༺ Illusory Feast༻
Leaving Lizzy’s mansion, Ferzen stroked his altar, opening his subspace.
“I apologize for this transgression, ancestor.”
He then summoned the corpse of Bavaria Von Grielle Brutein and set the numerous piles of garbage on fire.
Whoosh!
For a moment, the smoke produced threatened to cover the nearby scenery, but Ferzen simply dispersed it as he studied the now clear garden before him.
Returning to his mansion where Yuriel and Laura resided, he immediately spotted a carriage bearing the Imperial Family’s crest, parked in the main gate.
If the Imperial Family sends someone to convey something to him……
Then the matter must be related to the upcoming war.
Stomp-.
Entering the mansion, he could see Yuriel and Laura, as well as the servants gathered.
“Ah!…… You’re finally here.”
“It seems an envoy from the Imperial Family is here.”
“Sigh…….Yes, Her Highness the Princess is waiting for you in the reception room.”
Despite her best efforts, Yuriel’s expression didn’t look good.
After all, if the Princess herself was here, then she wouldn’t have good news.
“I understand. Go rest a little. I’ll see you when I’m done listening to the Princess.”
“Mn……”
After tidying up his clothes, Ferzen opened the door leading to the reception room.
Then, Princess Elizabeth, who was calmly drinking tea, put down the teacup and looked at him.
“I haven’t said anything yet…..Why are you so gloomy?”
“I apologize, Your Highness. I didn’t mean to burden you.”
“Is that so? Well, I didn’t bring good news anyway.”
With a bitter smile, Princess Elizabeth stroked the handle of her teacup and sighed.
“The envoy we sent to the Elmark Empire……Has finally returned.”
“……”
“The response they brought back from Elmark was just a mirror.”
“……”
A mirror.
It didn’t take long for one to realize the meaning of such an object.
Since the one who would receive it was the Emperor of Ernes, and it was he whose reflection would be shown, the implication of it was simple — “Do as you wish”.
If war is what you want, then wage it.
If you want to cover this up, then cover it.
“Such a barbaric answer, isn’t it?”
With an exhausted tone, Princess Elizabeth sighed as she rubbed her tired eyes.
“Count.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“……This is not a matter of life and death for the country.”
“……”
“Even if we do cover this up, and run from this war, the Empire won’t falter.”
However, the Imperial Family will suffer a blow.
They would be labeled as cowards in the eyes of its citizens.
However, if they could prevent their country from going through the horror of war, by doing so……
Wasn’t that the choice the Imperial Family should make? Prioritizing the safety of their subjects?
“From this perspective, this war is not something we must fight, but something we choose to fight.”
“Your Highness the Princess.”
“However, my Imperial Father, and brothers, do not see it that way.”
When the prestige of the Imperial Family, painstakingly built with the blood of countless generations is weakened.
There is no doubt the nobles would relish in this opportunity to further their own goals.
The Elmark Empire would grow even more arrogant and reckless.
In the end, avoiding this war would cost just as much as fighting it.
After all, there was nothing more futile and useless than a sacrifice that didn’t accomplish anything.
“How could a house stand with a broken roof?”
Therefore,
“This war is not something we choose to fight, but something we must fight.”
“……”
“Count.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Your family has always reinforced this shabby roof that couldn’t block a single arrow.”
“……”
“Whenever it was about to collapse under its own weight, Brutein would become a supporting pillar, and held it together.”
“……”
“And now, we must venture beyond such care, as we head into the battlefield.”
Ferzen listened attentively to Princess Elizabeth’s words, which carried an unmistakable form of charisma and resolve that didn’t match her feminine appearance.
“It’s time we finally showed it to your family.”
“……”
“The roof you have helped us build, the one you repaired, the one you supported and protected……”
When the tempest comes, it will become a refuge.
When the scorching heat arrives, it will provide a refreshing shade.
When the arrows of war are launched, it will become an unshakable shield.
“Isn’t it high time for us to learn how to stand on our own?”
“……I see.”
“Not as a child needing to be taken care of, but as a worthy warrior……Good enough for you to entrust your back on the battlefield.”
When you are tired, then sit down and rest.
When you are lost and hollow, then we will fill you.
When you are lonely on the front lines, then we will hold your hand.
“We will never depend solely on your blood in this war.”
