Episode 164
Elonia, realizing the door was slightly ajar, quickly peeked into the hallway.
No one was there, but a ceremonial sword lay on the floor.
‘Someone was eavesdropping.’
Even though she had ordered everyone to stay away.
Elonia felt dizzy, clinging to the doorknob for support.
Felix, appearing behind her, pushed the door shut.
“Well, well, it seems there was a rat. We need to tighten security.”
“…Felix!”
Elonia, gritting her teeth, grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall. But Felix, unfazed, smirked.
“Such behavior is unbecoming of a princess, even in my current predicament.”
“Don’t play dumb! Did you think you could get away with this?!”
“What did I do? I was playing chess with you.”
He chuckled, not even bothering to lie convincingly.
The door hadn’t opened on its own. Felix, or rather, Tristan, must have opened it.
Elonia roughly released him.
Who had heard? It didn’t matter.
She had to find them and silence them. Just as she reached for the door, Felix blocked her path.
Elonia’s teeth ground together.
“Get out of my way, Felix. I don’t have time for this.”
“Why? So you can find them and kill them?”
“Of course…!”
Elonia stopped mid-sentence, horrified.
‘What am I thinking…?’
Hearing her own murderous thoughts echoed by Felix shocked her. A wave of self-loathing washed over her.
If she killed someone just for discovering her secret, how was she any different from Chelon? No, she would be even worse.
Felix, seeing her confusion, hissed like a snake,
“See? How can you consider people who would turn against you if they knew the truth your family? Olivia and Simon, on the other hand, would be overjoyed. Didn’t Lucius react the same way?”
“Stop it! Just stop talking!”
Elonia’s fists trembled. She raised her hand, about to strike him, when,
“Chelon. I’ve always thought of you as my sister.”
“…!”
Felix placed a hand on her head, his expression strangely wistful.
“I couldn’t show it because of Father and Mother. That’s why I saved you from Dolce.”
“Ha.”
Elonia couldn’t help but scoff.
His lies were pathetic. She pushed his hand away roughly.
“Don’t twist the truth. You didn’t save me because you cared. You were afraid I would kill myself.”
Chelon Heilan, despite her lowly status, had been essential to Heilan’s glory. Elonia still remembered the crushing weight of that realization.
“You were afraid I would die of shame, that Heilan would fall without me. Did you think I didn’t know?”
“Of course, that was also a concern. It would be tragic for my beloved sister to die so young because of a troublesome brute.”
Felix feigned sympathy, then quickly dismissed it.
“But that’s all in the past. You got your revenge on Dolce. Isn’t that enough?”
“Enough—?”
“If Tristan becomes a god, resurrecting the dead will be easy. Like Father, for example.”
“Do you think I miss that man?”
If Vermon was resurrected, Elonia would kill him herself. Felix chuckled, as if he had expected her reaction.
“Of course not. But—”
His eyes turned cold.
“Does Emperor Artius know your true identity?”
“…!”
Elonia froze.
“Does Emperor Artius know who you really are, and still consider you his daughter?”
“Th-that’s…”
She couldn’t answer.
Of course not.
Artius didn’t know she was Chelon. And he couldn’t know. No one could.
“Chelon, the people of Ravanta love you because they don’t know the truth. Imagine their betrayal if they discovered their beloved princess was Chelon Heilan, the great calamity who tried to destroy Ravanta sixteen years ago.”
Elonia gritted her teeth.
She couldn’t bear the thought.
She didn’t want them to know. She wanted to live as the princess of Ravanta.
But Felix, as if sensing her wavering resolve, whispered sweet poison in her ear, like a devil.
“Don’t worry. They’re not your real family anyway. And this country will soon be irrelevant to you.”
Elonia lowered her head, unable to speak. Felix looked at her with pity and patted her shoulder.
“Hmm. I’ve never comforted a sister before, so I don’t know what to say. Ah, how about this? I’ll accept your proposal. I’ll spare Lucius and Alexia, even after taking their power.”
“…!”
Elonia’s head snapped up. Felix chuckled.
“But there’s a condition. If you want to save them both, you have to give up Emperor Artius’s life.”
“…What?”
“He’s too dangerous to keep alive. His power, his influence… he’s a threat to Heilan. But I can create a replacement for you.”
