TMLOST 15

Chapter 15

Escape from the Empire (2)

Blink. Blink.

Unable to think of what to say, Elia slowly blinked while staring at Vane, who was still in the form of a crow.

She slowly opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Since he had said they could communicate through thoughts alone, there was no need to speak out loud.

[That’s right.]

Even though she had only thought about it silently, Vane answered immediately.

It did not feel pleasant at all.

‘So because holy power appeared, you can’t form a contract with me?’

[Exactly~ Such a tragic thing.]

Elia could not understand it.

If she truly possessed holy power, then why had Elia been unable to avoid death?

And why had she continued suffering all this time?

If holy power could not even heal its owner, then it truly was a power that existed only for the sake of others.

‘Can this holy power only be used on other people?’

[Why are you asking me that? I’m a demon.]

Looking at Vane’s dumbfounded reaction, Elia thought, Well, that’s true…

But there was nobody else she could ask.

‘You seem to know more about it than I do.’

[I’m not all-powerful.]

When it suited him, he acted as though he knew everything.

But at times like this, he suddenly pretended otherwise.

Truly a demon.

[You’ll figure it out yourself eventually.]

Even though he could read every single thought in Elia’s mind, Vane pretended not to know anything.

With a mischievous look, he flapped his wings and flew away into the distance.

He clearly seemed to know plenty about holy power, so would it really hurt him to explain a little?

Elia glared toward the window where Vane had been sitting before finally lying down on her bed.

After checking the letter that arrived from Aaron, Elia pulled out paper and picked up her quill pen to write a reply as usual.

[Is it someone you like?]

At the sudden voice, Elia jumped in shock and hurriedly looked around.

It did not take long for her to realize the owner of the voice was Vane.

After all, he was the only one who spoke directly inside her head.

Since only one day had passed, she still could not properly get used to it.

Just like yesterday, Vane sat on the windowsill in the form of a crow before flying over and landing in front of Elia as she wrote her letter.

[Hmm? Anyone could tell you look exactly like a girl in love.]

At the teasing voice, Elia sighed and nodded her head.

He could already read all her thoughts anyway, yet he still kept asking.

[From what I can see, you’re the only one who likes him.]

You don’t need to say it so clearly.

Elia already knew Aaron exchanged letters with her only because of Lotte, so it did not hurt her too deeply.

Still, her chest ached a little.

Aaron’s letter said that Lotte liked the flower tea so much that she had almost finished all of it already.

After writing that she would prepare more for their next visit, Elia sealed the envelope.

Simply exchanging letters with Aaron already made her incredibly happy.

Just knowing that Aaron’s neat handwriting had carefully written each word for her was enough.

She could have simply told him to request more flower tea whenever he needed it, but selfishly, she wanted at least one more chance to see him face to face.

‘Changing Aaron’s fate is important too… but just this once, let me be selfish.’

Perhaps her wish reached him.

A few days later, Aaron informed her through a letter that he planned to visit the Empire again.

And afterward, Aaron visited the Empire to collect more flower tea.

“I didn’t expect you to visit again so quickly.”

Elia could not figure out where to look and let her gaze wander for a moment before finally forcing herself to meet Aaron’s eyes with a smile.

Aaron’s softly shining dark-purple-black hair looked cold, yet his warm heart was his greatest charm.

Though that warmth was limited only to Lotte.

[He looks like the perfect person to make a contract with.]

At Vane’s sudden voice inside her head, Elia immediately snapped back to reality.

Who was making a contract with who?

She turned her head and saw Vane sitting on the windowsill in crow form.

Seeing him licking his lips eagerly made Elia frown unconsciously.

The idea of pure-hearted Aaron getting involved with a demon was absolutely ridiculous.

[Come on, can’t I be a little greedy?]

‘Don’t talk to him. And I absolutely won’t allow you to touch Aaron.’

Pretending to obediently back off, Vane quietly watched Aaron instead.

After all, it seemed like Aaron would fall for temptation if pushed just a little.

“Your Highness the Imperial Princess?”

“Yes?”

Even though Vane’s voice was no longer echoing in her head, Elia still felt uneasy seeing him remain on the windowsill.

