Good Intentions Don’t Always Bring Good Results (10)

To Amira, all of this felt like a dream.

Although they had avoided total annihilation thanks to the Azrami tribe members remaining in the tribal territory, all the Azrami tribe members in this imperial palace had been killed. Moreover, it was caused by the Saintess whom Amira herself had served. Everything felt as if it had happened in a dream, and it seemed like she might wake up at any moment and be back in the church territory for education.

“It’s not… a dream, is it…”

Amira muttered, touching the crown placed on her head.

The cold, hard sensation of that crown seemed to tell her that this was indeed reality.

Several days had passed since that incident.

That night when the tragedy occurred—or perhaps dawn.

Atilamancha, who had entered the imperial palace carried by Catsy on Yona’s orders, was also stunned by the sight, and was further shocked by Alevian’s words that all this should be treated as the result of the Meadow Lizardmen winning the civil war.

But there was no other choice.

The assassination of the emperor was a serious crime, but the perpetrator was an existence close to an absolute being that they could not oppose, and if this fact became widely known, the entire empire would fall into chaos.

The civil war had already broken out, and the other tribes in the council had tacitly approved of the civil war. Then, regarding what happened as a result of the civil war, although it could be said that this was too extreme, the Azrami tribe had not been completely annihilated, so their existence as a tribe remained intact.

Atilamancha, and the Meadow Gill tribe.

Amira Al Azrami, and the Azrami tribe.

These two tribes had clashed in civil war, and Berbaria, the guardian deity of the Azrami tribe, had directly descended—breaking the unwritten rule of not interfering in human affairs, Berbaria had protected the Azrami tribe under this pretext.

And under this pretext, the Meadow Gill tribe was ultimately defeated.

As a result of the fierce battle, only Amira remained of the Azrami royal family, and the Meadow Gill tribe accepted the result of defeat—

This was the summarized outcome.

And Amira succeeded the deceased Aporza Al Azrami to ascend to the throne of the Katus Empire.

That’s how the past few days had passed.

Amira became the emperor, though it would not be an exaggeration to call her a puppet.

However, Amira, who was not happy at all, slowly caressed her chest.

The beating of the heart felt in that chest.

But it was questionable whether this heart could truly be called her own.

• • You don’t need to resent me. It’s only natural to resent your father who deceived even you and tried to deceive me too. So, accept it.

 

• • Now your life belongs to me. I can know everything you do and wherever you are. If you do anything even slightly strange…

 

• • You understand what I mean, right? So, don’t try any strange tricks from now on. If you don’t want to die without anyone knowing.

The words Yona had whispered in her ear vividly came to mind.

The heart beating in her chest was hers, yet not hers.

Whenever and wherever Yona wished it, she would have to die.

She had no choice but to die.

‘Kuh…’

Amira sighed deeply.

The crown placed on her head felt incredibly heavy.

“I don’t… regret it. Because it’s refreshing.”

“…Yona.”

It was a small garden at the back of the imperial palace.

In the garden, where a temperature-control spell was cast, all kinds of flowers were in full bloom, and whenever the wind blew, they gently swayed and scattered their petals.

The petals flying on the wind each had their own charm, and the wind that could be called a festival of petals carried the scent of flowers as it wandered through the garden.

And on a bench placed in that garden, Yona and Alec were sitting side by side.

“I see, is that so.”

That was all Alec could say.

That night, as soon as Yona regained consciousness in Alec’s arms, she opened her mouth the moment their eyes met.

And her first words were exactly that.

• • …It was my will. I wanted it too. Because they tried to kill you. I could never forgive them.

Thinking of this, Alec let out a long sigh.

He couldn’t figure out where things had gone wrong.

He had also asked Yona about what had been possessing her body, but she refused to answer about that. Still, Alec could guess.

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same. Even if I went back to that time, I would act the same way.”

A flower petal landed on the bridge of Yona’s nose.

She blew it away with a puff of air and still scratched her nose as if it tickled.

“Alec, because they tried to kill you.”

“Even if they tried to kill me—”

“Besides, my goodwill… it’s not that cheap.”

At those words, Alec closed his mouth.

When this came up, Alec had nothing he could say.

