Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 148

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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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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 148

13

A heavy silence flowed through the Emperor’s office.

Sitting across from Shurkha, the Emperor who had thoroughly examined the documents he handed over opened his mouth as if incredulous.

“So, you’re confessing your crimes like this and asking me to spare your life?”

In the past days, while investigating Shurkha who had been falsely accused, all the corruption he had committed was completely revealed. To maintain his position as Count Valoz, he must never privately wield the Emperor’s power as his backing.

Many Count Valoz throughout history had died for failing to uphold this.

Yet Shurkha boldly presented documents detailing his crimes before the Emperor and answered.

“No.”

“Then?”

“I want not only to avoid punishment, but to maintain my position as Count Valoz as it currently is.”

“Ha, how truly bold of you.”

“Didn’t Her Highness the Princess say she wanted to repay the debt of owing her life to my daughter? That should be sufficient.”

Since the Emperor had made that statement himself, he could only click his tongue but couldn’t refuse.

If Shurkha had committed corruption out of personal greed rather than to create a cure for the White Flower Disease, he would have dismissed him even if he had saved his own life.

In the end, the Emperor decided to let this matter pass because Tiya had saved the Princess, and burned the documents.

“Come to think of it, I’ve conveyed to the Vladijef Family my intention to lift the blockade of the North.”

Perhaps anxious about this news, the North couldn’t wait for the Royal Court to send someone, and sent a reply saying they would send a messenger to receive the official document lifting the blockade.

Now when the North’s messenger came to take the official document back to the North, the North’s blockade would be officially lifted.

Even at the news that his homeland’s blockade would be lifted, Shurkha remained calm.

The Emperor shook his head.

Still, it was unexpected. He had thought the man would remain detached even before his own death, yet here he was clinging to life.

‘No, I should see it as him having found a reason to live.’

Even the previous day when they discussed each other’s deaths, the Count’s attitude had shown no wavering.

What on earth had changed his thoughts that had been like an iron fortress?

It was when the Emperor was about to speak to read even a little of the Count’s inner thoughts.

Knock knock knock.

The sound of knocking blocked his words. When the Emperor said to come in, a Royal Court attendant entered with an urgent face, looking apologetic.

Knowing his attendant’s usual thoroughness, the Emperor nodded and let the rudeness pass instead of punishing it.

“A messenger from the North has arrived, just received the official document and left.”

Had he interrupted the conversation just to convey that? No, more than that.

“You’re saying the messenger already arrived?”

He had only heard this morning that a messenger had departed. Even using a gate, it was too early.

Before the puzzled Emperor, the attendant glanced at Count Valoz and quietly approached.

At the news he conveyed in an even lower voice, the Emperor let out a “Ahem,” clearing his throat.

“I understand, so go out.”

The Emperor gestured for the attendant to leave, let out a deep sigh, then spoke to Shurkha who sat like an observer.

“Count, it seems you’d better return home quickly. It looks like you’ll have a guest.”

It didn’t take Shurkha long to understand the meaning of those words.

* * *

When the heat of the sweltering summer was beginning to break.

The Vladijef Estate in The Dominion was on the verge of suffocation from all kinds of flower fragrances pouring out day after day.

The garden was already submerged in a tsunami of flowers blooming daily, to the point where bare ground couldn’t be seen.

Even the employees who had initially been delighted to see precious flowers were now muttering with tired expressions.

“Oh my, flowers have bloomed even in a place like this.”

“The flower fragrance is so strong I can’t properly taste the food.”

“That’s not all. It feels like my whole body is vibrating with flower scent.”

The gazes of the murmuring people naturally turned toward one side of the garden.

There sat a lovely girl with a small desert fox perched on her head, blankly absorbed in something.

“…this one… Hmm, no. Today I need a more colorful flower…”

The longer the girl’s contemplation lasted, the more the pile of flowers surrounding her grew luxuriantly, eventually creating a jungle with no room to step.

After blooming hundreds of various flowers like this, the girl chose a single red snapdragon after pondering with a more serious face than ever.

That was the flower Valentina had chosen today as a get-well gift for Tiya.

Valentina carefully cradled the snapdragon in her arms and stood up. Now only a graveyard of hundreds of flowers not chosen by the girl remained in that spot, but no one could scold Valentina.

