Wrap it up, wrap it up, wrap it up, wrap it up.
I cast a desperate gaze toward the only being who could resolve this disaster.
However, Nike seemed to be deep in thought for some reason.
"Father!"
He quickly hid me behind his back and spoke.
"It is not that she did it knowingly. To be honest, she has never done such hard work before, and she's not in good health right now, but she was pushing herself too hard because she wanted to make a good impression on my father."
What?
'Is it a 'Turn Crisis into Opportunity' operation?'
Well, he just seems like someone who's shielding the woman who tried to assassinate his father.
“Hahaha! Right~ You wouldn't have done it knowingly~ Actually, it did seem like you hadn't done anything like this before~.”
"Oh dear, still, your intention to do something for His Majesty was truly sweet."
The two kind-hearted middle-aged men, who had also been flustered and speechless, stepped in to smooth things over.
The Emperor was silent.
He just stared blankly at the poisonous mushroom that had almost gone into his mouth.
“Your, Your Majesty. I’m so sorry...”
I hid behind Nike and timidly apologized.
A small room. I, lying miserably on my side in floral pants, sobbing.
Fortunately, the unintended attempt to assassinate the Emperor was forgiven, but I was strictly excluded from preparing lunch.
Well, what would I do if I happened to put something in the food...
"Vania, let's eat."
Nike opened the door and called out to me. As I staggered to my feet, he was startled and came inside.
"Did you cry?"
“No, just...”
“It’s nothing, so why are you worrying so much? Father is perfectly fine.”
“Yeah...”
Nike sighed, grabbed my cheeks, and met my eyes. He gazed quietly at my sullen expression, then smirked.
"Cute."
All sorts of things...
"Let's eat quickly."
Nike led me out of the hut. A wonderful lunch was set on the platform in the yard.
As I sat hesitantly next to Nike, the Emperor across from me looked at the patient's meal placed in front of me and spoke.
"You have a bad stomach?"
“Ah, yes...”
"I made this easy on the stomach, so give it a try."
The Emperor personally scooped out a mouthwatering mushroom hot pot and placed it in front of me. Nike immediately pushed it aside.
"No thanks. You might get sick if you eat something wrong."
What the hell, this jerk?
If I earn even more hatred here, what am I supposed to do?
"Would you like to try it?"
"There's no need to push yourself."
I ignored Nike and took a spoonful of the soup.
"Uh?"
And I was surprised.
I tasted it with the mindset that I wouldn't spit it out no matter what, but lo and behold.
The moment the warm broth touched my tongue, I looked at the Emperor with wide eyes.
He had a triumphant look on his face, as if he knew it would suit my taste.
"It's delicious, Your Majesty! It's really delicious!"
A subtle mushroom aroma and a broth that isn't too salty.
I had been eating nothing but sickening patient food for months, but for the first time in a long while, my appetite returned.
Nike was surprised to see me moving my hands and mouth without rest.
"Is it edible?"
"Yes, it's so delicious!"
“Haha, Your Majesty, your cooking skills are truly shining!”
"Of course! You wouldn't even notice if one of us died while eating!"
I saw the Emperor lifting his bowl, smiling contentedly as if satisfied.
'Hmm? What is that?'
A bowl filled with brown water.
The Emperor began his meal only after gulping it down first.
I looked at the Emperor sitting alone at the fishing spot from a distance and asked his doctor, Mr. Lemon.
“Mr. Lemon, what did His Majesty have before the meal?”
“Before meals? Ah, His Majesty has a weak stomach. He makes sure to take herbal medicine to aid digestion.”
"A weak stomach?"
"Yes, it is a chronic condition. It has been over ten years since he started taking medicine with every meal."
"Yes?!"
"It has been quite a while since His Majesty developed both insomnia and gastrointestinal problems due to stress. It was somewhat better when he was younger, but as he gets older, he is having more trouble digesting food, so I am very worried as well."
Stress...
I was speechless.
Mr. Lemon looked puzzled at me for not responding, then flinched as if he had realized something.
Stress is the root of all diseases.
Duke Wassenberg, the well-known main culprit, caused stress to the Emperor.
I am the daughter of...
"Ahem."
Mr. Lemon, who was feeling embarrassed for no reason, patted my shoulder as if to comfort me.
“Thank you for letting me know. However, Prince, is he unaware of His Majesty’s health condition?”
