98 – 24. Now I know (5)
“… okay. I couldn’t believe he would even say such a thing.”
Upon hearing Adele’s story, Princess Ekaterina smiled.
It is the first wolf of Wolfheddin, which the emperor first heard of.
He has secretly fought against demons for over 10 years and is covered with their blood.
Of course, the princess has also known Adele for quite some time.
So, the words that came out of Shien’s mouth were bound to be quite interesting.
“A lot has changed. Oh, isn’t that a bit ridiculous? A guy who hadn’t changed for over 10 years suddenly changed less than a year after he left. I’m a little sad about this.”
“Ah, me. What problem do I have… ?”
“I’m not blaming the Lichtenauer family. You’re blaming him.”
Seeing the princess’ reaction, Shien hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.
“The princess seems to know a lot about Adele.”
“I know a lot. He is like a younger brother to me.”
“younger brother… What?”
Shien is taken aback by the unexpected answer.
I knew that Adele had a very close relationship with the imperial family.
Proof of this is that he is conversing with the emperor even though he is not from a noble family right now.
However, he was like a younger brother to the princess, who was almost certain to be the next emperor.
That part was completely unexpected even for Cien.
“yes. Oh, of course, I’m not your real younger brother, so don’t think about anything strange. I hear people say he’s a nobleman because he’s so handsome, but that’s not the case either. In any case, I have been by His Majesty’s side since 10 years ago, and like everyone else, I have watched Adele from the sidelines. More thanks to the position of the princess.”
“ah… .”
“I even received swordsmanship training from him a few times. Well, rather than swordsmanship training, it was more appropriate to say just rolling the princess. How rough you roll.”
At Yekaterina’s words, Shien almost burst into laughter without realizing it.
Hearing her words, he thought of the attendants and knights who suffered in the family.
While trying to suppress the laughter that was about to spill out, the princess continued to speak.
“What should Adele say at the time… As a human being, it seemed that a lot of parts that should be human were missing. I didn’t want anything, and I didn’t envision the future. The other Wolfheddins did the same, but Adele was particularly bad at it. If the emperor hadn’t reaped it, I’m sure he would have continued to push himself and eventually died in an unknown battlefield.”
“I also briefly saw it the other day, Her Highness the Princess. Adele’s real face.”
“is it so? Well, then you should have seen him for real. Was it scary at first?”
“… yes.”
On the way back to the family after being invited by the Etenberg family.
The news of the second-class demonic encounter there, and the demonic beasts that disappeared right before the battle.
Lastly, even the image of Adele catching the escaping monsters and tearing them apart with her own hands.
That moment was a sight Shien will never forget.
To say that it had changed would be an understatement.
It was as if something else was inside Adele.
Beasts, no monsters. Yes, to the point where it’s right to call it that.
“At the time, that was a daily routine for Adele. When I met only demon beasts, it seemed like I had to mash or tear them to make them feel better. Thanks to that, His Majesty the Emperor was very worried. If the time comes for that bastard to leave the sword and return to the world, I wonder if he will be able to adapt well.”
At the words of the princess, Shien unconsciously nodded.
If that cruelty was commonplace, if hatred towards the Witchbeast was natural.
Can Adele really let go of all that and melt into the world?
The bigger problem is that it doesn’t end because the monsters don’t come out anymore.
It happens when Adele has to step back because she can no longer fight.
I can’t fight anymore, if I still see those hateful enemies appearing in the world.
Will Adele just watch quietly? Or should I try to fight with that body too?
Of course, he would choose the latter, Shien could be so sure.
“You can roughly predict the head of the Lichtenau family, right? What was His Majesty worried about?”
“yes. maybe… Adele in a state where she can no longer fight must have been bothered.”
“that’s right. Not only Adele, but all the Wolfheddin were so worried. Someone said this. They are the ones who want to fight anyway, so taking them out of the battlefield is the same as pushing them to hell. Wouldn’t it be better for them and for the Empire to just leave it on the battlefield? Sacrifice, what do you think of going to Lichtenau?”
It wasn’t even worth worrying about. Sean immediately shook his head.
No matter how much they want a fight, no matter how much they want revenge, no matter how much power they need for an empire.
But that didn’t mean they had to fight until they all died on the battlefield.
Instead of driving her away, you should think of appeasing her and sending her back home.
Even if you’re in the middle of hell, no matter how hard you fight.
It is never okay to take someone’s sacrifice for granted.
So sublime, so desperate, so pitiful.
It is something that no one in the world can force or push against.
“also. I knew you would say that.”
Princess Ekaterina nodded.
At the same time, he looks back at himself for not being able to throw away such thoughts.
Even though I know that it shouldn’t be like that, for the safety of the empire.
I really hate myself for trying to bring back those who barely left the battlefield.
It’s not that there aren’t people who can fight, and it’s not that they won’t fight.
Why do you keep trying to open your hands to people from the past?
Is it because they are one of the few people who directly witnessed their performance?
“Lichtenau, Lord. no, sheen. I’m not asking this question as a princess. As another person who knows Adele well, I’m asking. That’s why I want Shien to answer as a person, not as the head of a household dealing with the princess. Can you?”
It was a much more serious question than before.
Shien nodded at Ekaterina’s words.
“Adele, what do you think?”
“… yes?”
“What do you think? The man next to you.”
To the sudden question, Shien was unable to give an answer right away.
A question that was not expected, but also vaguely anticipated.
A question that I have repeated to myself several times, but have not been able to come up with an answer.
“just… strong and… .”
“I told you? It was not a question to ask the family head as the princess. People are asking questions about people as people, to people, and people. Sien.”
When I hear that, I feel my face heat up.
I knew it, but the heart that had been pushing it away raised its head again.
Just a momentary favor, and the crush that comes from that favor.
And I thought it was a little bit of a little bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of
okay. I definitely thought so.
But, again, I hope it’s not like that in one place in my heart.
He hoped that this heart he had was not that.
Not sympathy, not curiosity, not out of simple goodwill.
I hoped that it would be that kind of heart that sincerely puts the other person in mind.
“I will ask again. What do you think of Adele?”
* * *
“I do not know.”
“I told you not to answer anything you don’t know.”
At the emperor’s words, Adele put on a puzzled expression.
While I was looking at Xian, the emperor approached and asked me this question.
That woman named Shien sitting with the princess over there.
what do you think about that woman
Of course, he replied that he was a good person and a good head of household.
I thought that was the surest answer I could give to the emperor.
But what came back was the emperor shaking his head.
“your majesty?”
“I didn’t want that answer. Answer me again.”
“I made my answer clear.”
“no. That’s not it. Honey, come up with a new answer.”
The emperor’s stern voice, rarely heard.
Adele bit her lip at the serious reaction.
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no definitive answer other than this.
I don’t know, I said honestly.
The emperor said he would not accept the word he did not know there.
“I will ask. Adele. This is the question the emperor is asking you.”
“your majesty. I have already given you all the answers I can give you.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Because I have told you everything I thought was at all certain.”
“Is that so? If not, I’ll ask again. Adele.”
The emperor’s sparkling eyes disappear, leaving only soft eyes.
With the pupils of those days when they picked up young Adele in the past.
To that moment when I thought I would no longer burden this child.
“This is a question I ask as someone who considered you like a son and couldn’t be a father.”
“your majesty?”
“How are you looking at the woman sitting over there?”
At those words, Adele looked at Sien in the distance without realizing it.
And quite coincidentally, Shien also turned her attention to where Adele was.
The two men and women who had their eyes on each other for a moment said in a muffled voice.
But I answered with a mind that was never clouded.