TCIWTFY - Side Story Chapter 3

"Not long ago, he came to me and asked for my permission to marry you. He said he would support you both materially and spiritually, so that you could continue to pursue your passions even after marriage."

Medea paused for a moment.

"He also said, 'Her life is not your life, so set her free.'"

"How dare you, Gallo! I apologize, Your Majesty. I have caused you such rudeness."

"Of course, I refused. I told him I couldn't give my permission without checking with my sister."

Sister.

Neriel paused.

She lost her parents at a young age and joined the Knights Templar.

From then on, the only person Neriel had to protect was Medea, so she could more easily follow Medea to Katzen.

"That is too much to ask. I dare not accept it."

"If you're not my family, then who is my family?"

Medea said firmly.

"What else can you call someone who cares more about you than you care about yourself, who pours out their entire life to prepare for a future that hasn't even arrived yet, if not a sister?"

At those words, Neriel's eyes sparkled.

"...I know Your Majesty is keeping an eye on me."

She tried hard to suppress the emotions welling up in her and barely managed to spit them out.

"But my power remains unchanged. I don't care about him, so I have no reason to agree to the marriage."

"Neriel."

Medea took a step forward.

"I know you as well as you know me. If you really had no feelings, you wouldn't be so shaken."

Medea's hand covered the back of Neriel's hand.

Hands with calluses and faint scars.

The owner of that hand has always been loyal to Medea's path. In the past life, and in this life, it remains unchanged.

"You used to say, I always got ahead of myself."

"..."

"In both Valdina and Katzen, I feel like I'm carrying everything on my own, like I have no place for you."

"That... was a long time ago."

Neriel awkwardly avoided eye contact.

"That... I should have answered then."

Medea's voice was low, but never wavered.

"I was able to move forward because you were behind me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been so brave."

Medea knew why Neriel was pushing Gallo away

"I don't know what will happen in the future, and I know that you are always by my side to prepare for those variables."

Medea wrapped the back of Neriel's hand tighter

"But Neriel, now I'm not afraid of change. If it changes, it will be meaningful as it changes."

She made eye contact with Neriel and smiled.

"The little princess you were supposed to protect has now grown up. She is also the master of this empire, and she may rule the Holy Kingdom."

A mischievous smile spread across Medea's face.

"So, now you can let go of the burden on your shoulders."

The green eyes that stared at Neriel calmly were huge and brilliant, like the vast ocean that calms any waves.

"..."

Neriel's throat became hot.

Yes, maybe she was still putting the shadow of those days on her master.

The young Princess among the beasts, who lit a fire to bite the Princess's delicate flesh, was called a fool.

In fact, her master had long since taken off her bridle and spread her wings.

"So don't be afraid to be honest, Neriel. I'll always be by your side."

"Your Majesty..."

Neriel bowed and placed her forehead on Medea's hand.

Her eyes were so flustered that she couldn't see properly. It is a blessing that she will never have such a master again.

As if understanding her clumsiness of not being able to convey it with her mouth, Medea wiped the corners of her wet eyes.

"I'm going now. I'll wait here."

Medea held something in her hand.

It was a pair of rings with blue sapphires wrapped around diamonds and intricately engraved with ancient words beside them.

Sapphire means integrity and protection.

As if reminding her of her meaning, the ancient words engraved on the ring glowed white and shimmered mysteriously.

"Your Majesty, this is..."

"It's my gift. I think the best knight in Agema would be suitable for proposing to the head of the Facade."

Medea smiled mischievously.

"Don't cry, come on."

Neriel wiped away her tears and jumped up.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll be there!"

***

"Oh no! Oh no!"

She saw Neril walking across the Empress Palace out of the window.

The sight of the knight riding away on horseback was brave and beautiful.

A single transparent tear flowed silently down Medea's white cheeks.

"Who made you cry?"

Then a cold voice rang out.

When she turned her head to the source of the sound, shr saw the man's face full of admiration.

"I'm just happy."

It was daunting to see the pieces that didn't fit together in the past, one by one.

"Neriel went to Gallo."

Medea turned around and gently wrapped her arms around Cesare's neck.

He frowned slightly at his wife's tears, but he hugged Medea's back familiarly and firmly.

He gently swept the corners of her eyes with his cold fingertips and buried his lips deep in her temples.

"Alas, my wife's troubles are finally gone."

Cesare knew all about the feelings that were piled up behind his wife's carelessness.

She was heartbroken by the wandering of her subordinates, and it was only a few days that he was pushed out of his wife's attention and neglected.

Instead of answering, Medea slammed his chest with her fist.

He raised his handsome eyebrows in dissatisfaction.

"Gallo said he would quit even the Facade. Aren't you too indifferent to him?"

"A fool who is shaken to the point of heartbreak is disqualified as my subordinate."

So, please take care of your husband, who has been neglected now.

Cesare bit her earlobe grumpily, and Medea sighed and pushed him away.

"Cesare, do you know that we have a lot of shares in that heartbreak?"

Something I know.

Cesare thought to himself.

There was no need to say out loud that the pain of Gallo's unfulfilled love was worth less than Medea's one night's sleep.

However, Medea's voice, which had read his intentions, became quite cold.

"You can be so upright, then you don't have to worry about being heartbroken."

But soon, hot lips interrupted her words and swallowed them.

"Dea, that's different."

His stern voice broke off every word between his lips.

"Taking people's lives, to put it that way, is bad."

As if to urge the affection that had been delayed, he rushed in like a gust of wind.

When Medea, who was swept away helplessly, managed to catch her breath, she was already in his arms and heading to the bedroom.

"Wait, where are you going? The sun hasn't even set yet."

"You want to make me wait until night? Then, Dea, you can't handle it."

The golden eyes that reflected Medea's light shone dangerously.

"I still can't handle it..."

Ignoring Medea's protests, Cesare smiled mischievously and kissed her gently along her jawline.

"Come on, come on. Call me Cheche, huh?"

With a bang, the bedroom door closed again.

The sky outside the window was still too sunny.

***

Neriel ran towards the palace gate.

The Facade was located in the white mansion of the imperial castle, and Gallo stayed there all the time.

Even though she knew that the mansion didn't have legs, she felt a bit Impatient.

"Oh no! Oh no!"

It was just when she left the Empress Palace.

"Sir Neriel! Wait!"

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