Chapter 51: 51

“Do you think that is the reason evil spirits attack people?”

Alan frowned and threw those words.

There seemed to be no interest in monster stories at all.

Igdrasil shrugged slightly.

“Let’s think about it. Where did the mysterious evil spirit boy come from?”

“The evil spirit is a failure that was created in the process of creating humans, beasts, and spirits by the three gods and siblings.”

Alan gave an explanation carelessly.

“Isn’t that the most likely hypothesis?”

“It’s just a hypothesis.”

Igdrasil let out a wild laugh. 

Alan was frowning the whole time, as if he didn’t like her attitude.

“I did not come to Your Majesty to have a leisurely chat. I’m here to hear the answer to my request.”

Alan looked straight up at the Emperor.

“In return for taking Benimus to the duchy, please ensure my daughter’s safety in the Imperial House.”

“Ah, right. That’s what you’re talking about…”

Igdrasil raised a wet fingertip and slowly pointed towards me.

I crouched down in surprise, but it seemed it was already too late.

“First of all, I think we should get rid of those mice.”

Hugo clicked his tongue and stepped away from the pillar.

Alan was a little startled, as he hadn’t noticed us until Igdrasil spoke.

In an awkward atmosphere, only Igdrasil laughed out loud as if she was having a lot of fun.

“Prince Hugo, you are very good at concealing magic. You are truly an archmage recognized by me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I wanted to quickly apologize before the timing was too late.

I tried to apologize to both Alan and the emperor, but somehow my gaze kept shifting to Alan alone.

Then Hugo stopped in front of me. 

“I asked her to come, Father. Lily is not at fault.”

Alan sighed and walked over to me.

He reached out towards my head. I reflexively closed my eyes.

No matter how much Alan cared for his daughter, I thought I had nothing to say even if he hit me this time.

Unexpectedly, Alan gently stroked my hair instead of slapping me.

“It’s okay. From now on, don’t come secretly, just tell me.”

Alan took me into his arms as usual and headed to the exit while leaving only a cold word to the emperor.

“I will send you the rest by letter, Your Majesty.”

It was not strange if the emperor were to run wild on the road, saying it was rude, but she was still smiling all over, shrugging her wide shoulders.

“Why don’t you all come to the luncheon tomorrow? I want to share many stories with your daughter.”

Alan walked out of the tower without answering as if he had heard a ridiculous offer.

The roaring laughter of the emperor quickly faded away.

***

“This, this is great. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Duke cherish someone so much.”

Igdrasil, who was left alone in the tower, couldn’t stop laughing.

She had lived for a long time, but it was an interesting sight that drew her taste buds after a while.

She sat with her arms crossed and spoke to an old friend.

“Don’t you think so too?” 

Igdrasil’s gaze was directed at the evil monster in the well.

Her eyes were softer than when she treated her family.

If her subordinates had seen this, they would have been stunned.

“To think he’d asked me to guarantee the safety of his daughter in return for taking charge of the evil spirit boy in charge of the House Bauner. In other words, using this as an excuse to maintain the alliance between the Imperial House and the House Bauner. He’s indeed working hard for his daughter.”

Igdrasil sighed, causing a slight ripple in the well.

Whoo, the evil spirit groaned hatefully, and soon became quiet.

Igdrasil nodded as if it was an agreement.

“It’s impossible for me to graciously accept his request. We always continued our alliance with the duchy through marriage, and there has never been a contract like this before. Besides…”

Igdrasil raised one corner of her mouth and whispered.

“The Princess is the same kind as the evil spirit boy.”

Her words were full of conviction, not speculation.

“Did the Duke tell me? No, it can’t be. I was just convinced from what I saw today.”

No matter how much Igdrasil talked, the evil spirit in the well did not answer.

Nevertheless, she took her musings more seriously than ever.

“Even if I didn’t force it, the Duke was in a situation where he had to protect the evil spirit boy anyway. He shouldn’t ask me for that price. Wouldn’t it be better for the Crown Prince and Princess to get married to strengthen the alliance?”

As soon as the story about marriage came out, Igdrasil’s tone increased.

