Chapter 25 — Perseus's Uneasy Concern
Chapter 25 — Perseus's Uneasy Concern
Translation: Godtl
Because of food? Because she was hungry?
Only then did the space inside the tower catch his eye.
Ridiculously, this tower was furnished as cozily as Elizabeth's cottage. But looking closely, it was old and incredibly shabby.
He knew this child was staying in the tower, but....
'No one to bring her food?'
Originally, he never wanted to know if someone was taking care of this child or how she was living, so he never asked.
However, he had assumed someone would be taking care of this child. She was still royalty after all.
But....
The space inside the tower, though old and shabby, was neatly organized enough to feel cozy at a glance. It felt like it had been tidied by someone's hand.
This young child couldn't have organized it alone....
But....
"...."
Emperor Perseus looked down again at Lelia who was kneeling and begging.
The child seemed even thinner than when he had encountered her last time.
Not long ago when Lydios died, it seemed the person who had been taking care of the child had also left. Had she been starving since then?
Emperor Perseus clenched his fists with a bitter feeling.
No matter how much he hated the child of someone he detested, he too was a father who had a child.
He wasn't heartless enough to get angrier at a young child's words that she did it because she was hungry.
Moreover, this child was about the same age as Julianna, whom he cherished.
Comparing her to that child, his heart became uncomfortably unsettled.
And this child's claim that she didn't steal anything was probably true.
Earlier, if this child had stolen something from the cottage, Karius wouldn't have just let her go.
"Since Lydios died, has there been no one to take care of you?"
"...."
Lelia slightly raised her head at those words. Emperor Perseus's voice seemed to have calmed down a bit.
'He doesn't seem to know the fact that I went to the neutral zone by Emperor Lydios's order.'
Then again, given Lydios's personality to begin with, it was more likely that everyone who knew that fact had been killed by his own hand long ago.
"...I will send someone. But if you go there again, you will have to follow your mother's side."
With those words, Perseus turned his back and left.
'Send me to my mother's side? Hmph, does he think I'll die that easily?'
Lelia deliberately looked at his retreating figure more boldly and criticized him.
Emperor Perseus's threat was frightening, but Lelia was thinking of going to the cottage again.
'Of course, this time I'll have to be more careful not to get caught.'
She couldn't help it. Not just for food, but because she needed to find a way out of the Imperial Palace.
Lelia had to lie curled up under the covers for a long time to calm her startled heart again.
Despite making that resolution, for a while Lelia found it difficult to visit the cottage.
This was because starting from the very next day after Emperor Perseus's visit, a maid from the main castle began coming and going.
With a sour expression, the maid brought food once a day.
It was things like hard bread and soft fruits, but still, it was better than nothing.
It was fortunate, given the situation where it had become difficult to gather emergency rations at the cottage.
However, since the maid came at unspecified times every day, she couldn't leave the tower.
'Perhaps Emperor Perseus sent her to monitor me...'
If the tower happened to be empty when the maid arrived, she would immediately report to Emperor Perseus.
For that reason, Lelia had to wait all day for the maid who might come at any time.
Then one day came.
"Tomorrow there's a banquet so I won't be able to come. So I brought tomorrow's food in advance, just so you know."
The maid explained as if she were thoroughly annoyed, but for Lelia, it was a good thing.
Given the situation, she wanted to tell her to keep coming only once every few days from now on, but she held back.
If she did that unnecessarily, it might arouse suspicion, or she might be forgotten entirely. She at least needed to receive this food every day.
'Could they be doing this on purpose to see if I go to the cottage?'
Lelia suspected it might be a trap.
However, unfortunately contrary to Lelia's expectations, the maid's mission was from the beginning simply one thing: 'prepare meals.'
There was no mission to monitor Lelia.
Not knowing this fact, Lelia had to always be cautious in her actions.
Soon the next day dawned.
