CHAPTER 54……
: Because I’m Not a Good Person
he next day.
The funerals of Jeremy and Erpia were held simultaneously.
Everyone in the royal palace wore black mourning clothes.
Celia was no exception.
Dressed in a black dress, Celia looked down with an indifferent expression at the sight of Jeremy’s and Erpia’s coffins being placed side by side next to the tomb of the deceased emperor.
“Why didn’t the Duke of Sam attend the royal family’s funeral even though he is in the palace?”
“…There must be some reason for that.”
Behind Celia, the ministers whispered among themselves.
“Who would have thought that the Abelon royal family, which has lasted for hundreds of years, would come to such a meaningless end? And to think it was murder.”
“Surely it must be the wrath of the gods. Perhaps it’s the price someone incapable paid for coveting the throne.”
“Shh. Everyone, be quiet. It’s a funeral.”
Celia glanced at Dietrich standing beside her.
Dressed in a black uniform with lowered eyelashes, Dietrich was also the organizer of the funeral.
He seemed completely indifferent to the chatter around him.
As if he alone were left in a different world, detached and isolated.
Celia withdrew her gaze from Dietrich.
Since it was the death of a royal, a minister sent from the council recited a prayer.
“Though the flame of life is extinguished, may the soul be forever free. May all pain vanish, and may you enjoy the paradise granted in the embrace of God.”
When the minister’s prayer ended, palace knights, ministers, and even the palace maids lowered white bouquets they were holding onto the coffins one by one.
“Please go to a good place.”
“May you be happy there.”
They spoke words they did not mean.
Celia also placed the white bouquet she was holding onto Erpia’s coffin.
People, curious about what Celia would say, waited for her to continue.
The emperor who desired Celia was murdered, and soon after, his son was also killed after desiring Celia.
Rumors circulated throughout the palace that Celia might be a witch.
Celia had accidentally overheard rumors that Dietrich, her lover, might be killed because of her.
They were the ones who desired her silently, yet she did not understand why they called her a witch instead of themselves.
Celia ignored their words, but she forced herself to attend the funeral so as not to trouble Dietrich, with whom she was cooperating.
“Please.”
That was all Celia said. She added nothing further.
There were no words like “go to a good place” or “be happy.”
Why should she utter insincere words?
Was it enough just to show her face at the funeral?
She didn’t understand why she had to offer condolences when the people who tried to harm her were dead.
Celia turned her body as if she had finished what she came to do.
People whispered.
“Oh my.”
Dietrich silently watched Celia walk away.
As the funeral organizer, Dietrich had to remain until the funeral ended.
He wanted to stop Celia immediately, but he had no proper excuse to hold onto someone who must have been more uncomfortable here than anyone else.
So Dietrich had no choice but to quietly watch until Celia’s back disappeared from his sight.
Celia did not return to Dietrich’s mansion.
Instead, she wandered throughout the palace, listening to what people said.
Since she wore a black hat with a veil, hardly anyone recognized her.
“Will Duke Gredric ascend to the throne?”
“Who knows? Perhaps Duke Portman, the Swordmaster, will take the throne.”
“Now, Duke Cervantes is also in the palace. The genius magician who hadn’t shown his face at the palace for years has come for the throne, hasn’t he?”
Despite the gloomy atmosphere of the funeral, the servants spoke with excited voices.
Celia deliberately slowed her pace to eavesdrop on their conversations.
“Also, I heard the enthronement ceremony will be held as soon as the mourning period ends…”
While eavesdropping on the palace maids’ conversation, someone suddenly bumped into Celia with a loud thud.
Her black hat fell to the floor.
Celia’s silver hair spilled over her shoulders, revealing her hidden face.
She hurried to pick up the fallen hat.
But someone mercilessly crushed the hat with their shoe.
“Oh, sorry…”
The voice had not a hint of apology.
Celia’s gaze shifted to the owner of the shoe.
Long pink hair flowing like waves down to her waist.
Her blue eyes were full of hostility as she looked at Celia.
