Episode 190
“Your Majesty! Your Highness!”
“Young Master!”
Elonia and her group exited the spire and entered the Main Palace. The people, who had been panicked by the sudden disappearance of the calamity that had engulfed the palace, rushed towards them, their faces filled with relief.
“Thank goodness you’re safe, Your Majesty.”
“Your Highness, are you hurt?”
Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any major casualties.
“Your Highness!”
Elonia’s maids rushed towards her, along with Ethan, Ricardo, Garnethia, and the Asta brothers.
They fussed over Elonia and her family, their voices filled with worry.
“We were so worried! You suddenly disappeared!”
“Not just Your Highness, but Her Majesty as well!”
“Aunt Philemon, do you know how worried we were? And Elonia, you too!”
Elonia and Philemon exchanged glances.
No one seemed surprised by Philemon’s presence, no one questioned it.
It was as if she had never died, seamlessly integrated back into their lives. And as the gods had promised, everyone remembered her.
Elonia finally felt, truly felt, that her mother was back. Artius felt the same.
“Mom.”
“Philia.”
Words weren’t needed. They understood each other. Philemon, her eyes brimming with tears, took both their hands. Just then,
“Your… Majesty…?”
One person, and one person only, stared at Philemon with disbelief.
“Lady Philemon…”
“Sarah.”
It was Sarah.
She blinked repeatedly. Philemon was supposed to be dead. And yet, everyone had forgotten her death.
And Philemon looked older, as if she had lived and aged alongside them.
Was it another illusion? Sarah’s clear blue eyes darted towards Elonia, who shook her head and chuckled.
“Sarah, Mom is back.”
“…!”
Sarah looked at Philemon, startled. Philemon, unable to contain her joy, called out to her.
“Sarah.”
“That’s impossible…”
Sarah, still unable to believe it, took a step back, but Philemon pulled her into a tight embrace, her voice filled with gratitude.
“Thank you for raising Elonia, Sarah. You truly were the best godmother for her.”
“Your Majesty…”
Sarah knew. That gentle voice, that warm embrace. It was her friend, Philemon.
Tears welled up in Sarah’s eyes as well. Philemon, her own emotions overflowing, pulled away and addressed everyone,
“I’m sorry for worrying you all. I’m safely back.”
They stared at her, a mixture of confusion and relief on their faces. They felt like they hadn’t seen her in a long time. The gods’ intervention had altered causality, but it wasn’t seamless.
Artius, taking charge, addressed the palace staff and knights.
“There’s no time to waste. Knights, tend to the injured and summon the physicians. Mages, repair the palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Your orders!”
They snapped out of their daze and began working efficiently. Elonia added,
“I’ll direct the mages.”
“Artius, I’ll check on the injured.”
Philemon also volunteered. Artius looked at her with concern.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
Philemon smiled brightly and, taking Elonia’s hand, headed towards the injured. Lucius, who had been quietly observing them, finally spoke.
“Ah, then I’ll also…”
He hesitated, then stared at the Elonia family.
Artius was directing the recovery efforts. Philemon was tending to the injured. And Elonia was organizing the mages.
They were all strong, kind people. There was no other family, no other Imperial family, like them.
And there was no place for him here.
His role had been to reunite Philemon and Elonia. He had done everything for Elonia.
And now, his role was over. Regardless of his feelings, he no longer had a reason to stay by her side.
‘…I should focus on my own duties.’
He had to inform Duchess Luneus. He no longer needed to maintain his false identity.
Just then,
“Lucius, what are you doing?! Come over here!”
Elonia turned around and shouted at him. Lucius, startled, looked around, then asked,
“…M-me?”
“Who else?”
His eyes widened.
He was happy she had called him, but he also felt hesitant. Did he deserve to be part of their circle?
Someone pushed him from behind.
“Hey, my sister is calling you.”
“Oof!”
Lucius, rubbing his back, turned around. Llewellyn, his face filled with annoyance, scoffed.
“Hmph. Such a drama queen.”
“…Young Master Llewellyn.”
“What are you doing? Elonia is calling you.”
Lucius thought he had seen everything. But Llewellyn willingly sending him towards Elonia?
Llewellyn, seeing his confusion, snapped,
“Hey, I haven’t approved of you and Elonia yet!”
Telepathy? Llewellyn, his face flushed, explained,
“I’m annoyed that you’re not going when my sister calls you.”
“You’re not being honest.”
“Ow!”
Smack! A sharp sound echoed as Alberich slapped Llewellyn’s back.
“Brother!”
Llewellyn glared at his brother, but Alberich, ignoring his whining, turned to Lucius.
“Young Master Lucius, there are many injured. We need your help.”
“…My help?”
“Yes. You’re a noble of Ravanta now. It’s your duty to help the people.”
“…Me?”
Lucius, his face filled with disbelief, looked at Alberich, who nodded.
He couldn’t understand.
As Cielun Luneus, he was useless, a sickly and frail young master.
