For the heart - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 14

The last oracle of Arsed was received by Nina and Lillien. And because it was the ‘last,’ it held even greater power.

Nina’s life had been built upon cruelly absolute devotion.

All because of that oracle that said she must exist solely for Arsed.

But that oracle was a lie.

Thud, Nina’s shoulders slumped as she leaned her back against the wall.

She raised her powerless arm and fumbled with her fingertips to grasp the shirt over her chest.

Her unsteady breathing came in rough gasps.

Yet her mind turned coldly, like revising strategy on a battlefield.

‘An immortal body without a heart.’

That her body had no heart and that it was a body that would never die—these were things she had already confirmed with her own eyes many times.

Then the ‘lie’ her mother spoke of was…

‘The story of the princess who would become emperor and the princess who would sacrifice her body for the empire—that was the lie.’

Excluding what was true, that was all that remained.

‘Why.’

Why did her father and mother go so far as to create a false oracle to decide hers and Lillien’s lives that way?

Nina slowly reflected on her childhood.

Her father, who constantly instilled in her that sacrificing her body for Arsed was the only reason for her existence.

Her mother, who used her like equipment for Lillien’s safety.

Nina lowered her head and buried her face in her hands. Her short blonde hair spilled forward as a thin moan filled with pain flowed out.

“Even when I first nursed you, how chilling it was. It felt exactly like holding a corpse. Well, how could something without a heart be called human?”

Was it because she was such an eerie existence that they couldn’t acknowledge her as a daughter?

Whatever the reason, the fact that it was ultimately her parents who gave her this cruel life tormented Nina even more.

Anger and wretchedness, sorrow and grief mixed together and flowed down as thick tears.

Realizing the hot tears streaming down her cold cheeks, Nina clenched her fists.

It felt ridiculously foolish that forming an alliance with Casian had seemed like betraying her parents and younger sister, and that she had suffered from guilt about going against the oracle.

Soon, gritting her teeth, she spoke as if chewing out the words.

“I need to know too.”

What the real content of the last oracle was.

Nina roughly untied the handkerchief bound to her arm and looked at Casian.

In her blue eyes that had seemed to wander in darkness just moments ago, a sharp gleam was now turning.

A clear light rippled as if foundation stones had finally been laid in what was once a ruined world.

Casian felt as if he might be swallowed by that distinct and transparent gaze for a moment.

“Casian Montregger.”

When Nina called his name in a low voice, Casian answered somewhat slowly, like someone just returning to reality.

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

“Heal me.”

These kinds of wounds were nothing compared to what she had sustained on battlefields.

Though she knew they would heal in a few days, Nina demanded it of Casian like giving an order.

Casian looked into Nina’s blue eyes facing him and slowly lowered his body.

Soon one of his knees touched the ground.

He took Nina’s fingertips and spoke.

“Casian Montregger, Your Highness’s dedicated healer. I accept your command.”

Even when they first met at the Imperial Palace, he had greeted her while kneeling just like now.

This was already the second time.

Though it wasn’t something that required such reverent healing, Nina didn’t tell him to stand up.

He too looked up at her as if he had no intention of rising without an order.

Soon, his warmth began transferring to Nina’s hand as always.

Perhaps because it was a minor wound, the sensation of the injury on her arm healing was faint.

Instead, the emotions that had been boiling with confusion and anger were settling down calmly.

“Hah…”

Nina closed her eyes, lowering her eyelashes, and let the emotions that felt ready to burst flow out between her lips in a suppressed breath.

Casian’s eyes, slowly scanning her face, settled on her slightly parted lips.

A pale, almost translucent color.

The full curve flowing over them.

Those lips, glistening with moist shine, never released his captured gaze.

Flutter, her eyelashes trembled as Nina opened her eyes. Her gaze had returned to normal.

Turning her head to check the completely healed wound, Nina looked at Casian who was still holding her hand.

“Tomorrow morning, when I have an audience with His Majesty, you’ll enter with me. As my dedicated healer.”

* * *

The next morning.

As she was being dressed by her maids, Lillien recalled yesterday’s events.

Collapsing into Casian’s arms had been the best choice.

‘I couldn’t watch the prince heal Nina twice.’

She had even put on an exhausted act for him when he carried her to the bedroom.

“I was so shocked that I… Nina sometimes makes me very angry… I only meant to scare her, but Nina came rushing at me…”

She didn’t know from where he had been watching and listening, but creating words favorable to herself was no trouble at all.

“I feel so dizzy and my startled heart won’t calm down, Duke Montregger.”

When she extended her hand as if asking to be healed, Casian looked at the maids and attendants waiting around them.

Then, as if he had no choice, he brought only one finger to touch the back of her hand.

It was completely different contact from what I had expected, making my eyes blink rapidly.

Then Casian smiled gently as if he knew that question and said.

“How could I dare to carelessly touch the Princess who will become the Emperor of Arsed? I hope you understand that this is the line I must properly maintain in my position as a hostage, Your Highness.”

“Then Nina is…”

I clearly saw him cupping Nina’s cheek that had been struck by Baraguz and running his hands over her body to heal her.

My words trailed off as my pride was hurt to say such things with my own mouth.

To such Lillien, Casian gave an enchantingly gentle smile.

“How could I not know the difference in existence? There is always a distinction between nobility that must be protected and that which merely exists.”

My heart beat loudly.

That moment when he said those words was more thrilling than any other moment.

What merely exists would refer to Nina, who rolls around like a life thrown onto the battlefield, and the noble existence to be protected would be me.

Lillien, who thought as she pleased, burst into laughter.

“Puhut!”

The maids who were hanging onto each hand trimming her nails looked up at the Princess’s sudden laughter.

Ivana, the daughter of Count Haidrick, tilted her head and asked.

“Did you have some pleasant thoughts, Your Highness?”

“You saw yesterday too, didn’t you? How preciously Prince Casian thinks of me.”

“Of course. All the men in the world would think preciously of Your Highness.”

At Michelle’s words, another maid, Lillien irritably shook off her right hand that she had entrusted to her.

“I don’t need other men! Prince Casian is enough for me.”

“Of, of course, Your Highness.”

Michelle, flustered by Lillien’s sharp reaction, forced a smile and quietly took her hand again.

“When I go to have an audience with Father today, I’ll go with him. I need to ask him to cancel that dedicated healer thing or whatever, and I should ask him to give him an important position.”

“Shall we send an attendant to Duke Montregger?”

“Banir already went to the Western Palace. He’ll come to escort me soon.”

Knock knock.

“Your Highness, this is Attendant Banir.”

“Come in.”

Lillien looked at the attendant entering through the mirror.

The attendant was clasping both hands in front of his body with a troubled expression.

At this, Lillien turned her head sharply.

“What’s the matter?”

“I… I just went to Duke Montregger at the Western Palace, but…”

“And?”

“He says he already has a morning schedule today.”

“What? A prince who came as a hostage has a morning schedule?”

She who had just said that Casian alone was enough immediately belittled him as a hostage when something went against her wishes.

“Well… he says he’s scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty together as Princess Nina’s dedicated healer.”

“What, what?!”

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