Ch.298Explosion (3)

The Empire of Minerva and the Kingdom of Teres are constantly at each other’s throats, but that doesn’t mean they’re in a hostile relationship.

To be precise, they’re in an opposing relationship, though they occasionally show goodwill, like sending Hyria to study at Halo Academy.

That’s why, unlike Alfheim, the teleport facility is located near the royal palace. This means there’s no need to go through the hassle of immigration checks, and one can head straight to the palace.

For reference, this matter will be conducted in a trial format and will take place inside the palace. I hear that not only relevant parties but also numerous nobles will attend.

It’s only natural that there would be interest when a princess of their country was struck. I had anticipated this much, but I heard something unexpected from Rina.

“There will be nobles defending you too. Most notably Count Kamar.”

“Count Kamar?”

“Yes. But it won’t be for your sake, but to attack the royal family. It would be good if you could use that, but it’s better to keep your mouth shut. This is your first time experiencing something like this, and your expressions give you away.”

I nodded at Rina’s words, which seemed like advice or a warning. As she suggested, keeping quiet and exercising the right to remain silent isn’t a bad idea.

Besides, this incident isn’t entirely unfavorable to me since Hyria is also at fault. What worries me is something else.

While talking with Rina, I glanced behind. Adelia and the escort knights are following with disciplined steps.

The escort knights maintain neutral expressions, but Adelia’s face looks somewhat gloomy.

She probably thinks I’m going through trouble because of her. It’s obvious without looking.

‘There’s no need to worry that much.’

Even as we entered the private room following the guide, Adelia’s face showed no signs of brightening.

I too couldn’t say anything, overwhelmed by the awkward atmosphere, without even having the leisure to look around the palace I was visiting for the first time.

Even as the guide explained something in front, it didn’t register well in my ears. I was more worried about whether the guide would recognize Adelia.

‘No. They probably did recognize her.’

The guide must know that the royals treat Adelia as if she doesn’t exist. So even if they wanted to acknowledge her, they likely couldn’t.

Especially given the wrinkles, they probably have more experience in the palace than others. In such situations, pretending not to know is the best strategy.

“Then, I hope both of you have a comfortable time.”

Eventually, we entered the guest room and were left alone with Adelia. I looked around the interior, which was dazzlingly splendid, befitting a guest room in the palace.

It’s not just a simple guest room; seeing that there’s even a bed, it’s almost at the level of a bedroom. The room is also larger than expected.

This suggests that the Kingdom of Teres is still treating me as a guest, not a criminal.

While it’s undeniable that I slapped Hyria’s cheek, this is their indication that they’re willing to listen to my side of the story.

Or it could just be for show. Either way, kings and nobles tend to value dignity.

But the fact that such people mistreated Adelia is a curious duality.

“…I’m sorry.”

As I was looking around the room with curiosity, Adelia, who had been fidgeting behind me, quietly spoke up.

When I turned around with a questioning look, Adelia had an expression that seemed like she might burst into tears at any moment.

She was trying her best to hold back by tightly pressing her lips together, which looked somewhat cute but also pitiful.

“For what?”

“Because of me… if it weren’t for me…”

Adelia started to sob, as if the emotional strain from the past fortnight had finally burst. Tears began to form in her sky-blue eyes.

She tried to hold back by tightly pressing her lips, but she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing, so she hurriedly wiped them away with her hands.

Though she appears strong on the outside, Adelia is delicate on the inside. She must have been blaming herself intensely all the way here.

She has a fragile mentality that was once broken and barely pieced back together. As such, she needs to be comforted well.

“There’s no need to blame yourself. You’ve done nothing wrong. They provoked us first.”

“But…”

“There you go again. As I’ve said many times, you just need to be by my side. Want a hug?”

“…”

When I opened my arms and gently offered, Adelia hesitated before embracing me.

Then, as I patted her back to reassure her, her sobbing gradually subsided.

She’s like a golden retriever, but despite her size, her personality is incredibly timid. Maybe that’s what makes her even more adorable.

