I’m Done With Unrequited Love - Chapter 66

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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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Episode 66
Noel and Cesar had reconciled.
When I arrived at the dining room for breakfast, I could not help but be startled to see the two of them already seated side by side.
‘When on earth did this happen?’
Watching them whisper and laugh together, oblivious to my arrival, I found myself sighing involuntarily.
I could make a reasonable guess.
They must have reconciled while I was cooped up in the laboratory.
‘The catalyst was probably Cesar changing his mind about hearing Noel’s explanation.’
I couldn’t help but recall that conversation from before.
“I’m telling you to rest easy. Do you really think Noel would leave you?”
“……”
“Right now, you’re the most precious thing in the world to him.”
In any case, worries over the children weighed heavily on me.
‘It’s not just Cesar’s problem. There’s Xavier’s situation too.’
Xavier of Corvaliu.
The prince of this realm and Bruno’s only son.
On the day I visited the Holy See to search for Xavier’s Sword, I heard from Ernan about the true state of the imperial family.
‘More precisely, about Bruno’s true nature.’
“See to it that Xavier commits himself to the Church.”
“Their household is such a mess, after all.”
“Isn’t it only natural to want to save a friend?”
Rita the Pope had described the imperial family as “a mess.”
Yet Ernan said the present imperial house was not quite that dire.
“Looking at every genealogy the imperial family possesses, there’s never been a time when the current imperial house was less sound.”
“And yet they’re still called a mess. Do you understand why His Holiness speaks of them in such terms?”
“I have some notion of it.”
And so I heard from Ernan the story of Prince Xavier and Emperor Bruno.
“You’ve always been weak to rumors.”
“Why bring that up all of a sudden?”
“There’s a rumor circulating in the city that Emperor Bruno despises Prince Xavier.”
“Ah.”
Then I understood something.
Rita the Pope was worried about Xavier, who was being despised by his own father.
“The Pope is young, I suppose. To call it a ‘mess’ over something so trivial.”
“And yet I wouldn’t dismiss it as trivial either. A parent who despises his own child—that borders on abuse.”
“Fair point. That was hasty of me.”
“I like that you admit your faults so readily.”
What I learned afterward was the reason Bruno despised Prince Xavier.
It was not known to the public at large; only a handful of people, including Ernan, were privy to it.
“He received a Divine Revelation, apparently.”
“…… A Divine Revelation?”
“A revelation from God. He visited the Holy See and heard a Divine Oracle, or so the story goes.”
At that point, I fell silent.
He visited the Holy See and heard a Divine Oracle?
‘That’s exactly what happened to me.’
Did Emperor Bruno also hear the sacred voice of Jushin?
“What was the content of the revelation?”
“Well, the Emperor won’t say.”
“……”
The curiosity was nearly driving me mad.
But since further questioning of Ernan on the matter would likely yield nothing new, I changed the subject.
“What about the princess?”
“She’s doing fine, they say. He dotes on her tremendously. There’s even talk that he might pass the throne to her if it came to it.”
I wondered if it was truly acceptable for a parent to treat his children so differently.
‘What kind of Divine Oracle could he have received……’
For him to despise his own son like that.
After hearing that news, I spent days wrestling with the problem.
“See to it that Xavier commits himself to the Church.”
Those words from the Pope seemed impossible to fulfill.
‘No matter what, he is the Emperor’s firstborn son.’
Once again, I found myself meddling just as I had with Cesar.
“So you are Lady Fidellia.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“I have long wished to meet you.”
“……Why is that?”
“Because everyone around me knows of Lady Fidellia.”
“……”
“You are lovely.”
That gaze from our first meeting kept returning to me—it haunted my thoughts.
The image of the child sitting with such dignity on Diego’s office sofa, waiting for Sarubia.
‘Am I mad?’
I clearly didn’t like children.
In the end, I decided to call in a favor.
I sought help from Sarubia, Xavier’s aunt.
