Episode 76
Elonia’s confession naturally startled Olivia.
“W-what? What nonsense are you spouting? I didn’t help you!”
“I know. But I’ve wanted to be friends with you ever since we first met.”
“…I’ve told you countless times, I’m the princess of Heilan, the nation responsible for the Continental War. I deserve the continent’s hatred.”
“But you didn’t start the war. So it’s not your fault.”
“…”
Olivia’s face flushed, taken aback by Elonia’s simple yet powerful words.
Elonia held out her hand.
“…What are you doing?”
“Do you want to be friends?”
“N-nonsense. You’re still delusional after all this! You really have no sense of judgment!”
“Is that so? Then can you help me?”
Olivia shouted at her in disbelief, but Elonia remained calm.
She had vowed never to play house again.
But seeing Olivia opening up to her, she couldn’t help but reach out.
If they couldn’t be sisters, she wanted to be friends with Olivia.
Olivia, as expected, turned away, refusing her offer.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Why would I? And Lucius will be furious.”
“But he was the one who approached me first after seeing me reading that book about Chelon. You two seem close, considering your similar behavior.”
“W-we’re not close! That’s disgusting!”
“Ah, sorry. Did I upset you?”
“You don’t look sorry at all!”
“Ahahaha!”
Elonia burst into laughter, amused by Olivia’s indignant expression.
Just then,
“Your Highnesses.”
Lucius appeared behind them.
Olivia, her face contorting in disgust, clicked her tongue.
“Speak of the devil.”
“…What do you mean?”
Lucius, not particularly interested in their banter, went straight to the point.
“Princess Olivia, I heard about the commotion earlier.”
“…I guess I’ll have to go and get scolded now. Let’s go, Elonia.”
“Okay.”
Lucius couldn’t believe his eyes.
The last time he saw them, they had been fighting.
Olivia had been the one who initiated the confrontation, but still.
And now they were sitting together on a bench, casually calling each other by their first names?
Even Lucius was taken aback.
“…When did you two become so close?”
But Olivia’s response was colder than usual.
“None of your business.”
“…”
Olivia’s short temper was nothing new, but she seemed especially irritable today.
Elonia chuckled, amused by Lucius’s dumbfounded expression.
Just as Lucius was about to retort, something caught his eye.
“…Excuse me, Your Highness, but what is that around your neck?”
He was pointing at the good luck charm Elonia was wearing.
Elonia, who had also forgotten about it, finally noticed it.
“Ah, this… Dianne gave it to me. She said it’s a good luck charm.”
“May I see it?”
Lucius’s expression turned serious.
What was so important about this stone?
Elonia, no longer needing the charm, readily handed it to him.
“I don’t need it anymore. You can have it.”
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s just trash.”
Lucius, who was putting the charm in his pocket, paused at her words.
It was time to leave.
Elonia waved at Olivia.
“Thanks for today. Let’s talk again later.”
“…Yes, Elonia.”
They walked away in opposite directions.
Elonia watched them leave, then stood up.
Her communication crystal must be buzzing with missed calls by now.
While Olivia was being scolded by Lucius, Elonia was bracing herself for Artius’s call.
Her communication crystal was blinking frantically when she returned to her dormitory.
She had called for Alberich and Llewellyn to be by her side.
It was mostly Dianne’s fault, with Olivia sharing a small portion of the blame. Elonia herself hadn’t done anything wrong.
‘But I think he’s actually going to be angry this time.’
Artius had never been truly angry at her, but this time was different.
He would definitely scold her for not telling him sooner.
‘I promised to report anyone who bothered me, and I kept quiet.’
That was why she had summoned the Asta brothers.
They were her shields against Artius’s wrath.
He wouldn’t scold her too harshly in front of them.
Or would he?
Llewellyn, Totem #2, whimpered,
“…El, I’m scared.”
“Are you going to let me get scolded alone?”
“You said I was just a cousin.”
“Stop complaining, Llewellyn. Her Highness doesn’t want to be scolded alone.”
Alberich, Totem #1, reprimanded him, and Llewellyn fell silent.
Elonia, ignoring their banter, took a deep breath and reached for the communication crystal.
Artius’s face appeared on the screen.
[Elonia. You’re late in answering my call.]
“…Long time no see?”
[I heard about the incident at the academy.]
“…”
Elonia clamped her mouth shut.
She had no excuses.
Artius sighed.
[Well, it must have been difficult to talk about… There are things you can’t even tell your parents, especially when it comes to the academy.]
“…”
He was about to scold her.
Elonia averted her gaze, studying the patterns on the polished desk.
The wood grain was unusually clear today.
‘It looks like a face.’
[My dear, look at me.]
But Artius caught her.
Elonia slowly raised her gaze.
And then,
“…Dad, are you crying?”
He wasn’t shedding tears, but his eyes were red and puffy.
[How could a parent not be upset in this situation?]
She hadn’t expected him to cry, especially in front of the Asta brothers.
Elonia discreetly gestured for them to leave, unable to bear witnessing her father’s vulnerability.
