Chapter 17
Chapter 2 – Goodbye, Everyone!
Even in my hazy state, I was aware I was terribly ill. My consciousness flickered on and off like a faulty switch. How much time had passed? Surrounded by stillness, I figured at least a day must have gone by. As I groaned, slick with cold sweat, gentle fingers brushed my cheek.
“Still in pain?”
The voice was thick with worry. Another voice answered for me.
“She’ll be alright, Your Highness. It’s accumulated fatigue and stress, not a major physical injury. That… ahem. Even with the bleeding, the wound itself isn’t serious.”
“But she’s been like this for two whole days. She needs to wake up and eat something.”
“Your Highness should eat something too. You’ll collapse before Adelina wakes up.”
“I’m not hungry yet. Priestess Leah, you should go and eat.”
“I’m fine for now, Your Highness.”
Two people skipping meals to stay by my side while I’m sick… ‘My life hasn’t been a complete waste,’ I thought, drifting back to sleep.
The next time I awoke, my mind was clearer. Hestia was still there, having fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position against a chair. She startled awake the moment my eyelids fluttered open.
“Adelina! Are you awake?”
“…Where am I…?”
“The temple. Your room isn’t suited for a patient, so I brought you to the guest chambers I use when I’m here.”
“…I…”
“The court physician came. The healing priests too. They treated your wound quickly, but they think you were overwhelmed by stress.”
“…The situation…”
“Don’t even get me started. That lunatic Clovis Chamber Rubelon caused such chaos with his stunt, and that crazy Seikan is ranting about needing to see you, and that b*stard Reynard…”
Hestia’s language was barely a step up from a back-alley thug. I simply nodded along as a torrent of curses poured from the noble princess’s lips. ‘Yes, he is a lunatic. Absolutely. That b*stard is crazy. And comparing them to dogs is an insult to dogs.’
Hestia, who hadn’t hesitated to call her own brother a lunatic, clasped my hand.
“You must have been so scared and exhausted. You were unconscious for a while, and many people came to see you.”
Seeming to notice my reaction after her outburst, she softened.
“You don’t need to feel guilty. It’s your brother, not you.”
As if struck by her own words, Hestia bit her lip.
“Still, I’m sorry.”
‘Well, you don’t need to apologize. How could you have known your brother was such a lunatic?’
“Seikan, Reynard, and Helion all came. They all seemed quite shocked.”
‘I bet. They were all in cahoots, planning to swallow me whole, even preparing Succubus’s Blood. Then the crown prince suddenly declares he’s going to take responsibility for me in front of the High Priest.’
“Now that you’re awake, do you want to see anyone?”
Hestia seemed unaware of Seikan’s involvement, only knowing about her brother’s actions. If she knew, she’d probably be on a rampage, threatening to kill him for me.
“No. I don’t want to see anyone.”
As I wearily closed my eyes, a gentle hand patted me, as if understanding. I truly wanted to forget everything.
True to her word about the constant stream of visitors, another priestess soon informed us that Seikan and Reynard had arrived. Hestia’s defenses were formidable. Using her status as a weapon, she ruthlessly turned them away. Even when her own brother arrived, she glanced at me, flinching at the mention of the crown prince, and then used family ties as an excuse to dismiss him. It was a moment where her long-standing friendship with the female protagonist truly shone.
Under Hestia’s protection, I enjoyed a peaceful afternoon. However, there was one visitor whose arrival even her strength and fiery personality couldn’t deflect.
“So you’ve finally come to.”
Unable to turn away the Empress, Hestia stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. As I started to rise from the bed upon the arrival of the continent’s most noble woman, the Empress calmly raised a hand to stop me.
“Stay where you are.”
“But…”
“Hestia, would you excuse us for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
The Empress chuckled at Hestia’s wide-eyed expression.
“Why? Do you think I’m going to eat Adelina alive?”
Hestia reluctantly left, her face etched with unease. I sat on the bed, feeling like I was on pins and needles, as the Empress settled beside me.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m alright. I apologize for causing you concern…”
“My son is the one who caused the concern.”
“.…”
“So. What are your thoughts?”
“I’m sorry? I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
‘What are your thoughts? Would you be so kind as to die quietly now?’
‘What are your thoughts? I’m considering exiling you to the Northern Wastes.’
‘What are your thoughts? Why don’t you confess what wicked spell you cast on my son?’
And so on.
While my mouth politely claimed ignorance, my mind raced with all the possible implications of the Empress’s question.
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