episode_0216

Not understanding what he meant, I widened my eyes. Uncle Joseph burst out laughing as if amused.

“Why. Did you think I came to tell you your execution date? Hahaha! You rascal!”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Ah, well—officially, you were ‘executed.’ You broke into the royal palace without permission and lopped off both of Consort Fosao’s hands! So… naturally, there’d be nothing but the death penalty, right?”

He let both his hands hang limply, dangling them.

“So, you were publicly executed in front of everyone. With this, everything that happened over the summer is now over.”

“Is this hell?”

“Of course not you, another condemned prisoner died in your place.”

“You framed someone else?”

“No. He wanted to.”

Uncle Joseph shrugged as if it were nothing.

“The day you caused the incident. Thanks to Marie, who told us the rebels’ hideout, I was released from captivity, and we managed to capture all the remaining rebels. When we offered one of them the chance to bear the ‘crime of having been able to cut off the Consort’s hands and even assassinate the Queen, but unfortunately failing,’ he begged us to say that when he died. After all—he was destined to be executed for plotting rebellion without achieving anything, a wretched fate. But now he got to die with great honor as a rebel. Wasn’t that a great stroke of luck for that prisoner? He probably felt happy even with the noose around his neck.”

In short, another condemned prisoner had already received and completed the punishment I was supposed to receive.

Someone with a different name and face, who knew nothing about me… accepted that crime proudly, just because they were a ‘rebel.’ I found it hard to understand.

Does that mean there are people who hate Tia that much?

“But how is that possible? I don’t remember it clearly, but… other soldiers definitely dragged me out then. They must have seen my face…”

“That? Well, it’s a result-oriented view, but—it was possible because Fosao didn’t die.”

Uncle Joseph sighed and crossed his arms. His voice sounded exhausted just from recalling that memory.

“When the soldiers were trying to drag your unconscious self away, Tia ordered them to take Fosao to the infirmary first, because his life was in danger. That pig was so heavy that it took all the soldiers working together just to move him. Thanks to that, when I arrived shortly after, I was able to take sole charge of you. I put a sack over your face and brought you secretly to this safe prison. Even in that urgent moment, Tia managed to get you out safely. If Fosao had died there, I think it would have been difficult for both Tia and me to intervene. You endured it very well, Ritsu.”

“……”

It wasn’t me who endured it, but Tia’s will.

“Didn’t Fosao accuse me?”

“Well. Fosao just kept quiet, didn’t he? To begin with, his condition is such that he couldn’t testify to anything, and Tia sent him for a recuperation on an island near the coast, so he’s not in Deseo right now. It’ll probably take a long time for him to return. Perhaps he might never see Tia again for the rest of his life.”

After the incident, Fosao was thoroughly excluded from power. Furthermore, the Piolo family, whom he had used as his backing, was also expelled.

Coincidentally, the armor I was wearing at the time belonged to the Piolo family, so it became known that Duke Piolo had instigated the Queen’s assassination, and he was immediately arrested. It was such a sudden turn of events that Duke Piolo was captured without any chance to act and is reportedly still detained.

The nobles of Deseo witnessed the power and wealth of the strongest Piolo family being absorbed by the royal family overnight.

By now, they must have certainly realized that Tia is by no means an ordinary Queen.

As long as she is alive, there will be no more extraordinary events.

A woman who can see the past and even glimpse the future, as ‘King’…

I am certain.

This nation will enjoy the strongest era ever seen in history.

Uncle Joseph scratched his head.

“By the way—if it’s alright, can you tell me what happened that day? Tia hasn’t said a thing about it. There’s an official account of the incident released to the public, but no matter how I think about it, that story… it’s just too strange.”

“How was it reported?”

“Haha—I don’t know how you’ll feel when you hear it, but.”

He cleared his throat with a *hrmph* and explained.

When the assassin infiltrated the King’s bedchamber, Consort Fosao, sensing the danger, woke from his sleep and immediately tried to protect the pregnant Queen.

After confronting the assassin with a sword, Fosao lost both his hands. But he bought enough time for the soldiers to enter, and ultimately, the assassin couldn’t attack the Queen—that was the story.

“That’s why Fosao came to be called a ‘hero.’ A hero who sacrificed his whole body to protect the Queen he loved.”

“……”

“Hah! For us, who know what kind of scoundrel Fosao is, it’s a story so absurd it’s not even funny.”

It certainly was an interesting story.

So different from the truth that it sounded like a fairy tale from a different country entirely.

“I see.”

“So, what happened?”

“Nothing special happened. It was exactly as you might expect. I just… decided to follow Tia’s will.”

