LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 80
“
Umm…
”
With a groan, Frinel’s eyes slowly opened. He frowned slightly and got up. Despite being poisoned and getting cut by a sword, his body felt not just fine but even lighter than before.
“…
Ah..
.”
In Frinel’s half-raised view, he saw Lobelia sleeping face-down beside the bed. It seemed she had been taking care of him all night, as there was a wet towel and a basin around her. Even in deep sleep, her face bore signs of exhaustion.
Feeling sorry for her, he slowly reached out his hand. His long, white fingertips gently stroked Lobelia’s hair. Just tucking her fallen hair behind her ear made his heart pound.
How had he fallen for her like this? Enough to risk his life by throwing his own body in front of the assassin’s sword. At first, it was just curiosity.
Frinel smiled faintly. Seeing that his body was completely healed, it seemed like she had succeeded in using her holy power. He was glad she succeeded, but it also made his heart ache.
Holy power required more life force than even magic. Using more power could lead to health problems. If she tried harder, it could be her who would suffer.
His eyes filled with sympathy as he looked at her. Just then, sensing someone, Lobelia slowly opened her eyes.
“Ah, you’re awake…? I’ll get you some water.” Her voice was slightly hoarse from her dry lips. She coughed awkwardly, rubbing her eyes as she got up.
Frinel also stood up, following Lobelia. “Are you okay?”
“Yes? Of course, I’m oka…” She was just about to respond when dizziness overwhelmed her. Her body staggered heavily.
“Lady Lobelia!”
Frinel quickly wrapped his arms around her waist. Although it seemed like she was leaning on him, luckily, she was able to avoid the disaster of falling over.
“I’m fine. I just stood up too quickly…”
“You’ve used too much power yesterday.”
“It was nothing.” She pressed her temples firmly. Maybe it was because she had been too busy lately and neglected her training, but she felt more fatigued than before.
“It was nothing?” Frinel lifted Lobelia in his arms.
“W-what are you doing!”
“I’ll get the water, so rest.”
“I need to go to Magorit,” she struggled and shouted. But Frinel had no intention of putting her down.
Frinel spoke with a firm face as if he had made up his mind. “I’ll go.”
“What?”
“I’ll take care of it, so get some rest. You’ll hurt yourself like this.” He laid her down on the bed and covered her up to her shoulders with the blanket.
“… I’m really fine,” Lobelia answered softly, clutching the blanket.
The bed was very cozy, still warm from Frinel’s body heat. Moreover, her eyes slowly closed, perhaps due to not sleeping well while taking care of him. She needed to see Magorit as she was still unaware if she was plotting something. But accumulated fatigue piled up like snow on her eyelids.
“Sleep, Lady Lobelia.”
“But…”
Frinel’s eyes flashed fiercely. “I’m the one who got hurt, so this time, let me repay the favor.” Muttering fiercely, he left the room only after ensuring she was completely asleep.
“Alter.”
“
Gasp,
Your Highness!”
Alter, his aide, was waiting outside, looking anxious.
“I-it’s really fortunate! The princess insisted on trusting her… but I can’t believe you’re really this fine…”
His nose was red. Alter had been worried sick about Frinel all night.
“Were you worried?”
“Worried?
Ha
. Of course, I knew you’d return alive!”
He turned his head to quickly wipe away tears, responding in his usual brusque manner.
Frinel looked at him as if he was cute but then asked again with a serious face. “Who knows about last night?”
“Luckily, the assassins’ bodies turned to dust, leaving no evidence. Some servants saw something…”
“
Hmm
.”
“They thought it was a dream. Because of that… dark blue power.” Alter tilted his head slightly as he continued. “I thought so too.”
It was supposed to be just teatime with a child. He went out for a while, thinking nothing would happen. And when Alter returned, he encountered the dark blue power burning the assassins. It was a complete failure of his guard duty.
“…I have nothing to say. I should have protected Your Highness…”
Frinel smiled and ruffled Alter’s hair jokingly. “I’m stronger than you, aren’t I?”
“But I’m your aide and guard, Your Highness…!”
“Don’t blame yourself for yesterday. It wasn’t your fault.” Frinel shook his head quietly.
“But that doubt in your mind.” His clear blue eyes seemed to pierce into Alter’s thoughts. “About the princess’s identity, don’t assume anything yet.”
“… I’m just your shadow, Your Highness.”
“I trust you with anything. Can you handle the other servants?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Now I have something to do.”
“Where are you going? I’ll come with—”
“I won’t be fooled twice.” Frinel gritted his teeth.
Someone had tried to poison a child. It was a familiar plot.
Frinel quickly hid his icy expression and patted Alter’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, just follow my orders. I’ll be back soon.”
“…
Sigh,
I understand.”
When he made a look like that, no one could stop him. Alter sighed deeply and left to organize the situation from yesterday.
Frinel raised an eyebrow leisurely and headed towards Margaret’s annex. With each step, memories of his childhood came to mind.
“Urgh…!”
“Oh dear, how could only the first prince’s food be spoiled?”
The intentional poisoning.
“Lock him in the cold palace for three days, and don’t give him a sip of water.”
“Mo-Mother!”
“If you want to be a good emperor later, you must understand the people’s hunger.”
The intentional torment in the cold palace.
“Attacked by an assassin? How could such a thing happen… The public opinion is already so unfavorable for the young first princes, tsk, tsk…”
His mother had sent an assassin disguised as a swordsmanship teacher and then scolded him.
“Do you love me?”
Patricia’s seductive voice echoed in his ears.
“Do you want to be loved by me?”
She offered him a golden cup.
“Then drink this.”
“What is this, Mother…?”
“This is poison.”
It was a golden cup filled with poison.
“If you really love me, don’t torment me anymore and just die…!”
Then she forced it into his mouth.
Somehow, he survived the deadly poison, but after that day, Frinel gave up everything. Or, thought so.
His eyes slowly rolled towards the annex. Frinel walked into the annex. Without knocking, he burst into Magorit’s room. She was seen pacing around her room, biting her nails as she hadn’t heard news from the main house.
“
Kyaa
!”
Startled by the sudden appearance of the prince, Magorit let out a small scream.
“Yo-Your Highness…”
“You seem quite anxious.”
“What do you mean…”
“You were probably waiting for good news, but unfortunately, it wasn’t Merilly who drank the poison but someone else.” Frinel sat leisurely at the table.
“…Yes? Poison…? What do you mean…?” She composed herself and pretended to know nothing.
“It must be your doing.”
His gaze fell on the table. There was an envelope marked ‘P’.
“You must have gained a powerful backer.”
“Your Highness, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Magorit quickly covered the letter with her body and calmly replied. “I’m just a poor legitimate wife driven out by a concubine.”
“Marchioness Hamilton.”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
“I’ll tell you a secret.” He crossed his legs arrogantly. “I’m interested in Lady Lobelia.”
“…Yes?”
“And I’m thinking of taking her daughter too. So, it means…” Frinel deliberately trailed off his sentence and continued with a smirk. “We’re on the same side.”