Part 2 Chapter 48
“Please cover for me, please, please, please!”
I sent a desperate look toward the only person who could fix this disaster.
But instead of helping, Nike hesitated—then suddenly shoved me behind his back and declared:
“Father! She didn’t do this on purpose. She’s never dealt with anything like this before, and she’s not even in good health. She only overexerted herself because she wanted to impress you.”
…Huh?
Is this his ‘turn the crisis into an opportunity’ plan?
No way. He just looks like someone defending a woman who tried to assassinate his father.
“Hahaha! Of course~ There’s no way she knew what she was doing~ Honestly, I could tell she wasn’t used to things like this~”
“Yes, yes! But you have to admit, it’s sweet of her to want to do something for His Majesty~”
The two kindly old men, who had been left speechless by the chaos, hurried to patch things over as well.
The emperor said nothing.
He only stared silently at the poisonous mushroom that had almost gone into his mouth.
“M-Majesty… I-I’m sorry…!”
Peeking out nervously from behind Nike, I gave a tiny, trembling apology.
***
“Sniff, sniff…”
Later, in a small room, I lay curled on my side in pitiful floral-print pants, sniffling miserably.
At least I’d been forgiven for my unintentional attempt on the emperor’s life. But I’d been banned from helping with lunch preparation.
Which made sense. What if I slipped something into the food again…?
“Bania, let’s eat.”
Nike came to fetch me. When I sluggishly sat up, he looked startled and hurried over.
“Have you been crying?”
“No, just…”
“Don’t worry so much over nothing. Father’s fine.”
“…Okay.”
He sighed, took my cheeks in both hands, and met my eyes. After studying my sulky face for a moment, he chuckled softly.
“You’re cute.”
…Really? Out of all things, that’s what he says?
“Come on, let’s eat.”
He led me outside, where a splendid lunch was set on a table in the yard.
I sat down timidly beside him. The emperor, across from me, glanced at the bland patient’s meal placed in front of me and asked:
“Your stomach isn’t well?”
“Ah, yes…”
“This is a light mushroom stew, easy to digest. Try it.”
He ladled some into a bowl and set it before me himself. Nike immediately pushed it away.
“That won’t be necessary. She might get sick if she eats the wrong thing.”
…Excuse me? Rude?
If I annoy the emperor any further, I’ll really be doomed!
“I’d like to try it.”
“There’s no need to force yourself.”
Ignoring Nike, I lifted a spoonful and sipped.
“…Huh?”
My eyes widened in surprise.
I’d braced myself, thinking I’d swallow no matter what just to be polite. But instead—
The warm broth touched my tongue, and I found myself staring at the emperor.
He looked triumphant, as if he’d expected this reaction.
“It’s delicious, Your Majesty! Truly delicious!”
The subtle mushroom aroma, the gentle seasoning—
After months of choking down bland patient food, the flavor was heavenly.
My hands and mouth worked nonstop, making Nike gape.
“Is it really that good?”
“Yes! It’s amazing!”
“Haha! His Majesty’s cooking skills are shining today!”
“Indeed! This is the kind of meal you’d fight over, even if it killed you!”
“Everyone, eat up.”
Pleased, the emperor lifted his own bowl.
“…Hm? What’s that?”
A bowl of brown liquid.
He downed it in one gulp before starting on his food.
Later, I watched him fishing by the river and asked his physician, Mr. Lemon:
“Sir Lemon, what did His Majesty drink before the meal?”
“Before eating? Ah, that was a tonic for his stomach. The emperor’s had chronic digestive issues for years.”
“His stomach…?”
“Yes. A long-standing condition. He’s been taking medicine with every meal for over a decade now.”
“What?!”
“Stress causes both insomnia and stomach trouble. It was manageable when he was younger, but it’s gotten worse with age. I worry a lot.”
Stress…
I was speechless.
Mr. Lemon’s face twitched as he realized what I was thinking.
The source of all the emperor’s stress—
The notorious Duke of Bassenberg.
…My father.
And I’m his daughter.
“Ahem.”
Looking awkward, Mr. Lemon patted my shoulder comfortingly.
“Thank you for telling me. But… does Prince Nike not know about His Majesty’s condition?”
“The prince?”
In my previous life, I’d never heard a word about the emperor’s illness.
Had Nike just never told me? Or had he not known either…?
Most likely the latter.
If he’d known, he would have said something.
“His Majesty isn’t the type to tell his sons he’s unwell. And it’s not a life-threatening disease, strictly speaking.”
