"Uh?"
For a father, it was nothing more than a blunder. I blinked my pumpkin-colored eyes in surprise.
Michael went downstairs to the bed. He lowered his head, unable to look me in the eye, and spoke.
“I don’t think this is an indulgence. I also know that it may sound more contemptuous.”
Michael almost bit his tongue when he said the word contempt.
It was obvious.
“But I still want to make sure of the facts.”
I took a deep breath before I could react.
“It’s not Michael’s child... What happened?”
An opportunity to explain arose. Michael used all his mind to carefully choose his words before speaking.
“A successor was needed as a means to stabilize the reign.”
I also knew that it was the ruler's duty to continue the lineage.
Here Michael was in a slightly more special situation.
“Yes. It’s the same as what I can control with the power of the King. Only the homunculus can control the philosopher's stone and Hadelamide bloodlines. That’s why the harp of the homunculus and the royal human was absolutely necessary.”
“So Rosie..."
“I couldn’t help it... because you didn’t love me in my past life. It’s not like it’s a problem if I’m the only one who wants that.”
"...I see."
The full story of the deceptive experiment has been revealed.
'...Am I terrible?'
It was never a level of sin that he could tolerate or condone.
Michael lowered his head again. He couldn't raise his head for fear of looking like a monster.
“Michael, Michael.”
Soft hands were lifting his face and a loving voice calling his name.
Michael's gaze was drawn to my gently smiling face.
“Michael, don’t make that face. I am not the one to judge or sentence Michael."
On the contrary, I had to see him as someone who wanted to take my side somehow.
Even I had a good excuse to absolve Michael on this matter.
“It’s okay. The Michael of this life is different from the last life.”
It was a long-awaited return. It wasn't fair that only I was given the opportunity.
It is not right to punish someone for something they did in a past life in this life.
Well, I took this opportunity to make a firm decision within myself.
'Yeah, it should have been like this from the beginning.'
Then Michael spoke with a voice still filled with pain.
“If I find my memories... won’t they all be the same? In fact, that’s why I thought I didn’t want to find my memories.”
“Michael is not going to change much.”
He was strict with himself in this life.
“You don’t have to worry about that. It’s all over now. Now that you’ve done it, don’t repeat it. That’s enough.”
“Eve..."
I held Michael's back tightly. In my comforting arms, Michael slowly relaxed and felt relieved.
He opened his mouth while receiving gentle caresses from my hands.
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your generosity.”
“Um, well. I’m not that generous.”
'It's also immoral.'
Michael really felt a variety of emotions and feelings for me.
It was a being that taught me. Not only sweet things but also bitter things.
At that moment, Michael's voice woke up my mind, which was lost in thought.
“I won’t live a life that goes against chivalry in this life. I promise.”
“Yeah. As expected, Michael is my knight.”
With a wide smile, I encouraged Mikael. As warlords and lovers, we were unlikely to go far apart as long as we were together.
'I suddenly became like Rosie.'
I felt resentful and depressed, feeling like I had been reduced to an incompetent royal. A sense of crisis welled up in me as if I had to do something.
'Let's do something we can do while sitting down.'
I devoted myself to meditation to stabilize the mana core, as well as to study the sealing stone.
'If we figure this out, we'll be able to fix the broken seal stone.'
Thus, the appearance of the three previously discovered sealing stones was made of amber.
We did a thorough visual inspection and review.
'My sister and brother are having a hard time at the front, so I should do my best to support them from the rear.'
Brigitte's mood was not a good one, as her own search was fruitless, and only I had grown my mana core.
'Oh my, you have to be careful.'
This sister who lacks humanity. She is blinded by the mana core.
I couldn't know what kind of evil she would do to me. She would become the Emperor.
I, who was a precious body, decided to come to my senses.
I put down my quill for a moment and stretched my arms.
I stretched out and tilted my head back. Then, instead of a cloth ceiling, I saw a ceiling finished with stone and wood.
My current quarters were no longer temporary barracks but had been moved into a properly constructed building.
