Chapter 305 – Lucia Urella (8)
When I heard that Eugene had left for Aslan, the first thing that came to my mind was relief.
“…”
The relief that came from not having to watch him die any longer.
‘Eugene…’
In the last episode, I watched closely how you shine.
Just like you saved me when I fell down.
This time, I’ll take your place.
***
Two years after the entrance ceremony.
Marjan, Vivian, Bianca, and even Lilith.
We came this far without losing a single person.
Of course, as much as there was gain, there were also sacrifices.
“The Lumenhark Empire is now at its limit…”
Bianca clicked her tongue as Lilith spoke in her brooding voice.
“Tsk, everyone here knows. That’s the limit That’s why we didn’t come together to find a solution.”
“…In the end, if you can’t solve it within the Empire, there is only one way. Asking for support from the Aslan Empire.”
“So will you help me? If we perish, you know it’s their turn next, right? They must be busy collecting military supplies and weapons to take care of themselves, so do you support them? It is nonsense.”
At Bianca’s words, I stood up and declared.
“I will go and convince you.”
“Hey… Wake up and tell us to fight without our heads? If you go, who’s in command here?”
I said pointing at Bianca with her finger.
“You.”
“What? How do I command! I can only punch!”
“I could. You’ve been watching me the longest.”
Bianca can do it.
I already knew that.
“I can’t! If you know that I’ve been watching you from the side…!!”
“You weren’t just watching, were you? I know you study by reading tactical books every night. And while you may lack knowledge, your ability to judge the situation and read the flow of the battlefield is excellent. Therefore…”
“…No…However…Even so…”
“Please… I will. Bianca.”
“Sir…Okay! You can do it!”
I smiled softly at Bianca’s permission.
“Thank you. And Vivian.”
“Yes…Four…Miss Lucia…!!”
“Help Bianca a lot. He has eyes to see the battlefield, but as you can see, he’s impatient, so he’s sure to make mistakes. It is your role to stop it then.”
“Yes…I will try.”
“Hey, why is that kid saying I’m older than you?”
I ignored Bianca’s grumbling and looked at her Lilith.
“Holy Lady.”
“Yes, Miss Lucia.”
“Please protect me.”
“Yes, I will protect you.”
Lilith smiles brightly.
One word was enough for Lilith.
You didn’t have to tell me what to protect.
Lilith will do her best to protect everyone.
“Marjan.”
“Yes, Miss Lucia.”
“I have a lot of work to do, but think of them as me and help me.”
“All right. I will definitely protect the place where Lucia-sama will return.”
I slowly looked at everyone’s faces and bowed down.
“Thank you everyone.”
It was never easy to come here while protecting everyone.
Even so…
Thank you very much for coming without losing a single person.
***
Two months later, the Aslan Empire.
“Nice to see you.”
I already knew that Eugene was Aslan’s chancellor, but I couldn’t help but feel trembling.
“My name is Lucia Urella, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lumenhark Empire.”
I greeted Eugene and the young emperor of Aslan.
***
“…Then, Asran will prepare weapons and supplies to this extent.”
Items poured out as if they had waited for support.
Even if it is an empire, it is not an amount that can be easily prepared.
‘Ah…’
Then I realized
Eugene did not run away from the fight.
“…Thank you.”
It was just that he was preparing to fight in Aslan, not in Lumenhark.
I turned around to hide my trembling heart.
“…By the way, are you cold? Would you like a cup of tea?”
“…How did you know?”
“Your complexion looks that way.”
“Haha.. The complexion. It’s the first time I’ve heard such a thing from anyone other than His Majesty. When I talk to the Minister, I feel as if I have known him for a very long time.”
“…”
In fact, I wanted to tell you that I have known you longer than anyone else.
“Hehe… I am like that when I talk to the Minister.”
But don’t tell.
“Oh, wait a minute. I will prepare tea that will warm you up.”
“No. How could the substitute do such a thing? I will call her maid.”
“It’s okay. I can’t even call someone at such a late hour. Even if I look like this, it will suit my taste since brewing tea is my hobby.”
Even if the small and insignificant time with you was a fleeting dream, I was happy.
“…Or is it that the minister doesn’t want to drink the tea I brewed?”
“…If you say that, I understand.”
I thought while watching Eugene’s smile.
It’s okay if I’m not by your side.
If only you could live in this world…
I could have tried my best.
***
It’s been three months since I came to Aslan.
“…Instead. Let’s talk for a minute.”
And the day Eugene left for a business trip.
Baeksoso called me into the room.
“…What’s your relationship with the West?”
Baek So-so looks at the eyes of a woman full of jealousy, not the emperor.
I shook my head and answered.
“There is no relationship. I just saw your face once more than ten years ago.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Kwajik─
Baeksoso’s hair was strangled by an incredible force that came from her arm.
“Your eyes and every action are shouting out that you love Seobang!! How dare you tell a lie!”
“…A lie…No. I… Have nothing to do with… Eugene.”
It was true.
Because in this episode, I had no relationship whatsoever.
Then, after thinking for a while, Baek So-so threw me to the floor.
“If you value your life, don’t recklessly approach the West any more… I won’t stop then.”
“..Ha…Ha…Yes…Your Majesty…I’ll keep that in mind…”
Seeing me collapsed, Baek So-so took a long breath and said,
“…Whoa…Then, leave before Mr. Seo returns. I will do enough for you as promised by the West.”
