Chapter 38

“Okay, but if you change your mind, tell me anytime.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Jayna answered, bowing her head.

“By the way, weren’t you surprised at the auction the other day?”

“No, it was okay because Hilvenzia-nim was there.”

“Hilvenzia Rotien… I don’t trust that woman. Be careful because I don’t know what she’s thinking. She’s an insidious person.”

Jayna replied, frowning her fine eyebrows.

“I have to be careful with any human being. But Hilvenzia-nim has helped me a lot. I don’t think she’s going to hurt me. If my beliefs are wrong, I’ll bear with it.”

“Though you took over his blood… you don’t resemble Diamide or Michael at all.”

Princess Elia smiled.

Although she had a negative view of Hilvenzia, the girl in front of her was willing to somehow try to defend that woman.

On the other hand, it was amusing for a girl of her age to try to persuade someone without offending them. These were features that she couldn’t see from Michael and Rosian.

‘The little lady is better than me.’

Everything is perfect, nothing she can’t do. She was revered as an imperial hero, but she also had weaknesses

She was perfect in everyone’s eyes, and there’s nothing she can do about it. She was revered as an imperial hero but what they don’t know is she also has a weakness.

‘It’s always difficult for her to deal with people.’

She’s a woman who doesn’t like people coming openly to her. It’s a serious crisis and an embarrassing situation for a quiet person like her, who doesn’t want to be bothered in the first place.

But it soon turned into comfort.

‘Equally young, but completely different from Rosian and Michael.’

Her nephew, Michael Bellaphanian, was pathetic and has no sympathy for the weak.

-Aunt? Are you proud of being old? Don’t look down on me, idiot!

Elia recalled the shock of meeting her nephew, whom she only met again after a few years.

A genius who learned magic without a teacher.

She took the time, out of her sister’s request to take a look at him because he was arrogant and wasn’t aware of how scary the world is.

-Swordsmen are all ignorant and strong, do you think you can handle this body that uses magic? When I beat the hell out of you, don’t nag me anymore!

Michael, running with fierce eyes, looked like a young beast.

So Elia taught him a lesson in a way similar to how she teaches a beast.

-Unfortunately, that won’t work.

-Hi-ik! Help! Hi-ik! Aak!

Shortly after holding Michael’s ankle with one hand at the edge of the cliff, Michael, looking down at the high cliff below, cried and eventually passed out.

People around them wondered if that was too much, but this was the only way to correct his eccentric personality. After that, Michael was very gentle to her every time she visits.

-Oh, you’re here, aunt…

Perhaps Michael has gone through a similar process with his uncle, Diamide.

Michael was just as gentle in front of Diamide as he treated her.

‘I thought it ended with Michael.’

Unfortunately, there was one more child who bothered Elia.

When Rosian saw how his older cousin had been beaten by Elia, Rosian bothered her differently.

-Mother, why do I have to learn swords? I don’t mean to speak ill of you, but I think it’s only a tool to hurt others…

Hearing about Rosian’s concern about swordsmanship training, Elia gave Rosian some time.

She thought it still early to think about his future or how he would contribute to the country as the grandson of the emperor.

But…

-Hey, you got it!

The child, who was afraid to hurt others, was shooting bugs with a gun the next day.

-Shall we go hunting for birds next time?

-That must be difficult.

Elia admonished Rosian, who was caught.

-Since you were born as the emperor’s grandson, you must fulfill your responsibilities as much as you enjoyed them. I have taught you swords for you were my son, but if you are willing, you can also try to reward this country with something else.

-Mother, can I be honest?

Rosian smiled innocently, bending his pretty eyes.

-I just want to play and eat! I hate studying or working, mother!

Rosian was punished that day, he was hanged upside down to a tree.

-Wahhh!

She knew very well that she was being harsh. She was aware that it’s also she should have to lead him to the right way through words.

