kscans

Chapter 32 - Let It All Out, Part 1

The carriage carrying Millière sped along the road, hurrying to catch up with her beloved daughter and son. Back at the manor, the servants had begun packing, and Aristerios had been notified. It was time for her to make her move as well. But before that, the desire to see her children grew stronger. Although she would be going to the Qua Kingdom for procedural matters and wouldn't be gone for months, she would finally be able to spend time with her daughter, who was back to her old self. How could she not be happy?

"Now then. I wonder how long it’ll take to catch them~"

Humming a tune as she was jostled in the carriage, Millière looked quite cheerful, but the storm that was about to unfold would be considerable. Yet that was that, and this was this. They would have to take proper responsibility for what they had done. Because they were the ones who did it. Even if they were the royal family.

Well, that doesn't matter right now, she thought, gently shaking her head. Catching up to her children came first. She had entrusted their escort to a reliable man, and she believed Lupia would be able to relax a little around him. They had been too strict with her until now, and on top of that, they had made her undergo training to become Crown Princess, unable to refuse the royal family's request.

That was now completely off the table, so one could say all's well that ends well, but time couldn't be rewound to undo the burdens they had placed on her. Furthermore, so many things had happened in such a short period, so she wanted her to be at peace, at least until they moved.

Rattle, rattle. Millière gazed at the passing scenery, listening to the sound of the carriage wheels and the horses' hooves, her thoughts turning to the future.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"We’re here…!"

Rupert stretched his back with a groan. Lupia and Vernella couldn't do so as freely, but they still stretched their bodies as much as they could.

"I thought the royal family might send pursuers, but there were none," Gerald muttered as he dismounted his beloved horse and began to stretch.

They probably wanted to chase after them, but it would have been impossible. If they had, the royal family's credibility would be in serious jeopardy.

"They couldn’t, could they? It would be absurd for them to cling so tenaciously to someone they’ve cast aside."

"Ah, that’s true."

Gerald nodded at Lupia’s calm assessment. They were the ones who had chosen and then discarded her, so they couldn't demand she be returned. Those were the words Aristerios had spoken to the royal family. That’s why they couldn’t pursue. The order of things was different now, but the Crown Princess was still there, and they would be in trouble if she couldn’t handle things on her own.

"By the way, Uncle. It has been a while since I’ve been to the duchy’s territory… Have there been any changes?"

"Changes?"

"Well… things like poor crop growth, or disputes among the people…"

"No, I’ve been conducting inspections, but there’s been nothing of the sort. …What is it?"

"………"

Myself, controlled by the System.

Lupia wondered just how far its influence had reached.

Rupert had been out of the country, so he was apparently unaffected. Vernella had been in the same country, but she too was unaffected.

So, what was the extent of that thing’s control?

At the very least, Lupia had been controlled. But Falty… she probably—no, she definitely—had not been. In fact, the scene she saw in her dream suggested that Falty had done something, and that System had turned Lupia into a doll for a whole year.

But for what purpose?

During the selection of candidates for Crown Princess, the House of Ardia had not been chosen. Houses of marquesses with longer histories and count families with vast fortunes had been selected, but the King's foolish remark that ‘the Calmond family is just right’ had made Lupia the leading candidate. The other candidates, like Lupia, had received separate training to become the Crown Princess. Had there been someone connected to the House of Ardia among them? She considered this and, after her memories were erased, scoured various documents, but that didn't seem to be the case.

"…Lupia, what happened?"

"…"

"Hey, Lupia?"

"…Uncle, would you… even if it sounds like a fairytale, would you listen to what I have to say without mocking me?"

"Hm?"

"I need you to listen."

"I see. …In that case, let’s wait until your mother arrives."

"………Huh?"

"We’re supposed to rendezvous here."

"I wasn’t told that?!"

"She told me, ‘Keep it a secret!’ …Sorry."

It wasn’t that Millière was physically stronger than Gerald or anything of the sort. But for some reason, he just couldn’t seem to defy her. That’s how it was.

To the twins, she was a strict but gentle mother, but given her origins, Lupia understood she was a formidable woman. Was it really that bad…? As she pondered this, a large hand was placed gently on her head.

"Um, Uncle?"

"About everything… until now, I’m sorry. We… pushed it all onto you."

"Huh?"

"The future of becoming Crown Princess that was forced upon you, even though it was the royal family’s wish, and also… receiving the education to become the next duchess. Even if that’s considered normal, you’re not just a duchess’s daughter; you’re also a young girl."

"Uh, well…"

Lupia didn’t quite understand what he meant. And he didn’t need to apologize; it wasn’t Gerald’s fault at all. But she remembered a friend she made at the academy saying something similar.

‘Lupia, while you’re at the academy, you have to learn to enjoy being a girl!’

She had tilted her head in confusion, wondering what that meant, but thanks to that friend, she felt her perspective had broadened. Still, no matter what, her status and position weren’t things that would simply disappear. Everyone was probably worried about her circumstances, but she genuinely wanted to succeed her father, so she didn’t think it was something to be concerned about.

The royal family’s words and actions were unforgivable, but it was fine now.

Gerald had seen all of Lupia’s efforts, and so had her father and mother. Because of this incident, the Calmond family, relatives and all, would probably leave that country. In that case, maybe it was okay to tell the people she could trust about the situation she had been in. Lupia looked up at Gerald.

"Regarding what I said earlier about ‘needing you to listen’…"

"What is it?"

"I have already spoken to Rupert and Vernella on the way here. …Uncle… have you heard that… I was acting strangely during my last year at the academy?"

"…Yes."

Gerald nodded with a grimace.

"This is about why that happened. About the cause of my strange behavior."

"……What?"

"I will, of course, tell Father as well, but I will speak to you and Mother first."

Lupia bowed deeply, lowering her head. She was not a child who would say such things as a joke. Something serious must have happened. Steeling himself, Gerald waited for Millière’s arrival.