novelraw Chapter 171: Beggar Siblings - The Letter
Chapter 171: Beggar Siblings - The Letter
171. Beggar Siblings - The Letter
The ball ended prematurely.
With Prince Arnulf de Klaus storming out and Prince Cleon de Tatian, who had to manage the situation, taking Princess Chloe away, the event concluded abruptly.
Leo was then dragged away by the captain of the royal guard. Despite the surrounding people trying to catch gossip from Leo, the captain kept his silence and led him out of the ballroom.
This was followed by scolding and questioning. Endless questions and disbelief lasted until sunset in the captain’s office.
Even though he wasn’t in a position to ask for favors, Leo boldly asked if he could go out for a bit, while explaining that he hadn’t instigated the situation. “It was the princess who acted out of nowhere,” he argued and shamelessly asked for permission to leave. The administrative officer interjected, baffled.
“Do you think you’re in a position to request leave? There’s an order from the king summoning Sir Noel immediately. You need to go now.”
“Please, just for a moment. I... I actually have a girlfriend. The rumors must have spread, and if I don’t go quickly to explain...”
Leo knelt. “Please.” He begged and pleaded until the captain sighed deeply.
“When will you return?”“Captain!”
[ Achievement: Met Cleon de Tatian - Gained mild favor from all nobles serving House Tatian. Gained mild favor from Cleon de Tatian. ]
“...I’ll be back before sunset. It will only take a moment.”
“Alright. Go ahead. And you, say nothing of this.”
The administrative officer, displeased, gave Leo the permission slip. “You’re quite something,” he muttered while handing it over, and the captain of the royal guard, left alone in his office, had a complicated expression.
“A girlfriend...”
Since the king didn’t specify a deadline for bringing Noel, a slight delay in the audience wouldn’t be a problem. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for Noel, who had knelt and begged.
Sighing deeply, the captain opened a drawer and pulled out a letter he had never sent. Written long ago, covered in dust, the letter bore the name of a departed friend at the end.
Ophelia.
* * *
Without even changing his clothes, Leo left the palace, hearing whispers behind him, and hailed a carriage.
“To Eralin Avenue. As quickly as possible.”
Seeing Leo’s uniform, the coachman didn’t hesitate and whipped the horses into action.
The carriage sped through the twilight streets, and Leo sat in silence. He rested his elbow on the window, feeling the cold wind on his face as he lost himself in thought.
Soon, they arrived at Count Gustav Peter’s mansion. Leo, hoping for a slim chance, was predictably turned away.
“The count doesn’t wish to see you.”
Of course not.
Leo turned back without hesitation, sensing his fate had been sealed, and boarded the carriage again, heading towards the Orange Theatre.
Xenia was waiting outside the theatre.
Pamphlets from the just-ended play littered the street, and Xenia stood with her arms crossed, looking expectantly towards the entrance. Her expression shifted to surprise, then quickly to cold disdain as she spotted Leo.
“So it was you.”
“...Xenia.”
Xenia didn’t mention his uniform. She bit her lip to hold back tears and let her anger explode.
“What excuse have you come up with now? I don’t want to hear it. Take your sister and leave. Don’t ever show your face around here again.”
“Xenia.”
“Don’t call me by my name! No... Just leave. Before I kill you.”
“...I understand. I’ll go. But I have a request. It might be my last one.”
“You...!”
How could this man be so shameless? From the first meeting to the last moment.
Yet Xenia couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
The first sight of the man she thought was her destiny. Even now, wearing a neat uniform, exposed as a scoundrel who kissed a princess passionately, Xenia still liked the beggar she first met.
She neither agreed nor disagreed. Taking this as a yes, Leo walked past her into the theatre.
“Leo! I heard you couldn’t come today, but you made it. You should have seen it, Lena...”
Ober was serving drinks and snacks. On the stage, under the still-lit lights, actors were celebrating with drinks.
Lena, the star of the day, was munching on snacks and laughing with her now-fellow actors.
Watching from afar, Leo asked Ober for paper and ink. He quickly scribbled a note against the wall.
“Xenia. Please give this to Lena. Not now, but later, when she can read.”
There were two letters. One for Lena, the other bearing Xenia’s name.
“And please take this.”
A bundle of money. A heavy pouch was placed in Xenia’s hands.
“What is this?”
“Take care of Lena. That’s my request.”
“What do you mean? Are you asking me to keep her until you marry the princess? Do you think I’m a fool?”
“No. I trust you...”
Leo swallowed his emotions. He faintly smiled at the furious Xenia and said,
“I trust you.”
Then he turned and left.
Xenia stood there for a moment, rooted to the spot. She watched his retreating figure disappear down the dark hallway, then tore up her letter in anger.
Shameless bastard!
But she couldn’t bring herself to destroy the letter for Lena. Despite being the thick-skinned scoundrel’s sister, Lena was also someone Xenia cared for and her colleague.
Xenia turned and climbed the stage, handing the letter and money to Lena, who had a slight blush from the drinks.
“Huh? What’s this?”
Xenia didn’t say a word. Reading her sister’s unusual expression, Lena quickly opened the letter.
/ Dear Lena,
I’m sorry *** *****. I must ** **** ***. When you can read ** ***, and you’ll **** ****, the princess *** *** ****. I will **** ** ***, trust in Xenia’s words. Until we meet again, be happy. /
Lena could still barely read the letter.
Lena only remembered a few greetings and words like "happy" and "princess" that she had learned while reading picture books with Santian, but it was enough.
