“What, what is it?”
Have we been attacked?
It was at that time that I was confused by the unexpected situation.
The Crown Prince, who had been hastily extending his arm to protect me, leaned toward me and stuck his head out the window.
The Crown Prince's eyebrows rose as if he was displeased as he carefully observed the situation.
“I’ll take a look and come back.”
The Crown Prince opened the tilted carriage door and went out and asked the coachman.
“What's going on?”
“Oh, Your Highness. Are you okay? I’m sorry. The carriage wheel got stuck in a ditch...”
"A ditch?"
“Yes. I know it’s inconvenient, but if you could come down for a moment, I’ll bring it up right away.”
After hearing the coachman's request from inside the carriage, we obediently got out of the carriage.
“The hole is pretty deep.”
“That’s right. It’s just a blessing that you weren’t hurt.”
While Chihara and I were talking from a distance, the coachman and the drivers joined forces to lift the carriage.
But this time the wheels were the problem.
“Oh. It looks like the shock from falling into the pit has caused a problem with the fastener. It looks like it’ll take some time to fix...”
The Crown Prince swallowed a sigh and asked at the words of the repairman who had come with the group.
“How long will it take?”
“Even if we hurry, it will probably take two or three hours.”
“Two or three hours...”
The Crown Prince approached us, looking up at the sky with a troubled expression on his face.
“By the time the carriage repairs are finished, the sun will start to set. We had originally planned to rest in the next town, but since things have come to this point, I think it would be better to wrap up our schedule a little early and find lodging around here. What do you think?”
“I like it. I was already a little tired.”
The Marquis followed suit.
“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do.”
“There is no need to move in a hurry.”
After quickly gathering our opinions, we settled into a large inn nearby.
Although the trip was delayed due to an unexpected accident, it felt like a small blessing that I was able to get some sleep that I couldn't get the night before.
When I woke up from such a deep sleep, the sky was already dark.
“I’m not some kind of beast, but I woke up hungry again.”
I wandered around the kitchen, got a loaf of bread and a bowl of soup from the inn maid, and went out.
'I saw earlier that there was a table in the backyard.'
I headed to the backyard, careful not to spill the soup.
But there was already someone occupying that position: the Marquis of Bayen.
“What are you doing here? It’s so late.”
“I was enjoying the night air, so I was getting some fresh air.”
The Marquis turned to me and answered.
“Are you going to eat?”
“Yes. I missed mealtime because I was sleeping.”
“Not eating at a restaurant.”
“It’s a little warm inside. I think it would be better to eat hot soup outside.”
“I see. Sit comfortably and eat.”
"Thank you."
Naturally, I took the seat opposite the Marquis and asked, stopping to pour the soup.
“Have you eaten, Marquis? If you are hungry, should I get you some for your share?”
“I don’t really have any thoughts. You eat a lot.”
“Um. Well, then excuse me.”
I nodded vaguely and started eating right away.
I felt a little embarrassed eating alone in front of other people, but I was too hungry to care about their reactions.
But I didn't want to eat hot soup in an inn filled with hot air.
Finally, I finished my meal with the iron plate on my face, wiped my mouth with a napkin, and glanced at the Marquis.
He had a blank expression on his face, his gaze fixed on the mountains in the distance.
As I was about to quietly stand up, afraid of being interrupted in my thoughts, the Marquis opened his mouth.
“It was a bit hot during the day, as expected of summer, but the temperature at night was just right.”
“That’s right. I think it’s nice to be quiet without any noise and feel at peace.”
I looked around with a smile on my face, and suddenly felt a sense of incongruity.
“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a peaceful night like this. Until recently, there was chaos day and night because of the disaster.”
From the sounds of collapsed buildings and facilities being repaired, to the groans of the injured, to the cries of those who have lost loved ones in accidents.
For the past 13 years, the Empire's nights have always been surrounded by dark noise.
But what a peaceful silence it is.
Suddenly, my heart ached.
I thought that our imperial people would be much more peaceful now.
And all those balls are...
“Thanks to the Marquis.”
“...My virtue?”
The Marquis's lips were shut tightly.
His expression seemed both surprised and embarrassed by the sudden announcement.
“Yes. After using the power of Adam that the Marquis gave me, the disasters stopped. I don’t know the exact cause, but it seems that the goddess’s power contained within Adam is suppressing Ibis’s power, right?”
The Marquis did not answer my question.
But I realized that the silence was an affirmation and smiled broadly.
“Thank you. It is thanks to you, Marquis, that the empire has regained stability.”
I thanked him on behalf of all Catalans, but the Marquis remained silent.
Feeling uncomfortable with the long silence, I added my words without thinking.
“To maintain this peace, we must catch the heretic goddess Ibis as soon as possible. We still haven’t gotten a clue...”
It was at that time that I was clicking my tongue in frustration.
“You are truly a peculiar person.”
"Yes?"
When I raised my head at the unexpected words, the Marquis came into view, looking at me with eyes that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
“From what I know, your life hasn’t been very happy.”
"Me?"
