Chapter 33
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 33
Parents (2) - Exclusive Commemorative Double Release -
I froze. Literally.
Thoughts, body, and emotions all froze.
Completely unable to do anything, I stood there as if hardened.
"Tsk. It's a pity for the Grand Duchess too."
Fortunately, everyone's gaze was headed solely towards Aniel.
So there was no one in the place conscious of me.
"Isn't it a happy occasion for the family? Considering there are many territories recovered thanks to the Grand Duchess."
"Especially isn't she the one and only successor. Then he should cherish her even more."
"Wouldn't it be an inferiority complex. Seeing his child properly make up for the family that almost went to ruin in his generation."
Various words reached my ears, but to me, they all just felt like noise.
Staying blank, I looked at Aniel.
Aniel's face with her cheek dyed red.
'Why did you stay still and get hit.'
Then, as soon as I saw one scene, I ran like a crazy person.
***
"Until when on earth do you think you can live as you please!"
Is it right for you to say those words?
Aniel let out a ridicule inwardly and looked at the man in front of her eyes.
As if it could be known who she inherited her platinum blonde hair from.
The man was Grand Duke Kyle Windelof. Aniel's biological father.
"The person who helped you be born into the world and grow well is me! If you are not a beast, you should think of the grace!"
The exact same words flew in enough to make her think it was tiresome now.
Thanks to whom she was born into the world, and thanks to whom she is leading a comfortable life like now.
When she was young, she thought it really had to be so. And believing that someday Kyle would clearly treat her affectionately too, she followed like that.
But no matter how much time passed, what returned was only gazes mixed with anxiety and wariness.
"If it weren't all for me, you wouldn't even be standing in this spot right now!"
He constantly emphasized that it was all thanks to him.
Saying she wouldn't have been able to do anything if it weren't for him.
Aniel met gazes with the man in front of her eyes. The man's face was frowning fiercely.
Is that really the correct expression for a parent looking at a child.
Perhaps looking at a political enemy might feel softer than this.
"Hurry and go apologize to Albert Robiesh quickly! And if you continue to act in this manner, I too will not hand over the title to you!"
Not stopping at telling her to apologize to someone like Albert, he threatened risking the title.
"Are those the only words you can say?"
"Aniel Windelof!!"
Aniel couldn't hold back for a moment and scoffed.
"Aren't those words not fitting for the one who always told me not to lose cold-heartedness to spit out."
Who is the one who will be in trouble if she doesn't succeed the Grand Duke position right now.
The Windelof family was going to ruin by having territories taken away by demons.
What recovered the territories and made the family great was neither Kyle's leadership nor his ability.
It was precisely the presence of one person, Aniel Windelof.
Usually, she probably wouldn't have revealed it blatantly. Dealing with him was annoying and there was also no value in it.
But her mind changed.
"To you, that mere title might be more precious than life, but not to me."
The title is fine if it's there, fine if it's not.
Having or not having that one thing wouldn't give a big influence on living.
"Do you even know what words you brought up right now!"
"Rather, I am the one who wants to ask. Why do I have to follow your words exactly as they are?"
Erasing the concept of family was easier than thought.
In the first place, since being born, she had never received emotions like love or affection.
Her life was always ashen, and what they wished for was entirely only the news of her death in battle to be heard from the front line.
If this is called family and parents, Aniel could abandon them as much as she wanted.
"I have no mind to apologize. So please apologize yourself, Grand Duke, not me."
Having nothing more to say, Aniel intended to turn around telling him to resolve it on his own.
Since all he can do anyway would be only slapping her a few more times here.
'He'll ask what happened when I return.'
Now her concern was towards her face.
It didn't hurt, but still, a bright red mark would remain.
While contemplating whether it would be better to return to the lounge for a moment and come back after soothing it with ice, Kyle raised his hand high.
A speed sufficiently avoidable. It doesn't hurt but getting hit is equally unpleasant.
But Aniel didn't dodge. Because there were many benefits she could gain by getting hit in front of everyone watching.
"...... Why."
The sound of hitting echoed in the banquet hall.
Clearly, he hit putting more emotion into it than just before, so it would be right to feel even a little pain.
But it didn't hurt.
"How come..."
Because the person who got hit was not Aniel.
"I apologize for coming late. Grand Duchess."
***
It was really a hair's breadth.
The moment the atmosphere flowed strangely and the man raised his hand high, I ran like a crazy person.
Due to that, I bumped into several people and even lost one shoe, but it didn't matter.
