19 – Different Words Depending on the Context
Viscount Bart politely greeted and stepped back.
And Elaine.
She sat down next to me, adjusting her dress.
Creak- Creak-
Feeling somehow awkward, I gently swung the swing.
Astia leaned against the tree, closing her eyes from a distance.
“Where is this-“
“My body-“
Both Elaine and I spoke at the same time, interrupting each other.
“W-Well, please go ahead…!”
As soon as her eyes met mine, she quickly averted her trembling gaze.
“Why have you come here?”
She would be a great help to me in the future. That’s why I had brought her along.
“The Queen summoned my father. Ah, I just came because he asked me to follow him. But I didn’t know I would meet Your Highness here.”
With a slightly flushed face, Elaine glanced briefly towards Astia.
Feeling my gaze, she looked back at me, then quickly averted her eyes in surprise.
“But, are you alright…?”
She hastily scanned her surroundings after saying that.
“Thanks to you, I barely survived. I’m sorry for leaving without saying goodbye.”
“Oh, no…”
Elaine quickly waved her hands and looked down again.
After a moment of silence.
She struggled to find her words.
“But how did you know? That I have this kind of power…?”
“I asked a knowledgeable witch and found out.”
There was no choice but to stumble through with the words I had prepared in advance.
I was hesitant to say that this place was like the novel I had read.
“Adventurous witch…”
Elaine hesitated for a long time, as if she had something she wanted to say, while fidgeting with her fingers.
“What is the nature of my power…?”
“It’s divine power.”
“D-Divine power? But I don’t even go to the temple.”
“God does not bestow divine power unless one is faithful to oneself.”
Those were the words I read in the novel.
She created this world.
A great being that cannot exist in this world without being a saint due to the order she created.
The Goddess of Light, Aurora.
Elaine was the human the goddess loved the most.
“Then why… why on earth would someone like me be given such an extraordinary power…?”
“Because you are the person who can best embody the will of God.”
Elaine demanded further explanation with her eyes widened like a fawn.
“So, should I go to the temple now?”
That’s what happened in the original.
By chance, her divine power became known to the world.
And she, who was leashed by the Pope of the Goddess religion.
Until meeting the hero and receiving salvation.
For years, she traveled around the continent, seeking only the sickly wealthy and suffering like a slave, unable to rest properly, using the temple as a means of making money.
“The temple has already rotted away.”
“Then what should I do from now on?”
“You should consider yourself as the most beloved existence by the gods. Why do you think such powerful abilities were bestowed upon you?”
“I don’t know, I really haven’t done anything…”
“Do not try to understand the will of the gods. What’s important to you now is that you must never reveal that you possess divine power, no matter what happens.”
If she were to be caught by chance.
All sorts of things from the temple would come and cling to her persistently like a swarm of mosquitoes in the tropical night, sucking every drop of her blood without leaving a trace.
“Do you remember what I said back then?”
She simply nodded her head without saying a word.
“From now on, let’s be together.”
“Yes…?”
“I will make you happy.”
“Wha… What?!!!”
Elaine reacted extremely to what seemed like a request for all the money she possessed.
“H-How, how can you, say such a thing so suddenly…”
Her neck, face, ears, even her wrists and the back of her hands turned bright red.
Strange.
I didn’t say anything wrong.
In reality, her life was incredibly unhappy.
Before meeting the hero. Even after.
She always suffered from abuse.
But if she were with me.
Many things would change.
The emperor would move, bestow upon her a noble title, provide her with a mansion where she could live with her mother, and give her a substantial amount of wealth. He would also ensure enough rest for her.
From Noble mtl dot com
***
Elain was on her way, following the maid sent by the emperor.
They had already gotten quite far from the prince.
Her heart, beating as if crazy, refused to calm down.
She couldn’t help but keep looking back, just a few steps away.
Every time she did, the prince would casually wave his hand and smile.
That smile felt strangely resentful.
Could it be that he was playing a prank on her…?
From Elain’s perspective, it was a rational suspicion that she couldn’t avoid.
No doubt.
Otherwise, why would the prince of the empire be so disappointed that he proposed to her?
