TL/Editor: Butter Cat

    Status: 4/week mon-thurs

    Illustrations: none

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    〈 Chapter 77 〉 Chapter 77. Soap Bubbles

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    In my hazy, wavering consciousness, the vaguely visible truth only seemed to drift further and further away as it screamed.

    The scene before my eyes was too fleeting and sweet to be reality, yet too miserable and bitter to be a dream.

    Was it a truly existing entity.

    Or merely a false illusion conjured by my memories.

    ["—NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"］

    Without even a moment to confirm the truth, Aris’s figure darted away from me.

    Like a soap bubble that could burst at the slightest touch, I knew I shouldn''t, yet I unconsciously reached out to—

    —Slash.

    Along with a chilling sound, the only thing that met my hand was a miserable reality.

    "—You...who are you..."

    "........."

    For a moment, I couldn''t understand what had happened.

    I only felt an intense heat surging through my arm.

    My pristine white robe, now stained crimson around the torn fabric, slowly started to spread, like a blooming flower.

    As if a red flower was gracefully unfurling its petals under the sunlight, using the flowing blood as nourishment, the stain on my robe grew larger and larger.

    —Thump, thump.

    ".........."

    My head spun.

    My pounding pulse quickened its beat, gradually intensifying, until finally, it became a single instrument dominating my ears.

    At that stinging, burning pain, I absent-mindedly looked down, forgetting even to withdraw my arm.

    Drip, drip.

    Blood trickled down my fingertips, falling to the ground.

    On the snow-covered road, a red rain fell.

    "—Why you…! Why are you here in front of me again, I''m asking you—!!!"

    "....Ah."

    A small sigh escaped.

    That lament which had cut through the air between us, whose sigh was it really.

    Remi’s sword, without a sound, without any hesitation, lunged straight towards me, as I was forced to face the reality I wanted to deny. sea??h thё N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That sharp attack, aimed at me as I stared blankly at my arm, carried enough force to easily take my life.

    Perhaps.

    "—HAAAAAAAAAAH!?"

    ───CLAAANG!!!

    If someone hadn''t intervened.

    Remi''s attack, fueled by all her might, was blocked only by the scabbard of the guard who had jumped between us with a scream, and barely managed to stop right in front of me.

    Sparks flew as the swords clashed, and Remi''s blade struggling against the guard''s writhed like a snake, as if trying to devour me.

    On the blade of Remi''s sword, I could see a fresh, red liquid that hadn''t yet dried, and I finally understood the source of the pain I had been feeling.

    And I also realized that the sigh I had heard had come from me.

    "Crown Princess!? Are you alright? Princess Remi! Even if you are a Princess—"

    "—So what!? What are you going to do about it!? What… are you… going to… do!!!"

    "....!?"

    —THUD.

    With a somewhat dull sound, the guard was thrown back a good distance away.

    As my eyes slowly followed the guard''s figure, flying through the air in a gentle arc, I saw Remi''s eyes, sharp as a hawk''s, fixated on me as if she had found her target.

    The tip of her weapon raised high, demanding my neck, held not a shred of hesitation, only the single-minded determination to kill me.

    I simply watched the whole scene unfold.

    The surreal sound of steel cutting through the air.

    Remi''s scream, like a reprimand directed at me.

    Even the urgent cries of the guards around me.

    In that chorus of all those sounds—

    "....Ah."

    Yes.

    Remi had cut my arm.

    Finally, a small sense of reality seemed to be setting in for the first time.

    **

    Would this be how it feels if every piece of flesh on my body was torn away.

    The heavy snowfall that seemed like it would never end had finally ceased, and the sun, which had hidden itself behind the clouds, was starting to reveal its face, but.

    I was still trapped in a bottomless abyss.

    ".........."

    It hurt, so much.

    My heart ached, as if being torn apart.

    Every time Remi''s contemptuous gaze, like she was looking at something disgusting, swept over me.

    Every time the image of Aris screaming and running away from the sight of me suddenly appeared in a corner of my mind.

    That stinging pain, like pouring salt on an open wound, kept washing over me, like relentless waves crashing against the shore.

    They say that waves, as they approach the shore, gradually reveal their towering heights, which they had hidden beneath the surface.

    Even the heaviest rocks or sharpest spires are no different from mere pebbles before waves that sweep away everything.

