Euclid pretended not to hear the question and started talking about the current situation in the palace.
“Aren’t you surprised that I came to greet you instead of Sir Litver Berman?”
“Not really. I heard the general story. The direct knight system has been practically abolished.”
As the status of homunculus was elevated after the awarding of the title, there was a call for improvement in the obligations imposed by the imperial family.
“Aren’t you surprised that I came to greet you instead of Sir Litver Berman?”
“Not really. I heard the general story. The direct knight system has been practically abolished.”
As the status of homunculus was elevated after the awarding of the title, there was a call for improvement in the obligations imposed by the imperial family.
The royal family could not possibly welcome this situation. The foolish Princes and Princesses, who could not read the flow of the times, criticized Eve using plausible words like tradition and custom. They were furious because they could not lose the exploitation of their direct knights.
They were even very proud of it because they thought it was their natural right to enjoy.
Desmond II just stood by and watched as Eve and the royal family argued.
The royal family mistakenly believed that their father shared their views, but they could not bring themselves to openly criticize Eve, the Crown Princess. The royal family raised their spirits and launched a fierce attack on Eve.
Eve's patience reached its limit because her brothers and sisters couldn't understand her, even if she spoke nicely. In the end, she decided to leave. She called the royal family and exposed all the facts.
"When did the imprint become invalid? Why are you acting up without understanding the situation?"
The royal family was shocked by this shout from Eve, who said that she was ashamed to see Michael.
Of course, they denied reality at first. The 4th Prince Rubens and the 5th Prince Ikalis were the main ones who made a big deal about Eve.
"What? What the hell are you talking about, the imprint being invalidated?!"
"If you have any doubts, why don't you go back and check right now?"
"That, that can't be! That can't be! The imprint is a sacred power that the Hadelamide royal family exercises on the homunculus!"
"Why do you search for divinity in a world abandoned by God? I will explain it with the theory of the evolution of ideas, not theism. During the long years that the royal family exploited the homunculus, the homunculus’s evil ideas accumulated and gave birth to a king who would liberate them. That is Michael. The king’s rule overpowers the royal family’s brainwashing, rendering the imprint ineffective. What I mean is, if you don't understand, just memorize it."
"Well, you want me to believe that?! Don't make me laugh!"
The royal family fought until the very end. They even looked back at Desmond II, who was coughing, and asked for help.
"Father, she's making strange noises! What happened to her head after wrapping around a homunculus? Please tell me something!"
"Father, she's making strange noises! What happened to her head after wrapping around a homunculus? Please tell me something!"
"Oh my, that's harsh! Be polite to the Crown Princess!"
Only a stern scolding came back. This was a great shock to the royal family, as it implicitly favored Eve.
"Oh, even Father? No way."
At that time, Rosenite spoke up to help Eve. Certainly, there was no one better than her to deal with Rubens and Ikalis.
At that time, Rosenite spoke up to help Eve. Certainly, there was no one better than her to deal with Rubens and Ikalis.
"Anyway, you two are really insensitive. You must have seen the strange atmosphere during the award ceremony."
"What are you talking about, Rosie?"
"Didn't you think it was strange that at that time, Father gave Michaelis Agnito the excessive title of Duke and made remarks that seemed to be considering a marriage with your sister?"
"That, that is..."
"Right now, it's not a situation where you can be mean to Sister Eve. On the contrary, it's a situation where even a grateful would be inadequate."
"What?"
"Sister Eve... she said that she had no choice but to enter into a political marriage with Michaelis Agnito to strengthen the power base of the imperial family. It was a noble sacrifice in which she gave up her own body!"
Then Rubio and Desmond II let out a sad voice.
"I see, Eve... You made that decision for the sake of the royal family..."
"Eve, forgive me. I know that the eyes of that bastard looking at you are full of evil, yet I tolerate this decision for the sake of the imperial family.... The emperor is truly a difficult position...
Eve had a lot to say, but by not saying anything, she took advantage of the situation as it unfolded.
Thus, the royal family, including Rubens and Ikalis, was unable to recover their principal, and instead, they realized the reality and came to the conclusion that the direct knight system should be completely abolished.