“A replacement? Don’t tell me…”
Elonia’s eyes widened in fear. Felix grinned and nodded.
“Yes. I’ll ask Tristan to create the perfect parents for you, parents who will love you unconditionally, regardless of your identity. And I’ll give you a large estate where you can live happily ever after with your perfect family. Isn’t that a tempting offer?”
He held out his hand. Elonia stared at his large palm, her face contorting in disgust.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Her eyes trembled. Felix, sensing her vulnerability, whispered in her ear,
“Think carefully, Chelon. Return to Heilan, and I’ll give you anything you desire. Status, power, a family that will love you unconditionally.”
“…Shut up!”
Elonia finally ran out of the room.
She was furious. Furious at Felix for his manipulative tactics.
But she was even more furious at herself…
‘I hesitated for a moment.’
She had once longed to hear Felix call her “sister.” She had given up on that dream long ago, realizing her place, but a small part of her still yearned for it.
How could she be so weak, so easily swayed, after everything he had done?
She felt disgusted with herself.
Every step she took felt like sinking deeper into a swamp.
The negotiation was half successful, half a failure.
Elonia returned to her office and spent the rest of the day trying to figure out who had been eavesdropping. It was partly to distract herself from Felix’s offer, and partly out of genuine anxiety.
But she found nothing.
‘…I should have picked up that ceremonial sword.’
It had been gone when she ran out of the reception room. The eavesdropper must have taken it.
She lay in bed that night, her mind still reeling, her heart filled with unease.
‘Who was it?’
Who had heard? How much had they heard?
They must have heard her admit she was Chelon, judging by the dropped sword.
‘If this gets out…’
Especially now, with Artius incapacitated, she wouldn’t be able to remain the princess of Ravanta.
She wanted to live as the princess of Ravanta. Philemon had sacrificed so much for her.
Was killing the eavesdropper the only option?
Just as she was about to cross that line, a knock came from the door.
“Your Highness, are you asleep?”
It was Sarah. Elonia quickly composed herself and replied softly,
“…No.”
“May I come in?”
She would have dismissed anyone else, but it was Sarah. She needed Sarah right now.
Sarah’s presence alone seemed to anchor her, to keep her from losing herself.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Sarah entered quietly, as always. She placed the candlestick she was carrying on the nightstand and sat beside Elonia on the bed.
“You must be exhausted.”
Her simple question made Elonia’s eyes sting, and she quickly turned away.
Sarah smiled sadly and gently stroked Elonia’s hair under the dim candlelight.
“Your Highness, I have some good news.”
“…What is it?”
“I’ve decided to inherit the title.”
Elonia turned around, surprised.
Sarah smiled, a sense of relief washing over her face.
“I’ve finally made up my mind. Seeing you struggling like this, I couldn’t postpone it any longer.”
“Sarah…”
Elonia was touched, but also worried. It wasn’t easy to take on a responsibility she had avoided for so long, especially for someone else’s sake. It would eventually take a toll on her.
Sarah gently pushed Elonia back down onto the bed and covered her eyes with her hand.
“Don’t worry. I’m Marquis Fortrun’s daughter. I can do this.”
“But…”
“It’s alright.”
Suddenly, Sarah’s voice changed.
It was still gentle, but there was an unfamiliar edge to it. And Sarah never interrupted her.
‘Strange.’
Just as she thought that, the hand covering her eyes was removed. Elonia tried to look at Sarah, but Sarah turned away and blew out the candle.
Darkness enveloped the room, and Elonia’s gaze wandered aimlessly. A warm hand gently took hers.
‘Phew.’
Elonia relaxed. Even though she couldn’t see, she could feel Sarah’s presence beside her.
Just as she turned her head towards the ceiling, Sarah asked,
“Did you know my mother fought in the war against Heilan?”
“…!”
Elonia stiffened. She couldn’t look at Sarah.
Why was she bringing this up now?
Her heart pounded. Her hands and feet turned cold as she listened to Sarah’s story.
“My mother was known as the valiant Marquis Fortrun. And she truly was brave.”
Sarah continued calmly, even though she must have felt Elonia trembling beside her.
“War isn’t decided by strength or status alone, but everyone thought Marquis Fortrun would return alive.”
She paused, then delivered the heavy blow, her voice flat and emotionless.
“But she died.”