Chapter 152…………………………………………
A little while after Lloyd had left, Minerva finally came out.
It seemed he had a lot to sort out on his own, as he was leaning against the wall, waiting for Minerva.
He even seemed grateful that Minerva had taken her time coming out.
Minerva felt she understood why Lloyd was acting that way.
“You lied.”
“…Yes.”
Lloyd acted as if the gift he had given today was the last one, but Priscilla would occasionally receive what she needed anonymously.
Of course, he had no intention of sending her luxuries.
Just medicine when she was sick, extra clothes when it was cold—that would be all.
Honestly, Minerva thought even that was too generous.
The reason Minerva had followed Lloyd this far wasn’t just because she was worried about him; even though the trial was over, there was still one thing bothering her.
“Priscilla, let me ask you something. I heard Gabriel told you who Ayla’s biological parents are. Is that true?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Do you know how Gabriel found out?”
“…I don’t.”
Priscilla gave an answer like someone whose soul had left her body.
Just as Minerva was about to give up on getting a proper answer and leave, Priscilla, either exhausted from crying or in shock, answered slowly.
“However, I could clearly tell that the princess despises that child. So, as she instructed, I found the couple.”
Honestly, Minerva wanted her to at least show some regret, even if it was just pretending.
But Priscilla spoke as if stating a simple fact, like counting numbers, showing no trace of guilt about Ayla.
Putting aside the question of how Gabriel knew who Ayla’s biological parents were—something even the original story didn’t reveal—it was clear to Minerva that Gabriel really did dislike Ayla.
It wasn’t just Minerva imagining things.
And Minerva’s chest tightened.
‘How could he hate our Ayla so much without even meeting her?’
In the original story, Gabriel had been in the role of Ayla’s mother-in-law, so dislike made sense.
But this isn’t the original story, right? Thinking that far, Minerva checked her own selfish thought.
‘Wait, I’m possessed too, so why couldn’t it be Gabriel?’
But he knew things that weren’t in the original story.
‘No, Gabriel himself is just suspicious.’
His personality had changed since he was a child, and she felt he needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.
The moment Minerva held the wedding, she would become crown princess.
If she then diligently pushed Gabriel out of the royal palace, she wouldn’t die like in the original story, and she could protect the children.
Seeing Minerva’s displeased expression in another light, Lloyd, feeling guilty, started punishing himself.
“You must be disappointed in me. Acting like you’ll take everything, and then being soft behind my back.”
Lloyd’s shoulders slumped.
After talking so well earlier, why act like this again? Minerva thought, but she understood his heart.
She placed a hand on Lloyd’s back and gently patted him.
“I’ll send books too.”
“Books?”
“Like childcare guides. I’ll send them on your birthday. You won’t sleep because of the cold, so you can read them and properly reflect.”
Lloyd let out a small laugh.
Though weak, it was important that he laughed at all.
Only then did Minerva bring up what she really wanted to say.
“I never let you go hungry, I made sure you lived in comfort, so does it make you feel guilty to end up like this in your old age?”
“Yes. I guess, no matter what I do, my frustrating nature won’t change.”
“Frustrating? Not at all.”
Minerva never thought Lloyd was frustrating.
She had had poor parents herself before becoming Minerva.
Of course, she didn’t send assassins like Priscilla, but her heart had died dozens of times until her own life ended.
That was why she supported Lloyd’s revenge more than anyone.
She wanted the day to come when all the pain Lloyd suffered would be returned to Priscilla.
But Lloyd chose a different path.
“You are the most mature adult I’ve ever met.”
“…Me?”
Lloyd couldn’t believe Minerva’s words.
He had thought his entire life that he was trapped in his childhood.
“You might be the only one who feels pity and guilt toward someone like Priscilla. Normally, if someone were treated that way in the North, they wouldn’t care if the person froze to death. Only when they hear news of their death would they think, ‘So they finally died.’”
In her previous life, Minerva wanted no contact with her biological parents except for the news of their deaths.
It didn’t matter if they called her a filial sinner.
They were the ones who made Minerva a filial sinner.
But Lloyd wasn’t yet used to committing such sins for survival.
Minerva asked,
“Lloyd, if Ayla were to be hit somewhere, and she still worried about the attacker’s future, would you just let her?”
At that, Lloyd’s face looked as if he’d been hit hard, crushed just imagining it.
“Priscilla is receiving the punishment set by society. Have you ever seen a victim worry about the future of their abuser? All the future pain and negative feelings belong to Priscilla. None of it is yours.”
“…Mother’s portion.”
“Yes. Of course, you’ll have some good memories with Priscilla, so it’s natural that you can’t hate her completely. This isn’t you being frustrating.”
Even if a person tries to hate someone for nine bad memories, one good memory can make them hesitate—that’s natural.
Especially since Lloyd suffered so much mentally at Priscilla’s hands, that one good memory would feel even sweeter and more precious.
Lloyd understood Minerva’s words, but he was harsh on himself by nature.
Mindsets don’t change overnight, so a few words weren’t going to make Lloyd shake off his guilt immediately.
Minerva gently stroked Lloyd’s back to help straighten his shoulders.
“I hope that as much as I like you, you can also like yourself…”
If that happened, Lloyd could end this emotional struggle quickly.
She muttered it unconsciously, feeling wistful.
“…?”
Wait a second.
Did I just say that out loud?
Minerva tilted her head, thinking it couldn’t have been her, and looked at Lloyd.
He was wide-eyed, frozen, barely breathing.
And she saw heat rising from the back of his neck.
Only then did Minerva realize what she had said.
She tried to quickly clarify that she didn’t mean it, but before she could, Lloyd moved his lips faster.
“Just now…”
“W-wait. Wait.”
Minerva shouted and quickly covered Lloyd’s mouth with her hands.
‘What did I just say…!’
It hurt to see Lloyd keep tearing himself down.
It felt like someone was demeaning something she liked.
But that was not what she had intended to say aloud.
Her face felt drenched in strong alcohol.
Her hands trembling as they touched Lloyd’s lips.
If this continued, Minerva felt like her heart would explode.
She bowed her head for a long time to calm herself, when suddenly her fingertips itched. Startled, she looked up.
And met eyes glowing with a blue heat.
Eyes that seemed both embarrassed and expectant, like she was unbearably cute and he didn’t know what to do.
It was too much to handle, so Minerva looked away.
“…Shall we head back for now?”
She nodded.
With his mouth covered, Lloyd nodded in response.
Satisfied, Minerva slowly removed her hands from his face.
She wondered if he might bring up the topic again, but Lloyd obediently stayed silent.
Instead, he offered his arm.
Normally, she would have held it naturally, but now her arm and body felt stiff like a wooden puppet.
Of course, Lloyd felt the same.
Both chest and mouth tingled, making it impossible to speak.
Ah, this is awkward.
The arm touching Lloyd felt insanely strange, almost like it didn’t belong to her.