Though her face was flushed red from crouching under the sun for a long time, her expression looked as satisfied as if she had found the most beautiful flower in the world.

It was when Valentina was about to move toward the manor, having even tied a ribbon to the single flower.

“Aaaahhh!”

A soldier’s scream burst out from somewhere.

Not only the employees who had been watching the young girls’ friendship with pleased faces, but even Valentina was stopped in her tracks by that sound.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the manor’s main gate.

As if it wasn’t a mistake, people’s shouts rang out several more times after that. The noise was even gradually getting closer to the manor.

“Block it! Block it!”

“Aaaahhh! We can’t block it!”

“Support! Call for support!”

The expressions of the employees who understood the content of the shouts gradually hardened.

It was none other than the sound of soldiers within the estate being attacked.

And soon the cause of the commotion revealed itself.

“Eeeek!”

People covered their mouths and made gasping sounds.

On the war horse that appeared while scattering fallen soldiers and gatekeepers behind it, a fully armed soldier was mounted.

Not only the pitch-black armor, but the fierce gleam visible between the helmet was chilling.

People froze at the intimidating appearance like a grim reaper from fairy tales that would frighten children.

The knight who appeared receiving everyone’s attention lowered the bottom part of his helmet with a clank. The moment when everyone tensely waited for the words that would come from his mouth.

“Kheuk, attack, it’s an attack!”

The soldier dangling from the war horse’s mouth shouted.

How long had it been since the Royal Court knights had invaded, and now this was happening again!

The manor was instantly entangled in screams and terror. The employees dropped what they were doing and announced the attacker’s appearance.

Thanks to this, no one heard the helmeted knight’s low muttering.

“I said messenger, not attack.”

Well, it doesn’t matter.

When the knight pulled the reins again, the war horse spat out the soldier it was holding and raised its front legs.

The knight raised the sword at his waist high and shouted majestically.

“Where is Astiya!”

Valentina, who had been trying to hide toward the manor following the people, stopped walking.

Though she couldn’t tell what was happening right now, the opponent’s purpose seemed clear. The enemy was targeting Tiya.

Valentina’s head reflexively turned toward the third floor of the manor, toward Tiya’s room window.

Please, let Tiya not look out the window.

However, contrary to her wish, the curious Tiya poked her head out the window.

“Did someone just call me?”

Though the attacker’s face wasn’t visible, Valentina instinctively knew at that moment that he had spotted Tiya.

“Astiya, Vladijef!”

“Huh? Huh…?”

The helmeted knight’s terrifying shout seemed to shake heaven and earth. The war horse kicked the ground and charged toward where Tiya’s room was.

It was already too late to go inside the manor and block him.

Valentina threw away the snapdragon she had been preciously holding and ran after the attacker.

“Rose! Stop that damn bastard!”

She was so blinded by rage that she couldn’t even think to disguise her actions or speech.

Woof woof, as soon as Rose barked, tree vines sprouting from the ground grabbed the warhorse’s legs. The warhorse came to an abrupt halt, and the rider was thrown off by the momentum.

“Got him!”

It was the moment Valentina’s cheer erupted.

Swoooosh!

The attacker landed on the ground with unbelievable agility and muttered irritably.

“Tsk, the garden maintenance is terrible. Why are there so many weeds?”

Then, without looking back, he climbed up a tree and infiltrated into Tiya’s room.

“Kyaaaang!”

A child’s anguished wail came from inside Tiya’s room.

“Tiya!”

Valentina rushed frantically into the manor. She mustered all her strength and climbed the three flights of stairs in one breath.

Even during this, Tiya’s screams were echoing throughout the manor.

Finally arriving in front of Tiya’s room, Valentina threw herself into the room without caring for her own body.

“Tiya! Are you alri-“

Valentina stopped breathing upon witnessing the horrific scene unfolding in the room.

The attacker’s two hands were gripping Tiya’s small head. Tiya, whose body was floating in the air, writhed in pain as if her head would split, then cried out as if surrendering.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Grandmother! Kyuuuup!”

The attacker, who had been holding Tiya’s temples with both hands and shaking her, finally let the child go.

“At least you know what you did wrong.”

The attacker, still seeming angry, muttered fiercely to the end and finally removed the helmet.

The revealed face was surprisingly that of an elderly woman, and

“…Grandmother?”

It was Duke Vladijef, Tiya’s grandmother.

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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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