Chapter 33

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Chapter 33

What Hans said was true. The ledger and request form that the chief had hidden were found in the secret safe. Of course, he was able to check the contents of the request form for the chief’s blood.

Count Nolan was immediately taken and imprisoned.

“Count.”

As the surrounding was brightened by the suddenly lit torch, a heavy bass sound resounded in the prison.

A shrill sound came from the arms and legs of Count Nolan, who frowned and raised his head.

“Your Majesty.”

The Count, who confirmed that it was Declan who came to see him, whispered lowly. His eyes were gleaming with anger and hatred.

“Free me now! What the hell is this?”

“How interesting…”

Declan raised one corner of his mouth.

“The nobles will not stand still when they find out that I have been brought here!”

“You still can’t tell the difference between heaven and earth.*”

[ T/N: Unable to tell catch what was going on around him. ]

Count Nolan roared with a sullen face.

Shringg.

The sound of pulling out the sword was more eerie than ever, and Declan opened his mouth again, “If I had been merciful, you would have been lying flat.”

…As expected, the bastards shouldn’t be given a chance.

The silvery blade of the sword touched the Count’s neck, leaving only a faint scar.

“I should have cut you down earlier. How dare you touch Erica?”

Declan’s face, reflected in the torchlight, was as dry as a death reaper.

“What, what are you talking about? Who else is Erica? Please, release me immediately. I did nothing wrong!”

Count Nolan rolled his eyes anxiously, biting his lip as he knew something was wrong. He shouted at Declan as if he didn’t want to be pushed back.

“Is it here or here?”

He scattered his murderous intent, laid his sword down, and slapped the Count’s cheeks in turn.

“Which side did you dare to touch?”

Staring at the Count as though looking at something dirty, he swung his sword lightly.

“Aaackk—!”

A scream echoed through the silent prison, and drops of blood ran down the Count’s cheeks.

“How funny would you have left a request form?”

At his words, the Count, who was panting for breath with a painfully distorted face, immediately raised his head.

“I checked the request form with the blood of the guild chief. You’re not going to shout as innocent anymore.”

The blood-stained Count’s face turned pale in an instant.

“This, this is framing! It’s unfair, Your Majesty!”

“There is only one way to live. Tell me everything you know.”

Well, he’ll kill him, anyway.

“I don’t know. Please, please, release my injustice.”

Even as he said that, the Count did not bow his head.

“There’s no need to get my hands dirty. It’ll be interesting to see you being thrown away by your master.”

Seeing the figure pitifully, Declan turned his body around.

After Count Nolan was captured, the Tierra Kingdom delegation left the Empire without delay.

However, the Kingdom of Ielro remained in the palace because a private audience with Declan had been agreed upon.

“Your Majesty, let’s have tea time in the greenhouse today.”

“Do you want to go to the greenhouse?”

“Yes. You’ve been distracted by the kidnapping case.”

“Yes. It would be okay to enjoy a little break.”

Declan finished organizing the documents he was looking at and got up with the doll.

The afternoon sun was bright and warm, making me feel good just looking at it.

As we arrived at the greenhouse and went inside, I remembered coming here on the first day of possession.

‘It was really dark and gloomy back then. Declan was also very scary.’

I didn’t know there would come a day when I would be able to look around the greenhouse so freely.

“You must be in a good mood.”

He had been looking at me since when our eyes met.

“It’s nice to be outside. It’s also refreshing.”

Declan moved his steps to the flower bed of lilies. Not only white lilies but also lilies of various colors were blooming beautifully there.

“Chloe loved lilies.”

I turned to Declan, who was looking at the lily faintly, and caught my breath.

I came to the greenhouse today for a special reason.

‘Just to stop the war.’

It was something that had to be resolved before the Ielro Kingdom envoys left. I slowly opened my mouth, trying to relax.

“I have your Majesty here today because I have something to tell you.”

Declan was slightly nervous at the sudden appearance of me becoming serious.

“I’m going to pass on the words of Her Highness the Princess to your Majesty.”

“… Chloe’s words?”

“Yes. The Crown Princess has asked me earnestly.”

Declan, biting his lips, looked at me intently.

“Her Highness the Princess has always thought about death. As you know her well, it was a time when you two were constantly threatened with assassination.”

Declan’s eyes widened a little.

There was a feeling of regret and guilt for Chloe in his eyes. Even though it wasn’t his fault that they suffered assassination threats.

“Her Highness was always worried that your Majesty would be very lonely if she had to leave first.”

She doesn’t want you to be lonely anymore…

“Her Highness said that you are a fool and that someone has to take care of you.”

I glanced at Declan’s expression and continued. “She asked me to watch over Your Majesty instead of Her Highness.”

A single tear fell silently from Declan’s eyes.

