Chapter 353

Chapter 353Previous

“The timing worked in our favour and the evidence we found in the cabin made the job much easier. Also, the accusations I initiated turned out most effective, especially when they all stood up and caused a commotion, thereby basically implicating themselves.

Lil nodded to herself.

‘Clearly, things went according to plan. Even in retrospect, everything looked completely natural.’

Rolling her over, Ed now hovered above Lil, his lips skimmed the skin between her knee and thigh before he bit into her flesh.

“But I have a question of my own, how did you know that Mireille was involved in the first place?”

“If the ‘Deer guys’ belong to the association of Count Lazilière, then the ‘guys from Rose’ belong, of course, to Mireille’s Garni Association. I’ve ridiculed him countless times with that rose, so there’s no way I would miss that.”

Ed recalled the report about the Southern League of Pirates that he had seen in the Count of Amiaeng’s residence. It contained a looting certificate from ‘Lil Schweiz’, who mockingly drew the Duke’s rose symbol... However, Ed’s recollection was cut short by a sound from Lil, unsure if it was an exclamation or a sigh.

“The looting certificate... It suddenly feels so far away...”

Ed, who adjusted the hem of her negligee, came up to Lil’s face and lay down on his side to continue their conversation face-to-face.

The exchange of their stories, which was filled with faint whispers, loud laughs, occasional sighs of frustration, and exhilarating descriptions, eventually led to Lil even sharing her last encounter with Mortu.

By that time, the sun was already shining, brightening the room’s interior.

Lil then remembered how strangely bright a room was when she was with Ed, even though she was still suffering from Mortu. She didn’t know why at the time, but she knew it intuitively after that.

She smiled softly and opened her lips.

“I... I’ve always thought that I was locked up in Mortu’s castle...”

Lil finally confided in Ed and told about her life with Mortu. She thought she could speak about it calmly, but at times, her heartbreaking memories were just too much to bear. When that happened, Ed would affectionately wipe away the occasional dripping tears. Annette, the shadow that covered the testimony stand, and the battle with Mireille were all unfolded before Ed... Until it all became distant like a chapter in Lil’s life being shrouded over. The letters that closely recorded the past gradually lost their vividness as the ink dried and aged. Then, a blank page turned over, covering the old and signalling the beginning of the new...

***

Lil had been tied to Sesbron for a while to testify. By not letting her go straight to Obernyu, she could see how much the Emperor abhorred Joseph I. This gave her no choice but to demand a specific date from the Emperor before she provided her detailed testimony and records.

In the meantime, Ed followed Lil everywhere. He did this despite her frequent visits around Sesbron to convey her gratitude to the ladies of the court. Whether she went to a salon, a tea party, or for a walk, he would stay by her side without ever thinking of leaving.

Annette, who was lying on the couch, spoke from behind her fan.

“The Marquess does not know how to stay away from Liloa.”

Ed, who was indeed right next to Lil the entire time at the salon, openly confirmed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You never came to a single salon I have invited you to.”

Ed merely laughed, but Annette wasn’t about to let him go so easily.

[ Forma, the god of beauty, had six children in the beginning. All six children were as beautiful as Forma, but Belle, the seventh child born between a god and a human, was not. Some said Belle was ugly, others considered her different, while the rest thought she was at least cute. Opinions on Belle were mixed, but no one called her beautiful.

Belle was overcome with frustration as she looked at all six of her beautiful siblings.

One day, Forma came up to her and asked.

“Child, why the long face?”

To which Belle answered.

“I am saddened that I cannot have beauty.”

“Why, what do you think beauty is?”

“I am talking about the appearance of my siblings, praised by everyone they meet.”

“I do not understand, please explain in detail.”

Forma was confused after hearing Belle’s explanation.

“I cannot imagine what that is like. Just because your siblings are praised for their beauty, you are obsessed with appearance?”

‘Since Forma also possesses the beauty of a god, she, of course, will not be able to understand my heart.’

“Would you be happy if you could change your appearance to whatever you want?”

“Yes.”

Forma shared her power with Belle with the help of her eldest child, Bonheur of Happiness, and her secondborn, Amour of Love*. Through that, Belle frequently changed her appearance in front of the mirror.

She pondered for years about what she should do to become the most beautiful in the world. First, Belle wished for her mane to disappear. Next, she wished for her hooves to disappear. Even her horn, she hoped for it to go away*.

Lastly, she wished her feathers would disappear as well.

So when Belle finally came back into the world, people of all ages knelt before her and praised her beauty.

As Belle was born between a god and a human, she aged slowly. Nonetheless, she worried every morning and every night that they might sense her withering. She was concerned that her true self would eventually be revealed. Every day, she wondered if she would be called ugly again. She was a slave to the thoughts of at least one person, who might suddenly act on a whim and refuse to praise her any longer.

The joy of being praised lasted for only a moment, and Belle soon became tormented by hatred. No matter how beautiful she became, someone always found imperfections in her. ]

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Footnote:

Bonheur of Happiness, and her secondborn, Amour of Love: Fun fact; Bonheur is actually France for ‘Happiness’ and, of course, Amour translates to ‘Love’.

“...Mane... hooves... horn... feathers...” : Based on this description and the fact that she is a child born between a god and a human, we imagine Belle to be something close to a ‘Pegataur’; half pegasus and half human.