“His Highness the Prince?”
Before the regression, I had never heard of the Emperor's condition, which was described as a chronic illness.
Whether Nike simply didn't tell her, or whether she didn't know herself...
'I think it's the latter.'
If he had known, he would have told me.
“His Majesty, he is not the type to cling to his sons and say he is sick, so naturally His Highness wouldn’t know. Besides, it is not a life-threatening illness.”
I looked back.
I saw Nike repairing the hut door with a hammer and nails.
Hearing that the door to the Emperor's room was broken and kept opening, he stepped forward to fix it himself out of concern.
That seemingly affectionate yet indifferent son will actually never know unless told.
Emperor and Nike.
It was a relationship where neither of them was blameless, as both were just as awkward.
"Your Majesty!"
I headed toward the Emperor, who was fishing.
"Do you have any fish?"
As I sat down beside him and asked, the Emperor glanced at me, cast his gaze back toward the river, and spoke.
"The sun is setting soon, so leave as soon as it gets light tomorrow."
"Yes?"
“It’s uncomfortable. I know why you went out of your way to come all the way here, but there was no need to worry in the first place. I’m not against you. And I have no right to oppose you.”
To my surprise, the Emperor began to speak with a deepened gaze.
“I have always lived with a heart that feels guilty toward Nike. For I decided my son’s life as I pleased.”
“...”
“I have no intention of making cowardly self-defenses, such as saying it was because I'm the Emperor or that I didn't feel good about it. I am the worst father to my son.”
The Emperor's true intentions, which I had never heard before, were a bit unexpected.
"Now, I hope that child enjoys the life they were deprived of because of me and finds happiness. In truth, since even that is likely just to lessen my guilt, I am a human being who is even hypocritical."
I stared blankly at the Emperor's profile.
To be honest, I can never defend the choices he made in the past.
Turning a blind eye to the Academy professors' unethical human experiments instead of stopping them. Sending his son to that place.
'Regardless of whether it was an 'unavoidable' situation, my opinion that it was 'wrongful' remains unchanged.'
However, the fact that he admitted it with his own mouth was a bit strange.
Everyone is bound to try to ignore their own faults and shift the blame to others.
I got up and approached the Emperor from behind.
And after choosing my words for a moment, I opened my mouth.
“I wish Your Majesty could let go of at least half, if not all, of the guilt you are currently bearing. Wouldn’t it be all right to blame my father for about half of it?”
“...”
“I won’t tell you it wasn’t wrong. It would sound like empty words. But it is a sin born of an effort to prevent greater evil. It is something that wouldn’t have needed to be done had it not been for my father.”
I carefully placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Stay healthy. Bad people eventually fail. You must witness the satisfying spectacle of evil's downfall."
The Emperor, who knew nothing yet, merely chuckled at my consolation, which must have sounded absurd.
The Eye of the Mirror - Fountain of Purification
For the first time in a long while, I feel the power manifesting through my fingertips.
'Hmm, not bad.'
As expected, it did not put much strain on my body, which had almost fully recovered.
This was something I had decided the moment I heard that the Emperor was uncomfortable.
It was about time to use my ability to check how much my body had recovered, and there was no telling when I would see the Emperor's face again if not now.
'And... there’s no cure for chronic stomach problems caused by stress.'
The medicine prescribed by the doctor is merely a temporary measure and not a fundamental cure.
Unlike that, the effect of the Fountain of Purification is immediate.
The Emperor may not be aware that he has fully recovered since it was not a visible injury, but he will be able to have a comfortable meal starting this evening.
“You...”
The Emperor looked back.
And then I was immediately shocked.
“Y-Young Lady!”
What?
'What could it be!'
I immediately brought my hand under my nose. Thick blood came out.
“Your Majesty, wait!”
I quickly wiped away the blood and said.
"I'm fine. I often act like this when I'm tired. It's nothing serious, but please pretend you don't notice so that others don't worry for no reason."
“...”
“A secret just between the two of us!”
I gave a wink.
The Emperor, who had been staring at me blankly as if dumbfounded, immediately shouted.
"Nike!!!"
Ha.
You're merciless...
Alphonse was standing in the yard, watching Vania inside the room.
"Don't do it? Don't do it!"
Suddenly bleeding from her nose, she kept shouting at Nike while being held by his doctor, Lemon.
“I know my own health well! I’m really fine, so...”
"Be quiet!"