“……”
“However, will you be by our side, through this harsh winter……And into the promised spring?”
Princess Elizabeth, who slowly rose from her seat, walked towards Ferzen and extended her right hand.
Naturally, Ferzen knelt down, gently held her hand, and kissed it.
“This I swear. I shall be by your side, during the winter, and we shall welcome our spring together.”
“So be it.”
Pulling her hand, Princess Elizabeth smiled truthfully.
However, instead of being mesmerized by her overwhelming beauty, Ferzen was overcome with an intense compulsion to kiss her left hand as well.
Clench-!
Yet, without any reason or justification.
He simply couldn’t grasp her left hand and kiss it, so Ferzen clenched his fists and painfully suppressed his OCD.
“……Spend this last night in peace as you wish. For our Majesty will declare war tomorrow.”
“It will be done.”
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
Click-Clack-.
With her duty fulfilled, Princess Elizabeth walked towards the door.
As her slender, pale fingers touched the doorknob, Ferzen could feel his urge almost overcoming his reason.
But with gritted teeth, he endured.
“Count.”
With a bitter smile, he watched as Princess Elizabeth, contrary to his wishes for her to leave quickly, released her grip on the door.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“……There aren’t many, whom this princess can confide in.”
“……”
“This Princess cannot do so with her Imperial Father, or her brothers, as it would be unbecoming of her stature.”
With a hesitant tone, wholly uncharacteristic of her, Princess Elizabeth looked at Ferzen as she spoke.
“So, for this time only, could you offer me some comfort?”
“……”
Since this was something he had never expected, Ferzen momentarily forgot about his OCD.
“……No. Just. Pretend you didn’t hear my slip of the tongue.”
As she turned her back to him and reached for the door, Ferzen gently laid his hand over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Flinch-!
No, it probably wasn’t a gentle squeeze at all.
But Elizabeth couldn’t help but marvel at how Ferzen’s hand completely encompassed her own.
Could it be that every man’s hands were like that?
“……”
She couldn’t help but blush like an innocent maiden, as he turned her hand and kissed the back of her left hand.
Smooch-.
The sound of the kiss continued to echo around in her mind, as she wondered why such a thing managed to rattle her as much as it did.
“Do not worry.”
“……”
“Be it in the present, or in the future….You will continue as always….As a proud Princess of this Empire.”
From Ferzen’s point of view, his words meant that in the future, she would never become a trophy for other nations……
“Is that so……”
But to her, those words……
Feeling a little heartbroken, Princess Elizabeth hid her current emotions behind her smile.
“Count.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Would you hold me once?”
“……”
“You are allowed to refuse.”
“No.”
Rustle-.
Releasing his grip on her hand, Ferzen placed his hand on her waist and brought her into his embrace.
“……”
His firm chest and his large hands embraced her……
Princess Elizabeth learned for the first time today that a man’s arms could be such a comforting presence.
Honestly, she wished this moment would never end.
However, with what remaining presence of mind she had, Princess Elizabeth crushed this desire and pulled away from his embrace.
Because this man’s arms were never meant for her.
And they would never become hers.
“…..Now it’s time I leave.”
“I’ll see you off, your Highness.”
Click-.
Opening the door, Princess Elizabeth left the room accompanied by Ferzen.
Having been informed of her departure by the maids, Yuriel and Laura also came down from their rooms to meet her.
“……”
As she watched Yuriel stand by Ferzen’s side so naturally, Elizabeth chuckled.
She believed she lived a life where she never lacked anything.
But as she looked at Yuriel being by his side, why was her heart filled with envy?
Of course, the relationship between Brutein and the Imperial Family was by no means fragile or shallow.
In a way, it could be said to be deeper and stronger than a relationship between a parent and their children.
‘But……’
If she wasn’t a princess.
She could have a different form of relationship, as deep and strong.
Yes, maybe the one standing by his side would have been her, and not Yuriel.
“Have a good night.”
But nothing was more useless than a futile fantasy that would never come to be.
Trying to shake off those feelings, Princess Elizabeth entered her royal carriage and said her final goodbyes.
Neigh-!
As such, the carriage drove away from Ferzen’s mansion.
Inside the carriage, Princess Elizabeth carefully tasted the lingering traces Ferzen left on her body.
As if to convince herself those lingering feelings were not so easily shaken off.
