~Chapter 69~
“Let go of Camarin, Lady Winterfall.”
“……”
Erman smiled gently as he urged her. Amel, still holding back her anger, finally released Camarin. The little owl darted away and quickly hid behind Erman’s back.
『D-don’t be mad. I didn’t know it was a secret.』
“Please don’t do anything reckless to His Grace, the Duke.”
“I don’t know what you mean by reckless, but I won’t. I’m not some jealous maniac like someone else.”
“Wow, thank you. Not that His Highness would ever be jealous of the Duke in the first place.”
“That’s true.”
Amel found it hard to keep a straight face as Erman grinned at her. Forcing a polite smile, she continued the conversation.
“Today I feel like I’ve seen many new sides of Your Highness. Especially your overflowing confidence—I’m envious. Can’t you show that side of yourself more often?”
“More often, huh…”
Repeating her words, Erman stretched, interlacing his fingers and raising his hands high.
“Too many eyes are watching in daily life.”
“That should be a good thing. If His Majesty knows your true skills, wouldn’t he support you even more strongly?”
At the mention of the Emperor, Erman looked directly at her. Then he turned the talk back into a joke.
“Hmm… well, since you’ll be part of the royal family anyway, I can share things like this—”
“I told you, I have no intention of becoming Crown Princess!”
Amel snapped without meaning to, anger rising at his constant teasing.
“Alright, if you insist, then consider it just…”
Erman laughed for a while at her reaction, then said one word:
“A favor.”
“……”
“Well, I guess I feel more comfortable with you now. A few jokes about being Crown Princess, and you already get worked up.”
At last, Amel felt they could have a serious conversation.
“My father sees my talent as a double-edged sword. It could strengthen the Empire and raise its glory, but all that can only happen after succession. And Father would never abdicate willingly. Which means… he’ll never see that glorious future for himself.”
The Emperor, Gaspar, was ambitious, but he was no virtuous ruler. His endless wars, the conquest of the Holy Kingdom, the suppression of demons and Rifts—none of it was for the people. It was all for his own achievements.
“He doesn’t need a future he won’t live to see. So, his interest in my talent has already faded. Maybe he even resents it—because it could threaten his throne.”
“…That’s true.”
Amel thought of what Gaspar had done to Christan. Even after naming him Crown Prince, Gaspar had gone so far as to suppress his own much younger half-brother. It wasn’t strange that he would do the same to his own son.
“So how could I openly show my power? I just live as I must. And sometimes, when I get rare chances like this…”
Erman lifted his head. Another monster crawled out of the Rift—only to collapse in flames with a single flick of his hand.
“…I let loose a little. When no one’s watching. Feels good, right?”
Amel stared at him with disbelief. She wanted to believe he was speaking ironically. How could living while suppressing one’s gifts ever be “good”?
“That’s only a loss for you, Your Highness. In fact, there’s nothing to gain at all.”
“Maybe so, but…”
His gray eyes wavered slightly, eyes that reminded her of someone else—eyes that mirrored Christan’s.
Christan had once run away from Gaspar’s oppression, but after meeting Amel, he had chosen to fight back.
Perhaps Erman, who seemed even more evasive, could change too?
“Does the Marquis of Esmeralda think the same way as you?”
“My grandfather? Why bring him up?”
“He’s your maternal grandfather. If his only grandson is forced to suppress his gifts, surely he’s said something about it?”
The more she spoke, the more frustrated she felt. Something was missing—she could sense it. But it was too late to take back her words.
“……”
Erman stared at her for a long moment, then turned back to face forward. His lips moved quietly.
“Amelie.”
What he said next struck her harder than she expected.
“You seem desperate to earn His Majesty’s approval.”
“W-what?”
Amel was taken aback. Erman continued without pause.
“I know you’ve been doing everything you can to gain my father’s recognition. Of course, your efforts deserve it. But not everyone thinks like you.”
“What are you trying to say…?”
“When expectations are too high, disappointment grows too. I don’t need recognition from many people. I’m satisfied knowing my own worth. Maybe you should do the same, instead of obsessing over my father’s approval.”
“What, like becoming Crown Princess even though I’m a witch?”
She couldn’t stop herself from snapping. It felt too easy for him to say such things when it wasn’t his life on the line.
Still, hadn’t she done the same to him just moments ago?
Erman only smiled kindly.
“Well, that’s one option… but what I really mean is—”
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, there was a sound—someone approaching. A human presence, not a monster.
‘Is the Duke coming back up?’
Amel tilted her head. No, it didn’t feel like Christan—he was too skilled at hiding his presence.
‘If not him… then who?’
Her gaze locked on the door. Soon, a brown-haired knight appeared from the staircase and walked toward them.
“Someone’s coming.”
“Who?”
The man wore the uniform of the Imperial Knights, but neither Erman nor Amel recognized him by face. Without hesitation, he opened the door and entered with a calm expression.
“Your Highness! I am Brown Jos, Imperial Knight Corps. So here you are.”
“Yeah, I stayed here while the others cleared the monsters below. But why are you up here already? I can still hear fighting.”
“I was worried for Your Highness’s safety at the Rift’s core, so I hurried up. But also…”
Brown’s unpleasant gaze fixed on Amel, sharp and hostile.
‘What? Why is he looking at me like that?’
Amel widened her eyes at him in return. He quickly averted his gaze and stepped closer to Erman.
“…So the Duke of Bellerophon is absent right now?”
“Yes. He went down to guide the knights. Did you pass him on the way?”
Erman answered casually, unaware of the danger.
Then—his body suddenly collapsed.
Thud!
“…?”
Amel stared in shock as Erman fell. Brown had struck him sharply on the neck, knocking him out cold.
The knight glared at Amel as if she were a criminal.
Then his furious voice rang out, echoing through the fortress.
“The witch is trying to harm His Highness, the Crown Prince!”
