Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 154

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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 154

* * *

At dawn, Tiya woke up to the faint sound of knocking.

She was drowsy from staying up worrying about Valen, but she forced her heavy eyelids open and looked toward the door.

“Who…?”

The answer came not from outside the door, but from right beside her.

【Not that way, the window.】

The window?

Following Winter’s guidance, Tiya turned her head to look at the window. In the dim moonlight, she could see something fluffy moving around in front of the window.

“Mmm.”

When she rubbed her eyes, the shape became clearer.

Large perked ears and a pointed snout.

A small creature with a bushy tail was scratching at the window with its front paws.

“Rose…?”

She wasn’t seeing things. When the surprised Tiya ran over and opened the window, Rose jumped into the room as if she had been waiting.

“Rose, where did you leave Valen? No wait, Valen came, didn’t she? Right?”

Tiya brightened and stuck her head out the window, looking around. But it was too dark to find even a strand of Valentina’s hair.

Rose tugged at the hem of Tiya’s sleeve as if to say that wasn’t the right direction, pulling her directly below the window. A moment later, Tiya spotted something glinting in the faint dawn light below the window.

Tiya easily recognized what it was.

“Valen!”

Tiya grabbed her magic wand and threw herself out the window. As levitation magic enveloped her body, the child’s form landed on the ground as lightly as a snowflake.

“Valen! You really came to see me!”

“…”

Despite Tiya’s exclamation, Valentina didn’t respond, remaining crouched with her body curled up tight, not lifting her head.

Only then did Tiya notice that Valentina’s condition was different from usual.

Valentina was wearing only thin pajamas and wasn’t even wearing shoes. Having run this long distance in such attire, her bare feet were even covered in blood.

Tiya hurriedly knelt down to match Valentina’s eye level.

“Valen, are you okay? What’s wrong? Why on earth…”

At Tiya’s voice, Valentina slowly lifted her head as if waking from a light sleep. Tiya’s urgent questioning gradually died down.

The eyes that had always been filled with sunlight and colored like lilacs when in front of Tiya were now sunken black and completely empty.

“Tiya.”

Valentina called out to Tiya in a hoarse voice, looking up at her.

“…I couldn’t do it like the princess in the story you told me. Even though I had prepared myself for it countless times…”

Valentina’s head fell into her own hands.

The sensation of the dagger she had held in these hands was still vivid. All she had to do was strike down toward Duke Dantal’s heart…

Suddenly, Tiya’s words echoed in her ears.

“The princess didn’t tell anyone and decided everything by herself. It must have been painful… She didn’t ask her friends for help. That makes me sad and angry.”

The blade had stopped without even piercing the Duke’s skin.

The burning black desire for revenge and the resolve to stain her hands with blood, even her father’s, for survival remained the same.

Yet Valentina couldn’t become the princess from the story.

Because she had come to know that the prince would blame himself and suffer heartbreak from the princess’s betrayal.

“Please give me your daughter!”

Because she had become friends with a hero who, despite having nothing but pride, was willing to crumple even that pride for the princess’s sake.

The princess, who couldn’t become the worst kind of person who killed her own father when she would meet them someday, desperately whispered the words she had kept only in her heart her entire life.

“Please… help me, Tiya.”

* * *

At that moment, in Count Valoz’s study.

Though there wasn’t a single light in the study, the dawn darkness posed no problem for the visitors who had come there.

Duke Vladijef sat with her legs crossed, occupying the head seat instead of the study’s owner.

Her gaze turned to the person sitting across from her.

“Do you still hate your father, Rodion?”

Rodion didn’t answer hastily, but sometimes silence itself could be an answer. Unlike Tiya, Rodion was looking at the Duke with the same eyes as four years ago.

So the Duke made him the same proposal as four years ago.

“I came as a messenger, so I can’t stay in the capital long. So this time, come with me to the North.”

“I’m grateful for the offer, but I cannot.”

Even though Lev was no longer in such mortal danger that hoping for tomorrow was difficult, and Tiya had adapted well to the capital, Rodion’s answer hadn’t changed from four years ago.

“Are you still planning to clean up after your siblings?”

“…That’s not the only reason.”

Rodion looked troubled as he glanced briefly at the right side of the study, then spoke with a sigh.

“There is someone targeting the Vladijef family. This person secretly sponsored mages from the Mage Tower to create the Death God’s Token.”

At those words, the Duke’s eyes sharpened even more. She too had examined the trial details involving the Death God’s Token in detail upon arriving in the capital.

Everything had been concluded as Count Montes’ doing, but his death made it impossible to uncover the full truth.

Yet Rodion seemed to have identified the mastermind’s existence.

Rodion, still reluctant to speak easily, continued heavily.

“Through investigation with the cooperation of the Mage Lord of Shetbyeol Tower, we found that this person had connections to the imperial family. The patron was-“

“The Empress, I suppose.”

Before Rodion could finish, the Duke completed his sentence.

Rodion looked at the Duke with surprise. She clicked her tongue low and muttered while pressing her forehead as if tired.

“Five years ago, Her Majesty the Empress secretly visited the Vladijef domain. It was to make a personal request. However, given the circumstances, I couldn’t grant Her Majesty’s request.”

“Are you saying the Empress is targeting the North out of such petty resentment?”

Rodion asked with disbelief.

When they learned the patron’s identity was the Empress, neither Rodion nor Argon could easily believe it despite the clear evidence.

The Empress was known for her loving and generous nature, a beloved mother of the nation cherished by the empire’s people.

“…I can’t tell you the details, but it’s not resentment. It’s just terrible motherhood.”

As if she had no intention of saying more, the Duke changed the subject.

“However, if you’re worried because of the Empress, I’d recommend going to the North even more. I’ll put power in your hands to crush not only the Empress but also that worthless son’s arrogance.”

That was practically an official declaration of succession.

If he could go to the North with the Duke and solidify his position as Duke, nothing would be more helpful.

However, he was worried about his siblings.

Lev still wasn’t healthy enough to live in the North, and Tiya, who had worried so much about the North, seemed to have no intention of returning to Winter Castle for some reason.

Rodion weighed staying in the capital against going to the North in his mind, and before long, he made his decision.

Where he needed to be was by his siblings’ side.

“I-“

Just then, the final guest who had been half-listening to the Duke and Rodion’s conversation spoke up.

“I don’t understand why you’re having such a conversation here, and in front of me.”

The Duke and Rodion’s heads turned toward Count Valoz, who sat in front of the massive desk inside the study.

The Duke shrugged and answered.

“Well, there’s no place with better soundproofing than here. What, does it upset you that the position that was once yours is becoming Rodion’s?”

“It’s a position that should go to whoever needs it.”

“Tsk, still broken as ever.”

The Duke clicked her tongue low, uncrossed her legs, and stood up from her seat.

“So Rodion, I hope you’ll give my proposal careful consideration.”

“No. I’ve already reached my conclusion.”

“Even so, don’t answer right now. It seems our granddaughter is about to cause quite a commotion.”

As soon as the Duke finished speaking, the familiar sound of running footsteps could be heard from beyond the door.

Soon the study door flew wide open, revealing Tiya.

“Grandmother Bear! Emergency, emergency!”

Like a bell announcing an enemy invasion, Tiya shouted loudly.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Tiya, then shifted to Valentina standing behind her.

“Please kidnap Valen to the North!”

Tiya raised her voice while tightly gripping Valentina’s 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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