Born as the Hidden Daughter of a Villainess and the Male Lead

<Episode 34>

 

[To grandfather,

How are you? It’s already been more than half a year since I haven’t seen my grandfather.

I’m doing well.

Are you still not satisfied with my engagement to the royal family?

However, I do not regret getting engaged to His Highness the 2nd Prince.

It is an engagement that I can break off whenever I want. Never forget this!

Oh, now that I think about it, I guess I didn’t tell you this news.

Perion Mikhail Haldevart forfeited his title and went down to his hometown in the province.

I’m so glad I don’t have to see that weed-headed guy’s face anymore.¹Me too, dear.

These days, I’m studying elemental science with Count Jupes.

Grandfather should know about Count Jupes. I heard he has been friends with grandfather since a long time ago.

The more I learn about elemental science, the more fun it is, so I want to study harder.

Someday, I want to participate in Literea’s academic conference like my mother.

Oops, it seems like the litter got too long as I wrote about my thoughts. I’ll just finish it here.

I always hope that grandfather is healthy.

Please finish your trip safely and come back as soon as possible.

I miss grandfather so much…

– wrote by Edith.]

 

***

 

A year passed and I turned eight years old.

“The relationship between the spirit kings of the natural world and the spirit king of darkness is truly unique.”

Count Jupes spoke, pointing out each and every letter in the densely packed book.

“Arkane, the Spirit King of Darkness, is known to be the first spirit to exist in this universe. However, on the surface, he has the same status as the Spirit Kings of the natural world.”

I knew that too.

Wasn’t that fact revealed in the old stories my grandfather always told me?

In the beginning, this universe was filled with only darkness.

However, due to a mysterious phenomenon unknown to humans, Ilipia of life was born for the first time in the darkness.

Following this, death was born, then the spirit kings of the natural world, the beings who brought this universe into colorful life, were born.

“However, Arkane binds and reigns over all spirits born from negative emotions, as if he wes a being that symbolizes ‘evil.’ His power is very comprehensive, and at times he even appears omnipotent. The ‘magic’ we use also originates from his power.”

I was so focused on his story that I couldn’t even hear the birds chirping or the wind coming from outside the study by the window.

“What is even more interesting is that the spirits of the natural world have strong hostility towards the almighty and powerful Arkane, and that spirits of other attributes also join together to oppose Arkane and his²It’s still unknown the gender of Arkane, what do you think? clan.”

Tuk–

“It’s like something from ancient times happened that we humans don’t even know about. As if there is a deep conflict that has been going on since the beginning.”

Count Jupes closed the book which was as thick as two encyclopedias combined.

“Of course, Arkane has continued to engage in events that threatened our human world, but there are things that make it difficult to conclude that this is because of that. However, since we cannot ask the Spirit Kings directly, all we can do is let our imaginations run wild.”

The old count smiled gently and said.

“Now, you can ask questions.”

I had a lot of questions, but Count Jupes was no different from the Emperor, so I should limit my questions as much as possible.

“So… are all the spirit kings of the natural world hostile to Arkane?”

I picked my words carefully and asked this question.

The reason for asking this question was none other than the nature of Ashamed.

Ashamed received the blessings of Tregard, the spirit of hatred, and wheelkassel, the spirit of fear, known as Arkane’s descendants.

However, the entity that became Ashamed’s main attribute spirit was none other than the Spirit King of Ice, Fricher, who is classified as one of the spirit kings of the natural world.

Something wasn’t right.

‘The reason why the existence of the second prince had to be hidden… was because Ashamed received the blessing of Arkane’s descendants. In order to fulfill the promise I made a long time ago, if this truth were to be revealed, I would have to execute my son, and for the prestige of the empire and my feelings as a father, I had no choice but to hide it by the lie that my son was dead!’

The day I broke off my engagement with the Crown Prince and held an engagement ceremony with Ashamed under Ilipia’s arrangements.

Numerous nobles urged the Emperor for an explanation.

At that time, he used the excuse of ‘father’s love’ to cover up his lies.

