Chapter 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Her True Feelings
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rather than worry about a future that hadn't arrived yet, I focused on giving my all to the present.
It was the same routine as always.
Practicing with Jenia, visiting the church with Veronica, hanging out with Lancelot, and handling official duties.
Before I knew it, I had come of age, and the time to enroll in the academy was fast approaching.
The empire was abuzz with the excitement of the New Year's gatherings.
The common folk danced and sang in the streets, while nobles gathered in the imperial palace to exchange greetings and blessings from the past year.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Congratulations... I, Lula, always knew you'd become the Crown Prince!"
"May glory shine upon the empire, Your Highness. As for me..."
"My family's daughter has come of age this time..."
Even before becoming Crown Prince, crowds had swarmed to push their own agendas, but now they were packed in tight, lining up just to get a word with me.
It was a hassle, but what could I do? I had to endure it.
As I handled them one by one, the First Princess stepped forward.
She looked utterly dejected somewhere deep down.
The people around us began whispering among themselves.
"Her strings are all cut now..."
"After all that biting and clawing at each other..."
"So what happens to the First Princess now?"
"What do you mean, what happens? Obviously..."
The murmurs grew louder, making her shrink even smaller.
It wasn't a good look—I was someone who wanted no discord in the imperial family.
I sighed inwardly but greeted her with a bright smile.
"Sophia! Happy New Year! How have you been? I have something to discuss about that matter you mentioned last time. Let's talk privately for a bit."
I grabbed the stunned Sophia's shoulder and whispered in her ear.
'Just follow me quietly. It's too noisy here.'
She trembled at my words but nodded.
We arrived at the terrace, drew the curtains, and faced each other.
Seeing her fidgeting, I let out an involuntary sigh and spoke first.
"Sophia, if you have something to say, say it."
Sophia opened her mouth, her face filled with fear.
"I'm sorry, Brother... No, Your Highness the Crown Prince..."
It was the response I'd half-expected.
The Crown Prince position wasn't the throne, so anyone could take a shot at it, but with the Second Imperial Consort gone—the one pulling the strings from behind—she was left like a puppet with its strings severed.
The nobles who once praised her had turned away, leaving only a frightened little girl unsure of what to do.
Only now had she realized her situation.
I sighed and said,
"Sigh... Sophia, I have no intention of doing anything to you."
She flinched at my words, her inner thoughts plain as day.
Though we'd always been obstacles to each other, now she just looked like a fragile girl bound to me by blood. I really had no plans against her.
"Tch, how did things end up so far gone? Now, let's hear your reasons. Why were you so obsessed with the throne?"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.
"Because... that's all I'm worth."
Her hard-spoken words were heartbreaking.
"I'm not good at magic like you, Brother, or swordsmanship like Andrew, or as lovable as Serena. What else do I have?"
It was a pitiful story, but I wasn't in the mood for a long sob session.
The others were waiting.
"Then you should've just lived quietly. That doesn't excuse gathering corrupt nobles and needlessly harassing me."
She wasn't a real threat, but she had been annoying.
If she'd just lived brightly like other young ladies, I'd have taken good care of her. Even if it was her mother's influence, the choices were her own.
To her, now silent with pursed lips, I added,
"We've strayed too far, throwing obstacles in each other's paths. I guarantee your safety. So live quietly—go to parties, shop, practice magic, whatever. I won't interfere. But if you scheme again, you'll never see the light of day."
With that, I turned and left.
I didn't care much about the expression she wore after.
"C-Crown Prince! Over here!"
Veronica stood up and waved.
Not long ago, Veronica had received a medal along with her title.
She was now 'Baroness Veronica Elias,' having swiftly secured a hereditary barony before the church could claim her.
She wore a black dress that revealed her figure, but it couldn't erase her inherently sacred aura.
The men around stole glances but didn't dare approach, merely swallowing hard.
Beside her, Jenia looked a bit tired but smiled faintly and waved.
She must have just escaped a crowd of nobles demanding responses, much like me.
