Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 160

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 160
Sitting by the Fountain, I caught sight of unmistakable auburn hair—someone hurrying toward the South Gate. My attempt to grab Soleia had miscalculated badly. Raulus’s words about folding the earth had burrowed far too deeply into my mind.
“I… I didn’t realize it would fold so literally and physically like this…”
The result of recklessly ‘folding the earth’ was that instead of arriving before Soleia, I had folded the entire Courtyard in half.
“Your Highnesssssss!”
Diego’s mournful wail echoed faintly in the distance.
“What do I do? I’ve really made a mess of things…”
I flailed my hands desperately toward the chaotic Courtyard. But the buckled earth, rising and plunging downward, folded into sharper and sharper right angles with each gesture I made. I struggled to restore the Courtyard, but eventually decided it was better not to touch it anymore and lowered my hands.
Soleia offered stern counsel.
“You mustn’t use it carelessly. You have no control over it.”
“Yes…”
Soleia was beautiful today as always. Abundant auburn hair cascading down her back. A black dress clinging to her breathtaking figure. Truly stunning enough to make one sigh. Yes, it was definitely a loss for Belgot to see a sister like this fade away as dew on the scaffold.
Yes, but that aside…
“Unless you wish to demolish the entire Imperial Palace, do be careful.”
“Yes…”
Why was I being scolded by Soleia here? I felt a twinge of regret about my situation. But Soleia didn’t seem intent on merely reproaching me. Before I could even open my mouth, her words continued to flow.
“Are you straining your body? If you’re channeling excessive force, your body won’t be able to endure it.”
“Ah. I’m fine.”
“You can’t be fine. You were bedridden for a whole month.”
Somehow this felt… like facing Auredhian Belgot or Marienne… Was this also a misunderstanding? I answered carefully despite my confusion.
“They said as long as I don’t overexert myself, I’ll be fine. I’m perfectly well.”
“From what I can see, you’re not in a state to be moving about like this yet. Are you aware of how you look?”
“Ah…”
But it didn’t seem to be a misunderstanding. I stood there dumbfounded before carefully letting the words slip out.
“Are you… worried about me?”
“Pardon?”
Soleia’s expression stiffened slightly. She stared at me without answering.
“Haha. That couldn’t possibly be… right?”
Even I had to admit it was a rather foolish thing to say. Embarrassed, I laughed and quickly changed the subject.
“I heard you’re at the Temple!”
“Ah… yes.”
“Are you managing alright?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how foolish the question was. How could she be managing? She was confined to the Underground of the Temple, after all! Soleia must have read something in my expression, for she shrugged.
“Don’t worry. With this restraint on, even I cannot act as I please.”
Her long, slender fingers pointed to her neck. I hadn’t noticed because she wore the restraint like an ornament so seamlessly, but the silver-gleaming restraint was indeed densely packed with Auredhian Belgot’s divine power.
Soleia spoke matter-of-factly.
“It’s a declaration of intent—if I so much as entertain other thoughts, my neck will be the first thing to go.”
“…”
Of course, I couldn’t be as composed about it. My man does have moments that are frighteningly meticulous and cold-blooded. I laughed awkwardly.
“So… hang in there… no, that’s not what I meant to say.”
I had rushed after her without thinking, but I had no idea what to say. A moment of silence stretched between us. It was Soleia who broke it first.
“It’s good to see you up and about so well.”
“…?”
This time, I was the one taken aback. But before I could respond, Soleia continued swiftly.
“I’ll see you often. Once a year, I’ll probably be dragged to the Imperial Palace to visit.”
“….”
“It would be even better if you could bring up the matter of sentence reduction to His Majesty.”
This woman really knew how to deflate a moment. My tentative warmth deflated like a punctured balloon. Was she pushing me away or pulling me closer?
Soleia smiled faintly.
“Do you have something to say?”
I ended up laughing like a sigh. Soleia. The woman who tried to kill me more than once. The woman who would have driven Auredhian Belgot to his death if I hadn’t intervened. In the end, she had helped me…. And from now on, she would become Remordi’s guardian.
I opened my mouth slowly.
“There’s nothing but ingratitude, but I’m grateful for your help at the end. Though you probably cooperated because you had conditions. Anyway.”
“….”
“And I hope we can work well together going forward.”
Soleia simply looked at me without answering. In her dark eyes lay emotions I couldn’t immediately decipher. I smiled faintly one last time.
“Next time, I’d prefer we meet somewhere proper and in proper circumstances. Without fighting His Majesty. Understood?”
“…Yes.”
Soleia answered a beat too late. She looked at me with an enigmatic expression for a moment, then suddenly asked abruptly.
“Any news?”
It was an unexpected question. I looked at her with confusion.
“What news?”
“You don’t know. Never mind then.”
A mysterious smile played at Soleia’s lips. I blinked in bewilderment. News? What news? But Soleia didn’t answer my unspoken question. With a bright smile, she offered a polite farewell.
“See you later, beautiful Princess.”
“Ah….”
And before I could stop her, she turned and left. Her reddish-brown hair swayed as she disappeared into the distance.
“….”
I watched Soleia’s retreating figure for a long time before Auredhian Belgot, who had witnessed the commotion in the courtyard from his office and rushed out immediately, caught me.
* * *
“I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to…”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“But still.”
“You can do whatever you want.”
“I didn’t particularly want to do anything…”
In stark contrast to my inability to lift my head under the weight of embarrassment and guilt, Auredhian Belgot seemed utterly unconcerned about the courtyard.
“It’s nothing.”
With just a few simple gestures, he smoothed out the courtyard I had completely devastated. It looked strangely familiar. But he couldn’t restore the fountain that was already shattered or the flower beds that had been swept away, so the courtyard still looked as if it had been struck by lightning. I caught sight of the Imperial Palace gardener clutching a broken section of fence and silently swallowing back tears.
“Sob…”
“It’s alright. It’s fine. Don’t cry. I’ve experienced much worse, so I understand your feelings.”
On top of that, Diego was comforting the gardener with gentle pats. I offered another sincere apology.
“I’ll be more careful.”
“Yes. Of course you must be careful.”
Auredhian Belgot had positioned me at the entrance of the Central Palace and was now scrutinizing every inch of my body.
“That woman didn’t do anything to you, did she, Yeni?”
“No, she didn’t. Just a few words of conversation….”
“What conversation?”
“Um, just.”
Something about keeping in touch…? Rather than voice that, I smiled prettily and steered the subject elsewhere.
“You know, since I’ve gained this power anyway.”
A faint, bluish-silver divine essence bounced lightly beneath my feet.
“Raulus said that if I practice a bit more, I’ll probably be able to do quite a lot. Diego said something similar.”
“I see.”
“I may never reach Raulus’s level, but I could still develop my power to match a decent priest….”
I was speaking excitedly when my expression suddenly twisted into a frown.
“Are you listening?”
“Yes.”
“What did I just say?”
“You said you didn’t do anything with that woman.”
He hadn’t been listening at all. I spoke with more emphasis.
“Isn’t it foolish not to use the power you have?”
“It is.”
“And failing to utilize available talent is a waste of national resources, isn’t it?”
“It is… What did you just say?”
Auredhian Belgot finally seemed to be paying attention. I took his hand and shook it gently.
“I could purify the land. Well, it’s still beyond me now, but someday I might even be able to bestow Raulus’s blessing.”
“You don’t need to.”
Auredhian Belgot spoke with firm resolve.
“You need to rest. For months, or even years.”
“Mm.”
I gazed up at his handsome face with quiet contemplation.
[You will be capable of much, Princess.]
Diego’s voice resonated within my mind.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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