LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 273
After the northern incident ended, Lars, having acquired the Storm Stone, decided to return to the Imperial Family without a moment’s rest. Along with him were Hugo, who would assist in Acella’s surgery, and the crucial person, Lishe.
“Teacher Gothberg! The, Your Highness the Royal Princess….”
Returning to the Moonlight Palace, Lars checked on Acella, who was in a coma, and immediately devised a surgery plan.
However, there was one more troubling issue that needed attention.
[No. 014: Unbinding 66% → 91%]
The probability of the bad ending related to Unbinding had risen sharply.
Lishe mentioned that Tanya had said her swordsmanship had greatly improved due to her combat experience in the north.
As proof of this, the probability of a bad ending associated with Lishe was gradually stabilizing, but since that fateful day, the Unbinding probability had skyrocketed.
‘I thought Lishe had regressed too, but she returned to her original self after that day.’
It seemed to be a conditional regression.
Since the connection to the bad ending was hard to speculate, Lars decided to directly ask her.
“Lishe, is there any problem with the Holy Sword?”
“Ah, the Holy Sword…”
She only vaguely trailed off in response, but it was clear that Lishe was going through some mental changes.
“Um, Teacher. Actually, there’s something I’d like to discuss.”
“Go ahead. What is it?”
“It’s just that… every time I use the Holy Sword, I feel like I’m not myself… About what happened in the north.”
Lishe blushed as she fidgeted with her fingers, her lips repeatedly licking due to dryness.
‘Uh-oh, do I look weirder now?’
Awkwardly, she closed her mouth.
It was terribly frustrating for Lishe.
Even though she hadn’t even confessed her feelings yet, the actions she took must have left Lars very flustered.
…Charles.
Her older sister had ruined everything.
The one who kissed Lars that day was Charles. She didn’t even remember the touch, let alone clearly recall it.
All she could vaguely remember was the sensation of danger that made her dispel the Unbinding when she felt Charles had done something she shouldn’t have.
Since Lars remembered the incident precisely, he might see her as a strange girl.
He might think she was lighthearted.
…But it wasn’t like that.
Since that day, she hadn’t exchanged a word with Charles. Perhaps it was because she was conscious of it, but it felt like her connection with her had severed again.
“Teacher, I hope you don’t misunderstand…”
“Teacher Gothberg!”
Just as their conversation was barely getting off the ground, it was abruptly interrupted by Hugo’s shout. It was about the Royal Princess’s surgery.
Come to think of it, Lars was on the verge of a very important operation. It was bound to be a once-in-a-lifetime treatment in which the life of the attending physician was at stake.
“Wait a moment, I’ll be right there. Lishe, what were you saying?”
“N-No….”
She couldn’t interrupt him. Lishe ultimately decided to let him focus on the tasks at hand.
“It’s not important. I’ll tell you later.”
“Alright. If anything comes up, just let me know. I’ll also look for solutions to the Unbinding.”
“A-No! I have to do it well…”
She couldn’t continue to burden him.
Lishe watched Lars walk away, resolute in her decision.
*
Despite several obstacles, Acella’s surgery ended successfully.
“Hey, Lars. Let’s go look around the festival together.”
While lying in bed and being tended to, Acella spoke to him.
Lars, blowing into the porridge he was about to feed her, replied, “Try to get your discharge approval by then. If you keep trying to work like this, it will only be delayed.”
“…Did you know?”
“I’m your attending physician. How could I not?”
As he put a spoon into Acella’s mouth, Lars responded playfully.
With her tiny lips munching away, Acella, looking more relaxed, rambled on for a while before broaching the subject.
“I heard you went to the north.”
“I told you to stay away from documents until you’re discharged.”
“The part about the Hero receiving a Revelation is a lie, isn’t it?”
“…No, it’s true!”
“Do you think I’m a fool?”
Acella pinched Lars’ thigh but grimaced due to the pain in her abdomen.
“Were you happy to spend four months with the continent’s greatest hero?”
“Why do you put it like that?”
“Now that the expedition is over, you can quit being his attending physician and get back to your main job.”
“Main job, huh?”
“Exactly. You’re my attending physician.”
Swish.
Acella’s slender fingers grabbed Lars’ sleeve, avoiding direct eye contact.
“Your lord is lying in bed, after all. You should stay by my side 24/7.”
Even though the intense reunion with Charles still lingered in Lars’ mind, seeing Acella in her patient’s gown made him feel a bit sorry.
There was no escaping, so the reunion could wait a bit.
Lars chuckled and shrugged.
“Consider it done.”
*
After that week, Lishe hadn’t met Lars.
Returning to the daily life of the Imperial Family, she couldn’t really complain about it.
“You’ve really polished your posture. The flow of mana looks good too. Let’s begin the sparring session.”
In the meantime, Lishe had focused solely on learning swordsmanship from Tanya.
She woke up with the sunrise, ran the training ground with knights, and swung her sword all day until dusk.
It was just a repetitive cycle of simple physical work.
Something she was most accustomed to.
“Why don’t you use the Holy Sword?”
Tanya’s question one day caught her off guard.
“Uh, well… it doesn’t fit well in my hand.”
“You’ll have to use it eventually, so it’s better to swing it until you’re used to it. I’d recommend a new sword to others, but…”
“I don’t want to use the Holy Sword in training.”
“But…”
“Please, I’ll catch it in real battles.”
As Lishe insisted firmly, Tanya refrained from pressing further.
Lishe felt scared.
The person inside that Holy Sword named Charles.
At first, she believed that voice claiming to be her future self.
Knowledgeable, mature, and even though it had taken her body, it did save Lars.
