CH 85

Happiness? That’s Ridiculous.

***

Nathaniel didn’t show up until the end of the day. The rain continued to fall, and Kyrie welcomed a huge number of visitors.  Chairman Temer, who stopped by in the evening, came with a pearl ointment that ladies love.

“Hello.  My name is Temer, the director of the Pronoia Grand Library and the chairperson of the academic conference.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Kyrie greeted him with a smile. His contribution was great for decorating the last day of the academic conference ‘that way’.

“Thanks to you, I was able to proceed as planned. I want to reward you later. Will you accept it?”

At Kyrie’s kind words, Chairman Temer waved his hand.

“No!  I haven’t done much, you… Are you in better shape than that?”

“I thought it would take a few days to get better.”

“How many days?  It was a pretty serious wound….”

“My maid’s work is good.”

“The pointy ears …”

“Yes. What about Nathaniel?”

Chairman Temer sighed and stroked his beard.

“That’s it, it seems he is not in Pronoia.”

“Nathaniel?”

“Yes. I know this is absurd, but I’ve tried to find it by magic.  But there was no sign.”

Kyrie thought for a moment.

“…okay. Then postpone finding him.”

“All right. And….”

Chairman Temer hesitated.

“Excuse me, could you possibly give Dr. Seward a rehab on the Buchanan estate?”

“Dr. Seward?”

“Yes…As you may know, it is not easy for scholars to have families. So is Dr. Seward.  He has no place to turn to, and will he be able to cover all of his medical expenses with his fortune…..”

“Ahh.”

It felt as if she had suddenly returned to reality.  Legendary Lord, Lord Protector, the ability to freeze the sea, and a sword that cuts through the sky. Although she has been facing such things lately, Kyrie’s reality was still this way.

Kyrie nodded her head.

“Of course he’ll be in charge in Buchanan.  There’s a decent coastal town on the estate.  He should be able to recuperate there.”

“Thank you, if you can do that…”

“No, I can’t just do that.”

“What?”

“The Doctors of the Aldrem must also be rewarded, and the dead Jerome…I don’t like it, but I can’t forget it.  Can you bring me the list of wizards called out for this job later?  Calculate the cost and let me know. No, it would be better to send the secretary to me.”

Chairman Temer blinked his eyes with a puzzled face.

“Yes? But that was originally an event held at an academic conference….”

“Did my brother host the opening ceremony?  Let’s assume that this conference is supported by Buchanan.”

“Yes?!”

Chairman Temer’s eyes widened.

Scholars are people who think that research funds fall when they turn the water wheel. Naturally, it took a lot of money to hold an academic conference once. It would be perfect if Buchanan treated it.

(T/N: if you have seen water wheel working, you’ll see, that if you move that wheel the water will fall and collect, so it means the funds will fall even something slightest happens)

‘But she’s a central noble, and she might clash with the Emperor politically in the future….’

Recognizing the chairman’s hesitation, Kyrie smiled coldly and softly.

“It’s okay. It’s just an investment in the development of knowledge, I also got a lot of help this time. You’re not going to get caught up in Buchanan’s fight.”

“Is that so … “

It was a word that properly relieved his anxiety.  That being said, there was no reason to refuse.

“Even so, it would cost an astronomical amount, but would you mind….”

Kyrie rolled her eyes and tilted her head.

“Is it more than 120 billion?”

“Yes?! It can be, it can be, it can be!”

“Okay then. That’s the kind of income I’ll get from my estate, and I’ve got some dividends in my Buchanan account.”

“Is it the young lady’s power?”

Chairman Temer asked curiously. This is because, in principle, the eldest son inherits all the money and estates of the noble family.

Kyrie smiled gracefully against the background of the gradually darkening sky.

“Now I have to tell you. I am Kyrie Buchanan, who will soon take over the territory from Lord Protector and become the Lord of Pronoia. Nice to meet you”

***

In the royal palace of Sel Arellano, Emperor Ginger Orewinbridge, held the Manastone in her hand and rolled it slowly.

「Kyrie Buchanan has been captured again.」

“Is she caught?”

He answered in a low-pitched tone from the liaison over the correspondence seat.

「Yes. She is said to be receiving treatment at the Pronoia University Library.  It looks like she was injured, but the cause is unknown, and it is said that the legendary lord escorted her.」

“She is stupid. She doesn’t even know how to properly run away.”

