Chapter 41
I couldn’t let my mother become a loser.
I couldn’t stand to see her, having lost both her pride and her life, reduced to such misery that she would bow her head and beg before an enemy she could never forgive, just to save her son’s life.
That was why I allowed no room for my own emotions to waver…
“The wicked ones probably have no intention of apologizing anyway.”
“Even so, that does not erase my own faults.”
The Empress looked like a portrait of a middle-aged woman who had grown weary from carrying a heavy burden for far too long.
Yet, the traces of time layered upon her—like dust settled on a statue displayed in a museum for ages—were not unsightly. She resembled an owl at twilight, perched in its nest with folded wings.
“Thank you for apologizing.”
I bowed my head deeply in respect.
“And I’m only telling you this now, but the role I’ve taken on this time is…”
Without hesitation, I confirmed the path I had to advance upon. And Brian’s position as well.
That’s right. I can’t even use a sword properly, I’m not a beloved princess, and my past reputation is close to the absolute worst. Furthermore, everyone has heard that I’ve only just barely woken up from a coma, and that I’ve been cursed to boot. Oh, and I’m planning to brandish a demonic sword. Yes, that’s right.
I spoke with a smile that was far too mischievous for an Imperial Princess.
“A clown. To mock a king and survive, one has to at least be a jester, don’t you think?”
Shall we run toward the gambling table built on lies and deception?
Driven by desperation, the Imperial Consort hurried the Emperor toward the underground maze.
High Priest Margid asked if it wouldn’t be better to check on Princess Titania at the Empress’s palace first, but the Consort was out of her mind the moment Brian became involved.
In truth, it wasn’t a coincidence that the news of Brian being chased by a demon beast and falling into the maze reached the Consort so quickly. It was because the Duchy of Castline had pre-emptively arranged for the news to be delivered immediately.
The Consort realized faster than anyone that ‘something had gone wrong.’ She should have noticed something was strange from the moment the Empress’s palace was so quiet!
Of course, the fact that Titania—who should have been quietly sleeping inside the Empress’s palace—and the Empress—who should have been protecting her—were not there was certainly something the Consort could have taken issue with.
But how could she stay at the Empress’s palace when Brian, of all people, was being hunted by a demon beast!
“Your Highness the Consort, what should I…”
“…If something happens to Brian, you will heal him immediately, won’t you, High Priest? And you will surely identify the culprit behind the sinister events that occurred in the Imperial Palace today.”
“Your Highness is correct.”
Margid and the Consort exchanged anxious glances.
The Emperor had listened to the Consort’s plea to go rescue Brian personally, even bringing along the Royal Guard, which only the Emperor could command. In fact, even for the Emperor, today’s events were like a bolt from the blue.
Demon beasts suddenly attacking the Imperial Palace, and Brian being the one chased, of all people. It was a series of incomprehensible events!
Hadn’t they said Titania was cursed? Looking at the shape of today’s events, it was as if the entire Imperial Palace had been cursed!
The Emperor had rarely seen a proper demon beast in his life. At most, he had seen dead carcasses.
So, upon hearing that Brian was in danger, he judged without much thought that he would take the Royal Guard and go help. It was a thought typical of an Imperial family member who had never faced a threat to his life.
However, the Consort knew the dangers of the current situation all too well.
Is it an assassination attempt? Are they trying to eliminate Brian using a demon beast? All sorts of thoughts crossed her mind. Why now, of all days? It was too urgent a situation for that coward of an Empress and that insolent girl to have planned this.
Who is the culprit? Is the Duchy of Castline baring its teeth? When the Marquis Rand family obtained the items this time, they mentioned that ‘the price the Marquis Evilios family wants is not simple.’ Could they have gotten caught up in something wrong on that end? Filled with anxiety, the Consort cried out.
“Brian, Brian! My baby! My child, are you there? Are you safe?”
All those thoughts vanished like seafoam the moment she stepped into the underground maze and saw what was inside.
“Uwoooooooh!”
Along with the pained groan of a demon beast.
Flash.
A hazy gold, like gold dust, shone vividly in the air. Like golden sand reflecting under sunlight, a holy light illuminated everyone. Everyone instinctively closed their eyes at the excessively brilliant light before barely managing to pry them open.
In this situation, seeing an opponent she never expected to find here, the Consort spoke dumbly.
