Chapter 19 — Alone in the Tower
Chapter 19 — Alone in the Tower
Translation: Godtl
Guilt washed over her, making her suffer. After all, she had deceived her friends for three years.
'If they find out I lied about my gender and age, they'll think I'm terrible.'
She wouldn't even be able to remain as friends. They would tremble with betrayal and hate her.
'...Let's just leave it as a good memory instead.'
Lelia finished her pondering and began writing the letter.
Hey guys, are you up? None of you are sleeping in late, right? Not like babies?
It looks like it'll snow here soon. The weather is cloudy... I just had breakfast. The attendants brought it to my room.
Returning to the main palace, I think it's nice that I can eat tastier food. The bed is more comfortable too. Especially since I can't hear you guys making noise, it's incredibly peaceful.
If you knew how big and comfortable my bed is, you'd be surprised. And is everyone keeping their rabbit dolls safe?
Perhaps because they'd been exchanging letters since the day she arrived? Even though they were far apart, she could almost hear her friends' voices.
She waited a while, but it seemed no one had checked their letters yet.
'Still too early for those childish kids to wake up. Tsk...'
When the time came, they would all check and send replies, so should she get to work for now?
Lelia put down her pen and rolled up her sleeves.
The sky looked ominous. She needed to gather more firewood before the snow came.
'Wow... it's incredibly cold.'
Lelia wandered the nearby forest and gathered branches all day long. She missed the warm and comfortable life at the temple.
'If possible, it would've been nice to stay there for about 10 years.'
As she piled up the branches she had gathered inside the house, Lelia thought.
'Now I'm truly alone.'
The maids who occasionally looked after her were gone now.
Because Emperor Lydios had killed them all.
So she had to keep her wits about her.
She felt both resentful and pitiful about her situation, but thinking such thoughts wouldn't help.
'I need to make a plan.'
First, after spring came and the Emperor changed, she would have to steal food from the cottage.
Emperor Perseus wouldn't particularly care even if he knew of her existence, anyway.
'At least he won't kill me.'
She knew that through the original work. That was fortunate at least. Honestly, Emperor Lydios was more dangerous than Emperor Perseus.
And next...
'I need to avoid catching Julianna and her brothers' attention as much as possible.'
She had absolutely no desire to recite "I'm sorry, Your Highness the Princess" a hundred times like in the original work.
As long as she didn't get caught by those brother-fools, her life would be much more comfortable.
And when the time was right, she would use the magical tools stolen from the cottage to escape the imperial palace.
'If I stay here, I'll be used.'
In the original work, she died falling into a pond so it came to nothing, but if she had survived, she would definitely have been forced to marry someone.
'Still, since I'm royalty... they'd try to find use for me even as a political marriage.'
Her clenched fists automatically tightened with strength.
'Emperor Perseus... that man hates me. He won't give me a normal husband.'
In fact, even in the novel, the candidates mentioned as husbands were all either old men or strange ones. Once she became an adult, she would have been married off like being sold.
'Who would agree to such a marriage? I'll never do it.'
The goal was clear. Only the method was uncertain.
'I'll leave this place before I become an adult.'
That night, just as Lelia predicted, heavy snow began to fall.
'I'm glad I gathered firewood in advance.'
Seeing the firewood piled high in the first-floor living room, her heart felt naturally full. Even if snow piled as high as her height, she wouldn't have to worry for a while.
It was fortunate that the maids who used to look after her had connected water pipes from the main palace.
Even though it was made with magical power, seeing the water trickle out made her sigh, but being able to use warm water was something to be grateful for.
After washing and sitting at her desk, she saw the replies from her friends. The moment she saw them, her heart started pounding wildly.
Lelia read through the letters, cherishing each and every letter.
Oscar: Leo, you're really diligent. I'm relieved to hear you're doing well. I'm doing well too. I was worried, but I don't have nightmares like before. It's all thanks to the doll Leo gave me.
Kalix: Aren't you worried about someone seeing that doll? Just imagining it makes me want to die of embarrassment. I hid it under my pillow.
Griffith: Don't forget that I'm the one who bought you that doll.
Romeo: Everyone seems to be doing well? I guess I'm the only one annoyed. I'm sick and bored to death. Life at the temple was more fun and enjoyable. By the way, how about we gather first among ourselves and go subdue the Magic Dragon? Sounds like it'd be fun, doesn't it?
Lelia read those short messages again, and again, and again.
Through the gaps in the shabby door came cold air, but her heart was warm. No, it was burning hot.
Lelia wiped away the tears that kept welling up as she climbed into bed. She would write replies tomorrow.
However, unlike going to bed early, Lelia couldn't fall asleep for a long while.
Through the window glass, bright moonlight was visible. And around it, countless stars were gathered closely together.
It seemed like she was the only lonely one in this world.
An immense amount of snow had fallen.
It was enough that she couldn't even open the door. As if that wasn't enough, more heavy snow poured down before the previous snow could melt.
Thanks to that, Lelia was isolated in the tower for a while, unable to go outside.
She filled her stomach with the sweet snacks brought from the temple and used the firewood sparingly.
She couldn't even go out to gather branches, so it was a tedious time. Lelia sat at her desk all day, just waiting for the time to send letters to her friends.
If it were up to her, she would send messages without stopping, but wouldn't it be strange for the Crown Prince to sit at his desk all day?
She didn't want to plant unnecessary suspicions in her friends' minds for no reason.
She felt sorry for deceiving them, but if she was going to deceive them, she should do it properly. For Lelia, that was the greatest courtesy she could show to her friends.
Thus time passed, and around when the piled snow had completely melted...
While out gathering branches, Lelia realized that the knights who had been watching her had all disappeared.
Emboldened by this, she gradually expanded her range of activity. Still, just in case, she didn't go too far. It could be dangerous.
Chirp chirp chirp.
That day, she was struggling to move a ladder and picking tree fruits that served as winter food for birds.
'Now I won't be needing firewood soon.'
Seeing the weather gradually warm up, she should be happy, but for Lelia, it was the opposite.
In fact, the person in Auraria Imperial City who worried most about Crown Prince Leo might not be the Emperor, but Lelia.
Because the day the Crown Prince dies is the day contact with her friends ends.
Lelia brought the fruits to the tower and lingered near the main castle just in case.
'Surely not....'
The atmosphere of the servants going to and from the main castle was unusual. Every one of them was moving hurriedly with serious expressions.
"Crown Prince His Highness... the culprit...."
"His Majesty personally sent High Minister... to prison... how could someone he trusted so...."