The Emperor frowned.

“Forget it. I just expected too much from the Count, no, Duke young lady. Where’s the Legendary Lord?”

「He moved. The location has not been confirmed.」

If he is determined and hides his appearance, humans cannot catch him. Knowing this, the Emperor did not raise her voice to blame.

But it’s troublesome. If he comes back too soon, her plan goes awry.  The Emperor turned her gaze to a nearby man wearing a robe.

“Master. What about deciphering magic?”

“It won’t last long.”

The man put his hands together and shook his head.

“It seems that the founder certainly foresaw the return of the Legendary Lord.  Write it down so that even the perpetrator can understand it, and sooner or later, all deciphering will be over.”

“Good.”

The king buried his body deep in the chair.  A satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

Everything went smoothly thanks to Kyrie Buchanan’s escape.  The legendary lord set out to find her in a disgraceful way, and the Lord Protector was still quiet.  And she got the magic of Vallabriga Orewinbridge.

‘Lake. I never thought he would have hidden the lab in a lake.’

A laugh escaped the king’s lips.  She thought it was just maintaining spring with the magic of the archmage Vallabriga, but it wasn’t.

Just then, a knock on the door echoed through the room.

“Your Majesty. It’s Rubinia.”

A loud voice rang out. As the Emperor beckoned, the huge door opened silently. And Rubinia Casner, dressed like a canary, walked into the office.

“I heard you called.”

She greeted her cutely with her green eyes twinkling.

But the Emperor’s eyes looking at her were bitter.  It reminded her of Kyrie Buchanan, the former fiancée of the Crown Prince.

‘I see you, the precious sun of all people.’

Clearly Buchanan was arrogant of her conduct in every way.  With a dignity that was neither too little nor too much, she deserved to be the Crown Princess.

“tch.”

“…….”

Even when the Emperor kicked her tongue openly, Rubinia only showed a little sullenness.  The Emperor slowly stretched out her hand, thinking it would be good for her to use whatever it was.

“Come closer.”

“Yes.”

Rubinia walked up to her like a little bird.

‘She takes great care of Eden. She listened to me again this time…Her origins are dirty, but she’ll still be useful.’

The Emperor opened her mouth with cold eyes.

“Your help was great this time. Let’s move on to thinking that entering the royal library recklessly is a trivial deviation from your pursuit of knowledge.”

“Thank you for your generosity.”

“But I still have something to ask you.  Will you listen?”

Rubinia’s gooseberry-colored eyes widened.  It was a face that was anxious to live up to expectations somehow.

“If I dare to do that, I will dedicate my body to helping you as much as I can.”

“Good.”

The Emperor placed her elbows on the desk and interlocked her fingers. She then smiled brightly.

“Then leave the capital immediately, and stay with Kyrie Buchanan. And wait for my orders.  Can you do it?”

Rubinia Cassner eyes filled with her will. As she pursed her lips, she blushed like a girl and nodded her head.

“I will. Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!”

***

It’s been four days since she has been in the Pronoia Grand Library. All the visitors have been there. Kyrie took good care of them, received treatment, and thought about what would happen after the recovery.  But the most important person did not appear.

“Have you heard of Nathaniel yet, MarryAnne?”

MarryAnne, who had come to examine the wounds on her thigh, tilted her head.

“MarryAnne doesn’t even know. I haven’t seen him since he took you to Pronoia. And as you know, Nathaniel….”

“If he hides, no one can find him. Right?”

Nothing good ever happened when Nathaniel wasn’t in front of her. Kyrie touched her temple and turned her head.

Outside the window, the birds were chirping in the spring sunlight. Hearing this, her mind, which had been tightened up thinking about Nathaniel, got a little tired. Still, something is over anyway, obviously.

“Are your legs okay?”

“Fortunately, I don’t think there will be any aftereffects! But for the time being, you have to use a cane, and you can’t walk long!”

“I’m glad. Can you bring me a cane?”

“Are you going to move right away?”

While MarryAnne had a worried face, she faithfully held out the cane.  Kyrie answered as she handed it over and looked at it.

“I should. I have a lot of work to do, but sitting down is a waste of time.”

MarryAnne pursed her lips as if she was displeased.

“Should MarryAnne make a doll?”

