CHAPTER 77…………………………………………………..
I was disappointed when I received Lancelot’s letter, but that feeling quickly faded.
It was because Cassius, whom I had been waiting for, had returned.
Since his office was nearby, I could have gone to meet him quickly, but I couldn’t bring myself to step outside the room.
“What should I say?”
Weren’t you about to ask me to go out with you?
It felt strange even to ask it like that.
There were so many things I wanted to talk about with him. I had to tell him about the information that had flowed out when the Magetower Lord intruded, and I also wanted to ask him about my diary.
As I prioritized what to talk about first, the door suddenly swung open.
Cassius stood there, looking like he had hurried over.
“Your Highness?”
He stepped forward briskly.
“Sonia! Are you alright?”
He was in his traveling clothes. Seeing him come as soon as he arrived in the kingdom because he was worried about me made my heart tighten a little.
I couldn’t decide what to say to Cassius, which was why I hadn’t stepped outside yet. But the moment I saw him, my worries vanished, and words came naturally.
“You were worried about me? I’m fine.”
He let out a low sigh, as if relieved.
“I heard that the princess was attacked by a merchant she had summoned. I will hold the princess accountable.”
Sertina must be troubled. Based on my story, it would be best to leave her alone until she investigates and makes a decision.
“It’s already been handled.”
“You don’t have to shield the princess, Sonia.”
“No, rather, I wanted to hear your story, Your Highness. You’ve been traveling far, after all.”
I wasn’t trying to avoid the topic—I meant it sincerely. I hadn’t seen him for a week, and it felt wrong to talk about anything else.
“Did your journey go well?”
He smiled brightly and extended both hands.
“You’re impossible, Sonia.”
He chuckled and stepped closer, pulling me into his arms.
“Welcome back.”
His strong arms wrapped around my waist.
I liked the feeling of being firmly supported, so I nestled closer into him. Right now, I was happy just to have him by my side, without saying a word.
Quietly, I welcomed his return.
After asking each other about our well-being, Cassius suggested we move to his office for a longer conversation. Soon after, he summoned me, and I went to his office.
By then, he had changed into his clerical robes.
“I heard the basics from Michael. The intruder was someone from the Magetower?”
He must have kept other details secret. I answered, thinking that.
“Yes. He revealed himself as the Red Dragon.”
Since the kingdom managed the Magetower, Cassius knew who the Red Dragon referred to.
“The person using that title is the Magetower Lord. I haven’t seen him personally, but I understand he possesses psychic abilities like mine.”
“That’s right. He seemed to have possessed someone else’s body to enter the kingdom. He also claimed he created the Omega Fever.”
I expected him to be shocked, but surprisingly, Cassius remained calm.
Aren’t you surprised?
His indifferent reaction was so unexpected that I felt flustered. Noticing my change in expression, he smiled faintly.
“I suspected as much. I found traces of alchemy in the Sanctuary of Healing.”
He continued to explain.
“And it was forbidden alchemy. The shackled Magetower Lord alone couldn’t have done it; he probably has accomplices in the empire.”
It felt like the scattered pieces of a puzzle were coming together. The person closely connected to the Magetower Lord now was Shane, and I knew the details of their dealings.
To tell him, I would have to explain the story from my past life.
I promised I’d tell someday.
Now, when the enemies and allies were clearly defined, seemed like the right time.
“I want to tell Your Highness my story.”
“What kind of…?”
“Hmm, it’ll probably sound strange to you. Please prepare yourself.”
He adjusted his posture.
“I’m ready to listen.”
“I might speak in a way that insults the gods.”
Now I knew this world truly existed.
But in my past life, it had just been a story in a book.
There, my first blasphemous remark already came out.
“Will you still listen?”
“Yes.”
He seemed to have already resolved to believe me, even before I had started.
If I had ill intentions, he would probably be completely fooled—there was not a hint of suspicion in him.
“Be a little wary. What if I have bad intentions?”
“It’s fine to be fooled by you, Sonia.”
“I’m not joking. What if I were a heretic planning to brainwash you and turn you into a fallen priest?”
“Then let’s see you become the head of heretics instead.”
“Say that, and you might incur divine punishment.”
Cassius looked at me steadily.
“Even if I die, I am not afraid, as long as you are with me, Sonia.”
“I’m not planning to die, you know?”
“Then let’s pray earnestly to the gods for forgiveness.”
Thanks to his playful words, I felt at ease and could begin my story comfortably.
I began telling him the story of my past life, which I had forgotten after being reborn as Sonia.
That I could read ancient divine texts and knew the relationship between the Magetower and Shane.
Can’t mention the genre stuff!
I skipped over the fact that it was a depraved BL novel for adults and explained about the important characters.
Cassius calmly listened to my absurd story that I had read in a book.
When I mentioned that in the original story I was supposed to die at Schwartz’s hands, he clenched his fist tightly.
“Grand Duke Lundmier, how dare he…!”
“It wasn’t real, Your Highness. It’s just in the book.”
“Even now, it’s the same. Do you know the expression he makes whenever he sees Sonia?”
“His expression?”
I had no idea.
“Like a dog in heat.”
It was strange to hear such harsh words from him, as he usually spoke gently.
“R-Really?”
“Not only greedy but also evil.”
I recalled Schwartz’s expression. In front of me, he had shown a reassuring smile instead of a frightening one. It was Lloyd and Shane who had stared with a terrifying gaze.
This could make Your Highness consider the emperor an enemy.
Even now, our relationship wasn’t perfect, but the real enemies were elsewhere.
“First of all, the enemy isn’t the Grand Duke. The problem is the alliance between the Magetower Lord and Prince Shane!”
Cassius unclenched his fist. I told him about the deal between the Magetower Lord and Shane: that Shane promised to lift the Magetower’s bindings if he became emperor.
“That’s all I have to say. It might sound strange, but it’s all true. You can read my mind to check if you want.”
I reached out my hand, inviting him to read my mind.
“I already believe your story, Sonia.”
“Doesn’t it seem suspicious? Being born with memories from a past life is strange enough.”
“Sonia prayed to the gods every day during her apprenticeship. If she were truly evil, the gods would have already punished her.”
Now that I think about it, that’s true.
I often grumbled to the gods about my past life and why I had been reborn as Sonia.
“Also, because Sonia retained memories from her past life, she became a priest and gained healing powers.”
“That’s right.”
“Thanks to that, I survived the fever. I think it was all part of the gods’ plan. I want to thank them for guiding Sonia here.”
Hearing Cassius say that somehow made it feel sacred.
Indeed, not everyone awakens divine power, even if they aspire to be a priest.
That I received exactly the healing power I needed might have been part of the gods’ grand plan.
I’ve been complaining lately, but thank you!
I whispered a short prayer in my heart. After telling him everything, my goal became clearer.
“I want to resolve the Omega Fever.”
He gave a sly smile.
“I’ll help you.”
Having Cassius with me felt reassuring.
It seemed that the Omega Fever was created by Magetower Lord Lloyd, with assistance from Shane on the empire’s side. While the outline of the incident was clear, we couldn’t accuse them immediately.
The kingdom managed the Magetower, but the empire also had the right to intervene. Without solid evidence, even Prince Shane couldn’t be dragged in.
However, unlike in the past, I now knew what they had done, so we could track them carefully.
Cassius formed a squad, centered on Isaac, to investigate the Omega Fever. He instructed them to follow the trail, so information would gradually accumulate.
After some time, Sertina, who had been quiet for a while, summoned me.
“Your Highness, what is it?”
Sertina handed me a document with something written on it. I accepted it absentmindedly and read it.
“This is…”
