Pajijik.
Acella played with the mana at her fingertips like a marble.
She quickly grew bored and whoosh, made it evaporate into thin air.
“I’m so bored.”
It was getting hard to find teaching materials or papers suitable for her level.
Having mastered various subjects in just a few years, she was at a point where she would need to enroll in the doctoral program at the Hero Academy to learn more.
But with the operations at the Moonlight Palace, she couldn’t afford to be away from the Imperial Family for an extended period, especially during this crucial time of succession.
‘I want to use magic.’
Round and round, she circled back to that thought.
She threw a little tantrum but, having heard Lars emphasize it several times, Acella restrained her desire to draw a circle today once more.
‘Lars.’
Instead, she spent her time thinking about him.
It was particularly enjoyable to play with him after he had taken sleep medication last night.
‘Going out together… still far away.’
At that moment, Acella had firmly resolved to convey her feelings and hear his response.
Within the Imperial Palace, they had to be an attending physician and patient, as well as lord and vassal.
If there were no guards or attendants outside the Imperial Family…
Wouldn’t she be able to hear his true feelings, the secrets he was hiding…? A vague premonition crept in.
It was a decision. Even if circumstances had delayed the timing a bit, she had no intention of changing her plans.
For Acella, love was an unknown study and her first experience, so she was left with no leeway.
‘I also prefer to wait until my body is well.’
Acella placed her hand on her abdomen, feeling her ribs softly touch.
When Camilla’s last desperate act struck her, it hurt a lot, really a lot.
Even now, the aftertaste lingered like a phantom, poking at her, a constant reminder.
‘But, Lars is here, so it’s alright now.’
…Except for the strange voices she heard every time she slept.
It didn’t disturb her when she slept with Lars, but now it was gradually becoming useless.
At that moment, the Head Maid delivered the news.
“Your Royal Highness, urgent report. There has been a sudden movement at the Imperial Palace.”
She had placed eyes everywhere to grasp the movements of the Imperial Family. This was a report related to that.
“Speak.”
“The Crown Prince Gunter has been deposed. He is expected to be exiled.”
“What about the reliability?”
“It has been confirmed. They are in the stage of adjusting the announcement date.”
“This is a good opportunity. Prepare to meet His Majesty.”
Acella instantly stood up.
A meeting with the Emperor could not be granted without a prior appointment.
But with such a significant event as the Crown Prince’s deposition, expressing her intentions directly would make a big impression.
The Emperor knew well that he had little time left. Just recently, he barely escaped death.
He would want to decide the next heir as quickly as possible.
‘I’ve shown my worth at the Moonlight Palace during this time.’
He would understand Acella’s intentions and likely permit a brief audience.
When Acella arrived at the Imperial Palace, she underwent strict inspection.
Accompanied by only two guard knights, she entered the corridor leading to the audience chamber.
“His Majesty is currently in a discussion with guests. Please wait a moment.”
Guided by the secretary, she waited.
During the wait, she faintly heard voices coming from within.
It was a familiar voice. Now that she thought about it, Lars had also been summoned by the Emperor.
Was it a mere coincidence?
Like a moth drawn to flame, Acella instinctively stepped into the corridor with a clack-clack of her heels.
“Your Royal Highness!”
The butler tried to stop her in a small voice, flustered and pacing.
‘Why would His Majesty summon Lars instead of me during such an important time?’
A strange premonition washed over Acella.
At the entrance to the audience room, she paused for a moment, listening to their conversation.
—Who is the most suitable candidate to be the next Emperor?
The Emperor’s audacious question.
Acella held her breath in anticipation.
If he called her name, natural words requesting the position of heir would follow smoothly like a flowing stream.
As a legitimate successor and the Empire’s princess, she could showcase her dignity.
Lars was her vassal.
…And betrothed as well.
If she became the Emperor, they would look upon the Empire from the highest vantage point together.
No one, with any human body on the continent, possessed as much wealth, honor, respect, or glory as the Emperor of the Empire.
The position of the Empress’s husband, a state document.
No one would decline such a role.
Thus, seeing Lars say her name seemed like the only reasonable course of action.
“The next Emperor most suited to be His Majesty’s heir is none other than Acella von Württemberg, Your Majesty.”
Imagining a dignified declaration and a splendid entrance, Acella took a step forward.
“For the peace and prosperity of the Empire, I dare to offer my humble opinion.”
At the same moment, Lars’s mouth opened.
“I believe Princess Heike is the most suitable talent for the next Emperor.”
Thud.
Acella’s steps froze in place.
Her mind went blank at a situation she had never even imagined.
Her lips trembled, and a cold shiver swept over her body, starting from her fingertips.
“Hmm, Heike, huh.”
“Yes. Heike possesses a calm judgment that is not swayed by emotions, excellent leadership, economic sense, and above all, loves the Empire.”
“Doesn’t Acella get mentioned, Gothberg?”
“Princess Acella is…”
Lars bowed his head, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly replied.
“Of course, she is as capable as Heike, but…”
“What holds you back?”
“Please understand my position, as I cannot slander my lord.”
“I see.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Acella stepped forward.
“Lars…?”
Upon spotting Acella, he wore a perplexed expression.
“Why didn’t my name come up there?!”
