The path up the hill from the collapsed almshouse was deserted. Cheraan looked around the deserted surroundings and muttered in a low voice.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
Of course, it was directed at Flavia. Judith gave Cheraan a look telling her not to do that. Flavia, who was walking a few steps away, did not respond, whether she heard Cheraan or not.
At the end of the hill, a small building was visible. Rather than a monastery, it would be more accurate to say that it was a ‘former monastery’. However, the arch leading to the entrance still had its shape, and judging from the flower bouquets that had not yet withered placed here and there, it seemed that people had not stopped coming.
“Shall I wait here?”
When they reached the entrance, Cheraan whispered. Judith nodded in agreement, and she turned around with a stern expression as if she were a guard guarding a treasure. Flavia went into the building first, and Judith followed.
The stone building had completely collapsed at the corner, revealing the outside world. Countless candles were lit here and there on the stone altars, platforms, and low steps.
Rotair was a country without a fixed state religion. Even the profession of priest had long since become meaningless, but there were still many civilians who relied on faith. The candles here were all lit by such people. They lit candles, placed coins, and prayed to God.
Neither of them had any coins or anything, so they had to light candles. Judith picked up a candle that was almost melted and short, relighted it, and folded her hands in front of her chest. However, Flavia, who had come to light the candle, seemed flustered and not praying properly.
Judith, who had been praying with her eyes closed, slowly opened them. Flavia was staring at the blazing flames with a strangely stiff expression. Judith, who had been watching this, looked down at the candle she had lit. And then she opened her mouth.
“You must be sad that I’m alive, right?”
It was an emotionless voice. But Flavia turned her head towards Judith with a start.
“What, what are you talking about? Your Highness... Crown Princess.”
“There’s no need to deny it. You didn’t expect me to be ignorant until now, did you?”
Flavia's face contorted. The blazing fire danced mockingly along the contours of her distorted face.
“I, I really... Wh, what are you talking about...”
“Flavia.”
It was an unfamiliar voice. Flavia held her breath without realizing it, hearing the soft voice that seemed to be suppressing many emotions. After a while, Judith looked straight at her again and opened her mouth.
“I know you hate me, but I don’t really want to fight Flavia. Isn’t it pointless? So just leave me alone. Then I can forgive you just this once.”
Flavia's trembling fingertips grabbed the hem of her dress. There was a thud, a sound of thread being ripped from somewhere. Flavia raised her pale face and glared at Judith. She didn’t even try to hide her hatred for her anymore. No, she didn’t even have the energy to hide it.
“A meaningless... fight?”
Judith looked at Flavia in silence.
"Is not it?"
“It would be a meaningless fight for you.”
It was a remark that came out so quickly that it was unthinkable for the usual Flavia. However, Judith was not flustered. She remained silent as if she could say anything. Flavia stood up from her spot, forgetting that Cheraan was outside.
“It would be meaningless to you who has everything. To you who lacks nothing, doesn’t everything in the world mean anything?”
Judith took a slow breath. She could smell the burning of a dry wick. It was pungent and poisonous.
“Flavia, you don’t know anything about me. If you think I lack nothing, it’s because you only see me as you want to see me. You can’t stand me because you only want to see what you have, because you only want to find what you don’t have.”
“I didn’t seek it out on purpose. I have nothing! You, everything, you. You have a husband who loves you, and everyone likes you. But what do I have? I, I want to be loved too. I deserve it!”
“No one said you didn’t deserve to be loved.”
A few candles burned a little brighter. As the light grew brighter, the shadows on Flavia’s face deepened. For a moment, her face, so thin that it seemed hard, twitched fiercely, and Judith thought that she was quite like Queen Gilsis.
Flavia raised her trembling finger and pointed at Judith, but the words did not come out as she had intended. Instead, anger, a helpless, painful hatred, seemed to rise up in her throat. It was as if her tongue was swelling, and it was hard to breathe.
“I, I, I hate you. I hate seeing you have everything and not want to miss anything. If only you weren’t here, I, I... I could have been there.”
“Well, was that really the case?”
Judith's lips slowly turned upward. At the sight of her, Flavia felt her mind heat up.
