BPCV 24

Chapter 24

Richard took off his own clothes and laid them on Alina’s forehead. Then he stayed by her side all night.

Any ordinary child would have burst into tears out of fear in a situation like that. Yet Richard dealt with it calmly.

He even went so far as to soothe Alina when she was flustered by the unexpected turn of events.

I am a prince of the De Malehark Empire.

Recalling the words he had spoken with pride, Alina lowered her hand from her forehead.

As expected, Richard was different from her.

He possessed pride and confidence in his own status.

He had the tenacity not to give up easily in the face of hardship, and the fighting spirit to resist Lisian.

“…A prince of the De Malehark Empire.”

Alina murmured the words Richard had once said, as if echoing him.

As the princess of a fallen kingdom, the one who needed worrying about was herself, not him, a prince. You had to survive first before you could look after anyone else.

She had to think that way.

She decided to think that way.

Because that was the only way she would survive.

I’m sorry, Richard.

With a heavy heart, Alina pulled out the basket from under the bed.

Inside the small basket—no bigger than Til’s nest—were fragments of the stele that had been swapped out by the knights.

She had planned to take these to the emperor, reveal her identity, and ask him to lift the wanted order.

Alina was nothing more than a powerless youngest princess.

In her previous life, Alina had died because Kineric reported her to the empire.

But this time was different.

In this life, even the name of the youngest princess had not yet properly spread. Her presence was that faint.

If Alina swore loyalty, the emperor would not find it difficult to grant her wish. After all, there were no conditions attached to it.

What is this?

Alina’s face stiffened as she lifted the handkerchief covering the fragment basket.

On top of the fragments lay a small, neatly folded note.

Her heart began to race as she picked it up.

Someone knew about the fragments. Someone who knew that Alina had them had left her a message.

With trembling hands, Alina unfolded the note.

“You’ve become useful, my little sister. Stay close to the imperial family.”

“…Kineric?”

The name slipped from between Alina’s lips as she read the note.

An elegant yet hurried handwriting. An arrogant tone.

It was Kineric.

The crown prince of Genotat who had shattered the Stele of Judgment and then vanished—Kineric Jacinder.

Unable to hide her shock, Alina crumpled the note.

So Kineric was alive. But why would he leave something like this for me?

She smoothed out the crumpled note and began to think calmly.

Kineric had said she had become useful, and told her to stay close to the imperial family. He was clearly planning to use her to harm them before long.

At present, the imperial family member closest to Alina was Richard.

Could it be… that he’s planning to do something to Richard?

Her face turned pale as the thought reached that point. She tossed the note back into the basket.

That can never happen.

Just moments ago, Alina had been prepared to put herself before Richard in front of the emperor.

But that wasn’t because her affairs were more important than his.

Regardless of whose matter it was, she had judged that saving a life was more important than entering the academy.

If Alina’s life and Richard’s life were both placed in danger side by side, she would hesitate.

And in the end, she would choose Richard.

Alina was already living her fourth life. Compared to Richard, who was not even an adult yet, hers had been a long one.

If I stay here, Richard will be in danger.

Alina stared ominously at Kineric’s note.

With just this one piece of paper, the situation had changed in an instant.

People often said that the Malehark people were merciless. But no matter how true that might be, it could not compare to Kineric.

Kineric was despicable.

It was he who had persuaded King Ranshel to confine Alina to the cold palace, and who had seized all the food meant for her.

All because, as he put it, the more royals there were, the harder they were to manage.

The excuse sounded plausible, but in the end it was nothing more than spite.

Alina had spent her entire childhood suffering under him.

Now that the vicious Kineric had been driven into a corner, there was no telling what methods he might use to torment someone.

If the target were only Alina, that would be one thing.

But if Richard was the one Kineric had his eyes on, she could not remain like this.

I have to run.

First, Alina covered the basket with the handkerchief again and pushed it back under the bed.

She had already been exposed to Kineric. She couldn’t stay here. She had to go somewhere he couldn’t find her.

Somewhere as far away from Richard as possible.

Even if that was the only way, she had to protect him.

Run away…

Alina bit her lip.

The conclusion came quickly, but her heart did not follow so easily.

In this imperial palace, Alina was the only one on Richard’s side. Would it really be all right for her to run away?

What if he picks and eats poisonous herbs again somewhere? What if Prince Lisian bullies him like last time?

A drop of water fell onto Alina’s skirt as she worried about Richard. Her clear green eyes were submerged in tears.