Growing more beautiful with time, she had matured into someone decadently charismatic.
In a red dress matching her eyes, she exuded intimidation yet drew people in irresistibly.
Lancelot was eating heartily.
He was my escape from their beauty.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
"Swallow first, then talk."
"Mm! Mmph!"
"...It must be delicious. They put so much effort into it."
"Ooh! Mmph!"
"Fine, I'm not hungry."
"Mmph? Mmmph!"
"I can eat anytime, you punk."
Jenia and Veronica stared at me in wonder, amazed at how we communicated.
I didn't know either... Maybe his straightforward thinking made it easy to understand.
In my past life, the squad leader said something like that, but I never served, so who knows.
You need a healthy body to enlist...
Ignoring Lancelot's enthusiastic eating, I turned to the two.
"You both look stunning today. What if the Demon King kidnaps you?"
Unlike my expectation, Jenia's expression turned serious.
"The Demon King... He totally could. We're heading to the academy soon, and that idiot..."
Fortunately, Veronica gave a normal response.
"Hehe! The Saint too looks so~ handsome today!"
At least half made sense.
To lighten the bitter mood and liven things up, I called a waiter for drinks.
Everyone looked up at the glasses.
I lifted mine, shaking it up and down, and heads followed.
Smiling at them all, I said,
"Forgot? We can drink now."
Their faces lit up.
"R-Right! Wow, it's been forever! Crown Prince, pour me one too!"
"Gulp! Phew! Finally... I can chug beers with the guildmates like a true adventurer!"
"Saint! It's my first time with alcohol!"
They'd been waiting for this day!... Well, not really, but I wanted to try drinking too.
We'd been busy, and getting caught sneaking drinks would've meant a scolding from Lily.
Like the fresh twenty-year-olds we were, we excitedly raised our glasses.
Before drinking, they all stared at me expectantly.
'Should I say something?'
Suddenly burdened, I spoke anyway.
"You've all worked hard. Plenty of tough times and fun ones."
"Yeah... Like when Lancelot messed up the magic circle and nearly buried us in that cave."
"If we're counting, you wrecked the tavern by going to the wrong one, and we covered for you!"
"Saint... Remember when the heretics summoned those slug beasts and we were covered in slime...?"
'S-Sorry...'
I'd flipped the wrong switch.
"Ahem! The road ahead won't be smooth either! But I'll make sure you're all happy!"
They laughed, looking at me.
"I'm happy right now..."
"Me too, Saint! I feel amazing!"
"Alright, cheers!"
Ignoring the stares and decorum, we downed our drinks.
Sweetness spread in my mouth, a slight burn sliding smoothly down my throat.
"Haa... So good."
"This is... alcohol? Saint, it's delicious!"
"Heh, not quite adventurer guild beer."
Everyone shared their impressions.
"Drink up, you deserve it."
After that, we laughed, chatted, and drank heartily.
The sweet but strong liquor got us all tipsy.
We could've sobered up instantly, but we rode the mood and got properly drunk.
"Lancelot! No story-blocking or else!"
"Two Saints! Too happy for this world!"
"What is a sword...?"
Leaving Lancelot to his sudden sword philosophy, I carried Jenia and Veronica.
"Liam! Feels so good to drink after so long!"
"Hau... Saint's scent... Makes me wanna go to church."
As I hauled them for a while, Lily spotted us while wrapping up the banquet.
"Oh my! What a sight you all are!"
"Ah, Lily! Perfect timing, help me out."
"Goodness..."
Lily shouldered Veronica, who was clinging to me, and said,
"How much did you all drink?"
"Not much... Twelve glasses?"
"Oh dear! Are you mad?"
-Slap! Slap!
"Ow ow! Lily! Forgive me just this once, it's a special day."
Lily made a helpless face.
"Goodness... I'll take Miss Veronica. Your Highness, please handle the future Crown Princess."
"Cwaaawn Pwince! Value?"
"There, there, good girl, Veronica~"
A sudden wave of gratitude hit me for Lily, who always cared for us so meticulously.
"Lily."