Lelia wandered near the main castle from early morning. Fortunately, what the maid had said didn't appear to be a lie.
It seemed a banquet was really taking place, as servants and attendants were moving about busily.
'It must be a banquet to help Julianna make friends.'
After the doll incident occurred, Julianna's birthday was coming up soon.
And before that, a banquet was held so that Julianna could become familiar with children her age.
Among the noble children who participated, an incident would occur where one boy pushes Julianna.
'It was quite a huge incident in its own way.'
Because Julianna got a scratch on her palm, that boy would face tremendous misfortune.
Because Cedric and Damian, who were deeply devoted to Julianna, did not forgive that child.
Around this time, Cedric and Damian protected and doted on Julianna as much as Emperor Perseus, perhaps even more than him.
Since it was their first younger sister, how fascinating and adorable she must be to them.
And it was also the banquet where the original male lead would have his first reunion with Julianna.
The two would become close friends after today's banquet, and would develop into lovers in the future.
'That's none of my business.'
For Lelia, it was a day of opportunity.
The chance to freely explore the cottage.
Emperor Perseus would be focused on Julianna's banquet, and since Lelia had been behaving well for a while, he would be off guard.
'I must find it today no matter what.'
And so Lelia waited until evening, until the banquet began.
Soon when the banquet was about to start, faint music sounds drifted from the direction of the main castle.
'Now's the time. I should set off.'
Lelia packed her bag and slowly left the tower.
Just in case, Lelia examined the surroundings of the hut for a while. Fortunately, there was no one watching or observing.
'I spent too much time.'
Lelia clicked her tongue and quickly pushed open the hut's door.
Thud!
However, the door was locked.
'Emperor Perseus...!'
Bad man! Locking the door like that.
But she had somewhat expected this. Lelia eventually pulled out a thin iron rod from the bag she had brought.
Today of all days, she had to pick the lock and enter, even if by force. An opportunity like today wouldn't come again.
Click!
'It opened!'
After struggling a bit, Lelia succeeded in opening the door. After checking her surroundings, she quickly went inside.
Even though it must have been empty all this time, the air inside the hut was warm. Perhaps it felt that way to Lelia because this place was her mother's embrace.
Lelia savored the warmth inside like that, then belatedly came to her senses.
'Now's not the time for this.'
She first checked the places she had remembered thinking she should look there next time.
However, contrary to her expectations, there weren't any special items in those places.
In the vanity drawer, there were accessories and jewels, but nothing looked like magic stones containing special magic.
'It's not there....'
How is there nothing at all?
They said there were many mysterious magical tools....
'Did Emperor Perseus already take them?'
That might be the case. It was the most likely possibility. He always missed his wife, so he would try to soothe his longing while looking at those items.
'Too much time has passed.'
Lelia had to leave the hut empty-handed like that. After erasing the traces of her searching here and there, locking the door, and coming out of the hut, her legs lost all strength.
Feeling like tears might come out for some reason, Lelia deliberately walked more bravely toward the tower.
However, when she arrived near the tower.
'What?'
She felt traces of someone having come to the tower.
Lelia sensed a presence completely different from usual and quickly went inside. As expected, someone had invaded her sanctuary.
"...What, you?"
"Huh!"
"......."
The first things she discovered were Cedric and Damian, their faces deeply furrowed.
They were struggling to open the small door leading to the top of the tower. Perhaps they had come to see the stars.
And beyond them, the tips of Julianna's hair came into view.
'Cedric and Damian must have brought her to show her the stars?'
The thought of someone invading her safe space made her feel unpleasant. But before she could even feel that emotion.
'My doll...!'
She saw Julianna looking at the rabbit doll on the bed with a face full of curiosity.
When she thought the doll might be taken away, her body moved first.
"It's mine!"
Lelia quickly approached and forcefully snatched her doll from Julianna.
However, because of that....
"Are you crazy?!"
"Hey!"
She heard the angry voices of Cedric and Damian.