Ch.67Storm (2)

I can certainly understand why Rina would ask for my time. She’s clearly trying to calm the storm that started when I put the Biography of Xenon on hiatus.

What’s worth considering here is that Rina came to find me directly rather than sending a spokesperson. Last time we met by chance, but in this case, she could have sent someone to summon me.

This means the situation is serious enough that Rina needed to find me quickly to resolve it. From what I’ve heard in newspapers and around me, protests are breaking out across the Empire.

I suppose it makes sense – from the Empire’s perspective, they can’t easily dismiss a major event like the “Jeiros Revolution” happening in the neighboring rival Kingdom of Teres. For these reasons, it might be natural for Princess Rina to show humility.

“But do you really need to be here?”

“How do I know what you might do to Issac?”

By the way, it’s not just Rina and me – Marie has joined us too. As her words suggest, Marie came along worried that Rina might say something strange to me.

I don’t mind, but Rina certainly does. From her perspective, this should be a private conversation, so Marie’s stubbornness must be quite annoying.

Of course, this assumes Marie doesn’t know my secret. Marie seemed to recognize this as she glanced at Rina.

Rina’s usual poker face had completely crumbled, her brow furrowed in a cold expression. Marie snorted dismissively, raising one corner of her mouth as she replied nonchalantly.

“Besides, I know Issac’s secret too? You didn’t think you were the only one who knew, did you?”

“What? What do you mean…”

At Marie’s answer, Rina momentarily looked at me. She glanced back and forth between Marie and me before pressing her lips tightly together.

It was a look of acceptance. She stared ahead and muttered in a low voice.

“…Right. I suppose you might share secrets with someone so close.”

“Yes. That’s right. And I didn’t pressure him into confessing his secrets like some people.”

“I didn’t pressure…!”

Marie’s sarcasm seemed to upset Rina, who almost shouted before barely restraining herself. She glanced at me as she did so.

She must have felt guilty too. In reality, the gap created by class differences is enormous, and it increases exponentially when it comes to the ruling class.

Moreover, Rina has been involved in politics since childhood, so she must know this. She actually used that gap to pressure me and Nicole, and treated Jackson like a slave during our group project.

Unless she’s empty-headed or truly foolish, Rina must know that her mere presence can put pressure on others.

And Rina probably misunderstood that I decided to take a hiatus because I couldn’t handle that pressure. The real reason was to take time for my studies and to recharge.

But pressure was certainly part of it. If Rina and Leort hadn’t pressured me, I might have continued writing.

“…Let’s go to the café first. I’d like to resolve this as quickly as possible.”

Rina urged us with a voice that already sounded tired. Marie seemed to decide not to tease her anymore and said nothing.

In this atmosphere that seemed ready to fall apart, I was watching Rina’s mood when I caught Marie’s eye. When our eyes met, Marie smiled broadly and gently linked her arm with mine.

As she subtly pulled me toward her chest, I could feel the soft sensation of her breasts through her uniform, but I only smiled.

These affectionate gestures had become familiar enough that I only blushed slightly rather than feeling embarrassed.

“…You two look good together.”

Rina gave us a curious look as we displayed affection despite her presence. I gave a slightly embarrassed smile, but Marie tightened her arm around mine as if to show off and spoke.

“Jealous? Jealous? Even if you are, I’m never giving Issac up.”

“I don’t have a habit of stealing other people’s boyfriends.”

“I find that hard to believe coming from you.”

Marie clearly still distrusts Rina deeply. Rina could only give a bitter smile without responding.

At times like this, I always wonder what happened between these two to create such a relationship.

For someone as good-natured as Marie to distrust someone this much, Rina must have done something seriously wrong. Of course, there could be misunderstandings between them, so I should hear both sides someday.

“Will Leort be there too? I heard he was there when you called Issac and his sister.”

“…My brother has returned to the imperial palace for an emergency meeting. He’s probably getting scolded right now.”

“By the Emperor?”

Rina silently nodded at Marie’s question. I couldn’t help but be surprised internally.

If the Emperor is reprimanding the Crown Prince, the situation must be truly serious. I suspect Leort will probably apologize to Nicole and me later.

‘Wait. Why isn’t she calling Nicole?’

If they’re going to apologize, they should call Nicole too. But Rina has only called for me. That seems a bit strange.

I stared at Rina’s back as she walked ahead of us. Sensing my gaze, she turned her head and met my eyes.

“Do you have something to say? I can feel your stare.”

“I was wondering why you didn’t call my sister.”

“My brother will meet with Nicole.”

It seems that’s because Leort returned to the imperial palace. I wasn’t fully convinced, but since they were going to apologize, I could let it go for now.

We arrived at the café Rina led us to, and she secured a room with proper soundproofing and security. It was the same café where I had met with Cecilly before.

It gave me a strange feeling, remembering how I almost had a serious incident with Cecilly here. The difference now was that Marie sat beside me and Rina sat across from us.

