Episode 82
A few days later,
Elonia, having afternoon tea with her friends in her dormitory, suddenly remembered something and handed Olivia a handkerchief.
Olivia, pausing mid-macaron, blinked in surprise.
“What’s this?”
“It’s Prince Simon’s. Can you give it to him?”
“Simon’s? Why do you have it?”
Olivia’s expression immediately turned sour.
Elonia had been worried that the siblings weren’t getting along, as they had been so close when they were younger. It seemed like Olivia was also concerned about Simon.
Had they made up? Elonia, suppressing a smile, clarified,
“I didn’t steal it. He just—”
“Like father, like son. Is that brat Simon following in Dolce’s footsteps?”
“…”
Ah, so she was worried about Elonia, not Simon.
Elonia felt a little awkward.
‘Dolce was truly hopeless.’
Even in death, he was still being criticized by his sisters. He had truly lived a meaningless life.
Not that she felt any sympathy for him.
Olivia, misinterpreting Elonia’s silence, started analyzing the situation.
Based on her experience in social circles, a handkerchief was a symbol of romantic interest.
And Simon had given Elonia a handkerchief?
“Elonia, wait here. I’ll go tell Simon to stay away from you!”
“Wait, Olivia—”
“…She’s gone.”
Olivia marched out of the room, her demeanor resembling that of a warrior heading into battle.
And she had even forgotten to take the handkerchief, the most crucial piece of evidence.
Elonia, exasperated by Olivia’s impulsiveness, wondered who she had taken after. Just then, Garnethia, her voice low and menacing, spoke,
“Elonia, it’s okay, you can tell me the truth… What did Prince Simon do…?”
“…”
Elonia noticed the knife in Garnethia’s hand.
She looked ready to stab Simon if Elonia even hinted at any wrongdoing.
Elonia sighed softly, wondering what she was supposed to do with these two fighters.
“It’s not like that. He was being misunderstood by the Academic Department students, so I helped him. I just borrowed his handkerchief for a bit.”
Garnethia, although trying to believe Elonia, still looked suspicious.
“Elonia, are you sure nothing happened…?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Swear on Uncle Aaron…”
“…Seriously? It’s true.”
Poor Aaron Archer, his reputation sinking lower and lower.
Elonia, hoping Olivia would return soon after clearing up the misunderstanding, dipped a waffle in syrup and fed it to Garnethia.
Olivia knew where to find them.
Lucius was always in the prayer room, and Simon would be with him at this hour.
She threw open the door to the prayer room.
The force of her entry extinguished a few of the candles that had been illuminating the room.
“Sister?”
Simon blinked in surprise at the unexpected visitor.
Olivia marched towards him, poking his shoulder with her finger.
“Simon, I told you not to cause trouble.”
“S-sister, what are you talking about—”
“Don’t lie. I know everything.”
Olivia reached for the evidence, then realized she had left the handkerchief behind in her haste.
Lucius appeared, stepping between them.
“Your Highness, perhaps you should knock.”
“What? Mind your own business, Lucius. This is a family matter.”
“You’re surprisingly concerned about your brother.”
Lucius’s flat tone, laced with sarcasm, angered Olivia, and she snapped,
“I told you it’s none of your business.”
“No, it is my business.”
“What?”
“You’re here because Prince Simon gave a handkerchief to the princess, aren’t you?”
“…!”
Olivia’s face contorted in anger, but Lucius remained unfazed.
He calmly relit the extinguished candles, then said,
“Let me give you some advice, Your Highness.”
“How dare a servant speak to me like that?”
Olivia, as expected, was furious, but Lucius, having relit all the candles, turned to her and spoke coldly,
“I’m saying this as a loyal servant of Heilan. It’s best to end your little friendship with the princess.”
“I would never be friends with the Ravanta princess—”
“You’re here because you heard about it from her, aren’t you?”
“That’s…”
“If Felix finds out that you, the only princess of Heilan, are associating with the Ravanta princess, he won’t be happy.”
“My brother doesn’t care what I do as long as I don’t cause trouble. And I just made a friend…”
Olivia trailed off, realizing her mistake.
She had initially hated Elonia.
But now, despite Elonia’s resemblance to Chelon, she considered her a good friend.
But “friend” wasn’t a word Olivia would normally use.
Lucius, as if he had heard the most ridiculous thing in the world, repeated her words.
“A friend.”
He snorted, his red eyes gleaming with mockery.
“You call the daughter of the one who killed your beloved sister your friend? Your tolerance is truly impressive, Your Highness.”
His words struck a nerve.
She had momentarily hesitated because of Felix, but now, her anger taking over, she grabbed Lucius by the collar.
