“Ariana’s daughter, she was the child of prophecy.”
But Hazel couldn't help but sigh at Charles's words that seemed to drive a wedge in.
It's crazy.
It was clear that Charlotte was mad and blinded by revenge.
Hazel, angry at her selfish and foolish behavior, raised her hand and struck Charles in the face.
The sound of flesh clashing sharply cut through the air.
“You know what you’ve done!”
“I know. The Emperor will kill that child and all those who try to protect her.”
There was no way Ariana would give up her daughter.
It was clear that if the Emperor tried to kill the child, they would rebel against him.
Because the House of Jupiter had that much power.
And the Emperor knew that better than anyone.
“But why!”
“It has to be that kid.”
"...What?"
“Only with her can everyone survive. Deborah, you, Ariana, and...”
Charles, with his head bowed, met Hazel's gaze.
“Elizabeth too.”
It felt like her boiling blood had suddenly cooled down.
“...Elizabeth. Why Elizabeth all of a sudden...”
Charles grabbed Hazel's stiff hand.
Ah, why does this ominous feeling never go away?
Hazel stumbled as if she was having trouble controlling herself from the shocks that were swirling around her.
“Hazel... please.”
“...”
“Trust me just this once.”
Hazel couldn't bring herself to say either yes or no.
Ignoring Charles' words was fearful of the power of the Oroz family, and believing and following her words meant betraying those precious to her.
Charles left the mansion, leaving Hazel hesitating without giving any definite answer.
And two days later.
Several years later, news came that Charles, who was returning to her fiefdom, had died.
Elizabeth is missing.
Frustration and despair, sadness and suffering.
All these terrible emotions were swirling around in the Cretian mansion.
The disappearance of the young Princess was enough to drag the usually cheerful Cretian family into the abyss.
Before the power awakened, it was not uncommon for children from each family to go missing.
Because just a few years ago, Duchess Barley disappeared while pregnant with the heir.
The Duke and Duchess searched everywhere for their daughter, who suddenly disappeared like smoke one day, but they could not find any trace of her.
How much time had passed? When the disappearance of Princess Cretian, which had been causing a stir in the empire, gradually died down, the Emperor came to see Hazel.
“I have a proposition for you.”
Graham promised Hazel that he would help her find her lost daughter.
Instead, he wanted something commensurate in return.
“There is only one thing I want. Permission to destroy the House of Jupiter.”
Duke Cretian had a great influence on the world of the nobility.
But Hazel, the wife of a man who could be called the head of the nobles, is on good terms with the Duke of Jupiter.
From the Emperor's point of view, it must have been nerve-wracking.
That's why he made the offer to Hazel in case things got too difficult later.
Don't come forward even if he accuses the House of Jupiter of treason.
“The destruction of the House of Jupiter...”
Hazel, who had become unrecognizable since Elizabeth's disappearance, continued to speak stammering.
“Isn’t that easy? If you do that, the imperial family will actively cooperate in finding the Princess. You know, don’t you? We didn’t help at all when the successor of the Barley family went missing.”
Hazel smiled bitterly inwardly at those words.
Because she knew why the Emperor ignored their tragedy.
'He must have been worried that the Barley family, which was close to the Jupiter family, would later rise up in rebellion.'
The power of the House of Barley was a power that even the Emperor feared.
But the lineage was cut off by the disappearance of the Duchess who was pregnant with the heir.
The Emperor had nothing to fear anymore.
Look at the evidence.
As soon as Duke Barley died, didn't he try to abandon House Jupiter?
Perhaps the Emperor had also gotten rid of Barley's successor.
In this way, very slowly and systematically, the Emperor prepared to exterminate the Jupiter.
Graham asked Hazel again, who was staring into space without saying a word.
“You’d better make a wise decision. For the sake of your lost daughter and husband.”
It was just a suggestion. In reality, it was no different from a threat.
And Hazel knew the answer she had to give here.
“...Very well. The Cretian family will not raise any objections to what Your Majesty will do in the future.”
He burst into hearty laughter, apparently satisfied with her answer.
“As expected. I’ve always liked the gentle you more than the strong Ariana. Don’t worry about the Princess. I’ll find her for you no matter what.”
"... Yes."
But contrary to the answer, Hazel did not trust the Emperor.
The Emperor would only pretend to look for Elizabeth, and would not seek her out. That was the kind of man he was.
Hazel looked at the empty space left by the Emperor.
'Charles...'
Then she remembered a letter that had arrived just in time after Elizabeth's disappearance.
It was said that it was a letter that Charles had left for Hazel before he died and that it was discovered while cleaning Charles' room.
"To my dear friend, Hazel..."
The letter said it all.
The disappearance of Elizabeth and the Emperor's proposal. And the story of the destruction of the Jupiter clan and the surviving child.
Everything was exactly as Charles had said.