“…I understand… Your Majesty.”
I lowered my head, realizing that it was time to wake up from my short but happy dream.
***
A few days later, the day to return to the Lumenhark Empire.
It was exceptionally noisy outside.
“Look! I, Cheonggaju, caught the evil traitor who killed Your Majesty’s father!”
Listening to the sound, it seemed that a power struggle had taken place.
“…”
The end of the world was approaching, and everyone was foolish to be doing such nonsense.
‘It has nothing to do with me…’
It is related to the politics of other countries.
It couldn’t be good to intervene, and I shouldn’t intervene.
I wasn’t too concerned about the safety of my body.
Putting aside the fact that they have no ability to harm me, they say they are on the road to destruction, but Lumenhark is an empire.
If you don’t want to get along with Lumenhark, you won’t touch me, the foreign minister.
‘…Still.’
It was really fortunate that Eugene went away on a business trip.
If Eugene had stayed in the imperial family, I would never have left.
At that time, the lady-in-waiting who was preparing her wagon said with a frightened expression.
“I… Really… Will it be okay? It’s out now…”
“Never mind, prepare to depart. Instead, hang a flag with the Lumenhark Empire pattern on the carriage.”
“..Yes…Four…I understand.”
After a while, the moment I was about to leave with the body of the wagon.
Through the window, I saw Eugene bleeding with his heart pierced.
“…!”
She didn’t scream or startle.
“…Ah…”
When I came to my senses, I was already running.
And belatedly, she confirmed that her magic was flying toward Eugene.
‘Please please…!’
The moment I run to Eugene and embrace him.
Faaaaang—!
A huge shock hit my body.
“…Everything…It’s good…It’s…”
I didn’t feel any pain from the injury.
However, I was happy to be able to save Eugene.
“…This time…It’s…Not too late…It’s a relief…”
Her body is a mess, but her head is as awake as ever.
‘I can save you…!!’
All the knowledge accumulated in his head through 10 regressions was recombined in an instant, and he calculated the best way to save Eugene.
“…Just a little…Just a little…More…Bear…Please…”
Whoa-!!
My magical power and vitality are rapidly draining away, and at the same time, the blood that escaped from Eugene’s body returns and the wound in his chest heals.
‘…Please…Endure…Endure…’
But…
It wasn’t enough to save Eugene.
Kwak-
Like this again… Will she lose Yujin right in front of her eyes?
It can’t be.
Will definitely come alive
As I was desperately squeezing out my life force, someone grabbed my hand and said.
“…Use mine…Mine!”
I didn’t even have time to check who was holding my hand.
I was just doing what I could.
“…”
“…Relief…”
After a while, I looked at Eugene, who was breathing lightly, and closed my eyes.
***
“…”
I was alive
Half of his body was withered, one eye was completely blind, and his hearing was deafening, but he was still alive.
“Eugene…Ah…”
Although all senses in his body were dulled, he could clearly see where Eugene was.
With staggered steps, I went to the place where Eugene was.
“…”
Swoop─
Even though I couldn’t see it properly, I could feel Eugene’s sleeping figure.
I stopped to kiss Eugene, grateful that he was alive.
“…”
Do not be mistaken.
I had no right to do this.
Because it wasn’t me who was by Eugene’s side now.
So instead of kissing him, he handed over his hair.
Sarak─ Sarak─
Even though it’s a love that wasn’t allowed, I hoped that this level of happiness would be forgiven.
How long had he been brushing Eugene’s hair?
“I asked what are you doing here!”
A sudden grab on the shoulder.
Looking back, Baek So-so was looking at him with an expression that looked like he was about to burst into tears.
“…Ah…Your Majesty…Did you come…I’m sorry…I’m hard of hearing…So I didn’t have the proper manners.”
“…You…That…Body…”
“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter anymore. And as soon as I return home, I plan to receive treatment from the saint. Then everything will be fine.”
It’s not just a wounded body, it’s a dead body.
He lied, knowing that even if he received treatment from Lilith, he would not be able to get better.
Because my condition couldn’t be conveyed to Eugene.
“…How can the original daughter repay you?”
“You don’t have to reciprocate. The items Your Majesty promised to support Lumenhark are sufficient.”
I don’t want anything.
Just being able to save Eugene was enough.
“…That’s something the emperor promised. She is asking what she should do as a woman who has been saved, whom she has loved now, and who has been saved.”
“…”
The little emperor in front of me was afraid that I would take Yujin away.
I, who could understand that fear more than anyone else in the world, smiled at Baek So-so.
“Then… Please keep the fact that I saved Eugene a secret.”
“…Uh…Why…You…”
…I want Eugene to be happy.
“Right now… It’s not me who’s by Eugene’s side… His Majesty…”
If he knew what I sacrificed for him, he would never be happy.
“Mmm…”
Then, Eugene let out a small moan.
It means…
That it was time for me to leave.
“… It looks like Eugene is getting up, so I’m going to leave.”
“…Is…Now… Are you leaving?”
“Yes… Because His Majesty has come. Then… Your Majesty. Please take good care of Eugene.”
“..I get it…”
Just before closing the door, he walked with his staggering body.
Lastly, I thought while engraving Eugene’s face in my eyes.
‘…I love you. More than anyone… You.’
Confessing a love that can’t be conveyed like that…
I sent Eugene away.