I glanced back.
Nike was repairing the emperor’s broken door with a hammer and nails, since it wouldn’t stay shut properly.
That tender-yet-detached son would never know unless someone told him.
The emperor and Nike—neither was good at bridging the distance between them.
“Your Majesty!”
I approached the emperor as he fished.
“Any bites yet?”
Sitting beside him, I asked. He gave me a glance, then turned back to the river.
“Tomorrow, at dawn, we’ll depart.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s inconvenient here. I understand why you came, but it was unnecessary. I’ve never opposed you. I don’t even have the right to.”
I blinked at him.
Then he spoke, his gaze heavy.
“I’ve always lived with guilt toward Nike. I decided his life for him.”
“….”
“Being emperor, or having my own reasons—none of that excuses it. I was the worst kind of father.”
It was the first time I’d heard him admit it out loud.
“I only want him to enjoy the freedom he never had because of me. To be happy. And even that desire is selfish, because it’s really to ease my own guilt. I’m a hypocrite.”
I stared at his profile.
Honestly, I could never excuse his past choices.
Allowing the academy’s unethical human experiments, sending his son in their place…
Even if “circumstances” forced him, it was still unforgivable.
But hearing him confess it with his own mouth… that was unexpected.
Most people hide their sins. Shift blame elsewhere.
I rose and stood behind him, choosing my words carefully.
“Your Majesty… you don’t have to bear all the guilt alone. Perhaps half of it belongs to my father.”
“….”
“I won’t say you weren’t at fault. But your sin was born from trying to prevent something worse. If not for my father, you wouldn’t have had to commit it at all.”
I gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Please stay healthy. Evil people always fall in the end. You should live to see that justice.”
The emperor gave a short, incredulous laugh at my ridiculous-sounding comfort.
***
Eye of the Mirror—Spring of Purification.
Power flowed through me for the first time in ages.
‘Hm. Not bad.’
As expected, my recovering body could handle it.
I’d decided as soon as I heard about his discomfort.
Chronic stomach illness caused by stress had no real cure.
His physician’s tonics were only temporary.
But the Spring of Purification could soothe it directly.
He wouldn’t even realize he’d been healed. But from tonight, he’d be able to eat comfortably.
“…You…”
The emperor turned, then froze.
“L-Lady Bania!”
What?
What do you mean, what?
I quickly wiped under my nose. Sticky red blood stained my fingers.
“Y-Your Majesty, wait!”
I frantically scrubbed at the blood.
“I’m fine! This happens when I’m tired. Nothing serious. Please don’t mention it to the others—they’ll only worry.”
“….”
“Our little secret!”
I winked.
The emperor just stared in shock—then roared:
“NIKE!!!”
Ha.
So much for secrets…
***
Alphonse stood in the yard, watching Bania inside the room.
“Don’t! I said don’t!”
She’d suddenly started nosebleeding, and Lemon was fussing over her while she pleaded desperately with Nike.
“I know my body! I’m fine, really—”
“Quiet!”
Alphonse jumped at Nike’s sharp tone.
The usually calm young man was furious, scolding his fiancée.
“Enough talking. Lie down, now.”
Startled, Bania obeyed. Only then did Lemon begin examining her properly.
Alphonse frowned, glaring at Nike.
What was with him?
This wasn’t the emotional type. And yet he was yelling at the girl he usually doted on like a precious princess.
…There had to be a reason.
“What did she mean, ‘don’t do it’?”
Alphonse asked.
Nike bit his lip, clenching and unclenching his fists as if torn.
“Nike.”
“She means… don’t regress.”
Alphonse froze.
That meant Bania knew he was an ability-user.
How could he reveal a secret more important than his life—even to a lover?
No. That wasn’t the issue now.
“Why are you hesitating? Would regression cure her?”
“….”
“Answer me!”
“…Yes. She overexerted herself using her power. If I take her back to before she used it, her body will recover.”
“…?”
Alphonse let out a strangled laugh.
Another shocking revelation.
The girl had been branded talentless and cast out—but she was gifted. And it was her ability that had ruined her body?
“Ha.”
Confused but struggling to keep calm, Alphonse pieced it together.
Bania.
An ability-user.
But every use harmed her body.
And Nike was furious because she’d risked herself, knowing that.
Which meant… what kind of ability had she used, bad enough to push her this far?
“Nike. Was Father ill?”
At that, Alphonse froze solid.
