Chapter 21 – Coming of Age Ceremony (1)
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 21 – Coming of Age Ceremony (1)
— Croatia is a Duchy operating at the top.
— Zeon Croatia, that’s the name you’ll be using from now on, so remember it.
Merlin provided generous support as promised.
Providing detailed information about the Holy Relic and handing me a neatly forged identity.
But that wasn’t all.
— Here, take this too.
— What’s this? Well, it’s the address of the house you’ll be staying at for the time being.
— It may be a bit shabby, but it’s better in many ways than wandering around in inns, right?
Food, clothing, and shelter, among them, the issue of accommodation, particularly crucial for modern individuals, was resolved.
The location was perfect too.
Located in a somewhat secluded area, it was not exposed, yet adjacent to the capital’s center, the Imperial Palace.
‘What’s really going on here?’
I appreciate the help, but doubts still linger in the back of my mind.
How did she obtain information about the Holy Relic, and what is her fundamental purpose of wanting to leave this world?
And above all…
◆ Penalty
: The Heroines inherit memories from before the regression.
‘Fuck.’
Frustration rises, making my head throb.
How is this even possible, where did it all go wrong? Everything is so perplexing.
It’s not just about Isabel and Luna.
It’s about all the heroines.
That means even Princess Ruedine retained memories from before the regression.
‘It’s still okay.’
I’ll just adjust the plan.
It’s actually a relief that the penalty was revealed early on.
With the coming-of-age ceremony as a starting point, I’ll gradually build connections with Ruedine.
Ruedine’s coming-of-age ceremony boasts grandeur and tight security as it is hosted by the Royal Family.
Only families directly linked to the Royal Family receive invitations, so being invited to the Royal Family’s coming-of-age ceremony indirectly reveals the prestige of the family.
Zeon Croatia, and the Duchy’s craftsman.
Certainly, it may be a status that will come in handy someday, but it’s far from enough to be invited to Ruedine’s coming-of-age ceremony at the moment.
What can I do?
I have no choice but to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony as Winfred’s illegitimate son, Kyle Winfred.
It’s become somewhat ridiculous to think I ended up in a situation where I had to participate in the night’s revelries, but who would have thought?
With the revelation that the Relic’s identity is Princess Ruedine’s Rosary, coupled with the fact that the penalty involves regressing together.
‘My head hurts already.’
Isabel, and Luna.
Even though I’ll inevitably come face to face with the two crazy women again, it’s unavoidable.
Since they all have memories from before the regression, there’s no way I can avoid them.
All I can do is make up my mind and face them head on.
“Diana.”
“Please speak.”
Diana’s face remained as calm as ever.
She must have heard every conversation between me and Merlin, yet there was no hint of emotion.
“I guess you’ve heard everything.”
“…Yes.”
“I’m curious about your thoughts.”
I am an outsider.
There will come a time when I leave this world, and eventually, Diana will be left alone, abandoned by the master she served, to be left alone in this world.
It’s hard not to feel betrayed.
It’s normal for a human to feel a hint of anger.
Or, is she just so indifferent to spout such nonsense about crossing dimensions?
Is she stupid, or dull?
If not, does she think I’m crazy?
Everything is filled with questions.
“My thoughts?”
Diana’s lips, who was silently staring at me, moved slowly.
“I don’t really know.”
“…What?”
“I just think you must have had a hard time.”
Her voice, while expressing sympathy, was dry, as if squeezing out words of comfort.
Her forced words of comfort made me burst into laughter.
“You’re not angry?”
“No.”
“What’ll be left for you when I’m gone?”
“…Does loyalty need a reason?”
Diana replied, turning the question back to me.
I was completely speechless.
Why, exactly, for what?
What’s the point of dedicating such blind loyalty to me?
“…”
“…”
The conversation didn’t continue.
Diana, as always, watched over me from behind, and I continued forward.
Why is that?
Diana’s calm attitude didn’t bother me at all.
Her blind loyalty, which asks for nothing in return, oddly became a weak comfort.
I felt extremely selfish.
****
The mansion Merlin prepared, despite its shabby exterior, exceeded expectations inside.
Of course, compared to the Winfred’s mansion, it was meager, but there was no lack for the two of us to live in.
I finally had a peaceful night of sleep after a long time.
Achieved only by escaping from the Duke’s residence.
And so, time passed.
Finally, the morning of the coming-of-age ceremony dawned.