“The prophecy of the Oroz family is never wrong...”
It was an unwritten rule that everyone who knew anything about power knew.
Because of that, Hazel kept reciting the letter to herself whenever she had the chance.
Everything was going according to Charles' prophecy.
'So someday Elizabeth too...'
Just hold on a little longer.
She was resentful of Charlotte, who started all this.
But on the other hand, she felt sorry for her.
And Bellona hated herself for feeling this way.
Why should you sympathize with the perpetrator?
Why should you understand your abuser?
Only revenge.
It was a harsh truth for Bellona, who had come running just to see that one thing.
Hazel put her hand on Bellona's cheek.
Then the blood on her palm soaked Bellona's cheek.
“So it was all a lie?”
Bellona wrapped her arms around Hazel's hand, which was gradually growing colder.
The lullaby you sang for me.
The warm embrace that held me.
Those words that always told me that you loved me.
Was it sincere? Or was it just pity for the poor child?
It was just as Bellona was about to ask Hazel again.
Suddenly the carriage's rattling became louder.
Then, Bellona came to her senses and looked out the window. Then, the sight of the coachman rolling on the ground flashed by outside the window.
The reason the coachman risked his life jumping out of a moving carriage.
It pointed to only one thing.
'No way.'
Bellona's eyes opened wide as she stuck her head out the window.
As if her prediction was not wrong, a terrain that seemed to suddenly break off in the distance came into view.
'Terrain?'
Bellona bit her lip, not knowing that there was such a terrain in the Hamelon Territory.
But Hazel couldn't help but sigh at Charles's words that seemed to drive a wedge in.
It's crazy.
It was clear that Charlotte was mad and blinded by revenge.
Hazel, angry at her selfish and foolish behavior, raised her hand and struck Charles in the face.
The sound of flesh clashing sharply cut through the air.
“You know what you’ve done!”
“I know. The Emperor will kill that child and all those who try to protect her.”
There was no way Ariana would give up her daughter.
It was clear that if the Emperor tried to kill the child, they would rebel against him.
Because the House of Jupiter had that much power.
And the Emperor knew that better than anyone.
“But why!”
“It has to be that kid.”
"...What?"
“Only with her can everyone survive. Deborah, you, Ariana, and...”
Charles, with his head bowed, met Hazel's gaze.
“Elizabeth too.”
It felt like her boiling blood had suddenly cooled down.
“...Elizabeth. Why Elizabeth all of a sudden...”
Charles grabbed Hazel's stiff hand.
Ah, why does this ominous feeling never go away?
Hazel stumbled as if she was having trouble controlling herself from the shocks that were swirling around her.
“Hazel... please.”
“...”
“Trust me just this once.”
Hazel couldn't bring herself to say either yes or no.
Ignoring Charles' words was fearful of the power of the Oroz family, and believing and following her words meant betraying those precious to her.
Charles left the mansion, leaving Hazel hesitating without giving any definite answer.
And two days later.
Several years later, news came that Charles, who was returning to her fiefdom, had died.
Elizabeth is missing.
***
Frustration and despair, sadness and suffering.
All these terrible emotions were swirling around in the Cretian mansion.
The disappearance of the young Princess was enough to drag the usually cheerful Cretian family into the abyss.
Before the power awakened, it was not uncommon for children from each family to go missing.
Because just a few years ago, Duchess Barley disappeared while pregnant with the heir.
The Duke and Duchess searched everywhere for their daughter, who suddenly disappeared like smoke one day, but they could not find any trace of her.
How much time had passed? When the disappearance of Princess Cretian, which had been causing a stir in the empire, gradually died down, the Emperor came to see Hazel.
“I have a proposition for you.”
Graham promised Hazel that he would help her find her lost daughter.
Instead, he wanted something commensurate in return.
“There is only one thing I want. Permission to destroy the House of Jupiter.”
Duke Cretian had a great influence on the world of the nobility.
But Hazel, the wife of a man who could be called the head of the nobles, is on good terms with the Duke of Jupiter.
From the Emperor's point of view, it must have been nerve-wracking.
That's why he made the offer to Hazel in case things got too difficult later.
Don't come forward even if he accuses the House of Jupiter of treason.
“The destruction of the House of Jupiter...”
Hazel, who had become unrecognizable since Elizabeth's disappearance, continued to speak stammering.
“Isn’t that easy? If you do that, the imperial family will actively cooperate in finding the Princess. You know, don’t you? We didn’t help at all when the successor of the Barley family went missing.”
Hazel smiled bitterly inwardly at those words.
Because she knew why the Emperor ignored their tragedy.
'He must have been worried that the Barley family, which was close to the Jupiter family, would later rise up in rebellion.'
The power of the House of Barley was a power that even the Emperor feared.
But the lineage was cut off by the disappearance of the Duchess who was pregnant with the heir.
