Chapter – 34
The Revealed Truth and the Pact of Shared Fate….
Clad in newly handmade clothes, Celestina and Leonora slowly began to regain a serenity that had been absent when they first arrived at Akio’s cabin. Celestina, in particular, started exchanging brief words with Ayane and the children, sometimes even giving a fleeting yet beautiful smile. Yet Akio and Silvia could sense that deep within their hearts, lingering sorrow and anxiety about the future remained. To ease that unease, and to build genuine trust, they knew they could no longer keep secrets.
On the day of reckoning, Akio and Silvia waited until the children were taken a little distance away to the creek by Aruto to play in the water. Seizing the moment, they individually approached Leonora and Celestina with the words: “We have something important to tell you.”
In the annex room, Silvia faced Celestina quietly. Gentle sunlight filtered through the window, making Celestina’s golden hair shimmer.
“Lady Celestina… or perhaps I should address you by your true title…” Silvia began cautiously, choosing her words with care. She then recounted in detail what she and Akio had witnessed in the forest: the lifeless bodies of the fallen guards, and the painful decision Akio had made—faking the princess’s death and erecting a false grave to deceive their pursuers.
As Silvia spoke, the color drained from Celestina’s beautiful face. Her shoulders trembled as she was confronted again with the fate of her loyal retainers, tears spilling from her wide eyes. She was struck speechless by a mix of shock, gratitude, and inexpressible guilt at the lengths Akio and Silvia had gone for their sake.
“You… you did all that… for us…”
Silvia gently took Celestina’s cold, trembling hand in hers.
“To protect you and Lady Leonora, and to safeguard this small semblance of a peaceful life, Akio made what he believed was the best decision. I, too, stand by that choice. We always intended to tell you the full truth eventually.”
Celestina clung to Silvia’s warm hand, quietly shedding tears for a while. When she finally lifted her face, her voice shook as she whispered, “…Thank you… Silvia… and Akio as well… I don’t know how to express my gratitude…”
Outside, in the shade of the trees, Akio faced Leonora. She listened with a stern expression, attempting to maintain the composure expected of a knight, as he recounted the details of the false death and grave.
When Akio finished, Leonora fell silent for a moment before exhaling deeply.
“Akio… from a tactical standpoint, your decision… was probably correct. Ensuring the princess’s safety, even temporarily…” Her voice betrayed the inner conflict she felt as a knight regarding the deception. Yet she continued:
“However, beyond that… for you and Silvia to risk so much, to carry such a burden for strangers like us… I have no words. Leonora shall never forget this debt, even at the cost of my life.”
With that, Leonora knelt on one knee before Akio, performing a knightly bow. Akio hurried to help her rise.
Later, the four of them—Akio, Silvia, and a slightly calmer Celestina and Leonora—sat together in the annex room and spoke earnestly about the future. Celestina finally revealed their true identities, her face still streaked with tears.
“Akio, Silvia… we have been dishonest with you. I am… Princess Celestina El Eldoria of the small kingdom Eldoria. And this is Leonora von Weiss, my kingdom’s foremost knight and my sole protector.”
They explained the brutal reality: the sudden invasion by the neighboring, powerful military nation, the Garnea Empire; the fall of the royal capital; and their escape into the forest with only a few loyal retainers. The pursuers were elite troops of the Empire, and many loyal subjects had perished to ensure their survival.
Akio and Silvia were shocked by the severity of these truths, yet deeply sympathized with the suffering Celestina and Leonora had endured.
“…So this is the harsh fate you have carried,” Akio said quietly.
“While we cannot know how long our ruse will deceive the Garnea Empire, our priority now is to build strength here and ensure your safety,” Silvia added.
Celestina’s eyes welled up again at their firm words.
“You… truly thank you… for strangers like us…”
“We are no longer strangers, Lady Celestina. Here in this forest, we are like a family, living together,” Akio said with a gentle smile. Leonora’s rigid expression softened slightly as well.
With this revelation, a strong bond was forged between Akio, Silvia, Celestina, and Leonora—not merely protector and protected, but comrades bound by fate. With the truth of their identities and the presence of the relentless Imperial pursuers revealed, life in the forest was no longer a simple, peaceful existence. It became a struggle requiring wisdom, ingenuity, and resolve to protect those they loved.
Their immediate priorities were clear: ensure Celestina and Leonora’s full recovery and a safe, stable environment; reinforce the cabin’s defenses; and stockpile food and supplies in preparation for emergencies. Akio’s ongoing endeavors in ironwork now held an even more vital purpose—creating the tools needed to defend their fragile peace in this new, dangerous chapter of their lives.
