Ch.301Trial (3)

    The judgment against me has been passed. Regardless of me being Xenon, the cause of this incident was triggered when I slapped Hyria’s cheek.

    However, after revealing my identity, they judged that Hyria had provoked the situation. The rest of the verdict stated that the Empire of Minerva should handle the matter.

    It seems that with Adelia’s birth circumstances combined with my not-quite-spoiler revelation, Fredrick couldn’t act recklessly anymore.

    Once the seed of doubt takes root in one’s heart, it grows and begins to ensnare them. From the moment Biography of Xenon volume 22 is published, that vine will slowly begin to tighten around their necks.

    I won’t be able to leisurely attend the Halo Academy until then. Even though it’s still at the stage of suspicion, now that I’ve revealed my identity, rumors will gradually spread outward.

    The real beginning will be when newspapers with noble connections eagerly pick up those rumors. Revealing my identity during this trial was merely a preliminary skirmish or a taste of what’s to come.

    And just as much as I’m tense, the royal family of the Kingdom of Teres must be on edge too. They might think it was bluffing during the trial, but I plan to stamp it with authority later.

    For now, I’ll wait until those rumors slowly spread and my name appears in the newspapers.

    “Issac.”

    “Hmm?”

    “Thank you. Really.”

    After the trial ended, before returning to the Empire of Minerva, we came back to the guest room. When I threw myself on the bed to rest briefly, Adelia expressed her gratitude.

    I just slightly lifted my head, and Adelia was looking at me with a warm smile.

    Affection, gratitude, regret, and more—her expression was a mixture of various emotions. But her affection toward me was clearly evident.

    During the trial, her existence was denied once again, but unlike last time, she stood firm without her mind collapsing.

    I smiled at her growth, seeing how she had shaken off her trauma even if some lingering attachment remained.

    “Noona. Would you come here for a moment?”

    With a gesture, I beckoned her to come closer. Adelia slowly moved toward me, her face still wearing that affectionate smile.

    When she came right in front of me, I pulled her arm to make her fall into my embrace.

    Adelia must have anticipated this, as she didn’t let out a sharp cry and landed very softly.

    “I told you. I’ll be on your side until the end.”

    “Still, thank you. Meeting Nicole and meeting you has been my greatest fortune. I think all my past misfortunes might have been worth it just to meet you.”

    “And I found a knight who will dedicate her life to me.”

    We shared each other’s warmth and emotional connection for a long time.

    There was no subtle or ambiguous atmosphere—just a hug purely for healing.

    “Haah…”

    Adelia seemed satisfied with the embrace, letting out a languid moan. I smiled contentedly and patted her back as if soothing a child.

    The trial is over, but it’s not really over. As culture develops through the Biography of Xenon, the Kingdom of Teres will gradually enter a dark period.

    An empire that suffers external invasion can be rebuilt, but an empire that begins to crumble from within cannot recover.

    Perhaps in that process, they might try to harm Adelia or me as a desperate last resort.

    Moreover, all the benefits I gained by hiding my identity have disappeared, and annoying situations, especially direct threats like devil worshippers, might approach.

    But it’s fine. I have reliable supporters, including Adelia. They will never be able to break through my fence.

    Knock, knock, knock—

    How long had we been embracing? As soon as we heard the knocking sound, we separated without either of us taking the initiative.

    I’d like to go all the way if I could, but this is the Kingdom of Teres. No matter how much I desire it, I must restrain myself when necessary.

    Adelia moved away from me with a regretful expression and walked to open the door.

    Knock, knock, knock!!

    My, what an impatient person. Who could it be? Perhaps Lara?

    I’ve only met her once, but she really likes Adelia, so it’s quite possible.

    I plan to treat her favorably, as she’s the last conscience of the Teres royal family, unlike the other royals.

    “Who is it?”

    “Ah, Adelia…?”

    “Huh?”

    But the voice from outside the door isn’t Lara’s. Though muffled, the owner of this voice is clearly Hyria.

    Why has she come to the guest room where I’m resting? While Adelia was looking at me in confusion, I got up from the bed and headed toward the door.

    When I opened the door wide, Hyria’s figure was fully revealed. Unlike when I saw her at the academy, she looked completely shrunken, like a squirrel.

    Though her build is slender, she’s quite tall, not much shorter than Adelia, so she never seemed small before—but now she does.

    Her proud and arrogant attitude had completely vanished, leaving only a small animal trembling in fear of something.

    I saw her during the trial too, but facing her directly now, the difference is so stark that I doubt if she’s the same person.

    “…Princess Hyria?”

    “I, I…”

    When I called her, she even stammered. Judging that leaving her like this might attract attention, I let her inside.

    As Hyria entered, Adelia looked at her with indifferent eyes.

    Instead, Hyria couldn’t meet Adelia’s gaze and was actively avoiding it.

    The situation has completely reversed. I wonder what Hyria has come to say to me.

    I’m a little—no, very—curious.

    “Please sit here…”

    “I’m, I’m sorry.”

    “Wha… What?”