Alphonse was startled. Nike, who was standing beside him, was somehow furious and lashed out at Vania.
"Stop talking and lie down right now."
Vania, who had been hesitating, lay down as instructed. Only then did Lemon begin to examine her body.
Alphonse frowned and glared at Nike.
What's wrong with this guy?
Although he wasn't the type to have big mood swings to begin with, seeing him yell at his sick fiancée was even more disconcerting.
To the young lady whom he hasn't been able to take his eyes off for a single moment since he brought her home, holding her close like a precious Princess, why suddenly...
There must be a reason.
“What are you telling her not to do?”
Alphonse asked.
Instead of answering, Nike bit his lip tightly and kept thinking about something while clenching and unclenching his fist.
"Nike."
"I am asking him not to regress."
At those words, Alphonse was shocked.
It means that Vania knows that Nike is a person with supernatural abilities.
Even if they are lovers, how could you... a secret that should be protected more heavily than one's own life...
No, that's enough.
That isn't important right now.
“Why are you worrying? Does regressing make the young lady better?”
“...”
"Are you going to keep acting so frustratingly?"
“...Yes, it will get better. It’s because her body was damaged from using this ability. I just need to go back to before she used it.”
“...?”
This time, he let out a hollow laugh.
What kind of shocking secret is this?
I heard you were excommunicated for being incompetent, but your body was ruined from using supernatural powers?
"Ha."
Alphonse was confused, but he sorted out the situation as calmly as possible.
"Then why are you worrying? If you can cure it, you should."
“...”
“Nike, please! Answer me!”
Just as he was feeling frustrated, Nike turned around.
It is because he thinks Vania would do the same thing again, even if she went back in time.
“...”
“I found out this time, but she will likely try to use this ability without my knowledge on the next attempt. In that case, it is better for me to know.”
“...”
I really don't know what you mean.
Alphonse gathered his limited knowledge and tried to mend the holes in the situation.
Vania.
A person with supernatural abilities.
However, using this ability puts a strain on the body.
It seems Vania was also aware of her condition.
The reason Nike got angry is that Vania used her ability even though she knew that fact.
Then, what on earth did she use, going to such lengths to use it...
“Father, were you sick?”
At those words, he paused.
Alphonse froze.
I cast a desperate gaze toward the only being who could resolve this disaster.
However, Nike seemed to be deep in thought for some reason.
"Father!"
He quickly hid me behind his back and spoke.
"It is not that she did it knowingly. To be honest, she has never done such hard work before, and she's not in good health right now, but she was pushing herself too hard because she wanted to make a good impression on my father."
What?
'Is it a 'Turn Crisis into Opportunity' operation?'
Well, he just seems like someone who's shielding the woman who tried to assassinate his father.
“Hahaha! Right~ You wouldn't have done it knowingly~ Actually, it did seem like you hadn't done anything like this before~.”
"Oh dear, still, your intention to do something for His Majesty was truly sweet."
The two kind-hearted middle-aged men, who had also been flustered and speechless, stepped in to smooth things over.
The Emperor was silent.
He just stared blankly at the poisonous mushroom that had almost gone into his mouth.
“Your, Your Majesty. I’m so sorry...”
I hid behind Nike and timidly apologized.
***
“Huh-uh-uh.”
Fortunately, the unintended attempt to assassinate the Emperor was forgiven, but I was strictly excluded from preparing lunch.
Well, what would I do if I happened to put something in the food...
"Vania, let's eat."
Nike opened the door and called out to me. As I staggered to my feet, he was startled and came inside.
"Did you cry?"
“No, just...”
“It’s nothing, so why are you worrying so much? Father is perfectly fine.”
“Yeah...”
Nike sighed, grabbed my cheeks, and met my eyes. He gazed quietly at my sullen expression, then smirked.
"Cute."
All sorts of things...
"Let's eat quickly."
Nike led me out of the hut. A wonderful lunch was set on the platform in the yard.
As I sat hesitantly next to Nike, the Emperor across from me looked at the patient's meal placed in front of me and spoke.
"You have a bad stomach?"
“Ah, yes...”
"I made this easy on the stomach, so give it a try."
The Emperor personally scooped out a mouthwatering mushroom hot pot and placed it in front of me. Nike immediately pushed it aside.
"No thanks. You might get sick if you eat something wrong."
What the hell, this jerk?
