The Story Is Not Over Yet - Chapter 143

Chapter 143

The neat bedroom was all messed up. Shards of broken glass were strewn all over the floor, and all the dolls and other things she loved were lying around in the corner, unable to find their place though that wasn’t all.

Daran was crouching under Chises’ feet as if she had dealt with him instead of Livia. Judging from the blood visible here and there, she must have been beaten by him.

“…What are you doing in my palace now?”

As Livia bit her lip hard and glared at Chises with a venomous gaze, he smiled dumbfoundedly.

“Livia. I came to ask you something.”

“….”

“I got angry because you’re not there.”

“If you came as a guest, you should have waited patiently. Or make an appointment and come.”

She lightly passed Chises, who was approaching her and approached Daran, who was crouching down.

“Are you okay?”

Her maid raised her aching body and barely nodded her head. It seemed that she couldn’t stand it any longer.

Seeing her like that, Livia clenched her fists and crunched her teeth. Daran, taken aback by the sight, grabbed Livia’s fist and shook her head. Her gaze was full of worries that Livia might get hurt.

“It’s okay, Daran. Don’t worry.”

After consoling her, Livia then turned her body to face Chises, who still looked puzzled as she proudly walked in front of him. Chises couldn’t hide his absurdity at her unprecedented behavior.

“Livia, it looks like you ate something wrong today.”

“No. You must have eaten something wrong.”

“…What?”

“What do you want to ask? It must be a great question for you to cause such a mess, right?”

Chises crumpled her face at her sarcastic remarks. Even the fact that he came to ask Livia something hurt his pride so much that he felt like dying.

His anger boiled over.

“Livia.”

He uttered her name and drew the sword attached to his waist. Then, with a rough hand, he aimed it at Livia’s neck at once.

It was a fleeting moment.

Daran covered her mouth in fright at the sight of the sword aimed at the Princess’ throat.

“Are you going to cut me?”

However, Livia, the party involved, was being calm, with her face color unchanged. Chises sneered as she yawned in boredom instead of being frightened.

“There’s nothing I can’t do if you keep acting uncooperative like this.”

“….”

“If you die, no one in this Imperial Family will feel sad, no one will mourn and no one will get angry at me.”

“…I guess so.”

Her sad eyes dropped at his determined voice.

That was the reality. Even if she died here, there would be no one who felt sorry for her, no one to mourn, no one who would get angry for her. She knew that, and she felt so pitiful and pathetic for herself, who had been trying so hard to look good and fit in with those people.

“So, I should have realized that and acted on it.”

“…What?”

Livia raised her lowered gaze.

With her index finger, she lightly flicked the sword he had pointed at her neck. It was only a light bounce, but in an instant, the airflow changed, and Chises flew far away. There was the sound of furniture breaking, and his back was slammed against the wall before falling to the floor.

“Wh, what…?!”

Chises, who hadn’t had time to feel the pain, stood up and shouted with a puzzled expression.

In the meanwhile, Livia was still standing there with an unconcerned face while Daran also just looked at her master with a surprised face.

“Did you forget, brother?”

“Wha-what?”

“If I swing one finger…”

As she flicked her finger to show him, Livia only swung it into the air, but the fine furniture was crushed to dust. Chises looked dumbfounded at where the furniture had been.

Where the furniture used to be, there was only miserable dust flying around.

“Brother could be like this, too… if I swing a finger.”

When she smiled, pointing her finger, Chise’s hand on the sword trembled with rage.

“You, you…”

“Yes, these are just some of the ancient magic I can use.”

“….!”

He properly gripped the sword in his hand, showing that he would sincerely cut her down if the need arose. As a strange atmosphere flowed between the two, Daran gulped as she could only turn her head left and right without knowing which of the two to stop.

“Livia, have you forgotten His Majesty’s words that he will kill you if you use it?”

“There is no way I can forget that. These are the words I have been listening to non-stop ever since I started using it.”

“Then, what are you doing now? Are you disobeying His Majesty’s orders?”

“Though now that I think about it, there is no need to be afraid.”

“…What?”

“He said he would kill me if I used ancient magic.”

The wind blew away the furniture in front of her as Livia waved her hand lightly. There was nothing more to stand in her way.

“…Is there anyone who can kill me?”

“….!”

Chises gritted his teeth as his hand holding the sword trembled slightly. His instinct told him to run away in the presence of an opponent who was stronger than him. Having mastered magic, she was strong. She was really strong.

“…I wanted to be a family.”

“….”

“I thought if I didn’t use magic, someday you’d be proud of me.”

“No, nonsense…”

“Yes, that’s nonsense. I get it now. No matter what I do…”

Livia stared at him with a blank gaze.

“…We can’t be a family.”

Chises changed his posture and put the sword in his hand into the scabbard.

“His Majesty will find out.”

“I know.”

“If he finds out, he will try to kill you.”

“…I guess so.”

He would kill me without regret… because we’re not family.

As she smiled bitterly and moved aside to let him leave, Chises, who quietly glared at her, stepped past her. Witnessing the scene, Daran opened her eyes wide in disbelief at that appearance. It was because it was the first time he had avoided her master’s gaze first.

“Ah, Your Highness.”

While he was about the leave the bedroom, Livia called out to him. Chises, who would not have reacted in the past, stopped.

“Don’t come to my palace again without an appointment. This is my space.”

He did not respond to her warning. It was the last thing he could do with his petty pride.

After seeing him leave the palace, Daran cautiously approached Livia.

“Prin, Princess… are you okay?”

The word had many meanings. Livia laughed at her question.

“I’m okay, because I have Daran.”

“…Princess.”

When did she grow up so much? Daran looked at her master’s dignified back and wiped the tears from her eyes.

Azela’s recovery was faster than expected. Even the doctors were amazed at her resilience. Although she took her medicine well, there was also good nursing, which Zagnac did with utmost sincerity.

He took care of her, although the only thing left injured was her left hand—eating her meals, taking her medicine, disinfecting her wounds, changing her clothes, washing her clothes, and even brushing her hair—he did it all with his own hands.

All the while, he said nothing to Azela.

Three days later, Livia visited again.

“I have heard of your quick recovery. What a relief.”

“…Thank you.”

Seeing Livia’s kind smile, she smiled with a shy expression. Azela, who was repeatedly opening and closing her right hand for no reason, opened her lips.

“…I heard from Duke Perial. You refused to marry the Duke.”

“That’s right.”

“Why…”

Livia just closed her eyes and smiled. She smiled so plainly that before she could answer, Azela spoke first.

“Didn’t you say Duke Ferial was your savior? To restore Your Highness’ freedom…”

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