't know either."
"...."
"Don't worry too much. By the way, the servants seem busy?"
"Ah, that's... my grandmother arrived today after visiting a resort."
"Ah. The mother of former Empress Elizabeth?"
"...."
At Romeo's words, pinpointing the most important matter, Lelia's expression stiffened.
Come to think of it, she hadn't explained to her friends.
Why Lelia was staying here, why former Empress Elizabeth's family treated her like their own granddaughter.
"That's..."
Just as Lelia was about to make an excuse, Romeo's cold index finger touched her lips.
"You don't have to say it."
"...."
"For now."
As Lelia stood there frozen in a daze, Romeo grinned.
The cold finger that had been pressing against her lips slowly fell away as if with regret.
That finger went straight to Romeo's own lips.
"......?"
Romeo rubbed his own lips with the finger that had touched Lelia's, then smiled playfully.
"Good night."
"...."
After delivering his greeting with an enigmatic smile, Romeo turned and walked away with light steps.
Lelia stood rooted to that spot for a long while even after Romeo entered his room.
After quite some time,
Suddenly, a large hand plopped onto Lelia's right shoulder!
Startled, Lelia turned her head with a yelp.
Something thick and firm poked her right cheek firmly.
Kalix was laughing with his hand on her shoulder, pressing her cheek firmly with his index finger.
"What are you doing here?"
"...."
Lelia removed Kalix's heavy hand from her shoulder and let out a deep sigh.
This really...
When she was young, she had fallen victim to this prank of Kalix's more than once or twice. Lelia suppressed the anger boiling inside her.
Even so, she turned and examined Kalix from top to bottom.
To check if he was hurt anywhere, if his eyes had gotten worse.
"W-what are you looking at like that? Up and down..."
But Kalix's reaction was strange.
He took a step back as if he had never played a prank. As if guarding against Lelia.
He even crossed his arms in an X shape, taking a protective posture... what was he doing?
Lelia felt as if she had become some kind of pervert.
"...."
Lelia narrowed her eyes, wondering why Kalix was acting like that.
When their eyes met, Kalix turned his head away sharply. Lelia asked playfully, still puzzled.
"They said it would be over in 10 minutes, so why are you so late?"
"Y-you... you...! Who are you to nag me?"
"Pardon?"
But Kalix's reaction was rather sensitive.
His face turned red as he fumed.
"D-don't act like some wife waiting at home! When you have the same thing hanging as me...! Who do you think you are, acting like a wife?!"
Kalix raged on his own, then brushed past Lelia.
No, why... why is he acting like that?
Shortly after, Kalix slammed his door shut! Lelia stood there in disbelief before turning back.
Meanwhile. Kalix, having entered his room, leaned his back against the door, pressing his chest and gasping for breath.
Ah. My heart is acting up...
Why is this happening? Did my heart get damaged when I lost one eye? Is that... connected?
Kalix squeezed his eyes shut and flopped down right there on the spot.
This is all because of that bastard.
That damned cross-dressing man!
Kalix suffered inwardly, blaming Lelia.
Yesterday's events kept floating through his mind.
The moment Lelia suddenly grabbed both his cheeks and brought her face right up to his...
He learned yesterday that a person's body can completely freeze when too surprised.
His heart was still pounding. How could she do such a thing...?
He really thought his lips were going to be stolen. He had never kissed anyone before...
How dare he try to take my first time? Of course, it wasn't taken, but still. So it's a bit regrettable... no, what is there to regret?!
Kalix grabbed his thick, abundant hair in bewilderment at the strange regret he felt.
Why, why is it regrettable? Why on earth is it regrettable that I didn't kiss a man who has the same thing hanging as me?
"Aaagh!"
Kalix howled in anguish and threw himself onto the floor.
So annoying! How did that bastard figure out my eye condition anyway?
He's a suspicious guy no matter what.
He was moved when he left painkillers and sedatives for him... but actually finding out about his eye condition felt strange.
'I was certain no one would notice.'
He really hadn't shown any signs...
But perhaps unconsciously, there was a part of him that wanted someone to notice.
'Damn it, to still have such weak feelings... idiot.'
Kalix bit his lip hard. His chest felt prickly and hot for no reason.
He felt uncomfortable and uneasy, as if all his inner thoughts had been exposed. But at the same time, he felt relieved.
He felt that Lelia was special.
"...Special, my ass."
This is all because that bastard is suddenly cross-dressing.
He was cross-dressing when we first met too... but he wasn't wearing such a pretty, flowing dress like now.
Lelia, whom he met again after coming here, was very strange.
To be honest... she was really pretty. That's why she felt unfamiliar yet also familiar.
How can cross-dressing be so natural? He almost got fooled.
Then, suddenly, words Oscar had said before came to mind.
"I think I wouldn't mind whether it's a man or a woman."
Back then, he had certainly thought 'that crazy bastard' and cursed inwardly, even dry heaving.
But somehow now, he felt like he could understand those words.
'Right, if it's Lelia... I really wouldn't mind...'
Kalix shot up at the momentary thought and shook his head.
'No, what do you mean I wouldn't mind!?'
He has an arm as thick as mine dangling...!
...But so what? He's smaller than me anyway?
His thoughts were swinging back and forth erratically.
Kalix stopped thinking and threw off his clothes irritably, heading for the bathroom.
He felt like he needed to wash with cold water to clear his head.
The next day, early morning.
Romeo, who had started the day earlier than anyone else, was lost in thought while leisurely drinking tea.
An hour ago, having risen in the early dawn, Romeo had walked through the garden behind the castle. The crisp morning air had refreshed his spirits. There, he happened to encounter Duke Superion and the Duchess taking a walk.
The Duchess was in poor health. At a glance, she seemed to be afflicted with an illness the Temple classified as a divine disease.
The Duke welcomed Romeo and suggested they walk together.
"Hmm..."
Recalling the few words exchanged with the Duke, Romeo organized his thoughts. Though he couldn't know the details, the general puzzle pieces had all fallen into place.
The Temple's secret record stating that former Empress Elizabeth had died immediately after giving birth. The child in that record must be Lelia.
That was why she had come here, and the old Duke and his family all knew the truth.
Recalling the conversation with the Duke, it was clear. Every word he spoke was filled with deep affection for Lelia. The profound love for a biological granddaughter.
But why Lelia was hiding all the facts and not speaking of them remained a mystery.
Why would she go to such lengths to conceal the fact that she was 'Leo'?
Thoughts of Auraria's deceased former Emperor came to his mind. The violent Emperor, and the former Crown Prince with unsavory rumors... the real Leo, and the Temple that had gathered children of the imperial family and nobles back then...
Romeo rubbed his forehead, set down his teacup, and walked to the window.
Several carriages could be seen passing through the castle gate and approaching the main building.
A woman in a splendid dress descended from the first carriage. As soon as she stepped down, she began giving various instructions to the servants who had accompanied her.
The servants unloaded the luggage in perfect order according to her commands—they were splendid dresses hanging on clothes racks.
'Dresses for the upcoming banquet?'
Those dresses seemed to be Lelia's.
And behind them, a young man descended from a carriage that had arrived separately, some distance away.