“You lost your mother at a young age, and your grandfather, who had cared for you, soon passed away. Your father only cared for other families, and the empire you had devoted your life to even offered you up as a sacrifice.”
“What... was that?”
But why are you suddenly poking at other people's wounds?
As I stared at him, completely unable to figure out his intentions, the Marquis suddenly blurted out a word.
“Isn’t that being abandoned by everything that surrounds you?”
“...”
“A normal person would either become depressed and seek revenge because of the misfortune that has befallen them. But you chose neither of those two. Instead, you are trying to help those who have abandoned you.”
“...”
“I don’t understand that. Don’t you resent this country and the people who make up this country?”
As the Marquis had said, he had a look on his face that said he really couldn't understand.
I couldn't help but laugh a little at the sight of his emotions being completely revealed.
“Of course, I feel resentful. You don’t know how much tug-of-war I had with His Highness the Crown Prince because of that.”
I shrugged my shoulders slightly, smiling as I recalled the past when I would recite my personal history one after another, beg for them to leave me alone, and throw a tantrum saying that I couldn't do it even if I died.
“But what can I do? I’m already tied to a leash. If my master doesn’t let me go, there’s no way I can escape.”
I tried to lighten the mood by smiling playfully, but the Marquis shook his head with a serious expression on his face.
“No. It may have been like that at first, but it wasn’t like that later.”
“...?”
“The day you first met me, when you asked me to give you the holy relic, your eyes clearly showed your desire to protect this country and its people.”
“...”
“Although you made the excuse that you were doing it for my mother to stimulate my filial piety, I clearly saw the patriotism and love for the people in those eyes.”
The Marquis's confident voice still contained a hint of doubt.
The question is why I want to save them even after suffering such wounds.
To that obvious question, I also gave an obvious answer.
“Because I love them.”
"...love?"
“Yes. I love this empire where I was born and raised, and the people of this empire who share the same roots as I do. More than anything.”
The Marquis's expression became slightly blank as I answered with a smile.
A dark room without a single ray of light.
A woman who was half-lying on the sofa slowly raised her eyelids.
The bloodshot eyes, contrasting with the pale face, glowed eerily in the darkness.
“That woman has already taken the second holy relic.”
The subordinate next to her immediately lowered his head at the voice that clearly showed his discomfort.
“I am ashamed, Master.”
“Pathetic.”
“...”
“I can’t just sit by and let that woman run wild any longer. This time, you go yourself.”
“I obey the goddess’s command.”
The ashen eyes of the servant sparkled with a cold light.
Have we been attacked?
It was at that time that I was confused by the unexpected situation.
The Crown Prince, who had been hastily extending his arm to protect me, leaned toward me and stuck his head out the window.
The Crown Prince's eyebrows rose as if he was displeased as he carefully observed the situation.
“I’ll take a look and come back.”
The Crown Prince opened the tilted carriage door and went out and asked the coachman.
“What's going on?”
“Oh, Your Highness. Are you okay? I’m sorry. The carriage wheel got stuck in a ditch...”
"A ditch?"
“Yes. I know it’s inconvenient, but if you could come down for a moment, I’ll bring it up right away.”
After hearing the coachman's request from inside the carriage, we obediently got out of the carriage.
“The hole is pretty deep.”
“That’s right. It’s just a blessing that you weren’t hurt.”
While Chihara and I were talking from a distance, the coachman and the drivers joined forces to lift the carriage.
But this time the wheels were the problem.
“Oh. It looks like the shock from falling into the pit has caused a problem with the fastener. It looks like it’ll take some time to fix...”
The Crown Prince swallowed a sigh and asked at the words of the repairman who had come with the group.
“How long will it take?”
“Even if we hurry, it will probably take two or three hours.”
“Two or three hours...”
The Crown Prince approached us, looking up at the sky with a troubled expression on his face.
“By the time the carriage repairs are finished, the sun will start to set. We had originally planned to rest in the next town, but since things have come to this point, I think it would be better to wrap up our schedule a little early and find lodging around here. What do you think?”
“I like it. I was already a little tired.”
The Marquis followed suit.
“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do.”
“There is no need to move in a hurry.”
After quickly gathering our opinions, we settled into a large inn nearby.
Although the trip was delayed due to an unexpected accident, it felt like a small blessing that I was able to get some sleep that I couldn't get the night before.
When I woke up from such a deep sleep, the sky was already dark.
“I’m not some kind of beast, but I woke up hungry again.”
I wandered around the kitchen, got a loaf of bread and a bowl of soup from the inn maid, and went out.
'I saw earlier that there was a table in the backyard.'
I headed to the backyard, careful not to spill the soup.
But there was already someone occupying that position: the Marquis of Bayen.
“What are you doing here? It’s so late.”
“I was enjoying the night air, so I was getting some fresh air.”
The Marquis turned to me and answered.
“Are you going to eat?”
“Yes. I missed mealtime because I was sleeping.”
“Not eating at a restaurant.”
“It’s a little warm inside. I think it would be better to eat hot soup outside.”
