ALL NOVEL Chapter 215
In the pitch-black darkness, Acella opened her eyes.
Evening… or is it dawn?
How long has it been since I’ve been cooped up in bed? I couldn’t even tell how time was flowing anymore.
“…Ugh.”
My head felt like it was splitting. I hadn’t been asleep for long. I had collapsed after several days of being awake.
But the thought of reaching for the medicine in the drawer didn’t even cross my mind.
Only consciousness and soul were raging in my head, while my body lay still on the bed, taking shallow breaths.
It felt like something vital was completely drained from my life.
Yet how pathetic the human body is.
Even in such agony, even in such sorrow, I’m hungry and my eyelids grow heavy.
Truly a frail creature.
“…Ha.”
Acella got out of bed, still in the outfit she couldn’t even remember changing into. Dust on the floor stuck to her feet.
For some reason, she wanted to get some fresh air.
It was obvious that the guards were outside the door. With barely any strength left in her arms, Acella managed to open the window and threw herself outside.
Thud, her legs scraped against the grass as she fell from the second floor. Not even thinking to wipe the flowing blood, she trudged aimlessly through the Imperial Palace.
The palace was quiet at dawn. Torches flickered sporadically along the path. The patrolling knights couldn’t bring themselves to approach, seeing her disheveled appearance.
These were the people Acella was supposed to lead. She had never once doubted her goal of ruling the Empire.
Now… she didn’t know.
Why had she wanted to become the Empress? What did she wish to achieve through it?
She had forgotten.
Perhaps there was never a reason at all.
She looked around at the magnificent palace. Now, the darkness had settled and concealed its grandeur.
Had she wanted to enjoy that wealth?
No, not at all. While she wasn’t as self-serving as Heike, Acella had never cared for luxury from the start.
Then, what about power? Perhaps she had wanted a bit of it. It had pleased her to see the common folk lined up beneath her like ants.
But even that interest had existed because she had an obligation to look after them as royalty; if there had been no need from the beginning, she wouldn’t have glanced anywhere but at her magic tomes.
Then why?
Why had she stubbornly insisted on wanting to become the Empress?
What had she truly desired…?
Wandering, her footsteps instinctively led her to a certain place.
Whoosh, a strong wind ruffled her hair.
Only then did Acella realize she had walked out of the palace for a while and climbed the castle wall.
A spot overlooking the central market far away.
“…Ah.”
A breath escaped her disheartened lips.
Bang!
An echo filled her ears.
It was the sound of fireworks.
It was the place where she had watched the festival with Lars.
The spot where she had first whispered her love to him, solidifying her feelings for him.
She barely managed to hold herself up to avoid collapsing from the weakness in her legs.
…It was strange.
No matter how much she tried to recall, she couldn’t remember the sensation from that time.
Acella brought her trembling fingers to her lips.
All she could feel were shriveled pieces of skin.
“…Ugh.”
That person was no longer here.
He existed only in her memories.
As Acella painfully realized this truth once again, she hugged herself.
Cold, and even colder.
*
Thud— Thud—
The sound of drums echoed in the Central Square.
Returning amidst the cheers of countless citizens was Lishe.
“Sister Hero!”
A child from the village had come bearing a garland made just for her. Lishe got down from her horse and accepted the frayed garland with a carefree smile.
In her innocent demeanor, the people of the Empire could find solace even amidst the threats from the Demon King’s army. They clung to hope that, despite the crisis of the Emperor’s death in the Duchy, the Demon Race had been pushed back because of her.
She returned with the news of having swiftly defeated the advance forces of the demon race that had appeared on the borders of the Mid-World.
It had already been nearly a year since the attending physician Lars Gothberg had left the Empire.
“The gates are opening. We will return to the Imperial Palace. Thank you for your hard work, Hero.”
“You too, Teacher. I’m glad the people of the kingdom were kind.”
Lishe and Tanya returned to the Imperial Palace together. It had been a long time since they’d coordinated their efforts. Now, they felt awkward if they were apart.
Three seasons had already passed, and winter had come again. Lishe shivered slightly as the chill seeped through her leather armor.
“Let’s prepare a coat.”
“No, I heard the Demon Realm is colder than this. It’s better to get used to it.”