"Yes?"
"Thanks for everything..."
Lily smiled warmly at my words.
"I'm the thankful one... Seeing you all grow so wonderfully..."
Her kind gaze tickled my heart.
To me, Lily was like a second mother.
From childhood, caring for us all and always staying positive—she'd given us so much strength.
"Come on, let's get you inside!"
"Liam~ Can't I drink a bit more? Pleeease?"
"Jenia~ Wanna dwink moooore!"
"Tch! Veronica! Hurry up!"
"Hiiing... Okayyy..."
As Lily dragged Veronica away, I headed to Jenia's room.
"Jenia, we're here!"
I sat her on the bed.
Jenia pouted, lips pursed in dissatisfaction.
"Tch... Wanted to drink more..."
I smiled wryly.
"That's enough for tonight. We'll drink again next time. Good girl?"
Stroking her hair as she smiled, her eyes sparkled.
"Then I wanna drink something even better!"
"? Like what."
Jenia's eyes gleamed seductively as she grabbed my face.
"This."
-Ahh~
"Wait, Jenia, hold on! Mmph!"
"Hah... *slurp*! Mmm... *smack*!"
Her hands, once on my face, wrapped tightly around my neck, as if she'd never let go.
"Hehe... Tastes goood... Lift your head a bit... There! Heehee! Pretty~ *slurp*."
I'd been indulgent, but now I couldn't hold back.
I let go of body control entirely and pressed against her.
Jenia flinched, startled, and pulled back her face.
"Th-This isn't allowed! Liam, be good..."
I stared at her firmly.
"Why not? We're finishing this today."
I gazed at her, channeling all my past doubts and patience.
Then came the words that shattered my world.
"That's something you do... when you're dating..."
It hit harder than learning the imperial family's secret.
Unable to believe it, I stared blankly and said,
"Aren't we... dating?"
We were even engaged—what thunderbolt was this?
Her lust-filled eyes gone, Jenia fidgeted as she spoke.
"Well... We have a contract... It's just an engagement..."
What nonsense... 'Just an engagement'? Wasn't engagement above dating?
Jenia stroked my dazed face tearfully.
"If someone... better than me comes along... Then..."
Rage surged at her words.
To escape this incomprehensible nightmare, I pulled her close.
"Eek! No! *slurp*! *smack*! Mmmph... Nooo..."
"Jenia, I love you."
Her eyes widened at my words, hands covering her face.
"We can't do thiiis..."
My anger now boiled over my head.
I demanded, glaring at her,
"What can't we do? What!"
Jenia sniffled her answer.
"You're... the protagonist's...!"
'What? Whose?'
My boiling rage cooled to absurdity.
I questioned my long-held doubts.
"Protagonist? Isn't the protagonist male...?"
"I... played as a female character..."
Ah... My head throbbed.
New info, but... the important thing now was...
"Didn't we like each other?"
Jenia sniffled,
"The hero can't like anyone but Gayoung..."
'What bullshit...'
"I'm the hero?"
"Not exactly..."
"Then why all that practice?"
"Just a little taste... before sending you off..."
Insane...
I'd thought she was holding back until adulthood.
Turns out she'd been digging her own tunnel like a frustrating romance heroine.
Rage flared again.
I pulled out the contract from her room and burned it before her eyes.
-Whoosh!
"Ah!"
Her eyes round, she reached for it, but it was already ash, cleanly gone.
Jenia's eyes shook violently.
Staring straight into them, I said,
"I love you, Jenia. More than some faceless protagonist."
She covered her face with both hands.
"I love you."
-Flinch!
"I love you."
-Flinch!
"I love you more than anything."
-Tremble...
I grabbed her shaking hands and pulled them away, revealing quivering lips.
-Hehe... Heehee...
Heat rushed to my head.
Anger oddly brought a smile to my face.
"Jenia, I won't sleep until I say 'I love you' a thousand times tonight."
"Eh...?"
Her pupils trembled fiercely at my low whisper.
Today, I'd shatter that romance novel delusion and enlighten her.