“Are you really going back already?”
A girl with bright green eyes spoke up.
Her name is Charlotte de Magstitia.
The second princess of the great Karaz Empire.
A princess speaking formally to someone.
That person is none other than the hero of this empire.
“I’ve finished everything, so I need to go back now.”
It was Athena.
She had already been in the Imperial Palace for five days.
Having completed all the emperor’s orders, she no longer needed to stay here.
“Don’t you always stay for a week? Why are you in such a hurry this time…”
Charlotte, who was inwardly disappointed at Athena’s departure, tried to hold her back, but her will was stubborn.
“I have someone I want to see quickly.”
Athena thought of Hera, a small smile gracing her face.
Seeing that, Charlotte couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Y-You mean someone you want to see?! C-Could it be a lover?”
Has Athena ever missed someone before?
It was surprising that she, who had never shown interest in others, wanted to see someone.
Could she have found a lover?
The hero’s lover, that’s the kind of event that could overturn the Imperial Palace at any moment.
But Athena shook her head, signaling a denial.
“No. It’s a much deeper relationship than that.”
Charlotte was thrown into further confusion.
‘D-Deeper?’
A relationship deeper than that of lovers?
C-Could it be… a husband?
Did she even get married?
When?
With whom?
“Uh… who is that person…?”
But instead of an answer, she received a sharp smack.
“Ugh!”
“Now’s not the time to be concerned about that, didn’t you say you were going to seize the throne?”
“…I have a plan.”
In two years, she would attend the Academy.
A place said to gather talented individuals.
Charlotte planned to build her own power there.
“Hmm… then by the way, is there a magic tool shop nearby?”
She quickly shifted her interest to asking about the location of a magic tool shop.
“If it’s a magic tool shop, there are plenty around the Imperial Palace…”
“Then recommend one. The best one.”
“Sure… but may I ask why you need a magic tool shop?”
At Charlotte’s question, Athena wore a playful smile.
“I want to give a gift to someone.”
Could it be for a lover?
It seemed she was quite passionately attached to that person.
‘I’ll have to find out later.’
Someone who is loved by the hero.
Charlotte thought it wouldn’t hurt to get closer.
—
A quiet room.
The atmosphere was so still that it felt chilly.
In this room, only the faint sound of a woman’s breath could be heard.
Another woman quietly watched over her.
The brown-haired maid, Alina, observed Hera, who lay asleep on the bed.
Her eyes were heavily stained with tears, and her lips were pale from distress.
Yet, the woman’s beautiful appearance remained, evoking a protective instinct in those who gazed at her.
“I’m sorry, Miss.”
Even though it was the master’s order, it was she who carried it out.
There was no denying that she had inflicted an irreparable wound on Hera.
‘One day, the day of reckoning will come.’
All sins eventually reveal their true faces, just like her parents’ sins.
They were not merchants; though they claimed to be, they were nothing more than wretched humans who sold their own child to a brothel for money.
When it came to money, they would abandon their own children.
Because of them, she had to live a life worse than that of livestock.
But one day, as she continued to persevere in life, she happened to meet Bordin.
He showed interest in her while seeking information from the brothel.
He took her in because he saw a glimmer of himself in her eyes.
Thus began the complete transformation of her life.
Under Bordin’s care, she had been living a relatively good life.
He instructed her to call him master and taught her essential knowledge for living.
Among all the knowledge he imparted, Bordin primarily focused on training her as an assassin.
Later, she learned that he was a master of a notorious underground guild.
After months of honing her skills under him, the first thing she did was kill her parents.
She slit her father’s throat and poisoned her mother’s drink, stopping her heart.
It was revenge that had been simmering for years.
But instead of the sense of accomplishment she’d longed for, what she found was deep emptiness.
On their corpses, she realized she could no longer find a purpose in life.
For her, Bordin planted a new goal.
He shared his plans with her, and in gratitude for his kindness, she decided to join them.
That was how she ended up in Athena’s mansion.
‘Why this place, I do not know…’
She did not know exactly what her master was scheming here, but it didn’t matter; she only needed to follow his commands.
In fact, she had been executing orders without a hint of reluctance until now.
From spreading misinformation to committing murder.
Yes, it had all been a task done without any emotion.
But why was it that every time she saw the lady’s sorrowful expression, a corner of her heart hurt?
Was it guilt emerging now, even after everything?
