Chapter 69: Confession and Forgiveness
Chapter 69: Confession and Forgiveness
“They probably intend to siphon the profits into their own pockets. That’s why.”
“Your Highness.”
Sillas had, at some point, wiped the sneer from his face and regained a calm expression. This was the level of composure befitting a crown prince of the empire.
“Kassel, it’s entirely thanks to you that we uncovered the whole truth. But if you were to publicly announce the results of your investigation into the gold mine, I fear both houses may retaliate openly.”
Among the two, Duke Orleans would face heavy punishment, while Marquis Hyante might get off with a fine and a period of house arrest due to mitigating circumstances.
Even if the Duke’s house is severely punished and demoted to a marquessate, they won’t sit quietly. When that time comes, even the title ‘Heart of the Empire’s West’ may not be enough to hold against a two-against-one battle.
“I’m not afraid.”
Kassel placed a hand over the emblem of the Blue Rose Knights, reaffirming his resolve. But Sillas simply chuckled and shook his head.
“Don’t try to confront them head-on. Call for Lady Fay and consult with her. At the spring ball, wasn’t she the one who boldly suggested inviting Lady Lâtel when I was in a dilemma? She’s sure to come up with another clever plan this time.”
Ah, of course, Tiana.
Kassel was once again impressed by his brilliant younger sister, then paused, slightly troubled.
‘Wait a minute… Could it be… that His Highness has romantic feelings for Fay?’
He did pair her with his half-brother Astein at the ball, but that was clearly for political convenience. If this is something personal, then that would be a real problem.
Fay should live her life on her own terms, no matter what anyone says.
Ever since learning Fay was his sister, Kassel had started eyeing every man around her with growing suspicion. His gaze now carried a trace of unease. Naturally, Sillas noticed the subtle shift.
“…Kassel, is there something on my face?”
“No, Your Highness. I’ll speak with her soon, as you suggested.”
“Good. Sir Kassel, I will never forget your dedication and loyalty.”
Before leaving the prince’s office, Kassel left behind a faint smile.
“It is an honor to serve Your Highness.”
Left alone, Sillas slowly closed his eyes.
The moment the tightly bound web of secrets unraveled all at once was… strangely hollow.
At last, the riddle of the two families’ feud had been solved.
But the Saintess… why? What other truth might emerge when they tug on the next loose thread of this mystery?
That, he still didn’t know.
* * *
In the Mage Tower, Morgan le Fay was casting a spell with the most serious expression of her life. The yellow flicker of magic in her hand suddenly flared crimson.
“Flare… Burst!”
Pop!
A small, round, red sphere shot forward and burst with a clean flash, leaving not even a wisp of smoke. Seeing the fire vanish neatly, Fay leapt in delight.
“Yes! I did it!”
“Bweep-bweep-bweep!”
Momo, who had been watching breathlessly, fluttered its wings in celebration.
“…Well done.”
Lucius, who’d been observing from the corner, smiled faintly and congratulated her.
Elated by her success with a tiny fire spell, Fay felt relieved she hadn’t rashly committed to the path of a water specialist. A mere third-circle fire spell, but still, she’d finally succeeded at something she couldn’t do before. That alone made her overjoyed.
Looking at the spot where she’d cast Flare Burst, she murmured,
“It’s surprisingly hard… giving up on what you’re bad at, even when you know you should focus on what you’re good at.”
Lucius shrugged.
“Well, giving up takes courage, but so does pushing through with sheer will. It’d be worse if you poured in all that effort and only wasted time.”
“Is that so?”
Letting the mana fade from her hands, Fay gazed silently out the Mage Tower window. Beyond the glass, the Forest of Origin was growing lush with spring, its sprouts now thick with leaves.
Now that she’d achieved something that had weighed on her for so long, it was time to face what she had been putting off.
She gathered her courage and asked, “Lucius, would you go gather herbs with me? Let’s leave Momo to nap on its own.”
“Bweep!”
Thrilled at the idea of a Lucius-free break, Momo flapped with joy. In contrast, Lucius’s black eyes took on a deeper light.
“…The Forest of Origin?”
“Yes.”
“All right. Let’s go.”
They rose and quietly slipped out of the Mage Tower.
They walked almost side by side, just a step ahead or behind one another, but said nothing the whole way. Only when Fay let out a soft sigh would Lucius’s gaze grow a shade darker.
Even the gentle warmth of the spring sun failed to reach them. At the entrance to the forest, white flowers were now in full bloom, more vivid than before. Fay picked a petal tangled in a vine and placed it in her basket.
“So pretty…”
She had only muttered it absentmindedly, but Lucius flinched as if stung. It was just a simple exclamation. And yet…
The moment of farewell with Fay, the one that could come at any time, felt closer than ever.
Lucius had done his best to live without regrets when it came to her. He didn’t know if that effort would matter in the days to come. Would he ever be able to forget the sight of her turning away, or those luminous green eyes filled with scorn?