Moreover, just a little while ago, wasn’t he riding the swing with that incredibly beautiful redhead maid?
A deep sense of disappointment washed over her, one that seemed impossible to erase with time.
To play with someone’s heart like that.
How could you do that, even after saving my life?
I thought you were a good person, contrary to the rumors…
The process that led to this.
It was an extreme situation caused by excessively low self-esteem, but Elaine had no way of knowing that.
So, she simply followed her heart, which refused to sink, and headed towards the emperor.
All she knew was that she couldn’t believe she was in the palace right now.
In fact, it was strange from the moment her father suddenly came to see her this morning.
He was someone who had never come to see her first.
Even when she wore the maid’s uniform every morning and brought him coffee to his office.
He didn’t show even a faint smile, nor did he call her name even once.
But today, he ordered the maids to dress her up and bring her to the palace.
Of course, he didn’t say a word throughout the carriage ride.
He just silently stared out the window.
There was a clue.
Since the prince first came to visit.
From the moment when even the blue sky felt yellow and the suffocating daily life bloomed like a rainbow.
The wind of change was blowing relentlessly.
Lost in these thoughts, she suddenly found herself in front of the emperor.
And right next to her was Marquis Bart.
The emperor asked straightforwardly.
“Surely, you have considered the marriage with my son. What are your thoughts?”
Elaine clenched her hands tightly, bowing her head.
Although most marriages are arranged without the individual’s consent, that only applied to well-bred young ladies. It was irrelevant to herself, who had grown up as a servant until recently and was nothing more than a bastard.
“I-I cannot….”
Even though she clearly conveyed her refusal.
The Emperor couldn’t hide his amusement behind his mask.
“As expected, my eyes did not deceive me. You are different from the noble ladies tainted by greed. Very devout.”
Unconsciously, Elaine raised her head and looked at the Emperor with a bold gaze. She tightened her grip on her clenched fist even more.
“A lowly person like me cannot be the partner of Your Highness. Please reconsider, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow as if to say, “Is that so?”
After a brief contemplation, he chuckled and spoke.
“Alright, alright. I understand your feelings. My son has quite a notorious reputation, after all. But why are you so hasty? Let’s start with the engagement and spend some time together. If you still don’t like it then, we can break it off, can’t we?”
At that moment, Marquis Bart, who was standing beside them, interjected.
“Elaine.”
It was the first time.
It was the name she had longed to hear from her father.
Perhaps that was why her vision blurred without her realizing it.
But marriage was a different matter.
The Crown Prince didn’t particularly like himself.
Ever since he saw his father’s stern face from a distance.
Contrary to imagination, he knew very well that reality was never kind to her.
A few days ago, after hearing about the marriage proposal from the Emperor.
She had been unfolding the wings of her imagination all along.
At first, it was good.
Although she was a bit concerned about his notorious reputation, she had no reason to dislike becoming the wife of such a handsome man and enjoying wealth and glory.
And she didn’t dislike the man named Eos who saved her either.
Well, it’s not like she fell in love with him or anything like that, no, absolutely not.
It was just that whenever she thought of his face, her body would heat up, her heartbeat would quicken, and well, it just felt like her breath was getting a little short.
But then she suddenly realized.
If the Crown Prince, who was already plagued by all sorts of rumors, were to be associated with someone like her, they would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the entire empire.
Of course, the Emperor still seemed to think differently, but in the Mersen Empire, she was nothing more than a bastard child.
An existence without any value, as she wasn’t desired and wasn’t even given a surname.
That existence was none other than herself.
If she followed the Emperor’s words, she would undoubtedly bring harm to the Crown Prince.
So she had to dwell on her miserable feelings for quite some time.
As if in a world where nobody existed.
She had to feel a desolate mood as if she was alone, getting wet in the rain and shivering in the cold.
And then, finally, when she reached the edge of that feeling.
I had no choice but to let the unknown emotions I had nurtured alone wither away in futility.
But Lord Bart, oblivious to such feelings, spoke solemnly.
“Refusing the will of His Majesty is tantamount to treason. Are you not satisfied with besmirching my father’s name? Do you intend to bring down our family as well?”
As always, his gaze was icy cold.