As she spoke, she raised her nails like a cat.  She seems to be referring to the wolf that helped Kyrie escape that night.  Kyrie gently shook her head.

“People will be terrified if I ride something like that. Is that okay?  Rather, I want to walk a little.”

As she slowly descended downstairs with a cane, several doctors greeted her.  But Nathaniel was nowhere to be seen.  After Kyrie looked around, she limped and headed upstairs to the Great Library.  There were few people on the upper floors as entry was controlled.  Kyrie recalled the historian’s record and headed a little higher floor.

‘A desolate place.’

She was sweating even after not walking for a long time. MarryAnne, who had been by her side all the time, was startled at some point and disappeared. That means Kyrie came to the right place.

‘Quiet place.’

Her eyes caught on to the public garden on the top floor of the Pronoia Grand Library.

‘A place close to the sky…….’

Kyrie’s hand opened the glass garden door.

All I could hear was the sound of the wind in the garden.  As Kyrie limped through the grass, she saw a black back standing upright in the green landscape. She paused for a moment, then limped towards the end of the railing where he was standing.

“Nathaniel.”

At that moment, the strength of the legs that had been holding her up until then suddenly fell.

“Ah…!”

Kyrie closed her eyes tightly at the pain she was about to come.

But no matter how long she waited, there was no pain. When she opened her eyes carefully, Nathaniel approached and grabbed her by the waist. Kyrie blinked her eyes as she looked at Nathaniel from close range.

“…….”

[…….]

When their eyes met closely, it seemed that Nathaniel’s arm was holding her waist, a little force had been put into it.  But his expression was still a little gloomy, and a little subdued.

“…thank you.”

Kyrie whispered. For a moment, Nathaniel’s expression softened. But immediately after seeing the scratch on Kyrie’s neck, his face hardened again. Kyrie hastily covered the wound with her hand.

“Nathaniel, Jerome….”

[Stop.]

It was strangely angry, but it was a low warning voice but that was not the only thing. He lifted Kyrie lightly as if she was a kitten, and made her sit down on the railing. He didn’t say anything.

“…….”

Kyrie hesitated and looked ahead. She didn’t think of his hospitality at all, but she didn’t expect him to be this cold.

He is much more sunken than usual, and it’s midday. At first glance, there was no languid smile that only seemed like a sophisticated young man. Kyrie glanced up at Nathaniel.

“Where have you been?”

[walk.]

Kyrie raised her eyebrows, but she didn’t say anything.  Nathaniel opened his mouth when the gentle spring breeze brushed her hairs

[I was reckless.]

“I don’t think so.”

Kyrie answered softly. Nathaniel turned her body slightly towards him.

[What if I let you die?]

“You didn’t.”

[I’m talking about if.]

“No way.”

[How are you so sure?]

Kyrie shook her leg from her railing and tilted her head.

“You promised MarryAnne that you wouldn’t kill me, didn’t you? I didn’t move completely without any evidence.”

Kyrie raised her head. Nathaniel’s head was so high that it was hard to see his expression.  But he was silent for quite some time.

[Well, I believed that.]

“Because you are different from anyone else, I know how to trust others.”

[Yes. I get hit in the back of the head because I’m different from anyone else.]

“Is that the man who stabbed someone in the back?”

[Not me.]

Nathaniel’s sword appeared silently and pierced the side of Kyrie’s thigh. The hem of her skirt was torn.  It was at that moment that a sharp wind blew past her cheeks.

[I mean, cute Jerome.]

Kyrie then realized that he was angry. Quiet and massive. Probably the biggest so far.  She spoke coldly, hiding her nervous beating heart.

“I think I’m the one who will bring the sword now.”

[Good thing. Do you want revenge?]

“Revenge…….”

She wasn’t really defending Jerome. She didn’t even want to know what Jerome would have done if Nathaniel had not appeared.  Kyrie just wanted to say how easy it is to take a life by abuse of power but Nathaniel seemed to have severely misunderstood something. No wonder her lips started to feel dry.

“I don’t do that.”

[Of course, if you’re a decent person, that’s it.  To take revenge for someone who is thinking of abandoning you and running away, it’s not reasonable.]

“It’s because you’re threatening.”

Nathaniel let out a quiet laugh.

[What if I were him?]

“Yes?”

[Would it have happened if I was there?]