Aaron had strong determination, but because of that, his weakness was equally obvious.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Ah, no. I’m alright. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Aaron’s words carried a certain amount of kindness because he was used to taking care of Lotte.

But when Vane briefly read Aaron’s thoughts, he realized Aaron himself was actually an extremely indifferent person.

Even through the letters, it had already been obvious.

The first thought Vane read was:

Lotte would probably worry.

Seeing Elia lose herself over a man who held absolutely no romantic feelings toward her made her seem rather pitiful.

Even Elia herself felt their conversation was very formal.

They only exchanged small talk about whether she had been struggling lately or whether she needed anything.

Time passed quickly, and before long, it was already time to part ways.

Though honestly, staring at Aaron’s face made it feel as though time had flown by even faster.

“I’m relieved. Your complexion seems a little healthier now.”

“Ah, really? If it looks that way, then I’m glad.”

Elia herself did not feel much different, but hearing that she looked less pale was reassuring.

Then she suddenly remembered the holy power that had awakened during her encounter with Vane.

She did not know whether she had always possessed it or if it had appeared only then.

Still—

If even Aaron thought she looked healthier, perhaps holy power truly could save her from her doomed fate.

Aaron’s judgment was usually very accurate, so maybe she could trust it.

Following Elia’s orders, Aaron loaded the carriage full of flower tea.

After thanking her, he left the Empire without even looking back once.

Even though capable soldiers remained by Lotte’s side, Aaron still disliked leaving his post.

As a result, the road back to the Kingdom felt endlessly long.

“Ha…”

Aaron honestly questioned whether it was truly necessary to visit the Empire personally just to receive flower tea.

He thought sending it through delivery would be far more convenient.

But Lotte disagreed.

According to her, personally visiting and receiving it directly was proper etiquette.

And if they gradually built familiarity, they could increase the number of future visits to the Empire as well.

What could he do except obey his lord’s wishes?

Lotte loved things from the Empire, and Aaron wanted to give her everything he could.

It was his own form of atonement for failing to protect the King and Queen when he was younger.

Even if nine-year-old Aaron had been powerless back then, he never wanted to experience that helplessness ever again.

That was why the thought of something happening to Lotte while he was away felt unbearable.

“Aaron Albert. I report that I have safely returned from the Rier Empire.”

“Good work. Even if it wasn’t very far away, it must have been tiring. How did Imperial Princess Elia seem?”

The very first thing Aaron did upon returning to the Kingdom of Veronica was report to his lord, Lotte.

Naturally, Lotte immediately asked about Elia.

Even before receiving Elia’s invitation, Lotte had already gathered plenty of information about her, so it was unsurprising she wanted details.

“…It seems her illness is still serious. Though she did appear slightly healthier.”

“I heard Imperial Princess Elia used to be very active socially before her illness worsened. Since she seems fond of you, I thought it would be good for you to show your face to her from time to time.”

“Yes.”

According to Lotte, Elia stopped appearing in noble society after her illness worsened and began avoiding meeting people altogether.

So from Lotte’s perspective, Aaron receiving an invitation from Elia was something worth celebrating.

And so time passed.

Perhaps they exchanged three or four more letters.

But this time, Elia’s letter felt different.

“I hope today began pleasantly for you as well.

It feels surprising, but also deeply grateful and apologetic, that we have already exchanged ten letters like this.

Even though this all began because of my selfish wishes, thank you for kindly accepting all of them.

From now on, whenever you need flower tea, please simply request it through a letter. I will send it through a messenger.

I feel sorry for making you travel such long distances because of flower tea. My selfish desire to speak with Sir Aaron a little longer caused you inconvenience.

So please do not trouble yourself anymore by spending your precious time writing letters to me.

Thank you for everything until now.

—Elia Risha—”

After finishing the letter, Aaron felt strangely conflicted.

Part of him felt relieved, as though he had finally been freed.

Yet at the same time, something about it left him feeling oddly empty.

He wondered whether something had happened to Elia.

Or perhaps he had unknowingly made some mistake.

Most importantly—

Would this somehow cause trouble for Lotte?

Aaron quickly sent a letter asking whether he had done something wrong.

But the reply Elia sent back afterward contained only firm words:

“You did nothing wrong, Sir Aaron. However, I can no longer continue causing trouble for you.”