Episode 71
“Dianne, it’s me, Elonia.”
Elonia knocked on Dianne’s door, but there was no response.
“Is she already asleep?”
That was impossible.
It was only 7 PM.
Elonia, puzzled, knocked again.
“Dianne.”
“Elonia?”
“Dianne?”
Dianne’s voice came from the hallway, not from inside her room.
Elonia turned to see Dianne standing there, her face filled with surprise.
“Oh, you were outside.”
“Yes. What brings you to my room? You said you wanted to be alone…”
“I have something to tell you.”
“Something to tell me?”
Dianne tilted her head, then opened the door.
“Come in.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. This is the first time you’ve come to my room.”
Now that she mentioned it, it was true.
Dianne had always been the one to visit Elonia.
Elonia had never even considered visiting Dianne’s room.
Dianne’s casual remark made Elonia feel a pang of guilt. She had taken Dianne’s kindness for granted.
“Have a seat. I’ll make some tea.”
“You know how to make tea?”
“Yes, well… I do.”
Elonia, sitting on the sofa in the drawing-room, looked around Dianne’s room.
She had thought they were close friends, but there was still so much she didn’t know about her.
Her gaze fell on something that caught her attention.
“That’s…”
A prayer altar.
It wasn’t unusual, considering Dianne’s religious beliefs.
But it was a prayer altar dedicated to the Calamity God.
Elonia had assumed Dianne worshipped Madicte, the God of Abundance and the guardian deity of Ravanta.
“Dianne, the god you worship… is the Calamity God?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m a follower of the Calamity God.”
Dianne brought over a tray of tea and sat down beside Elonia.
The tea smelled wonderful, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Why? The Calamity God is the national religion of Heilan.”
Dianne had always been hostile towards Heilan, especially Princess Olivia.
It didn’t make sense that she would worship Heilan’s guardian deity.
Dianne, unfazed by her question, replied casually,
“Ravanta allows religious freedom. You know that the Calamity God brings calamity upon those his beloved cares about, right?”
“Yes, you told me before…”
“So, I thought, if I receive the Calamity God’s love, then calamities will stay away from me.”
“…”
Elonia was speechless.
The Calamity God was the deity she despised the most.
Dianne, noticing her darkened expression, smiled sweetly and changed the subject.
“So, what did you want to tell me? You looked upset earlier.”
Elonia finally remembered why she had come.
Dianne’s religious beliefs weren’t important right now.
“…I heard about the rumor.”
Clink.
Dianne’s hand, holding her teacup, trembled, and the porcelain clinked against the saucer.
Elonia, composing herself, looked directly at Dianne and said,
“The rumor isn’t true. They saw me reading a book about Chelon for Professor Caroline’s assignment and approached me. Nothing happened.”
“Of course, I believe you, Elonia.”
“Please, help me clear up the misunderstanding. They won’t believe me if I tell them myself.”
“Who wouldn’t believe the princess herself? It’s just a silly rumor circulating among the freshmen.”
“But still… I haven’t spoken to any of them. You’re the only one I can trust.”
“You have the Asta young masters.”
“…I don’t want to worry them.”
The first thing Elonia had thought about after hearing the rumor from Lucius was whether her loved ones had heard about it.
She didn’t want to worry them.
She didn’t want to hurt them.
Dianne frowned, then took Elonia’s hand.
“You’re such a worrywart… Alright, I’ll help you.”
Elonia’s face brightened.
“Dianne, thank you so much…”
“Don’t mention it. We’re friends.”
Dianne grinned, then rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a rough, purple stone.
“What’s this?”
“I bought it when I went to town last weekend. It’s a good luck charm.”
“A good luck charm?”
Elonia examined the stone.
It was actually quite pretty, sparkling under the light. It could even be used as a decoration.
“If you imbue it with mana and make a wish, it’ll come true. And even just carrying it around brings good luck.”
“Are you giving it to me?”
“Of course, who else would I give it to? Keep it with you at all times, okay?”
Elonia’s eyes filled with gratitude.
She felt ashamed of herself for wanting to be alone earlier and for judging Dianne for her religious beliefs.
Dianne, as if wanting to reassure her, smiled even brighter than usual.
“But just in case, it’s best to stay indoors this weekend.”
“Okay, I will.”
Elonia clutched the good luck charm tightly in her hand.
Llewellyn and Alberich had been wrong.
Dianne was such a good friend.
She wouldn’t have survived the academy without her.
She was truly her first and most precious friend.
Elonia, as promised, stayed in her dormitory all weekend.
Dianne brought her meals.
And on Sunday afternoon,
“…I’m finally done.”
It had been a lot of work, but she had finished all her assignments, thanks to staying indoors all weekend.
She had nothing else to do, anyway.
“Dad must be sulking because I couldn’t visit him again this week.”
Elonia, wondering how to spend the rest of her time, decided to contact Artius.
Artius appeared on the crystal screen almost instantly, and Elonia, propping her chin on her hand, waved at him.
“Hi, Dad, long time no see.”
[Elonia, you look tired. You’re not skipping meals or sleep for those assignments again, are you?]
“Ugh, nagging the moment you see me.”
[I’m just worried about you.]
Elonia couldn’t help but smile at his sincere expression.
“I finished all my assignments. I’m going to rest now.”
