Chapter 184
“…No. I don’t remember.”
“Really?”
“Yes…”
Just as I’d once told Jane, I lied and said I didn’t remember the dream.
Whatever else, I couldn’t speak about my past life—Raizel had made that very clear.
I worried it might seem strange to say I couldn’t remember after claiming it was a nightmare, but thankfully, Lucio just nodded without much reaction.
“But are you okay?”
“Me?”
“Your face is pale.”
At my words, Lucio lightly touched his cheek and replied, “Is it?”
He acted like it was nothing, but something about it kept nagging at me. I stared at him for a while, unable to shake the feeling.
“Lia, is this a Snowflower?”
Lucio asked, gesturing toward the glass dome on the table next to the bed.
“It is. How did you know?”
“I heard about it from Ascart a while back.”
“I see. Pretty, isn’t it? It’s amazing, really. Just keeping it nearby helps regulate mana.”
“…Yeah. That’s how it works.”
Lucio replied in a strangely quiet, lingering tone.
I tilted my head at his response.
“Well, now that I’ve confirmed you’re awake, I’ll be going.”
Lucio stood up abruptly, without hesitation.
I quickly grabbed his arm.
“Why?”
“The account…”
Mumbling at the thought of last night, I trailed off. Lucio burst into laughter.
“You’re seriously this meticulous? You just woke up, and it’s way too early. Let’s talk later.”
“No! Let’s just do it now.”
I shook my head firmly.
I was planning to try persuading my parents again today, but I still felt uneasy after Lucio mentioned returning to the principality last night.
And since Lucio was always so busy, I didn’t know when I’d get to see him again.
Not understanding how I felt, Lucio gave me a look that said, What am I going to do with this stubborn girl? But in the end, he sat back down beside me.
“Alright. I’m grateful if you talk fast.”
“So, what are you curious about?”
I asked immediately, partly because I was in a hurry, but also because I was genuinely curious.
As the head of Darel, Lucio probably knows almost everything.
So what exactly did he want to ask?
“That item you smuggled out yesterday—it’s an ancient artifact, isn’t it?”
“…What?”
“I already knew Count Petier had an ancient artifact. Yesterday, he had a private audience with the emperor, likely to offer that artifact in exchange for releasing Kenneth Petier from prison. The emperor’s obsessed with ancient relics, so he would’ve taken the bait, right? Or am I wrong?”
Stunned by the unexpected question, I nodded without thinking.
“And I heard you toured the imperial treasury yesterday.”
“Y-yes.”
“Did you, by any chance…”
Lucio, who had been questioning me so confidently, suddenly trailed off and sighed.
Seeing him hesitate, something so uncharacteristic, made me tense up too.
Then, as if making a firm decision, he asked with a serious tone,
“Have you ever heard of the Demon’s Relic?”
“!”
“I’ve been trying to gather information about it for a long time, but there’s barely anything out there. The temple must be restricting access.”
“…”
“When I heard that the Great Sage Raizel was once the High Priest, I tried approaching him at the duke’s manor but he wouldn’t even acknowledge me.”
Running a frustrated hand through his hair, Lucio continued,
“I even considered visiting with Diana, since the temple favors her… But that would draw attention. More importantly, I’m not comfortable with it.”
“…Because you don’t want to explain everything to Diana?”
I asked cautiously, trying to gauge his intent. Lucio paused, looked at me, and then slowly nodded.
“Yeah. If you hadn’t stolen that relic, I wouldn’t be asking you either.”
“…So what exactly do you want to know?”
Noticing from my response that I did know something about the Demon’s Relic, Lucio’s gaze sharpened.
“How to break a contract made through a Demon’s Relic.”
His immediate answer took my breath away.
“Why would you even want to know that—?”
Before I could finish my question, both Lucio and I froze and turned toward the door.
Light footsteps were approaching, coming up the stairs.
“It’s probably my maid. You should go.”
I spoke quickly, and Lucio nodded, slipping out through the balcony connected to the room.
I hurried into the bathroom connected to the dressing room.
A contract made through a Demon’s Relic…
Why would Lucio be asking about ‘blood subjugation’?
My head spun with the flood of questions.
***
A little while later, after a quick shower, I stepped out to find Jane waiting, just as I expected, with a worried look on her face.
She scolded me gently, concerned that I’d woken early because of another nightmare, but I brushed it off.
Then, dragging my heavy feet, I headed to the dining room where my family was already waiting.
I was worried they might all look serious after what happened yesterday…
But thankfully, the atmosphere at breakfast was peaceful, just like always.
Though it was impossible not to feel a little awkward around my parents acting like nothing had happened, I could still tell—they were trying to be considerate of me.
