Chapter 67 – Storm (2)

March 26th, 2023

It is easy to guess why Rina is asking for some time.
She must be trying to calm the storm that started raging while on a break from Xenon’s Biography.

However, what needs to be considered here is that Rina came to find me directly without using a spokesperson.
Last time we met by chance, but this time she could have sent someone to call me separately.

In other words, the situation is serious enough for Rina to come and find me quickly.
I heard from the news and from what people are saying around me that protests are happening all over the empire.

As an empire, they cannot easily overlook such a major incident as the Jayros Revolution that occurred in the neighboring and rival country of Ters.
For these reasons, it may be natural for Princess Rina to take a humble posture.

“But do you have to be there?”

“Who knows what you will do to Isaac?”

By the way, it’s not just me and Rina, but Marie is also here.
Marie followed us because she was worried that Rina might say something strange to me, as mentioned above.

It’s no big deal for me, but it is for Rina, who needs to keep her secrets hidden.
Marie’s stubbornness could be somewhat annoying for Rina. 

Of course, this is based on the assumption that Marie does not know my secret.
Rina looked at Marie as if she was aware of this, and her usual poker face completely broke down, and she gave a chilly look with furrowed brows.
In response, Marie nonchalantly retorted by snickering and lifting one side of her mouth.

“And I know Isaac’s secret too? I bet you didn’t think only you knew, did you?”

“What? What does that mean…”

Upon hearing Marie’s response, Rina looked at me momentarily before alternating her gaze between Marie and me, then finally sealing her lips shut.

It was a response indicating her understanding.
She looked ahead and murmured in a low voice.

“…Yes.
Since that’s the case, maybe I can tell you the secret.”

“Yeah, that’s right.
I didn’t pressure you into revealing the secret like someone might have done.”

“I didn’t pressure him…!”

Rina almost yelled in response to Marie’s petulant behavior, but she managed to hold herself back.
While doing so, she glanced at me briefly.

It seemed like she was touched by Marie’s behavior, as she must have experienced the same thing before.
The gap caused by the difference in rank was enormous, and if it was a royalty, it increased exponentially.

Furthermore, Rina must have known this fact since she entered politics at an early age.
In fact, she used this gap to pressure me and Nicole, and during the group project, she treated Jackson like a slave.

Unless Rina was empty-headed or really stupid, she would have known that she could make her opponent feel pressured just by her presence alone.

And Rina must have thought that I took a break because I couldn’t bear that pressure.
The real reason was that I needed time to recharge my energy for my studies as well.

However, the pressure was not an unfounded reason.
If Rina and Leort had not pressured me, I might have continued writing like this.

“First, let’s go to the cafe.
I want to resolve it as quickly as possible.” 

Rina urged us with a tired voice.
Marie decided not to tease her anymore and didn’t say anything.

Feeling like the situation was already a mess, I looked at Rina, but when our eyes met, Marie smirked and linked arms with me.
She slyly pulled me towards her chest, and even though I could feel the softness through her uniform, I just smiled.

We had displayed this kind of affection many times before, so I didn’t feel embarrassed, even though my face turned slightly red.
Rina looked at us with a subtle gaze that showed she knew what was going on between us.

“…You look good.”

Rina looked at the two of us, who were showing affection even in her presence, with a subtle gaze.
I let out a slightly embarrassing laugh at that, but Marie opened her mouth as she crossed her arms tighter as if to say this.

“Are you jealous? Are you jealous? Even if you are, Isaac will never be yours.”

“I don’t have a hobby of stealing someone else’s boyfriend.”

“I can’t believe you, saying that kind of thing.”

Marie said, still not trusting Rina.
Rina just gave a bitter smile and didn’t respond.

Whenever I see them like this, I always wonder what happened between them to create this kind of relationship. 

If Marie, who has a good personality, is this suspicious, then it’s clear that Rina must have made a big mistake. 

Of course, there could be misunderstandings between them, so it would be best to hear both sides of the story before taking a stance.

“By the way, is Lord Leort here too? He was there when you called for Isaac and his sister.”

“…My older brother is currently back at the imperial palace for an emergency meeting.
He must be in a lot of trouble by now.”

“With His Majesty the Emperor?”

Rina replied silently.
I couldn’t help but be surprised to hear this.

If the Emperor was calling in the Crown Prince to reprimand him, then the situation must be serious.
Perhaps Leort would later apologize to me and Nicole.

‘Wait a minute.
Come to think of it, didn’t they call Nicole?’

To apologize, she should also call Nicole, but I was the only one called.
It was a little strange.

I followed Rina’s back as she walked ahead.
Rina must have felt my gaze, so she turned around and met my eyes.

“Do you have something to say? I can feel your gaze on me.”

“I was wondering why my sister wasn’t called.”

“Nicole will meet with my father.”

Perhaps this was because Leort had returned to the palace.
I couldn’t fully understand, but at least there would be an apology. 

Soon, Rina took me to a cafe and we got a soundproof and secure room.
The cafe is the same place she had been to the last time I and Cecily had a private meeting.

I felt a strange feeling as it was the place where I almost had a serious accident with Cecily.
The difference from back then was that Marie was sitting next to me, and on the other side was Rina.