If I earn even more hatred here, what am I supposed to do?
"Would you like to try it?"
"There's no need to push yourself."
I ignored Nike and took a spoonful of the soup.
"Uh?"
And I was surprised.
I tasted it with the mindset that I wouldn't spit it out no matter what, but lo and behold.
The moment the warm broth touched my tongue, I looked at the Emperor with wide eyes.
He had a triumphant look on his face, as if he knew it would suit my taste.
"It's delicious, Your Majesty! It's really delicious!"
A subtle mushroom aroma and a broth that isn't too salty.
I had been eating nothing but sickening patient food for months, but for the first time in a long while, my appetite returned.
Nike was surprised to see me moving my hands and mouth without rest.
"Is it edible?"
"Yes, it's so delicious!"
“Haha, Your Majesty, your cooking skills are truly shining!”
"Of course! You wouldn't even notice if one of us died while eating!"
“Everyone, listen up.”
'Hmm? What is that?'
A bowl filled with brown water.
The Emperor began his meal only after gulping it down first.
***
I looked at the Emperor sitting alone at the fishing spot from a distance and asked his doctor, Mr. Lemon.
“Mr. Lemon, what did His Majesty have before the meal?”
“Before meals? Ah, His Majesty has a weak stomach. He makes sure to take herbal medicine to aid digestion.”
"A weak stomach?"
"Yes, it is a chronic condition. It has been over ten years since he started taking medicine with every meal."
"Yes?!"
"It has been quite a while since His Majesty developed both insomnia and gastrointestinal problems due to stress. It was somewhat better when he was younger, but as he gets older, he is having more trouble digesting food, so I am very worried as well."
Stress...
I was speechless.
Mr. Lemon looked puzzled at me for not responding, then flinched as if he had realized something.
Stress is the root of all diseases.
Duke Wassenberg, the well-known main culprit, caused stress to the Emperor.
I am the daughter of...
"Ahem."
Mr. Lemon, who was feeling embarrassed for no reason, patted my shoulder as if to comfort me.
“Thank you for letting me know. However, Prince, is he unaware of His Majesty’s health condition?”
“His Highness the Prince?”
Before the regression, I had never heard of the Emperor's condition, which was described as a chronic illness.
Whether Nike simply didn't tell her, or whether she didn't know herself...
'I think it's the latter.'
If he had known, he would have told me.
“His Majesty, he is not the type to cling to his sons and say he is sick, so naturally His Highness wouldn’t know. Besides, it is not a life-threatening illness.”
I looked back.
I saw Nike repairing the hut door with a hammer and nails.
Hearing that the door to the Emperor's room was broken and kept opening, he stepped forward to fix it himself out of concern.
That seemingly affectionate yet indifferent son will actually never know unless told.
Emperor and Nike.
It was a relationship where neither of them was blameless, as both were just as awkward.
"Your Majesty!"
I headed toward the Emperor, who was fishing.
"Do you have any fish?"
As I sat down beside him and asked, the Emperor glanced at me, cast his gaze back toward the river, and spoke.
"The sun is setting soon, so leave as soon as it gets light tomorrow."
"Yes?"
“It’s uncomfortable. I know why you went out of your way to come all the way here, but there was no need to worry in the first place. I’m not against you. And I have no right to oppose you.”
To my surprise, the Emperor began to speak with a deepened gaze.
“I have always lived with a heart that feels guilty toward Nike. For I decided my son’s life as I pleased.”
“...”
“I have no intention of making cowardly self-defenses, such as saying it was because I'm the Emperor or that I didn't feel good about it. I am the worst father to my son.”
The Emperor's true intentions, which I had never heard before, were a bit unexpected.
"Now, I hope that child enjoys the life they were deprived of because of me and finds happiness. In truth, since even that is likely just to lessen my guilt, I am a human being who is even hypocritical."
I stared blankly at the Emperor's profile.
To be honest, I can never defend the choices he made in the past.
Turning a blind eye to the Academy professors' unethical human experiments instead of stopping them. Sending his son to that place.
'Regardless of whether it was an 'unavoidable' situation, my opinion that it was 'wrongful' remains unchanged.'
However, the fact that he admitted it with his own mouth was a bit strange.
Everyone is bound to try to ignore their own faults and shift the blame to others.
I got up and approached the Emperor from behind.
And after choosing my words for a moment, I opened my mouth.