Thanks to the efforts of the Luciard Building Company and the townspeople, the reconstruction of Dandelion is nearing completion.
The shabby shacks were converted into neat apartment complexes. In front of the central square, a building that became the backbone of the outpost stood majestically with a mansion-like feel.
The royal family, including me, went to a room with a good view on the second floor.
The expedition consisting of homunculus knights and craftsmen was also provided with accommodations on the first floor.
'It's nice to have a proper wall.'
The safety that comes from being cut off from the outside world
There was a feeling of emotion and comfort. It also seemed to have a good relaxing effect.
“Your Highness, please have some of this.”
“Oh, Peony.”
Peony put some snacks on her desk. These days
Peony looks like a potion alchemist to anyone who sees her.
She was making strange things using Dandelion ingredients.
For several days, she served black pudding made with the blood of various demons.
But since I wasn't eating well, she baked some cookies for me today.
I lifted the cookie with my fingertips and examined it carefully with a look of suspicion and wariness.
“Which demon’s blood did you put in this time?”
“Now we have turned to plant-based materials.”
“It’s Nepenthes.”
"Yes. It is clean because it is from Lake Nepenthes, not a swamp. You can eat it with confidence because it is made from clean ingredients.."
Certainly, the plant type was less repulsive than the beast type.
“Huh?”
I asked in surprise.
“Peony, what is this dough made of?”
“Oh, the World Tree. I have a feeling about this.”
“How does it taste? The black ones are dried Nepenthes.”
“It looks and tastes like Earl Grey cookies. It’s really delicious.”
“Right?”
“I think Rosie could eat this too.”
“Should I take care of it for Her Highness the 8th Princess as well?”
“Yeah, that would be great.”
I felt a little strange as I answered.
The first person that came to mind while eating something delicious was Rosenite, something I would have never imagined in the past.
Just then Peony smiled and said.
“It seems like Your Highness is the only one who takes care of the 8th Princess.”
“Ha. Right, I have to take care of the country too. She’s not in her right mind.”
So, I rationalized this care as something calculated, saying that I was just taking care of it.
It was all true, but somehow I was making excuses for myself.
Feeling a little awkward, I tried to ignore the awkward and delicate feeling.
At that time, Peony told me about Rosenite's recent situation.
“But I think she's come to her senses a lot now.”
"Really?"
“Oh, I see.”
Come to think of it, she's been staying in her room a lot these past few days.
Maybe it was because she was stuck there. I also had something to do with it at that time.
If I couldn't go first because I was embarrassed and awkward, how much more embarrassed must Rosenite be?
“I need to keep giving her some alone time. And bring her cookies right away.”
"Yes."
For a father, it was nothing more than a blunder. I blinked my pumpkin-colored eyes in surprise.
Michael went downstairs to the bed. He lowered his head, unable to look me in the eye, and spoke.
“I don’t think this is an indulgence. I also know that it may sound more contemptuous.”
Michael almost bit his tongue when he said the word contempt.
It was obvious.
“But I still want to make sure of the facts.”
I took a deep breath before I could react.
“It’s not Michael’s child... What happened?”
An opportunity to explain arose. Michael used all his mind to carefully choose his words before speaking.
“In my last life, I... succeeded in freeing my people from the Hadelamid Empire by gaining the throne through treason, but it was an incomplete liberation, in that things might return to the way they were at the end of my reign, and Homunculus is no fool, so I assume I had misgivings about that.”
I also knew that it was the ruler's duty to continue the lineage.
Here Michael was in a slightly more special situation.
“Yes. It’s the same as what I can control with the power of the King. Only the homunculus can control the philosopher's stone and Hadelamide bloodlines. That’s why the harp of the homunculus and the royal human was absolutely necessary.”
“So Rosie..."
“I couldn’t help it... because you didn’t love me in my past life. It’s not like it’s a problem if I’m the only one who wants that.”
Michael's face contorted in self-loathing as he struggled to speak.