“The Crown Prince is not lacking in position for the Princess. Isn’t that a great idea? If I get the Princess like that, the evil spirit boy will also follow as a bonus…”

Igdrasil paused for a moment before muttering softly.

“…Maybe my long-cherished dream will come true.”

While lost in thought, Igdrasil’s hair flew down and spread over the water.

Ugh, the evil spirit let out a suppressed groan as if it hated it.

Igdrasil didn’t mind the horrific sound, but patted her chin and snapped her finger.

“Ah! I just remembered a good plan. Will you listen to it?”

Splash!

Without delay, as soon as Igdrasil had finished speaking, she threw herself into the well.

The water of the well shook like a wave, and the evil spirit roared like crazy.

Despite the noise, she gently pushed through in the water and approached the restrained evil spirit.

And whispered softly in the tattered monster’s ear.

As soon as she uttered her words, they were in a bubble, and no one could hear them.

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“……”

Igdrasil stayed in the water for a while before coming to the surface.

When she put her feet on the hinges, the evil spirit became silent again.

“Don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret, I told only you. So, what do you think?”

Of course, there was no answer. However, Igdrasil smiled brightly as if she had received the best response.

“You mean, I should do whatever I want. Thank you for listening to me today. As expected, it’s most comfortable to talk to you.”

Igdrasil looked into the deep well again, without even thinking about drying her wet body.

“You’ve been with me all my life, and you’ve been listening to my stories. That’s right….”

The fresh voice gradually dried up like burnt ashes.

“Since the old days when I tied you up and imprisoned you with my hands.”

Igdrasil lowered her eyes sadly. 

It was an expression that she did not show to anyone except the evil spirit deep in the well.

“You will hate me. Right?”

This time too, the tone was close to certainty, not speculation.

Still no answer came back. Igdrasil laughed indifferently to it.

“You’re the only one I have.” 

The emperor left the tower after a while, and the prison where the monster was kept was silent again.

***

Knock knock. 

A knock on the door woke me up.

I rubbed my eyes and poked my head out of the blanket.

“Come on in…”

The door opened, but the room was strangely quiet.

Usually, as soon as the larks entered, they’d ask, ‘Did you sleep well?’ Or muttered, ‘Did you sleep peacefully?’

‘Oh right. I’m in the Imperial Palace now.’ 

I realized that fact too late and jumped up.

A plump maid with her hair neatly tied caught my eyes.

She bowed her knees to greet me and set the morning tea down on the table.

I rubbed my blurred eyes and said thank you as usual.

“…Thank you.”

Then the maid tilted her head as if I was rather strange.

She offered me a cup of tea without saying a word.

It was lavender tea. 

I put my lips on the mug, but I couldn’t drink it properly and almost spit it out.

“Did you have a good dream?”

The maid made a child’s voice without opening her mouth.

Startled, I froze on the spot.

‘Have I heard of a ghost?’

Not knowing how to react, I swallowed dry saliva.

Should I tell the church? Or to Her Majesty the emperor…

“What’s wrong?”

“What’s going on?”

Then, from behind the maid’s puffy skirt, a round child’s head popped out.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

Another head popped out. 

Three children were hiding behind the maid.

I blinked and stroked my chest, thinking, ‘Phew’. It wasn’t a ghost.

The children from behind the maid babbled like morning birds.

“Princess, did you sleep well?”

“Did you sleep well?”

“We slept well.”

The three children were identical in appearance as well as voices.

‘Are they triplets…?’

White hair and golden eyes. 

I felt familiarity with this combination, so I tried to remember.

‘…Ah. No way.’

Her Majesty’s luminous gray hair flashed through my head.

The triplets that surrounded my bed had the same hair color as Igdrasil.

“The princess didn’t answer.”

“Why?”

“Did we surprise you?”

The children were flawless from the very beginning.

I swallowed dry saliva and confirmed their identity.

“Uhmm… who are you?”

“Huh?”

As if it was the first time in the world they had heard such a question, three pairs of golden eyes rolled around.

“What should we do? Will she recognize it if we talk about our mom?”

“That’s right, our mom!”

The children turned their heads to me and shouted together.

“Our mother is the Emperor!”

…It was as I expected. 

The children in front of me were the royal family, more precisely, the princes and the princess.

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