episode_0110
by fnovelpia
Teleport station in the island of Montrea.
Before entering the Academy, he entered the Empire through here.
But I didn’t know I would find it again so quickly.
The huge station was still filled with managers and soldiers. You can also see the new manager who couldn’t hide his bewildered expression when he showed up with his maid, Julia.
He was surprised to see us again, as if he had finally adjusted, but he showed no sign of surprise.
The station manager’s responsibilities took precedence over his curiosity.
“I will proceed with the departure procedures. Beatrice de Dahlia.”
Instead of answering his question, I nodded.
The manager spoke straight to Julia.
“And Julia.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
We were wearing our original clothes, not uniforms, just like when we came to the Empire.
Dresses and maid uniforms.
This time we teleport together.
Moreover, since it is not yet the time to enter the Academy, Julia’s maid uniform attracts even more attention in the quiet station.
“Have a comfortable journey.”
“Thank you.”
I responded to the manager’s polite remarks.
When I smiled, the manager finally let go of his tension and blushed, looking embarrassed.
“Then let’s get started!”
After the administrator finished speaking, a huge amount of mana gathered inside the station.
I could feel the mana, and I was amazed at the mana being processed according to the sophisticated station’s magic.
Woohoo-
Soon the station started to come online and the lights came on.
The manager, who had returned to his dazed appearance as a rookie again at my smile, was watching us from afar.
To be exact, he looks at me blankly.
When I came to the station to enroll, I don’t think I even looked at it properly…
I guess last time I answered bluntly, so people thought I was a cold noble lady.
Now that I think about it, it seems like you’ve changed a bit while you were at the academy?
Compared to then, my tone of voice has become much softer now, and I’ve even learned to smile appropriately.
When I look back, I see that a lot has changed.
I’ve been wearing a mask for so long that I’ve gotten used to it.
I was a rebel who played the role of an excellent academy student and noble lady.
No, actually, even the traitor isn’t the real me.
This beautiful face, soft skin, and curvaceous body are all not mine.
I… I wasn’t a woman.
I soon found myself adapting to this body, which was difficult to get used to, and in some ways, I shouldn’t have gotten used to.
Now I don’t even know exactly what kind of mask I’m wearing.
If I stop pretending to be ‘someone’ and show my natural self…
At that time, I was curious and scared about what kind of person I would become.
*
I arrived at the Kingdom of Primira and was about to head straight to the Dahlia Estate.
Normally, whenever Imperial Academy students return to their home country, they are treated to a grand banquet at the palace.
The foreign students were the pride of the kingdom and were valuable talents that could not be missed, so they took great care to persuade and entice them.
So, when the academy is on vacation and the international students return, the palace tries to transport all kinds of delicacies and gifts.
Because I had to win the favor of the international students who were returning to their home country.
“Be, Beatrice de Dahlia!? How is it now……”
But no one would have expected that he would return during the semester, not even during the vacation.
“I have some urgent business in Yeongji.”
“That, I didn’t expect you to come back via the teleportation station……”
The managers on the Premier side were turned upside down.
It was already quiet because there were no people who could use the station since it was not a powerful country like the Empire, but it was so strange that an Imperial Academy exchange student came back during the semester just because something had come up in the territory.
They were gossiping about me. ‘Beatrice of Dahlia’, ‘Daughter of the Twin Swords’, ‘Future of Primira’, etc.
“I’m honored that you know who I am.”
Well, it would be natural for a small kingdom to know about nobles who went abroad to study.
If only I could skip the hassle of checking the signs and such, then seeing their surprised expressions wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
“…Oops! Let me check the sign.”
“Ah, you’re thorough.”
The manager, who came to his senses late, hurriedly brought out his magic tool.
I showed the sign with Julia.
Jiing – As soon as the confirmation process was completed with a beeping sound, I tried to leave the station without delay.
“Okay, wait a minute!”
“Yes?”
The manager called me urgently.
When he tried to grab my arm, Julia stopped him.
Without saying anything, Julia blocked his arm with her body to keep it from touching me.
The manager hesitated and then said.
“Please wait a moment, Lady Beatrice.”
“Why?”
As I tried to ignore him and turn around, the manager stamped his feet. He seemed to be in a very difficult position.
“Your Majesty!”
“?”
“Actually, His Majesty Charles asked me to notify you immediately when the Imperial Academy students return.”
Charles… I felt annoyed as I thought about the little royal brat who had dared to kiss the back of my hand.
“If you rest for a moment at the station, a carriage heading to the palace will arrive. Stop by the palace and relieve the fatigue of your arduous study abroad life.”
According to the administrator’s common sense, being invited to the palace is a great honor and luck. So, he mistakenly thought that a normal Imperial Academy student would readily visit the palace.
“Although it was an unplanned return, the palace probably didn’t make any major preparations, but surely, even now, for Lady Beatrice—”
“Since when did the station manager become the king’s puppet?”
“…Huh?”