Knock knock knock-

While I was comforting Adelia, someone knocked. Adelia, who seemed to have calmed down, slipped out of my embrace as soon as she heard the knock.

At this hour, there’s no one who would visit except Rina. Surely, Hyria wouldn’t come.

Adelia seemed to know this too, as she quickly wiped away her tears and moved to open the door.

“Ahem. Who is it?”

“Ah! Adel unnie? Is that Adel unnie’s voice?”

“Huh?”

From outside, the voice of a very young girl reached inside. Adelia also showed a surprised reaction as soon as she heard the voice.

Do they know each other? While Adelia momentarily froze, I approached and asked the girl beyond the door.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Lara! But whose voice is that?”

“Lara?”

With a questioning expression, I looked at Adelia after the girl identified herself as Lara. I’ve heard the name before, but I forgot who she was.

Adelia, seeing my expression, answered with a complex expression. It’s a different reaction from when she faced Hyria.

“…My youngest sister. A late child.”

“Unnie. Open the door. I want to see your face after so long.”

Lara’s whining from outside reached inside. If we leave her out there, it might attract attention, so it’s better to let her in.

With a nod of approval, Adelia skillfully opened the door. As the door swung open, Lara appeared.

‘A doll?’

As soon as the door opened, a cute doll-like figure appeared. Sky-blue hair and sky-blue eyes, which are almost symbolic of the Teres royal family.

Her bangs were cut straight across, and her long hair, which reached her waist, reflected light with its glossiness.

Overall, she had delicate features, but her large eyes and plump baby fat were the most noticeable.

In many ways, she seemed like a girl with great potential for the future, so I couldn’t help but admire her.

“Ah! Hello! I am the third princess of the Kingdom of Teres, Lara von Curtures!”

Lara, who didn’t know I was here, hurriedly greeted me as soon as she saw me. She held the edges of her dress with both hands and bowed her head.

Her clear voice, not yet affected by puberty, pierced my ears. I politely greeted her in return.

“Hello, Princess Lara. I am Issac Dukar Mayshall from the Empire of Minerva. It’s an honor to meet you, Princess.”

“I’m also glad to meet you, Issac! But…”

After cheerfully greeting me, Lara looked back and forth between me and Adelia, tilted her head, and expressed her confusion.

“Why is Issac with Adel unnie?”

“Hmm… Someone might see, so let’s go inside.”

Unlike the Crown Prince Laos and Princess Hyria, Lara seems to like Adelia. Come to think of it, even at the exhibition a year ago, Lara didn’t distance herself from Adelia.

Rather, I remember she tried to run out but was stopped by Hyria. The memory is so vivid because it was so intense.

After checking once more if anyone was watching, I let Lara in. Lara bowed her head in gratitude as she passed through the door.

That single gesture made me question if she was really raised in the same household. If it were Hyria, she would have ignored me and walked past.

“Unnie. Have you been well?”

“Y-yes… How about you, Lara?”

“I’m going to enter the academy soon!”

“You’ve already reached that age?”

“In two years!”

“…”

While I was closing the door, Lara and Adelia started chatting. Unlike the awkward Adelia, Lara was busy chattering like a lark.

It’s natural to doubt if this girl is really from the same royal family as Hyria. Or perhaps she doesn’t know that Adelia is an illegitimate child.

I approached them with these questions in mind. As I approached, Lara, who had been chattering, mentioned me.

“But what’s your relationship with Issac? I heard from my brother that you decided to live in the Empire…”

“Lady Cross is currently working as my personal maid, Princess. She also serves as a guard knight.”

“Ah, I see.”

Lara readily accepted my answer. It seems she doesn’t care what Adelia does.

But while she accepts it, she’s not without complaints.

“Then you could have at least written a letter. I’ve been waiting. Is it that hard to write one letter, unnie?”

“W-well… I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had the energy to write letters.”

Adelia is flustered and doesn’t know how to handle Lara’s complaints. It’s like watching a busy older sister due to work and a younger sister who waits for her.

However, there’s a bit of a lie in Adelia’s answer, as any letters she might have written would have been blocked.