All he’d done suddenly felt hollow and meaningless.
“Let’s go in.”
“…Yeah.”
They spotted mistletoe still clinging to branches where leaves had barely sprouted.
Mistletoe from the Forest of Origin was prized for its quality and potency, so the two of them stayed close by and focused on gathering it.
After a while, Lucius carefully spoke. No matter how painful, this was something he had to bring to light himself. He couldn’t pretend not to know forever.
“What do you… think I am?”
Fay folded her knife after cutting into a soft root and replied.
“You’re Lord Baroah.”
“…That’s right. But it’s only half true.”
“…What?”
Fay looked over, puzzled, still facing away from him. She was the only one who could shake him, the one who would be etched into his heart, past and future alike. So how could he not waver? But…
Lucius forced back the surge of emotion and continued.
“It’s true that Baroah’s existence originated from me. But there’s a blind spot. I didn’t know the full extent of it until everything had already been set in motion.”
“…What do you mean?”
Fay placed her knife atop her basket and stood up.
Goodbye… to the happy times we shared.
Lucius deliberately avoided looking at the obsidian ring glinting on her pinky finger and began his long confession.
Who he truly was. Why the world they lived in now continued to exist in peace.
Fay didn’t say anything at first, stunned. As he spoke, she quietly shifted her position from time to time. Now, a freshly gathered white deathbell lay at the very top of her basket, bundled tightly in a white cloth.
At last, Lucius finished his confession. All that remained was for Fay to say what she wanted.
She must’ve tried her best to stay indifferent in front of him. But it couldn’t have been easy because he was the very one who had hurt her.
Just one look of contempt would be enough. Anything you want, Fay, I’ll give it to you. My precious lady.
‘Even if eating that deathbell doesn’t kill me, I could at least fake my death. I could collapse in front of her and vanish forever… Maybe I should have Momo deliver my heart to her later.’
Lucius’s thoughts spiraled downward.
Would she cry if she saw my dragon heart? Or would she shove it in a drawer, walk away in disgust, maybe even toss it on the roadside? Still, even that would be worth it if it meant staying close to her, just a little longer.
…No, right? That’s just wishful thinking. It’s all over now.
The dragon who would one day lose himself to destructive instinct and end the world is no longer here. All that’s left is to disappear quietly, the moment she wishes it.
Fay still hadn’t said a word. Her lips were pressed tight.
If I were her, I wouldn’t forgive me either.
Everything that made her past so harrowing and cruel… stands before her now. This despicable being, one who never should’ve existed.
Is this my punishment? Not being told to die, or disappear, or even being called by name… just reduced to a thing she won’t even acknowledge? That’s my sentence? How horrible.
He knew.
If he died before her eyes, even if she pretended not to care, Fay was too kind to forget him for the rest of her life. Lucius thought maybe that was better. To be remembered forever even in pain.
Rustle…
“…!!”
She bent down and picked up the basket. With steady hands, she sorted the herbs and poisons alike, preparing to leave without a single word of farewell.
Was this… goodbye? Where was he supposed to go now?
Lucius was consumed by a bottomless void.
Maybe I should just die here, buried quietly in this forest. Then… would she never step foot here again? I don’t want to get in her way…
“Lucius?”
“Y-Yeah?”
His voice trembled pathetically as he answered. He knew how pitiful he sounded. It wasn’t just his voice. Even his fingertips were shaking as if struck by something devastating.
He didn’t want to be cast aside. Didn’t want to be ignored. He was terrified of being left behind in a silence colder than hatred.
Please… look at me, Fay. Don’t throw me away.
“Let’s go back.”
Back? Where? To the lair in the Driana Mountains where I slept? That place…
“Wh…where…?”
He hadn’t meant to ask, but the words spilled out unconsciously. In that moment, he was the weakest creature in the world.
Fay smiled faintly and answered.
“To the Mage Tower. Come on, it’s getting late.”
Oh God. Am I… forgiven? A wretch like me, who mutilated you out of pride and arrogance?
Lucius’s thoughts shut down for a moment.
When he came to, he was holding Fay tightly in both arms. The basket she had so carefully filled had been knocked over, spilling its contents across the grass.
But neither Fay nor Lucius cared. Today, something more important than magic or herbs had taken precedence. Fay was hugging him back, just as tightly.
“….”
“….”
Their arms remained wrapped around each other for a long while, and not a single word was exchanged during that time. Both of them, eyes rimmed red, quietly shared their warmth, eyes fluttering open, then slowly closing again, their foreheads and cheeks resting against one another without hesitation.
Their breaths were stiflingly warm, indistinguishable from one another.
Before the sky turned completely dark, they finally made their way out of the forest bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Their hands remained gently clasped together.
And when they reached the entrance to the Forest of Origin, a single white flower, touched by dusk, trembled precariously before letting one delicate petal fall.
……
T/N: 🥺
VeeQuo
LOL poor Lucius, so close and yet so far away hehehe 🤭 her thought process is going to kill him one day😂