If so, she needed to rid herself of those feelings as soon as possible.
This guilt was nothing but a worthless, disgusting pretense.
No matter how she felt, the wounds she inflicted would not heal again.
She shook her head vigorously to dispel her thoughts.
The hero would be back soon.
He would surely heal the lady’s wounds.
Then she too could live a happy life.
….
‘…Will she truly be able to be happy?’
The feelings he has for her were closer to overwhelming obsession than pure love.
Could the lady find happiness in such obsession?
“….”
She stared at Hera, who was sleeping soundly beside her.
Was she dreaming of something happy? A faint smile graced her lips.
All Alina could do was gently pull the blanket around her tighter.
“…Sleep well, Miss.”
May she find happiness, if only in her dreams.
—
“Sis, say ‘ah~'”
Lily offered me a spoonful piled high with food.
As I opened my mouth wide, she slid the spoon right in.
“Mmm… it tastes even better when it’s from Lily, right?”
“Hehe.”
Seeing her blissful smile made me smile too.
“You two are getting along too well, aren’t you? I’m getting jealous.”
“Ah, sis.”
Dania pulled a chair over and nestled next to me.
“Is the food to your taste?”
“It’s sister’s cooking. It’s always delicious. I fall in love every time.”
“Oh my… did you hear that, Lily?”
“….”
Lily cast a somewhat gloomy look at her sister.
It seemed they had been having odd little spats lately.
“What’s on the schedule for today?”
Dania spoke to me while avoiding Lily’s piercing gaze.
What were we supposed to do today again?
I couldn’t quite remember.
“Um… maybe go hunt some monsters again?”
It was something we did every day.
“Sigh… I’m worried. What if you get seriously hurt one day?”
“Eh, sis. How strong do you think I am! I can handle most monsters without a problem.”
I flashed a smile at Lily, who was looking a little pouty.
“And now, Lily has grown up a lot too, right? Isn’t that so, Lily?”
“…!!”
She seemed surprised by my words but soon brightened up, her eyes wide as she nodded.
“Y-Yes! I will protect Sister Hera now!”
Her innocent words uplifted my spirits.
“How reassuring, Lily.”
“Hehe.”
As the two exchanged cheerful smiles, Dania sighed softly and stood up.
“Well, as long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”
Dania started clearing away the dishes.
I attempted to get up and help her.
“Ah! I will help too. Um…?”
But my body wouldn’t move.
It felt like someone was pulling me down, and I was stuck solidly in my chair.
Thud—
Suddenly, unease began to creep in.
An inexplicable anxiety started to take control.
“Ah… no, sis. I… I’ll help…”
As my body shook, my voice stumbled.
Seeing how odd I looked, Lily glanced at me with concern.
“Are you okay, sis..?”
– Are you alright, Miss?
A mysterious voice layered over Lily’s words.
“Ha…huh.”
I felt as though I forgot how to breathe, unable to take a proper breath.
“Uh… Sis!!”
– You don’t look well.
“I can… help too…”
– Ha… what’s wrong with you nowadays, Miss?
– Honestly, you’re not really cut out for this, right?
– Just….
– Please just stay still, Miss.
“Urgh!”
For a brief moment, my vision faded to darkness.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a familiar room.
“It was… a dream.”
A weak voice escaped my lips.
As I forced my heavy body up and approached the mirror, a pitiful sight met me.
My skin was pale to the point of being ghostly white.
Dried tears streaked down under my eyes, and my lips had turned a shade of blue.
I looked utterly ravaged.
I had hardly eaten for a while, and my already thin frame seemed even frailer.
I lost track of time. I didn’t know if it was day or night.
The maids had initially worried about me, but it seemed they had given up; no one came to my room anymore.
I felt lonely.
Lonely yet plagued by a contradiction of not wanting to meet anyone.
Every encounter seemed to echo their mockery ringing in my ears.
“…I want to sleep more…”
Though I had been sleeping a lot, the waves of sleepiness washed over me again.
After all, I had nothing else to do.
I was nothing but a useless person.
When I buried myself beneath the covers, I felt myself sinking down.
As I closed my eyes, once again, all that surrounded me was pitch black.
I just wanted to disappear like this, without anyone knowing.
As the darkness began to wrap around me slowly—
Thud—
“Hera~ I’m back… What’s with all this darkness?”
The sun.
Her golden light shone brightly, illuminating my room.
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