The Asta brothers, sensing that Artius wasn’t going to scold Elonia too harshly, quietly left the room.
Elonia apologized.
“…I’m sorry.”
[There’s nothing for you to apologize for.]
“…But I resolved the situation.”
[I heard Princess Olivia helped you.]
“Yes. …So, can you talk to the headmaster and ask him to go easy on Olivia?”
Olivia might be the Heilan princess and she might have helped Elonia, but she had still assaulted someone.
Violence was against the academy rules, regardless of the circumstances.
Alberich had been suspended for hitting Dolce, even though it had been in Elonia’s defense.
Artius, his expression troubled, reached out towards Elonia through the crystal screen, then, realizing he couldn’t touch her, asked sadly,
[Elonia, are you hurt?]
“No, I’m fine. So please talk to the headmaster and ask him to be lenient with Olivia.”
[I will, so tell me the truth. You can take a leave of absence if you need to rest.]
“I’m not hurt, and I’m fine. And why would I take a leave of absence? I’m going to graduate on time.”
[…You’re so stubborn.]
Artius finally chuckled softly.
Elonia, her shoulders relaxing, propped her chin on her hand.
“I was actually scared that you would be angry at me.”
[Why?]
“I promised to tell you if anyone bothered me, but I didn’t.”
[Parents want to know everything about their children, but children have secrets they want to keep from their parents, especially when it comes to the academy.]
Elonia finally understood Artius’s expression, his feelings.
He had also attended the academy at a young age, as the sole heir to the throne, and he must have experienced similar situations.
She finally understood why he had been so reluctant to let her enroll early.
“…But you were still upset, weren’t you?”
[If my pain can bring you peace of mind, then so be it.]
“You spoil me too much.”
[That’s not true. I’ll discipline you when necessary. But only when you’re heading down the wrong path.]
“So you’ll scold me if I become a delinquent?”
[…After a thorough discussion. But I know you won’t.]
“You’re very confident.”
You never knew what the future held.
Artius himself had been a wise ruler before losing his mind after Philemon’s death.
As if reading her mind, Artius replied,
[You’ve seen my worst side, so you must have vowed never to become a pathetic adult like me.]
“How did you know?”
They chuckled softly.
Artius’s words filled Elonia with a newfound certainty.
Even if everyone else abandoned her, Artius would always be there for her, loving her unconditionally as his daughter.
And she would do the same for him.
If anyone dared to hurt Artius, she would be the first to seek revenge.
Elonia, ignoring her teary eyes, mumbled,
“I want to go home. I miss you.”
It was the first time she had ever said those words to him.
Artius’s eyes widened in surprise, then he smiled warmly.
[I miss you too. You have to come home next weekend. Promise me.]
“I promise, on my father’s honor.”
Artius chuckled, even though it was him who would suffer if she broke her promise.
The academy rumor incident had been resolved.
Theology Department, prayer room,
Lucius, alone in the empty room, fiddled with a small stone.
It was the good luck charm Elonia had given him.
But it wasn’t a good luck charm.
“It’s a mana measurement stone.”
It was a mana measurement stone imbued with Holy Power, designed to shatter when infused with a large amount of mana.
It was commonly used to measure a mage’s power.
It wasn’t unusual to find such an object within the academy.
But this stone emanated a familiar aura.
An aura of Holy Power that mages couldn’t detect.
That was probably why Elonia hadn’t realized its true nature.
Lucius examined the Holy Power within the stone.
“…!”
He was shocked.
This unsettling, almost imperceptible Holy Power belonged to only one person he knew.
‘Tristan…?’
There was no mistaking it.
It was Tristan’s Holy Power.
Elonia had said Dianne had given it to her as a good luck charm.
‘Why does Dianne Rossi have Tristan’s belongings?’
And why was it a mana measurement stone imbued with Tristan’s Holy Power?
Heilan was currently searching for a sacrifice with strong mana.
And this stone had been in Elonia’s possession.
‘Could it be…!’
Just then,
His red piercing grew warm.
It was a call from Heilan.
Lucius quickly activated the communication crystal.
[Lucius.]
“Your Highness, Felix.”
He had a pretty good idea why Felix was contacting him.
It was probably about the recent incident.
His assumption was half right and half wrong.
[Tsk, that idiot Noah, or Dianne, as she’s called there, caused trouble again.]
“…Excuse me?”
Felix had mentioned Dianne, not Olivia.
No way.
[Tsk, such a waste, such a waste… She was perfect for covert operations, but she’s too reckless.]
“W-wait a moment. I don’t understand. Dianne Rossi is the daughter of Count Rossi of Ravanta—”
[Well, yes, on the surface.]
Felix smirked.
[Dianne Rossi’s real name is Noah Anglores.]
“…!”
Lucius’s face was filled with shock.
Anglores.
He had heard that name before.
House Anglores was a noble family from the Delan Kingdom.
“Could it be…”
[She was a spy.]
“…Tristan.”
Tristan, who had appeared behind Felix, answered for him.