NIWA 21

Chapter : 21

Ever since my meeting with the Crown Prince, I hadn’t left my room for several days.

Alec and Sierra had peeked into my room several times with worried expressions, but after I repeatedly told them I was fine, they reluctantly nodded and disappeared.

It wasn’t that any part of my body was hurting. I just needed some time to rest and to think about what I should do moving forward.

I lay quietly on the bed, eyes closed. I could feel the undines bubbling and tickling my cheeks. The moment I arrived in the Empire, I had met Adriel, held hands with the Second Prince, participated in a hunting festival on a whim to get a mana stone for Alec, unexpectedly encountered monsters, was poisoned, and even had to pretend to hold the Crown Prince’s hand.

In the middle of all that, I saw Arienne, saw the Emperor—it felt as though I had traveled an incredibly long journey in such a short time. Of course, I had also met a few valuable allies along the way. I had anticipated such emotional exhaustion when I came back for revenge, but I was still quite tired.

What should I do from here on?

It wasn’t simple. I would have to continue the act of being the Crown Prince’s lover, but since the Crown Prince believed I had accepted the Crown Prince’s persuasion, I couldn’t openly show hostility toward him. What the Crown Prince wanted from me was to pry into the Second Prince’s mind and gather information. I had already pretended to hold his hand, so I needed to maintain that pretense.

I raised my head from staring blankly at the ceiling. That should be enough rest.

Knock, knock.

I clutched my back as it cracked upon standing. Even though it had only been a few days, having barely moved at all had left my back stiff.

Rubbing my sore back, I rifled through the letters sorted on the table: from the Second Prince, the Crown Prince, Lilia, Jema, and… Arienne, and one bearing the Imperial crest.

I was a little concerned about the one with the Imperial crest, but I sat down with a sigh and slowly began opening the Second Prince’s letter.

[I heard these are difficult times for the generations. The Imperial family is preparing a relief event. I suppose it might involve visiting orphanages. We’ll discuss the details when we meet. If there is no response, I will assume you accept and will visit on the day…]

…What?

I looked at the date written at the bottom of the letter. Today?

Knock, knock.

Just then, the sound of knocking made me raise my head.

Sierra peeked in with a bright smile.

“…Sierra?”

“The Prince is here, Lien.”

Perfect timing.

I threw on a simple layer over the thin slip I was wearing, tied my hair up hastily, and went down to the reception room. I saw the Prince waiting in a chair, waving.

I let out a light sigh and took a seat.

“Have you read the letter?”

When I lifted my eyelids, I saw the Prince shrug.

“I just did. So… a relief event? How is that supposed to work?”

“It’s an excuse.”

I blinked.

“…What?”

“You’ve been holed up in your room doing nothing for days. You’re not sick, but were you very tired?”

Sierra must have told him.

After staring at him for a moment, I realized there was no need to defend my pride here and slowly nodded.

“I was tired, and I was also thinking about what I should do moving forward.”

“…I see.”

I fell silent for a moment, gazing into the Prince’s eyes. I saw myself reflected in his violet pupils. I looked like I might collapse if anyone poked me.

“You know…”

“…?”

“How long do you think it will take you to claim the throne?”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The Prince tapped the armrest of his chair in measured intervals before speaking.

“I think it’s still too early to say for sure. Did the Crown Prince give in?”

“…Yes. It seemed there was something behind it. He wanted me to dig up your weaknesses and eventually help bring you down.”

“Exactly as I expected. The Crown Prince is probably still half-doubting. He’s the type to question and doubt even what’s already in his hands.”

[I cannot tell you yet. The Spirit Mage and I have not built a relationship of trust. But later, I can assure you that you will obtain something extraordinary.]

Since it was also what the Crown Prince had told me, I nodded.

“He needs to see with his own eyes that you are directly harming me to trust you completely.”

I stared into the red tea, gently swirling it in the cup.

I had chosen this approach instead of open conflict because I wanted him to feel betrayal—what it truly meant to be betrayed.

What was most important to him now was probably the throne. I would learn everything about him, and at the moment he believed he had succeeded and felt secure, I would pull him down. He would feel despair so sharp and deep, just as I had.

“…So, it depends on you. How long it will take me to claim the throne.”

I slowly nodded at his whisper.

“I think steadily building things step by step is the way to avoid leaving the Crown Prince any suspicion. No matter how cunning he is, he won’t ignore the help of someone like a Spirit Mage who’s on his side.”

Snap.

“Ah!”

As I sighed and pressed my tired eyes, I felt a light sting on my forehead.

“Wh—what…”

I glared at the Prince after the sudden flick to my forehead and rubbed the sore spot.

“Don’t worry. You’re doing well.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but froze when I saw the rare smile on his lips.

“Honestly, I’m relieved you’re on my side.”

“…?”

“If you weren’t here, I might have already died during the previous monster hunt, and during the festival I might have been gravely injured and on the brink of death. Because you are here, I can plan to manipulate the Crown Prince. If not, I would have had to prepare for an all-out conflict, expecting serious losses.”

His words, filled with sudden emotion, left me speechless.

“You’re also the one who saved Adriel, my only family. Come to think of it, the short moments I’ve relied on you are really everything. I don’t doubt your abilities, and the few days of rest you took were just that—but if there were even a little doubt, let me be clear. You’re doing well.”

I inhaled quietly but deeply.

His earnest gaze felt like it was stripping me bare.

I lowered my eyes and took a deep breath.

I wondered if he saw through me. Both last time and this time—how did he read my emotions so well? Even Sierra and Alec, who have known me for a long time, often fail to notice when I deliberately hide something. Yet this cold, rigid man had seen it. I felt embarrassed, and… well, I wasn’t sure what the feeling was.

It had been a bit tough. In the past few days, I wasn’t even sure I had made the right choices. I let out a bitter laugh—how long had I even been in the Empire?

Am I really such a weak person?

If I came for revenge, I must go all the way. This is just the beginning.

That was the conclusion I reached. Ultimately, I had returned to the starting point, but I think that’s why it felt so difficult. To see people who once caused me so much pain now living normally as if nothing happened.

I had expected it, and it didn’t hurt enough to collapse, but seeing it made me feel a little rotten inside.

But I came here to break that. To make them feel every emotion they should have, and repay all the suffering of that one person.

Let’s call it a slight slump.

It would be a waste to collapse after all the time I’ve endured.

“…Did I seem that weak to you?”

No more showing weakness. The frail, easily swayed Arienne von Eisien no longer exists.

I firmly closed the door of weakness I had opened slightly and asked wickedly. The Prince snorted in response.

“Good thing, then.”

Even so, it gave me strength.

I should be grateful to the Prince.

“By the way, still holding your back. Lying down for a few days seems to have made a non-existent illness flare up, huh?”

Of course, only in my mind.