The 2nd prince, who became the companion of princess Edith Ronen Heilian the one who received the blessings of the great spirit kings, received the blessings of Tregard and Wheelkassel, the faithful servants of the dark spirit king, Arkane.

In front of that fact, the nobles were agitated and became confused.

‘But… if he was such a disturbing being, the Spirit Kings of Life, Water, and Earth would not have nominated His Highness the 2nd Prince as princess Edith’s companion.’

‘you’re right. Moreover, isn’t the most important being for a spiritist the ‘main attribute spirit’? What is the main attribute spirit of His Highness the 2nd Prince? Please answer me, Your Majesty.’

The Emperor squeezed his hand without saying a word.

The trembling hands turned white and a lot of blue tendons sprouted out.

‘……..The Spirit King of Ice. It’s a Frincher.’

Those words were the beginning of a reversal.

‘If it is Frincher… Isn’t he the Spirit King of the natural world?’

‘Could it be that the Spirit King of Ice gave a blessing to the being that Arkane had her eye on?’

‘Your Majesty, I apologize for telling you this, but wasn’t your decision a bit hasty? His Highness, the 2nd Prince, is a powerful spirit master who has received the blessing of the ‘Spirit King’. As Wheelkassel and Tregard are also high-ranking spirits, he can be classified as a first-class spiritist. He is much better than the Crown Prince and the 3rd Prince, who did not receive any spirit blessings….’

The most important thing for a spiritist is the main attribute spirit, not anything else.

When it was revealed that Frincher, one of the natural world’s spirit kings so powerful that he was given the nickname Ice Emperor, had blessed Ashamed, the nobles asked whether the second prince Ashamed would be better than the crown prince.

He had some flaws, but it was better than having no ability at all.

The Emperor could do nothing in front of public opinion.

In the first place, there were spirit kings behind Ashamed.

Also, as I requested, Ilipia personally came forward and announced that Ashamed would never grow up to be a being who would cause harm to this empire and the world, so Ashamed was able to regain his original status as second prince without any problems.

If Ashamed’s main attribute spirit had been a dark attribute spirit, even if Ilipia and the Spirit Kings had come forward to help, I would not have been able to make him regain his original status.

So a question arises.

Why did Frincher become Ashamed’s main attribute spirit when he was blessed by the spirit of darkness?

And while Ilipia, Naiad, and Oried did not hesitate to show themselves in front of me, it was said that Frincher never showed himself even when Ashamed was persecuted and imprisoned by the Emperor.

Then, when I asked him how he had used the power of ice, Ashamed’s answer was that he had been able to use it as freely as breathing since he was very young.

It was full of unknown mysteries in many ways.

In order to get closer to the inside story, it was necessary to know the power structure among the spirit kings.

Who was the most hostile towards Arkane, and who showed the most lukewarm attitude?

Everything, no matter what.

“Hmm… To be honest, it is not possible for us humans to know the thoughts of the Spirit Kings. However, if we were to choose the Spirit Kings, who were said to have shown such strong hostility that it was revealed on the surface….”

Count Jupes wrote the names on a piece of paper.

And held it out to me.

“These are the names of the spirit kings who showed unusually strong hostility toward Arkane.”

The first name that caught my eye was…

“……Phoenix?”

It was Phoenix, the spirit king of fire.

“Yes. Among the spirit kings listed there, Phoenix, the spirit king of fire, was the one who took the lead in opposing Arkane.”

…Phoenix, whose existence cannot be confirmed at present, was the Spirit King who was most hostile to Arcane.

I had a strange feeling about this.

“Next, Ignis, the Spirit King of Light. It is the main attribute spirit of the princess’s father, His Excellency Archduke Hailian. Additionally, the Heilian Archduchy is a family that has been blessed with light for a long time and has been passed down from generation to generation. Their nickname was Heilian of Light.”

“There is a long history behind this, but since the princess is still young, I will tell you about it later.”

Next were the names of Ariel, the Spirit King of the Wind, and Oried, the Spirit King of the Earth.

….Oried was also hostile to Arkane.

And, the name written at the end was…

“Spirit King of Wisdom, Lore…?”

