062. Original Work (5)
In “＜The Flower of the Empire＞”, ‘Bella’ heading to the north to carry out the ‘Protection Rite’ was in the latter part of the story.
It was a story that came much later, where Bella, Owen, and Kyle set off together to the north, portraying the love triangle among the three.
Only after reaching this chapter did ‘Bella’ finally make up her mind.
It was a realization that dawned on her like fate from the very first appearance in the ‘Forest of Mist’.
The fact that the person she loved was Owen.
“But the original work has already failed.”
However, the original work had disappeared long ago.
Starting off on the wrong foot was just the beginning, and no matter how many times I tried to rewind and correct it, it was all in vain, proving this fact.
This was the world within “＜The Flower of the Empire＞”, but in the end, it was still reality.
Now, it was necessary to accept this reality.
The original work had vanished without a trace, Owen had changed, and Kyle liked Owen, not Bella.
The only things that remained unchanged in this world were the relatively insignificant supporting characters and extras.
And Lucia.
“If only Lucia had changed a bit.”
Honestly, it was regrettable.
If Lucia had shown even a slight deviation from the original, she wouldn’t have touched Owen or Kyle but would have touched her instead.
That would have been the most efficient way.
If only Lucia didn’t want Owen, everything would have been irrelevant.
“So, the Saint’s words mean she intends to cast a barrier.”
As Bella continued her thoughts internally.
The Emperor’s voice resonated softly.
Bella lowered her head and answered meekly.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
If the original work had already failed, it was better to make use of everything one knew.
Fortunately, Bella was quite knowledgeable about “＜The Flower of the Empire＞”.
The ‘Protection Rite’ was one of them.
“If a barrier is erected, will all the monsters disappear?”
“No, that’s not the case. But the monsters won’t be able to escape the forest anymore. They won’t be able to pass through the barrier.”
“I see.”
The Emperor pondered, tapping his armrests.
Then, he brought up the topic of permission.
“Let it be so. As the ruler of the empire, I should rather welcome and be grateful for it. If you have any desires regarding the journey to the north, speak up. Even if it’s unrelated, feel free to say what you want.”
Along with the desired words, a request followed.
Bella smiled faintly and bowed her head.
“Your Majesty, I only wish for those who will accompany me. Since the forest where monsters come out is dangerous.”
“If it’s the Imperial Knights, would that be sufficient?”
“The Imperial Knights are excellent, but… I believe the Lord of the Tower and Duke Verdin would know the place best. I would like to accompany them.”
In her heart, she wanted to go with Owen alone.
But if she did, Owen would immediately refuse, and it was evident that he would assign his family’s knights instead.
There were quite a few knights in Duke Verdin’s service who knew how to handle Ora, and even the Knight Commander wielded the Aurablade, making it impossible for the Emperor to say anything.
“Lord Matop and Duke Verdin, I see… Understood. I will convey the Saint’s intentions to the two.”
“Thank you.”
Now that it had come to this, it seemed appropriate to offer help to Kyle.
Explaining a few things while adding some appropriate words seemed like Kyle would accept it without much fuss.
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“After this incident in the north is concluded, make sure to come back. Is there anything else you would like to say?”
“No, there isn’t. I will take my leave now.”
“So be it.”
Bella bid her farewell and turned away.
As she walked, the sound of her heels echoing on the marble floor of the banquet hall filled the air.
Tap, tap.
Making a consistent sound, she exited the hall and soon stopped in her tracks.
“I greet Your Grace.”
There was someone left in the central palace who was thought to have left.
With ordinary brown hair and eyes, his features seemed common, but his facial features were distinct.
Bella realized that the person in front of her was a key character.
“I am Edward Sellid, the Viscount Sellid.”
“Viscount Sellid. Nice to meet you.”
If he was the Viscount Sellid, he had been briefly mentioned before.
Lucia’s former fiancé.
It was the aura of Lady Yeong-ae, who supported “Bella,” the Countess of Sellead.
“The banquet hall is all tidied up, but was there something left behind?”
Although she seemed to have something to say, Bella cut in before she could, asking.
She realized it instinctively.
Her inner self is dark.
The cold and eerie pupils that revealed nothing were proof of that.
“No. I was merely waiting to meet Her Highness, the Saint.”
“Are you referring to me?”
“Yes.”
Without displaying any particular expression, he nodded solemnly.
Then, with a tone of great conviction, he continued.
“I thought I could be of help to Her Highness.”
“….”
It was similar to what she had mentioned to Kyle earlier.
It was also similar to what Lucia had whispered to her.
“Although what I desire and what Her Highness desires may differ, I felt confident that we could still stand on the same side.”