His cold demeanor seemed to say, “I didn’t expect anything, but now that I’m born, are you going to torment me again?”
“Oh my, Lord Bart, when you speak like that, I can’t help but feel like I’ve become a villain.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“….”
The Emperor turned his attention back to Elaine.
“For now, what if we at least go through with the engagement?”
“May I ask why you are going this far…?”
The Emperor was taken aback by her question.
“It’s because you look like a saint from a legend.”
“Because I want to carry the power of the temple on my back and restore my son as the Crown Prince.” That’s what he wanted to say.
Somehow, he felt too cruel to this child.
So he made up a rough story.
“Eos, I mean… Yes! I fell in love with you at first sight. It’s been… four years. I said I would never marry anyone but you…”
Four years ago?
Elaine pondered.
What was I doing four years ago…?
Four years ago from now.
When she was fourteen years old.
Did she ever meet the Crown Prince?
She always stayed with the Viscount and tirelessly worked as a maid, so it was absolutely impossible.
Then, why…?
No, how?
How could the Crown Prince have fallen for me?
The audacious witch?
Could it be that she was trying to hide her true feelings?
Various questions that seemed to have no answers filled her mind.
But one belatedly remembered phrase swept them away.
Like rough waves covering a sandy beach, that phrase completely overwhelmed her thoughts.
It was the words the Crown Prince had just said.
-“Let’s be together from now on. I will make you happy.”
She thought it was a joke…
But it seems that was really a proposal.
The Emperor would never lie.
Moreover, didn’t the Crown Prince secretly come to her as the Viscount’s maid and even help her?
So, really…
Could it be that he said those words because he liked her?
Her hands naturally covered her mouth.
“This can’t be real….”
Tears welled up in her eyes before streaming down her face.
If he truly liked her.
“Then maybe I can…expect an engagement…at least that much…right?”
Even as she had that thought, Elaine didn’t realize.
That what she called greed was actually her true feelings.
The emperor watched Elaine’s expression closely, his carriage swaying.
It was a mixture of disbelief, astonishment, fear, and a hint of joy that barely showed.
“It’s done…!”
The emperor barely suppressed the twitching corners of his mouth.
He felt a little guilty for deceiving her.
But this was a situation that was beneficial to everyone.
It felt like enjoying a well-prepared feast without any desire.
He didn’t feel any guilt or remorse.
After all, his son and Elaine had been together for four years.
Who secretly dates someone for that long without getting married?
That would be the real mistake.
There was no need to ask anyone else about it.
Kiiik- Kiiik-
Astia sat beside me again.
Just like earlier, she assumed the exact same posture.
“Can you just stay still?”
“I was already sitting here first. If you don’t like it, you can get up.”
“Ah, this is really….”
“What’s really…? Huh? I’m the prince. If you raise your fist like that, you might end up in a real underground prison, you know?”
Whether it was because of Eos’s memories and emotions coming back to life, I found myself unconsciously acting like Astia’s younger brother.
“But seriously, why did you propose so uncool? How disappointed must that girl be?”
Astia, who opened her eyes, said in a mocking tone.
Wait a minute.
What did she just say?
I felt like Astia’s stone fist had struck me on the head.
“A proposal?!”
Astia, who stood up abruptly, glared at me with a disgusted expression.
“What the hell? So, that was a joke? And you call yourself a human?”
“N-No, it wasn’t a joke, I just…”
I just spoke the truth.
But even in my own thoughts, I couldn’t erase the ominous feeling that my words somehow sounded like a proposal.
It was then.
I felt a presence and slowly turned around, only to find Elaine standing behind me.
It seemed appropriate to explain, even if it was a bit late.
It was definitely not a proposal.
It was just that the meaning was a bit vague.
But seeing Elaine with her flushed face and what seemed like a teary expression.
I couldn’t easily find the words to say.
From her perspective, she might think that I had feelings for her.
Nevertheless, I had no choice but to gather my courage.
“Um, Elaine-“
“Let’s get engaged, us.”
…Wait, what…?
“Hey, let’s get engaged, us!”
Elaine shouted with her eyes tightly closed.
And I…
At most.
With those few words.
It felt like the whole world had stopped.