“I see. Sit comfortably and eat.”
"Thank you."
Naturally, I took the seat opposite the Marquis and asked, stopping to pour the soup.
“Have you eaten, Marquis? If you are hungry, should I get you some for your share?”
“I don’t really have any thoughts. You eat a lot.”
“Um. Well, then excuse me.”
I nodded vaguely and started eating right away.
I felt a little embarrassed eating alone in front of other people, but I was too hungry to care about their reactions.
But I didn't want to eat hot soup in an inn filled with hot air.
Finally, I finished my meal with the iron plate on my face, wiped my mouth with a napkin, and glanced at the Marquis.
He had a blank expression on his face, his gaze fixed on the mountains in the distance.
As I was about to quietly stand up, afraid of being interrupted in my thoughts, the Marquis opened his mouth.
“It was a bit hot during the day, as expected of summer, but the temperature at night was just right.”
“That’s right. I think it’s nice to be quiet without any noise and feel at peace.”
I looked around with a smile on my face, and suddenly felt a sense of incongruity.
“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a peaceful night like this. Until recently, there was chaos day and night because of the disaster.”
From the sounds of collapsed buildings and facilities being repaired, to the groans of the injured, to the cries of those who have lost loved ones in accidents.
For the past 13 years, the Empire's nights have always been surrounded by dark noise.
But what a peaceful silence it is.
Suddenly, my heart ached.
I thought that our imperial people would be much more peaceful now.
And all those balls are...
“Thanks to the Marquis.”
“...My virtue?”
The Marquis's lips were shut tightly.
His expression seemed both surprised and embarrassed by the sudden announcement.
“Yes. After using the power of Adam that the Marquis gave me, the disasters stopped. I don’t know the exact cause, but it seems that the goddess’s power contained within Adam is suppressing Ibis’s power, right?”
The Marquis did not answer my question.
But I realized that the silence was an affirmation and smiled broadly.
“Thank you. It is thanks to you, Marquis, that the empire has regained stability.”
I thanked him on behalf of all Catalans, but the Marquis remained silent.
Feeling uncomfortable with the long silence, I added my words without thinking.
“To maintain this peace, we must catch the heretic goddess Ibis as soon as possible. We still haven’t gotten a clue...”
It was at that time that I was clicking my tongue in frustration.
“You are truly a peculiar person.”
"Yes?"
When I raised my head at the unexpected words, the Marquis came into view, looking at me with eyes that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
“From what I know, your life hasn’t been very happy.”
"Me?"
“You lost your mother at a young age, and your grandfather, who had cared for you, soon passed away. Your father only cared for other families, and the empire you had devoted your life to even offered you up as a sacrifice.”
“What... was that?”
But why are you suddenly poking at other people's wounds?
As I stared at him, completely unable to figure out his intentions, the Marquis suddenly blurted out a word.
“Isn’t that being abandoned by everything that surrounds you?”
“...”
“A normal person would either become depressed and seek revenge because of the misfortune that has befallen them. But you chose neither of those two. Instead, you are trying to help those who have abandoned you.”
“...”
“I don’t understand that. Don’t you resent this country and the people who make up this country?”
As the Marquis had said, he had a look on his face that said he really couldn't understand.
I couldn't help but laugh a little at the sight of his emotions being completely revealed.
“Of course, I feel resentful. You don’t know how much tug-of-war I had with His Highness the Crown Prince because of that.”
I shrugged my shoulders slightly, smiling as I recalled the past when I would recite my personal history one after another, beg for them to leave me alone, and throw a tantrum saying that I couldn't do it even if I died.
“But what can I do? I’m already tied to a leash. If my master doesn’t let me go, there’s no way I can escape.”
I tried to lighten the mood by smiling playfully, but the Marquis shook his head with a serious expression on his face.
“No. It may have been like that at first, but it wasn’t like that later.”
“...?”
“The day you first met me, when you asked me to give you the holy relic, your eyes clearly showed your desire to protect this country and its people.”
“...”
“Although you made the excuse that you were doing it for my mother to stimulate my filial piety, I clearly saw the patriotism and love for the people in those eyes.”
The Marquis's confident voice still contained a hint of doubt.
The question is why I want to save them even after suffering such wounds.
To that obvious question, I also gave an obvious answer.
“Because I love them.”
"...love?"
“Yes. I love this empire where I was born and raised, and the people of this empire who share the same roots as I do. More than anything.”
The Marquis's expression became slightly blank as I answered with a smile.
***
A dark room without a single ray of light.
A woman who was half-lying on the sofa slowly raised her eyelids.
The bloodshot eyes, contrasting with the pale face, glowed eerily in the darkness.
“That woman has already taken the second holy relic.”
The subordinate next to her immediately lowered his head at the voice that clearly showed his discomfort.
“I am ashamed, Master.”
“Pathetic.”
“...”
“I can’t just sit by and let that woman run wild any longer. This time, you go yourself.”
“I obey the goddess’s command.”
The ashen eyes of the servant sparkled with a cold light.
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