~Chapter 130~
After escaping from the prison, we used teleportation three times and finally lost our pursuers.
The knights helped us by making escape routes and blocking the royal soldiers from reaching us.
I thanked the knights who joined us.
“Everyone did their part perfectly, and that’s why our prison break succeeded. Thank you for your hard work.”
…Saying that made me sound like the leader of a group of criminals.
“Your Highness, you worked the hardest.”
“You were amazing, Your Highness.”
Luckily, the knights didn’t think it was strange—they answered positively. I smiled and said,
“We’re still far from the capital, so let’s travel slowly and rest along the way.”
We were okay, but Minette had suffered a lot in prison and was very weak. We decided to move carefully and rest often.
When I saw Minette in prison, I was really surprised.
She looked much worse than I expected—her cheeks were thin, her eyes shaky, and her hands trembled, probably from alcohol withdrawal.
On our way back to the Empire, I learned that Minette got close to Padva to stop him from becoming emperor.
She used her status as his fiancée to get information and help the princess’s side from inside when the struggle began.
Minette was a key member of the princess’s side.
That was a big shock.
‘Wait, are you really going to marry my brother?’
‘Oh, how did you know?’
‘So you want to marry the prince and have an affair with Duke Bendrix?’
‘Is that bad?’
In the palace, Minette really seemed like a noble lady enjoying a love triangle with two powerful men.
But actually, she only ever thought about Ariadna.
…Even after Aria was already dead.
‘Isn’t that too loyal?’
If she was engaged to Padva, shouldn’t she have chosen his side, or at least supported a new successor to go against him?
The assassination attempt was Minette’s own decision.
After the engagement, Padva relaxed, so she thought she could do it herself. Maybe her anger at Padva or her guilt toward Aria clouded her judgment.
‘Wasn’t she scared of being executed?’
…Minette’s close aides told me all this to show her loyalty and faithfulness, not knowing I was a clone.
I felt very complicated.
‘I can’t take it anymore. I… I want to live…’
This is what Minette confessed to Aria right before the last battle.
Honestly, I was disappointed.
While Aria was bearing everything alone, even A-rank mental Eshafe Minette tried to run away.
But Aria still let her return to the Empire.
Aria wanted Minette to go home and live a peaceful life.
But after Aria died, Minette risked her life for Aria. It was strange.
I wondered what Aria would have thought.
‘Watch out…!’
Even knowing I was a clone, Minette had thrown herself to protect me from a bullet.
If Nocturne hadn’t stopped it, she might have died before even escaping.
‘It looked like she moved without thinking…’
In the palace, Minette always said mean things to me, but when I was almost poisoned, she saved me.
She probably felt confused, with mixed feelings about me…
‘She must be thirsty.’
I grabbed a water bottle and went to Minette.
“Minette.”
She jumped a little and turned to look at me.
“Are you thirsty? Drink this.”
But Minette’s reaction was strange.
She stared at me for a moment, then suddenly walked up and hugged me tight.
“M-Minette?”
I only had time to call her name, but then I felt her body shaking.
Wait, is she crying?
Minette whispered in my ear,
“I’m sorry.”
“W-What for?”
“In the palace, I was so mean to you…”
Minette sobbed and couldn’t finish her sentence.
Surprised, I patted her back and looked at Nocturne behind her, asking with my eyes what was going on. But Nocturne only shrugged.
What did they talk about to make Minette act like this… Oh.
‘Maybe she found out that, when I was in the palace, I had no Cambiata memories and wasn’t following Padva’s orders?’
If so, maybe she felt guilty toward me.
But I don’t remember her being that mean in the palace…
‘Duke Bendrix is a great catch. You should find someone better. For example…’
‘I get annoyed, but seeing your face twist makes me feel better.’
…Hmm, maybe I’m wrong.
I awkwardly changed my mind as I remembered the past.
“I’m fine, so sit here first.”
I calmed her and made her sit down. I didn’t want her to fall while crying.
As she sat, I patted her back, and Minette cried,
“I’m sorry. For everything… I was such a fool.”
“It’s okay. I barely remember now.”
“In the palace, on the battlefield…”
I started to answer automatically, but stopped. I couldn’t answer about the battlefield.
“What happened on the battlefield isn’t for me to talk about.”
“…”
“That’s between you and Aria.”
Minette closed her mouth and looked at me with a sad, complicated face.
Her already wet silver eyes looked even more pitiful. I felt bad, but there was nothing I could do.
I’m just a clone. Aria is already gone.
I don’t deserve to be forgiven in her place.
“…But.”
After a long pause, Minette carefully asked,
“You know what Aria used to think, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me, when I ran away from the battlefield, what did Aria think?”
“…”
Minette’s face fell and she gave a bitter smile.
“She must have been disappointed, right? Didn’t she think I was a coward?”
“Not at all.”
I shook my head right away and added carefully,
“Of course, she was a little sad. But Aria wasn’t herself at that time either…”
Hearing this, Minette’s face grew even gloomier.
I suddenly felt nervous and tried to find something comforting to say.
“But Aria really wished for your happiness.”
“…”
“So don’t be stuck in the past. Be happy, for Aria’s sake too.”
…I think it’s okay to say that. Aria would have wanted to say this too.
At that moment, Minette hugged me again.
“Thank you.”
“…”
“Thank you so much for coming… really…”
Minette kept crying and repeating how grateful she was.
She must have been really thankful that I saved her from prison.
No wonder. How scared she must have been, waiting for execution.
Seeing her like this made my heart hurt.
Maybe the feelings left in my mind from Aria, who treasured her as a friend, were affecting me.
I hugged her back and spoke gently.
“It’s the least I could do.”
“…”
“You went through a lot, Minette.”
“Huuu…”
…Then Minette cried even harder.
I was trying to comfort her, but still…
In the end, it took a long time for Minette to finally calm down.
