Chapter 42
Reunion (1)
The moment Diana saw Philip, she felt alive. When she had faced the snake monster head-on, she had thought she was about to die. Fighting the monster had been exhausting. If the creature hadn’t let its guard down, it would have been her neck that was severed.
She had survived. Truly survived. Diana’s breathing slowly eased.
“Anne… you were really scared, weren’t you?”
Philip hugged her. Though his arms were warm, her gaze drifted past his shoulder to the fallen monster and the bloodied Giskar. Unconsciously, she pushed Philip’s arms aside and looked at the severed head of the snake. Its face was larger than she had imagined.
“Giskar!”
At Diana’s call, Giskar leapt to her side, blocking her path.
“Be careful. It seems to be poisonous.”
“……”
Diana nodded. Indeed, green venom dripped from the monster’s open mouth. Oh, what a relief. She had survived. Tears streamed down her face.
“Anne! Oh, thank God, thank you!”
Diana turned to see Emil, tears flowing, embracing her.
“I… I… I’m sorry.”
His voice trembled pitifully. Strangely, it seemed sincere. He must have been scared, having nearly killed her while intending only to injure her or cripple her. Watching him grovel in guilt alone was utterly repulsive.
Even after witnessing her own brother’s betrayal, Diana could remain calm. She was just tired. She pushed Emil away and stepped back, bumping her head gently against Philip’s shoulder.
“Philip, I want to rest.”
“Of course! Naturally! But… your arm!”
She was glad—Philip’s embrace gave her comfort.
Soon after, Duke Brien arrived. He looked at Diana, who had collapsed in Philip’s arms, then glanced at the slave who had been present.
His mouth curved slightly, then relaxed.
Ferdinand had been the one to suggest giving up the search for Diana. But the moment he heard she had survived, he raged, ordering the doctors to treat her properly.
Duke Brien, however, was strange. Being at the front, he had learned of the snake monster, Echidna, only afterward. When he discovered his daughter had been injured, he instructed treatment immediately and then called for the slave.
“Was it you who defeated that monster?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The slave knelt before Philip and Ferdinand, taking credit. The Duke gave a hollow laugh.
It was no small thing—Echidna, the mother of monsters, with deadly poison… the royal knights had sent hunting parties, but all were annihilated. And now the Duke’s slave had killed it?
Both Ferdinand and Philip stared at the slave in astonishment. Philip, in particular, felt a strange unease about the slave.
It wasn’t that a slave should be submissive—but those vivid eyes seemed to read minds. Moreover, Diana’s behavior had been odd. Something about it didn’t feel right.
“Yes. The snake monster hibernates in winter. That’s why it was easy to catch, I suppose.”
“Ah… I see!”
Ferdinand said, but Philip wondered what the point of this conversation was. It seemed the Duke was deliberately downplaying the slave’s achievement.
His own slave being remarkable should have been a source of pride for the Duke. Then the Duke smiled and said:
“Even if I say my slave caught it, it will only draw unnecessary attention. The glory should go to those who deserve it. Why not say Your Highness defeated the monster?”
Ferdinand’s face lit up. Philip frowned. As he opened his mouth:
“Duke, even so, credit should go to the deserving…”
“A slave doesn’t need credit.”
“……”
“My frail daughter fed, clothed, and even taught swordsmanship to the slave. Isn’t that the greatest reward?”
“Yes, Philip. Stand down!”
Ferdinand shouted, unwilling to let the opportunity to take credit for killing Echidna slip away. Philip glanced at Giskar, who lowered his head.
“Moreover, this slave suffered no serious injury, while my daughter was hurt. Can that be called an achievement?”
“But Duke Brien, to speak falsely—”
“Your Highness, your brother has already given permission.”
Philip glared at him. The next king would be Ferdinand. As long as his mother lived, it was certain. But as the second prince, he had no reason to be disregarded like this.
