Chapter 131: I Want to Go with You
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 131: I Want to Go with You
*
I watched my mother nervously. She looked at me, her eyes widening in brief surprise.
Nathaniel had used the Pope’s message as an excuse to see her, and I had followed him in. If the Head Lady-in-Waiting or the other servants of the Empress’s Chambers had mentioned I was with him, Mother might have intentionally avoided me.
Fortunately, the servants and the Head Lady-in-Waiting pretended not to notice my presence. It seemed they also felt that Mother and I needed to sit down and talk.
Thanks to them, I managed to slip into the office safely, but I was still a bundle of nerves. In my past life, I rarely ever argued with my mother.
It wasn’t that we never fought, of course. But most of the time, it was just her one-sided nagging out of concern for me. In the end, I would usually understand her point and follow her advice.
Come to think of it, Mother’s worry for me was exactly the same as it had been in my previous life. The only difference was that this time, I didn't want to back down.
As expected, persuading her wasn't going to be easy. I swallowed hard and finally spoke.
“Mother.”
“……”
“I’m sorry for coming here in secret.”
I bowed my head first. At that, Mother’s gaze shifted to the person beside me.
“I believe you said you were here to deliver a message from His Holiness?”
Mother questioned Nathaniel. She didn't even look in my direction. Her coldness made me shrink back, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything more.
“His Holiness said that it may be difficult for him to attend the upcoming ball.”
“I see. Then will you be attending in his stead again?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Mother’s voice sounded exceptionally stiff today. Nathaniel seemed to sense it too; he nodded heavily, looking uncharacteristically tense.
“A letter would have sufficed, but I appreciate you coming all this way to tell me in person.”
“I am humbled.”
Oh no. Mother had even pulled out the sharp tone she reserved for nobles she disliked. It was a sarcastic jab at Nathaniel for dragging me along to the Empress’s Chambers.
Mother’s expression darkened. After staring at the tense Nathaniel for a long moment, she let out a deep sigh.
“You may leave now.”
“But…”
“At once.”
“……Yes, Your Majesty.”
Nathaniel cast a worried glance my way. I forced a smile to show him I was fine. After a moment of hesitation, he stepped out of the office.
Click.
I heard the door close softly behind me. I took a step closer to Mother, who was holding her head as if it throbbed with pain.
“Mother.”
“Do you absolutely have to go to the Magic Tower?”
“……Yes.”
“Why?”
When Mother looked up, her eyes were clouded with a dark shadow. Feeling the indescribable emotion within them made something heavy sink deep in my chest.
She wasn't angry; she was simply grieving. She was terrified that I might come to harm again in some far-off place.
Realizing this allowed me to face her more directly. I gave her a small smile and answered.
“Because I want to get stronger.”
“Stronger… you say?”
“Yes. If I had been stronger back then, I wouldn't have been asleep for so long.”
“Dia, that’s…”
Mother’s lips trembled as if she wanted to say something, but she eventually fell silent.
Many people, including Mother, had worked so hard to protect me.
Dantalion, the people of House Winston… but even with so many people hovering over me at such a young age, they couldn't stop the Empress Dowager from kidnapping me.
The Empress Dowager and Cedric were gone now, but as long as I lived as an Imperial Princess, similar crises might arise again. That was simply the nature of life for those in power.
When that time came, I wanted to overcome the hardship with my own strength. I wanted to be strong enough that no one would have to worry about me. That was the vow I made when I decided to live in this world.
“Sigh… I should have protected you back then, no matter what.”
“Mother.”
“I’m sorry, Dia.”
Mother apologized, her face etched with agony. Seeing that sorrowful expression triggered a memory—the image of my mother in my past life, so devastated after my death that she took her own life to follow me.
Even though she still didn't seem to have those memories, her soul was the same. A shock like that could have brought the memories back. It seemed I had been too lighthearted about the fact that I had been unconscious for ten whole years.
“No, it couldn't be helped.”
“But…”
“I’m safe now, and I’ll stay that way. I will never leave you, Mother.”
I said firmly as I pulled her into a tight hug. After a moment’s hesitation, Mother reached out and hugged me back.
“……Still, you can’t go alone.”
“Even if Mel is with me?”
“Yes, even if Mel goes.”
“Hehe, alright.”
Mother’s face remained clouded with worry until the very end. Still, she didn't tell me not to go anymore.
I wondered just how many guards she intended to attach to me. Was it even okay to bring a whole trail of people to the Magic Tower?
I was a bit concerned, but I was just glad she had finally given her permission. I looked up at Mother, whose complexion was still pale, and gave her a bright grin.
*
“Whew.”
It was only after enduring another long round of nagging that I was finally able to leave the office.
Exhausted, I let out a long sigh. Then, a familiar voice called out to me.
“Princess.”
“Ah.”
Nathaniel, who had been waiting outside the office, approached me. Perhaps because we were in public, he was being very formal and polite.
“How did it go?”
“Yeah, we had a good talk.”
“Is that so?”
When I answered with a smile, Nathaniel’s face, which had looked darker than usual from worry, brightened up a bit.
We headed back to the Princess’s Palace. As soon as we were alone, Nathaniel reverted to his usual self.
“Is that it? She just gave her permission?”
“Well, she said I have to take guards with me.”
“Guards?”
“Yeah.”
I scanned the top of the drawing-room table, looking to see if there were any chocolate desserts among the snacks the maids had set out.
But perhaps because I didn't usually eat chocolate, there weren't any today. I had no choice but to call the maids and give them instructions.
“Please bring some chocolate snacks as well.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Shall I bring tea as well?”
“Yes, please.”
The maids left to prepare the snacks and tea. We naturally sat down across from each other.
“I’m going too.”
“Huh? Where?”
“The Magic Tower.”
“Why you?”
Nathaniel spoke out of the blue. And to the Magic Tower, of all places? Unlike me, Nathaniel didn't exactly have a talent for magic.
“You said you need guards. I’ll do it.”
“Ah, you mean you’ll go as a guard?”
“Yeah.”
Startled, I let out a breath of relief.
Come to think of it, even though the previous High Priest could use a bit of magic despite being a priest, it seemed Nathaniel was volunteering himself because of Mother’s condition.
But was it okay for Nathaniel to go? Once he became the High Priest, he’d be even busier than he was now. Wouldn't the Temple be upset?
No matter how much public favor the Temple had lost due to the Radical Faction, it was still the Temple. It wasn't a place that would just disappear.
Furthermore, public sentiment seemed to be slowly returning, thanks to Nathaniel, who had appeared like a comet to eliminate the Southern Plague, and Saintess Marianne, who steadfastly helped those in need.
But what would happen if he followed me to the Magic Tower? My mind became quite cluttered.
“Dia.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you not want to go with me?”
“Ah, no?”
When my answer was delayed, Nathaniel jumped to a ridiculous conclusion, his eyes drooping sadly. He looked exactly like a puppy abandoned by its owner.
I shook my head quickly and added, “It’s not that. I just thought you’d be busy with Temple business soon. I wondered if it was okay for you to go.”
“You don't need to worry about that. The Temple was planning to start an exchange with the Magic Tower soon anyway.”
“What? Is that true?”
“Yes.”
Nathaniel nodded and explained the Temple’s situation.
They had kept the Magic Tower at a distance due to pressure from the Empress Dowager and the Radical Faction, but apparently, the Moderate Faction had long argued for recognizing the Magic Tower and having priests actively learn magic.
And sending Nathaniel, the Pope’s successor, to mark the beginning of that exchange wasn't a bad idea at all. I nodded in understanding.