Clenching her teeth, Alina let the tears fall.

Don’t make excuses, Alina. You just don’t want to leave.

Until now, Alina had never grown attached to anyone. She’d never had the chance, nor the person.

And yet, in her fourth life, she had finally found someone she wanted to protect.

But to protect that person, she had to leave him. There was no other way.

Alina felt utterly powerless.

Knock, knock.

“Riese, what are you doing? You’re not going to keep His Majesty the Emperor waiting, are you?”

“I’m coming out now.”

Startled by the knock, Alina sprang to her feet. When she opened the door, she saw Marika’s brightly smiling face.

“What were you doing all this time—oh my, were you crying?”

Marika wiped away the tears wetting Alina’s eyes with a handkerchief.

“Oh dear, you crybaby. Are you that happy?”

“…Yes.”

Alina hesitated, then nodded.

She couldn’t tell Marika what was really going on. If she wanted to disappear completely, she couldn’t appear suspicious. Everyone had to think these were tears of joy.

Suppressing her desire to pour out her heavy thoughts, Alina spoke in a trembling voice.

“I’m just… so happy.”

But there was a limit to how well she could feign happiness. As her expression began to crumble, Marika asked worriedly,

“Are you really crying because you’re happy?”

“…Of course.”

Swallowing her tears, Alina forced a smile.

With Marika’s help in steadying her emotions, Alina headed for the imperial palace.

Audiences were normally held in the audience chamber, but due to the emperor’s current condition, it had been moved to his bedroom.

“You came at just the right time.”

When they arrived, Greta—who had been waiting by the door—welcomed her.

“Come on, let’s go in.”

Alina entered the bedroom together with Greta.

In the center of the vast room, whose ceiling rose far higher than two people standing one atop the other, stood a massive bed.

Because of the canopy hanging down from the ceiling, the face of the person lying on it was hard to see.

“Cough! Cough!”

As Alina took in the room, the sound of a middle-aged man coughing came from the bed.

It was the emperor.

Startled, Alina dropped to her knees.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor. I am Riese Kruger, a kitchen assistant maid.”

Supported by an attendant, the emperor propped himself up against the bed and spoke.

“I’ve heard the report. Say what you want.”

His voice was heavy with a metallic rasp. Even at a glance, it was clear his health was in poor condition.

Even so, he was the emperor of the De Malehark Empire—a man with the power to kill with a mere gesture.

Suppressing her pounding heart, Alina spoke carefully.

“Will you truly grant any wish?”

“Was the imperial decree not conveyed to you?”

“No, it was conveyed clearly.”

Alina clenched her skirt. She had longed desperately for this moment. Yet now she could not bring herself to voice the wish she had prepared.

She didn’t know what kind of trap Kineric might have set.

Previously, Kaiden had mentioned the rumor that the youngest princess of Genotat might have joined forces with the crown prince.

With Kineric now revealed to be alive, revealing her identity carried a high risk of immediate execution.

“Your Majesty, I…”

Alina took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling. Countless thoughts swirled through her head.

Maybe it would be fine. Maybe she was just frightening herself unnecessarily.

Would she be able to live without regretting this decision?

I must not regret it, Alina.

She clasped her hands together.

“I would like Your Highness the Second Prince… to be sent to the academy.”

She said it.

Alina clenched her fists tightly.

This was the best choice. If she wouldn’t reveal her identity, then at least she could do this much for Richard.

And then, she would leave.

“What did you say?”

At the unexpected wish coming from a kitchen maid, there was a rustling sound from the bed.

The emperor, letting out a low groan of displeasure, asked,

“How do you know Maximilian?”

“The Second Prince is not weak. He has stronger willpower than anyone, and his magic is by no means—”

“That’s enough.”

Cutting her off, the emperor broke into a fit of coughing.

The harsh coughs continued, sounding as though they were wringing the listener’s lungs dry.

After coughing for quite some time, the emperor steadied his breathing and spoke.

“I said I would grant any wish. I cannot go back on words spoken just five minutes ago.”

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the attendants approached the bed.

Out of the corner of her eye, Alina watched him hurry out of the bedroom, having received the imperial order.

“But is that all you want? Not money or gold?”

“Yes.”

“Was it Lilith who put you up to this? Well, it’s not a difficult request. Very well, I’ll do it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Alina bowed respectfully as she spoke.

Now all that remained was to leave.

That was all.