The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 120

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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 120

Gid had vaguely known it was because of Rita, but at the time, he deliberately didn’t think deeply about it.

He might have instinctively turned away because he knew acknowledging his emotions would only make things harder.

He truly didn’t know back then.

Even afterward, even while continuing to attempt all sorts of things after Rita Pascal’s death, Gid Pascal didn’t know why he had been given such an oath.

He only learned why Pascal had set such an oath for him after returning and learning about his father.

When Gideon made his oath again after returning, he swore what he had always told his comrades: ‘I will not avoid the responsibilities given to me.’

Fortunately, that oath was just as effective as his previous one.

“Crown Prince.”

As he emerged from Nina’s cottage, the Empress was waiting for him.

Elegantly pinned-up black hair. Intelligent olive-colored eyes. An appearance so similar to Olivia’s that one could believe she was her mother rather than her aunt.

A woman born into a family of mages but with no talent for magic herself, yet so wise and clever that even the demanding Former Emperor acknowledged her.

An empress who had been ignored her entire life due to the Emperor’s jealousy and inferiority complex, yet had secured her own position regardless. His mother on paper, who had protected young Gideon when he was threatened with assassination.

Ophelia el Blen Kairam.

“What did His Majesty say?”

She asked quietly. Gideon answered respectfully.

“He told me to oversee this year’s Foundation Festival as well.”

“…”

The Empress frowned but wasn’t particularly disappointed. She had expected this.

She soon smoothed her expression and asked.

“Then, what will you do about this year’s Coronator?”

The Kairam Empire’s Foundation Festival includes many events like parades and martial arts tournaments, but the most important is the ‘Laurel Crown Succession Ceremony’ held on Foundation Day.

A ceremony where the Emperor wears a golden laurel crown and recites the founding declaration of the first Emperor to commemorate Kairam’s founding.

The person who places the golden laurel crown on the Emperor’s head during this ceremony is called the Coronator.

According to tradition, this role should be filled by the Emperor’s companion, so it was usually the Empress.

Of course, among the emperors in the empire’s long history, some had assigned the role of Coronator to mistresses or concubines.

Some emperors made the father of a low-born prince the Coronator to secure authority as the heir’s father.

If Emperor Lawrence had possessed any paternal affection, he could have made Nina the Coronator every year to somewhat compensate for Gideon’s weakness regarding his mother’s status and legitimacy issues.

Of course, he didn’t do that.

Nina, who ignored everything, had no interest in her son being pointed at as a half-breed bastard without his mother’s surname.

In any case, if the Emperor wouldn’t step forward, conducting the Laurel Crown Succession Ceremony fell to the Crown Prince.

“I can substitute as the Crown Prince’s Coronator again this year, but you know, don’t you? Receiving the laurel crown from a mother rather than a companion gives the impression that one is still just a minor. Isn’t that exactly what Duke Adickl emphasizes every year when he harps on about it?”

The Empress sighed softly and continued.

“As I’ve said before, the Laurel Crown Succession Ceremony is a good opportunity to supplement the Crown Prince’s legitimacy. This time, choose someone from among the noble families’ daughters to become engaged to and make her your Coronator. If you don’t have anyone in mind, I can—”

“I do.”

Gideon answered briefly, then added slowly.

“Someone I’m considering.”

“Oh my.”

The Empress’s eyes widened.

“Who is it, Crown Prince? Which family’s daughter? You need to tell me in advance so I can help prepare the Coronator.”

She asked eagerly with delight. Gideon was silent for a moment before answering.

“I’ll tell you after I receive her consent.”

“You still haven’t discussed this with the young lady?”

In truth, Gideon had no intention of bringing this up to Rita at all. He had planned to approach slowly, without putting any pressure on her, as carefully as possible.

Something like the Coronator role could just be requested of the Empress as usual. He was confident he could make up for any resulting losses.

But after what happened at the hunting grounds, his thinking changed. Since he saw a possibility he hadn’t expected, he decided to be a bit more proactive.