Thus, the royal family, including Rubens and Ikalis, was unable to recover their principal, and instead, they realized the reality and came to the conclusion that the direct knight system should be completely abolished.
This fact was also gradually relayed to the ears of Stefania, who was serving in her maternal family's estate.
'That Michaelis Agnito, you know.'
In any case, there was nothing in Eve's bag that she could throw away. If she had realized it sooner and followed Eve's lead, Stefania herself would not have lost something precious. She smiled bitterly.
There was a voice that refreshed her mind, full of regret.
“Oh my, Nia?”
“Oh! Our Nia is back!”
First Princess Roxandra and First Prince Rubio, who were walking across the street, recognized Stefania and greeted her first.
It wasn't just the two of them. It seemed like the royal family was moving to the palace as a group, and other Princes and Princesses, including Carola, Aysel, Winfried, Rubens, Ikaris, and Rondel, were also there.
“It looks like you’ve come back from your mission, Nia.”
“Welcome. Come on in.”
"Thank you."
After exchanging formal greetings, she had nothing more to say.
It was then that the sound of conversation coming from afar made the royal family's nerves tense.
“Oh my, my brother! It’s been a long time. Do you know how much I’ve missed you?”
“If you really wanted to see me, why didn’t you come, brother?”
“Oh, that’s right. I was busy assisting Her Highness with my share as well..."
“I understand. You hated the countryside.”
“Ahem ahem ahem!”
“You will also need to do some external presentation, so please be sure to visit Yggdras next time. Then, the nobles will know that Baron Linus and I are like siblings. And while you are here, I would appreciate it if you could help me with administrative matters.”
“Ugh. Yes, brother. I understand..."
Michael and Alben walked along, having a friendly conversation. And at the crossroads were the royal family.
Michael and the ten royal family members came face to face. An awkward atmosphere hung in the middle of the palace.
“Oh, I see the noble bloodlines of Hadelamide.”
Even Alben's somewhat exaggerated greeting did not cause any awkwardness at all.
The silence that followed even created tension.
In fact, Michael was just being indifferent, and it was entirely the royal family who felt this discomfort. Among them, Aysel, Rubens, and Ikalis especially chewed their lips and showed their anxiety.
'I, I thought that guy was the king of the homunculus or something.'
'Oh, you wouldn't hold a grudge against us and harm us, would you?'
'Ugh. I'm in a situation where I, a member of the royal family, have to watch out for the faces of homunculus.'
As the standoff continued quietly, Michael suddenly asked Alben.
“Baron Linus, I have a question.”
“What is it, brother?”
“Since I have yet to become the Crown Prince, is it lawful for me to bow first?”
“Yes, yes! That’s right. Just greet them before entering the hall, and once you’re inside, just stand still and wait. The Crown Princess and Crown Prince Consort are of a higher status than the Princes and Princesses!”
The clear explanation foreshadowed a change in the order starting today. Aysel, Rubens, and Ikalis trembled.
'The homunculus topic has become higher than us!'
‘The work is not enough, now...!’
'Ah, I'm so angry!'
Michael then bowed down to the royal family.
“Duke of Yggdras, Michaelis Agnito Yggdras, of the noble blood of Hadelamid.”
“...Uh, welcome, Duke Yggdrasil.”
Princess Roxandra was the representative who received the greeting. As she could not speak in a low tone, her tone was somewhat awkward.
“Then you go first.”
“Yeah, yeah!”
The royal family members left the place in a hurry as if they were running away. Only Euclid and Rubio nodded to each other separately.
Stefania looked at Michael as if she had something to say, but then quickly looked away, along with her steps.
When all the royal family members had passed, Michael turned around and saw the eastern villa. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him. He called Alben again.
“Baron Linus.”
“Yes. Do you have any other questions?”
Michael opened his mouth in agreement. His subdued tone was filled with concern for his silver-haired friend.
“How is Sylvie’s condition?”
A small hospital room in the Green room. There, a silver-haired, handsome man was sleeping as if he were dead.