He knew all too well. Alec knew all too well how many times Yona’s goodwill had been trampled on until now. It was true that he had felt sorry for her because of this, and had tried to be a source of strength for her—but it seems it wasn’t enough.

“My goodwill wasn’t cheap enough to be trampled on so easily. How many times, how many times… I didn’t show any displeasure to those who tried to use me. Even so, I let myself be used. What did I get in return? Nothing.”

“Yona…”

“I’m tired now too. Ceres, that damn woman. It’s so frustrating and infuriating to realize only now that things have become so twisted because of her. Is that all? She tried to make me the Sky God—hah.”

Since falling into this incomprehensible world, Yona had been utterly unable to understand why she had become like this.

Not only that, but she had to fight and fight again in that world, enduring hardships and risking her life frequently.

“Now that I think about it, that procedure to return to being a man… I think it failed because of that Ceres woman too.”

All those gold coins she had collected.

Despite pouring in all 120 gold coins, the procedure failed, and the money was wasted.

Of course, it was Ceres who had given her that money, but that’s not the important part.

“Alec. Look at me.”

At some point, Alec was no longer looking at Yona, but had lowered his gaze.

Holding Alec’s hand, Yona called out to him.

“I think I’ve done really well until now. Even though I’m not smart, have a quick temper, and have many shortcomings in various ways, I think I’ve tried that much. I’ve done really well, haven’t I? I really worked hard. I really, really lived diligently, you know?”

Alec couldn’t bring himself to answer those words.

No one could tell Yona not to live her life that way.

Because Yona had lived so fiercely and diligently.

Because there probably aren’t many people who have lived as diligently as Yona.

“But why do I have to keep suffering? And on top of that, now there’s a woman trying to erase my body, my very existence. It really almost happened. So I’m not going to endure it anymore. As soon as Alevian finds Ceres, I’m going to go and kill her. Then it will all be over. So, Alec.”

Yona called out to Alec.

Alec had no idea what he should say.

He wasn’t completely unaware of how Yona felt, what emotions she was speaking with.

Although he couldn’t say he fully understood since he wasn’t her, he wasn’t entirely unaware either.

That’s why it hurt his heart even more.

Despite following her for years, despite Yona being in such pain, the fact that Alec couldn’t be of help to her was tormenting him.

“You—Alec, what happened to you, to your holy power… about that, yes. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I’m really sorry. The fact that there was no other way to save you, that’s… just an excuse. I’m really sorry about that. But Alec, please help me. I really, now, the person I can trust is…”

Her voice trembled.

Despite desperately calling out to Alec, now Yona had lowered her head and her shoulders were shaking.

Alec gently wrapped his hand around Yona’s.

Yona’s hand was cold, but still retained some warmth.

Warm droplets fell and spread on the back of Alec’s hand that held Yona’s.

“I feel like… really, really, the person I can trust… besides you, there’s no one left now…”

Watching Yona sobbing, Alec couldn’t say anything.

The flower-scented breeze was still cool.

The warm flower-scented breeze carrying petals was pleasantly cool.

The garden was tranquil and truly lovely.

On a small bench in that garden, Alec was holding Yona and patting her back.

Early summer was approaching.

“A, a visitor has arrived.”

Yona was just leaving the room after sternly warning Alevian that if she didn’t find Ceres quickly, her name would become Ceres.

A guard belonging to the imperial palace nervously approached Yona and left those words, and Yona followed the guard with her head tilted in confusion.

‘I don’t have any visitors coming?’

Who could have followed her all the way to Katus?

‘Could it be Teacher Eije?’

It might be.

Yona suddenly felt happy.

Although she had said Alec was the only person in the world she could trust, Teacher Eije was still the best.

Thinking this, Yona hurriedly followed behind the guard.

What should she say when she meets the teacher?

What had happened, and how she had responded.

But if she told him about killing all the Azrami tribe, wouldn’t she get spanked until her bottom split—

Worrying about such things, Yona followed to the reception room and immediately frowned upon seeing who was waiting inside.

“…The dwarf dung bag has chased me all the way here?”

“What are you saying? As soon as we meet.”

Bigrind with her face completely furrowed.

And Ludvig, awkwardly smiling at Yona and uneasily rising from his chair.

They were certainly not welcome visitors.