episode_0122

It was the evening of the next day that Alice and Sylvia returned to the palace.

Although it had only been three short days, Alice could see that Sylvia’s face looked more relaxed than ever. It was as if she had completely let go of her worries.

But that relaxed expression completely disappeared as she changed back into her school uniform before returning to the palace.

And Alice thought that the palace she thought of as her home might not feel that way to Sylvia at all.

The thought felt… somewhat foreign to Alice. It was a thought she had never thought of or suspected before.

This palace was a place that Alice had taken for granted as her home ever since she was born, so it was only natural that Sylvia would think the same way.

But that wasn’t the case.

Sylvia seemed to feel more comfortable at Grace Street, which she had visited for the first time.

And even Alice herself seemed to know why Sylvia felt that way.

“Did you have fun at the Academy?”

Clearly, both Sylvia and Alice were there when they came in to meet the Emperor, but now only Alice and the Emperor were talking.

Is it because Alice has the blood of the Emperor?

Maybe so.

He knew that Sylvia had greater abilities than Alice, and that was why the Emperor was considering Sylvia as one of the candidates to succeed to the throne. If the Emperor was considering Alice as the next Emperor, it would not be because Alice was superior to Sylvia, but because Sylvia had no intention of ascending to the throne.

It must be because of the words and actions Alice showed in front of the Emperor before going to the Academy. If there is a direct reason.

But even so, the Emperor’s appearance in front of Alice and Sylvia was different.

He said, ‘the same princess’, and he actually acted like it was true… … If I had to pick someone who the Emperor treated as if she were his real daughter, it would be Alice.

“Yes, it was fun.”

As she answered, Alice thought of Grace. The Baroness treated Leo and Claire as equals. Perhaps it was because Claire was a woman and had no chance of succeeding to the Baroness Grace. She was adopted because she had seen her abilities, but she was a woman after all.

Even if she inherits the Baron’s name, the best future Claire can have is marrying into a good family. Even if Claire and Leo were considered siblings, there would be no harm to Grace.

But even if we consider such reasons, the bottom line is that the Baroness acted as if Claire were her own daughter. Except when she spoke of the orphans who had been living with Claire, she never made it clear that Claire was adopted.

… … At a young age, he was assigned an assassination mission, and was almost sent to the battlefield before he could enter the academy—

If the Emperor really thought of her as his ‘child’, would he have done such a thing to Sylvia? Did he really do such a thing simply because he trusted her?

Did Sylvia know that fact? Did she feel it?

“It looks like you had a lot of fun with your sisters.”

It was fun. Really. Especially because I didn’t have to think about the obsession I had with the throne as a child.

“What did you think of Sylvia? Did she seem to be enjoying the academy?”

“… … I think so.”

“I see.”

As the emperor spoke, he looked at Alice closely.

“Since Sylvia even dressed up like that for the plan you made, she must be enjoying her academy life with you in her own way.”

Alice looked up at the Emperor quietly.

Somehow I felt like I knew what was going to happen next.

“The guy we saw back then.”

The emperor spoke slowly and deliberately. Rather than hesitating, his tone was more like emphasis.

“About the one wearing the grove, did Sylvia say anything?”

“None.”

If Sylvia had told Alice about his true identity… …even if it was who Alice had expected, Alice would have panicked. It’s one thing to be worried about something alone, and another to find out that it’s real.

“After that, Sylvia… … seems to have used her special ability?”

“… … I don’t know.”

Even if you did use it.

Sylvia didn’t say anything. Alice didn’t ask either.

The Emperor’s lips were always in a relaxed smile. Alice stared at the Emperor, trying not to reveal her expression. It probably wasn’t successful. If Alice could read Sylvia’s expression, the Emperor would have been more capable. And Alice didn’t think she could hide her expression better than Sylvia.

“Hmm.”

The emperor looked down at Alice quietly.

“At that time, in that place.”

The emperor continued his story slowly.

“The person who was supposed to have the information disappeared in an instant. It didn’t seem like he was using magic or using any other devices. I looked around again afterward, but I couldn’t find any other escape route. ”

As the Emperor slightly tilted his upper body towards Alice, it seemed as if the Emperor was looking down at Alice from a high place.

The emperor spoke with a slightly oppressive tone, still maintaining his posture.

“At that moment, Sylvia fell. No, it would be more accurate to say ‘was falling’. We didn’t see Sylvia fall. However, we can infer what happened ‘in the meantime’ from the bruises on Sylvia’s body and the torn collar. ”

The Emperor spoke to Alice, one by one, as if he was deliberately telling her the facts that everyone there knew.

“Did Sylvia really tell you nothing about that day?”

There wasn’t any.

I didn’t even ask on purpose.

but-

“None.”

Alice remembered.

For some reason, for some reason, Alice remembered the battle that no one else there remembered.

It is not clear.

I remember clearly the process leading up to meeting him on the spot, and even the battle that followed.

But the battle scenes were disconnected one by one. If you think he swung his sword and cut him down, it wasn’t. If you think he was shot, it wasn’t. It was as if the future and the past overlapped, as if it was determined that he wouldn’t die.

However, Alice clearly remembered a situation that could never happen in reality.

Until the moment he grabbed Sylvia’s collar.

The space was torn apart and distorted, until the moment when he finally bled—

And then that memory was cut off, and it was the moment the Emperor was speaking.

So what happened?

I don’t know. He eventually disappeared, and the person who should have been there disappeared afterward.

Why is only Alice remembering him?

I don’t know that either.

“Sylvia hasn’t said anything yet.”

And Alice too.

“… … .”

Through the bowed head, she felt the Emperor quietly looking at Alice. But Alice said nothing and just waited quietly.

“I see.”

Finally, the emperor opened his mouth. The atmosphere that seemed to be pressuring Alice suddenly eased.

“But there is one thing I know for sure.”

A smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips. It seemed as if he was having fun.

“At least Sylvia can’t go back to before that point. If she could, she would have made the situation itself nonexistent. I don’t know who wrote the Grove, but it’s certain that it brought us one benefit.”

“Even if he took the treasure?”

“So, what can you do with that?”

“… … .”

At least having a few fragments of the map doesn’t mean you can do anything about it. There are speculations and legends all over the world, but that’s it. No one has ever read the entire map.

“But if he shows up again and tries to steal the treasure—”

“It won’t show up that easily.”

The emperor said with a smile.

“If it could have been easily revealed, I would have learned all the treasures a long time ago. If it was already certain that he would collect the treasures, well.”

The emperor shrugged his shoulders and said.

“Then I guess we should accept it as our fate.”

But Alice, his daughter, knew very well that the Emperor would not do that.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work.”

Even after sharing such a story, the emperor spoke as if what they had just talked about was nothing special and just an everyday matter.

“I wish I could have talked to my sisters, but this father took up too much of my time. It’s still good to see it now.”

“… … .”

Alice bowed slightly to the Emperor, turned around, and left the audience room.

Unable to put to rest the anxiety deep in my heart.