TPRA 09

Chapter 9
You Have the Wrong Person (8)

“Your Majesty, I have only just come out of my estate. How could someone like me, who knows nothing, possibly assist you?”

Ireine spoke with a flustered expression—though it was only an act.

“Well. Your manners are well-formed, and in the past two years you’ve significantly developed your estate through land improvement projects and specialization of local products. Hard to say you know nothing when your abilities are quite outstanding.”

“That… wasn’t done by me alone. My aunt helped me.”

“There’s no way the Duke of Luscher would have helped with something like that.”

Kilian knew Veronika quite well.

As a duke and the leader of the emperor’s faction, Veronika already had more than enough responsibilities. Even if she set those aside, she was strict about duty and accountability. She might have offered a bit of advice, but she would never help with something that fell under someone else’s responsibility.

“It was already in early stages of development. I can’t really say I did it all myself.”

A position as the Emperor’s aide—was there any seat more like walking on thin ice?

Ireine thought this as she quickly scrambled for excuses.

Kilian’s gaze sharpened at her continuous deflections. His expression hardened as he stared at her.

“I’m disappointed in the Chaent family.”

At Kilian’s words, Ireine flinched and lowered her head, unconsciously clenching her fist. The insult toward her family was unbearably unpleasant.

“I expected more from a house that once served as the Emperor’s personal guard and provided aides to the previous Emperor.”

Kilian carefully observed Ireine’s reaction, one by one.

Where she reacted, what it meant to her—he was calculating it all.

“It’s a pity that gaze you had for the sword. If even your estate achievements weren’t yours, then can we truly say that gaze belongs to the House of Count Chaent?”

Ireine’s reactions were subtle, but enough for Kilian to read.

She was sensitive when it came to her family.

With just a few words, Kilian had identified her weakness.

“Or perhaps the Chaent family has been overrated all this time.”

“…Your Majesty.”

At the peak of Kilian’s provocation, Ireine raised her head and looked directly at him.

“Please take back what you just said.”

Anger and killing intent intertwined in her blue eyes.

She had heard countless times from her father how much her mother suffered for failing to protect her lord. In order to atone for that guilt, Vanessa had returned to the battlefield and later come back to the Marquis estate with closed eyes.

So she could not tolerate those words from Kilian’s mouth.

‘Of all people, you least of all should say that.’

“Can you be certain that is not true?”

Kilian met her icy gaze without hesitation.

“Your Majesty, our family has lived for the Empire since the founding generation. My parents did as well. Please do not judge my entire family because of me alone.”

“Judgments change. You may have been well regarded until now, but from the moment you became the head of the Chaent family, it can all be overturned. A capable and loyal family can become incompetent, powerless—nothing—in an instant.”

Each of Kilian’s words echoed in Ireine’s ears.

These were no longer mere provocations—these were warnings she could not dismiss.

From the moment she chose to live quietly, pretending to be weak and unremarkable, these thoughts had always unsettled her.

She feared that because of her choice, the once-brilliant family would fade into obscurity.

The pride and duty her parents had protected with their lives had now become more important to Ireine than life itself.

“Prove to me yourself that the Chaent family is still strong.”

Even Ireine could not be certain whether Kilian’s proposal was something she could refuse.

“I’ve tried to live properly, so why are you giving me this trial? Still, I’ll live even better. I’ll pray more diligently too. Honestly, I may not have been active in the temple, but my heart has always been here. So please resolve this situation somehow.”

Seira stared at Ireine with a dumbfounded expression as she sat neatly with her hands folded in prayer.

When she heard Ireine had been summoned to the imperial palace and made an aide, she had been shocked beyond belief.

And now, meeting her at the temple, Ireine looked completely normal—as if nothing had happened.

Then she suddenly followed her into the prayer room and started negotiating with the gods.

Seira had thought she might have some plan—but judging by the prayer, that didn’t seem to be the case.

And unfortunately, she was muttering loudly enough that passersby were glancing over.

“St-… stop it.”

Embarrassed, Seira grit her teeth and pinched Ireine’s arm—not hard enough to hurt.

Ireine opened her eyes and looked at her with irritation.

“Sister. I was praying. Why are you interrupting me?”

“Get out of here, you little— I can’t even sit here from embarrassment.”

In the end, Seira dragged Ireine out of the prayer room.

Ireine’s expression soured, as she hadn’t finished her prayer.

“I was praying seriously and earnestly for the first time in a while. Why did you interrupt me?”

“That was serious and earnest? If I were a god, I would’ve struck you.”

“Why?”

‘Should I hit her or not?’

Seira barely restrained the urge to grab her by the collar.

There had never been a greater trial for her than dealing with Ireine when she became docile inside a temple.

After calming herself with a deep breath, she walked with Ireine toward the place they were supposed to meet Noel.

“You really know your way around. Private rooms of high-ranking priests aren’t something ordinary believers would know.”

Seira suddenly froze.

The meeting place was Michael’s private room—Noel’s younger brother.

Even after Noel explained it, Seira had walked without hesitation.

Michael was a high-ranking priest, and his room was deep within the temple.

“Do you come here often?”

“R-right. I come often, so I’ve learned a lot. I think it’s here. Let’s go in.”

Seira quickly brushed it off and opened the door.

Inside, Noel was already waiting. Michael was not there yet, likely still in prayer.

“Ireine.”

Noel stood up abruptly with a serious expression upon seeing her.

He had also heard that Ireine had been to the palace.

But Ireine said nothing and simply sat on the sofa.

Noel and Seira exchanged glances, then sat down and focused on her.

A gentle breeze drifted in through the open window.

The temple was peaceful despite the number of visitors, calming the heart.

“How did you end up becoming an aide?”

Noel asked calmly, influenced by both the atmosphere and Ireine’s demeanor.

“Life… doesn’t really go the way you want.”

“I figured. Are you insane?”

It was clear Ireine had already resigned herself after causing a major incident.

Seira, watching her, was the only one growing frustrated.

“What happened, seriously?”

“When I arrived at the palace, everything was perfect.”

Ireine began as if telling an old story.

“I looked terrible, and the captain of the guard reacted exactly as I expected. But then I made a mistake.”

The outcome had been absurd, but she chose to call it a mistake.

One mistake had led to another, unavoidable chain of events.

She ran a hand through her hair with a hollow laugh.

Ever since joining the guild, she had become indifferent to most things.

Controlling anger wasn’t difficult.

And yet, in front of Kilian, she had shown her true emotions.

A mistake she had never made even during her first mission had happened at the worst possible moment.

“I couldn’t control myself when he talked about my family. I fell for such an obvious provocation.”

“Please, just let go of your obsession with your family.”

Seira said sharply.

It infuriated her how Ireine would throw away her life for the family without hesitation.

Even Seira, who was deeply attached to the Luscher family, was not on that level.

No matter how many times she was told her late parents wouldn’t want this, Ireine never listened.

“How could I?”

At Ireine’s answer, Seira and Noel were left speechless.

There was no emotion in her voice, yet it pressed heavily on them.

“Because the only thing I can protect now… is my family.”

Her calm voice clung to them.

Everything about her was contained in that single sentence.

All the time she had endured alone, all the pain, all the regret.

“I wish you would cry instead.”

Even after everything, Ireine had never once cried.

Only her slightly trembling words cried in her place.

Noel wished she would just let everything out and cry.

Even if what she was hiding was too heavy for them, they were ready to bear it with her.

“Why would I cry? I’m not a child.”

Ireine quickly returned to her usual playful tone.

As long as there was still something to protect, she could not collapse and cry.

From the moment she picked up the sword, she had decided she would forget how to cry—that was a promise she made to herself.