Ch.2625. Historical Distortion (7)

# 25. Historical Distortion (7)

Contrary to my expectations, she patiently waited the full week.

I made my way back to that place, my body now somewhat recovered.

I sat down in the small patch of grass, just as I had done that day.

“There’s a button here.”

Then I pressed the same button as before.

-Click!-

When a secret passage actually appeared, she rubbed her eyes as she stared at the sight.

I shrugged and said, “See?”

She couldn’t hide her surprised expression as she entered the passage.

I followed her inside.

-Flash!-

As the passage suddenly brightened, she looked around and asked, “How did you know something like this existed?”

“That’s a secret.”

“A secret?”

She looked at me with an expression that suggested she found this ridiculous.

I decided I had no choice but to be a bit shameless.

“You let it slide last time. Could you do the same this time?”

“Really… seriously…”

“I’ll tell you later, everything, including what I mentioned before.”

Her face brightened a bit upon hearing that.

She seemed pleased by the good news.

“Later? When exactly?”

“When Your Highness becomes Emperor, I’ll tell you.”

“Isn’t that too far in the future?”

She might think so, but that future isn’t actually that distant.

“His Majesty said he would abdicate once the Princess is qualified to inherit the throne, didn’t he?”

The Emperor had made such a statement relatively recently.

Those who heard the Emperor’s words envied the Princess, but regardless, she seemed to find the position of Emperor burdensome.

“So you won’t tell me unless I become Emperor?”

As expected, her words showed not even a trace of confidence.

“Your Highness will soon ascend to the throne.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because Your Highness has the qualifications, qualifications that the Emperor’s other children don’t possess.”

“I’m asking just in case… surely not…”

I cut off her words and spoke first.

“The qualifications I’m referring to aren’t trivial matters like bloodline.”

“Then what exactly…”

“That’s something Your Highness needs to figure out—what those qualifications are, and why His Majesty said such things.”

This isn’t a problem I can solve by telling her.

It’s an issue she must navigate on her own.

Of course, she will accomplish it splendidly.

“But… don’t worry too much.”

“How can I not worry…”

“That’s true.”

“Since it’s impossible not to think about it at all, just think about it moderately.”

Thinking about it now would just be a waste of time anyway.

The time will come if we wait.

The time when she can solve that problem.

“May I leave now?”

I was about to go, but she called me back.

“Wait.”

“What is it?”

“I have something to ask.”

“What?”

I waited for her answer with a somewhat foolish expression.

“Did you agree to join my party because you knew I was the Princess?”

“I knew you were the Princess from the beginning—when I saw Your Highness in the audience during the entrance exam, and when I first declined your offer.”

She smiled with interest at my words.

Then, brushing back her distinctive silver hair, she said, “I see. Then was your intrusion into the palace also to save my mother?”

“You can think whatever you like about that, Your Highness.”

“Hehe, how interesting. I’ll see you at the academy tomorrow.”

Just as we were about to part ways after finishing our conversation, I suddenly had a question.

Since it wasn’t particularly secretive, I asked her before leaving.

“So are we officially in the same party now?”

“Of course. Did you think otherwise?”

“A little…”

I thought the matter would naturally be forgotten after all this commotion, but that was my miscalculation.

“Come to the library after classes tomorrow. We’ll continue our conversation then.”

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

With that, we parted ways, promising to meet tomorrow.

I watched her retreating figure with contentment.

***

After parting with her, I returned home.

I carefully opened the front door and entered.

“I’m home.”

Unfortunately, in the home I was returning to after so long, only she was there.

“You’re back early?”

For some reason, her expression seemed slightly sulky.

I spoke to her as she glared at me with a displeased look.

“Looks like you were worried again?”

“M-me!? No way!”

She blushed and avoided my gaze.

It seems Ellin was worried about me this time too.

Then.

I remembered her crying behind me when I was nearly dying.

“Next time, at least carry a handkerchief.”

“Do you really want to die this time?!”

“You’d be crying and making a fuss if I died, yet here you are.”