“I wish Your Majesty could let go of at least half, if not all, of the guilt you are currently bearing. Wouldn’t it be all right to blame my father for about half of it?”
“...”
“I won’t tell you it wasn’t wrong. It would sound like empty words. But it is a sin born of an effort to prevent greater evil. It is something that wouldn’t have needed to be done had it not been for my father.”
I carefully placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Stay healthy. Bad people eventually fail. You must witness the satisfying spectacle of evil's downfall."
The Emperor, who knew nothing yet, merely chuckled at my consolation, which must have sounded absurd.
The Eye of the Mirror - Fountain of Purification
For the first time in a long while, I feel the power manifesting through my fingertips.
'Hmm, not bad.'
As expected, it did not put much strain on my body, which had almost fully recovered.
This was something I had decided the moment I heard that the Emperor was uncomfortable.
It was about time to use my ability to check how much my body had recovered, and there was no telling when I would see the Emperor's face again if not now.
'And... there’s no cure for chronic stomach problems caused by stress.'
The medicine prescribed by the doctor is merely a temporary measure and not a fundamental cure.
Unlike that, the effect of the Fountain of Purification is immediate.
The Emperor may not be aware that he has fully recovered since it was not a visible injury, but he will be able to have a comfortable meal starting this evening.
“You...”
The Emperor looked back.
And then I was immediately shocked.
“Y-Young Lady!”
What?
'What could it be!'
I immediately brought my hand under my nose. Thick blood came out.
“Your Majesty, wait!”
I quickly wiped away the blood and said.
"I'm fine. I often act like this when I'm tired. It's nothing serious, but please pretend you don't notice so that others don't worry for no reason."
“...”
“A secret just between the two of us!”
I gave a wink.
The Emperor, who had been staring at me blankly as if dumbfounded, immediately shouted.
"Nike!!!"
Ha.
You're merciless...
***
Alphonse was standing in the yard, watching Vania inside the room.
"Don't do it? Don't do it!"
Suddenly bleeding from her nose, she kept shouting at Nike while being held by his doctor, Lemon.
“I know my own health well! I’m really fine, so...”
"Be quiet!"
Alphonse was startled. Nike, who was standing beside him, was somehow furious and lashed out at Vania.
"Stop talking and lie down right now."
Vania, who had been hesitating, lay down as instructed. Only then did Lemon begin to examine her body.
Alphonse frowned and glared at Nike.
What's wrong with this guy?
Although he wasn't the type to have big mood swings to begin with, seeing him yell at his sick fiancée was even more disconcerting.
To the young lady whom he hasn't been able to take his eyes off for a single moment since he brought her home, holding her close like a precious Princess, why suddenly...
There must be a reason.
“What are you telling her not to do?”
Alphonse asked.
Instead of answering, Nike bit his lip tightly and kept thinking about something while clenching and unclenching his fist.
"Nike."
"I am asking him not to regress."
At those words, Alphonse was shocked.
It means that Vania knows that Nike is a person with supernatural abilities.
Even if they are lovers, how could you... a secret that should be protected more heavily than one's own life...
No, that's enough.
That isn't important right now.
“Why are you worrying? Does regressing make the young lady better?”
“...”
"Are you going to keep acting so frustratingly?"
“...Yes, it will get better. It’s because her body was damaged from using this ability. I just need to go back to before she used it.”
“...?”
This time, he let out a hollow laugh.
What kind of shocking secret is this?
I heard you were excommunicated for being incompetent, but your body was ruined from using supernatural powers?
"Ha."
Alphonse was confused, but he sorted out the situation as calmly as possible.
"Then why are you worrying? If you can cure it, you should."
“...”
“Nike, please! Answer me!”
Just as he was feeling frustrated, Nike turned around.
It is because he thinks Vania would do the same thing again, even if she went back in time.
“...”
“I found out this time, but she will likely try to use this ability without my knowledge on the next attempt. In that case, it is better for me to know.”
“...”
I really don't know what you mean.
Alphonse gathered his limited knowledge and tried to mend the holes in the situation.
Vania.
A person with supernatural abilities.
However, using this ability puts a strain on the body.
It seems Vania was also aware of her condition.
The reason Nike got angry is that Vania used her ability even though she knew that fact.
Then, what on earth did she use, going to such lengths to use it...
“Father, were you sick?”
At those words, he paused.
Alphonse froze.
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