I woke up at the crack of dawn, lightly dressed, and changed into the outfit I had prepared in advance.
I didn’t put much effort into dressing up.
No matter how much I dressed up, the gazes looking at me wouldn’t be flattering.
I left Diana waiting at the mansion.
Because there would be no benefit in showing the Princess the sight of Diana, who was once the Empire’s greatest knight, accompanying me at this point.
I arrived at the Imperial Palace on the carriage that I had rented at a great expense.
As I held the coachman’s hand and stepped down from the carriage, the pure white stairs leading to the palace unfolded before me.
As I climbed the stairs, a court official who had been waiting at the door rushed over and checked my identity.
“The second son of Duke Winfred, Master Kyle Winfred, has arrived!”
Clang—
With the court official’s thunderous shout, the door leading to the ceremony hall opened.
The gazes of the nobles enjoying the meal all turned to me.
Ignoring them and moving my steps, the murmurs directed towards me spread like ripples.
— Kyle Winfred? That bastard who is said to be committing evil acts?
— I heard he broke off his engagement with Lady Isabel… How much more scandalous can he get…
[Translator – Peptobismol]
The expressions were quite interesting.
It was a moment where I could clearly feel Kyle Winfred’s notorious reputation.
Amidst the clearly hostile atmosphere, I smiled as if it didn’t bother me at all.
I moved into the ceremony hall without hesitation.
There’s no time to waste with these extras.
My only concern is Princess Ruedine Eckhart.
‘Where on earth is she?’
Turning my head several times, I passed through the center of the ceremony hall.
Before I knew it, I had reached the hallway leading to the interior of the Imperial Palace.
That’s when it happened.
“…Kyle?”
A girlish voice came from behind me.
I slowly turned my head.
“Kyle! It’s really you!”
The silver hair, as if covered in winter frost, swayed.
The golden eyes, as if they were made of pumpkin, a symbol of the Royal Family, and that repulsively innocent smile.
“How long has it been!”
Princess of the Empire, Rudine Eckhart.
And Kyle’s childhood friend.
She ran up to me in one step, her eyes sparkling.
I managed to straighten my distorted expression.
I must not forget.
The fact that Ruedine retains her memories from before the regression.
“…Ruedine?”
“Kyle! You’ve really come!”
“Who’s coming-of-age ceremony is it? Of course, I’d come.”
Rudine smiled brightly as I gave a barely concocted response.
“I already heard the story. You broke off your engagement with Lady Isabel?”
The sharp question stabbed my ears.
I answered with a fake smile, pretending not to care.
“It just so happened.”
“Really… Do you know how surprised I was when I heard the news?”
Ruedine pursed her lips innocently.
Soon, she lowered her head and looked up at my face with a slightly somber expression.
“Are you okay? It must have been hard, right?”
Ruedine worriedly asked me, her voice trembling.
I barely swallowed the admiration that rose to my throat.
If I hadn’t known about the penalty, I would have been fooled.
That’s when it happened.
“…!”
The necklace Ruedine was wearing shimmered in the light.
I finally found it.
The Rosary, the Relic I have been looking for so long.
“Oh my.”
Then, a voice as cold as a glacier filled the air.
“Kyle?”
Luna Winfred.
She appeared out of nowhere and smiled at me.
“Huh.”
Ruedine’s soft voice followed.
“Why is the Lady Winfred here?”
Ruedine asked with a smiling face.
Amidst the sudden situation, Luna elegantly bowed her waist, speechless.
“Luna Winfred, greets the Sun of the Empire.”
“Please raise your head.”
Luna raised her head.
Soon, with her characteristic laughter mixed in, she answered Ruedine’s question.
“It happens to be that the child the Princess is conversing with is actually my younger brother.”
Fuck.
Who’s whose younger brother?
While swallowing my anger and choosing my words carefully…
“Hmm~”
Rudine tilted her head as if interested.
“That’s surprising! I didn’t know that Lady Winfred considered my close friend as her younger brother.”
“Is that so? Interesting.”
Luna slowly moved her steps.
“I also had no idea that the Princess considered my younger brother as her close friend.”
“Haha, is that so?”
“Well, please do forgive me if I offended you by any chance.”
The air froze like the North Sea in mid-winter.
The suffocating atmosphere lasted for a moment.
“K-Kyle…!!!”
The irritating voice pierced my ears.
“You were here…!”
It was Isabel Yustia.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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