    Before I could invite her to sit at the table, Hyria apologized first. When I turned my head, she had bowed her head deeply.

    Her sky-blue hair hung down like a curtain, and I couldn’t see her expression, but judging from her trembling body, one thing was clear.

    Hyria is afraid. And she completely believes that I am Xenon.

    I stared at the back of Hyria’s head for a moment, then turned toward Adelia.

    Adelia seemed not to have expected Hyria to bow her head so abruptly either. She wore a surprised expression.

    “Princess Hyria.”

    “Yes, yes.”

    “Please raise your head first.”

    At my words, Hyria slowly lifted her head. As she did, I could clearly see her expression.

    Trembling lips and sky-blue eyes shaking as if in an earthquake. Cold sweat running down her cheeks.

    She’s showing extreme anxiety symptoms. Just like Adelia a year ago when she met the Teres royal family at the exhibition.

    In contrast, Adelia was completely calm, even appearing thoughtless. For now, she only had questions.

    I silently looked at the pitifully trembling Hyria, then smiled slyly and spoke smoothly.

    “Why are you trembling so much? Someone might think I’m going to eat you.”

    “I’m, I’m sorry. I, I dared without knowing my place…”

    “Don’t tremble, and please look at me directly, Princess Hyria.”

    “…”

    At my “kind” request, Hyria stopped mid-sentence and looked at me directly. Her gaze occasionally wavered, but she was trying to comply with my request.

    Her usual confident attitude had completely disappeared, and she had become so docile that she looked like a completely different person.

    Hyria doesn’t lack self-awareness. She’s behaving this way precisely because she knows her place too well.

    “Princess.”

    “Yes, yes.”

    “Did you hate Adel noona that much?”

    “…”

    At my question, Hyria’s gaze turned to Adelia. When their eyes met, Adelia’s expression became complex.

    She had longed for her blood relatives, but was beautifully abandoned, and then met me to form a new family.

    Now, one of those blood relatives has thrown away all pride and is apologizing. It must be both novel and emotionally complicated for her.

    “What Adel noona needed wasn’t the throne, power, or wealth. She just needed familial affection. But the royal family, including Princess Hyria, not only failed to give her affection but subjected her to abuse and humiliation. Do you understand what I mean?”

    “I’ll, I’ll do anything! From now on, I’ll call her sister… no, Lady Adelia! Please forgive…!”

    This woman, I haven’t even finished speaking. Hyria knelt down and began to beg as soon as my question ended.

    But I have no intention of forgiving her. If Adelia hadn’t become my woman, if I weren’t Xenon, Hyria would never have changed.

    I knelt on one knee to match the eye level of Hyria, who was kneeling and begging disgracefully.

    “Princess Hyria. If I weren’t Xenon, would you have begged like this?”

    “Hic… sob…”

    “If you had considered Adel noona as family even a little, would this have happened?”

    “Please…”

    Hyria only sobbed in response to my questions, not answering them. In a way, she could be considered incredibly unlucky.

    But that doesn’t mean I can forgive her. Even if the kind-hearted Adelia were to forgive her…

    ‘…That won’t happen.’

    I glanced at Adelia to check, and she was looking down at Hyria with a disgusted expression.

    The title of “sister” that she had wanted so much normally. But if this situation hadn’t occurred, it means Hyria would never have acknowledged Adelia as family for her entire life.

    It’s natural for all affection to disappear. Moreover, she was openly denied her existence in the recent trial, so she must feel disgust as well.

    To be honest, I have no intention of forgiving Hyria. More precisely, I don’t even think about it.

    My resentment was resolved when I slapped her cheek and revealed my identity, and the Kingdom of Teres will go through a period of decline.

    “You must pay the price for touching my family, Princess Hyria. Thanks to the ball you shot, I had to reveal my identity, which means I’ve suffered considerable loss. The Kingdom of Teres entering a dark period isn’t enough.”

    “No, please! Please at least let us continue to exist!”

    Perhaps because of the Jeiros Revolution that shook the nation’s foundation several decades ago? Hyria was startled by my words, perhaps reminded of revolution, and cried out urgently.

    Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange if a revolution occurred, as the Kingdom of Teres has strong cohesion. This can be a great strength for a nation, but it can also be poison.

    When the citizens of the Kingdom of Teres read my few letters and the upcoming Biography of Xenon volume 22, how will they react?

    If I reveal my identity to everyone as the final touch, what path will the Kingdom of Teres take?

    In the worst case, as Hyria fears, it could collapse from within and walk the path of destruction. The nobles who have been checking the royal family might gain power, and another royal family might emerge.

    A change of royal authority. Or revolution.

    This is the future Hyria fears most, and her own safety is at stake.

    “I’ll, I’ll become a slave if you want! I don’t mind becoming a plaything! If, if you don’t believe me, even right now…!”

    Her anxiety symptoms fully manifested as Hyria began to hastily remove her clothes with trembling hands. It’s a uniform, not a dress, so it’s easy to remove alone.

    As I was about to stop her in surprise, Adelia, who couldn’t bear to watch anymore, stopped her first.