Kyrie looked up at Nathaniel without a word.  And she shook her head slightly.

“that…no.”

If Nathaniel had been in Jerome’s position, he certainly wouldn’t have acted like Jerome. He would never leave Kyrie and run away because he was threatened, or try to escape the situation by taking her hostage.

‘Because he is that kind of person. He does not change, unyielding, he does not bend….’

Knowing that, Kyrie risked her life too.  Because she knew she couldn’t convince him with words.

But why?  She had a feeling something was wrong.  Kyrie couldn’t open her mouth with such anxiety, and it was Nathaniel who spoke to her.

[Kyrie Buchanan.]

A high wind blew from behind Nathaniel.  Kyrie lifted her chin and looked up at Nathaniel.

Slowly, the sword Nathaniel was holding flashed with blue magic and disappeared.  Then he stretched out his arms and bowed his back. The slender and smooth body of the man cast a shadow and covered Kyrie’s stomach. His large hand slowly grabbed Kyrie’s cheek. The face that had been obscured by the backlight was then visible.

It was a terrible face.

[…just hate me.]

Kyrie’s eyes trembled.

Nathaniel knelt down on his knees and placed his forehead against Kyrie in one even reverent motion.  With his eyes closed, as if praying to God.

[Let’s do that. It’s better for you and me. Happiness? That’s ridiculous.]

“Nathaniel……?”

[Everyone before you, including Vallabriga, were so confident. They want my happiness, only they can give it to me.]

Their hair was tangled and messed up on Kyrie’s forehead.  Nathaniel’s cold breath touched Kyrie’s cheek.

[Do you think they succeeded?  Do you really think you won’t change?]

“…….What do you mean, what the hell?”

Nathaniel repeatedly kissed the tip of her nose, then kissed Kyrie’s eyelids. Unlike Kyrie’s trembling body, he was so calm and relaxed.  As if it didn’t happen in a day or two.

[Someone who said that, committed suicide because they wanted to get away from me, someone sold me for 30 silver coins, and someone I know tried to kill me because I was coveting theirs.]

(T/N: the last line is pointing out at Vallabriga, Nathaniel said it sarcastically, it was Vallabriga’s own imagination that Nathaniel will cover his Empire but Nathaniel never thought like that)

“I won’t….!”

[For now.]

Even the words she struggled to bring out were cut right away.

[You won’t, for now…….]

His voice was still heartbreakingly clear, but he sounded hoarse. She could see a bit of a wound he was barely holding on, perhaps because he had lived too long.  In every word that he quietly spit out, Kyrie was filled with times that she could not have experienced.

That’s why it was acrimonious. He has stabbed Kyrie’s heart so artfully and skillfully.

[You’re just drunk on your own goodness right now. Don’t you think so? The desire to save a man who seems kind, strong, beautiful, and lonely to you.]

“No!”

[Don’t get me wrong, Kyrie Buchanan.]

Kyrie tried to shake off Nathaniel, but Nathaniel wouldn’t let her go. Rather, he grabbed Kyrie’s cheeks more strongly and whispered as if stabbing on it.

[You’ll change. You will change too. Just like all humans up to now.]

“No! You are still only like that…….!”

No. 

Nathaniel growled.

[Are you that special? Do you think you’ve done anything to be loved by me? Do you feel like you have taken on the responsibility to save the world from the End?]

“I just want to build a better relationship with you in the future…!”

[A good relationship? You with me?]

A razor-sharp ridicule escaped Nathaniel’s mouth.

[Did you really think I’d trust you?  You, just a mere human? You who just threw that insignificant life once?]

Insignificant.  

Kyrie tried to look up at Nathaniel in disbelief, but he refused to show her face in the end.

[I thought you had a better grasp of the subject.]

“……Nathaniel.  Look at me, look at me and talk.  You really, really think so……?”

[You know, lying is not my hobby. But if you want to be my savior, I’ll pretend.  How could I reject you….]

Nathaniel lowered his voice coldly.

[Because when you want to get my consent, you can just lock yourself up in a room that I’m not allowed to and threaten me with your life.]

Kyrie screamed. It was the part that bothered her the most as she planned everything.  In the end, it was a feeling of pressure by creating a situation in which he could not refuse, and it kept bothering her.  But she thought he would understand.

“I just thought I had to do that so you would listen to me……I never intend to intimidate you…!”

