kscans

Chapter 62 - Episode 49: Clean Up Your Own Mess, Part 3

"That’s… that wasn’t my intention."

Falty trembled, her face pale. But responsibility always falls on someone, eventually. Whether it’s now, or in the distant future.

Even if the ‘System’ had borrowed Falty’s body to summon Lupia to this country, it would still be seen as Falty’s doing. To everyone else, she looked like no one but ‘Falty.’ What’s more, Falty herself had been fully intent on summoning Lupia here. She thought that perhaps her feelings had been exploited, but she had no intention of debating that now. Besides, she should have been able to imagine that a face-to-face meeting was bound to end up like this.

"...You know, I wonder why, Lady Falty."

Lupia smiled beautifully, a smile completely at odds with the situation, as she called Falty’s name.

Despite the traces of blood still on her neck and the stains on her dress, Lupia stood dignified and beautiful.

It had nothing to do with her having a trace of royal blood. It was an innate quality she was born with. Her back was straight, her eyes were clear, and she stared at Falty as if to say, ‘You are not allowed to look away.’

"Didn’t you realize it was a dream that would one day end?"

"A d-dream…"

"It was a wonderful, fairytale-like development, wasn’t it? The two of you, bound by true love, casting aside me, the original fiancée of the Crown Prince. How lovely."

Please stop being so sarcastic, Falty wanted to scream, but Lupia was only stating facts. If it sounded like sarcasm, wasn't that because it had hit its mark?

"But you know."

Lupia’s calm voice changed completely.

"After the story ends, you have to take responsibility for what you’ve done. Surely you understand at least that much, don’t you?"

What is she talking about? Falty tilted her head. The two people united by fated love live happily ever after. Shouldn’t that have been the end of it? That’s what she thought, which was why she couldn’t understand the meaning of Lupia’s question.

"Bloodlines, mutual ties, and above all, an engagement that was a royal decree. You overturned all of that so that you, a person with no connection to any of it, could become the Crown Princess."

"B-but, I love Liam!"

"If only politics ran on love, how much easier it would be."

"Wha—!"

Lupia spat the words out, her face a perfect mask of undisguised disgust, as if she were carrying a giant sign that read, ‘I hold you in utter contempt.’ She was right, of course, but did she have to say it like that?! As Falty tried to argue back, she finally realized.

"…………………………Ah."

This was all about her. Before complaining to Lupia, she hadn’t even tried to understand the gravity of her own actions. Led on by the ‘System’—no, tempted by it—she had completely ruined another young woman’s life. That said, Lupia herself was grateful, saying, ‘I never wanted to be the Crown Princess, so thank you!’ In a way, for Lupia, it had all worked out for the best. But… the same could not be said for Falty.

She had been told time and time again by the ‘System,’ and Cassandra had pointed it out as well. During her Crown Princess training with the Queen, the Queen had also drilled it into her relentlessly.

Because the ‘System’ was there, she thought she would be fine. Because she believed, with a certain kind of purity, that there would be no clouds in her happiness, it was only when the truth was shoved in her face by Lupia herself that she might have truly understood.

"U-um."

"I will say it as many times as it takes. Thank you for taking my future from me. But that comes with responsibility. You involved my dear friends and my precious brother’s fiancée, and said all sorts of things… but as for cleaning up that mess."

Lupia leaned in close to Falty, her voice dropping low as she continued.

"You are going to do it yourself."

"………………………Ah."

Just as she finished speaking and pulled back, the doors to the Audience Chamber flew open with a bang.

"What is the meaning of this!"

The King, who had run all the way here, was panting for breath. He saw Aristerios, then Millière, Rupert, and Lupia, and his face lit up.

"Oh, oh… Duke!! Have you returned?!"

"The nerve of him to pretend he doesn’t see me and the Countess Alcioni."

"...I couldn’t agree more."

Aristerios and Rod spoke in low voices. Vernella, too, watched the king who had just burst in with an indescribable expression. The entire group let out a collective, heavy sigh, wondering if the whole country had been put under a curse that made them see only what was convenient.

"...I wonder if this is the price for messing with people’s lives."

"Th-that’s not, possible!"

"How conveniently are you choosing to interpret things? There’s no such thing as a change that doesn’t affect anything, is there? The possibility of something going wrong is always bound to be greater."

"...Ugh…"

The one who had initiated the change and the one who had been changed were having a detached conversation. The King’s eyes were sparkling, but he still needed to be brought back to his senses.

"Your Majesty, more importantly than that."

"Oh, what is it, Duke?"

"If you are to abdicate, please let us know. We will attend the ceremony."

"Huh?"

"That’s right. I trust I’ll be invited then as well."

"What?! W-why is the King of Qua here!!"

You’re too slow, you idiot. Without concealing his uncharacteristically foul mouth for a king, Rod stepped in front of Aristerios.

"Your country’s Crown Princess invited one of my country’s knights… a trainee, was it, Lupia?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am still but a trainee."

"What?! W-why is Lupia a knight?!"

