TRETTHD 63

#63. Requiem

Belia pressed her lips tightly together, offering no response, and Erze hastily waved her hands, speaking in a flustered voice.

“Even if you say no, it’s really okay! I know I’m making an unreasonable request.”

Erze’s desire to stay in the royal palace made Belia’s heart sink.

Why did she have to ask for something like this?

She had expected Erze to ask for a dress or expensive jewelry. Or maybe, taking this opportunity to advance in high society, she might ask for a tea party invitation.

Belia had even briefly considered that if Erze were as greedy as she had been in her previous life, she might ask to be given a place by Belia’s side.

As a princess of Ronica and the fiancée of the second prince, Belia knew such a position would be more than the baron’s daughter could reasonably expect.

But asking to stay in the royal palace for a few days…

“Ah… um… I just… I heard someone mention it before. At that time, I thought it would be nice to visit the palace, and then when you asked me to say what I wanted, I… I just couldn’t help myself…”

Unlike earlier, when her eyes had sparkled while confidently demanding what she wanted, Erze now fidgeted with her fingers, trailing off at the end of her words.

Belia watched her quietly for a moment before speaking.

“No, that’s fine.”

Erze blinked in surprise, meeting her gaze again, clearly taken aback by the unexpected answer.

It seemed Khalid, standing nearby, was equally shocked, as he called out Belia’s name in surprise.

“Belia?”

“I’m not the owner of the second prince’s palace, so I’ll need Khalid’s permission—but that’s fine, right?”

Khalid’s expression shifted slightly at Belia’s words. After a small sigh, he responded.

“Alright. If that’s what you want.”

He had never once denied Belia what she wished for.

And Belia knew he never would.

Yet, part of her had secretly hoped he might refuse this time.

‘I don’t even know why I feel this way.’

Conflicting feelings coexisted: the desire to watch over Erze in the palace, and the determination never to be entangled with her again.

Above all, though, one feeling outweighed the rest:

Khalid would not change.

He would remain by her side until the very end.

And she wanted, more than anything, to prove that fact to herself.

“Wow! Really?”

Erze clapped her hands lightly, her face bright with joy.

She clearly hadn’t expected to be allowed to stay in the palace, and her surprise was unmistakable—but her happiness was impossible to hide.

“But not right away. First, return home and let Baron and Baroness Kinetra know that you’ll be staying in the palace for a few days, then pack the necessary things. I’ll make sure they know you can visit anytime.”

Belia finished speaking with a faint smile, and Erze nodded vigorously.

“I’ll go tell my parents immediately! Thank you so much, Princess!”

“Then we’ll meet again soon.”

She knew it was a gamble.

Allowing Erze into the palace just to confirm her feelings was certainly a foolish act. Yet, now that she realized she had subconsciously begun doubting Khalid, she wanted certainty.

She wanted to trust him completely—but anxiety kept creeping in.

Love is pointless.

People are all the same.

Loyalty is betrayed, and the trusting one ends up a fool.

That was what Raul had taught her.

But Khalid had said it was wrong.

He would not change. He asked her to trust him.

He had handed over control of their relationship entirely to her and spoken those words.

‘Then this time…’

She would face things directly, shattering the lingering shadows of the past.

It was time to end this tiresome entanglement.

Belia’s cold gaze remained fixed on Erze until she was completely out of sight.

All matters concluded, the carriage returned to the palace.

Belia let out a deep, unintentional sigh, resting her head against the carriage wall.

Her body was exhausted, but a wave of relief swept over her knowing that the work she had been preparing for over a month was finally finished.

“You’ve done well.”

Khalid approached and wrapped his arms around Belia, whose head leaned against the wall.

Belia let her weary body rest against him.

“I’m sorry for the unreasonable request, Khalid.”

She was apologizing for inviting Erze into the palace without permission.

Khalid probably hadn’t wanted anyone in his palace. And since she had acted on her own, he might have been upset.

“I’m fine. We won’t be crossing paths often, and she won’t be staying long anyway.”

Khalid shrugged, speaking carefully.

“By the way, didn’t you dislike Baroness Kinetra?”

“Did it show?”

Belia had thought she’d hidden it well, but apparently Khalid had noticed. She smiled lightly.