I muttered absentmindedly.

Why? Right now at this moment.

[First of all, the Spirit King of Wind, then Spirit King of Fire, and the Spirit King of Earth… Oh, and he was very close to the Spirit of Life King.]

A long time ago, in the carriage heading to the Archduchy.

When I asked  my spirits for information about the Spirit King of Wisdom, the answer gaven to me echoed in my mind.

This name appeared again.

Mariette’s main attribute spirit.

Lore, the Spirit King of Wisdom.

“That’s right. The Spirit King of Wisdom is also a Spirit King who was very hostile to Arcane. Among the spirit world spirits, he was unusually wary of Arcane.”

I got goosebumps.

It felt like this name, which I had forgotten for a while due to the incident with Ashamed, came to me again, telling me not to forget me.

[As much as it hurts my pride… The spirit that was always by Mariette’s side. The spirit that was closest to her was not me, but the Spirit King of Wisdom. He was Mariette’s main attribute spirit.]

[What I know is limited to Mariette’s childhood… and the times when she summoned me because she needed me. He probably knows everything you’re curious about.]

Naiad’s quiet words seemed to linger in my ears.

Although he was not even mentioned in the original work, Arkane, the Spirit King of Darkness, was considered to have the greatest weight of ‘evil’ in this worldview.

The Spirit King who opposed Arkane, Lore of Wisdom.

And… Mariette, who was blessed by Lore.

[I guarantee it with my status as the Spirit King. Mariette was never a child stained by evil.]

Why does Naiad’s stern voice come to my mind again?

“You seem to be thinking a lot.”

“Ah.”

Count Jupes awakened me from my thoughts.

I shook my head slightly and came to my senses.

“Are you interested in the Spirit King of Wisdom?”

Count Jupes asked.

…….Of course.

“…Because he was the Spirit King who blessed my mother.”

The Spirit King I wanted to meet the most was the Spirit King of Wisdom.

How disappointed I was when I heard that spiritists can only inherit one attribute from their parents.

“Hmm, but the Spirit King of Wisdom’s whereabouts are unknown…”

Where on earth are everyone, including Phoenix and Lore, wandering around?

I frowned slightly and thought grumpily.

“But records of his past do exist.”

“Yes?”

I asked with wide eyes.

Count Jupes responded with a kind smile.

“Continental Spiritual Society, Litera. There is a vast amount of data containing records of all spirits and spirit kings. If you’re really curious, a visit to Litera would be a good idea.”

Litera, how much I wanted to go there too.

It’s not like I haven’t thought about that either.

“But… only people with the qualifications of a spirit priest can enter Litera.”

I made plans to visit Litera after the issue of engagement with the imperial family was resolved, but…

Contrary to my initial thoughts, not any spiritist level 2 or higher could visit, but only spiritists whose level was officially recognized by passing the spiritist qualification test could enter.

And the test to acquire the qualification as a spiritist had a vicious age limit.

Only people who are at least 12 years old can take the test.

If it weren’t for that, I would have been able to go right away!

I bit my lip to suppress my anger.

Moreover, no matter how noble your status is, if you are not officially invited, even the Emperor of Roshan cannot enter…

“I think… I can help you with that. The chairman of Litera is an old friend of mine.”

What?

I raised my head in confusion at the completely unexpected information.

⋯⋯⋯Did this person also have friends in Litera?

My grandfather also said that an old friend of his was staying at Litera.

So, when he ran away from Roberick, he tried to head to Litera…

“Also, my grandson… It’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but he was recognized for his outstanding ability even at a young age, and is studying abroad at Litera as the chairman’s student. The chairman is very fond of my grandson. I think if I ask that kid to persuade him, I might be able to get an invitation…”

It seemed as if a halo was shining behind the head of the old nobleman whose age had graced him.

Count Jupes spoke after some silence.

“What do you think, would you like to visit?”

 

***

TL:

Just a last reminder, the updates are every Tuesday and Thursday.

Each time, one chapter will be unlocked and two new locked chapters will be added.

That’s it, I hope you enjoyed your reading.