Lena's head shot up.
“U-unnie. What does this mean? Is Oppa... is Oppa...”
Gone?
Tears welled up in Lena’s eyes. Misinterpreting Xenia’s panicked expression, she bolted out.
I can’t let Oppa leave like this.
“Lena! Lena! Stop right there! It’s not what you think. Mr. Ober! Catch Lena!”
Xenia and Ober chased after her. Lena, thinking they would prevent her from catching up to her brother, ran even faster.
However, she was quickly caught, and to make matters worse, someone blocked her in the long hallway leading to the exit.
Santian Launo stood before Lena, holding a bouquet of flowers.
“Le... no, I mean, Nunnie. Where are you going? Why are you crying?”
“Tian, move.”
“Santian! Catch Lena!”
“Please move. I have to go. Oppa... my Oppa...”
Santian pushed Lena against the wall. He tore a cloak from the wall and draped it over Lena’s shoulders, spreading his arms to block her path.
“Go! Quickly!”
“You little brat!”
Santian was younger than Lena. Naturally, the small boy couldn't hold back the towering Ober.
He was pushed aside by Ober's arm but clung on with all his might. His nose bled from a blow, but Ober fell to the ground with a thud, achieving his goal.
Damn it, I can’t just kick him aside.
Santian was the boss's grandson. As tough as Ober was, he couldn’t bring himself to kick the boy. Santian grabbed Xenia’s skirt as she tried to pass, allowing Lena to escape the theater.
Chasing after her brother, she disappeared into the sunset-drenched street, her black cloak billowing behind her.
* * *
Leo took a carriage. Upon arriving at the palace, he told the coachman, “I’m sorry, but I have no money. I will repay you next time we meet.” and sent him away.
Shit.
Under his breath, the coachman cursed quietly, and Leo lingered in front of the palace.
Once I go in... I won't come out alive. Though he knew this, Leo stared at the setting sun, steeling himself.
The princess kissed me.
And at that moment, he saw it. Something dark and crimson flickered behind her golden eyes.
Anyone with a brain would know what that meant. The princess was a bewitched human, and the one who cast the spell was most likely...
The king.
In his 16th year of reign, King Karoman de Tatalia, who never left the inner sanctum of the palace, was undoubtedly an apostle.
It finally made sense.
Why the princess, who was known for her proper conduct, had kissed Gilbert Forte, why she had even entangled herself with Baron Tatian's son, Toton Tatian, and why Toton had defied his father's orders to stay away from the princess and continued to frequent the palace...
Leo reluctantly kicked a pebble on the ground.
He had considered running away.
Taking his sister to the Conrad Kingdom, or now that he had the strength to protect Lena, hiding in the mountains... If he wanted to save his own life, there were many ways to survive.
But what’s the point?
Leo de Yeriel thought of Leo Dexter. Even if he ignored all the {Events} and pursued happiness, he eventually died. Even if he survived, he would have ended up marrying Lena and reaching the ending.
Then everything would be for nothing. Whether he was happy or not.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand Leo Dexter’s mindset, but it wasn’t a fundamental solution. The only way to truly be free was to end this game.
‘...But Minseo, I think you were wrong.’
Is making Lena a princess really the ‘true ending’? Is that the ‘clear’ condition? Although he had doubts before, Leo de Yeriel had a different thought.
- Killing all the apostles.
This seemed to be the goal this damn game wanted. If the creator of this game was the god, surely it was the god, and Leo had to match the church's actions to what the god wanted.
The Crusaders who hunted down the barbarians who believed in evil gods. If so, maybe the god entrusted Minseo with what the church couldn't do ─ just as Saint Azrae of
‘Is this the right decision?’
He asked himself but received no answer. Only two months had passed since this round began, and even though Leo died in the previous round, Minseo had already faded almost to the point of nonexistence.
If it were Minseo... she would have run away.
After all, he had stopped Gilbert Forte from kissing the princess, and he still had a way to defeat Prince Eric without Count Peter’s help.
He could kidnap Archbishop Verke and throw him in front of Prince Eric.
But...
[ Achievement: King 2/7 ]
Opportunities to meet the king were rare. If the goal was to make Lena a princess, running away now was the right choice, but that could be done in the next round as well.
Leo de Yeriel followed the pebble he had kicked. Kicking it again, he organized his thoughts.
This time, it’s my turn.
He wasn’t afraid of dying. He was destined to die on the streets if not for Minseo.
He felt grateful to Minseo for severing all ties so that his sister could live without him.
Lena would live under the protection of the theater people. She would be sad at first... but she would get over it...
Leo, trying to make excuses, closed his mouth. Thinking of leaving his sister alone again only made him feel sorry.
‘Forgive your useless brother. Next time... next time I’ll...’
Leo steeled himself. He took a deep breath, squatted down, and stood up repeatedly to shake off his gloom.
Let's go. Go and find out everything, and die with dignity. Leave something behind, at least.
Clenching his sword hilt, Leo walked.
As he headed towards the palace gates, someone ran towards him. Leo turned to see someone gasping for breath...
It was Rev.
[ Achievement: Met another Leo, 2/3 ]
“Ah...”
The fog cleared from Leo’s eyes. Staring blankly at Rev for a moment, the prince skipped ahead.
“What happened to Lena?”
Leo de Yeriel’s golden eyes shone brightly. He realized his turn was over and asked about the future, or rather, the past.
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