“Very well,” he said, restraining his anger. For now, she was Ferdinand’s daughter.
The next day, Diana woke from sleep. She was still groggy from the painkillers she had taken for her shoulder. It was late afternoon. She had slept heavily. Diana clenched and unclenched her fists. A green light shimmered, and a sylph was summoned.
[Why?]
“No, it’s nothing.”
Diana still couldn’t believe it. Following the guide on “How to Easily Become a Spirit Mage,” she had summoned a sylph so effortlessly.
In the cave, Diana had taken a gamble of a lifetime: summoning an intermediate spirit. Though the ritual failed, she had briefly opened her “Soul Eye” and seen all the spirits she could summon.
No matter how many sylphs she had, they were still weaker than an intermediate spirit. Diana pondered how she could make use of them.
She realized she could use the sylphs not as primary tools, but as aids. The monsters were fast and large, beyond Giskar’s ability to handle alone. She had thought of using the sylphs to compensate for Giskar’s speed and smaller size.
It worked. Giskar followed flawlessly. He had done it! Diana could hardly believe the power now in her hands.
She had talent—but this much? Surely, she could one day contract with intermediate spirits. Her heart trembled.
With this power, far beyond before, she exhaled a sigh. She should be grateful… but another concern remained.
“Oh, right.”
She frowned, remembering an important matter. What about Emil? It was great she had the strength to protect herself, but the fact that her brother, who shared her father’s blood, had tried to kill her remained unchanged.
He had ignored her warning and nearly caused disaster. Diana gripped her throbbing head. She didn’t want to become like him. She didn’t even hate Emil—she just couldn’t stay passive.
She had not been like this before. Why had things gone wrong after chasing Mirva away? Diana sighed.
The next day, Diana fully recovered. While preparing for Taliah, she heard a strange claim.
Ferdinand had allegedly defeated the snake monster, Echidna, to save Diana. Ferdinand… the one who wielded the heaviest sword, choosing the lightest material?
As Diana tried to enter the Duke’s room to confront him, she saw Giskar across the hall.
For some reason, the moment she blinked, he had already reached her. His pace was swift.
“Giskar! Are you okay?”
He looked at her intently, then lowered his head. A small sigh escaped—it seemed one of relief. She glanced around and whispered:
“Father is giving the credit to that man?”
“……”
“I really can’t just stay quiet. This… clearly…”
“It’s fine, milady.”
“Why?”
“A slave doesn’t need credit.”
Diana felt frustrated. What nonsense was this? Giskar had truly earned it, risking his life.
“It’s actually more convenient that I’m not in the spotlight. Didn’t you ask for secrecy about the spirits?”
“Right…”
Diana hadn’t intended to reveal her spirits, but had been forced to explain to defeat Echidna.
“It’s easier not being interrogated. I’ve kept your secret.”
Giskar seemed sincere. Diana nodded in agreement.
“Milady, will you not punish me?”
“Huh?”
“I…”
Diana looked at Giskar. It’s fine—don’t worry. Just as she opened her mouth, her expression suddenly stiffened.
Wait.
Seeing a figure approaching behind Giskar, her face paled. Wait, we’re not supposed to reunite here… what the…?
The angelic pink hair shone like cherry blossoms. Seeing someone so unexpected, Diana froze.
A maid from the Brien household spoke:
“Excuse me, milady. You’ve been visited by the Duke of Lebian from the Kingdom of Lordbrock.”
Princess of Lebian.
Pain flared in her stomach, long-forgotten. Every negative feeling surged into her mind.
How could she ever forget that innocent face?
Her child.
The despicable woman who had killed her child.
The woman who had stolen everything, who had driven her to the brink of death…
“Hello, Princess Brien?”
The soft pink hair swayed like flower petals. Innocent, pure, and hateful, the girl smiled brightly at Diana.
I don’t want to meet her.
Absolutely, I don’t want to meet her.
Why did it have to be here?