I asked her whether she could take Xavier out of the palace for a while and keep him with her.
Naturally, the question that came back was one of confusion.
“Why Xavier, all of a sudden?”
“I’ve heard that His Majesty does not favor His Highness Xavier.”
“Ah, I see. So you’re concerned about Xavier’s emotional state.”
Sarubia nodded as though she understood, but the answer that followed was not encouraging.
“Well……the thing is, my relationship with Bruno is terrible right now. And admittedly, Bruno and Xavier’s relationship is also dreadful. But if I say I’m going to take Xavier with me, he’ll absolutely refuse.”
And what Sarubia predicted came to pass exactly as she had foreseen.
“Instead, he’ll use taking Xavier as a pretext to impose some sort of condition on me.”
Bang!
Sarubia brought her fist down hard on the reception room table.
“I told you, didn’t I?! That he’d impose a condition!”
In the wrathful Sarubia’s indignation, I caught a glimpse of an angry Kiara.
“What does that bastard Bruno think he’s doing? Unbelievable!”
“Please, calm yourself, Sarubia. At least have some tea first……”
“Oh, this is too much.”
Startled by my attempt to restrain her, Sarubia quickly placed a hand over her heart and took a deep breath.
“……Phew. So then, that son of a bitch imposed a condition on me.”
“What was it?”
“Well, it was……”
As Sarubia began to speak, she suddenly clutched at her own hair in distress.
“It’s so vile I can barely bring myself to say it aloud, and yet I have to speak it myself……!”
With all this buildup, my curiosity only grew.
What on earth could it be?
And finally, Sarubia let loose the offending words.
“He told me to marry Ernan Cleroor!”
Cough!
I choked and turned my head away, coughing repeatedly.
Cough, cough!
“……Did you say marry?”
“Marry! Ernan Cleroor! Me!”
Sarubia shouted loudly, her excitement extreme.
She seemed utterly incredulous.
I felt the same way.
“Good heavens.”
Lately, I seemed to be hearing the word “marriage” from many people.
‘Last time it was Ernan saying that.’
Today it was Sarubia.
‘And if I recall correctly, I spat out tea then as well.’
There was clearly something about this word “marriage” that affected me.
“So what happened?”
“……Sigh. So, I at least managed to get Xavier out.”
“Oh.”
That’s impressive.
But this left me wondering about something.
“And your marriage to Ernan……?”
“Don’t misunderstand me, Fidellia. I refused, of course.”
“But didn’t you just say you succeeded in getting Xavier out?”
“Every person in this world has their own way of doing the impossible.”
‘I see.’
So she’d simply taken him out by sheer force of will.
‘That’s so like Sarubia.’
“Without thinking of the consequences.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
……
And now guilt was settling over me like a shroud.
‘If Sarubia really does end up forced into marriage with Ernan……’
I would carry that guilt to my grave, unable to close my eyes in peace even at the end.
That was when it happened.
Knock-knock-knock-knock!
A loud, urgent rapping sounded at the parlor door.
Without waiting for my permission to enter, the door suddenly swung open and old Pippin came rushing in.
“Pippin?”
Puzzled by his unusual behavior, I took in the sight of him—pale as a ghost, his face drained of all color.
“M-Miss Fidellia. Terrible news!”
At those words, I bolted from my seat.
If Pippin was speaking like this, it was no small matter.
“What’s happened?”
“It’s… Miss Kiara.”
“……Kiara?”
Kiara? Why?
My heart dropped in an instant.
What could have happened to her?
“Well, um. That is.”
But old Pippin hesitated, unable to speak at once.
Even as he struggled, my anxiety burned hotter and hotter.
“Tell me quickly. What is it?”
At my urging, Pippin finally squeezed his eyes shut and confessed.
“Miss Kiara has!”
Yes, Kiara—
“……gone to Cleroor Mansion!”
……
Alone?

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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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