[Professor Caroline again? How can she assign so much homework to a freshman… Just tell me what you want me to do.]
“What, fire her?”
[I told you before you enrolled, my dear daughter. Your status is meant to be used.]
“…I don’t even know what to say.”
He sounded like he was actually considering it.
Elonia chuckled dryly.
She was trying to hide it, but Artius immediately noticed that something was wrong.
[What’s the matter? You look upset.]
“…!”
His simple words made her eyes sting.
She tried to suppress her emotions, but she failed.
Elonia quickly buried her face in her arms, hiding her tears.
[E-Elonia?]
“…I regret enrolling in the academy.”
[Regret? What happened?]
“I shouldn’t have taken eleven classes. The homework is killing me.”
[…]
Artius knew she was lying.
Elonia wouldn’t cry just because she was tired of homework.
It was always people who caused her pain.
He had made her cry before, so he knew.
Artius wanted to ask what had happened, who had made her cry, but he stopped himself.
There was only one reason why Elonia wouldn’t tell him.
His kind and considerate daughter always prioritized others over herself. She didn’t want to worry him.
Pressuring her would only make things worse.
After a long silence, Artius spoke.
[Elonia, do you remember what I told you before you enrolled?]
“…To use my status to crush Professor Caroline?”
She had received so much advice that she couldn’t remember everything.
Artius chuckled, as if expecting her response.
[Didn’t I say that no matter what happens, you’re still my daughter?]
“…”
Ah, right.
But that wasn’t what she wanted to hear right now.
His words, which hadn’t resonated with her back then, now made her eyes well up with tears.
[You are my precious daughter, irreplaceable. No one can mistreat the Emperor’s daughter.]
“But still.”
[The academy is a miniature society. A jungle where the weak are preyed upon. But you’re the princess.]
“…What good is that at the academy?”
[It matters. Do you think those students will stay at the academy forever? They’ll all become your subjects after graduation.]
That was true.
So he was telling her to use her power and authority to crush anyone who bothered her.
It made sense, but she still felt a twinge of resentment.
“…This is annoying. How do you always know what I’m thinking?”
[Considering what I did to you, it’s only natural that I understand.]
“It’s good to see you reflecting on your past actions.”
[It’s an honor.]
Elonia, her face buried in her arms, mumbled,
She heard Artius’s playful yet melancholic chuckle, then his gentle, warm voice calling her name.
[Elonia.]
“What?”
[Elonia Ainar Ravanta, my one and only daughter.]
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
[You’re not going to hide your face from me the entire time we’re talking, are you?]
“…”
Artius was truly despicable.
She couldn’t refuse him when he called her that, his voice filled with such warmth and affection.
Elonia, for the first time, had lost to Artius.
She slowly lifted her head, pressing her palms against her red eyes, and sniffled before looking at the communication crystal.
Artius wasn’t surprised to see her crying.
But he couldn’t hide his pained smile.
[I miss you, my little one.]
“…Don’t call me that. It’s embarrassing.”
[Just be patient for a little while longer.]
“…I’ll definitely visit next weekend.”
[I’ll send Ricardo.]
“My personal warp shuttle. It’s been a while.”
Artius chuckled at her words.
Elonia smiled faintly.
[I’m always on your side, Elonia. Never forget that.]
“I won’t forget. You’ve told me enough times.”
[Good, never forget.]
“…Yes. Thank you, Dad.”
Artius watched her with warm eyes until she ended the call.
Silence returned to the room.
But she didn’t feel as lonely as before.
“Maybe I should go out for a bit.”
Elonia stretched, her body stiff from sitting for so long.
Dianne had advised her to stay indoors, but visiting Dianne’s room should be fine.
Elonia washed her face, changed her clothes, and left the dormitory.
Olivia was in a bad mood.
Lucius had scolded her for the recent rumors circulating among the freshmen.
She had known about the rumors, but Lucius hadn’t said anything for the first few days, so she had assumed it hadn’t reached the upperclassmen and hadn’t bothered to tell him.
‘But where did he even hear about it?’
The culprit was obvious.
Simon, being a freshman, would have heard the rumor, and being a Heilan citizen, even though he had heard it later than the others, he must have immediately reported it to Lucius.
“…Those clueless idiots.”
It was understandable that he would report such rumors, especially after the Dolce incident. It was better to be safe than sorry.
But this time, it was unfair.
She hadn’t even known the details of the rumor until Lucius told her.
The reason was simple.
She was the only female hostage, and the other hostages, except for Lucius and Simon, avoided her completely.
“A love triangle between me, the princess, and Lucius.”
She suddenly remembered Felix’s words.
‘Are you still in love with Lucius?’
Absolutely not.
She had never loved him.
He had simply been the only one in Heilan who had treated her like a human being.
And now that he was gone, she had lost her only chance at a decent life. But now that she had left Heilan, she had no use for Lucius anymore.
But the rumor, despite its ridiculousness, was vaguely based on truth.
Lucius had been present when she confronted Elonia.
“Do they really think I’m as foolish as Dolce?”
If she had truly wanted to harm the princess, she would have used a more sophisticated method.
She felt insulted that they underestimated her.
Olivia, thinking about the culprit, crossed her arms.
‘It has to be that bitch.’