I said in a contemptuous tone.
“The teleportation station is a valuable asset to the continent. As the station’s amazing power, the responsibility you have as its manager must be great… but you’re staying too close to the palace.”
“I, I just…!”
“You monitor travelers using the station, and that too for the King.”
“Surveillance!”
The soldiers guarding the station watch us because of our raised voices.
“Teleport stations exist for the entire continent, not just the nation. You know that the stations of the Kingdom of Primira are simply located in the kingdom, but are not part of the kingdom, right?”
“……”
What I’m saying isn’t wrong. It’s just rigid and old-fashioned.
But I say this because the suggestion that I go to the palace and meet the royal baby is too uncomfortable for me to bear.
“I wish you had a little more self-awareness as a station manager.”
With those words, he closed his eyes gently and said goodbye.
“Sorry, sorry. Excuse me, Lady Beatrice.”
“I accept that apology. Please take care of me in the future.”
I left the station, leaving the manager bowing his head.
The warm sunlight of the Kingdom of Primira welcomed us.
I spoke to Julia, looking at the pouring sunlight as if trying to shake off my previous unpleasant mood.
“Whoa… Julia, where’s the carriage you sent from the estate? Let’s leave quickly before they try to take us to the palace again.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Julia looked around for the person sent from the estate.
Soon a neatly dressed man from Yeongji came and escorted us.
Dagdak- The carriage moved to the sound of horse hooves, and it was somewhere between lunch and dinner when we arrived at Dahlia Estate.
*
Dahlia Estate was beautiful from the very beginning.
I saw a well-kept forest, and I also discovered a beautiful garden and a bright mansion.
I could see the count and his wife coming out to greet me in the distance.
The carriage stopped at the entrance to the mansion.
The count himself opened the carriage door and held out his hand.
“You’re here, Your Majesty.”
“Did you have a safe journey?”
The Count and Blair greeted him.
I took the count’s hand and carefully got out of the carriage.
I got out of the carriage and looked around.
The coachman pulling the carriage, the Dahlia family accompanying us, and even the servants surrounding the count and countess.
Everyone was in awe of me.
They know my identity. Some of them have seen me before I left the territory, and some of them are faces I am seeing for the first time.
“……”
As soon as I got out of the carriage, they knelt down and bowed their heads.
Perhaps the people of the Primira Palace or the station manager would have been terrified if they had seen this sight.
“There are more people in the Yeongji family?”
As I greeted them, the couple looked at each other.
Of course, they welcomed me as a princess, so they expected me to treat them as their subjects and call them by their names, but they were surprised to see that the image of Beatrice they had seen before leaving for the empire still remained.
The count immediately answered as if nothing had happened.
“All of them are carefully selected to serve Her Highness the Princess.”
“…Can I show my bare face so easily?”
“Huh? Oh, don’t worry. They are the most loyal of those who sacrifice their lives for the restoration of the Imperial Family. They also know the true identities of me and Blair.”
“… Really?”
In an instant, many thoughts crossed my mind.
Even if I quit being the princess, even if I don’t want to enjoy this life anymore… will they still show the same loyalty as they do now?
“Listen.”
Even if there comes a moment when I no longer have the will to fulfill their desires, and their dreams and ambitions are put to rest.
So even if there is nothing for a lowly noble lady like me to do.
“Raise your head and swear.”
“!?”
Won’t you reveal my identity?
Jiiying – The eyes are filled with power.
My turquoise eyes are reflected in the astonished eyes of the count.
“Your Majesty?”
Even the mighty Blair trembles in embarrassment.
Swoosh-
Soon, a thick cloud of darkness and the magic of the royal family enveloped the area.
I raised my finger and expressed my will.
“None of you… will tell anyone my true identity. Do not let anyone know my real name, my real appearance… who I am.”
Magi condensed and created runes filling the air.
“The oath cannot be refused…”
Pfft!
At my call, dark magic shot out toward the servants of the estate.
They were surprised, but they didn’t scream.
Because it was darkness bestowed by the royal family.
Simultaneously, quickly, without a moment to spare, the royal covenant was engraved on everyone’s hearts.
“The price of refusal is death.”
“……”
The bewildered Count and Blair brush away their startled hearts.
The oath of darkness is being completed.
“Only death.”
With those words, I released my strength and showed a bright smile that contrasted with the frozen atmosphere as if nothing had happened.
“I’m back! Father, Mother.”
And he called them the same way he had called them when he first met the count and his wife.
If I wasn’t a princess, if I was just an ordinary young lady of Dahlia…
Because the two of you are precious parents and family.
If it were Beatrice de Dahlia, that’s probably what you’d call her.
“Oh, yeah… How have you been?”
“I missed you…”
They hesitated for a moment, then hugged me and welcomed me as their daughter.
As much as the Count and Blair are bewildered, as much as the people of the estate find this sight strange, guilt wells up inside me.
My heart became covered in darkness like that.
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