As I was looking around and thinking about that, an employee opened the door.
They had prepared drinks even though we hadn’t ordered yet.

“As I said before, don’t come unless I call you.
Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

It seemed like she had made a reservation in advance.
Rina probably expected me not to refuse.
Of course, even if I did, the chances are that she wouldn’t care much.
After all, she was a princess, and a small cafe like this couldn’t possibly raise any objections to her.

I looked at the coffee with smoke rising from it and then at Rina’s face.
Rina reached out her hand and opened her mouth as if to say that it was okay to drink.

“You can drink it.
Don’t misunderstand because it’s not strange or anything.”

“Thank you.”

“Why didn’t you give me any?”

Marie, who was sitting next to me, grumbled.
In fact, there was nothing in front of Marie.
Maybe Rina had only planned to call Isaac, and Marie’s was not reserved in advance.

“Oh, so you did that? But I’m glad anyway.
I was able to stop you from doing something stupid.”

“Marie, I’m not as noble as you think.
At that time, it was really inevitable.”

“Even if it was an unavoidable situation, you shouldn’t have done that.
At that time…”

I felt Marie’s emotions gradually intensifying, perhaps triggered by trauma.
As I saw the signs of her voice getting louder, I wordlessly took her hand.

When I held her hand, Marie’s body shook and she looked at me.
After facing me, her anger seemed to subside, and she quietly said while exhaling a long breath through her nose.

Yeah.
That’s not important right now.
I understand.”

“Thank you for understanding.
And…Isaac.”

“Yes, Miss Rina.”

I answered in my usual blunt tone when Rina called my name.
She faced me with a stiff expression due to tension and then eventually let out a deep sigh.
Although her distraught appearance was pitiful, I didn’t feel any remorse because they were the ones who were truly at fault.

Then Rina faced me and firmly set her expression.
Seeing that, I blanked out waiting for something big to happen.

“…I’ll tell you this first.
My brother is assuming that your father, Lord Hawk, is the author of Xenon’s Biography.
But I’m different.
Lord Hawk simply tells you his own experience, and I think that you are the real author, right?”

“Yes.”

“As I thought…I see.”

Since I didn’t have any intention to deny it, I could answer calmly.
Rina nodded in response to my answer and then spoke again.

“Then…is it also because of us that you took a break from Xenon’s Biography?”

“… …”

“I won’t make an excuse that it wasn’t intentional.
I know very well that my mere existence can be a great pressure on others.
In that situation, it must have been a huge pressure for you too.”

I didn’t say anything.
I decided to keep my mouth shut until Rina got to the point.

“So, the thing is…”

She hesitated for a moment, then lost her confidence and brought up the topic in a hesitant voice.

“Did you… decide to take a break because of us?”

“… …”

“I just wanted to ask if we caused you any emotional pain.”

Unfortunately, her question sounded pitiful, and I thought about it carefully.
As I mentioned before, the reason for the break was for studying and recharging.

But if Rina and Leort hadn’t put pressure on me, I wouldn’t have even had such thoughts.
It’s undeniable that the root cause lies with the two of them.

I looked at Rina’s uneasy expression, feeling anxious, and quietly spoke up.

“I can’t say no.”

“… …”

Rina couldn’t control her emotions with my vague answer and bit her lip.
It seemed that she had begun to lose control of her own emotions.

I thought it was unexpected to see Rina biting her lip, and I felt a knot in my stomach.
It seemed like I needed to express my true feelings now.

“The reason I decided to take a break is for my academy life and to recharge, in other words, to establish my settings.
But the fundamental reason is that I felt pressure from those around me.
If you hadn’t confronted me, I wouldn’t have taken a break.”

“… …”

“Let me make it clear, I have no intention of reversing my decision to take a break.
Once I make a decision, I’m not the type to retract it.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Rina looked even more puzzled.
Even though I can’t see it now, I wonder if her hands, which she hid under the table, are trembling with anxiety.

“Okay, I understand.”

After thinking for a while, Rina looked at me with a determined expression.
Marie, who was sitting next to me, didn’t seem to care.

And…

“I’m sorry.”

Rina slowly lowered her head and apologized to me.
Her golden hair, which seemed to be spun out of gold, gradually fell down and gently rested on the table.

I widened my eyes at her apology, and slowly raised my chin.
I expected it, but the princess, who was the daughter of the emperor, bowed her head and apologized to me.

Just like when Cecily sent me a letter, I felt a strange emotion creeping up inside me again.

“If the author was mentally distressed because of us, we apologize once again.”

“… …”

“I won’t ask you to reverse your decision.
However, as you know, if you look at the current situation, protests are taking place all over the place, and they are spreading to the point where suppression is difficult.
So please… could you help me resolve this situation?”

I realized one thing after listening to Rina’s request even as she bowed her head.

‘…It’s so scary to be famous.’

Indeed, the level of influence I have on the world is far above the level of just great.

‘I can’t even take a break.’

It means that I will not be able to take a break in the future.

Translators note:

I think the author is doing a great job making readers dislike the heroines then redeeming them.
It adds depth to a character and makes them more likeable.