“Lucia had informed about the engagement first.”
Recalling, it was Lucia who had informed the Count of Sellead about the broken engagement.
Could it be a wounded pride?
Had he felt offended by the Countess of Sellead, like Lady Yeong-ae, daring to ignore him?
And so, Lucia…
“What do you think?”
She asked while continuing her thoughts.
Bella tried her best to look clueless.
It was reckless to hold hands with someone when you didn’t understand their psyche or thoughts properly.
It was a fool’s errand.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what the Count of Sellead is talking about.”
Pretending innocence, pretending ignorance, that human must already know.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t ask like this.
But it didn’t matter.
Although the nobles had all left, the Imperial knights were still guarding the banquet hall diligently.
Moreover, the shrine carriage and the Holy Knights who had escorted her to the palace were waiting for Bella.
The Count of Sellead couldn’t afford to misbehave in front of them.
“All I desire is peace and stability for the Freyon Empire. I only wish for the happiness and tranquility of the empire’s people.”
“….”
Edward Sellead remained silent with an expressionless face.
It was an expression that clearly showed he didn’t believe her, but Bella smiled cheerfully.
“That is my duty as a Saint.”
Hollow words.
Bella herself felt that way.
Peace and stability of Freyon?
The peace of other countries must be shattered for the peace of the empire.
To ensure the happiness of the empire’s people, the peace of others must be destroyed.
To achieve someone’s perfect peace, someone else has to pay the price.
That’s how the world works.
The sacrifice of the many for the few cannot be beautiful.
“It’s getting late. Count of Sellead, you should go in now. I also have to return to the shrine.”
But what can be done.
I belong to that “few.”
For her own peace and happiness, Bella could willingly destroy what belonged to others.
This world was already made that way.
“Your Highness.”
With that greeting, she turned to leave.
If Edward Sellead had not mentioned Owen.
“You mentioned you like Lady Yeong-ae.”
Although no names were mentioned, it was clear.
This was about Owen and Lucia.
Owen likes Lucia.
“….”
It was a story that Bella had already suspected to some extent.
After several encounters with Owen, she could tell.
It was impossible to ignore the fact when she saw the way he looked at Lucia.
Bella realized thoroughly that he had been avoiding it, trapped in the novel “Flower of the Empire.”
She should have known during the hunting competition.
It was a fact that could have been known from the moment he rushed towards Lucia, but she realized it too late.
“Do you know?”
Edward Selleed’s tone carried a hint of surprise.
Bella ignored him.
She tried to pass it off since she already knew the story.
There was no point in hearing such a story again to resolve anything.
“Well, do you know that Your Highness likes you too?”
“…What.”
However, she couldn’t ignore his next words.
It was a story that made Bella feel bewildered and unbelievable.
“Didn’t you know about this? Strange. It seemed more obvious on this end.”
“Your Highness… Your Highness just wants to have you.”
“Did Your Highness say that?”
Edward Selleed asked without a hint of surprise.
Bella nodded, and Edward responded as if he understood.
“It’s understandable since she hasn’t experienced love. She has often said ‘I want’ when referring to others, hasn’t she?”
“Well, that’s true….”
“There may have been times when it was true. But it can’t always be the case, right?”
“….”
Bella couldn’t refute Edward Selleed’s words.
It was only natural.
Bella had watched Owen closely enough to think that she knew him the second best after Owen himself.
If she had watched Lucia for a long time, it would have been the same.
“Your Highness easily gets tired of just wanting to have someone. You can tell by how she treated the maids, servants, and knights she wanted, but once she had them, she barely looked at them.”
“….”
Such a setup existed.
She didn’t know.
She wasn’t interested in Lucia Edelt.
“People you treasure are those you keep by your side. Your Highness’s personal maids, and you too, will be the same. Besides liking and cherishing those you have, what else could there be?”
It was a valid point.
Because it was valid, Bella stiffened as it was.
“If Owen likes Lucia, then… it means they both feel the same way.”
There was no other possibility.
If Owen liked Lucia and Lucia liked Owen, it meant their relationship was mutual.
Even if Lucia was just mistakenly thinking of her feelings as possessiveness and acting that way now, once she realized it, it would be irreversible.
Dealing with possessiveness alone was already so challenging; mistaking it for love would make it even more complicated.
“Have you changed your mind now?”
Edward Selleed asked the same question again.
Though she felt bad for falling into his trap, there was nothing else she could do.
As long as they liked each other, they would soon realize it unless separated.
“I will invite you to the temple soon.”
It seemed like the plan needed some adjustments.
Changing the relationship between Owen and herself using Kyle was important, but it didn’t seem sufficient on its own.
Lucia also had to be dealt with somehow.