“I plan to discuss it soon, so please don’t worry too much, Your Majesty.”

When Gideon said this and bowed respectfully, a flash of disappointment crossed the Empress’s face. However, that expression was composed before he could lift his head.

“Yes, the current Crown Prince will handle things well on his own. You’re… different from before.”

The Empress smiled faintly and added.

“Let me know when you’ve decided, Crown Prince.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

She quietly took her leave. Left alone, Gideon looked back toward Nina’s cottage.

If Lillieta had returned with a low status like Nina’s instead of the noble position of the Duke’s youngest daughter, what would he have done?

‘…Even so, I wouldn’t have lived like my father.’

Even if he loved, he wouldn’t be blinded. Though he was no longer bound by that oath, he still had no intention of crossing normal lines.

Only as light emotions, only at an ordinary level. He would live suppressing the sticky, twisted parts without ever revealing them.

Suddenly, he felt extremely tired. A feeling of being crushed, bound, and exhausted.

But he endured even that feeling and redirected his thoughts.

‘How should I propose the Coronator role so Rita will agree? If I appeal well about how difficult and painful it is because of legitimacy issues… Damn, the idiot act is the problem.’

It was that very night when he received Ethan’s visit bringing the box of hair and came to actively support Hanna’s decision.

* * *

May 20th, 1770.

Lillieta warmly welcomed the person who had returned with Olivia.

“Lindsey, how was the training?”

“It was uniquely hellish, my lady.”

Lindsey Dyce replied with a haggard face. Rita couldn’t help but laugh.

After being captured by the Doppelganger at Beacon Garden and learning about magical beasts, Lindsey had decided to train briefly with the Tritoma Special Knights and become an Oathbinder.

‘Gid said he’d officially announce the Special Knights’ existence soon because of the Kraken incident.’

More precisely, it was a plan to silence the Duke’s faction, who were currently attacking the issue of the Crown Prince’s defensive capabilities triggered by the Kraken incident, by revealing the Special Knights—the talented individuals the Crown Prince had cultivated—and demonstrating their military power.

It would also prepare conditions for the Special Knights to officially deploy if named magical beasts appeared again.

‘He said he’d announce it at the Foundation Festival, so there isn’t much time left.’

That’s why she could send Lindsey to Tritoma without burden to make her an Oathbinder.

Of course, from Lindsey Dyce’s perspective, having to abandon the aura she’d learned and suddenly master techniques she’d never heard of before, it must have been full of pressure.

“Learning it will be good for you too. It’s more useful than aura, and you won’t have to worry about being helplessly defeated by magical beasts.”

“Yes… that’s true. I’m sorry, but my lady, may I rest a bit before returning to duty? I request one day of leave…”

“I’ll give you three days off. Rest well and come back.”

“Oh, thank you so much…”

Lindsey answered uncharacteristically limply and was about to withdraw when she suddenly stopped and said.

“Ah, I heard all about what you did while injured, my lady. And I learned from Commander Olivia how to deal with such a master. You can look forward to it from now on.”

“What? You learned what from whom?”

“Then I’ll see you in three days…”

Lindsey, limp again, quickly retreated. As Rita stared bewildered at where she had disappeared, Olivia said primly.

“When I had her take the oath, turns out she’s a processing type. So I taught her briefly.”

“It doesn’t seem like you only taught her processing?”

“So do you have a complaint? Miss Lillieta del Nisa Raskail, who can’t even stand up because she put a hole in her leg?”

“…No, I don’t. Sorry.”

“I figured something was up when you suddenly started sniping, but good lord, this time you had to mess up a perfectly good leg.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Of course it wasn’t on purpose. If it had been, you’d be tied up by us and locked in a safe house until the disaster ended.”

Olivia snapped fiercely, then sat in the chair beside Lillieta’s bed and pulled out a measuring tape and notebook.

“Give me your right hand.”

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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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