But taking Lars without her consent.
Not once, but twice.
‘Without even asking for my permission.’
That was unforgivable.
Doubts began to creep in.
What if her sister… what if Charles wasn’t her future self?
What if it was a cursed sword instead of a Holy Sword?
What if it could read her memories and just spouted nonsense, mimicking her voice, intending to do bad things to the Teacher?
If something truly bad were to happen…
Lishe could never face Lars again.
‘I… I’m not smart enough to figure this out.’
But the Teacher would surely provide a clear answer.
However, Lars was currently very busy.
After performing a major surgery on the Royal Princess, it was natural that he wouldn’t have the luxury to come meet her.
So, she would bide her time until he could come to her, doing what she could.
For now, she focused on fulfilling her duties as a Hero.
“There’s a festival going on at the square. Hero, why don’t you drop by after it’s over?”
“Oh, the festival?”
“Yes. You haven’t rested since returning from the north. You need a break.”
“The festival… I’ve never been.”
Only heard about it in words. She couldn’t imagine what kind of stunning sights would unfold.
Moreover, it was a festival held by the Emperor in the heart of the Empire. Delicious food, splendid performances. Every citizen would surely come from far and wide to enjoy that day.
“I want to go, but….”
The only thing she could do right now was keep doing her duty and wait.
If she were to go, it would surely be better to go with Lars.
*
Time passed quickly. Three days later, on December 31st.
This day, being the last of the festival, all knights were either deployed to guard the square or on vacation. The training ground was closed, making training impossible.
As she felt conflicted for a moment, Lishe ultimately decided to ask about it.
It had been clearly stated that today was the last day of the festival.
Just for one day. Was it acceptable to spend it with the Teacher?
“Teacher Gothberg seems to have left the palace with the Royal Princess.”
It was said since they had disappeared during the party, that they were likely spending time alone together.
And since Knight Tanya was secretly guarding them, there would be no problems, the head maid explained.
‘Wasn’t he tending to the Royal Princess?’
Lishe thought that after Lars had performed Acella’s surgery, he hadn’t been able to come to see her.
In reality, it was because Acella had preemptively blocked his contact with Lishe.
‘Not seeing him… is frustrating.’
Had they deemed her as a strange girl?
She wanted to clear up any misunderstandings.
Lishe headed out on a whim to search for Lars.
She ran through the square for a long time, searching for their figures.
No matter how much they tried to hide, the aura emanating from those noble figures couldn’t be concealed.
If she could see them, she was sure she could recognize them.
How many hours passed? As the sun set and the sky dimmed.
The street festival atmosphere peaked, with music overflowing everywhere and the aroma of various delicacies wafting around.
Everyone was enjoying the moment with happy expressions, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Being alone was felt to be just her own burdens.
“…Ah!”
How long had it been?
At the castle walls hundreds of meters away.
Lishe spotted two people climbing stairs.
Luxurious golden and silver hair sparkling even in the dark. There was no doubt about it.
For some reason, even though she knew that interrupting them would be a disturbance…
No, it was because she knew it was a disturbance that Lishe sprinted after their shadow with all her might.
“Haah, haah, haah.”
Regardless of her lungs burning, she stretched her legs as far as she could.
Realizing that upon arriving, knights were guarding every entrance going up the stairs.
With no time to waste, Lishe sneaked around to the back and began to climb the castle wall.
Was it even necessary to do that? She had a nagging feeling that something was off.
Upon reaching the top, passing through the watchtower, she began to descend the stairs.
As she turned a corner, a position that overlooked the Central Square came into view. The two must be there.
— Boom!
A distant voice was heard.
It was the voice she had longed to hear for so long.
Lishe leaned against the wall of the watchtower, concentrating on the voice.
— “How is it, Your Highness? The fireworks are the first…”
Suddenly, his voice trailed off.
Curiosity about what was happening surged within her.
Unable to contain herself, Lishe turned her head to look at the castle wall.
“…Ah.”
What she saw there was a kiss between two men and women, reminiscent of a masterpiece.
A touch filled with affection, confirming their love for each other.
— “I like you, Lars.”
The clear tone flowing from the golden girl filled Lishe with a sense of despair, creeping in from her toes.
She just realized.
Just as animals pair off, and flowers come in pairs.
There exists a ‘hierarchy’ of worthiness for people too.
Between nobles and royalty, there was no place for a mere commoner like her, a rustic loudmouth who could squeeze in.
“…Ugh.”
Crack.
Without realizing it, as Lishe stepped back, she trampled on a branch on the ground.
At that moment, both Lars and Acella’s gazes zeroed in on Lishe simultaneously.
“You.”
The affectionate gaze Lars had been sending to her moments before now turned cold with danger in Acella’s icy glare.
“I-I’m sorry!”
“Wait, Lishe!”
Terrified, Lishe fled without looking back.
By the time she regained her senses, she had already descended the stairs, slipped out of the square, and was bolting through the mountains, without knowing where she was.
“Haah, haah, ah.”
Was the warmth streaming from her eyes sorrow, resentment, or defeat?
She didn’t know. She couldn’t tell. But she despised it.
Why couldn’t she say a word?
Why was she so weak?
“I hate it.”
She hated the Royal Princess, hated her sister too.
She hated the goddess who marked her with this sort of thing.
But more than anything…
She hated herself the most.
She had known that long ago.
“…I hate it.”
The reason she hated herself even more was because,
“I like the Teacher.”
— Thud.
Lishe grabbed the Holy Sword once again.
She gazed at her own half-reflected face in the snow-white blade.
“Tell me. How do I capture the Teacher?”
The reflection of Lishe smirked at her.
As if to mock her.