My Childhood Friends Are Trying To Kill Me

***

“But, Lelia, if you are successful… No one can ever go against you.”

“…”

“You don’t have to be forced to marry someone. Of course, you would be able to choose anyone you want.” Griffith whispered in a firm, trustworthy tone.

What he said was true. As long as she stays she’ll be in glory, they won’t be against her. Because those who could object would already be thrown out. Even the current prosperity was already under his feet. He has already finished all the work needed. All the opposing priests were kicked out. Everything was perfect.

The temple, whose purpose was to seize control of the five empires in the first place, laid down all the foundations. Everything they had made, Griffith devoured without any effort. Now that he has been given this power in the first place, everything is naturally his. For the first time, Griffith fully accepted his power. He decided to take advantage of it.

The priests and the current prosperity, all had absolute faith in God. Respect for the god Kreuzt, all of which has been passed down to Griffith. He had a divine power that they did not dare look at, so it was only natural for him.

It wasn’t a problem for Lelia to be successful if Griffith wanted it. Success is absolute power. Lelia could have all the priests fall at her feet if she wanted to. It doesn’t matter if she gets married or not, and it wouldn’t matter if she had all the male priests.

Of course, she didn’t intend to do that. Griffith looked at Lelia, pitifully shedding her tears, and tucked her hair behind her ear. It was a careful and thoughtful touch, like petals fluttering in the wind.

“Even if he is the Emperor of Auraria, he can’t easily touch the seat of the Holy Emperor. He would be afraid of you, so he won’t be able to touch a single finger on the Superion Territory.”

“…”

“I can’t even dream of your mother being taken by force or even taking you away. He’s a politician. No matter how mad he is, he cannot turn against the rest of the empires and against Kreuzt.”

“However…”

“You don’t have to see him for the rest of your life if you want. You can live without him.”

“…”

“Besides, you will be free. They say that if you stay here for a while, you can stay in the estate for the rest of your life. Your mother and you can always be with your family.”

“…”

“We will always be by your side without forcing you to marry us. The five of us… We don’t have to part forever.”

The sweetest words were constantly pouring into her ears. According to Griffith, Lelia’s future looked like heaven. She was able to achieve everything without losing anything. Emperor Perseus cannot interfere with her. She doesn’t have to see him forever if she wanted…

Besides, he said that she could always stay with her family without any damage to the Superion estate. It was offensive to say that she had to stay in the temple area for ‘partial time’, but not for the rest of her life. Besides…

‘The five of us.’

[Never parting forever…?]

Saying that she wouldn’t have to part with her family and friends forever was a sweet temptation that melted in her ears. To Lelia, her friends were her source of support. They have been entrenched in her heart longer than her family. They were the source of her self-esteem, her reason to live, and her purpose in life. All she wanted was peace. If only she could live her life in peace with her friends just like her childhood…

She might be greedy, but it was just her wish. Hearing his words, it seemed that she had nothing to lose. However…

[Why?]

There was a lingering question. Why is Griffith doing this? It was obviously Griffith who wanted to monopolize her and even did strange things to her.

[So, why?]

Lelia’s eyes, which had been blurry, became sharp. What is Griffith’s purpose? Lelia turned her head and she stared intently at him.

“So what’s your benefit in all this?”

Griffith did not mistake her sharp tone. He had knocked her down enough, so he thought she would come over easily, but she wasn’t docile.

Griffith let out a sigh as he lifted his hand from her shoulder and wrapped it around her. As his body temperature, which had been wrapped warmly on the back of her hand, fell , she felt a strange chill. Griffith made an expression of struggling with guilt. At that moment, Lelia’s heart felt so guilty that it was filled with regret.

Griffith said in a trembling voice, “Back then… I was reckless.”

“…”

Lelia believed it, but did not at the same time.

[Are you serious?]

She couldn’t believe it easily since she had suffered. Perhaps noticing her feelings, Griffith scoffed. “I can’t help it even if you don’t believe it. But it’s true. I have always regretted it ever since.”

“…”

“But then I really couldn’t help it. I was so nervous, I couldn’t think of another way… I’m glad I got you back, but at the same time, I love you so much. I want to stay by your side…”

“Griffith…”

“I’m sorry, I’m really reflecting. I don’t want to burden you anymore… I’m serious.”

Lelia let out a sigh.

Griffith put her hand on his chest, as if reflecting with sincere remorse, and said, “I can swear on my life. I really regret it.” Griffith said it with a virtuous expression that even cut off her wrist. He was like a saint confessing his sins to God.

“Okay…”

Lelia had no choice but to answer. He sounded really sincere. In fact, Griffith was sincere. Without acting or lying, he was regretful of that day. Had he known that he would lose his chance to Oscar like an idiot, he would never have done it that way. He regretted it. He regretted it, but it was already too late, and the future was more important. Griffith had no intention of making a second mistake.

“…”

Griffith buried his face in her palm, still in pain, and sighed. He watched Lelia become restless. Lelia was so cute.

Griffith suppressed the laughter that seemed to leak out of him. He still laughed when he saw Lelia’s innocent face.

‘How can you make a face that I never thought of?’

For the four friends, Leo’s existence was their sole reason and purpose in life. But it’s not enough for Leo to be alive, he was so coveted and grew so beautifully that just by looking at it took their breath away.

It was because of Lelia.

‘What do you mean you don’t feel that way? Isn’t that too selfish?’

Her innocent face, as if she was with her childhood friends, was cute and lovely. In the first place, her insensitivity was too cruel to them, who had only lived for Leo. It was a very good idea to make Lelia a saint. Yes, he needed to.

Of course he wants to monopolize her, but since he’s done this, it’s not bad to share her with everyone. Just as God gives equal love to all, so should she. Isn’t it too unfair for her to be someone’s wife? After all, Lelia is precious to all four of them. So, it was a plan that came to mind. No one can monopolize, but she remained closest to one’s side.

There was plenty of time ahead. At least for the four of us, we deserved to be at a fair starting point, for a fair opportunity. Since, at the end of the day, he doesn’t know who Lelia will choose.

Griffith swept his face down as if distressed by his guilt, then lowered his hand. He seemed to have stopped laughing, and this made his complexion pale. He seemed to have committed a really great sin. He managed to squeeze his voice out.

“You asked what I would get, Lelia?”

“…”

“What I get is my peace and happiness. You don’t have to lose your friends… You and our friends are all precious to me.”

Griffith’s voice sounded sincere. Lelia also did not doubt this part.

“Besides, the people of the Superion family are like family to me now. How kind have they been to me…”

The family sees Griffith as a traitor, but Griffith seems to really care about them. Because of that, Lelia felt pity for him. When the family clears up the “misunderstanding” about Griffith, they will love him again as before. Unknowingly, Lelia came to think that Griffith was pitiful, and that her antipathy towards him was a ‘misunderstanding’.

“Besides, I hate Emperor Perseus, who tried to mistreat you, and I hate the twin princes and Princess Julianna who tormented you. I don’t want to send you to them.”

“…”

“How can I see you unhappy?”

It was sincere. He knows how difficult Lelia’s childhood was. He really wanted to protect poor Lelia. He wanted to hug and take care of her warmly. He wanted to make her smile for the rest of her life, as bright as the moment they were together. But even so, if Lelia was destined to become unhappy, it had to be by their side.

He was even willing to embrace that misfortune. Of course, he’d be more willing to do it alone.. It wasn’t bad to eat up her misfortune with her friends. After all, the fact that friends are precious wasn’t just a lie. Even if he hit it when they hit it, he needed to create a peaceful atmosphere together for now. To make Lelia feel safe.

***