CHAPTER 84…………………………………….
Giovanni didn’t say a word. But he didn’t need to. It was fine now.
Her anger, her courage, the tension that made her heart feel like it would burst—all of it vanished like smoke in the face of such firm rejection.
If she clung any longer, she felt she would never forgive herself.
Deeply heartbroken, Laratou turned away without looking at him.
“Go back.”
“…….”
“I will lift the exile order against Igrene.”
Her back felt hot. Was Giovanni looking at her, or not?
Even thinking about it made her chest ache, and Princess Laratou quickly wiped away her tears.
“For now, at least the charge of colluding with a spy is cleared.”
After a short while, a reply came.
“I understand.”
Concise, as expected of him. Gruff, curt.
“Thank you.”
There was no need for thanks meant for another woman!
The princess hurried back inside.
It was the first time her pride, which she had never needed to show, surfaced.
Once inside her room, Laratou collapsed onto the bed.
She wanted the kind of fated love found in novels—not the kind of heart-wrenching pain she was feeling now!
All the protagonists in stories endured countless trials, but when reading, she hadn’t realized how miserable and intense it could feel to have your heart rejected.
Three days passed. Princess Laratou was still trapped in the heartbreak of experiencing such emotions for the first time.
Her maid, who had been watching her carefully the entire time, gently woke her.
“Princess, Princess.”
Trembling lashes, eyes opening weakly.
Seeing the unfocused blue eyes, the maid sighed in pity.
“Why?”
Should she just let the princess rest?
After a brief pause, she realized this wasn’t something she could decide alone.
“Aris Dolencia is here to see you.”
“Ha.”
Princess Laratou wiped her face with her dry hands. She had lost so much weight, no longer the lively, cheerful, naive princess she had once been.
Seeing her cynical gaze, the maid remained silent.
“She calls at all hours now.”
Before, Laratou would have listened to Aris, but now, there was no need.
The Empire’s spy had been handed over.
Giovanni had said this wasn’t proof of Igrene’s innocence, but neither could it be said that Igrene was guilty.
Frustration, resentment, bitterness—everything.
Even Aris Dolencia was not exempt.
“Don’t relay her words to me anymore.”
Princess Laratou muttered coldly.
“I should send her back to prison.”
“Princess…”
Yet the maid did not step back, only looked troubled.
Seeing her subordinate behave unusually, Laratou raised a questioning brow.
“What is it?”
“She insists she has one last very important thing to say. She says you’ll regret it if you don’t hear her out.”
“You believe that? She only ever tells lies that favor her.”
“But her expression was so confident.”
Laratou smirked and got up.
“Last? Fine, let’s hear it. If she dares talk about Igrene being a spy again, I’ll exile her instead.”
“I am no longer a priestess.”
Unexpected, but surprisingly interesting.
Seeing Aris calmer and more serious than usual, Laratou raised her eyebrows, expecting yet another lie.
“I’ve thought long and hard and am speaking honestly.”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why suddenly decide to be honest?”
Aris hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
“I heard that Your Highness captured an Empire spy.”
Only then did the princess understand why Aris had changed her attitude and snorted.
Flustered by the subtle attitude, Aris hurried to explain:
“I was wrong to think Igrene was a spy. That was a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Maybe… a mistake.”
Seeing her immediately change her words, Laratou whispered:
“I feel like a fool for dealing with you until now.”
Aris’s face stiffened.
The atmosphere grew tense. Laratou was never particularly affectionate toward Aris, but she had always listened sincerely. Aris, perceptive in such matters, had realized the princess wanted “bad” news about Igrene, so she spilled everything she knew with full disclosure.
A self-serving confession.
But now it was clear the princess no longer cared or intended to show leniency.
The thought of a dark, filthy, rat-infested prison sent shivers through her.
She would rather die than go there.
Putting aside her wounded pride, Aris focused on turning the princess’s heart.
“I’ll… I’ll tell the truth. Yes, Igrene has nothing to do with the Empire’s spy. The spy… I was somewhat close to her, but I had no idea she was a spy! That wicked, vile woman! If I had known she was from the Empire, I wouldn’t have even acknowledged her! I would have reported her to the royal court immediately.”
