Raising the Princess to Overcome Death

Chapter 211: Beggar Siblings - Morning

211. Beggar Siblings - Morning

In the late hours, Jenia was waiting for Leo.

Having finished his conversation with Cardinal Verke, he returned to find Lena asleep (his sister always went to bed early and woke up late) and sat beside Jenia, who was dressed in her nightclothes.

The annex was shrouded in darkness.

On the couch in the living room, the lovers with many secrets gazed into each other's eyes. Though there were many things they wanted to say and needed to say, Leo quietly pulled her close. Jenia came willingly without resistance.

The air was cool. The fireplace, having consumed its last log, had nothing more to burn, leaving the silent winter night in serene stillness. The two, half-overlapping as they sat, shared their warmth and listened to each other's breaths.

The steady, low, and prolonged breathing revealed their mental states to each other.

After about twenty deep breaths, Jenia, who had been feeling Leo's chest, asked. Leo, who had been caressing the back of her head, answered concisely.

"What did Grandfather say?"

"He said he would help."Silence fell again. Having slept irregularly and run tirelessly for the past few months, Leo wanted to rest like this. Fortunately, Jenia stayed still, and after a while, it was Leo who spoke again.

"I don't mind."

"Mind what?"

"That you are a noble. So don't be self-conscious. I truly don't mind... I'm actually glad to know your secret."

"Thank you for saying that. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed when you confessed that you were a prince."

"Why?"

"I mistakenly thought my father sent you. I thought you approached me on purpose... Luckily, it wasn't true. If it had been, you would never know what I might have done."

Haha.

Leo laughed off Jenia's murderous smile. Finding her neatly aligned teeth adorable, he tapped her front teeth, prompting Jenia to playfully bite his finger.

But a swordmaster wouldn't fall victim to such an attack. Leo's fingertips evaded her teeth, darting to her chin, down her soft neckline, to her collarbone where her lips couldn't reaChapter Jenia loved it when he caressed this hollow part.

Jenia smiled grumpily. Allowing his touch as she stretched her neck, she rubbed her cheek against Leo's. Her soft lips traced Leo's jaw, moving up to his lips...

"Ahem!"

Jenia, about to kiss Leo, jerked her head up. Leo hastily stood up and looked over the back of the sofa.

It was Rev. He stood at a distance, arms crossed, by the door.

"Leo. Can we talk for a moment?"

"Ah... sure. Jenia, I'm sorry. Please go inside first."

"...Alright. You know where my room is, right?"

Adjusting her clothes, Jenia shot a displeased glance at the rude intruder before disappearing.

She didn't say anything sharp, knowing how deep Leo and Rev's relationship was.

"Having fun, huh?"

If he were Leo Dexter, he might have said this. But Rev, being more reserved, silently rebuked his forgetful friend, making Leo scratch his head sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"Never mind. It's not urgent. Gilbert Forte has been dealt with."

"Really? That's good to hear. So, what will you do now?"

Rev didn't answer. Sitting on the opposite couch, he brought up another topic.

"And Bart?"

"...It should be Sir Bart. I didn't meet him. He was gone by the time I arrived. I only saw Harie briefly."

Leo explained what had happened. He had managed to keep Harie Guidan from losing her mind but had to leave her behind, meeting a guardsman named Gallen while breaking through the Tertan duchy's encirclement.

"Did anything happen to you?"

"Of course, there was."

Rev recounted what had happened from the moment Leo left Taamoon village to their current situation.

As soon as Leo left, Jenia's attitude changed. She no longer hid her identity, and the coachman sent by Count Peter began addressing her as "lady," greatly altering the group's dynamics.

Jenia treated Lena like a princess, apologizing for her previous rudeness and advising Santian Rauno to behave appropriately.

She treated Santian not as an old acquaintance or a friend of the princess but as a servant. Though Lena was initially bewildered, she accepted it quite naturally, unconsciously responding to the noble etiquette and regaining her princessly demeanor.

Jenia initially criticized Rev's attitude as well. Though she didn't know his relationship with the prince, she hoped he would maintain a proper distance as someone who wielded a sword to protect the princess.

Rev, indifferent, agreed.

However, it was hard for him to change his attitude towards Lena, whom he treated like a sister, and Jenia gradually acknowledged the certain {nobility} and refined manners emanating from Rev.

At that time, they thought Jenia was a collateral relative of the count's family.

They learned she was Count Peter's only daughter upon arriving at Baron Monarch's estate, where she sent a letter to Cardinal Verke, who had recently left for the capital on a pilgrimage, asking him to return. When the cardinal returned, she embraced him, calling him grandfather.

"You must have been quite surprised too."

"Yes. I never imagined. Anyway, that's how it turned out. I used the church's communications comfortably... What did the cardinal say?"

"He agreed to help. Being with him, I don't think we need to worry about this anymore."

Leo showed his right palm.

Rev saw nothing, but he understood what Leo was trying to show.

"That's a relief. So now we just need to go to the capital and dethrone Prince Eric?"

"Yes. But it will take some time."

The situation had suddenly turned critical.

Eric had anticipated that he would eventually be discovered, failing to evade Oriax’s watchful eyes. Hence, he had planned to stir up a civil war by rallying the so-called anti-Eric faction nobles, who had retreated to their territories after being ousted from the political center. But this was no longer necessary. Following his initial plan of gathering knights to launch a coup was a much quicker and easier route.

