✦ Chapter 68 – Would You Rather Marry Than Have Your Limbs Torn Off? (8) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
“…You two, come closer.”
While Hedera didn’t use any Dragon Speech, the chilly edge in her voice had the same effect.
The priests who had been chatting immediately halted. As they realized Hedera’s presence, their eyes widened in shock. Hedera issued the command again,
“Come closer, I said.”
The command from the princess was absolute.
The priests, visibly frightened, started to approach her, still clueless as to why they were being summoned.
“You were just talking about the Third Princess, weren’t you?”
One of the priests quickly spoke up.
“We apologize for our reckless comments….”
“No. Your conversation was quite enlightening.”
Had it not been for their chatter, Hedera wouldn’t have known that Solana had visited. She thought to herself.
She swiftly moved to her next question.
“Was there a man with the Third Princess?”
The priests exchanged troubled glances.
“We… We didn’t notice. We were just so surprised to see the third princess that we weren’t paying attention….”
Well, there’s an old saying that loyalty lies with one’s kind.
These priests served within the imperial palace temple. Naturally, their structure leaned towards supporting Solana.
Thus, Hedera asked differently.
“Has the Inspector been discharged?”
The priests exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to do, but it was Hedera, the second princess, who was asking. Not responding to such a question was simply not an option.
Eventually, one of the priests answered in a quiet, trembling voice.
“Yes…. If we’ve caused you any displeasure, Second Princess, we apologize. We were only….”
“Enough.”
The priests looked worried they might be interrogated further, but Hedera listened no more. Her current concern was solely Ezekiel.
“Carry on with your duties.”
Hedera began walking briskly. The problem was, her destination wasn’t clear yet.
‘…Where could they be?’
The imperial palace was vast, almost like a small town. The thought of Solana spending every moment whimsically with Ezekiel made her anxious.
“With the Inspector’s body still recovering, and with him needing to visit the Black Magic Tower tomorrow….”
Thoughts about Ezekiel’s health, his duties as Inspector, the future of the Imperial Magic Tower, and the tasks Hedera herself had to accomplish — all swirled around her head before they were blanketed in white.
Yes, in truth, those things didn’t matter now.
What made Hedera anxious wasn’t those superficial reasons.
It was the fact that Solana had broken her promise and was spending time with Ezekiel on her terms. That alone made her furious.
…What could they be talking about?
There wasn’t much need to think deeply about the matter. The secretive nature of their meeting implied they were discussing something private.
The First Princess, Ether, had even proposed marriage. So what could Solana possibly say? Something equally shocking, perhaps.
“………..…”
Hedera intensified her focus.
The heightened senses unique to a dragon-blooded being quickly scanned the entire palace interior. Her anxiety heightened her sensitivity and speed, allowing her to search thoroughly.
“………..…!”
And soon enough, she sensed Solana’s holy power.
It was deep within the dining room.
Swish─!
Hedera moved swiftly.
There were many stories she wanted to share with Ezekiel and many things she needed to hear from him. The first conversation when Ezekiel regained consciousness should have been hers.
But Solana had taken away that moment. What could be so important that it justified such behavior? Hedera couldn’t understand.
“…………”
Finally, she arrived.
The door to the dining room was slightly ajar, and Hedera peeked inside through the gap. Plates indicating a finished meal sat between the two individuals at the table.
‘…How dare she.’
The mere fact that Solana had taken the first meal with Ezekiel made anger rise, but she suppressed it with difficulty.
…If she interrupted now, she wouldn’t be able to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Hedera strained her ears to listen.
And soon, Ezekiel’s voice came through.
“Well, I think I need to focus on my work for the time being.”
“That’s why you need to distance yourself even more. It will help you concentrate solely on your work.”
What does she want him to distance himself from?
Solana, who had stood up, was leaning her upper body towards Ezekiel. The close proximity was enough to make Hedera’s brow furrow.
“As a flower attracts all sorts of insects, the more famous you become, the more women will flock to you. But you must firmly reject them. Understood?”
“Um…”
“Focus solely on your work and distance yourself from all women except me. They’re all filled with ulterior motives.”
