Chapter 98
Translator: wuttisyun
I wanted to laugh. Did he have any idea how stupid he sounded? Based on his words, he seemed to be misunderstanding our relationship.
“Hernan. You will regret this moment.”
I revealed my resentment towards him like I never had before.
“I will use you then abandon you. Are you still going to chase after me?”
I was going to die again but I was going to throw him in harm’s way before I got hurt.
His sky blue eyes were soft and warm as if his gaze was embracing me. Hernan slowly rose from where he was.
“Are you telling me to gradually give up on myself?”
“That’s right. I want you to tire yourself out and give up your chase.”
Just as he led me on, I would slowly drag him to exhaustion.
“That’s not going to happen.”
He slowly lowered his back before smudging his lips on my left eyelid. For some reason, I recalled the templar of alcohol I met back in the banquet. I wondered if templars around here were this flippant about their kisses.
“A kiss from a templar represents their blessing. The more kisses you get, the stronger the power you receive.”
I blinked slowly.
“Do you hate me?”
Probably.
But I did not answer him.
“Even your hatred feels sweet.”
Well, that sounded like he was going to go ahead with this anyways. I lowered my head before emptying my mind.
‘A blessing in my life of misfortune.’
I was not impressed at all.
All the main characters I read about in reincarnation novels had always strolled gently on the flower path laid out in front of them. But then why was I stuck in a swamp? After climbing all the heights, would paradise ever arrive in my life?
‘Damn.’
I heard the truth. But I was not left very happy. Was it because the truth was not complete? Or was it because the truth was heavier and bigger than I thought it would be.
No, I was just surprised that this scar I had always wondered about was part of something big.
“Follow this bird. It will guide you to the stele that you can use, princess.”
A blue collared bird. The bird’s eyes reminded me of Hernan.
I mean, it looked like Hernan in the form of a bird
“And you?”
“I’ll have to return to His Highness.”
Hernan smiled before pointing at the thorns that were now golden.
“He’s calling for me.”
I was just about to ask why he was smiling when he was still bleeding but I stopped myself. It was not a question I should ask.
My friends who had gone through the early stages of love told me this. Love was as sweet as candy, as soft as a blanket and could melt people’s hearts.
Once love reached the intermediate stages, it morphed into affection and loyalty. Though the feelings had morphed, their essence was still love.
If love, which was the constituent of romance, friendship and familial relationships, was what makes us human, then I had lost such feelings.
I did not know how others cherished me.
Was it love?
Back when I had left the hedonic banquet hall, Castor whom I had met eyes with had whispered.
‘That was fun.’
That was what he said as he looked at Hernan taking me away.
When Hernan returns, he will pay the price for revealing the secret. The Castor I knew would silence anyone who broke their promises.
Even if he was his only friend.
‘I had been hurt a lot.’
I recalled the people I loved.
“Why do you not know that the problem is that you think there’s no problem?!” (1)
Was this how they felt when I treated my wounds like they were nothing? These were things I only realised after the moment had passed.
Back in the past when I was in a hurry to throw myself in danger and did not notice my surroundings. I regretted all the times where I had been insensitive to my loved ones.
The forbidden forest was dense with trees but it was not so dense that moonlight could not stream through the branches like this forest. Rather, this forest here reminded me of the dense coniferous forests that could be commonly spotted in northern Europe. Our surroundings were as quiet as a mouse.
“It’s a stele.”
The stele towering in front of me under the moonlight was glowing in blue.
Whistle!
The bird flew to a branch and sat on it before looking at me.
“Come here.”
I suddenly called for the bird.
“You’ve helped me in the past before, haven’t you?”
The brilliant looking bird perched on my shoulders before rubbing its beak against me as if it was acting cute.
It tickled.
Whistle.
Since when has it been watching me? I could barely resist myself from asking before swallowing my question.
“Thank you for all your help. See you.”
The bird flew to the tree. As I watched the bird, I activated the stele. The soft breeze turned into a strong gust of wind before wrapping around me. I stepped into the circle drawn on the ground.
The day I understand Hernan might never come. I could never understand and forgive him for standing on the sidelines as a young girl died in front of him over and over again.
But I understood vaguely. About how he cared so much about me.
“So brother’s ‘eyes’ are here.”
The bird that had looked over me for so long.
“Someone looking over you. And someone who will turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed today.”
As I walked towards the portal, I thought.
So it was you.
***
Two people had disappeared but the banquet was as noisy and hedonic as ever. And in the centre of it all remained two people.
The 2nd Prince and the Crown Prince.
One side of the hall was crowded with people as if that was where the real banquet was occurring while the other side was comparatively quiet.
People amidst the crowds could not breath or ignore the oppressive presence of Castor who was in the centre of it all.
Castor did not seem interested in the surrounding banquet at all.
After raising his head, he shifted his gaze from left to right.
‘I don’t see Hernandez here.’
People and more people. The heavy scent of wine which smelled like poison that was threatening to paralyse the tip of his nose.
After emptying his half-filled wine goblet, Castor wiped his lips with his sleeves. The wine that did not manage to get cleaned properly drew a purple trail as it dribbled down his neck. One of the young ladies who was secretly watching blushed.