“Yes. Baroness Kinetra isn’t a bad person… but if you ask whether I liked her, well… I didn’t really want to get close to her.”

“Then why did you allow her to stay in the palace? Did you have some other plan? Perhaps you had met her in your previous life…”

Belia shook her head.

“This time, it was thanks to her that we overcame a serious crisis. It wasn’t even a difficult request. She didn’t ask for anything in return—just to stay in the palace for a few days. It’s a story any young lady could dream of.”

“Belia.”

“That’s really all there is to it, Khalid.”

She could not tell him that in her previous life, this same girl had taken her place and become empress.

She didn’t want to burden the one she loved with the painful memories of her past.

The story of Raul was already enough. She did not wish to add that the person who took Raul from her had appeared as well.

Perhaps it was a trivial pride.

But in front of Khalid, she did not want to appear any weaker.

“It’s true.”

“…Alright.”

Khalid, noticing Belia didn’t want to talk about Erze, reluctantly nodded.

“When we return, rest for a while.”

“Yes. I suppose I should.”

But winter was approaching.

A chill had already begun to blow. She would also have to check the clinic, firewood storage, and preserved food supplies.

‘And the antidote development is behind schedule…’

There was so much to do, and Belia’s body was only one.

“Don’t overwork yourself, Belia.”

Perhaps noticing her thoughts, Khalid gently stroked her head.

“…I’m not overworking.”

“You are. That lie is too obvious.”

Khalid shook his head seriously.

“You need someone to share the work with you.”

Belia pressed her lips tightly together. She had long realized this herself: there was too much to handle alone.

Then Khalid whispered softly into her ear.

“Rachel Caprie.”

The sudden name made Belia pull away slightly and meet his gaze.

“She’s not ideal, but she seems like the most suitable candidate.”

Belia’s puzzled expression made Khalid laugh.

“We’ll talk about the details when we get back.”

“What did you say?”

Belia asked, startled.

“You see, Baron Caprie was originally on your side…”

She had tested him subtly before, and when the baron showed no reaction, she thought it was premature. Yet he had already been working with Khalid.

“Since we’ve decided to act in earnest, it wouldn’t hurt to reveal it soon.”

“So Rachel knew too…”

Had she approached her deliberately?

Belia swallowed the unspoken words. She had thought of her as a friend, and if there had been hidden motives, it would have hurt a little.

But Khalid shook his head.

“No. Only the baron’s eldest son knows. Nobody knows about my relationship with the baron.”

Khalid crossed his legs confidently as he spoke.

Belia recalled her assumptions and asked in a slightly trembling voice.

“When did the baron start working with you?”

“Quite a while ago. Even before I came of age.”

Khalid answered straightforwardly.

“Ha…”

Belia was at a loss. How could so many hidden things keep surfacing?

She finally understood why Baron Caprie had remained neutral until the very end in her previous life. Khalid, whom he supported, had given up the throne, leaving no choice but to remain neutral.

“Why… didn’t you become emperor?”

Belia sighed, puzzled. How could he have collapsed so easily against Raul, judging by the strength he had shown?

“Did you not want to be emperor?”

Khalid raised the corner of his lips.

“Who knows?”

A teasing, evasive expression, refusing to answer.

“…What?”

Already tense from Erze’s appearance, Belia felt a pang of disappointment at his behavior.

Khalid reached out to her.

“Come here.”

“No.”

“Then I’ll come to you.”

He sat beside her, slightly bowing his head to meet her eyes.

“Why that expression?”

“…What expression?”

“Like a child whose candy was taken away.”

What!

Belia was indignant but chose to stay silent, thinking any explanation would only sound like an excuse.

Khalid smiled at her as if she were adorable and spoke.

“If I hadn’t acted during that time…”

He kissed her lightly and continued.

“Maybe it was because of you.”

Belia’s face burned red at his words. She never knew how to react to such statements.

“D-Don’t joke…”

“I’m not joking.”

Khalid smiled broadly and wrapped her in his arms.

“I certainly didn’t want to be hostile toward you. Perhaps I was plotting to take you away from Raul.”

“No way.”

“Who knows.”

Although his words sounded like a dream, Belia couldn’t help but wish they were true.

Even one person thinking of her, even in that past where she died in vain, would have comforted her soul as it faded away.