Chapter 48: 48

I didn’t know what time it was, but it was dark outside, and so I wondered if he was still eating dinner.

Of course, what was more questionable than that was the part saying ‘Fold the postcard in half’.

‘Is it imperial court etiquette?’

I meekly folded the postcard in half. Then, fire and light erupted from the stiff paper.

Almost at the same time as the bright light faded, a knock was heard behind my back.

“Princess, you are awake.”

It was Nike’s voice. 

How did he know I was awake?

‘…Oh, maybe it’s magic?’

Come to think of it, Alan, the beast, did not know how to use magic.

So if he was going to leave me with a magic postcard, he must have had Nike do it.

‘If I fold the postcard, Nike seems to be informed. Magic is always amazing.’

I straightened my messy hair and opened the door.

Nike looked at me and bowed his head. His attitude was polite, but the voice that followed was stern as always.

“You woke up just in time! The Duke, Pedro, and Hugo are having dinner in the dining room.”

“Now? But it’s so late…”

“They didn’t eat because they were afraid that the Princess would wake up, so they waited. I thought you would be asleep until tomorrow morning for some reason, so I suggested they eat first.”

If that was true, somehow I felt sorry.

As I scratched my head awkwardly, Nike shook his hand in a hurry.

“Ah, there is absolutely no need for the Princess to worry about it. That…”

“Can you guide me?”

I hurriedly changed the topic because if I left it alone, the useless words would go on longer.

Nike took the lead without hesitation. He seemed to know the structure of the separate palace well. 

As I followed him, I glanced at the hallway that was lit with magic stones.

The separate palace was too beautiful. Delicate ornaments like handmade lace, ceiling paintings depicting gods above the clouds, pastel-toned floral wallpaper….

The splendor that was completely different from the old-fashioned duke’s castle made my eyes hurt.

‘If a separate palace is like this, then why is the Imperial Palace not decorated at all?’

The Imperial Palace, which had no decorations in it, was closer to a temple than a palace.

I didn’t know because I had never been to a temple, but maybe it was simpler than that.

‘Is it the emperor’s taste?’

At that time, Nike stopped in front of the door engraved with a vine.

“We’re here, Princess.”

Belatedly, I adjusted my clothes and pondered the words of an apology.

As soon as I enter, I should say sorry for waking up late. 

‘Which is better, a smiling face or a gloomy face?’

But the moment Nike pulled the doorknob, the line I was preparing for was completely forgotten.

A loud shout was heard from inside the dining room.

“That doesn’t make sense!”

The atmosphere was somehow unusual.

I hurriedly grabbed the doorknob and whispered to Nike.

“Thank you for taking me here.”

Nike understood at once what I meant – to say goodbye and step aside.

With the exception of his many words, he was a very quick-witted servant.

I peered into the dining room through the gap in the door which was about a span.

Alan, Pedro and Hugo sat around the dinner table.

To be precise, Hugo stood upright. His chair was pushed out at an angle as if he got up in a hurry.

I thought I heard it wrong, but I didn’t. 

It must have been Hugo who had been yelling hotly just before.

“I hate to agree with this brat, but I don’t think so either, Father.”

Pedro, who was scratching his curly hair in a relaxed position, pointed his thumb at his brother.

“His name… was it BeniBeni? Bringing him into our family is a bit…”

Oh, that was it. 

Apparently, opinions were divided on the issue of Benny’s guardianship.

Alan looked at his sons without answering. He seemed to be telling them to keep talking. 

Hugo clenched the cup so tightly that it could be seen from afar.

“Is this the Emperor’s order?”

He didn’t even put ‘Her Majesty’ before saying ‘emperor’, and he spoke rudely enough.

I hurriedly looked around to see if anyone heard it.

Fortunately, there was not a single servant serving the meal.

Seeing that even the hallway I was standing in was coldly empty, it seemed that the servants had already been dismissed in advance.

“How long do you have to be swayed by the Emperor?”

Hugo complained violently. 

I was nervous because I was afraid that the people of the Imperial Palace might pass by.

“It is our House Bauner that protects the empire. It’s not the imperial family that creates barriers that will break anyway.”

“Hey.”

Pedro glanced at Hugo as if hinting to him to lower his voice.

That was true. It was a bit too much.

Even I sensed a feeling of treason from Hugo’s remarks.

Alan, who had been quietly resting his chin on his hand, finally spoke.

“The gladiator who wins a carnival event usually becomes the guardian of the family that sponsored him.”

His remarks were very sensible and did not fit the current situation.

“You wouldn’t not know that custom.”

A heavy silence passed. 

Even me, as I quietly peered into the dining room, felt suffocated.