    This suffocating, agonizing feeling that seemed to be eating away at my soul, like mocking me, only grew stronger and stronger like a rising tide, no matter how much good medicine I applied to my exposed flesh or how tightly I bandaged my wounds.

    Only when that pain completely engulfed me, burning through my entire body, did I finally realize.

    That this pain, incurable by any means, stemmed from within my own heart.

    Yes, an illness.

    One that easily leads people to death.

    A truly fatal, incurable illness.

    "—Let go….of me!! That bastard needs to die, I have to kill her!!!"

    "—Hey, are you crazy!? Just wait a minute!! Alice is sleeping in the next room!!"

    "......."

    Riiiip, Remi’s clothes stretched taut, screaming in protest.

    If I reached out, I might be able to touch that spot. There, Remi has her sword aimed at me, not caring about ripping her clothes, and a woman desperately pulling on Remi''s clothes to restrain her, stood.

    A mercenary who had introduced herself as Han Sia.

    For her, who had only gotten involved in someone else''s family matters, she must be feeling quite unhappy about the current situation.

    I’m deeply sorry for dragging everyone into this mess.

    "Let gooooo!! I''ll kill that bastard and then go see Aris!!!"

    "This crazy princess!? Aish! Why is she so strong!? Hey, you! Go somewhere! Don''t just stand there looking pathetic, go somewhere!!"

    "......."

    Her words were a little rough, weren’t they.

    That woman, with a self-deprecating smile, was holding Remi by the neck with a surprisingly skillful grip, maintaining a delicate balance.

    Though her attitude might seem disrespectful towards royalty, it''s said that the words and actions of wise ministers taste as bitter as poison while those of sycophants taste as sweet as honey.

    That kindness embedded in those actions would surely become a great source of strength for Remi in the future.

    Remi must also understand that on some level. That''s why she''s only trying to push the woman away rather than swinging her sword or using violence.

    A friend who would steadfastly advise about the future without wavering at her side.

    Just having such a treasure by her side showed the value of the past two years Remi had spent.

    Unlike me, who had simply been swept along.

    We were fundamentally different.

    "—Forgiveness? Ha, I can never forgive her! You know too… you know everything…!! Then why, why are you trying to stop me!!"

    "…Oh my god, this is driving me insane!"

    Remi continued glaring at me with eyes full of hatred, even as she struggled to free herself from the mercenary''s grasp.

    Remi, who was once praised as the kingdom''s most promising talent, a brilliant and intelligent individual destined to lead the kingdom.

    The palace officials, the teachers who taught Remi, the maids who attended to her, all had sung praises of Remi''s beauty in unison.

    But now, under the faint light filtering through the red curtains, Remi''s eyes had lost their original brightness and were stained completely red.

    Those eyes, burning red with hatred as fuel, felt like the fires of hell, waiting to consume me in their flames.

    ".........."

    I simply kept my head bowed, waiting anxiously for the time of judgment to come, like a condemned prisoner offering their neck.

    Huu, and.

    The small breath I inhaled was filled with a metallic scent.

    ".....I''m sorry."

    I apologized.

    Even though I knew my small voice wouldn''t reach Remi who was shouting, I still muttered the words.

    Though an apology, aimless and without a target, was no different from an insincere response.

    Even though I knew my immature attitude would only fuel my sister''s anger.

    Even though I knew that the reason I could still be alive now was all thanks to the woman who is presumably Remi''s friend.

    Despite all that, I couldn''t help but lower my head.

    Because I had a reason, a reason I couldn''t back down from, even if it meant risking my life.

    I didn''t think I could ever return to the past when we all laughed together, as if nothing had ever happened.

    Nor did it mean I wanted to let go of the weight of the world that had been placed upon me because of my mistake.

    Just, one word.

    I wanted to convey just one word - sorry.

    And so, some time passed—

    ───Creeeak.

    An eerie sound reached my ears.

    The unpleasant sound of unlubricated metal grinding against each other.

    Strangely enough, that sound alone was crystal clear amidst the chaos filling the living room.

    —Creeak…!

    ".......Ah."

    "…See, that’s why I told you."

    Even Remi and the mercenary, who had been wrestling with each other, stopped their actions and held their breaths.

    My head, following the source of the sound, slowly turned towards the door which had been closed just moments ago, now revealing a small gap.

    And in that darkness.

    "......."

    "....Aris."

    A pair of eyes like brilliantly shining jewels.

    Were quietly staring straight at me.

    **

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