“…Don’t you dare use my sister’s name. You’re crossing the line, Lucius Allen.”
“You’re not the only one who admired Princess Chelon.”
Lucius didn’t flinch, despite being confronted by someone of higher status.
He was unusually defiant.
Simon, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, anxiously watched Olivia’s reaction.
As expected, Olivia’s eyes flashed with a murderous intent.
“Are you claiming to be my sister’s brother? Do you think you’re a member of the royal family just because you’re the chosen one, praised and admired by everyone?”
“Of course not. But if I were in your position, I wouldn’t associate with the princess.”
Ah, this was dangerous.
Simon’s instincts screamed at him, and just as Olivia raised her hand,
“Did you just finish—!”
“S-sister, please stop! It’s all my fault…!”
Simon bravely stepped forward, shielding Lucius.
Olivia and Lucius, surprised by Simon’s unexpected bravery, froze.
Simon, his body trembling, spoke, his voice firm despite his fear,
“S-sister, please calm down.”
“Simon, you… Let go of me. What are you doing? You did nothing wrong.”
“I-I did give Her Highness my handkerchief. But I didn’t have any ulterior motives…!”
His words were brave, but his voice and hands were trembling.
No ulterior motives? Olivia, despite being a Heilan citizen, didn’t trust Heilan citizens.
She released Lucius and turned to Simon, her voice sharp and accusatory.
“How can I believe that? You two are always plotting behind my back. Did Lucius put you up to this?”
“N-no, it’s not like that. Please believe me, just this once. I don’t have any ill intentions towards the princess.”
“… “
Please believe me.
Simon’s plea was desperate.
Olivia, looking into his pleading green eyes, was speechless.
She had never seen Simon so desperate, and her heart wavered.
Could she trust him?
He was her brother, but she couldn’t bring herself to trust him completely.
She hated this, having to doubt even her own brother.
Chelon wouldn’t have wanted this. She would be disappointed in Olivia.
“Ha…”
Olivia, frustrated and conflicted, ran a hand through her hair. Simon, seeing her reaction, closed his eyes and cowered slightly.
“…!”
“What are you doing—?”
Olivia stopped mid-sentence.
Simon’s gaze, when he cautiously opened his eyes, was fixed on her hand.
And then she saw it. Simon, trembling in fear, was in the same position Chelon had been in when Dolce had hit her.
The only difference was that Simon was now in Chelon’s place, and Olivia was in Dolce’s, her hand raised.
The realization made her remember how she had been treating Simon lately.
‘…I slapped him just the other day.’
She had been disgusted by Dolce’s violent tendencies, and yet, she had become just like him.
How could she forget?
The one who hits might forget, but the one who is hit never does.
‘When did Simon start being afraid of me?’
He had always been timid and shy, but he hadn’t been afraid of her.
And now he was cowering before her, as if she were Dolce or Felix.
Olivia, disgusted with herself, ran a hand through her hair roughly.
Simon, sensing her change in mood, anxiously watched her reaction.
Olivia, burdened by guilt, reluctantly nodded.
“…Just this once. But if anything happens to Elonia…”
“Sister…!”
“And…”
Simon’s face lit up at her reluctant approval, but his smile quickly faded as she continued.
Olivia looked at his cheek.
The bruise she had inflicted was gone, but she still felt the need to apologize.
“…I’m sorry for hitting you before, Simon.”
Simon was surprised.
He hadn’t expected her to apologize.
It felt like the Olivia he knew, the Olivia before Chelon’s death, had returned.
He hadn’t forgotten about Chelon.
Even though his memories had faded, he still cherished the happy times they had shared as siblings.
But Olivia hadn’t smiled since Chelon’s death.
He wanted to see her smile again, to talk and laugh with her like they used to.
He wanted her to move on from the past.
Had his courage, his willingness to take the blame, prompted her apology?
Simon, feeling like he had finally taken a step towards bridging the gap between them, smiled.
“It’s okay, Sister.”
“…”
Olivia’s heart ached, seeing his smile.
It had been so long since he had smiled at her.
And it was all because of her small apology.
Olivia, unable to bear the guilt, fled the prayer room.
Silence returned to the room.
Lucius, who had been watching them with his arms crossed, spoke to Simon, his tone a mixture of surprise and anticipation.
“You’re quite the liar now.”
“It’s not a lie, Young Master Allen.”
“…If it’s not a lie, then you’re defying Felix, aren’t you?”
“That’s not true either. Don’t worry.”
Simon, his expression now cold and resolute, smiled at Lucius, meeting his gaze.
He wanted to prove himself, to show his sister, who always treated him like a weak and useless child, and Lucius and Felix, who always doubted him, that he was capable.