episode_0031

I am reminded of a phrase I read in a past life.

Even I, who am loved enough right now, can’t say those words myself.

“And, you asked for help, right?”

He didn’t say anything, but I could tell.

Help me, don’t abandon me, don’t leave me behind, the child was shouting at me with his eyes.

maybe. Me in my past life…

“It hurt, right?”

“……Yes.”

“I’m hungry too.”

“Yes.”

“But no one helped, right?”

“…All the people who helped me are dead.”

Still, it seems there was someone who helped. Should I consider this fortunate? Should I say it’s unfortunate that they’re all dead…

If I say something wrong, it feels like I’ll step on a landmine.

‘hmm.’

Ceria stared into my eyes. As if waiting for me to say something.

“At least, I’ll make sure you don’t get sick, cold, or hungry.”

“……”

“I have a lot of money.”

“Puhhuh.”

The girl had a blank expression, then covered her mouth and smiled prettily.

‘You really look like a princess.’

While I was feeling happy for no reason, Seria asked cautiously.

“…Can I hold your hand?”

“Yes.”

As she slowly laid down on the bed and carefully hugged me, I smiled and held her tightly.

And we talked about various things for a while.

“I’ll call you Seria from now on.”

“Yes, Marian.”

Just like a friend.

Still, it seems impossible for a 5-year-old to stay up all night. My eyes are closed.

“Marian, are you sleepy?”

“Yes. I… I’ll sleep first…”

Come to think of it, this is my first time sleeping with a friend.

* * *

“Good night Marian.”

Ceria hugged Marian, who was blinking.

“I will protect you, don’t worry…”

After saying that, Marian began snoring softly, perhaps because she was tired.

Ceria looked at Marian with a blank expression.

I’m scared that everything is a dream.

‘Actually, wasn’t he dead the moment he got stabbed in the carriage?’

She, a former princess, became a slave, escaped, met an archmage in a dark alley, and was in fact a 5-year-old girl who was transformed into a sorcerer.

It was a story that would not have appeared in a fairy tale.

Still, the child’s body temperature felt warm in my arms.

“Ugh. Don’t throw it away. Mom… please… I’ll just stay quiet in the corner. I won’t bother you, please…”

“……”

It was heartbreaking to see him desperately pleading, wondering what he was dreaming about. He looked like a loved child…

“Now that I think about it…”

Shortly after the Duchess gave birth to her second child… In other words, this child will not even know her mother’s face.

‘Still 5 years old…’

Could it be that the Duke abused his daughter?

“……”

Even he knows about the duke’s love. A duke who loved the common people. A marriage that went ahead despite everyone opposing it.

A romance and a father who abused his daughter were pictured in Seria’s mind.

“You said that was acting…? Yes, even the emperor stands in front of the nobles…”

Ceria wiped away Marian’s tears with her delicate fingers.

“Younger brother…”

Although he has become a friend, he is a child who only comes to his heart.

Even though I had many brothers, this was my first time with a younger sister… I wasn’t even close to my older sister in the first place.

‘She wasn’t a bad sister, but…’

The environment surrounding them was the worst.

“I want to protect it too.”

Even he himself knew from rumors that the duke was indifferent to his children.

I’ll have to watch closely.

*

next day.

“The head of the family is looking for you.”

The butler came to visit.

‘It just worked out.’

Duke of Aden Arjein.

Seria, who was in a daze about the news, also heard a lot about him.

The most well-known of the four great dukes. In both a good and bad sense.

The only known 8th Circle Archmage in the Chiron Empire. A person who led numerous wars to victory.

In other words, he was both a hero and a devil.

Since ancient times, bad rumors spread faster and last longer than good ones.

There were many people who criticized the duke, who had been secluded for over five years. He sacrificed his wife. Abuse their own children. Various rumors were spread.

Such a scary man now…

“I hope you don’t come out of Marian’s room for a while.”

Are you looking at me…?

Even though they know that I am a princess, they do not call me princess. I don’t want to be called that either, so I have no complaints.

“Why?”

Marian said she would give me my room starting today.

Together in the same room… I wasn’t happy about it, but I was curious.

“…Hmm.”

“Please speak, Duke.”

“…sigh. The 1st prince is at the duke’s residence.”

“……”

Seria’s eyes shook violently.

‘Esteban…’

A prime suspect who assassinated his mother and brother.

“Reap your life.”

“…I’m sorry.”

He was immature and half-hearted.

“You just have to be patient.”

“Okay.”

We can’t have assassins running rampant here.

‘But why?’

Just give the command.

He would have already been treated as dead. There was no merit in having him with him in the first place. There were countless more losses than benefits.

Because Marian is nice. But the duke…

“I think there is something I want to ask.”

Looks like Marian… . Slightly darker pink eyes look at you. I feel like my inner feelings have been revealed.

“…Why are you hiding me?”

“……”

“I am the princess, but I have no power, and my parents’ family has already been destroyed. Even if the Duke kills me now, no one will know.”

“…I, haha. I’m not that much of a monster. And because Marian wanted it.”

His words are true. All of his senses were telling him so.

Arms crossed, fingers twitching, eyes rolling around. Everything resembles that child.

Who else would the duke pay attention to? It’s probably a habit that other people don’t know about.

It resembles that child. That alone made the Duke, who was called a monster… not feel scary.

“Thank you.”

Seria bowed her head with sincerity.

“You will be staying in the east annex from now on. However, everything, including room assignment, is done after Esteban leaves. There should be no movement until then.”

“I know.”

An awkward silence came again.

OK.

With a click, the Duke pulled out something with a familiar hand gesture. A wonderful refreshment table was set out, including juice in glasses, small cookies, and even cake.

‘what…?’

I even understand space magic. But carrying something like this around?

“You probably like sweets, right?”

Isn’t it natural for girls to like sweets? That kind of question. Next, I set up cocoa. Familiar yet elegant hand movements.

He has two daughters. If you think about it that way, it’s not strange… . Something was strange.

“I will eat well.”

I picked up the cookie and paused. I tried to use detox magic out of habit and ended up taking it into my mouth.

‘so sweet…’

No noble could help him.

Unless you can give up succession.

Go home.

‘Prime Minister, please accept me as your daughter-in-law. I can give you all my property as a gift.’

‘Princess, His Majesty has already prevented any marriage talk from entering.’

‘…!’

The only option he could think of was marriage.

Although it was early, it was not without precedent, and at that time, I lost everything I could rely on and begged anyone.

‘Seria. ‘They say he does strange things.’

The news quickly reached the emperor’s ears. The eyes were so cold that it was impossible to imagine them looking at their own daughter.

Just wait patiently for death, that’s what I felt.

The imperial family was clearly strange.

‘Why aren’t you getting married?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I felt doubtful.

The imperial library, a place where only the royal family can enter.

I ended up discovering it there.

…

It was normal before, but.

From the year 1001 of the Empire, things started to feel strange.

———————————

And finally.

That’s all he saw.

I wonder if my name is written down by now.

“Write…”

The Duke held out his handkerchief.

“Ah.”

He was crying.

“Thank you.”

okay. I am. I escaped from that hell.