For the heart - Chapter 17

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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 17

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Nina headed to the Strategy Room of the Palace.

Her ears were still ringing from Lillien’s shrill screaming.

Though he had already said that Lillien had fallen for him, it seemed Casian was quite active in winning her heart.

‘There’s always a distinction between nobility that must be protected and things that simply exist.’

For him, the noble existence to be protected would be Lillien, and the thing that simply existed would be herself.

Since she was the one who would elevate him to the position of consort, Lillien would naturally be the noble existence.

The fact that Father would pass the throne to Lillien wouldn’t change. She had never coveted the Emperor’s position either.

The fact that the oracle was false had only allowed her to turn away without any guilt from thinking that sacrificing herself for Arsed was the sole reason for her existence and all she could do.

At least for now.

As the Knight Commander of Arsed, she would end the war for continental unification.

Once she created with her own hands the minimum justification to end this tiresome role as a war weapon, wouldn’t things become a bit easier afterward?

If she could uncover the secret of the oracle in the process, she could formally break her shackles, and if Lillien and Casian’s marriage took place before then, he might lend his support as consort.

What remained now was how thickly she could build up the justification to cast everything aside and leave.

‘Proving that the oracle is false would be the most certain way. And I’m the only one who can prove it.’

Though it was overwhelming not knowing where or how to start, there would surely be a way.

Rattle rattle rattle.

Nina, who had been walking deep in thought, turned her head at the sound of wheels rolling.

‘Baraguz?!’

The massive body stretched across two large carts belonged to Baraguz.

Its large eyes, completely turned ash-gray with mouth agape, were directed toward Nina.

Three blade-like long claws that couldn’t fit on the cart dragged along the ground, leaving long marks on the floor.

Even though it was certain that the retreating Baraguz was dead, Nina felt as if those sharp claws might reach out toward her chest at any moment.

Gulp, the moment dry saliva went down, a long shadow fell behind her.

“As expected, Your Highness’s sword is no ordinary sword. I thought the sorcery had worked properly this time… It had been ailing and finally died at dawn today.”

It was Desmorak who approached Nina.

Unable to take his eyes off the retreating Baraguz, his face contorted with displeasure.

When he had made Baraguz face Nina, he had clearly said that Baraguz must never be killed.

Nina had thrust her cold sword into the monster’s chest.

It was as if Nina had ruined the experiment that had been nearly complete.

Nina stared intently at Desmorak’s face as he blamed her with his expression.

His appearance from last night, so desperate and earnest, had vanished without a trace, filled only with an ominous and displeased aura.

‘You also know that my oracle is false, don’t you.’

He was the one who had not only persuaded the Emperor to use her as a war weapon when she was young, but had also most actively utilized her immortal body to face all kinds of monsters.

Sensing Nina’s gaze that was somehow colder than usual, Desmorak furrowed his brow and asked.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“How long has it been since you entered the Imperial Palace?”

“That thing has been five days,”

“No. I mean you.”

Desmorak, who had thought she was asking how long Baraguz had been in the Imperial Palace, closed his mouth at Nina’s unexpected question and met her eyes.

As if trying to find something in that expressionless face that revealed nothing, he slowly rolled his light brown eyes.

“It’s been exactly 20 years this year. I came about a month or two after Your Highnesses were born.”

He came after Lillien and I were born.

The image of him calling her mother’s name so desperately yesterday suddenly came to mind.

“Your Highness…”

Seeing that he used the title “Your Highness,” the two must have known each other from very long ago.

“I see.”

Nina answered while turning her head away from him.

Along with the oracle, there was much she needed to find out about Desmorak as well.

“Why do you suddenly ask that?”

“I was just curious.”

Desmorak frowned slightly at her answer.

Nina had never asked him about such things before.

“I hear you’re departing in ten days?”

“Yes.”

“What a pity. If that Baraguz hadn’t died, we might have been able to use it for this expedition.”

At the light snort that escaped from Nina, his eyes flared with anger.

As if asking how dare she mock him.

“Look forward to the next one.”

As Nina stepped forward to leave, Desmorak spoke.

“Another captured monster will arrive soon. When that happens, Your Highness will need to face it to see if the sorcery worked properly. All of this is for Arsed, after all.”

His voice carried the attitude that no matter how she treated him as a mere princess, she would ultimately have no choice but to comply with his demands.

Nina stopped walking, turned her head, and quietly lifted the corners of her mouth.

Desmorak froze for a moment, his eyes widening at her smile, which he was seeing for the first time in his life.

“Well. I’m not sure I’ll be able to avoid killing the next one either.”

With those final words, Nina turned around with her face returning to its usual cold expression.

* * *

Nina spent each day frantically busy, giving her all to prepare for the expedition.

She thoroughly prepared the military supplies needed for the knighthood’s expedition, conducted personal training and the knighthood’s combat training early in the morning, and held meetings with staff until late in the evening, compiling information coming in from Nortanica.

Since Nortanica was a country that bordered Arsed, the fighting would be fierce even before reaching the royal palace in the capital.

‘I must conquer it with this expedition no matter what.’

Nina’s determination to conquer Nortanica was stronger than ever.

There was her promise with the Emperor, and achieving continental unification as quickly as possible would give her the time needed to uncover the secret of the oracle.

Though she had received permission to deploy to the battlefield together with Casian, who had become her dedicated healer, Nina knew this wouldn’t continue indefinitely until the entire continent was unified.

Lillien would try by any means to separate her and Casian.

Late at night, as Nina left the strategy room and headed toward the satellite palace.

From the darkness, a large silhouette smoothly appeared.

Though she paused briefly, Nina wasn’t surprised. That large silhouette she encountered in this gloomy place had somehow become familiar to her eyes.

Even when she saw his mischievous face that didn’t hide his intention to startle her, Nina passed by without much interest, so Casian approached as if deflated.

“You’re not even surprised. I waited quite a long time for you to come out.”

At Casian’s words, Nina glanced at him with eyes that seemed to find him absurd.

“Lillien’s mood must be more than a little twisted since you’re deploying with me. I thought it wouldn’t be easy to appease her before the expedition, but you seem relaxed.”

“I’ve never appeased any young lady. The reason their hearts are hurt is because they care for me far too much. Just a few words about how burdensome that great affection is, and they figure out how to soothe their own hearts. Because they don’t want to lose my affection.”

“Ha, what an amazing ability.”

At Nina’s astounded reaction, Casian silently pulled up the corners of his mouth in a grin beside her.

Just the fact that she, who must be misunderstanding him based on what he’d said to Lillien, wasn’t looking at him with cold eyes gave him a strange sense of relief.

“I have some other abilities too. Would you like to see one?”

Nina finally stopped walking and looked up at him.

Having succeeded in capturing Nina’s attention, he smiled with curved eyes and pulled something from inside his coat to show her.

A small letter pinched between Casian’s index and middle fingers.

Moreover, it was a magical teleport letter with edges glowing with bright light.

He casually waved something so expensive that even nobles couldn’t easily use it unless it was to announce war to a nation or for very serious matters.

“Aren’t you curious? About who sent it.”

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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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