novelraw Chapter 307: The Siblings That Will Disappear
Chapter 307: The Siblings That Will Disappear
306: The Siblings That Will Disappear
‘But there's nothing I can do.’
This was Lean's thought. Even though Lady Isadora kindly remarked,
"Congratulations on your engagement. And I'm even happier that my nephew is safe."
Her words were warm, but he knew the future.
Vivian de Isadora and her entourage would leave Orville next week. By then, Princess Chloe de Tatalia would have kissed Gilbert Forte.
The very reason Prince Vivian was invited was part of Astroth's scheme, disguised under the king’s authority. As for Lean, there was no way to stop it.
Hadn't he already tried?
When he killed Gilbert, the princess kissed someone else. When he stopped Gilbert, she kissed him. Even when he sent Gilbert far away, nothing changed.
He couldn't exactly send people who had taken months to arrive all the way back now… nor would the prince return even if told to.In short, as long as Astroth existed, war was inevitable.
The only thing that changed was the target.
Moreover, meddling with this might draw unwanted attention from that evil god. Sure, he could try talking, but that ancient beast would only tremble with joy if it saw him.
It had waited too long.
Being noticed by Astroth would be the end.
Lean remembered well the task he'd been given. If Astroth got hold of him, his sister’s happy ending would vanish.
"At my engagement in two weeks, it would be a great joy if you and my cousins could attend, Aunt. As a token, I’ve brought a small gift."
Lean presented his purpose for coming, handing over two invitations. Princess Lina accepted them with a puzzled look.
It was a mirror. An ordinary one.
Lean noticed the Marquis Tatian’s gaze fixed on it and smiled subtly.
"Keep it with you. Something good will happen when you return to Aisel. There’s no magic involved, but you can have it tested at the palace to be sure."
When nobles gifted each other items, especially to royalty, it was customary to have wizards inspect them for enchantments. Vivian nodded as he received the mirror, acknowledging the tradition.
"Thank you. It's a fine mirror. But I have no use for one, so I would like to gift it to Princess Chloe de Tatalia. Would that be alright?"
"I’d be even happier if you did."
Of course, that would never happen.
Lean saw the Marquis Tatian purse his lips slightly, marking the end of their exchange. Now, all that remained...
Prince Vivian summoned an attendant and handed the mirror over.
As expected from the Kingdom of Aisel, renowned for its magic, their party included a mage. Vivian instructed a wizard with the middle name ‘Jeghan’ to inspect the mirror, then turned back.
"Though, I’m not sure if we’ll have time in our schedule. But if we can, we will certainly attend. Congratulations again on your engagement. I hope I can say the same for myself soon."
He laughed brightly, revealing his perfect teeth, but his smile carried hidden intentions. Lady Lina Isadora supported his insinuation.
"My nephew will need to work hard. I don’t think he lacks anything, but Princess Chloe is hailed as the flower of the continent, after all. Marquis Tatian, can you tell us what she’s like?"
It resembled a mother and son earnestly preparing for a matchmaking event.
However, royal meetings were never so innocent. Their request for political support was clear.
Marquis Tatian, who hadn’t touched a bite of food, drew a line appropriately.
"I imagine she’s just as you've heard. A graceful and beautiful princess. There’s not much else I can tell you."
Aside from her occasional lapses in sanity. More than five chamberlains had been secretly dismissed due to her tantrums, but Benar did not mention this. After all, whether this marriage went through or not, it was no concern of his.
Also, Lean de Yeriel's words lingered in his mind. What was that prince scheming?
"Surely, you have some advice to offer? For instance, something Princess Chloe enjoys..." Lina pressed a bit persistently. The marquis answered indifferently.
"She likes nuts."
Sometimes, she binged on them. Almost as if she were furious. Lina realized the marquis had no intention of helping and changed direction.
"Nuts. Thank you. I’ll keep that advice in mind. Dear, have you been..."
A light sigh.
"Have you been well?"
"..."
Lean noted the Count Forte crossing his arms. He observed Lina's sigh and the count’s attitude, all calculated moves.
What a cold couple, he thought, speculating about their relationship. He had to.
---
+ Born in the royal palace of Lutetia, Lerialia... (Omitted) ...became suspicious of Lean de Yeriel’s strange actions and questioned him. To help him, Lerialia disguised herself and infiltrated the Count Forte’s estate. While investigating Count Hermann Forte’s past, she took advantage of the count’s frequent visits to the palace to... +
This was from the ending that had recently appeared.
While the childhood friend scenario and the two engagement scenarios were progressing, ‘I’ was free to move. Among these events, there had been a peculiar action.
Perhaps because of the stubbornness of his sister, ‘I’ had sent Lerialia to infiltrate Count Forte’s estate. The details about investigating the count’s past stood out.
Why?
At that time, ‘I’ didn’t even know that the Swordmaster was suppressing the evil god on the throne.
Herman Forte was nothing more than a target for revenge, no more, no less. But for some reason, ‘I’ wanted to know the count’s past.
Perhaps I had realized the true purpose of the Swordmaster, now that I was free. Or maybe I had become interested in Forte’s famous divorce.
