Chapter 185
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: How to Show Filial Piety... You Know, Right? (5)
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At the same time, in the Carnea Academy dormitory.
"So~ bor~ ing."
Liana Lumenhark, who had been rolling around on her bed, suddenly spoke up.
"I'm bored!!"
She was the only one in the room, and when no reply came, Liana let out a piercing wail.
─Swipe
Only then did Melphisa reluctantly poke half her face out from the shadows, as if she had no choice.
"...Did you call for me, Your Highness?"
"Yeah, Melphisa♪ Got anything fun?"
There was no way something fun would suddenly pop up just because she asked.
In truth, nothing Melphisa recommended would satisfy Liana anyway.
'I know that, but...'
She couldn't very well stay silent after being asked.
Melphisa went with her usual safe response.
"...How about returning to the imperial palace?"
"Melphisa, that kind of joke isn't funny... I'm already sick to death of that place. Why would I go back?"
"...His Highness the Crown Prince would be pleased."
"My brother? He's probably the happiest person alive that I'm here at Carnea. Sigh... Yeah, my mistake for asking you, Melphisa."
'...She'd complain if I didn't answer, too.'
The words rose in her throat, but Melphisa knew her life was precious.
She shook her head once to brush off the pent-up frustration.
"Aah~ I miss Eugene."
Suddenly mumbling that, Liana wrapped herself in the blanket and spun around.
Countless men piled jewels and gold at her feet just to catch her eye, yet the one man blessed with that fortune fled at the mere hint of her interest.
'Well, that's what makes it fun.'
Liana giggled softly.
The only one besides her brother who saw through her true nature.
Just thinking of Eugene's flustered, lost expression brought a smile to her face.
"Eugene could've at least told me if he was going somewhere. I would've followed him."
"...."
That's exactly why he's keeping information from you, Young Master.
As Melphisa narrowed her eyes at Liana, a voice leaked from the blanket-wrapped bundle.
"Hmm... Should I put some surveillance on him? What do you think, Melphisa?"
"...Wouldn't it be better not to?"
"Why? You're worried about your last remaining blood relative?"
"...Frankly, yes."
Melphisa answered nonchalantly.
Her feelings for Eugene had long since grown from familial ties into a woman's love, but there was no need to broadcast that to Her Highness.
At that moment, Liana wriggled out from under the blanket.
"Agh...! Don't worry, I won't do it. Yeah, yeah, fighting when you know all the cards is no fun. I couldn't waste that on Eugene.... And more than anything."
Chewing over her words for a moment, Liana beamed brightly.
"I have 'goodwill' toward Eugene, you know?"
Was 'goodwill' such a terrifying word?
Earning the princess's goodwill was far more dangerous than incurring the wrath of a mad killer.
Such irreverent thoughts flashed through her mind, but Melphisa betrayed nothing.
"Do as Your Highness wishes."
"But Melphisa..."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Your voice trembles every time you mention Eugene? Did something happen between you two?"
"....!"
Liana's words hit the mark even as she smiled sweetly, startling Melphisa this time.
'...How?'
She knew Liana was observant, but Melphisa's mask was near-perfect.
As a collateral of the Pavolie House, hiding emotions was etched into her body alongside her scars.
Indeed, her mask had never cracked before being taken in by Her Highness or forming a bond with the Young Master.
Liana's eyes sparkled like she'd found an amusing toy.
"Hmm... Look at that reaction. I was just probing, but there really was something."
'Damn...'
Melphisa realized her mistake.
She hadn't expected Her Highness to be testing her, so she'd reacted poorly.
"...Nothing happened."
"Wow! Are you hiding something from me now, Melphisa?"
"I'm not hiding anything. Truly, nothing happened."
"Hee hee hee...♪ Then I can just dig it out slowly from n—"
As Liana approached Melphisa with a grin, her expression turned icy in an instant.
"Ah, whatever. Maybe that's fine. Let's drop this."
"Your Highness...?"
Melphisa tilted her head at the oddity.
The Liana she knew would never let go of such entertaining gossip.
She'd dig relentlessly until she got what she wanted.
As if reading her doubt, Liana waved it off.
"I said it's fine. Or what? You want me to pry more?"
"...No, but..."
"Then, Melphisa, go to Sankisan Village and buy some cake. I suddenly crave cake."
It was a random order, but far better than an interrogation.
"Understood. But Your Highness, cakes are sold inside Carnea as well..."
"Nah, I don't like the ones here. Get them from Sankisan Village for sure. You know the shop across from Creampie Inn? Five of those."
"Five?"
"Feeling like eating a lot. Off you go~."
Liana waved as if ending the conversation.
Something felt off, but Her Highness's whims weren't new; Melphisa simply obeyed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Clack—
Once Melphisa left and no presences lingered nearby, Liana stood before the mirror.
"You can come out now."
At her words, the mirror rippled like a lake struck by a stone, soon reflecting a figure wrapped head to toe in bandages.
"...Liana Lumenhark."
The being in the mirror spoke in a voice like nails on glass.
Liana shot back with cold eyes.
"Who said you could use my name? I clearly told you to address me as Your Highness."
"....Human titles mean nothing to us. You know that."
"I think so too. But regardless, I really... hate it when my words are ignored."
Swipe—
Liana curled her lip and pointed at the mirror.
"So, if you're confident, say my name one more time."
Killing intent chilled the air from beyond the mirror.
The 'Distorted Desire' swallowed hard at her fingertip.
Logically, no attack could reach through the mirror.
They faced each other, but it was merely the 'Distorted Desire's' ability projecting its form—not a direct link.
But...
'Dangerous.'
Her instincts as an Apostle screamed that Liana Lumenhark was dangerous.
"...Fine, titles don't matter. If Your Highness insists... Your Highness."
"There, wasn't that better from the start?"
Only then did Liana smile sweetly and lower her finger.
Despite the barbs, it had bowed to Liana's words—and it knew it.
An Apostle bending to a mere human was utter humiliation.
'...Is she really human?'
If so, what did that make Liana, who could force even humiliation upon an Apostle?
"So, what's the matter? I told you not to contact me until the promised day."
"...The situation has changed."
"That's. Why. I'm. Asking. What. The. Situation. Is. Do you need me to spell it out for you?"
Grind—
At the continued insults, 'Distorted Desire' gnashed its teeth and glared...
but eventually spoke slowly without acting.
"'...Revived Corruption' got hit."
"Oh my, I thought it was behaving... Already dead? Then why revive? To die again?"
'Distorted Desire' ignored her mocking tone.
Apostles shared no camaraderie anyway.
"Idiot. Anyway, that accelerated all plans."
"Will rushing work? We still need more prep."
"That's for us to handle. So get ready to move."
"....Hmm."
At Liana's flat response, 'Distorted Desire' sneered.
"You're not regretting it now, are you, Your Highness?"
"Oh? Do I look human enough to regret things?"
Her bright smile held no emotion in her eyes.
'...Chilling.'
'Distorted Desire' clicked its tongue briefly, its image fading.
"...I'll contact you with the exact pickup date."
With that, the mirror returned to normal, reflecting Liana's beautiful form.
"...Not much time left now."
Gazing at her reflection, Liana murmured.
Her voice just a tiny bit...
Really just the tiniest bit lower.