"THIS IS the thing that I mentioned earlier, Lewis," Hanna said as she handed Lewis a small pot. "Do you recognize what that plant is?"
Lewis looked at the pot, then he shook his head.
[As quiet as ever, huh?]
Hanna borrowed Lewis from Neoma when Neoma visited Nero in his chambers because she wanted to talk to Lewis in private.
Fortunately, Lewis followed her without complaining.
[Lewis is famous for not leaving Neoma's side even if it was the emperor's order, so I'm glad that he followed me without hesitation.]
Hanna brought the fox to her garden.
To be precise, it was the garden where she grew her poisonous plants and flowers.
"That plant is called 'Lullaby,'" Hanna said, then she paused for a moment before she spoke again. "That's the plant that the previous emperor, Emperor Nikolai's father, used to subdue the Silver Fox Clan."
Lewis' face remained unchanged, as if it had nothing to do with him.
"Hey, Lewis," she complained lightly. "Have you forgotten that you're a Silver Fox? Why is your reaction so bland?"
Lewis tilted his head to one side. "How should I react then, Princess Hanna?"
'Princess Hanna.'
Almost everyone around Hanna had addressed her that way ever since she became the Crown Princess.
However, it felt strange to hear it from Lewis.
"Are you not upset that I've brought you the thing that helped the previous emperor end your clan?" Hanna asked worriedly. "Are you not suspicious of me? What if I used that plant to harm you?"
"First of all, I don't have any lingering attachment to my clan since I don't remember them anymore," Lewis said indifferently. "Second, I know you won't hurt me, Princess Hana."
Aww.
She was touched to hear that.
"Do you trust me that much, Lewis?"
"…"
Hmm?
Why was the fox not answering?
"It's just that… you can't hurt me even if you tried, Princess Hanna."
Pfft.
If Lewis had said it in a serious tone, she would have been insulted. But his voice was playful, and there was even a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Clearly, Lewis was just teasing her.
Hanna playfully clicked her tongue at Lewis.
Oops, that was a "bad manner" that she learned from Neoma.
[A noble lady and a princess like me shouldn't be clicking my tongue, after all. But it's fine since Neoma often does it, too.]
"I should have brought you to the training hall instead, Sir Lewis Crevan."
Lewis just gave her a small smile. "Why are you giving me this pot, Princess Hanna?"
"I recently found out that a group of smugglers pretending to be merchants are selling Lullaby," Hanna explained. "I brought all the available Lullaby in the market, then I asked my people to track down the smugglers. I want to know who grew that dangerous plant."
"Ah, yes. You've been interested in poisonous plants and flowers recently."
"That's true, but that's not the reason why."
"Then why did you do all of that?"
"To make sure that no one could harm you using that plant, silly," Hanna said, smiling. "I already asked Sandie to help me create an antidote just in case the crows are the ones who grew that plant. I'm sorry to say this, but I want to ask you to become our test subject. After all, you're the only Silver Fox alive." She smiled nervously at him. "Being a test subject sounds awful, doesn't it? You don't have to agree if you don't want to do it, Lewis."
"I'll do it."
"Huh? Really?"
"You're making the antidote for my sake, so it's only natural that you test it on me," Lewis said. "Why did you think I wouldn't agree to it, Princess Hanna?"
"Because using humans as test subjects is horrible…"
"That's true, but as I said, you're creating an antidote for me and not for something else," he said, shrugging. "Moreover, it's you, Princess Hanna. I know you wouldn't hurt me even though you can."
Aww.
Hanna was touched when Lewis recognized her strength when he said he knew she was capable of harming him.
Even so…
"You're overestimating me, Lewis," Hanna said, laughing softly. But her laugh sounded hollow since it didn't come from the heart. "I want to be the kind and understanding Hanna in your head, but in reality, I'm a narrow-minded little girl pretending to be nice."
"When did you ever "pretend" to be nice, Princess Hanna?"
To be honest, she wasn't sure if she should be saying these things to Lewis.
However, she just found herself sharing the thing that was weighing her down recently.
