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Translator: thursdays ED: Sasha PR: LightBrin
5.
…My beloved daughter.
…Don’t expect anything.
…Do not expect anything at all.
…Do not expect things, and do not count on things. That is the secret to life.
…Every time you tell yourself, ‘Maybe this time,’ the world will whisper back, ‘This time, for certain.’ Being fooled once is an experience, and being fooled twice is a tragedy. But being fooled three times is a farce.
…My dear daughter, you are a noble. Be cautious, and do not let your life become someone else’s joke. Do not let them have three chances.
…Two. Just two wounds are enough to be remembered forever. Those kings of old set up memorials for their death while they were still alive. Do not repeat the foolishness of building monuments in the desert.
…But if you still want to leave something to the world, my daughter, remember. You are not lending your life to someone. Do not try to be someone’s debtor. Give without the intention of getting it back in the first place. Give everything.
…Forgive people for throwing carnivals with your dead body. Give them your hair. Give them your fingers. Give everything, sacrifice everything from your pureness to your naive hopes. They will ravenously desire all of you and enjoy their banquet.
…So leave, and do not leave anything behind in this world.
Anything.
That was your mother’s will when she died.
Her funeral was a cremation.
6.
The basement was quiet.
“Is something wrong?”
There was only the quiet voice of Lady of the Silver Lily. The air was cold. The servants who were interrogated had shed blood, but the pools of blood did not heat the basement at all.
“Please, punish me quickly as foundation of this country.”
“Ha, ha.”
The prince laughed weakly.
No, could we even say that was a laugh? The tip of his mouth just lifted slightly and trembled. It was a gruesome failure of a smile.
He turned his head like he was escaping and looked at the Heretic Questioner and me. His eyes asked, [What do you two think of this absurd situation?]
“Your Highness.”
But he couldn’t escape. The cutting voice of the Lady of the Silver Lily severed the prince’s gaze.
“Should I report their crimes to His Majesty’s special operatives?”
The crown prince hesitated.
“Are you trying to follow in the footsteps of the discarded crown prince?”
“Are you testing the extent of His Majesty’s forgiveness for you?”
A threat.
Her quiet tone was not rude, but the duchy’s young lady, the Lady of the Silver Lily, was clearly giving the prince a hard time.
It was an effective threat.
“Uh.”
The imperial heir’s hand trembled. Shaking, he grabbed the sword that the lady had offered him. However, his determination only lasted to holding the grip of the sword. He wasn’t mad enough to swing the sword.
“Sylvia…”
The prince helplessly let the tip of the sword point down. He looked at us blankly. Did he want one of us to come forward and stop the Lady of the Silver Lily?
“What a neat resolution!”
However, the Heretic Questioner laughed brightly.
“It’s neat how you brought in the two of us in addition to the crown prince. Aha. So everyone here will become [accomplices] and keep their mouths shut by your calculations. It’ll be good for His Highness since his blunders will be covered up. And it’ll be good for me since the Lady of the Silver Lily is being punished!”
“Sy-Silvia?”
“The problem here is that only Your Ladyship gains nothing from this.”
The Heretic Questioner’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.
“Do you receive any benefit by doing things this way? Your Ladyship. Three loyal servants of the duke are dying. You’ll even receive corporal punishment on the prince’s behalf. I’m really curious about what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. As I said, these are my family’s servants, and I, as the daughter of this family, should be held responsible for their mistake…”
“Aha, how pretty! But that isn’t efficient when it comes to a debate! Let’s be honest with each other to have a more fruitful discussion. Why would you be punished on the prince’s behalf? Is this Your Ladyship’s ‘love’?”
The sound of breathing in the basement.
The silver and gold ladies stared at each other for a moment.
“It is only what I must do to be his subject, Lady of the Golden Silk.”
The Lady of the Silver Lily replied in a composed voice, not even moving her eyebrows.
“Thinking of my own benefit or cost is disloyal. Perhaps you find this difficult to understand since your family is from the countryside.”
“In other words, you don’t want something in return?”
“Do you want me to answer? Give up. Whether you understand me or not has no influence on my behavior.”
“How curious…”
The Heretic Questioner exhaled like a sigh. It was difficult for me to guess right away what he meant by that.
But one thing was certain. The Heretic Questioner’s response was definitely not what the crown prince had hoped for. The Heretic Questioner did not intend to stop the Lady of the Silver Lily. The face of the prince, who had clung onto his love, was stained with despair.
“…Please wait a moment, milady.”
So, I had no choice but to open my mouth.
The Heretic Questioner tilted his head and looked at me.
“Yes, butler? What is it?”
“If those servants are really the culprits, then you also have the right to take revenge. It would be wrong to leave the punishment solely to the prince.”
My mouth felt stale. My head was spinning. To overcome this ridiculously complicated political incident… I devoted myself to thinking about [the best course]. I did not hesitate to use the butler’s knowledge.
[The immersion toward the character has deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 7%.]
My tongue dried to a crisp. But it was still okay, for now.
“…The same is true for the Lady of the Silver Lily. She was betrayed by her faithful servants. I believe this is more than enough reason that she deserves to punish these men.”
“Ooh. So?”
“There are three servants who have sinned. There are also three people who are entitled to punish them.”
I looked at the servants, tied up in the chairs.
“What if each person punishes one culprit each?”
Silence.
“In any case, the Lady of the Silver Lily wishes to make us accomplices. That’s why she brought us here…. And His Highness seems to be unable to carry out the punishment alone. I believe that it will be appropriate to divide the punishment equally.”
There was a hush for a while.
“Hmm.”
The Heretic Questioner closed an eye.
“…….”
The Lady of the Silver Lily pinched her brows without a word.
The crown prince’s complexion quickly brightened.
“Right! Sylvia’s servant is correct. The Lady of the Silver Lily was betrayed by her subordinates. Sylvia was attacked. And I need to uphold the law! Since everyone has their own reasons, it would be best to each take care of one!”
“Your Highness. A king should not share his duties with others—“
“Shut it!”
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