Hedera couldn’t believe her ears.
At this moment, doesn’t Solana have the most ulterior motives? Her words felt unbearably hypocritical.
“I’ll wait patiently for you. Until the day you’ve gained enough fame and happiness, and have rid yourself of all other women.”
So, in the end, she’s saying she’ll place Ezekiel in her grasp. Hedera unconsciously bit her lower lip.
“…So please, reassure me in this way. Ensure that you stay as unscathed as possible and keep off other women.”
Hedera closed her eyes tightly and pressed her temples. She needed time to organize her thoughts on where exactly to interject and counter.
But as soon as she opened her eyes again,
“……..…!”
Her eyes widened in shock.
Solana had overlapped her hands gently over Ezekiel’s fist, appearing incredibly tender.
“Well then, let me offer a prayer for you, Master.”
Bam─!
Hedera couldn’t contain herself and flung the door open forcefully.
“…………”
And an immediate silence fell over the dining room.
Solana, recognizing Hedera, briefly widened her eyes before her expression subtly twisted. It was clear she felt the hostility emanating from Hedera.
“How amusing, considering you were the one who first mentioned the three days.”
“What brings you here? Were you hungry?”
“They call the daughter of the Sun God a Saintess, right? I heard being pious is a requirement, but judging by your behavior, there’s not a single part of you that fits that description. What do you think you’re doing to the patient here?”
Though Solana’s expression twisted slightly, she didn’t remove her hands from Ezekiel’s fist.
It was more than enough to make Hedera feel uncomfortable.
“The messengers were clinging too much and repeatedly bothering the patient, so I took appropriate measures. I even fed him healthy food. Isn’t that better?”
“Then you should have reported it. Since when do you act as you please?”
“Within the temple, the only authority higher than mine is His Majesty the Emperor. I have never reported to the second princess on such matters.”
The verbal sparring was sharp.
A heavy silence fell once more.
It was then that Ezekiel carefully spoke.
“First, both of you, calm down─”
“Master, please stay quiet.”
“Inspector, stay out of this.”
“……….”
Ezekiel quietly bit his sunweed.
No, he wanted to, but he couldn’t. Solana was gripping his hand tightly.
It was Hedera who broke the silence again.
“Solana.”
Hedera called out to the third princess indifferently; her tone was devoid of earlier agitation and irritation, now carrying a hint of mockery.
“…You must have been very anxious, huh?”
For the first time, Solana’s eyebrows twitched at those words. That reaction only cemented Hedera’s certainty.
“You made this decision out of fear, didn’t you? Afraid because you couldn’t handle the competition among the three of us. You even broke the rules of the proposal you suggested.”
Her voice was calm.
“…But do you think that will work?”
Hedera smiled faintly.
“From what I’ve heard, you think that if all other women are cast aside, you’ll be the only one left to choose. That won’t work. You simply lack appeal.”
Of course, even Hedera had felt uneasy knowing Ezekiel and Solana were alone together. But now, she intentionally scoffed to further press Solana.
“If it were me, I would have allowed him to meet other women. Because I’m confident in my own charm.”
Solana was left speechless.
She must have crushed her, Hedera thought, confident. She began to make her way toward the inspector but then stopped abruptly.
One phrase struck her ears like a bolt.
“…a woman who never cared about the Master.”
At first, Hedera thought she had misheard. Her eyes, visible above her mask, quickly filled with bewilderment.
Solana was merely smiling benignly as usual. Perhaps that’s why the cognitive dissonance felt even more intense. With a contorted expression, Hedera asked again.
“What did you just say?”
Then Solana, as if reciting a prayer, softly murmured.
“…Isn’t it true? You never cared about the Master’s condition and never showed your face when he was brought to the temple.”
And the final blow.
“Yet now, suddenly, you dare to come?”
“………….…”
Those words marked the end of their exchange.
For a moment, the two princesses stared at each other in silence.
“Ha.”
Eventually, Hedera let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha ha… Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha─!”
The hollow laugh soon turned into hysterical laughter.
The conversation between the princesses was now growing increasingly intense.