Lina Isadora.
Since she was my close relative, maybe I hoped something useful might turn up.
Regardless, back then, Lina hadn’t appeared here yet, so it seemed there was little to gain. At that moment, the Marquis Tatian spoke.
"I’ll take my leave. Your Highness, if it’s not too much trouble, may I greet your attendants before I go? It wouldn’t be polite to leave without paying respects."
He was giving them space. The marquis departed with the prince to meet ‘Baron Oliver Trudy,’ leaving Lean, Gilbert, and the estranged couple alone in the tent with the untouched meal. Lean excused himself, claiming nature’s call, and stepped outside.
"Do you have a cigarette to spare?"
"I don’t smoke, but... Hey, Chase! Lend me a cigarette."
"Thanks. Mind sharing a light? I don’t have one."
Lean stepped around the side of the tent, lighting up a cigarette with a knight who seemed to be an avid smoker.
“That’s quite the unusual scent. What is it?”
“It’s from the dried leaves of a plant called Belplua. The scent is strong, which I like, though it’s hard to come by.”
“Haha. Sorry for taking your rare smoke. Thanks, I’ll repay the favor someday.”
They exchanged idle chatter, though Lean was primarily listening to the voices coming from inside the tent. Ordinarily, one shouldn’t loiter near a royal tent, but no knight came to stop him since he had just stepped out from there himself.
From within, faint voices drifted out.
“...You came here to argue again… I’m sick of this. Your empire...”
“Yeah! Begging... What do you even...”
“Haha! What an honor it is to be spoken to by a royal. Even though I haven’t married yet.”
“...You think I’m here for that? I’m also...”
“That same old anxiety... Enough! It was foolish of me to even ask for your help...”
“Enough of this!!”
In the brief silence, Lean exhaled smoke and asked the knight,
“What was that about royals?”
“Hm? Well, you are royalty, aren’t you? Oh, is it different in the Kingdom of Bellita?”
“I’m not sure what you mean. Are you referring to the imperial family of the ancient Arcaea Empire?”
“...Close, but not quite. I was actually referring to the imperial family of the Manja clan.”
“Ah, the royal family of the Kingdom of Aisel. That has nothing to do with me.”
“Judging by the way you speak, it seems so. But with your hair and eye color, haha, it makes one wonder.”
The voices from inside the tent faded, and Lean dropped his nearly finished cigarette to the ground, stamping it out. The knight he had been talking to casually bent down to pick up the butt.
Lean didn’t return to the tent right away.
He wandered for a while, glancing over the procession that was preparing to march again, though not for any particular reason. After using one of the temporary latrines, he noticed a wizard dressed in blue examining two mirrors. Several flags bearing the image of a droplet of water were stuck into the ground around them.
Lean reached into his pocket and took out a broken necklace.
[ Necklace – A pretty necklace. ]
It was his mother’s necklace.
The white one he had before disappeared after acquiring a bound item, though Lerialia’s necklace had not vanished. It seemed only his had been replaced.
Like the previous white necklace, this green one also had markings on it.
There were three raised droplets etched into it, along with letters carved above them.
The markings represented the House of Isadora, the Cornel Tower of Magic, and the Jeghan school of thought—symbols of the Kingdom of Aisel’s intricate political structure.
This, too, would be something they’d have to unravel someday.
But not today.
‘The beggar siblings are about to disappear.’
Lean tucked the necklace back into his pocket.
This also explained why he allowed Vivian de Isadora’s royal family to be humiliated. In the end, ‘Rev’ would change everything.
Rev would capture Oriax, and when Oriax fell, the history of the Kingdom of Conrad would change, just as it had for the Kingdom of Aslan. His brother, Eric de Yeriel, would no longer exile him, and perhaps, his mother would even return to life.
When that happened, the “beggar siblings” would vanish. From the beginning, they had been royalty. In every loop, and even after the ending, they would remain royalty. Neither he nor his sister had ever truly lost their bloodline—they would reclaim it.
That was the final destination of the “beggar siblings” scenario. A perfect ending where no tragedy ever befell his sister.
Lean raised his hand and made the sign of the cross, directing his gaze toward Orville, the city that had only ever brought them pain. “Hahahaha!!” He laughed loudly, his face contorting with emotion.
When his laughter finally subsided, he turned away without hesitation and made his way back to the tent. The atmosphere inside had become tense; Gilbert, Lina, and the Count Forte were silent. Lean offered his farewells and returned to Orville with Marquis Tatian.
He now knew how to capture Astroth.
That ancient god, unbound by the “chains,” was doomed to die by its own judgment.
Lean’s mind was already filled with the next two loops and the changes to come—altered futures, shifting timelines, evolving relationships, and the entire vast continent falling into place.
But first...
“Lena, I’m home.”
His sister’s shrill voice rang out.
“My name is Lerialia! Stop calling me that, it’s creepy!”
“Nope!”
“Ugh!!”
And once again, Lerialia’s cheeks were pulled long by her brother. But this time, she thought, I’ll get back at him someday.