Drunken Confessions.
Words spoken in drunkenness, born from the heart.
A strong intoxication twists a person’s essence. Due to the unique effect of weakening inhibitions, the truths long hidden in people’s hearts are busy spilling out over the continent today.
My letter would surely be the same.
I don’t remember every single letter I wrote, but I can be certain that I didn’t write anything bad. Nor did I spew out ridiculous lies.
…So, at the very least, it’s true that I wrote it sincerely.
I didn’t lie to Hedera.
‘First, holding on like this is the best option.’
This was the unavoidable best option.
I couldn’t reveal the real reason that I wrote it while drunk, and I was strongly convinced that if I let Hedera go, I would never have another chance to meet her again.
If things went wrong, it would become extremely troublesome.
First and foremost, I wouldn’t be able to meet the Emperor’s conditions, would I?
The Emperor would end the engagement for failure to meet conditions, and in the worst-case scenario, he might even employ means to eliminate me.
Then, I wouldn’t know what the princess, who had shown a positive response to my proposal, would do on the continent. I wouldn’t be able to acquire an imperial consort, would remain terminally ill, and if I died young, it would be difficult to take revenge for my comrades’ souls…
“….”
I realized anew just how tangled my life was.
A butterfly’s flutter. It had already become a tempest.
At that moment, Hedera made a sound.
“…Ah.”
Only then did I escape from my contemplation.
I realized I was still holding her wrist.
A quiet corridor.
We were still staring at each other, frozen in our actions. However, Hedera’s eyes, having regained their original shape, trembled slightly.
“….”
Just then, her lips were about to utter something.
─AAAAHH!
A strange cry came from inside the Magic Tower.
─I’m going to freeze to death!
─Inspector! Where the heck did the Inspector go?!
─UAAAH!
Thinking back, I shouldn’t have been away this long. Regardless of my reunion with Hedera, I’m still the Inspector of the Magic Tower, responsible for supervising the mages here.
I released her delicate wrist.
“I have to go; after all, I am the Inspector.”
We would meet again inside the Magic Tower.
I walked away, leaving her standing there, feeling her gaze on the back of my head.
…Damn alcohol.
The empty corridor.
After Zechiel left, the 2nd Princess, Hedera, remained in her spot for quite some time. The chaotic currents of confusion in her heart showed no signs of calming down.
As she tried to calmly retrace her thoughts about what had just happened, someone she hadn’t imagined appeared in the corridor.
It was the 3rd Princess, Solana.
“Oh? How did we run into each other here? You arrived early, didn’t you?”
Even in the darkness, the Empire’s brilliance doesn’t lose its light.
The Face of the Empire, the Angel of the Empire… Hedera was puzzled about why she had appeared, but it soon made sense. It was Solana who had arbitrarily seated Zechiel in the Inspector’s post.
Solana cheerfully initiated the conversation as usual.
“2nd Princess, have you met the Inspector? Oh, would it be better to call him the Tower Master here? The gossip is spreading.”
“It’s not gossip, it’s agony.”
“Agony. Ah, I said that lightly…”
Heh heh heh, Solana chuckled lightly.
Could the bright one even grasp the complicated matters on this side? Hedera sighed, feeling too lazy to explain.
“You’re already trying your best in various matters. I really think you’re a teacher. Isn’t the Tower about to rise again? Tower Master, be a bit more cautious about the sale.”
“It’s not about the sale right now—”
Before Hedera could shake her off in annoyance, Solana’s eyes sparkled.
“Are you not going to sell? Good decision!”
“…”
At this point, Hedera ran her hand over her head in frustration.
No, not just frustration; she was starting to become truly displeased.
The five princesses of the Empire were raised in different environments with different characters and values, so they never got along well to begin with.
However, what Hedera particularly hated was Solana’s untainted cheerfulness that didn’t hint at her true intentions.
That carefree brightness annoyed her, often seeming quite intentional.
“…Solana.”
Hedera spoke, her voice edged with tension.
“Don’t you have any thoughts seeing that person after such a long time?”
Hedera’s parting from Zechiel was painfully intense.
It was such a sudden incident that she had no time to respond, and she was far too young to know how to cope with such intense pain.
That girl back then was confident.
No matter the circumstance, if only they could share the story, she could wait ten or a hundred years. That was her confidence which had surpassed mere belief.