"Nero and Dahlia have to stick together to fight the Third Calamity," Hanna said in a low voice, afraid for other people to hear her words even though only she and Lewis were in the garden at the moment. "Nero asked for my permission to keep Dahlia by her side. Since it was Lord Yule's instruction, and the mission is for the sake of the world, I had to agree even though my heart feels troubled."
She knew it was selfish.
But she couldn't help but feel that way.
"It's not that I don't trust Nero and Dahlia. I know that they won't betray me," Hanna said, and she was being sincere. She really trusted the two. "However, when I heard that Lord Yule personally said that Nero and Dahlia had to stay together, it made me question myself if I was still the right woman to stand beside Nero." She tried to smile to not make the atmosphere heavy, but her smile probably looked sad. "Perhaps, it is me that I don't trust anymore. I'm no longer sure if this is my place."
She wasn't really expecting a response from Lewis.
Hence, she was surprised when he asked a question.
"Princess Hanna, are you happy in your current place?"
Hmm?
That question seemed a little… random?
"Princess Neoma wasn't happy in her place as a neglected princess when we were children, so she got out of that place by challenging Emperor Nikolai head-on until His Majesty was forced to acknowledge her existence," Lewis said indifferently. "I also had a similar experience. To be honest, I wasn't happy being treated like a "son" by the person I love, so I got out of that place by confessing my feelings to Princess Neoma."
Ah.
It may have sounded random, but Hanna understood what Lewis meant by his examples.
[If I'm not happy in my place anymore, then all I have to do is walk away from it.]
Unfortunately, it wouldn't be easy to do that.
"I'm scared to move from my spot," Hanna confessed softly. "Not when we're in the middle of preparing for war. I can't prioritize my happiness in this situation, can I?"
"Princess Hanna, I was raised by Princess Neoma so I don't really understand what you're worried about."
"Huh?"
"Princess Neoma taught me to prioritize myself and my happiness even if that means the world would end as a result," Lewis said bluntly. "I don't care if we're in the middle of war. I don't care if many people would die if you walked away from your spot, Princess Hanna. If you want to leave your place but can't move your feet, then tell me. I'll give you the push you need."
"Are you not afraid of the consequences of such selfishness, Lewis?"
"I'm not. Because whether we live kindly or not, the world will still find a way to hurt us. So, why not just live however you want?"
Pfft.
"You were really raised by Neoma, Lewis."
"I'm serious, Princess Hanna," Lewis said, his gaze and voice warmer than usual. "I genuinely want you to be happy."
Ah, hearing that made her feel better.
Hanna smiled in relief. "Thank you, Lewis– I mean it."
***
REGINA scrunched up her nose when Calyx brought the now reanimated corpse of Marquis Russell Spencer.
Yes, Calyx killed the marquis and turned it into a reanimated corpse.
Now, the marquis was nothing more than a dead puppet walking mindlessly around the room.
It wouldn't attack people like them who were already infected with Darkness.
"I would never get over the fact that you have to bite corpses to bring them back to life," Regina said in disgust. "Couldn't Lord Helstor come up with a less disgusting method?"
"What does it matter when it works?" Calyx, who was wiping his mouth with a white handkerchief, asked while laughing. "I know it looks disgusting, but I actually enjoy the new power that Lord Helstor bestowed upon me."
[As expected, a dumb person like you would consume poisoned tea happily without even realizing that it's laced with poison.]
"Don't you find it cool that I can transform dead people into reanimated corpses even though I'm not a necromancer?"
Ah, Calyx really looked delighted by his new ability.
[But does he not realize that the Darkness that Lord Helstor put in his body would later kill him because as a de Moonasterio, his body is also filled with divine power? Darkness and divine power don't mix well together– not unless you're Neoma de Moonasterio.]
The Imperial Princess' body was different from the other de Moonasterios because Princess Neoma had an affinity with Darkness.
"What's wrong, Regina?" Calyx asked, smiling like the fool that he was. "Are you jealous because you didn't receive anything from Lord Helstor?"
Psh.
[As if I need something from that two-faced bastard god.]
"Yes, I'm jealous of you, Calyx," Regina said, patting Calyx's cheek. "I'm jealous because an idiot like you has no worries since your head is always empty."