“I didn’t come here to hear excuses.”
Despite Aris’s impassioned explanation, the princess remained unmoved.
Aris’s eyes slightly blurred at Laratou’s constant indifference.
“Because of you, I was embarrassed in front of her.”
Laratou’s furrowed brow twisted slightly as she spoke casually.
“No, I can’t act like you. It’s not your fault. It’s because I haven’t given up. I simply can’t give up…”
Almost a soliloquy.
Unable to interject, Aris fell silent.
Soon, snapping out of her reverie, Princess Laratou looked at Aris and smiled faintly.
“You’re still at fault too. Perhaps you should pay the price for lying to me.”
She gestured to the maid.
“To prison. That’s your punishment.”
Aris went pale. As if losing interest, she turned away from the princess but shouted back:
“I haven’t finished speaking! This is the truth! I am no longer a priestess!”
The princess continued walking without replying.
“Right. Committing that crime means you lose your priestess status.”
“That’s not what I mean. I lost my priestess abilities!”
Suddenly, Laratou stopped. Aris, relieved she had at least gotten her attention, gasped for breath.
Laratou spun sharply.
“You’ve lost your priestess abilities?”
Seeing Aris nod vigorously, she furrowed her brow.
“Explain in detail.”
Aris hesitated before answering.
“Why?”
“Just say it plainly.”
Seeing Laratou’s frown, Aris immediately lowered her posture.
“Please don’t send me to prison.”
“…….”
“One more favor—I want to be returned to Hubert. I can’t live without him.”
Aris’s eyes glistened with tears, pure and clear, though Laratou sensed no trace of genuine emotion behind them.
Realizing this fully for the first time, Laratou sighed without realizing it.
“You are shameless. I can only imagine how stressed Igrene must have been living with you. She truly deserves pity.”
“She’s not pitiable!”
Aris, offended, flushed and puffed out her chest.
“If you heard what I have to say, Princess, you’d think the same.”
What could she know to be so confident?
Princess Laratou crossed her arms and looked down at the self-assured Aris.
“You really think what you know is valuable?”
“Absolutely.”
“Fine. Let’s hear it.”
The maid looked at Laratou with a questioning expression.
Even she had doubts about Aris’s confidence but had reported it anyway. Watching the situation unfold, she wasn’t sure she had made the right call.
“Princess, do you really need to hear this? Isn’t it a waste of time?”
“Not at all.”
Aris shook her head firmly.
The princess studied her and snorted.
“Speak. But if it’s trivial or a lie, I’ll send you to prison immediately.”
Swallowing hard, Aris opened her lips, cracked and dry from stress.
She recounted everything she had experienced, suspected, and finally concluded.
“…And that’s why I’m certain now. Igrene definitely stole my power!”
The princess, who had remained silent throughout, finally spoke with a heavy voice.
“Is everything you’ve said true?”
“I swear on my name. It’s the truth. I remember vaguely, but I’m sure—Igrene came into my room while I was in a daze!”
“…….”
“Really! You don’t believe me, right? It’s true! Since that day, I’ve been unable to use my powers!”
Watching Aris clutch her chest in frustration, Princess Laratou gritted her teeth.
It wasn’t disbelief that troubled her—it was that some pieces made sense, and she couldn’t speak recklessly.
Laratou parted her lips.
“That sudden rain in the forest…”
“Huh?”
“I thought it was just luck…”
“What are you saying?”
The princess stared at Aris, tension etched on her anxious face.
Her complexion darkened as fatigue overtook her.
“Fine. I’ll believe you.”
“Then…?”
“You’ll go to the Count Lorenst’s household. I don’t know if they’ll take you in, though.”
“That’s fine! I can do well!”
Like someone rescued from the brink of death, Aris’s face lit up with joy.
“I’ll make arrangements immediately.”
“Um, Princess.”
As she turned to leave, Aris hurriedly called her back.
Looking tiredly at her, Aris interlaced her fingers and hesitated.
“Princess, can you keep it a secret that I am no longer a priestess? This is my final request, truly the last one!”
Princess Laratou didn’t even listen further, merely nodded.
She no longer cared for Aris’s whining.
