Ch.241241. Are You Taking Responsibility for the Baggage?

“Selden Alphonse presents himself to Her Imperial Highness Etherian Silonia, the First Princess of the Eastern Continent.”

I respectfully knelt on one knee with my palm placed on my chest, causing Princess Etherian, who was seated in a terrace chair, to recoil in apparent shock.

“W-what do you want from me?”

I brushed the dirt off my knee, sat in the chair opposite her, and pouted my lips.

“Why do you ask? As if I want something from you…”

“This is the first time you’ve greeted me so politely since we first met, isn’t it?”

I raised my head and slowly looked around.

A secluded forest outside the imperial palace.

Yes.

This was also the place where I nearly died alongside Princess Etherian at the hands of an assassin.

“I was feeling nostalgic, so I thought I’d try it.”

“…I doubt it’s a particularly good memory for you either?”

“Well, I nearly died thanks to someone, but still, isn’t it because of that I’m alive and connected to Your Highness?”

I shrugged my shoulders playfully, which drew a faint smile from Princess Etherian.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Oh, that’s all in the past.”

“No, I mean, I heard you’ve been looking for me in the palace, but I couldn’t meet you…”

“Ah… I figured you had your reasons.”

“Are you saying you understand me?”

“Understand? Princess Etherian is someone who doesn’t need to be understood by anyone.”

Princess Etherian hesitated, then looked around.

“I too would have ended my life here if it weren’t for you.”

“That’s not true. If I hadn’t existed, Your Highness wouldn’t have sent an assassin in the first place.”

“So in the end, knowing you almost got me killed.”

“…Well, I suppose that’s one way to look at it.”

“Still, I don’t regret getting to know you. Even if I could go back to that time…”

“Are you saying you’d try to kill me again if you went back?”

At my words, Princess Etherian’s face reddened as she spoke.

“T-that’s not what I meant!!”

“Haha… I’m joking. I too would save Princess Etherian if I could go back.”

“…Really?”

I suppose so.

Aren’t I still in the imperial palace to prevent Princess Etherian from dying?

Come to think of it, it’s quite exhausting.

I’m running around everywhere trying to save her, and she doesn’t even realize it.

“Of course. I would save you.”

Princess Etherian once again turned her gaze toward the innocent forest.

She seemed lost in thought.

After watching her for a while, she finally spoke.

“…Why do you dislike me fighting for succession rights?”

“Because it might be difficult for Princess Etherian.”

“It’s a fight anyone can see I would win, isn’t it?”

“Even if you win, wouldn’t it be painful? Princess Sirine is your sister. If Emperor Malius passes away, she’ll be your only blood relative.”

Princess Etherian stared at me intently.

“You said you don’t fight for the head position in your family, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“A small house… is there any other reason besides that?”

It was the same question, and the answer was the same.

However, what was different between then and now was that there wasn’t just one answer.

“…I killed my second older brother.”

Princess Etherian hesitated, then nodded her head.

“I know about that too, but it wasn’t your fault, was it?”

“That may be so, but I can’t forget my mother’s expression at that time.”

When Princess Etherian first asked me this question, I gave up the position of family head solely for my own life.

But now it’s different.

My father, mother, and sister…

I couldn’t bear to see the tears of blood in their eyes.

“You seem to care about your family…”

Of course, not all of them.

I have a troublesome third brother and a suspicious first brother whose thoughts I still can’t figure out.

Nevertheless, I wanted to avoid situations where we would point swords at each other.

That’s why I had Riden keep an eye on Evander Alphonse.

I shook my head bitterly.

“Well, not to that extent. There are siblings I don’t particularly like.”

“Then what would you do if you were in my situation?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I don’t want a bloody war.”

“Even if it means your death?”

“That’s a meaningless question. As long as I’m around, Princess Etherian won’t die.”

When I showed her my determined gaze, Princess Etherian smiled gently.

“Are you saying you’ll take responsibility for me?”

“Then would you give up the throne and live with me in a small house?”

I curled my lips mischievously, causing Princess Etherian’s cheeks to flush.

“You’ve become quite natural at teasing me.”

“That’s proof that I’ve become closer to Princess Etherian.”

Princess Etherian gently set down the teacup she had been holding.

“Have you heard the strange rumors circulating in the palace lately?”

“What rumors?”

“Rumors that the Emperor has fallen ill with a fatal disease.”

“…Pardon?”

“What’s more, these are mixed with contradicting rumors that the Emperor is actually healthy, causing conflicts even among my followers.”

“…What does Princess Etherian think?”

“When I saw him recently, his complexion was certainly not good…”

Her voice trailed off as she seemed lost in thought, then slowly continued.

“It also bothers me that the Emperor suddenly opened up about the past.”

By the past, she must mean the story about Titus.

I lowered my posture slightly as I looked at Princess Etherian.

“I know about the past matter as well.”

Princess Etherian’s eyes widened in surprise.

“H-how do you know?”

“Emperor Malius brought up the past and asked me if it would be good to tell Princess Etherian.”

“…He asked you about that?”

“Whether he should tell you that the person his daughter trusted had betrayed her, or if he should keep hiding it… he had been agonizing over it for quite some time.”

“And you told him to tell me?”

“Yes, I told him that Princess Etherian is someone who can overcome it herself.”

Tears had formed in Princess Etherian’s eyes.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what she was thinking.

But one thing was certain—her heart was stirring.

“…It’s become difficult to meet the Emperor lately. Have you seen him?”

I smiled gently at Princess Etherian, who asked with a worried tone.

“It seems Emperor Malius found it very difficult to tell Princess Etherian about the past. But his health is fine, so you needn’t worry.”

Princess Etherian let out a short sigh of relief.

Then, she suddenly lifted her head to look at the sky.

“Since the Emperor consulted with you, I shall ask you as well.”

“Please do.”

“…Do you think I can become friends with Sirine?”

Though I couldn’t see Princess Etherian’s expression clearly as she looked up at the sky, I could vaguely guess.

“Yes, I think you can become friends.”

“Why?”

“Because Princess Sirine was swept into the succession dispute. And she’s kind.”

Princess Etherian turned her gaze from the sky to me.

“And me?”

“…Pardon?”

“You said Sirine is kind. Does that mean I’m not?”

“I wouldn’t say you’re not, but honestly, you’re not exactly kind…”

“W-what did you say!?”

“We had the same conversation earlier, but you are someone who tried to kill me.”

Princess Etherian cleared her throat awkwardly.

“…You certainly hold grudges.”

“It’s not a grudge; I’m saying Princess Etherian is too greedy. Just be satisfied with being beautiful.”

Princess Etherian’s cheeks flushed red again.

Then she hesitated and narrowed her eyes.

“Such a silver tongue…”

“Anyway, shall I help bridge the relationship between you and Princess Sirine?”

“…The Emperor would want that too, wouldn’t he?”

“Of course! You now know well that Emperor Malius has always wanted to break the vicious cycle of succession disputes in the imperial family, don’t you?”

“I thought it was too late for me to become friends with Sirine, but you seem to think otherwise.”

Finally seeing hope, I adjusted my posture and continued.

“No, I think now is the perfect time since Princess Etherian’s heart has changed.”

Princess Etherian fell silent again, seemingly lost in thought as she gazed at the scenery beyond the terrace.

Then, she slowly rose to her feet.

“Very well. Then come to my chambers this evening.”

“…Pardon?”

Thinking I had misheard, I blinked and asked again, but Princess Etherian responded with half-lidded eyes.

“I said, come to my chambers this evening.”