    “Stop it, Princess Hyria.”

    “Si, sister… no, Adelia…”

    “I am not your sister. I am merely Issac’s dedicated personal maid. I no longer have any connection with the Teres royal family.”

    “Ugh…”

    Tears began to well up in Hyria’s eyes, as if she instinctively realized there was no way out. You should have behaved better before.

    I looked at Hyria, who was doing everything possible to be forgiven, with contemptuous eyes and spoke in a gentle voice.

    “Princess Hyria. I don’t need your body. I’m not interested in women’s charms, and above all, I have a much more excellent woman by my side.”

    Well, objectively speaking, Hyria is certainly a beautiful woman. But because of the likability she’s lost so far, I have no plans to accept her.

    Just one thing, I wouldn’t mind if she became Adelia’s slave rather than mine. Like returning all the abuse and humiliation that Adelia received as a child.

    And even if Hyria doesn’t want it, it’s obvious that the Teres royal family will send someone later. Whether it’s Hyria or Lara, it will be one of them.

    At that time, it would be better to accept Lara. Lara is the only conscience left in the Teres royal family, and it would be uncomfortable if that conscience disappeared without knowing anything.

    Above all, Lara is the only one who treated Adelia as family. Seeing that they still maintain a good relationship, at least Lara should be protected.

    “So I don’t need you, Princess. Even if you force your way in, it would be very difficult for you.”

    “I, I can endure it.”

    “Really?”

    “Yes!”

    “Like Adel noona endured?”

    “Yes!”

    “…”

    Hyria is saying things she doesn’t mean, desperately trying to grasp at straws. It feels even more disgusting because there’s not a hint of hesitation.

    Hyria should never have given a positive answer here. If she had known even a little of the pain Adelia felt, she couldn’t have said such things.

    People aren’t meant to be fixed and used again, and though she’s clinging to my pant leg, her terrible selfishness remains.

    She is a potential risk factor who would likely stab me in the back if her own safety were secured.

    *Swish*

    Suppressing my inner thoughts, I smiled and placed my hand on Hyria’s cheek.

    At that action, perhaps thinking she had received permission, Hyria’s face gradually relaxed.

    Though her lips were still trembling, her face showed complete relief.

    “…Princess Hyria.”

    “Yes, yes!”

    “That’s not it.”

    “What…?”

    “That’s not what I meant.”

    Perhaps she didn’t expect a negative answer. Hyria looked dumbfounded at my words.

    Nevertheless, my hand was still gently stroking her cheek. As if telling her to wake up from her dream, as if telling her to be satisfied with this.

    “If you had understood even a little of the pain Adel noona experienced, if you had shown even a little understanding, such an answer wouldn’t have come out. Adel noona endured as a knight and as a woman, despite being far more excellent. When you used training as an excuse to beat Adel noona, when you insulted her parents right in front of her, when she almost lost the man she loved right before her eyes, when I slapped your cheek and came to the Kingdom of Teres!”

    “…”

    As I raised my voice, Hyria’s body flinched greatly. Fear and terror were etched in her trembling eyes, and her complexion grew increasingly pale.

    “She blamed herself, saying it was her fault, and truly apologized. She whipped herself, saying it was her fault even when it wasn’t. But what about you, Princess? No, it’s not like that. Despite having committed wrongs, you’ve only answered for your own survival, without any empathy.”

    The Teres royal family is an infinitely affectionate father, sibling, and family to “their own people.” But they don’t care about those who have fallen out of favor, like Adelia.

    Understanding and empathy are nonsense—they only think about their own satisfaction and benefit. They’re not incapable, but that makes them potentially more vicious.

    How did Adelia manage to endure steadfastly in such a household, and how was a conscience like Lara born in such a family?

    I wonder if the First Princess Olivia, who was said to have married into the Dutchy of Bellua, has the same personality. Even without me, the future of the Kingdom of Teres is incredibly dark.

    “You said you wanted forgiveness? Then live on from now on. Live silently while receiving all kinds of contempt, just as Adelia did. The Kingdom of Teres, once called the country of culture, won’t perish just because of this. Prince Fredrick is an excellent ruler with outstanding abilities. But the gaze toward you won’t be favorable.”

    “Ugh…”

    Tears welled up at the corners of Hyria’s eyes, as if she was already imagining a gloomy future. Those tears flowed down her cheeks, revealing her regret.

    Will Hyria be able to endure, or will she flee, unable to endure like Adelia?

    I hope she doesn’t run away and that a day comes when she can “sincerely” apologize to Adelia. By now, trauma has likely been deeply engraved in Hyria’s heart, just like it was for Adelia.

    “I’m… sorry…”

    “…”

    “I’m… really sorry…”

    Hyria bowed her head deeply and even prostrated herself as she pleaded once more. A situation where a princess of a country not only kneels but lies flat on the ground.

    Toward such a princess, I gave an answer with a smile that might seem quite cruel.

    “No.”

    Endure with evil and stubbornness.

    “Just endure.”

    It’s the small ball you shot up.


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