"There is no law in the Qua Kingdom that says a woman cannot become a knight."

"Indeed. If they’re competent, we use them. It’s as simple as that."

Ignoring the king, who was opening and closing his mouth like a fish, Rod continued calmly.

"We were invited, you see. By your country’s Crown Prince and Princess."

"...Huh?"

"They specified both me and Lupia by name. Ah, I can show you the letter if you need proof."

As Rod spoke nonchalantly, the King strode over to Falty and the still-unconscious Liam. Then, without mercy, he punched the limp Liam in the face.

"Your Majesty! What are you doing?!"

"Quiet! Wake up, you fool!"

‘Wake up,’ he yelled, hitting him over and over again. The retainers who had entered with the King were completely taken aback by the bizarre and uncharacteristic scene. Aristerios also muttered to himself, ‘He was never like this,’ and exchanged glances with Lupia, Millière, and Rupert.

"Get up already, Liam!"

His fists had at some point turned to open palms, and an especially loud SLAP! echoed through the room.

"...Ugh…"

"Liam-sama!"

Liam finally woke up, his eyes flying open from the incredible pain, but he immediately grimaced. Falty quickly cast a healing spell on him and shot a sharp glare at the King.

"Your Majesty, what do you think you’re doing?!"

"...How dare you… You two are the source of all this! This entire situation!"

Protecting Liam was all well and good, but in this matter, the King was right. Lupia and Rod were here because they had received an ‘invitation’ from the Crown Prince and Princess. It probably wasn't necessary to mention that Lupia had come first and done a few things in exchange for her life, so Vernella discreetly approached Lupia and healed the wound on her neck.

"Thank you."

Lupia whispered her thanks, and Vernella, still not quite over her mood, puffed out her cheeks slightly. But she quickly clung to Lupia’s arm and pleaded in a small voice, ‘Please don’t ever do something like that again.’ Of course, Lupia had no intention of casually offering up her life again. For now, the pain from the Knight Order’s training was more than enough.

While they were having their quiet conversation, the King seemed to be fiercely interrogating Falty and Liam about why they had invited them. But since they had been mostly unconscious, they couldn’t say anything and remained silent.

"What is the meaning of this! You can’t even explain the reason for your own actions?! Well?!"

He was interrogating them while panting heavily, but they surely couldn’t answer. They’re probably going to appeal to me for something, Lupia thought, and just then, her eyes met squarely with Liam’s and Falty’s.

"...Ugh."

Their faces screamed ‘Help us!’ but Lupia had no obligation to save them. If she were to try and reason with them here, they would run out of time, no matter how much they had.

"Vernella."

"Y-yes."

"Let’s go home."

"...Yes!"

She abruptly called Vernella’s name and suggested they return to the Qua Kingdom. Of course Vernella wouldn't refuse, and when she made eye contact with her parents, her brother, and Rod, they all nodded in agreement.

"Please handle your troubles on your own. Also, once you have a clear reason for summoning myself and Lupia, please call upon us again. We will not run or hide. And they are citizens of my country."

Rod acted as their representative, walking towards the King who was still berating the Crown Prince and Princess. His voice carried well. He continued, making sure the people who had come with them and were buzzing about the strange scene could hear.

"I protect my people. Unlike this country, I will never treat them as disposable. …Now then, if you’ll excuse us."

The King opened and closed his mouth, trying to object, but he was too overwhelmed by Rod’s presence to say anything. Liam and Falty, who had been pleading with Lupia for help, could only stare blankly as the group departed.

After leaving the Audience Chamber and walking a short distance, they confirmed no one was following them. Rupert immediately swept Vernella into his arms, Aristerios did the same with Millière, and after a quick glance at each other, they all broke into a full sprint towards the teleportation device. Lupia ran effortlessly, just slightly lifting her dress, even in high heels.

"Lupia, your ability to handle situations is impressive. Your uncle is very proud!"

"I’ve been well-trained!"

"Sis, are you always this fast when you run?!"

"If you put Vernella down, you’d be about as fast as me, Rupert!"

"That’s right, put me down, Rupert! Hey!"

"Just be quiet and let me carry you!"

Watching her brother keep up his speed while bickering, Lupia quietly thought to herself, ‘You’ve been training quite a bit yourself.’ But this was it. They wouldn't be followed anymore.

Up until now, Lupia had been the one cleaning up the messes. From now on, that was Falty’s job, and if Falty messed up, it was Liam’s responsibility to support her. If they stayed there any longer, they would just be saddled with more trouble.

If that happened, everything she had done up to this point would have been for nothing.

So, she ran. She had never been able to run before, but now she ran as if to say, ‘I’m done with all of you,’ a full-on dash.

"Goodbye, and may you all be well!"

As the teleportation device activated and they began to disappear, she called out a loud farewell. She might visit as part of a diplomatic mission, but she had no lingering attachments here. The country itself had been the first to discard her, so Lupia had made her peace with discarding it in return.

Her relatives, her friends—they were all here for her, even if in a different country. And so, Lupia would not look back.