But Lara seemed completely unaware of this fact. I asked cautiously.

“If I may ask, Princess Lara, could you tell me how old you are?”

“I’m 15.”

“I see.”

A late child. Born late and raised with abundant love, which is probably why she has such a cheerful personality.

But aside from her bright and cheerful nature, what’s noteworthy is that she doesn’t distance herself from Adelia, who is an illegitimate child.

Surely, she too must have been advised countless times to stay away from Adelia, to not get close to an illegitimate child.

With this thought, I looked at Adelia and asked in a very cautious voice.

“Princess, do you know about Lady Cross’s birth?”

As soon as I asked, Lara blinked her large eyes and answered.

“You mean that Adel unnie doesn’t have a mother? Or that she has a different mother?”

“…”

Like her doll-like appearance, she makes such innocent remarks. Adelia, more bewildered than angry, looked at Lara with an incredulous expression.

I’m not sure what she’s been told, but judging by her response, she seems to be aware of Adelia’s origins.

Meanwhile, Lara stood beside Adelia, grabbed her dress, and said in her characteristic clear voice.

“What does that matter? I just like unnie.”

“Haven’t you heard strange things from your other siblings?”

“I’ve been told not to get close to Adel unnie. I don’t understand why they say that when Adel unnie is such a good person. Even if we have different mothers, we share the same father, right?”

“Uh…”

My mind goes blank at this miraculous logic.

I’m not sure if it’s because she’s only 15 and lacks discernment, or if her thinking is more enlightened than others.

But thinking about it again, Lara is a special case.

Unlike the Teres royals who openly treat Adelia as a scapegoat or as if she doesn’t exist, Lara’s relationship with her is merely distant.

The only conscience in the Kingdom of Teres. That’s my first impression of Lara. Thanks to her, I could feel at ease.

“What do you like about Lady Cross, Princess Lara?”

“I just like her! Where else can you find someone as pretty and kind as unnie? Ah, please don’t tell my other brothers and sisters about this. I’ll get scolded.”

“I see. You must have been very disappointed when Lady Cross left.”

“Yes. But I’m happy that I can see her face like this now!”

As I continue to converse with Lara, Adelia’s face becomes increasingly filled with contentment. Though she’s grown, a sister is still a sister in her eyes.

Perhaps Lara’s existence was the reason Adelia could endure her hellish life in the palace.

Lara doesn’t care about Adelia’s origins and sees the person herself, which is nothing short of angelic.

‘But does Lara not know why I’m here?’

By the standards of my previous life, 15 is a teenager and an age to be protected, but this world is different.

While personalities may vary, even at 15, they know what they should know, and even as they enter puberty, they develop a sense of awareness.

Just as Rina and Marie entered the political scene by joining social gatherings from a young age, Lara likely followed a similar path.

But judging by her current behavior, she’s every bit the immature girl.

Perhaps being the late daughter, she was raised with utmost care, which is why she seems unaware of outside affairs.

“Issac, how long are you planning to stay in the Kingdom of Teres? I hope you can stay for a long time…”

“Do you want to be with Lady Cross?”

“Ah, was it that obvious? Yes! I want to be with unnie!”

“Hmm… Honestly, I’m not sure how long I’ll stay.”

I really don’t know since I’m planning to have a confrontation. Even if I brought the original manuscript, it’s uncertain if they’ll believe it, and I don’t know how the trial will proceed.

They might drag it out with absurd excuses to drain my energy. Whatever the case, it’s not easy to predict.

“Aww. Does that mean you might leave tomorrow?”

“It’s not certain, but it’s possible.”

“I understand. Can’t be helped. I’ll have to play with Adel unnie until then.”

“Haha.”

Lara’s adorable decision naturally brings a smile to my face. I wish other royals and nobles had such a conscience.

Of course, it didn’t take long to realize that was a vain hope.

“How dare you strike the noble face of the princess?! He should be executed immediately!”

“Right! And he hasn’t even inherited his title yet! What was he thinking?!”

“Looking at him, I can see the dignity of the Empire of Minerva.”

I haven’t even said a word yet, you bastards.