Alberich, smiling warmly, explained,
“There are things you can do now, as Lucius Allen, that you couldn’t do as Cielun Luneus. And Her Highness still needs you.”
“Brother, forget about him! Is he the only cleric we have?!”
“Watch your language.”
“Blegh.”
“You…”
Llewellyn, acting childish, walked away. Alberich shook his head, then gestured for Lucius to follow him.
Elonia and her family were still calling out to him.
“Lucius, hurry up!”
“Lucius.”
They were all smiling. Lucius stared at them, his heart pounding.
He had thought his role was over, but perhaps it wasn’t.
“I’m coming.”
Lucius, a faint blush on his cheeks, smiled like a boy and ran towards Elonia.
Three months later,
The Imperial Palace had returned to its normal routine surprisingly quickly, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Imperial family and staff.
“Elonia, you remember the Noble Council meeting at lunch, right?”
Artius asked during their family breakfast. Elonia, her mouth full of salad, smiled.
“Of course.”
“Have a good day, everyone.”
“Mom, you’re going to the Temple, right?”
“Yes. I can’t use my Holy Power recklessly, but I still have to care for the people.”
Some were still recovering from the trauma of the recent events. While Elonia and Artius handled political affairs, Philemon, with her usual kindness, tended to the people.
“I hope we can have dinner together tonight.”
“Me too.”
The Elonia family, reunited after Philemon’s return, had been working non-stop. This early morning breakfast was their only chance to spend time together.
“I’m done. I have some business at the academy, so I’ll be going now.”
“Alright. Be careful.”
“Give my regards to Llewellyn.”
“I will, if I see him. See you later.”
Elonia stood up and left the dining hall. Her knights, who had just finished their meal, greeted her.
“The carriage is ready, Your Highness.”
“Good.”
“Professor Caroline has been contacting us through the communication crystal. She’s asking when you’ll arrive. She said you should just teleport.”
“Ugh, she’s getting more impatient with age.”
But Elonia couldn’t complain too much. She owed Caroline a great debt for her help during the potion of luck incident.
Elonia left the Main Palace and boarded the carriage. Just as they were about to leave,
“Your Highness!”
“Garnethia?”
Garnethia and Alberich came running towards them. What could be so urgent?
Elonia opened the window.
“What’s going on?”
“A letter arrived from Heilan!”
“From Heilan?”
Elonia’s eyes widened in surprise. Garnethia nodded and handed her the letter.
Judging by the sender, Garnethia’s excitement was understandable. Elonia smiled faintly and took the letter.
“Thank you. I’ll read it on the way.”
“Yes! Have a safe trip!”
“Hiya!”
The crack of the whip echoed through the air as Elonia’s carriage sped away.
Caroline was waiting for her at the academy gates.
“Your Highness! I thought you would never arrive!”
“Seriously! Did you think I wouldn’t come?!”
Elonia grumbled as she got out of the carriage, but she wasn’t truly annoyed. She had grown fond of Caroline.
Caroline chuckled and said,
“Everyone is waiting for you.”
“Already? It’s not time yet.”
“They all want to see you, Your Highness.”
Elonia blushed slightly, and Caroline patted her back affectionately.
“You must be tired. Why not relax here for a bit? We have some excellent tea, and a few new books you might be interested in.”
“I can’t. I have a meeting with the nobles at lunch.”
“Tsk. Can’t His Majesty handle that meeting alone?”
“I’m the future Crown Princess.”
Elonia’s inauguration ceremony was just two months away. She smiled and added,
“A good emperor has to be proactive.”
Caroline, touched by her words, her eyes glistening, said,
“It seems like just yesterday you were destroying academy buildings, and now you’ve grown so much.”
“Let’s not talk about that.”
Caroline sniffled, ignoring Elonia’s plea.
They entered the Lucid Academy Main Building and went to the Headmaster’s office, where the department heads were already waiting.
“Your Highness, welcome back.”
“How have you been?”
They all looked much better than before the recent incidents. Elonia, relieved, nodded.
“It’s been a while. How have you all been?”
“We’ve been well.”
Elonia sat down across from the Headmaster, the department heads flanking her on either side. Before they began their discussion, Gunnar congratulated her.
“I heard you’ve become a Sword Master. Achieving such a feat at sixteen, a feat even Chelon Heilan couldn’t achieve… Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“Of course. She’s the genius Sword Mage I handpicked. This is child’s play for her.”
“Child’s play almost killed me.”
Elonia, hiding her embarrassment behind a playful retort, couldn’t suppress the pride and joy shining in her eyes.
“Thank you, everyone. It’s all thanks to my excellent teachers.”
“It’s Lucid Academy’s mission to nurture talented students. It’s only natural.”
Theodore, adjusting his monocle, replied, his voice filled with a hidden pride. Endymion chuckled and began the meeting.
“Now, let’s get straight to the point. We can’t waste your valuable time.”