“Dame of Aventa”
The nobles surrounding him were as quiet as a mouse but they were not taking their eyes away. His voice was low and quiet but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Rebecca, who turned back around at his call, bowed slowly.
“… I receive the call from a noble branch.”
After shifting his gaze to the corner of his eyes, he noticed the fashionable figure of the small dame. Castor was a beast who could recognise negative emotions easily.
“I don’t see her.”
The woman with red hair reaching her waist was feeling indescribable anxiety. He looked at her in amusement and thrill before speaking to her sensually and seductively.
“Where’s your mistress?”
Under his trembling red hair, Fleon turned his eyes away.
‘At least she won’t die here.’
Rebecca Eileen von Aventa was the smartest woman he had ever known. And yet behold, in front of that prince, even the noblest woman was left at a loss, was she not?
She looked frozen in fear but she managed to respond well.
Fleon had also heard rumours of his first brother’s indulgence and notoriety. At the same time, he had also heard of how terribly cold he was. So she would be alright since she was a woman who knew when to step up and when to take a step back.
‘At least she’s better than me.’
Yeah, he could not stand up against him. He could not do anything to help either.
Who could be of any help in front of the Crown Prince? But even if anyone managed to remain rational in front of him, there was still one more thing.
Fleon was stupid but he knew one thing. If people could only move with reason, the world would be more boring and desolate than it was now.
“Dane, why did you stop me?”
He spat out.
The reason why Fleon was invited to such a hedonic banquet was simple. Because they were aiming for the forces supporting him from behind.
Another name for the 6th Queen was [The Heir of Blessed Land].
His mother was the only hair to the Temple of Vulcanus, one of the most famed temples in the Empire, in charge of guarding mines and protecting blacksmiths.
But Fleon was not a templar. He was someone who had no divine abilities. Why was he invited to the place where all the 2nd Prince’s supporters were and endured all the pressure? And there was one more thing!
As soon as the Crown Prince appeared in the middle of his enemy’s camp, he lent a hand to his younger sister and made everything Fleon did so far become meaningless. What he had done, what he did and what he will do. Everything.
In the midst of his personal tumult, a soft voice penetrated his eyes wonderfully.
“You can’t die here, brother.”’
He had already passed puberty but his voice was still a little high.
“Think about why we’ve been so patient so far. We’re attending this banquet for her.”
Dane replied without looking at his brother.
“Let’s say you went out a little while ago. Would Ashley have liked to see you die because of her, brother?”
pαndα---noνɐ1,сoМ “You.”
“You’re right. I’m not doing this for you. It’s for Ashley.”
Roaring, cheerful bursts of laughter reverberated like a bird’s chirps.
“What kind of interesting conversation are you two princes having?”
“Right. Let us girls know too.”
Dane smiled at the myriad of glances at himself before whispering softly to Fleon.
“Head to her palace. She should be there.”
Left speechless, Fleon stared at Dane.
‘You, seriously…’
How did he know? He wanted to ask him a lot of questions.
But the corners of his lips only continued to rise as he stared at Fleon. Dane raised his hand before pushing Fleon from behind.
“Ray, escort my brother.”
The knight nodded his head before fixing his sword around his waist.
“You…”
“Hurry and go. I’m holding back my desire to go as well.”
‘You have something to tell Ashley, don’t you brother?’
Dane smiled sadly as if to tell him it was time for her to know what they had been hiding all this while.
“My Prince.”
“I greet the Prince as beautiful as flowers.”
“The 7th Prince.”
The little paradise where only high officials were invited, the symposium. A powerless prince was treated more like a decorative doll here.
People would greet them respectfully through their words but they were actually mocking and making fun of them. Fleon and Dane were treated as such.
They were still trying to get used to it but Dane got tired of it all sometimes.
When would it all be over?
Dane’s hair looked gold at first under the bright lights of the lanterns. His brown eyelashes spread out like a fluttering fan. His red eyes that were fluttering softly like butterflies and his deep eyes that looked like they would burst upon touch.
‘Ashley’s… afraid of the Crown Prince.’
His clear enemies that had disappeared without a trace while hidden under the bright lights of the lamps were now revealing their strength. Before he knew it, the seat next to him was now empty.
‘Hurry and run, Fleon.’
Dane thought it was a shame.
If Fleon had been a little better, it would have been him and not Fleon who would have been kicked out of here but Dane thought it would be easier to just endure. But his logic managed to come to reasonable conclusions.
“Could you all look at me?”
Clap.
With one clap, he managed to bring the attention from Fleon. He faced several pairs of eyes which made a few blush at the young man’s smile.
Indeed, the young man who looked like he was loved by the God of Sun before them was so beautiful.
“Where are the heirs heading off to?”
Dane smiled back at the old lady’s question so as not to be rude.
“I heard he had an ‘urgent business’ to attend to.”
His dagger with a wolf engraved on it then fell from his hands onto the ground. Now only one side remains. Now the other side of his mantle was barely hanging onto his body.
Fleon ran.
T/N:
(1): Don’t remember where this is from sadly so I re-translated it
Also the above images were photoshopped by one of my lovely friends. Hehe thanks shu!
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