She couldn't forgive her. No way, no way. From the moment she became the Princess, people had no interest in Flavia.
Even though it was such a splendid wedding, she never felt happy. People came to Flavia's wedding and felt sorry for Judith.
The first Princess couldn't even have a wedding ceremony because of the Queen's refusal, so the second Princess was able to wear such a luxurious dress and smile, so they whispered that she must be thoughtless.
Why was it her fault? After that, there were still people who openly compared Judith and Flavia. The more they did, the more she could not help but shrink. Judith was great, noble, and even more beautiful day by day. Flavia was a pitiful being with nothing to brag about.
She was confident that she could do anything well if she received attention and praise from others like Judith. Judith was loved by everyone. So no matter what she did, she was only praised, but Flavia was not like that. It was unfair.
“I can’t... I can’t forgive you. I hate you for having everything I don’t have. I hate you so much I could die... If only I didn’t have you... If only I didn’t have you, I, I...”
She could be loved too, if only Judith weren't there.
“You can’t replace me, Flavia.”
Flavia's eyes widened. She almost ran to Judith, unable to contain her anger. Her hands shook, her knees shook. Her jaw made a clicking sound.
Judith slowly rose to her feet. Her pale blue eyes looked straight up at Flavia.
“And that level of hatred won’t do anything to me.”
“What? What did you say?”
“You should have been prepared to die. If you really hated me and wanted to get rid of me. Like I did.”
Flavia could not understand what Judith was saying.
No, she didn't want to understand. She just wanted to avoid it, just like she always did. She didn't want to take responsibility for anything. She just wanted to sit still and do nothing, and everything would work out on its own.
Judith just stared at Flavia without saying a word. Suddenly, a strong wind blew through the collapsed part and shook the candles. A thin stream of smoke rose.
“Your Highness the Crown Princess!”
Cheraan's urgent voice echoed through the empty building. Judith and Flavia went out almost simultaneously, hearing the sound of horse hooves and cartwheels not far away.
A dozen or so people came up the hillside path and stood facing the three. Their attire was familiar. They were similar to the people who had gathered near the workhouse. However, they were carrying weapons, and the two carriages they were pulling were also suspicious. At first glance, they looked like carriages often used by the merchants, but there was no sign to prove which merchant they were.
“Step back, Your Highness.”
Cheraan was already blocking Judith's path with her sword drawn. The man who saw her holding the sword laughed and pointed at her.
“Hey, look at her. She’s so scared, her legs are about to give out.”
“If you just stay still, nothing will happen, so why don’t you relax a bit? Smile brightly. If I like you, I’ll treat you gently and kindly.”
The only one with a weapon was Cheraan, and she was a woman, so the gang was busy arguing while slowly approaching.
“Redheads are originally a bit playful, but it’s fun. But which girl should I catch?”
“Wouldn’t it be okay if we just caught them all?”
At that moment, Flavia's face turned pale as she listened from behind. As soon as she saw them, she immediately guessed that they were the people her mother had been talking about. But what does it mean to catch them all? Didn't her father tell them about her? Or her mother? No one?
“Come here to see Uncle. If you behave, I’ll pat your butt too...”
The man who had been approaching Cheeran with a thud suddenly stopped talking. Before his mouth, which had been wide open, could even close, his eyes, as small as grains of rice, turned to the side. What he saw was a thin blade sticking out from his palm.
“Eww!”
The moment a thick scream burst from the man's mouth, Cheraan pulled out the sword that had pierced the middle of his hand, turning it to the side. As she cut halfway through his wrist and forearm, a spurt of bright red blood burst out. As the screaming man knelt down on one knee, Cheraan swung her sword and completely blew off the other hand that had been holding the weapon. It happened in an instant.
“What am I going to do with this, since you don’t even have a hand to scratch my butt, let alone knock on it?”
The moment Cheraan's words fell, the men who had been watching this scene in a daze all rolled their eyes and ran towards him.
“Your Highness the Crown Princess, please go inside!”
As soon as Judith heard Cheraan's words, she grabbed Flavia and ran inside the monastery building. It would only cause trouble for someone who couldn't even fight to wander around.
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