Chapter 514: Andrew
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 514: Andrew
"You give me too much credit, Father. I am merely a princess with no real power. While it may seem to outsiders that my status offers plenty of room for maneuvering, what actual influence could I possibly have on the current situation?"
"My thoughts are not important—or rather, they are not as important as you imagine them to be."
Celicia rose to her feet. Her habitually cold, exquisite face betrayed not a single flicker of emotion. It seemed that even Audrich III’s words were unable to stir the slightest ripple in the frozen depths of her heart.
She gave the old man on the bed a slight bow.
"Then your daughter shall leave you to your rest. I have prepared some restorative tonics for you; they will be delivered shortly. Please, take care of your health. Your well-being is the greatest blessing this nation could ask for."
"Ha... You truly are as beyond reproach as ever."
Audrich III waved a hand helplessly. "Go on, then. As for that house arrest order, just take it as a joke. It wouldn't have been able to hold you anyway."
"You flatter me, Father. How would I ever dare to disobey your commands?"
Celicia gave one final, graceful curtsy.
"Your daughter takes her leave."
Celicia stepped out of the room.
Everything fell into silence.
It wasn't long, however, before a figure came tiptoeing in, carrying a silver tray with a bowl of steaming medicinal soup held steady upon it.
"This is the medicine that girl Celicia prepared for you. I brewed it myself, you know."
The figure placed the soup beside Audrich III with an expectant look. At that moment, a hand reached out from the shadows, pinching a silver needle that shimmered with a magical luster.
The needle was dipped into the soup. Only after confirming it was non-toxic was it withdrawn.
The figure was clearly displeased by this sight. He sat his rounded backside unceremoniously onto Audrich III’s imperial couch and grumbled:
"Hey, Audrich, what’s the meaning of this? You even suspect your own daughter?"
"I trust my daughter, of course. It’s you I don’t trust."
"You don't trust me?"
A massive bear head leaned in, its small, beady black eyes overflowing with the righteous indignation of one who had been deeply wronged.
"Audrich, how could you be like this? I’m your biological uncle! I’m the one who raised you through every mess and puddle. Back when you were just a brat running around with a bare bottom, I was the one who—"
"Enough!"
Audrich III’s voice sank.
"Oranriel, if you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, I’ll have someone kick you out!"
"Tsk, tsk. All grown up now, wings fully fledged, and you don't even respect your uncle anymore."
The Pink Bear muttered under his breath, looking quite resentful.
Audrich III was long accustomed to this degenerate’s antics. Since there was nothing he could do about him anyway, he chose to ignore the comments. He silently picked up the bowl, tested the temperature with a small sip, and then drained the tonic in one go.
The intense bitterness made him frown slightly.
However, the rich vitality brought by the medicine did indeed bring a touch of color back to his pale complexion.
The Pink Bear watched him and suddenly sighed.
"Look at yourself. You’re almost looking older than me."
"Since you know you're old, you shouldn't be robbing the cradle. How does it feel to chase someone who ought to call you 'Uncle'?" Audrich III retorted.
"Who... who’s robbing the cradle! I’m only... twenty-something years older than her. Is that really such a big gap?"
The Pink Bear beat his chest in mock agony. "And what do you mean 'chase'? That damn woman was the one who threw herself at me! I can't even shake her off. Because of her, I haven't even been able to look at my precious Saintess Photo Books lately!"
"It seems that former Saintess has indeed helped you resolve much of your inner turmoil."
Audrich III set down the bowl and glanced at him, his gaze then instinctively falling upon his own hands.
As he moved his arm, his sleeve slid down slightly, revealing half of his wrist.
Upon that wrist were cracks resembling shattered porcelain, spreading ominously up toward his sleeve.
Audrich III pulled back his hand, hiding the cracks within the fabric.
The Pink Bear had naturally seen them. He sighed again, his previous forced indignation vanishing with the breath, leaving only a heavy weight behind.
"You shouldn't have been in such a hurry, Audrich."
"It wasn't a hurry. This was always part of the plan. Otherwise, I wouldn't have struck that blow with my sword half a year ago."
"But the Empire hasn't rotted through yet... By intentionally letting those fellows stir up trouble, you are shaking the very foundations of the Empire."
"By the time it truly rots, it will be too late."
Audrich III coughed painfully several times. He opened a handkerchief and stared at the bright red blood upon it.
"This is my only chance, and the Empire's only chance. You, me, and my sister who died so young—weren't we all working toward this one opportunity? Oranriel, I have no path of retreat left. Neither do you."
The Pink Bear fell silent.
But beneath that ridiculous pink costume, there seemed to be thick, churning, foul-smelling blood flowing continuously...
"Yeah. None of us have a way back."
A furry hand emerged from the Pink Bear’s mouth, gripping a cigar. He took a melancholy puff, the smoke drifting out through the costume's eyeholes.
"By the way, I don't dare look at the Saintess pictorials lately, but the new collection of noble lady pictorials I found isn't bad. The ones with the really big chests. You want 'em?"
"Get out!"
*
Celicia strolled back the way she had come.
Just as her father had said, no one came to restrict her freedom anymore. The Vice Commander of the Thorn Legion who had escorted her earlier had also excused himself and departed.
As an Imperial Princess, Celicia’s preference for solitude—usually accompanied only by Wei'er and rarely by a full retinue—made her quite the eccentric rarity.
The maids and guards passing through the palace were well aware of Her Highness’s temperament. Each of them offered a respectful greeting from a distance, not daring to approach her to curry favor.
Celicia acknowledged each of them with a nod.
As she pondered the deeper meaning behind her father’s questions, she turned a corner in the corridor and was suddenly met with a wave of commotion.
A large crowd of maids, guards, and impeccably dressed nobles were swarming around a young man, heading in her direction.
"Ah, Celicia."
Upon seeing her, the young man immediately greeted her with a cheerful air. The people around him ceased their lively chatter and bowed with their hands over their chests.
"Princess, good day."
"Yes, good day."
Celicia looked at the young man, who carried himself with a frivolous air and had his arm around a shy, blushing noble girl. Her brow furrowed imperceptibly before she smoothed her expression, pinched her skirts, and gave a slight dip.
"Good day, Imperial Brother Andrew."
"Haha, just call me 'Brother.' Why be so formal?"
Andrew, the second son of the current Emperor Audrich III and Celicia’s elder brother, smiled handsomely.
"I could, of course."
The corners of Celicia’s mouth curved into a polite, practiced smile.
"However, for Thea, there is more than one 'Brother.' If I called you that... I fear I might get you confused with the others."
"..."
Andrew’s smiling face instantly froze. Whatever memory she had triggered caused a flash of humiliated rage to surge in his eyes.