Of course, he could rush to execute Prince Eric immediately.

As a swordmaster capable of easily breaking through substantial defenses and with Rev, a knight commander-Level expert, by his side, they could storm the palace and kill Prince Eric along with Cardinal Verke.

However, such an extreme choice would provoke a backlash. Leo needed to be recognized by the Order of Knights as the rightful heir to the throne and reveal to the world that Prince Eric was a follower of a malevolent god.

Simply killing Eric wasn't the solution.

The ultimate goal was to safely make Lena a princess and ensure she lived peacefully even after the ending. Therefore, Leo was in no hurry.

A perfect ending.

Leo wanted an ending where Lena could be completely happy. And now, it doesn't seem impossible.

Leo de Yeriel smiled faintly. In his eyes, a truly beautiful ending was taking shape, and he had no intention of rushing and ruining things. He would approach this challenge carefully and with thorough preparation.

Seeing Leo's cautious smile, Rev felt reassured. Relieved that there was no need to worry, he bid Leo good night as he headed towards Jenia's bedroom. However, he remembered something he hadn't mentioned.

Should he say it now? Rev hesitated, not wanting to intrude on Leo's personal time again. It wasn't that important, and besides, Leo already knew.

It seemed like our little sister... Lena, sees me as a man.

How troublesome.

---

Almost a year remained before the king’s demise.

The king was expected to pass away in early winter next year, so Leo had no plans to leave Baron Monarch’s estate urgently. But an unexpected event occurred.

Prince Eric de Yeriel’s ‘Akiunen’ ceremony was scheduled. Notices were sent to nobles across the land, mandating their attendance at the prince’s coronation or enthronement ceremony.

This was absurd.

Despite the king being bedridden, he was still alive, yet Prince Eric was unilaterally holding the Akiunen. The entire kingdom was in turmoil, but Leo understood the reason.

Oriax was becoming restless.

He had not marked anyone, but an unknown entity with his mark was roaming his domain. With Cardinal Verke by Leo’s side, tracking had become nearly impossible, making Oriax perceive this as a severe threat.

Just as Malhas, who controlled the two northern kingdoms, and Astroth, who seized the throne of the Kingdom of Bellita, Ashin coveted human kingships for a reason.

It was a matter of efficiency in offerings.

Marhas, who thrived on the chaos of war, and Astroth, the Duke of Fear, who loved terror, both drew divine power from humans in the absence of other species.

Though they suffered from the low efficiency of offerings, the position of a king, the lord of all subjects, was highly desirable. The subjects saw themselves as bound to the king, making them ideal for extracting offerings, twisting their inherent loyalty to the true deity.

Oriax, feeling threatened, hastened the coronation. Not knowing what was approaching, he aimed to prepare as much as possible.

Fine. You’ve fallen into the trap. You don’t realize that the threat approaching you is the rightful prince you unjustly ousted.

Welcoming Oriax’s mistake, Leo immediately left Baron Monarch’s territory.

Accompanying him were Lena, Rev, Santian Rauno, Gallen, several knights from the Monarch barony, the pilgrimage group led by Cardinal Verke, and Jenia Monarch, the baron's proxy, who was invited to the palace for Akiunen.

The Akiunen ceremony was scheduled for five months later in the summer.

Even if preparations for Akiunen could start immediately, it would take that long for the congratulatory delegations from neighboring kingdoms (Bellita, Orun, Aisel) to arrive in Lutetia.

Thus, with ample time, Leo, on Cardinal Verke's recommendation, stopped at the Wylend Count's estate, located midway to Lutetia.

The head of the Wylend family, Count Geoff Wylend, opposed the legitimacy of Prince Eric and clashed with the Duke of Tertran. Cardinal Verke, unaware of how easily Leo could take over the knights, suggested persuading him.

There was nothing to lose.

In fact, thinking about life after the ending, it was necessary to solidify power, so Leo readily agreed.

However, there was a problem...

“You must be the prince. It’s a great joy for the Kingdom of Conrad that the princess has returned alive. But I have no interest in politics. I plan to marry off my last remaining youngest daughter and pass the title to my son.”

Count Geoff Wylend declared, stating he had no more ambition for power and refused to side with the returning prince and princess.

There was no way to tell if he was sincere. Perhaps he thought it was too risky to confront the powerful Tertran ducal faction and was cautiously withdrawing.

If Prince Eric won, he could say he did not help and withdraw. If Prince Leo won, he could later bring out his son, who inherited the countship, and pretend to be close. With his weak power base, Prince Leo, despite his anger, would not be able to refuse the son.

Such was the nature of noble society. Cardinal Verke frowned.

“Prince, it seems this place is unsuitable. However, there is one more grand noble I would like to introduce. He is Marquis Dennis Arne, the northern border lord of the Kingdom of Conrad.”

“I know. But I heard Count Wylend and Marquis Arne are in-laws. We should pursue both while staying here for a few days. If not, we can convince Marquis Arne to bring Count Wylend in.”

Brazenly, Leo informed the count that he would stay at the mansion for a few days. During this time, he attempted to persuade the count, but in the end, it was Lena who won him over.

[ Achievement: Twenty Photos – Lena occasionally weakly remembers the past in her dreams. ]

Dreams that retraced the past reached that ending.

Lena, who woke up late, had lively eyes. But her slow, delicate touch on her ample chest had a demure charm, and her legs, innocently parted, formed a smooth curve, welcoming her morning.