End of Part 1
End of Part 1
"Who would have thought that woman would lose her mind? It was very hard to stop her."
Professor Baran's appearance had become so grotesque that it was hard to recognize his form. Several of his teeth were broken, so he couldn't even pronounce properly.
"Th-thank you. Thang you very much."
However, Baran continued to express his gratitude toward Lucia.
Aniel was clever. She knew exactly how much force to use so that Baran would remain alive and keep enduring. So at some point, Baran began asking to be killed. Because rather than suffering like this, he wanted to meet a peaceful death.
It was none other than Lucia who stepped forward to grant that wish.
Baran expressed endless gratitude to Lucia. At this point, he would do anything she asked.
"You know why I saved you, don't you?"
Lucia asked Baran, who was kneeling.
Having nothing left to hesitate about, and feeling that all of this was entirely because of that man, Baran kept nodding and said,
"I-I will reveal all information related to Salaban!"
"Speak properly. It's hard to understand you."
With a single gesture from Lucia, his broken teeth were restored to their original state.
But there was no time to be surprised.
"When did you first meet him?"
Because she immediately asked.
Baran bit his lip. The moment he first faced him.
"W-when I was at the front lines, someone sent me a letter saying they knew about my c-crimes."
Baran still vividly remembered the events of that day.
If you want to hide your crimes, retire from active duty and return to the capital.
When I first saw it, I thought one of the central inspectors had caught wind of it and was trying to arrest and interrogate me. I even thought of running away, but after reading the part at the end that said 'Don't you want to receive help?' I obediently headed to the capital.
"And you met the Prime Minister?"
"Yes, yes. That was our first meeting."
At first, I was full of caution. Not only was it our first meeting, but I also didn't know why he had summoned me. However, as we met repeatedly, strangely, my wariness faded, he said.
"It was st-strange. Thinking back, why did I... that man..."
"I'm not interested anymore. Just tell me what his plan is."
Watching Baran become confused, Lucia felt a sense of dissonance. But first, she had to find out what Salaban was scheming.
As the interrogation continued, Baran also tried to say something.
"His goal is to this empire...!"
"Ha."
Baran's words couldn't continue. Because before he could even speak, blood flowed from his mouth, he vomited, and collapsed.
"How thorough."
The blood that flowed was pitch black, as if poisoned.
Observing his thoroughness, Lucia clicked her tongue. She felt some of the blood had splattered on her cheek. Wiping away the blood with a handkerchief, Lucia let out a hollow laugh.
"I think I have a bit of an idea of what's going on."
Through that very brief moment, Lucia had grasped it.
"You're the same as me, aren't you?"
That Salaban is someone who uses brainwashing-type magic, just like me.
While investigating Baran, there were countless strange points. No matter how much I searched, I couldn't find any information about Baran engaging in sodomy. And looking at Baran's records from his Academy days, he wasn't the type to act out of place like now, but rather was taciturn and cautious.
"What if all the information was manipulated?"
Manipulated. Even Baran's personality, even his actions — all of it.
Lucia found this situation rather interesting.
"I'm curious. About your identity."
She threw the used handkerchief on the floor and left.
"Dispose of it."
"Yes, Your Highness."
There was a corpse at the scene, but there was no issue at all. Because by tomorrow, all of this would be quietly taken care of.
'Just wait and see.'
Still, unable to help her anger, Lucia frowned.
'You'll pay the price for laying a hand on what's mine.'
She thought of Allen.
Why did just thinking of him make the pent-up unpleasant feelings from moments ago disappear?
She didn't know the reason, but Lucia smiled brightly and said,
"It's about time I make a wish."
Yes, it's time to wish.
"The way people look at me has changed a lot from before."
It used to be either they'd send sharp glares or avoid eye contact, but now it's changed to one thing.
"Allen. Good morning."
"Are your injuries okay?"
"I'm sorry about before. I really misunderstood you."