As I continued to tease her, she was suddenly holding her staff.

Startled, I quickly added, “I’m still a patient, you know? Give me a break…”

Though I had recovered enough for daily activities, I still had wounds.

In this condition, taking one of her spells would cause unspeakable pain.

When I pleaded desperately, she put her staff back in her pocket.

“Then behave yourself.”

“Yes…”

I shouldn’t push my luck for a while.

‘If I mess up, I might really die by her hand.’

Moreover, dungeon exploration would be impossible for some time.

When it’s time to rest, I need to rest properly.

Otherwise, my wounds would reopen.

Ellin asked me with a somber expression, “Are you still in pain?”

“A little? I’m much better now.”

“That’s good. Mom and Dad were really worried too.”

I felt sorry for my parents.

I felt terrible for always causing them worry.

‘I’ll have to return to the academy again without seeing them…’

As if reading my thoughts, Ellin said, “I explained everything to our parents. Don’t worry too much.”

“Thanks.”

She frowned intensely.

“Ugh… so cheesy.”

“You complain even when I thank you.”

“Shut up, I need to go now.”

At her words, I instinctively looked at the clock.

The second hand was pointing to 7 o’clock.

“You’re right.”

Like her, I quickly packed my things.

“When’s the train?”

“In 10 minutes.”

Since the train station was less than a 5-minute walk away, there was no need to worry.

Still, we didn’t have much time, so we quickly left the house.

“Let’s go.”

***

‘It feels like it’s been a long time.’

Though it hadn’t actually been that long, seeing the academy after a week was somewhat moving.

After days of extraordinary events, ordinary days had finally returned.

The night view of the academy gave me a sense of everyday comfort.

“Take care.”

“Don’t recklessly go to dungeons tomorrow or anything. You’ll really die.”

“I know, I know. I get it.”

After nagging me, she immediately headed to the girls’ dormitory.

I also entered the boys’ dormitory after a long time.

‘Huh?’

As I entered, I saw familiar faces.

“You’re back early?”

“Are you okay?”

Raicle and Chris seemed to have been waiting for me in the dormitory lobby.

They approached me as soon as I entered.

Chris was concerned about me, while Raicle complained about my late return, having waited a long time.

I smiled as I approached my friends whom I hadn’t seen in a while.

“It’s been a while.”

Chris and Raicle each showed different reactions.

“Saying ‘it’s been a while’ for just a week.”

“A week is a long time. Are you feeling better now?”

Chris was different from someone else, as expected.

I spoke to him, genuinely appreciative of his concern.

“I’m fine now, though I shouldn’t overdo it.”

“That’s good.”

“But how did you know?”

He was probably referring to the Babylon Kingdom assassin’s attack on the palace.

I answered dishonestly.

“I saw it the day before.”

“You saw it?”

“Yeah, did you hear about the murder at a tavern near the palace?”

“Yeah… I heard about it recently. They found the culprit…”

“But the identity of the culprit hasn’t been revealed yet, right?”

They looked surprised.

Raicle asked me, “Don’t tell me the culprit was…?”

“Yeah, it was him. And…”

I continued, looking at Raicle.

“I was there and heard that the next target was the Empire’s Empress.”

Knowing how strong that person was, they didn’t ask why I didn’t stop it.

Then they fell silent, seeming to understand.

‘That’s a relief.’

Though it was a story I made up on the spot, fortunately, they believed me.

Partly because my story was plausible, but also because the culprit of that incident really was that person.

‘I should have told the Princess this story too…’

I regretted my poor judgment from the other day.

Chris looked at me and said, “Let’s go to my room.”

“Your room?”

“Yeah, follow me.”

Raicle and I followed Chris to his room.

We gathered in Chris’s room and each shared our stories.

I told them about what happened, and Chris mentioned he was currently developing a romantic interest in someone.

And Raicle, though reluctant, was pressured by our expectations and told us about his interactions with Professor Gloria.

‘This isn’t exactly ordinary, is it?’

It seems these days are still somewhat extraordinary.