I didn't want to leave Aniel to get hit anymore.
So I barely threw my body and got hit instead.
'Damn it, did the inside of my mouth burst?'
Along with a fishy scent, blood flowed down outside my mouth. Above all, the pain was no joke, but still, I was relieved.
It was fortunate that Aniel didn't experience this.
"Who are you."
I turned my head in the direction the sound was heard.
The man looked similar to Aniel. Aesthetic face, hair, and
People called this man the Grand Duke. If so, he must be the person who is Aniel's father.
He stared at me who appeared suddenly high-handedly while being displeased.
It's truly absurd. If you hit a person, isn't the action you should take first feeling sorry?
"Grand Duke. How about you step back now. His Majesty will appear soon."
Anger boils, but still, the opponent is a Grand Duke.
First of all, the thing to do first is sort out the situation.
I wanted to protect Aniel so she wouldn't receive people's attention anymore.
"I asked who you are."
So I mentioned His Majesty the Emperor, but the Grand Duke didn't care.
From his murderous voice, I got a feeling that I shouldn't tell him my name.
It was intuition. A feeling that if he knows, I'll be swept up in a troublesome matter somehow.
"I am called Allen of the Wiesent family. As you can see, I am the Grand Duchess's partner."
But I also didn't step back.
Going to the end, I am the person who asked her to become my partner.
Although it felt a bit late already, as her partner, I had a duty to protect Aniel.
The Grand Duke clenched his fist in his hand, but is it because he heard the name of the Wiesent family. He didn't hit me like just now.
"I will remember you."
Instead, he just leaves leaving behind a murderous warning.
When I heard those words, I became scared. The Windelof Grand Duchy, comparable to the Imperial Family.
Now that I am marked by the master of such a family, is it really possible to live long and thin?
'Let's think about that later for now.'
I turned my head towards Aniel who was behind me.
The finely decorated hair was disheveled and her cheek was dyed bright red.
"I apologize for coming late. Grand Duchess."
It's not something to bring up in an already late state, but I handed words of apology towards Aniel.
But Aniel didn't bring up any words. Just staring at me quietly with confused eyes was about it.
I wished she would bring up some words.
'I wish she would rather reprimand me asking why I came late.'
Why did you come late, do you know what damage I suffered because of that.
If she did, I could at least apologize saying words like I'm sorry, I apologize.
But Aniel kept staring only at me with her lips tightly closed.
My face vividly.
Then she opened her mouth trying to say something.
"You...."
"His Majesty the Emperor is coming!"
But even that was blocked by the Emperor's appearance.
Ah, timing. Seriously.
***
"It's a relief we can hold a banquet like this again this year."
"Isn't all this entirely thanks to His Majesty the Emperor."
"That is correct. It is thanks to His Majesty unfolding benevolent politics."
"It was possible because you all were there, not something I achieved alone. So let everyone rejoice, drink, and dance today!"
With the Emperor's appearance, the atmosphere changed.
As if absolutely nothing happened just before.
For me who is unfamiliar with this atmosphere, this space right now was only awkward and uncomfortable.
It's the Imperial Palace everyone wished for so much, but for me, I declined.
The things I experienced after coming here were all nothing but the worst.
'Peaceful Wiesent territory. I want to return.'
At times like this, I keep missing my hometown. My quiet and peaceful hometown Wiesent territory. While looking forward to only the day to return as soon as possible, Aniel pulled my arm.
".... Are you okay."
The first words she brought up. I also have tact, so I didn't bring up words asking what is okay.
"I am fine. Just this much doesn't even belong to the category of painful."
Actually, it hurt very much. To the extent of worrying if I should visit the infirmary straight away when the banquet ends and we return to the Academy.
At least if I had that ring Aniel gave me, I would have escaped the crisis, but sadly, I had to return it while entering the Imperial Palace.
"I don't know how I should look at you from now on."
Meanwhile, Aniel's voice was sad yet apologetic, and anxious yet dark.
It's not something she did either. I don't know the detailed situation, but isn't this all because of that Grand Duke, not because of her.
I poked Aniel's cheek with my finger.
"Both our cheeks are bright red."
"Such a joke right now...."
So I wished she wouldn't make such an expression.
Just in time, the sound of music echoed in the banquet hall.
"Then please dance with me. Because if I dance with the Grand Duchess, I feel like I can forget everything."
I held out my hand. She stared at me for a while with wavering eyes, but soon before long, she took my hand.
Her hand was very warm.
[The number above Aniel's head has become 38]
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