“…Titania?”
There stood the Princess, holding a sword that emitted a light as bright as a holy sword, standing before the demon beast as it crumbled into ash.
While planning this whole affair, there was one hypothesis I had to verify above all else.
Why exactly did Bibi and I fall into the underground maze?
When I was lying in luxury on the bed in the Empress’s palace, Bibi hesitated for a moment when I asked her the reason. But then she stared at me and answered.
‘In that garden, actually, an old Imperial relic is sleeping. …Since it’s in the palace, it belongs to the Imperial Family, but it seems no one in the current Imperial Family knows of its existence. Actually, I was trying to take it secretly. I’m really sorry.’
‘There was something that incredible?’
‘Yes. Actually, I was more curious because I heard it looked similar to what the person who abandoned me was wearing.’
‘…The, the person who abandoned you?’
‘You know I was adopted, right? The person who left me on the street was wearing a robe from head to toe. They said they had a leaf necklace that glowed in five colors around their neck. I read in various books that the artifact that keeps the Maze Garden green all year round looks like that…’
I almost dropped my teacup when I heard that.
…Wasn’t that the thing that disappeared after sending Bibi back in time in the original story? No one else but Bibi could touch it, so even when she was sold here and there or running away, no one could take it from her. That’s why she held onto it until the end of her first life, and it was an item that didn’t even exist from the second life onward in the original… But that’s an Imperial relic?
As someone who can’t exactly confess, “You’re a regressor, and I’m actually a reincarnated person! I realized my past life after hitting my head, and I know the future because I read a book you were in!” I quietly gulped down my tea like water while breaking into a cold sweat.
This damn Imperial Palace, what is its deal? Not only are there demon beasts in the maze, but strange relics and beasts that even the Imperial family doesn’t know about are hidden everywhere.
‘I’m really happy you trusted me enough to tell me. Whether Bibi takes an Imperial relic that even the Emperor doesn’t know about or not, I don’t care. Don’t worry.’
‘…Really?’
‘Really!’
‘Unnie, why are you so nice…? What if someone tricks you because you live so kindly…? If an Imperial family member finds out someone tried to steal an Imperial relic and ended up putting Unnie in danger by falling underground, they should be angry!’
Bibi got angry, her face looking like she was the one about to cry.
‘Really! Unnie! Truly! If you’re like this to Bibi…!’
‘If I am?’
‘I love it so much!’
Bibi hugged me tight. I hugged her back. Oh, she smells so good. As the warm and cute Bibi rubbed her cheek against my chest, my heart naturally warmed up. As expected of a childcare-trope heroine! A cutie who saves her family, her country, and the world with her charms!
‘I like Bibi too!’
‘But promise not to be like this to anyone else but Bibi.’
Bibi said, her lips pouting. Oh, a sulky Bibi is so cute. I answered reflexively.
‘I-I’m only like this because it’s Bibi!’
‘How can you trust Bibi so much!’
Bibi suddenly got angry again. But it’s hard to say I’m relying on you because I know you’re the righteous, cute, and clever second-life regressor heroine and I’ve seen the spoilers for your life.
‘Be-Because you’re cute?’
‘…….’
One of Bibi’s eyebrows twitched. Really? Seriously? Her eyes were asking that.
‘Be-Because you’re the real power behind the Duchy of Castline?’
‘Unnieee, would you not have liked Bibi if I wasn’t from the Duchy of Castline?’
‘No!’
‘If Bibi’s cheeks weren’t plump like steamed buns, would you not have loved me?’
‘Unnie doesn’t care if Bibi’s cheeks are steamed buns or sliced bread!’
‘Then it’s all a lie, isn’t it?’
‘……Be-Because you’re my fiancé’s younger sister?’
Bibi made a groaning sound. She shook her head as if she would let it slide this once.
‘Since Unnie is on Bibi’s side, Bibi will be on Unnie’s side too.’
‘Ye-Yeah, let’s go with that!’
‘So Unnie, you can’t throw your body like you did last time. Even if it was for Bibi.’
‘…….’
‘Unnie?’
‘…I’ll try!’
‘Unnie?’
‘…I’ll try harder!’
‘Unnieee, when Bibi thinks about what happened last time, I get so sad…’
‘…I’ll try incredibly hard!’
‘Good.’
When I answered while flustered, Bibi finally nodded, saying she understood.