Chapter 41 : Once Again

To Jin, Jill, and Mir’s worries, Seya was very safe and healthy.

“Hey, shouldn't you learn a little more about refusal? After running for your life like that until just now, shouldn't you have some spirit of resistance like ‘I won’t accept or eat anything you give me, I'll resist until the very end’ or something?”

The bearded man, who was watching Seya inhale the bread, stew, and grilled herring ravenously from across the table, spoke as if dumbfounded.

“You must have lived a softer life than you look, mister.”

Seya, answering without even looking at him, drained the last of the stew until the bottom of the bowl was visible.

“Opportunities to fill your stomach are rare. And I should eat lots of delicious things before I die.”

“I told you I’m not going to kill you. I've felt this since I first saw you, but you’re really stubborn, aren't you?”

Even at the mumbles of the man who caught him, Seya just silently continued to empty the bowl.

Like hell he won't kill me.

Adults' words can't be trusted.

Especially adults who reach out a hand saying they'll help vagrant children like himself.

Usually, such cases are about trying to exploit you, trying to sell you off, or bestowing fleeting pity.

It was always one of these three.

None of the three were any good for the children of the streets.

A guy who tries to exploit a kid who has nothing is a gangster and a guy who tries to sell you off is a human trafficker.

Pity seems sweet at first glance, but its end is always bitter.

Seya and the children had to pay a steep price to learn that.

There's no need to repeat it.

Seya chewed and swallowed the last piece of bread and glared at the man before him with fierce eyes.

The shantytown kids would usually flinch and lower their gaze when Seya glared like this, but this guy seemed completely unaffected.

“What are you looking at? Should I order you another bowl?”

Look at that, it's useless.

“……This one.”

It is not working.

There was no reason to refuse what he was offering when he could die at any moment, so Seya pointed to the plate where the trout, now only bones, had been lying.

At that thick-skinned behavior, the man grinned and raised his hand toward the server.

“Over here, bring two more bowls of stew.”

If he was going to do that, why did he ask?

“The trout here aren't great. The stew is much tastier.”

Perhaps his inner thoughts were showing clearly on his face, as the man looked down at Seya’s skinny hand and said.

‘He must be doing that because trout is more expensive.’

The child thought, not even imagining that the man before him was from a rather authoritative noble family.

As Seya continued to look at him with a dissatisfied expression, the man raised one eyebrow.

“So, you’re not going to eat?”

“Ah, that’s not it.”

At the quick reply, the man laughed again.

Seya watched him fixedly for a moment, then buried his nose in the warm plate the server brought.

Right, I have to fill my stomach to be able to run away.

Just you wait.

I have no intention of dying obediently.

***

Igo Crisa's face, with its patchy, untrimmed beard, was haggard.

In the original work, he was the one who supported Dito Abalan with an expressionless face, but here he was sitting in front of me, completely drained of energy.

-I'm not sure which Crisa family member will take your place next.

Those mocking words still lingered in my mind.

If he was even bringing the eldest son of the Crisa family, it was unlikely he'd cause such a scene just to find a picture book.

If it was a book the villain was searching for, there was only one in the original work.

The Red Book.

In the original work, it's the book Dito Abalan searches for.

The eldest son of the Crisa family, who should have been on Dito Abalan's side, and the book he is looking for.

A book that, according to the original work, Mentil shouldn't even know exists yet

What these two things indicated seemed quite clear.

That Dito and Mentil had joined hands faster than in the original work.

It was an alliance that should have originally been formed after Rasia's death.

An event from the original work had been moved up once again.

***

A cool breeze blew in through the open window.

Rasia watched his younger sister's long, wheaten hair, seated possessively on the office sofa, sway for a moment before turning his eyes back to his documents.

“Do you remember when we were young? I used to get so upset back then because you only played with Dito, older brother.”

The 1st Prince snorted at Mentil Abalan’s reminiscing words.

“Were you just upset? You followed us all the way to the forest, and we all got stranded.”

“Yes, we did.”

Rasia shook his head at his chuckling younger sister.

As if unaware of his inner thoughts, complaining that too many people were barging into his room lately, the 1st Imperial Princess continued speaking in a humming tone.

“Lately, I often think about wanting to go back to that time. Have you never felt that way, older brother?”

“I am thinking that I would like you to return to your room right now.”

At the blunt reply, Mentil giggled again as if something were funny.

Thinking she wasn't worth dealing with, Rasia clicked his tongue at her.

She was his clueless first younger sister.

When rumors first spread that there was something wrong with his body, talk also circulated that the 1st Imperial Princess was seen as a strong candidate for Emperor.

How he had laughed upon hearing that.

An idiot who only knew how to laugh and dress up.

That was Rasia's impression of Mentil Abalan.

All that talk about affection between family, and relationships between family.

Rasia did not like her, who always spouted such carefree nonsense while living under others' protection in this world of the law of the jungle.

Because it grated on him how she always occupied the seat of honor, even though she clearly had less Manis than him or Dito.

It was also ridiculous how items with all sorts of portraits painted, embroidered, and drawn on them circulated throughout the Empire, just because she was the most beautiful.

The sight of her being revered by insects.

It was clear that while receiving all sorts of special treatment according to the tradition of cherishing the first daughter, his stupid sister didn't even know how to take care of herself.

Did she say she used the ability of wind?