“Your Highness.”
It was in front of the Emperor. Raising her voice would only make matters worse. She had just recently improved her image with the Moonlight Palace and her changed demeanor. She couldn’t afford to lose that progress here.
She knew.
Even if she knew, she couldn’t control the emotions rising within her.
With lips pressed so tightly that they could bleed, Acella urged the urge to scream louder down.
Then she abruptly turned and fled from the spot.
Lars maintained the courtesy he had to show the Emperor, keeping his composure.
“I understand your meaning well. You may go now.”
“I am grateful for your consideration.”
Lars immediately stood up and chased after Acella.
“Your Highness.”
In the corridor of the Imperial Palace, Lars caught up with Acella, who was escaping.
Acella, fleeing in haste, abruptly turned to face Lars.
“What were you thinking?”
“Uh, well…”
“You are my vassal. When asked who would be suitable as the next Emperor, you should naturally respond with my name, as your lord.”
This time, Lars found it hard to slip away from the oncoming storm. It was practically an act of betrayal.
[No. 077: Incarnation of Jealousy 22%]
However, the probability of a bad ending occurring when Lars betrayed her remained unchanged.
Lars thought it was a little odd.
He calmly responded.
“It is only natural for a servant of Her Highness to state her name. His Majesty didn’t call me to the palace just to hear obvious answers. You understand, right?”
“So that means you casually threw out a name of any successor?”
“Of course, Your Highness, you are an unparalleled candidate for the next Emperor. I have no doubts about that fact.”
“Then why does Heike’s name come up?!”
Unable to endure, Acella shouted.
“…If I answered with Princess Heike, I could earn His Majesty’s trust, which would allow the Moonlight Palace more support in the future…”
“No. My vassal, you merely spoke honestly.”
At that moment, Acella saw through Lars’s reaction perfectly.
Lars hadn’t lied for the sake of the Moonlight Palace.
He sincerely believed that Acella should not become Emperor.
It was a precise insight, and Lars could not immediately refute it.
Acella was capable as an Emperor. One could say she was the best at managing a nation.
The problem is that the outcome leads to destruction.
It’s like a ship that was sailing smoothly suddenly turns its rudder by itself, crashing into an iceberg.
Even if surgery was scheduled, what would the results be? Would Acella be healed, broken, left with sequelae, or how much of the curse would she still suffer from? How much of the ending would be erased?
There were too many unknowns.
The feeling that Acella wasn’t as wicked as the Emperor he knew also played on Lars’s mind.
If she were somewhat spoiled in personality but not entirely average, just an ordinary person with a sense of humanity instead of a being from another realm…
If that assumption were an illusion, it would lead to an enormous, irreversible mistake.
Lars had to install layers of safety measures.
However, above all,
‘Even if Acella isn’t an evil person.’
He held a vague wish that she would not become Emperor.
The Imperial Family Lars had witnessed was a web of interests, a fierce competition, and a place where humanity had perished.
Just looking at the initial Inner Palace, one could see it.
Patients had been put aside, as greed for promotions and achievements surged.
Even now, outside of Lars’s faction, things hadn’t improved much.
To manage the countless nobles of the Empire, one could no longer live as an individual.
The Emperor had to bear the weight of the governance.
Lars sometimes thought that Acella didn’t need to step into that dog-eat-dog world and waste her life like that.
In reality, Lau was enjoying life just like that.
Acella, unaware of Lars’s thoughts, looked at him with resentment.
“You were serious, Lars. You think Heike is more suitable as a successor than me.”
“Your Highness.”
“Are you saying you couldn’t answer because you couldn’t slander me? That response is sufficient humiliation. What do you think His Majesty will say? How could you do this to me, of all people?!”
“Calm down. You’re too riled up.”
“Of all people, it’s you! You should believe in me! You! ”
Acella pounded her fists on Lars’s chest in rage.
It wasn’t jealousy toward Heike.
The disappointment in Lars pierced Acella’s heart.
“I… love you!”
Love her this much.
Why don’t you see that?
I hate you.
Because I hate you, should I break you?
“Ugh…!”
Acella clenched her teeth at the voice she heard from somewhere.
A pang of pain rushed over her. It was an unpleasant sensation, squeezing her insides from within. The endless flow of saliva tasted bitter, as if mixed with antiseptic.
“Your Highness!”
Lars quickly realized Acella’s condition and rushed to apply emergency treatment.
“Lars…”
Calling his name for the last time, Acella lost consciousness.
*
“Your Royal Highness is sleeping soundly.”
That night, after attending to Acella’s episode, I left the Moonlight Palace while conversing with the Head Maid.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
I had already informed her of all the precautions to take while caring for Acella.
Since I left instructions for Chloe as well, she could handle any sudden emergencies.
“Your Highness might be looking for you…”
“Time is of the essence.”
[No. 101: Magic Explosion 20% → 24%]
The events of the day had exacerbated her condition.
The limit was approaching moment by moment.
“Let’s go, Teacher.”
At the entrance of the Moonlight Palace, Tanya and Bruno were on standby, fully armed.
As we stepped out of the front gate, one unit borrowed from Heike awaited me.
“We will depart to the north. The target is the stronghold of the barbarian Thunder Tribe.”
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