The Emperor had nothing to fear anymore.
Look at the evidence.
As soon as Duke Barley died, didn't he try to abandon House Jupiter?
Perhaps the Emperor had also gotten rid of Barley's successor.
In this way, very slowly and systematically, the Emperor prepared to exterminate the Jupiter.
Graham asked Hazel again, who was staring into space without saying a word.
“You’d better make a wise decision. For the sake of your lost daughter and husband.”
It was just a suggestion. In reality, it was no different from a threat.
And Hazel knew the answer she had to give here.
“...Very well. The Cretian family will not raise any objections to what Your Majesty will do in the future.”
He burst into hearty laughter, apparently satisfied with her answer.
“As expected. I’ve always liked the gentle you more than the strong Ariana. Don’t worry about the Princess. I’ll find her for you no matter what.”
"... Yes."
But contrary to the answer, Hazel did not trust the Emperor.
The Emperor would only pretend to look for Elizabeth, and would not seek her out. That was the kind of man he was.
Hazel looked at the empty space left by the Emperor.
'Charles...'
Then she remembered a letter that had arrived just in time after Elizabeth's disappearance.
It was said that it was a letter that Charles had left for Hazel before he died and that it was discovered while cleaning Charles' room.
"To my dear friend, Hazel..."
The letter said it all.
The disappearance of Elizabeth and the Emperor's proposal. And the story of the destruction of the Jupiter clan and the surviving child.
Everything was exactly as Charles had said.
“The prophecy of the Oroz family is never wrong...”
It was an unwritten rule that everyone who knew anything about power knew.
Because of that, Hazel kept reciting the letter to herself whenever she had the chance.
Everything was going according to Charles' prophecy.
'So someday Elizabeth too...'
Just hold on a little longer.
She closed her ears, covered her eyes, and vowed to endure it.
Then she believed that one day, everyone would be happy.
As Charles prophesied.
So Hazel told Bellona about her past that she had kept hidden for a long time.
The reason why Charles did such a thing and why he condoned it.
“You were my hope, Bellona.”
Hope that Charles' prophecy was not wrong.
The hope is that they can all be happy.
“I know it was an extremely one-sided and selfish choice.”
Whatever the reason, there was no justification for what Charlotte did.
The fact that she had shunned the House of Jupiter did not go away.
"Sorry..."
So she felt so sorry for Bellona.
Hazel was always tormented by the guilt of having placed such a burden on her young child.
The tears overflowing from her eyes soaked the hem of Bellona's skirt.
“Really... you're all so selfish.”
Bellona, who had been silent at Hazel's words, slowly opened her lips.
“If only you had not said anything, I could have at least complained comfortably... but you even took that away from me.”
Then she believed that one day, everyone would be happy.
As Charles prophesied.
***
So Hazel told Bellona about her past that she had kept hidden for a long time.
The reason why Charles did such a thing and why he condoned it.
“You were my hope, Bellona.”
Hope that Charles' prophecy was not wrong.
The hope is that they can all be happy.
“I know it was an extremely one-sided and selfish choice.”
Whatever the reason, there was no justification for what Charlotte did.
The fact that she had shunned the House of Jupiter did not go away.
"Sorry..."
So she felt so sorry for Bellona.
Hazel was always tormented by the guilt of having placed such a burden on her young child.
The tears overflowing from her eyes soaked the hem of Bellona's skirt.
“Really... you're all so selfish.”
Bellona, who had been silent at Hazel's words, slowly opened her lips.
“If only you had not said anything, I could have at least complained comfortably... but you even took that away from me.”
She was resentful of Charlotte, who started all this.
But on the other hand, she felt sorry for her.
And Bellona hated herself for feeling this way.
Why should you sympathize with the perpetrator?
Why should you understand your abuser?
Only revenge.
It was a harsh truth for Bellona, who had come running just to see that one thing.
Hazel put her hand on Bellona's cheek.
Then the blood on her palm soaked Bellona's cheek.
“So it was all a lie?”
Bellona wrapped her arms around Hazel's hand, which was gradually growing colder.
The lullaby you sang for me.
The warm embrace that held me.
Those words that always told me that you loved me.
Was it sincere? Or was it just pity for the poor child?
It was just as Bellona was about to ask Hazel again.
Suddenly the carriage's rattling became louder.
Then, Bellona came to her senses and looked out the window. Then, the sight of the coachman rolling on the ground flashed by outside the window.
The reason the coachman risked his life jumping out of a moving carriage.
It pointed to only one thing.
'No way.'
Bellona's eyes opened wide as she stuck her head out the window.
As if her prediction was not wrong, a terrain that seemed to suddenly break off in the distance came into view.
'Terrain?'
Bellona bit her lip, not knowing that there was such a terrain in the Hamelon Territory.
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