[Is it fun? How does it feel to have me submissive? Now the whole world is yours.  congratulations.]

“I’m sorry, too, I’m sorry.….”

[You are not sorry.  That’s right, you have a job that doesn’t matter much, that is just pretending to die.]

Every word he uttered pierced Kyrie’s heart.  A belated mourning ensued. It was sad to know that he was just spitting out dagger-like words on purpose.

“I, I….”

It may not have been a big deal to him, but it was a great fear for Kyrie.  She thought he would trust her, but there was a clear possibility he wouldn’t.  It could have been a dog-like death. Although fearful and terrified, Kyrie risked her life nonetheless.

“But I, I was actually scared, scared…!”

[So that’s why you want to celebrate like this?  With that humble savior, you can now bring an end to the End.]

Kyrie’s mouth opened with sadness.  Everything he had done was cut back to nothing by his sharp words.  He put his nails on his hard shoulders that embraced him, and Kyrie put his last hope in a trembling voice.

“But you…. saved my life…..”

Nathaniel kissed Kyrie’s eyelids again. It was a soft kiss, as if touching something so precious.

[…..Because if I don’t, it’s boring. And like you said, I made a promise to the forest beast.  That’s it.]

Kyrie’s tears, which had already been flowing, seeped between his lips.

[Really, that’s all.]

Lie.

She knows.  He was lying now.  It was the first lie she heard from him.

‘But what if it’s real?’

She couldn’t be sure of it.  And Nathaniel knew it too.

Nathaniel wouldn’t let Kyrie continue to scream and push his body away. Contrary to the words he uttered, even the slightest gesture of his caressing Kyrie was cautious.

[Stupid Kyrie Buchanan. All your pity is a temporary illusion, and I’ve lived too long to match the saviour game…]

At that moment, Kyrie strongly pushed Nathaniel.  And grabbed Nathaniel’s collar in an instant.  Nathaniel stared at Kyrie, who was crying, biting her bleeding lips, with deep, still eyes.

“at that time…, you said you would accept me…, that was also a lie…?”

Kyrie asked without even blinking her eyes.  What happened in the rain.  She heard his last words before she lost her mind.

Countless words and countless thoughts passed through Nathaniel’s blue eyes.  But he quickly smiled neatly as if he had drawn it.

[It was a lie.]

With his sentence, Kyrie’s body lost strength.  Her trembling body had a fever.  worryingly.

But since she went this far, he won’t come any closer.

Nathaniel has been lying for a long time.  He had no difficulty.  Evil is essentially something that has to do with lies.  The only reason he didn’t lie was because life was boring.

Kyrie Buchanan trembled in his arms.  Her body was small, and her hands and feet were small, so the fluttering motion was like a small bird moving.  

What is she thinking?  

If it’s not-so clever Kyrie Buchanan, she might be blaming herself even if she’s come this far.  

He wished she wouldn’t do that

Since the origin of his existence is in evil, he could feel the evil of people more easily than anyone else.  So, of course, he didn’t know that Kyrie was sincere.  Surprisingly, she really risked her life for him with pure good intentions.

At least for now.

Nathaniel gently hugged Kyrie, who was exhaling her breath as she wept.

So how far will she go? One week? One month? Kyrie Buchanan is a bit stubborn, so she might go on for a few years.

But that’s all. She will eventually withdraw her own words. Humans die too soon, and change their mind sooner than that.  For them, changing their mind is easier than flipping the palm of their hand, and an eternal oath means nothing now.

He’s already felt like the world is falling apart because of that light oath countless times.  When he had not yet realized how to rule over others, he was scorned, hated, betrayed, sold, stoned, banished, burned, limbs torn, and killed. Many dozens of times.

And then he realized. The eternity that humans speak of is futile.  Among those who spoke of eternity, no one risked their life for him like Kyrie, but as time passed, human behavior would have only changed more dramatically.  His world had collapsed too much to believe in Kyrie.

In addition, he had a gut feeling. That if one day Kyrie Buchanan turns her back to him, it would be the last time he would be completely destroyed.

So he had no choice but to speak.

[All lies.]

Cuddling her sobbing body, and kissing her stretched eyelids to avoid looking at the wet purple eyes, Nathaniel thought,

It isn’t much fun to watch her cry anymore.