As usual, Calyx just laughed it off. "Hey, my head isn't empty. I'm always thinking about how to take Nero back. But I guess you're right when you said I have nothing to worry about." He put his hands on her shoulders. "After all, Lord Helstor and Lord Callisto put you in charge of the First Calamity to pave the way for me, didn't they?"
Calyx was a stupid bastard, but he knew how to use his "subordinates" well.
Regina knew all along that Calyx, who always called her "cousin" affectionately, only thought of her as nothing but a smart pawn.
And that was exactly why she planned the First Calamity to fail.
[I mean, even if I use up all my brain power, I don't think I could beat Neoma de Moonasterio. I'm not a fool to give my 100% to a fight I know I couldn't win.]
Even so, she still needed to pretend that she was serious about her task.
"I know what I need to do," Regina said, then she grabbed Marquis Spencer, now a reanimated corpse, by the collar. "And I'm starting now."
***
AMBER knew that it wasn't the appropriate time to hold a tea party at her estate.
But she needed to gather all the high-ranking ladies of the empire.
[My husband and daughter said that a Calamity will soon hit the Imperial Capital, but most of the nobles aren't taking it seriously. Even the households that support the Imperial Family are upset that they had to send one of their children to war.]
Hence, Amber decided to hold a tea party in order to soothe the noble ladies.
[I need them to convince their husbands to cooperate with the Imperial Family.]
That was Amber's way of helping Hanna– her precious daughter and the Crown Princess of the empire.
[Hanna, I promise to be useful to you.]
"Duchess Quinzel is lucky because you only have one child, and she happens to be the Crown Princess. Hence, you won't have to send your child to war."
It was obviously a bitter remark.
And that comment came from Marchioness Keys.
[I have a higher rank than her, but Marchioness Keys was a royal princess from a neighboring kingdom. Hence, she doesn't care that I'm the mother of the Crown Princess– unlike the other ladies who were always careful around me.]
"How could I not worry, Marchioness Keys?" Amber said, smiling. "My daughter is the Crown Princess as my lady said. Hence, it's only natural for Princess Hanna to fight in the front line."
Her daughter was now the Crown Princess.
Hence, Amber had to address her formally in front of an audience.
"Is that so, Duchess Quinzel?"
"The Crown Princess will join the war?"
"That's very admirable of Her Highness."
Amber smiled. She wanted to look proud that Hanna was going to join the war. But she was worried about her one and only daughter. Even so, she had to hide her feelings. "It's the nobles' duty to protect the people, and it's the Crown's duty to protect the nobles. Hence, all the children of the Imperial Family will join the war IN THE FRONT LINE."
Everyone noticed that Amber emphasized that the Imperial Family would fight in the vanguard and not hide in a safe place.
Hence, Marchioness Keys looked very embarrassed about her earlier remarks.
After all, the marchioness complained that one of her children had to be sent to war when Amber's one and only child would be one of the people leading their forces.
[How can you complain when the children of the Imperial Family would lead the war?]
Amber sipped his tea to hide her smile.
She hadn't yet enjoyed her tea when, suddenly, Lady Sera Wisteria slammed her hands on the table as she stood up abruptly.
Amber was confused…
… until she heard a familiar voice.
"Mother, it's been a while."
Amber stood up and turned around, only to be greeted by Regina Crowell who was dragging a reanimated corpse by the collar.
It wasn't her first time to see one, so she recognized it right away.
Violet skin, unfocused black eyes, constant drooling, incoherent noises– those were the signs that a corpse had been revived in a way that go against Nature.
The reanimated corpse looked familiar, but she was distracted by Regina Crowell.
[How did she get past the barrier and the knights of my family…!]
"Mother, thank you for gathering all the important ladies here today," Regina said, smiling at her brightly. "My hungry pet will enjoy them well."
Then Regina Crowell released the reanimated corpse that ran so fast like an arrow.
Everything happened so fast that before Amber knew it, the reanimated corpse had already grabbed her by the shoulders – its mouth wide opened as if it was ready to bite off her face.
And that was when she recognized the reanimated corpse.
[Marquis Spencer…!]
A cry full of agony soon filled the Quinzel Garden.
***
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