“Yeah, I did it,” I said in my defense, ”but it didn't have to be my child, because it's not like my powers are inherited anyway, and domination works as long as the target is a homunculus.”
“And it seems that in my last life I... was weaker in mental squeamishness than in physical squeamishness. Even if I survived to serve the imperials as a possession handler, I apparently didn't want to leave behind any evidence of my existence. She isn't even made by natural conception, so I used the essence of another homunculus... on the 8th Princess.”
The full story of the deceptive experiment has been revealed.
There was a moment of silence between them. Michael couldn't guess what she was thinking, only that he was uneasy. It was hard to breathe the heavy air, and he felt the urge to clutch his chest.
“It was necessary, I did it. Yes, I know that all the things I've done by any means necessary have been done out of necessity. I know it can't be justified, but even so..."
Michael lifted his gaze and looked at Eve. There was a desperate, pleading gleam in his eyes.
“I don't want to lose you, and I can't stop wanting you, even if I don't deserve it, so please, please... I want you to keep loving me even in this state.”
He didn't need the world's forgiveness, but he wanted Eve to accept it, because he was desperate, as always, only for Eve.
It was never a level of sin that he could tolerate or condone.
Michael lowered his head again. He couldn't raise his head for fear of looking like a monster.
It was then that Michael could not hide the anxiety in his eyes, the fear of being abandoned by Eve, of being hated.
Soft hands were lifting his face and a loving voice calling his name.
Michael's gaze was drawn to my gently smiling face.
“Michael, don’t make that face. I am not the one to judge or sentence Michael."
On the contrary, I had to see him as someone who wanted to take my side somehow.
Even I had a good excuse to absolve Michael on this matter.
“It’s okay. The Michael of this life is different from the last life.”
It was a long-awaited return. It wasn't fair that only I was given the opportunity.
It is not right to punish someone for something they did in a past life in this life.
Well, I took this opportunity to make a firm decision within myself.
'Yeah, it should have been like this from the beginning.'
Then Michael spoke with a voice still filled with pain.
“If I find my memories... won’t they all be the same? In fact, that’s why I thought I didn’t want to find my memories.”
“Michael is not going to change much.”
“But you've been getting away with ignorance all this time, and having memories means you're no longer ignorant, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to take responsibility for my past life, and I'm not sure I can handle it. Not even now.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. It’s all over now. Now that you’ve done it, don’t repeat it. That’s enough.”
“Eve..."
I held Michael's back tightly. In my comforting arms, Michael slowly relaxed and felt relieved.
He opened his mouth while receiving gentle caresses from my hands.
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your generosity.”
“Um, well. I’m not that generous.”
I smiled bitterly and lowered my eyes. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved to hear the truth about the baby.
Michael really felt a variety of emotions and feelings for me.
It was a being that taught me. Not only sweet things but also bitter things.
At that moment, Michael's voice woke up my mind, which was lost in thought.
“I won’t live a life that goes against chivalry in this life. I promise.”
“Yeah. As expected, Michael is my knight.”
With a wide smile, I encouraged Mikael. As warlords and lovers, we were unlikely to go far apart as long as we were together.
***
For the next few days, I remained in Dandelion, sending only Michael and the Punisher Knights into the exploration zone.
I felt resentful and depressed, feeling like I had been reduced to an incompetent royal. A sense of crisis welled up in me as if I had to do something.
'Let's do something we can do while sitting down.'
I devoted myself to meditation to stabilize the mana core, as well as to study the sealing stone.
It's a 300-year-old artifact, but it's the sum total of the knowledge of the archmages and alchemists of the time. It would be worthwhile to study and document its structure and function.
Thus, the appearance of the three previously discovered sealing stones was made of amber.
We did a thorough visual inspection and review.
My executive desk was lined with rims and papers with writing on them. Art was a staple of the imperial family, so my drawing skills were quite good.
I was determined.
'My sister and brother are having a hard time at the front, so I should do my best to support them from the rear.'