His face, covered with a veil of midday sunlight, looked gaunt, as if to show that he had been lying in bed for quite some time.
Step by step.
A woman in a dress walked in quietly, holding a bouquet of flowers. She went straight to the table. The hands that were changing the flowers in the vase seemed quite familiar.
After carefully checking the condition of the window in case a cold wind came in, she fixed her gaze on the motionless patient. Unable to approach, she pulled up a chair far away and sat down.
A quiet time passed. It was a routine that had been repeated every day for half a year without ever getting boring.
It was around that time that another visitor arrived.
“Oh, it’s Sister Rosie.”
“Yeah, it’s Sister Rosie.”
“...Bianca, Aloysia. Be quiet. This is the room where the patient is.”
"Yes!"
The young twin Princesses returned a loud reply. Rosenite furrowed her brows but said nothing and opened the book. It was a medical book she had recently started reading. It was difficult and abstruse, but she read it with a sense of duty.
That was when.
“Huh? Huh?”
“Wow! Wow!”
Only a few minutes after she gave her warning, her sisters started making a fuss.
It wasn’t like she had become any better after regressing, so Rosenite’s forehead blushed in irritation. However, the moment she heard the next words of the youngest Princesses, her mind went blank.
“Wow, the knight has opened his eyes!”
“Wow, the knight has opened his eyes!”
"...What?"
bam.
The book she was holding fell to the floor.
Rosenit jumped up from her seat and went to the bed.
It wasn't a lie. The man lying there with his silver hair flowing like a fan was lifting his eyelids as if he had just been kissed and was awakened from a spell.
It was the moment when the focus finally returned to the wall. Rosenite's eyes met his.
"Your Highness?"
The voice that came out from the vocal cords that had not been used for a long time was rough, having lost its original clarity. Nevertheless, Rosenit felt her heart pounding.
“Oh, this is not the time. I need to call Lady Arpel.”
“She should be at the main palace now. Let’s go quickly.”
“Sister Rosie, keep an eye on the knight!”
Thankfully, the twin Princesses didn't go crazy and just left on their own.
But in return, an awkward silence fell over the room.
“..I feel like I just woke up from a really long dream.”
Fortunately, Sylvestian was the first to open his mouth. Thanks to him, Rosenite felt much more comfortable opening her mouth.
“Do you... remember? You were seriously injured while trying to save my sister during the subjugation battle.”
“Yes. I remember.”
“You were given the title of Count for that achievement. It’s already been half a year since then, so three seasons have changed since you lost consciousness.”
“...Is that so?”
The unsettled agitation was revealed through the shaking eyes.
“You must be feeling a little uncomfortable because you’ve been lying down for so long.. I’ll check on you later, but I’m just wondering if there’s anything wrong with your senses right now.... Oh, and you shouldn’t move suddenly.”
"It's okay."
Sylvestian stubbornly tried to raise his upper body. Of course, it wasn't easy.
Rosenite hurriedly supported his back to prevent him from falling back into the seat because his arm slipped.
Because of that, when they accidentally made contact, an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere flowed. This time, too, it was Sylvestian who spoke first.
“The muscles..."
"Yes?"
“My muscles are all gone. I wonder if I’m showing you a shabby and unsightly appearance that is unbecoming of a knight.... Please forgive me.”
A sad, bitter smile was painfully embedded in Rosenite’s eyes. At that moment, she felt something welling up inside her.
“What does that matter?”
"Your Highness?"
From this point on, she began to pour out her heart.
“I’m so glad you opened your eyes. I was worried that you wouldn’t wake up. I was so worried. You may not believe it, but it’s true. I... I’ve done so many things to you that I’m sorry about, and I’m worried that you might close your eyes forever. I can’t do that.... You’re not the type of person who can just leave like this..."
"Your Highness?"
Her words came out incoherently as she was overcome with emotion. It seemed that the one who was making a fuss was none other than Rosenite herself. She finished her speech in a hurry.
“I’m glad you’re alive. You’re the kind of person who deserves to be happy.”
In this life, Rosenite barely managed to swallow the words.
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