Lishe spoke firmly. In truth, she had grown to the point where she could handle not just one knight but even an entire squad of knights.
Tanya constantly sensed the ‘complete hero’ in her that could only be glimpsed when she resonated with her in the past.
“Is that so? I didn’t know that information.”
“Yes. Before, Teacher Gothberg…”
Lishe paused in her speech. Tanya could understand her reaction.
She had already noticed that Lishe harbored feelings for Lars, which she had been observing nearby. Somehow, she figured out that there was some connection between Lishe and Lars, even though they were supposed to be strangers.
Of course, she wouldn’t pry into her lord’s private matters. What was heard and seen during their watch was like a non-issue.
Eventually, with the conversation trailing off, the two entered the palace.
The palace, now devoid of the Emperor, felt more desolate than before, yet it returned to normalcy just like before.
Originally, the governance of the Empire had rested solely on Acella’s shoulders. Now, even economic and social policies were nearly handed over to Heike and Lau.
The only remaining authority was the management of the Hero party, held by George. The responsibility towards Lishe had once again fallen to the Moonlight Palace.
“That’s…”
The secretary trailed off. Even without hearing it, the reason was clear.
Tanya headed toward the second floor of the Moonlight Palace.
The door to Acella’s chamber remained firmly shut.
“I can’t report.”
“Yes. If you could wait for the right time…”
“When is that?”
An interjecting voice. Lishe strode decisively to stand before Acella’s door.
“Hero?”
Without giving anyone a chance to stop her, Lishe grabbed the doorknob. Clang, when it wouldn’t open, she forced it and broke it.
“Hero!”
The secretary tried to surprise her and stop her, but Lishe entered the bedroom without looking back.
Bang, she shut the door and glanced around.
It was a complete mess.
Clothes strewn about everywhere, leftover food trays, torn books and vases, shriveled houseplants lay scattered across the floor.
With drawn curtains, no sunlight entered, leaving the room dim.
The musty scent of dust filled the air, having not been cleaned for quite a while. It was at the point where she felt a cough coming on any moment now.
Lishe approached the bed, taking in the devastation.
In the blankets lay a small, curled-up shape.
Yank! Lishe grabbed the blankets and instantly threw them off.
“…Give it back.”
The golden-haired princess peering from under there trembled as she pleaded.
“…Your Highness.”
Seeing her immediately brought forth a wave of sympathy in Lishe.
The princess who hadn’t eaten properly or gone outside had lost all her weight. Her once glossy and beautiful golden hair was now dull and lifeless.
The dark circles beneath her eyes told the tale of how she had spent all day in bed, unable to sleep even a single moment.
“Have you eaten?”
Acella couldn’t respond to Lishe’s question.
Perhaps she was afraid of Lishe, as she hung her head low and crawled into the corner of the bed.
Did she think that if she couldn’t be seen, she would vanish?
How had the third princess of the Empire ended up in such a state?
Lishe felt pity but also an odd dark emotion beginning to rise within her.
“Your Highness.”
Hoping to talk with her, Lishe sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in closer to Acella.
“Everyone is waiting for you. The secretary, the commander, even Tanya the Swordmaster. There’s no one else who can lead the Moonlight Palace but you.”
Acella plugged her ears as if she didn’t want to hear Lishe’s words.
Lishe found her reaction a bit incomprehensible.
“Your Highness, the you I know is more beautiful, intelligent, and confident than anyone. Of course, it’s natural to take a break when times are tough. But… it’s been a year. It’s already been a year. A lot has been happening outside.”
“…Shut up, get out.”
Acella rejected the conversation.
Lishe decided to soften her tone and try to soothe her.
“Alright. I’ll go out. But you must remember that there are those depending on your shoulders. You’re someone incredible. Even without Teacher Gothberg, you can do so much…”
“Don’t say that!!”
Out of the blue, Acella screamed.
“…Ha.”
Seeing her reaction, Lishe was certain.
The reason Acella had secluded herself was none other than because of Lars.
Lishe thought she was irresponsible. The number of people in the Empire, whom she had to care for as Emperor, was countless, not just the Moonlight Palace.
To abandon everything and let herself go because of one person like Lars…
‘…Sister said it, didn’t she?’
Lishe patiently called out to her once more.
“Your Highness.”