Celia recognized the woman.
She was the one who had confessed her love to Dietrich in front of his mansion.
When Celia said nothing, the woman curled her lips into a sneer and crushed the hat further with the heel of her shoe, ruining it completely.
Celia’s eyes darkened as she looked down.
“It’s already on the floor, so no need to be too upset.”
The woman spoke cheerfully, narrowing her eyes as she smiled.
Celia thought the fake smile resembled Illeon’s in some way.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Celia spoke informally, and the smile disappeared from the woman’s face.
“Don’t you know who I am?”
Celia stared the woman down and said,
“I don’t know who you are, but I know you have a nasty personality.”
“!”
The angry woman raised a hand to strike Celia, but Celia grabbed it with strong force.
“How dare you! Do you know who I am?!”
“Who you are doesn’t matter to me.”
Celia replied calmly.
“Is that so? Your foolishness might just cause your own downfall.”
The woman spoke with a voice full of sneers.
“You had no idea who I was and still dared to mess with me.”
“Messed with you? You’re the one who picked a fight with me when I was minding my own business.”
“An orphan from the streets, and yet you dare to talk back to a noble lady like me!”
The woman tried to slap Celia’s cheek with her free hand.
But before the hand could reach Celia’s cheek, someone grabbed it.
“Who dares!”
The woman turned around in surprise to see who grabbed her roughly clenched hand.
Long silver hair, close to gray, and clear blue eyes.
“Oh, brother?”
The woman gasped in surprise.
The person holding her wrist was none other than Illeon.
“Reina, you shouldn’t bully someone who’s done no wrong.”
Illeon’s gentle voice made Reina bite her lower lip as she shouted,
“Brother! That lowly one started it first…!”
“Reina.”
Illeon called his sister’s name softly with a kind expression.
“There’s a limit to how much I’ll tolerate your tyranny.”
“Brother!”
“I’ve been watching from the start. You were the one who started picking fights with Lady Celia, who was minding her own business.”
Reina huffed.
“Why don’t you go back to the palace? I have something to discuss with Lady Celia.”
“……”
Reina glared at Celia as if ready to kill her.
“Hurry up.”
Illeon urged, and Reina crushed the black hat one last time before leaving.
Celia looked down at the completely ruined hat instead of meeting Illeon’s eyes.
“Lady Celia, shall we talk somewhere quiet?”
“Why should I talk with you?”
Celia’s wary tone made Illeon lower his voice.
“You must. I know many things you don’t.”
Illeon smiled warmly at Celia.
Unlike his usual white, loose clothing, Illeon wore a black uniform, probably due to the funeral.
Celia thought that the black clothes suited him much better than the white, which contrasted with his dark inner nature.
“Do you like this outfit?”
When Celia didn’t take her eyes off his clothes, he asked simply.
“No. I just think it suits you well, Duke.”
Hearing her reply, Illeon smiled at the corner of his eyes and proposed,
“There are many watchful eyes here. Would you come to my palace?”
“No.”
“You’ll regret it.”
“I think I’d regret it more if I went to your palace.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re not a good person.”
Illeon tilted his head.
Following his movement, his long silver hair spilled over his black uniform.
He leaned close to Celia’s ear and whispered as if sharing a secret.
“Instead of ruining your beautiful face, I ruined the Crown Prince’s face, didn’t I? Then shouldn’t I be a good person to Lady Celia?”
Celia stepped back from Illeon and said,
“Thinking about ruining someone’s face means you’re not a good person.”
Finishing her words, she turned her back on him, as if she no longer deemed it worth talking.
Illeon wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind.
Startled, Celia tried to push him away, but Illeon spoke with a laugh in his voice near her ear.
“Tomorrow, you’ll see something very interesting.”
After saying that, Illeon slowly released his hold.
Celia shook her head and moved away from him.
Only the next day did Celia understand the meaning behind Illeon’s words.
In the imperial year 323, November 15.
The day after the royal funeral, a new emperor of Abelon was declared.
The new emperor was Illeon Gredric.