…That one drop drenched my heart.

“When His Majesty is blaming himself, she always asks me to tell you this.”

So, the words I told him gained strength.

I hope that Chloe’s earnest heart will be conveyed.

“It’s not my brother’s fault. I’m sorry for leaving you alone. I want my brother to be happy for my share.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a cry came out of Declan’s mouth.

It was so painful to see him covering his mouth with the back of his hand and not making a sound properly. In the meantime, it seemed that the emotions he had only been able to hold back were pouring out all at once like a burst of water.

I hugged him quietly at the pitiful look.

‘It’s not your fault…’

It will be the first time since Chloe died—Crying in front of someone or crying out loud because he always cried silently only after he fell asleep.

‘I wish I had been a human. Then, I would have been able to bring warmth to you.’

I was frustrated and saddened that I could not provide any consolation.

The crying, which had continued for a while, gradually subsided, leaving only a small sniff.

“Your Majesty, I feel the same way as Her Highness the Princess. Now, I want you to put down your guilt.”

I pulled myself away from him and said with sincerity.

Declan just gazed at me with eyes still brimming with tears.

“Her Highness did not resent Your Majesty until she closed her eyes. Would she have thought she was lucky to be able to protect His Majesty?”

This story was the story of Chloe’s side story in the original story.

She didn’t really blame Declan. Rather, she feared that he would suffer from guilt.

“Do you know why Her Highness’ dream is to be a knight?”

“…She always said that. She wants to protect me.”

Declan answered with a hard, wet voice.

“Her Highness the Princess always says that she only receives from Your Majesty.”

“…I haven’t done anything.”

At my words, he muttered helplessly.

“Your Majesty, please grant the wish of Her Highness the Princess. It is her last wish.”

“….”

“I will protect Your Majesty and help you to be happy.”

I silently met his deep gaze towards me. The teardrops on his eyelashes and the reddish corners of his eyes were neat.

As I gently wiped the corners of his eyes, tears flowed through my hands.

Yet, he blinked as if he could feel my touch.

“…I want to wipe the tears away, but I can’t do it right now.”

I lowered my hand in regret.

Declan stared intently and slowly opened his mouth.

“Chloe…”

He took a deep breath to see if he was feeling the rising emotions again. “I didn’t know she would say that.”

Various emotions such as longing, sorry, and sadness flashed across Declan’s face.

“…Thank you.”

The words that came out after a while were unexpected.

I thought he was happy even though he wasn’t angry. It brought a smile to my heart as I felt relief, compassion, and a proud heart that I didn’t know.

‘Chloe, I’ve finally told him. Rest in peace because I’ll be by his side now.’

I whispered to Chloe, who was in the sky.

“Your Majesty, may I ask you a favor?”

“Tell me.”

“War with the Kingdom of Ielro, can we not do it…?”

When the war story came out, Declan’s face, which had been softened, hardened in an instant.

“It’s none of your business.”

Declan answered dryly.

I had hoped that his heart would soften, although his decisive attitude left me speechless. ‘Still, I can’t stop here. It will be even more difficult when the Ielro delegation leaves.

My expression hardened quickly, and I stared straight at Declan.

“No. It’s my business.”

He made a slightly surprised face in my resolute demeanor.

“I know why your majesty is going to war. To punish those who cooperated in killing the Princess?”

“…Why are you making such a request when you know?”

“Because that’s not what Her Highness Princess wants.”

Declan’s eyebrows twitched.

“Your Majesty’s reason for doing what you’re doing, you always say it was for her.”

These were the words he used as an excuse as Mason asked him to end the war. Declan licked his lips as if what I was trying to say was true, but he couldn’t resist.

“It wasn’t Her Highness who stood by your side all day, it was me.”

“….”

His eyes fluttered slightly.

“Her Highness the Princess doesn’t want war. Especially, if it’s because of her.” I said with strength, word by word, hoping that he would change his mind.

“So, please, give up the war. Her wish is that Your Majesty will be happy.”

…Remember that.

When I finished speaking, Declan covered his face with his hands and let out a deep breath.

“…If I don’t punish them, I can’t stand it.”

After a while, a trembling voice escaped his mouth.

“I’ll help you. I’ll make sure you’re punishing them by other means than war.”

Even if there is the Manat Law, if we use the information in the original, he will be able to punish them.

“I’ll help Your Majesty.”

Declan’s expression, gazing at me, was tinged with a turbid light with mixed emotions. After not speaking for a long time, he let out a long sigh.

“I’ll think about that a little more.”

He’s not saying he won’t do it, it’s a pity… Though from Declan’s point of view, he must have made a lot of leeways.

“Thank you. For saying you would consider it.”

“Like you said, I didn’t spend much time with her.”

Declan stared into the air with a lonely face.

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