TPHLMD 63

CHAPTER 63…………

: Complete Faith

“Whatever brings you to my palace, Arthur?”

At Illeon’s words, Arthur grinned widely and pulled a vial from his bosom.

The red liquid sloshed inside the bottle.

Illeon immediately recognized the weak potion inside and narrowed his eyes.

“Why do you have this? I only gave it out to Reina because she asked for it.”

“Illeon, tell your cursed little sister to stop doing useless things. If she crosses the line, I might just kill her.”

Arthur spoke as he tucked the potion back into his bosom.

“…Celia, no, Princess Anastasia is mine. Anyone who interferes will die.”

Arthur’s bright yellow eyes shone fiercely. Seeing this, Illeon raised an eyebrow.

Every one of them—this one and that one—was completely obsessed with Celia.

Beautiful flowers always attract insects.

But this particular flower had an unusually large number of insects swarming it.

Butterflies, flies, cockroaches—every kind of insect craved that flower.

“Is it that irresistibly attractive, making them want to possess it?”

Illeon recalled what Celia had once told him.

• “I must refuse His Majesty’s dance request.”

It was the first time in his life that Illeon had ever been refused.

“She has discerning eyes… I thought no one could ever refuse her.”

Like sand slipping through his fingers, Celia had never been caught.

The princess of the Shan Kingdom.

Illeon had never imagined that the figure from the prophecy was still alive.

If she was indeed a threat, killing her would have been the right choice.

But could fragile Celia even threaten him?

Even if she had once been a princess, she was nothing now.

Without Dietrich, she would crumble in his hands in an instant.

For the first time, Illeon wondered if the prophecy he had so faithfully followed might be wrong.

“If you’re thinking about Anastasia, I’ll kill you.”

Arthur, returned even more deranged than before, made Illeon narrow his eyes.

“What on earth are you planning to use that weak potion for?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Arthur smiled slyly.

Illeon understood Arthur’s dark intentions but pretended not to notice.

“Handle the aftermath yourself, Arthur.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Mocking, Arthur got up from his seat.

Just before leaving the room, he turned his head back and said,

“Tell your sister this. If something like this happens again, I’ll tear her limbs apart and feed her to monsters.”

Clack.

The door closed.

Alone in the room, Illeon thought of his sister who might soon be fed to monsters.

Reina was little more than a hindrance to Illeon.

Of course, Illeon himself was the one who had made her that way.

He had once found her useful, but now, she was of little need.

“…I could just throw her to the monsters right now.”

Celia dreamed of the past.

Pieces of clouds floating in the blue sky, the red lion banner of the Shan Kingdom fluttering in the wind, her mother’s bright laughter, and her father, the king, who taught her dagger techniques while warning her that men could not be trusted.

• “Princess! Princess!”

Popo, the talkative parrot with red feathers, a gift from her father.

It was a truly nostalgic dream.

• “Princess, all men are wolves. You’re especially beautiful, so you must be careful. Teach them a lesson with your abilities!”
• “Princess, men are particularly weak below. If something happens, stab them there with your dagger!”
• “There’s nothing you can’t say to the princess!”

Her personal maids, even chattier than Popo.

Celia reached out her hand toward their smiling faces.

But the moment she did, their bright faces turned crimson.

The kingdom’s flag burned, and all her close companions screamed in horror as they died.

• “Princess, run!”

They didn’t beg for their lives. They told her to run.

Powerless, despite her abilities, she could do nothing.

Amid the ruined land, Celia broke down in tears.

The kingdom turned to ashes in a single moment. Allied nations perished the same day.

All of it had happened because of a single prophecy.

The last thing Celia saw was Illeon smiling at her before she woke up, drenched in cold sweat.

Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was Dietrich, asleep with his eyes closed.

Celia realized she had fallen asleep resting her head on Dietrich’s lap.

Dietrich hadn’t moved, not wanting to wake her, and had remained asleep like that.

It was the first time Celia had seen Dietrich asleep.

He always went to bed later and woke up earlier than she did.

Celia studied Dietrich’s face in detail.

He slept without even breathing audibly.

Flawless skin, long eyelashes, masculine jawline, sharp nose, lips tightly closed as if he didn’t know how to smile.

Celia marveled at Dietrich’s face once again.

Even though she saw it often, his face never seemed the same twice.

Her fingers touched his cheek.

Sliding along the contours of his face, they reached his lips.

Celia pressed his lips softly, then withdrew.

She smiled silently, closing her eyes at the soft touch.

When she stopped smiling, Dietrich’s eyes were open, looking down at her.

He blinked slowly, red eyes appearing and disappearing beneath long lashes.

“Celia.”

Dietrich called her in a voice still heavy with sleep.

“…I’ll protect you.”

Hearing this, Celia felt her chest tighten with emotion.

The anxiety she had been suppressing melted away, and she nodded with a small smile.

“I’ll protect you too.”

Dietrich’s face softened at her words.

He smoothed her messy hair and replied,

“You can stay still. I’ll handle the fighting, so you don’t need to overexert yourself.”

“I want to protect you too.”

Dietrich nodded.

“If you want to.”

They smiled at each other.

Where doubt had vanished, steadfast faith took root.

In a world where no one could be trusted, being able to fully trust each other was a rare blessing.

In the quiet dawn, with no stars, Celia and Dietrich’s clear laughter drifted on the wind.

The next day.

“Reina, I see you gave the weak potion I gave you to someone else. Make sure that doesn’t happen again. Or at least, don’t let anyone find out. You’re no longer a five-year-old child, are you?”

Reina had to endure Illeon’s scolding from the morning.

“Brother, what are you doing requesting a dance from that Celia girl?”

“Brother? You should call me ‘His Majesty’ now.”

Illeon smiled slightly, his eyes curling at the corners.

With his hair cut short and dark clothes, Illeon no longer appeared gentle as before.

When Reina pouted in displeasure, Illeon pulled something from his bosom and placed it in her hand.

“…What’s this?”

“A sleeping potion needle. Inserted into a vein, even an elephant won’t wake for half a day.”

Reina’s eyes widened at Illeon’s explanation.

“Really? You’re giving me this?”

“Yes. But it’s only enough for one use, so be careful.”

Illeon smiled kindly, shaping his face into that of a gentle older brother.

“Thanks! Only you, brother!”

Reina left the room happily.

Clack.

As the door closed, Illeon looked at the spot where Reina had been sitting with a disdainful expression.

“She’s really simple. Foolish and easy to handle.”

Illeon had raised Reina to be a spoiled child.

She had not been so foolish from the start.

Those with the blood of the Gredrick Duke family were exceptionally intelligent.

Illeon had handled all the duties she should have done, as if they were his own.

Thus, Illeon raised Reina like a princess.

He believed a naïve, ignorant younger sister was better than a smart one.

Reina, a direct heir, should have competed for the family headship, but as a spoiled child, she had no interest in it, instead drawn to glittering jewels, dresses, or the handsome Dietrich.

Thus, Reina became Illeon’s doll.

A foolish younger sister, toyed around at his whim.

She would soon become monster food, but that was no concern of Illeon’s.