Brigitte's failure to kill me and Rosenite at once was too easy. Gritting her teeth, she was back in Yggdras, working feverishly to exterminate the demon clans.
Her gaze grew darker and darker as she returned from her quest, especially when she pierced my heart with her tainted gaze, causing me to flinch and cover my chest with my arms.
This sister who lacks humanity. She is blinded by the mana core.
I couldn't know what kind of evil she would do to me. She would become the Emperor.
I, who was a precious body, decided to come to my senses.
I put down my quill for a moment and stretched my arms.
I stretched out and tilted my head back. Then, instead of a cloth ceiling, I saw a ceiling finished with stone and wood.
My current quarters were no longer temporary barracks but had been moved into a properly constructed building.
Thanks to the efforts of the Luciard Building Company and the townspeople, the reconstruction of Dandelion is nearing completion.
The shabby shacks were converted into neat apartment complexes. In front of the central square, a building that became the backbone of the outpost stood majestically with a mansion-like feel.
The royal family, including me, went to a room with a good view on the second floor.
The expedition consisting of homunculus knights and craftsmen was also provided with accommodations on the first floor.
'It's nice to have a proper wall.'
The safety that comes from being cut off from the outside world
There was a feeling of emotion and comfort. It also seemed to have a good relaxing effect.
“Your Highness, please have some of this.”
“Oh, Peony.”
Peony put some snacks on her desk. These days
Peony looks like a potion alchemist to anyone who sees her.
She was making strange things using Dandelion ingredients.
For several days, she served black pudding made with the blood of various demons.
But since I wasn't eating well, she baked some cookies for me today.
I lifted the cookie with my fingertips and examined it carefully with a look of suspicion and wariness.
“Which demon’s blood did you put in this time?”
“Now we have turned to plant-based materials.”
“It’s Nepenthes.”
"Yes. It is clean because it is from Lake Nepenthes, not a swamp. You can eat it with confidence because it is made from clean ingredients.."
Certainly, the plant type was less repulsive than the beast type.
Sure, it's a bit much for tentacle roots, but her sincerity in trying to rejuvenate me made me take a bite.
I asked in surprise.
“Peony, what is this dough made of?”
“The world tree is growing so fast that it's shedding its outer skin, and when you grind it up, it's like flour.”
“How does it taste? The black ones are dried Nepenthes.”
“It looks and tastes like Earl Grey cookies. It’s really delicious.”
“Right?”
I couldn't stop reaching for it. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that it was the first real treat in a long time. I ate half-heartedly, half-enchanted, and then stopped as if suddenly realizing something.
In the meantime, I had Pheony and Sylvester mix world water tea leaves into everything that went into Rosenite's mouth, but there were limits to how much I could force-feed her picky eater.
“Yeah, that would be great.”
I felt a little strange as I answered.
The first person that came to mind while eating something delicious was Rosenite, something I would have never imagined in the past.
Just then Peony smiled and said.
“It seems like Your Highness is the only one who takes care of the 8th Princess.”
“Ha. Right, I have to take care of the country too. She’s not in her right mind.”
Because she's Desmond II's favorite daughter, and because I'm her older sister, she's unstable.
It was all true, but somehow I was making excuses for myself.
Feeling a little awkward, I tried to ignore the awkward and delicate feeling.
At that time, Peony told me about Rosenite's recent situation.
“But I think she's come to her senses a lot now.”
"Really?"
“Yes. I went to serve her a meal the other day and she was picking at her pillow. I guess she remembered what you said and did to me.”
Come to think of it, she's been staying in her room a lot these past few days.
Maybe it was because she was stuck there. I also had something to do with it at that time.
If I couldn't go first because I was embarrassed and awkward, how much more embarrassed must Rosenite be?
“I need to keep giving her some alone time. And bring her cookies right away.”
"Yes."
I wanted a little more, but I held my tongue. Nepenthes tasted so good, I thought, that this must be why Desmond II had treated me like an immortal filial daughter when he brought me the gift of the nectar.
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