Everything had turned positive. They said they saw me differently after the re-examination, that they had misunderstood and thought I only got in because of my family, and that let's get along from now on.
'Isn't this too much change?'
I had sensed the change when they came to cheer me on, but I never imagined it would change this much.
"It's only natural."
"Grand Duchess-nim."
While I was dazed, Aniel's voice reached me from beside.
Aniel smiled, looking satisfied.
"You proved it with your own hands, so this change is only natural."
Hearing that, I looked at my hands.
I proved it myself. With these hands.
On the bulletin board, a newspaper was posted recording everything that happened the previous day. The newspaper said that there was a student who took a re-examination due to false reporting.
'I thought I wouldn't care at all.'
I thought I didn't care about the perception of me. But when it actually hit me, my thoughts changed a little.
"All of this is thanks to you, Grand Duchess-nim."
It's thanks to Aniel. If she hadn't taught me, could I have changed? When this moment came, I wouldn't even have been able to prove myself. So I tried to thank her.
"I only helped; it was you who followed through."
But Aniel shook her head.
"For this once, I have to admit it. That you've improved enough. You've grown a lot, Allen."
She says it was thanks to my own will, not hers, that this was possible.
Did I ever think the day would come when she would acknowledge me?
It felt really good. You saying this with a smile.
"May I make a wish?"
I stopped walking. Aniel, who had been walking beside me, also stopped following me.
When I turned to face her, I saw her gaze waver.
"So you were awake back then."
"Yes, I was awake."
I was curious what reaction you would have when you heard I was awake. And now, that reaction came into view. Her face was flushed bright red, looking embarrassed.
If she was that embarrassed, one would think she'd run away, but she kept standing in front of me.
"Grand Duchess-nim. May I tell you my wish?"
To you standing before me, I wanted to tell you my wish, if only you were okay with it.
Though Aniel still looked flustered, she nodded.
With permission given, I raised the corners of my mouth and said,
"Please let me call you by your name."
". . . Name?"
"Yes."
From the start, a big greed rises. Since she said I could present a wish ticket first, I wanted to show my greed openly. But if I did that, she might feel burdened. Rather than rushing ahead alone, I want to match pace with the other person. So I decided to be satisfied with just calling her by her name first.
"Go ahead and call me."
As if it was fine, Aniel told me to try calling her.
Feeling relieved that I wasn't rejected, I called out,
"Aniel."
I had wanted to call you by your name for a while, but this place has a clear class system. Unless one is of higher status than her, one cannot call her by name. The only way was the moment she allowed it. So it was all the more satisfying.
"Aniel, Aniel."
As if singing a sweet song, I called her name repeatedly.
"Aniel..."
And at the moment I called her name one last time,
"Coward."
Whether it's this person or that person, why are they so quick on their feet? Before I could even step back, she approached right in front of me,
"I wanted to give you a proper reward."
She kissed my cheek and then left the spot.
"Ah?"
While watching her hurriedly retreating figure, I noticed her ears were particularly red, but right now, something else was more important.
". . . This can't be a dream, right?"
The sensation still lingering on my cheek.
I swallowed. What she just did to me.
My heart is pounding violently, as if I ran one kilometer at full speed.
Unbelievable, I kept doubting if it was a dream.
"It's not a dream."
It wasn't a dream.
Watching the scattering cherry blossoms, I kept gazing in the direction Aniel had left, busy replaying what just happened.
". . . . To my Allen, to my Allen, this can't be, right, Goddess-nim? Right? This can't be."
"Haha. Aniel. Even I, a Princess, haven't dared to touch him yet, but you went ahead..."
"The Gr-Grand Duchess-nim took the first bite, so now has a chance come for me too?"
Of course, without any thought of what would happen to me in the future.
'I'm crazy, I'm crazy. I shouldn't be doing this.'
Still, I had no regrets.
Because I really wanted to give Allen a reward.
'I should have at least seen Allen's reaction before leaving.'