As I quietly finished my meal, grateful thoughts filling my heart, I carefully spoke to my parents.
“Um, I was thinking of stopping by the Duke of Elard’s estate today.”
“The Duke’s estate?”
“Yes, to see Diana.”
After all, who wouldn’t be shaken by yesterday’s incident with the monsters? Even fanatics who revered the Saintess had come to the marquisate. Diana must have been more distressed than anyone.
Perhaps my parents had also considered this, as they readily gave their permission.
But the truth was, this was just an excuse.
Of course, I was worried about Diana, but more than that, I was eager to show her the holy relic I had retrieved just that morning.
I sent a message announcing my visit to the estate and was lightly preparing to go out when…
“Your Highness, Sir Sedian is here.”
“…Jack?”
“Yes. He says he’ll escort you to the duke’s estate.”
Jane chuckled, commenting how sweet it was that he was such a devoted childhood friend.
But I instinctively stiffened when I heard Jack was waiting at the entrance.
‘Don’t show it. As long as I keep quiet, no one will ever know.’
The only ones who knew I was living a second life were Raizel and Master.
Even they didn’t know who had killed me.
Raizel only vaguely knew my past emotions, and Master… Master probably didn’t care who had killed me, only that I was tormented or dead.
‘So, as long as I’m careful, nothing will change. No one else has to get hurt.’
I steeled myself and went downstairs.
“Hi, Jack!”
Thankfully, I was able to face him more calmly than I expected.
As I greeted him warmly and walked over, Jack nodded back with an awkward expression.
I tilted my head slightly at his demeanor, but only for a moment.
“Jack, what’s with your face?”
Lucio had looked pale this morning too, and Jack looked just as haggard.
Jack seemed unaware of his own condition, scratching his cheek sheepishly and saying he hadn’t slept well.
I sighed involuntarily.
A Sword Master looking this exhausted just from lack of sleep? That made no sense.
“…You were really disappointed, weren’t you?”
I asked gently, and Jack’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Huh? How did you know…?”
I gave a bitter smile.
“How could I not? You won the whole thing, but didn’t even get your flowers, and the banquet was canceled—it was a total mess.”
“Ah…”
Jack furrowed his brow at my words, then let out a hollow laugh.
Seeing him like that, my guilt grew.
If I hadn’t come to the empire, Jack would’ve enjoyed the glory of winning the swordsmanship tournament, just like in the past.
“I’m sorry, Jack.”
“…Why are you apologizing?”
I apologized with a small, gloomy voice, but Jack replied bluntly.
“It’s not your fault. You know I hate crowds and noisy events. Honestly, I was glad the banquet got canceled.”
“…”
Just earlier, when I asked if he was disappointed, he looked so surprised.
Jack was one of the few who knew about the identity of the men who kidnapped me when I was young, and that Diana was the Saintess.
So he must have guessed that the monster’s appearance had something to do with me, but he still cared for me like this.
I smiled more brightly than usual and said,
“Jack, congratulations on your win. You were amazing! I already knew you were strong, but you were even more incredible than I thought!”
Jack blinked a few times, then lowered his head.
“I’m still not good enough… not strong enough to protect you.”
“Huh?”
“I mean I’m still far weaker than you.”
Despite his large frame, Jack looked deeply discouraged.
‘He must’ve been shocked by how I defeated the monster with magic.’
Feeling a little awkward, I wrinkled my nose.
“You can’t really compare a mage and a knight. And Jack, you’re already one of the top Sword Masters on the continent. You’ve become the great knight no one can ignore just like you said you would. I’m proud of you!”
Jack looked startled by my words.
“…Jack?”
“You remembered?”
“Remembered what? The promise you made?”
When I asked, Jack nodded so hard it made a soft woosh sound.
Seeing that, I laughed.
“Of course I remembered. You told me to check if you kept your promise, remember? Well, I checked.”
“…”
Jack stared at me for a long time, stunned.
Then, just as a faint smile began to appear on his face, he quickly turned away, hiding his face with one large hand.
“…Okay.”
His voice was as gruff as always.
But the redness of his ears and neck told me he was genuinely happy.
Afterward, Jack told me that he would be heading out with Allen and the Rexion Knights for field training.
Now that monsters had appeared, it seemed like the Empire’s strongest forces were preparing for the worst.
When Jack asked when I would be returning to the Duchy of Belus, I replied that I would likely stay in the Empire for a while.
He said he hoped we could meet again soon after his training ended, and smiled.
As we headed to the duke’s estate chatting about everyday things, I felt relieved.
I had been worried that things might feel awkward when I saw Jack again… but thankfully, they didn’t.
Silently, I promised myself once again that I would take this secret to my grave.