“Then it was Tia who cut off Fosao’s hands, and also Tia who kept him alive, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm—are you really okay with it ending like this? You ultimately didn’t kill the person who was your target.”

I looked Uncle Joseph directly in the face.

“You could have stopped me anytime, Uncle. But you didn’t, and you surrendered obediently. Why was that?”

He answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Because I love you two.”

“The same goes for me.”

I said calmly.

“Because I love Tia… even now, I just want her to be even a little bit happy.”

Uncle Joseph, who had been staring at me blankly, nodded.

“Yes, Ritsu. That’s it. That’s the answer I wanted to hear, and the answer Tia chose as well. Now, live a new life. Live for your own life. We all witnessed your past grievances, so we will never take them lightly nor forget them.”

As if he had nothing more to say, he pulled down his hat and stood up.

The guard waiting outside cleared the table and chair. Then, without closing the door, he left it wide open and departed.

As I stood there blankly, Uncle Joseph grinned and gestured.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming out? Do you want to live there forever?”

I moved my foot and stepped outside the threshold.

We walked down the corridor together. I had thought this place was a dimly lit prison, but it turned out to be a very ordinary private residence.

So I had been living like a guest in a small room attached to this place.

At the end of the slightly dim indoor corridor was a door leading outside.

A rectangle emitting a very bright light—awaited me.

For some reason, my heart pounded hard.

The streets of Deseo, seemingly appearing and disappearing, slowly revealed themselves. My steps towards them did not stop, and I passed through.

The first thing I felt was—the damp, cold wind hitting my face.

And a cool vitality that filled my body.

“……”

The entire view of Deseo unfolded below. Countless people walked the streets, chatting. Wagons laden with goods moved slowly. It was bustling. The gentle tolling of a bell resonated from somewhere. Birds soared high.

Numerous ships docked along the coast. Laborers working at the harbor. Unknown islands faintly visible on the horizon beyond. And a single ruby-red castle overlooking it all.

Deseo, enjoying an era of prosperity, was utterly peaceful and appeared incredibly beautiful.

Uncle Joseph put his hands behind his back.

“I suppose I should return to the royal castle now. Ritsu, where will you go?”

“I…”

The words were about to come out but stopped.

Indeed. What would I want to do?

I had never felt truly free as I did at this moment. Yet, I didn’t feel an itch to do anything in particular.

“I don’t know.”

“Hahaha! You rascal, then shouldn’t you at least eat something first! Take this.”

Clink.

Uncle Joseph tossed a money pouch to me. I didn’t count how much was inside, but its considerable weight suggested it contained a good sum of money.

“Is it okay if I take it?”

“Of course! It’s the salary our Queen-nim gave, so use it carefully.”

He grabbed my shoulder and pointed towards the lower part of the city.

“If you walk straight down this street, there’s a good restaurant on the corner. It’s a place I frequent because the food is delicious. Go give it a try. Maybe if you eat something, you’ll start to think of something?”

“Alright. Thank you, Uncle.”

“Yes. You stay healthy from now on. And if you ever think of me, wherever you are, send a letter to say hello.”

“Yes. I will. Uncle, please… take good care of Tia too.”

“Hahaha! Alright!”

Uncle Joseph laughed heartily and waved at me.

Then he turned and began walking towards the royal castle. His back slowly disappeared among the busy crowds.

Huu—

A breath escaped me.

I stood there for a moment, savoring the subtle feeling of being left alone in this vast city.

It felt refreshing.

It felt as if all the heavy burdens I had carried on my shoulders had flown away.

I tore my gaze from the sky I had been looking at and walked along the street.

Right, I feel a little hungry too.

As Uncle said, I should probably eat something first.

Walking straight down the street, I saw a bustling restaurant. It was quite large, and there were many servers.

But it felt strangely familiar, and I had the thought that I had been here before, sometime.

However… I wasn’t sure.

As soon as I found a seat, I ordered vegetable egg stir-fry and calmly waited, deep in thought.

Should I go on a journey? This is Deseo. It’s a good place to take a ship to another country. Adventuring around the world and experiencing different cultures wouldn’t be bad.

Or I could stay here and open a pharmacy. It would require quite a bit of initial capital. But it’s what I’ve always done, so I’d be used to it.

If I truly have nowhere to go, Aban’s words, telling me to come to the academy, also came to mind. If I had to go somewhere right now, that might be the best place.

Clatter.

While I was lost in various thoughts, the food I ordered arrived.

The moment I looked up at the server to say thank you.

“……Oh.”

An autumn wind blew, and a strange silence fell over the noisy street.

It was as if time itself had stopped.

The person standing before me was……

A truly welcome and longed-for, small girl.

“Long time no see, Ritsu Oppa.”

“Marie…?”

She smiled brightly.