Crack.

Then a sharp rupture sound rang through the dining room.

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I couldn’t see it well from a distance, but I could tell by the feeling.

The glass that Hugo was holding cracked. 

I didn’t know how such strength came from him, who was weak.

“…I heard that only Father opposed the execution of that monster.”

I was so startled that I almost screamed. 

After covering my mouth with the palm of my hand, I pondered his words.

‘Benny was going to be executed?’

…No. It was shocking, but when I thought about it, there was no way that such a story could not have come out.

To borrow the emperor’s words, Benny was an unidentified ‘evil spirit boy’.

A powerful being that even the magic of the spirit does not work on.

So, it wasn’t strange if all the members of the imperial family were desperate to kill him.

“If you don’t kill him and use him wisely, he might one day save the empire from crisis.  I understood up to that point. But, Father, you’re going to make him the guardian of House Bauner, not in any other family?”

“Yeah, there’s no one else in the empire like Bauner.”

No matter how much Hugo raised his voice, Alan always stayed quiet.

“It’s impossible for the imperial family to take charge of Benimus. As you know, the magic of the imperial family does not work against evil spirits. Didn’t he escape from the Imperial Palace with his own strength yesterday?”

“Then why does our family have to take the risk?”

“Because it’s worth it.”

“What’s the value of such a monster?”

Hugo’s voice was hoarse.

“Father, I’d rather bring the evil spirit that is kept in the 1st Magic Tower. Benimus is different from the normal evil spirits. He’s much more dangerous…!”

“Benimus has infinite potential. If the imperial family finds a way to control Benimus, it will only bring more power.”

Alan looked at his second son with a cold gaze.

“Hugo, you wouldn’t want that either.”

Hugo shut his mouth. Alan took the opportunity to speak slowly.

“It’s the same for me that I don’t want to be swayed by the imperial family forever. Hugo, in order to get out of this situation, I need to get more power. Even at risk.”

Alan’s argument was reasonable. The problem was that it was too straightforward.

Hugo couldn’t quite comprehend his words.

As I expected, Hugo clenched both of his hands that were resting on the table, as if his anger had not been resolved.

“What if Lily is in danger?” 

Contrary to his usual relaxed appearance, Hugo’s expression was terrifying even seen from a distance.

Was he someone who could show his emotions like that?

“Father, can you guarantee that Lily will be safe?”

“Yes.”

Alan answered very simply. 

Hugo’s eyes widened, as if his attitude only fueled his anger.

“How…!”

“Lily has me.”

Hugo didn’t respond. It was probably because Alan’s words were too right.

Hugo took a deep breath, as if resentful for a while, then chewed his words and spit it out.

“…He is a monster. It’s just covered in human skin, but inside, it’s just the evil spirit.”

I flinched, my shoulders trembled involuntarily.

‘A monster covered in human skin…’

Am I like that to Hugo?

“Father and older brother are beasts, so even if he threatens Lily, you can protect her well enough. But I…!”

Then Alan slowly raised his hand to interrupt Hugo.

Contrary to my expectations that he would make a major announcement, he beckoned towards me.

“Lily, come in.”

…He already knew I was here.

I hurriedly opened the door. Then Hugo saw me and was startled.

He bit his lip and glared resentfully at Pedro, who was sitting opposite him.

“Why are you doing this to me? You didn’t even give me a chance to talk.”

Pedro said so and shrugged his shoulders.

Perhaps because he was a beast, Alan and Pedro both seemed to have already noticed my presence.

Alan got up from his seat and approached me.

His eyes, as he knelt down on one knee and made eye contact, were friendly as always.

“Did you sleep well?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s great. I was worried that the bed would be uncomfortable.”

Alan hugged me and returned to his place.

When we arrived at the table, Hugo’s face was clearly visible.

He covered his red hot face with the back of his hand like a person who couldn’t see anything.

It would be difficult.

Hugo didn’t know that I am of the same race as Benny, but he knew that I cared about him.

However, Hugo turned around, knowing that it would be worse if he tried to fix it now.

“…I’ll excuse myself first.”

When Hugo left, the large dinner hall went quiet.

Pedro, who was flipping his curly hair around, groaned and broke the silence.

“Father, I always follow the head of the family’s decisions, but I do not understand this very well. And it’s not like Father.”

“It has already been decided.”

That was all Alan’s answer.

Without further explanation, he cut a slice of the beef steak and shoved it into my mouth.

I was hungry, but I couldn’t eat it at all.

It was because I was the reason this conflict between the father and sons arose.

‘Saying he doesn’t want to be swayed by the imperial family anymore is just an excuse.’

It was purely because of me that Alan made Benny a guardian.

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