Her ability seemed quite strong, but her wheaten hair fell far short of platinum blond, and seeing how she never used Manis in front of him, it was obvious.

She must be ashamed of herself, considering her station.

“If you are free, go out and take a walk or something.”

“For me, seeing my family’s faces like this is more of a refreshment.”

That blasted talk of family.

For him, who felt no affection for her as a younger sister, they were not welcome words.

Rasia clicked his tongue once and nervously flipped the paper.

He planned to get rid of that idiot far away when he was appointed as the Crown Prince in the near future.

Traditionally the first daughter does not leave the Imperial Palace, but the story would change when I became the Emperor.

He had no need for a useless idiot in his palace.

She would probably come to her senses after living a destitute life in the cold, cold north.

When that day came, he would be able to watch that smiling face crumple.

“It seems you are still very close with Dito.”

As if unaware of Rasia's inner thoughts, Mentil asked calmly.

“What can I do, when there is no other sibling I connect with as much as that fellow.”

“That is true. After all, a younger sister cannot really fit in between brothers.”

Laying out her laughter-mixed words, she fiddled with her trailing hair once.

“By any chance, do you remember, since when you were so close with Dito?”

Why is she asking something like that?

Rasia, annoyed by her continuous attempts to talk, nervously put down the documents and answered.

“Why does something like that matter?”

“It does matter. What could be more important than the years between brothers?”

At the start of more stupid family talk, Rasia scowled and pointed to the door, as if it wasn't even worth answering.

“Isn't it obvious that it’s been since he was born? You are especially talkative today. I am busy with work, so please leave now.”

Whether she knew Rasia would lose his temper if she spoke further, Mentil obediently rose from her seat.

Approaching the door, she turned back one last time and smiled softly.

“Try to think about it carefully, older brother. Looking back on one's life is a more valuable thing than being buried under those documents.”

“I know better what is valuable or not, so you don't need to worry.”

Watching him just wave his hand, as if even the time to watch his younger sister leave the door was a waste, Mentil smiled without a single frown.

Just as she always did.

***

God damn it.

My perfect plan to pretend to be dead and disappear once the protagonist arrived was slipping away.

What on earth is the problem?

I somehow managed to align one thing, and now another event has been moved up.

What is the standard?

Considering the start of their alliance in the original work, the things I've changed have no relation whatsoever.

The event that allows them to guess Mentil's ability happens after my coming-of-age ceremony, Dito approaches Mentil, and the two join hands.

This is why I tried not to get close to the 1st Imperial Princess.

Because I didn't want to touch the original work over something unnecessary.

Of course, the fact that Mentil is a frightening woman who would do anything for her family also played a part.

The fortunate thing is that the place they expect the Red Book to be is a complete dead end.

But at the same time, this is also a huge misfortune.

Because it also meant that Dito’s movements could change direction completely.

I'm not saying I don't know why they're searching that bastard Cellos's room, but the Red Book isn't there.

If so, what can I do?

Intercept it first, or prevent them from intercepting the Red Book first?

Both were unsavory options, but it couldn't be helped.

Because the story won't proceed without the map that will serve as a guide for the protagonist's journey.

***

Cellos contemplated how to lift and set down the teacup in front of him so that it would be least conspicuous and make no sound, but then chose not to touch it at all.

“Is it not to your liking?”

“Ah, no. It is not.”

Although it didn't take long to realize that it hadn't been a very wise choice.

He carefully looked at the black-haired woman sitting across from him.

His mother, whose fine wrinkles, formed after turning 50, were even beautiful.

She, who had been savoring the tea with her eyes closed, opened her mouth without even opening them.

“Do not force yourself to drink. You have been weak since you were young.”

Cellos Abalan, who flinched as if he had done something wrong, felt like he was becoming a small child in front of his mother and firmly shut his mouth.

“Well, it cannot be helped if there is a difference in ability.”

Knowing that the small words, spoken as if to herself, were comparing him to his other siblings, Cellos's shoulders slumped even more.

He was always like this, standing before the Empress.

Guilty, frustrated, and uncomfortable.

This time, there was also the matter of deceiving her, so it was even more so.

“Um, Your Majesty, the Empress, it seems you still enjoy looking at the stars.”

The topic of conversation, barely squeezed out to escape the uncomfortable subject, was the telescope that caught his eye.

The Empress's eyes observed Cellos for a moment, then quickly fell away.

“Yes, isn't it natural for the citizens of the Empire to be at least a little curious about what that place up there is like.”

Fortunately, this choice wasn't bad, as the Empress nodded and lifted her teacup.

Cellos unknowingly raised the corners of his mouth awkwardly.

“That's right. Because everyone wants to return to those stars and the moon.”

The Empress quietly nodded her head again this time.

It had been a long time since he'd had a conversation that wasn't dominated by pity, trouble, and irritation, so Cellos felt uplifted.

“Ah, that must be why you have so many related books. That book is also in my room……”

Thak.

Cellos's pathetic voice was cut off by the loud sound of the teacup being set down.

“You may leave now.”

“……Yes?”

“It seems there is nothing important, and my head hurts from the chattering. I believe you have been here quite long enough.”

“Uh, so suddenly?”

“With the cause right in front of me, how can I rest comfortably?”

“……I apologize.”

Cellos hurriedly bowed his head and stood up from his seat.

He wasn't unaware of how much the Empress suffered because he was born without ability.

His insides boiled.