As I was looking around thinking about this, an employee opened the door. They had prepared drinks even though we hadn’t ordered yet.

“As I mentioned before, don’t come in until I call for you. Understood?”

“Yes, understood.”

It seems she had made reservations in advance. Rina must have anticipated that I wouldn’t refuse.

Of course, even if I had refused, Rina probably wouldn’t have cared much. After all, she’s the Imperial Princess – a mere café wouldn’t dare object.

I looked at the steaming coffee and then at Rina’s face. Rina gestured with her hand and spoke.

“You can drink it. I didn’t put anything strange in it, so don’t misunderstand.”

“Thank you.”

“Why didn’t you get one for me?”

Marie grumbled beside me. Indeed, there was nothing placed in front of her.

Rina probably only planned to invite me, so she didn’t reserve anything for Marie.

“I was planning to only invite Issac. You barged in on your own.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s fortunate. Now I can prevent you from doing anything improper.”

“Marie, I’m not as cunning as you think. That time was truly unavoidable.”

“Even if it was unavoidable, you shouldn’t have done it. Back then…”

Marie’s emotions seemed to be rising as if some trauma had been triggered. As her voice began to rise, I silently took her hand.

Marie flinched at my touch and looked at me. When she met my face, her anger seemed to subside as she exhaled deeply and spoke quietly.

“…Fine. That’s not what’s important right now. I understand.”

“Thank you for understanding. And… Issac.”

“Yes, Lady Rina.”

I answered Rina’s call in my characteristically blunt manner. Rina faced me with a tense expression before letting out a deep sigh.

Though she looked quite pitiful in her troubled state, I didn’t feel sorry for her. After all, they were the ones who had done wrong.

Rina looked directly at my face and then put on a determined expression. Seeing this, I quietly waited, sensing something significant was coming.

“…First, let me say this. My brother suspects your father, Lord Hawk, is the author of the Biography of Xenon. But I’m different. I think Lord Hawk simply shared his experiences, and you’re the real author. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“I see… so it’s true.”

Since I had no intention of denying it, I could answer calmly. Rina nodded at my response and continued.

“Then… did you put the Biography of Xenon on hiatus because of us?”

“…”

“I won’t make excuses that it wasn’t intentional. I clearly understand that my very existence can put great pressure on others. In that situation, you must have felt tremendous pressure.”

I remained silent. I planned to keep my mouth shut until Rina got to the main point.

“So…”

She paused briefly, looked at me nervously, and then continued with a voice that had lost confidence.

“Did you… decide to take a hiatus because of us?”

“…”

“I really want to know if you were mentally distressed because we pressured you.”

At her question, which sounded almost pitiful, I thought deeply. As I mentioned earlier, I decided to take a hiatus for my studies and to recharge.

But if Rina and Leort hadn’t pressured me, I might not have even considered it. I can’t deny that the root cause lies with them.

I stared at Rina’s anxious expression for a moment before quietly speaking.

“I can’t say that’s not the case.”

“…”

At my ambiguous answer, Rina bit her lip, seemingly unable to control her emotions. It appears she’s starting to lose control of her feelings.

I found her lip-biting surprising and rubbed the back of my neck. It seemed I needed to be honest about my feelings now.

“The reason I decided to take a hiatus was for academy life and recharging – establishing the setting. But the fundamental reason was the pressure from those around me. If you two hadn’t called for me, I wouldn’t have taken a hiatus.”

“…”

“Let me say in advance that I have no intention of reversing the hiatus. I’m not the type to withdraw a decision once I’ve made it.”

As I stated firmly, Rina’s expression became even more complicated as she hesitated. Though I can’t see them now, I imagine her hands hidden under the table must be fidgeting with anxiety.

“…I understand.”

After contemplating for a while, Rina put on a determined expression and looked directly at my face. She seemed to be ignoring Marie sitting beside me.

And then…

“I’m sorry.”

Rina slowly bowed her head and apologized to me. Her golden hair, which looked as if spun from gold thread, gradually settled down and rested gently on the table.

I widened my eyes at her apology while slowly raising my chin. Though I had expected it, the Imperial Princess, the Emperor’s daughter, was bowing her head to apologize to me.

Just like when Cecilly sent me a letter, I felt a strange emotion crawling up from within my chest again.

“If you’ve been mentally distressed because of us, I apologize once more.”

“…”

“I won’t ask you to reverse your hiatus. But as you can see from the current situation, protests are breaking out everywhere and spreading to the point where they’re difficult to suppress. So please… can you help us resolve this situation?”

Listening to Rina’s request as she bowed her head, I realized one thing:

‘…Fame is truly frightening.’

My influence on the world really exceeds an enormous level.

‘I won’t be able to take hiatuses freely anymore.’

It seems I won’t be able to take hiatuses as I please in the future.