No matter what it was, she would have understood. Perhaps she could chase after him even if the world fell apart, as that would hurt less.
However.
That parting had yet to be resolved.
Today was no different.
No, through this recent encounter, her confusion had only deepened.
Having asked the Emperor to defer and personally come to see him, this is the result.
…But why was this clueless one just so cheerful?
“That person? Are you perhaps referring to the teacher?”
“Yeah.”
“You’ve changed. Back then, you called him your future husband.”
Crack, Solana’s harmful brightness made Hedera grit her teeth.
Indeed, there was a time far in the past when it was true.
However, Zechiel didn’t clarify this time either.
He had left like that day, without offering any explanations to Hedera. Just as always, asking her to believe it was just sincere.
“Hmm, are you upset? Just kidding. After all, the two of you will absolutely never marry.”
Solana continued speaking in her usual manner.
“In any case, yeah. I don’t have much on my mind. I’m just glad to see the teacher again. It’s better than never seeing him again.”
“Must be nice to have a short memory. You can just brush off your thoughts.”
“Easy? No, not at all.”
The irritation surged further as she conversed with Solana.
Just as Hedera was about to end the conversation and walk away.
“2nd Princess.”
Solana was the first to call out to Hedera.
The two women’s gazes met in the void.
Solana’s smile resembled that of a kind priest, yet Hedera knew for sure that Solana’s eyes were anything but kind.
“There are things in this world. Just knowing about them can be a crime, and asking can inflict great wounds… but this is just my thought.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Teacher, you didn’t use sunweed in the past.”
“….”
A moment of silence.
“…?”
Hedera narrowed her eyes after a beat.
Now that she thinks about it.
Long ago, Zechiel wouldn’t have touched sunweed, let alone tobacco. But now, he bore the strong scent of sunweed’s smoke.
“It’s prohibited to possess sunweed without royal authorization. Even that authorization is mostly for medical purposes. I’ve never seen someone carrying around the whole stalk to chew on.”
“Stop beating around the bush and tell me everything you know.”
“I don’t know anything. Didn’t I just say? I merely believe. That’s all I can do.”
Solana turned on her heels and left those words behind.
“I’ll be going first. I hear there’s a training session today, and taking care of the injured is part of my role. Let’s meet inside.”
“…”
Left alone, Hedera remained rooted to her spot.
The tangled feelings that were already complicated simply became more chaotic due to Solana’s words. It felt like they were daring to rise like waves to engulf Hedera.
Why was she so displeased at present?
─It’s sincere.
Just that one little word made her falter.
Despite having been deceived for several years, she felt utterly disgusting and pitiable for wobbling once again.
Then, what was the reason for her frustration now?
…As much as she didn’t want to acknowledge it, she was a little curious.
What truth was it that she didn’t know? She suddenly fumbled with the crumpled letter in her pocket.
Should she burn it, or not?
“…”
In the end, Hedera took her feet away without burning the letter.
Defer.
She wasn’t kind enough to readily believe someone at once. At the same time, she wasn’t foolish, childish, or innocent either. However, keeping watch and observing was something she could easily manage.
Hedera is a Dragon’s Blood owner. Now she is strong.
If she never gives her heart away, there would be no betrayal, and even if something strange occurs, she can protect herself.
After making her decision, she nodded her head twice.
Now, let’s put aside her identity as the 2nd Princess. She still had the issue of the sale of the Imperial Magic Tower looming before her.
…It was time to work as the Tower Master for a while.
The corridors of the Magic Tower.
Even after Hedera had left, someone remained behind.
The 2nd Princess’s bodyguard, Valken.
Even with his face completely obscured by his helmet, his eyes seemed to gleam. With piercing eyes, the bodyguard continued to gaze at the spot where Zechiel had vanished.
Valken thought.
A Dragon’s Blood owner is perfect.
At the same time, a perfect being harbors no emotions.
Thus, to him, Hedera was a perfect existence.
However.
Just moments ago, when he faced Zechiel, Valken distinctly felt Hedera’s unusual agitation. It was the first time he had seen her like that since he began his role as a guard in the Celestial Realm.
Therefore, what he must do was clear.
For Hedera’s perfection.
For Hedera’s nobility.
No, for Hedera herself.
…He must eliminate that man.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.