But Rosian was a prince. Because he had to be different from other children, she pressed her sore heart and punished him. But…

-Your Majesty, I heard you were hung on a tree yesterday? Oh, are you okay?

-It’s okay. Will you stay with me for a while because I cried yesterday?

-Oh my.

-Hanging upside down made me feel elated Hahaha. But don’t worry because I’ll make time to meet Miss Lily no matter what happens.

To be honest, her son, Rosian was an idiot.

– You’re good at etiquette and meeting with young ladies. Then at least polish yourself and have an arranged marriage.

-But Mom, I honestly don’t think I’m going to settle for a woman! Can’t I just go out with anyone because cheating is bad? What should I do if I marry a princess of another country and then war broke out because of me?

Michael didn’t have an answer.

And Rosian did not answer any further.

***

Jayna asked Elia out of curiosity about Rosian whom she hadn’t seen these days.

“He’s busy training hard.”

Jayna smiled at her answer.

‘He’s training? Until a while ago, didn’t he hated learning swordsmanship?’

Elia took a sip of warm tea as she looked at the hybrid escort standing behind Jayna.

‘I have to hide that there was an escort knight.’

It will just hurt Rosian who is practicing swordsmanship to protect Jayna.

‘By the way, how will I make a string …’

Princess Elia silently stared at Jayna.

Bezriche’s daughter and the child who transformed her son. Elia was very pleased with her. She wanted to somehow continue their current relationship.

However, relationships were so light that she didn’t know when they would break even if they were tight.

She doesn’t have to care about Jayna’s relationship with Michael since they are cousins by blood, but Rosian was no different from others.

‘So, I have to make a string that can’t be broken easily.’

Princess Elia’s eyes secretly lit up while looking at Jayna.

***

Waiting for Jayna to return to the tower was Diamide with a firm face like an iron fortress.

She never thought she would meet an unexpected person on her way back from a pleasant tea time

‘I don’t know what he wants, but I should avoid it.’

Jayna moved as carefully as she could to avoid encountering Diamide.

Unfortunately, however, Diamide seemed to have been here on purpose.

Diamide stood in front of Jayna and said something out of the blue.

“You got a necklace with a portrait of your mother from Princess Elia, right?”

It seemed like Izren reported to Diamide that she had received the necklace.

“That’s right.”

When Jayna agreed without saying anything, Diamide stared at her

‘Why is he suddenly asking me about the necklace?’

It was suspicious that a person who wasn’t interested in her as much as the tip of his hair suddenly came and mentioned the necklace.

She was putting on a nonchalant face, but Jayna couldn’t help but feel ominous.

“…..”

Having remained silent for so long, Diamide stood up with a gesture to follow him.

The place where Jayna followed Diamide was in the drawing-room.

Hot tea and refreshments were prepared on the table in the reception room as if they had been pre-arranged.

Jayna was even more nervous because she did not know Diamide’s intentions. He reacted very sensitively to even the smallest things related to Bezriche.

“Drink. “

Jayna looked down at the teacup in front of her. Steam was coming up from the teacup.

“… Thank you.”

Jayna drank the tea without a word. She didn’t drink it in one sip but blew the tea first before taking a sip.

Jayna didn’t know, but it was the same habit that Bezriche had.

Diamide, who watched silently, opened his mouth.

“Give me the necklace that Elia gave you.”

It was a sudden request.

Jayna couldn’t hand over the necklace.

It was because it was the only keepsake left by her mother.

“Why are you taking it?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It’s my mother’s keepsake. You’re trying to steal my stuff and you’re not explaining why.”

Did he hate Bezriche that much and was trying to get rid of everything related to her?

Jayna bit her lips.

She knows it’s wise to just give it to him.

She was well aware of it, but at this moment, she wanted to move as to what her heart tells her, not with reasoning.

“No. This is my stuff that has nothing to do with the Tower Lord.”

In the end, Jayna took the risk of refusing.

It was because giving him the necklace seemed to deny her nature.