Chapter 276

Translator: yun

My upper body sprang up. I twisted my head to the sides before a headache arrived as though it had been waiting, forcing me to grab my head. It was morning outside the window. It looked as if only a few hours had passed after dawn.

I soon noticed the diary glowing mysteriously in the corner of the room.

“Damn it, why is sleep…”

The words I spoke through my gritted teeth sounded lifeless. Every time I took a step forward, my eyelids threatened to fall as I tried to fight off sleep. From my experience, I could tell I was about to fall asleep.

I could faintly see the diary fluttering open. This was a sight I was familiar with.

“A prophecy? I’ll need to see what it’ll be about…”

After successfully reaching my desk by mustering all my strength, I took the diary. At least, I tried to take the diary. But when my hands touched the diary, a brilliant beam of golden light shot out of the diary. The light blinded me as if it was trying to prevent me from coming closer.

“Just a little…”

The diary could foretell the future. Clenching my jaw with determination, I tried to glance at its first pages.

“Umph, just a little more…”

Another beam of light shot out but it was different from the one before. I tried to reach out, wincing at the beam of the now dark red light that felt extremely unpleasant and dreary.

Like a HP bar flashing when a character only had one HP left, the light was clearly a warning. No, I couldn’t sleep just yet. I couldn’t if not…

But this was my limit.

I ended up falling asleep without getting to read the prophetic writings.

***

When I woke up again, I could tell half a day had already passed. In fact, as soon as I woke up, I found Amor lying right beside me. I was surprised to see his face right next to mine but I soon calmed down. When I asked him why it was already nighttime when I fell asleep in the morning, Amor replied that I had been deep in sleep.

“Ha… I’m glad that not much time has passed but I’ve no clue why I keep falling asleep.”

“Sleep?”

“Yes. As if I’m drowning in sleep.”

Amor massaged his forehead for a while as if he was agonising over it before slowly opening his mouth.

“… I don’t know what it’s like when a ‘Heir of the Lord’ awakens, so that’s a big problem.”

When I asked him what he meant by awakening, he responded.

“This is the last symptom of an awakening. Do you perhaps know how you’re feeling now? Are you still sleepy?”

“No.”

Now that I had woken, my body felt light as if I had never felt sleepy to begin with. Of course I still had a headache but it was still tolerable.

“It would take another day or two at its earliest. Three maximum.”

Amor placed his hand on my forehead as if he was checking for a fever before soon shaking his head.

“Is that so?”

I took it more calmly than I thought I would. Well, Pontus did keep twittering about my awakening. It seemed like the encounter with the diary in my dreams helped my growth. Since I had already heard about it, I was not as surprised. To be honest, I had no idea what it would be like to have strength.

I slowly clenched my fist before releasing it and raising my head to ask Amor to bring my diary. Come to think of it, I think I stole a vague glance at the prophetic writing before I fainted.

“Amor, what happened to Fleon? My brother.”

“He had been imprisoned in an underground dungeon cell. And…”

I took the diary from Amor who for some reason was not speaking. And after I started reading the open pages, I continued where he stopped.

“He is receiving the death penalty, isn’t he? Tomorrow.”

“… Yes.”

[On the 21st Day of the Month of Haberon in the Year 826, my brother, the 6th Prince, received the death penalty.

My brother had been executed.]

I guess this was the future I didn’t manage to see before I slept. I swept my hand down the page for a while. I let out a long sigh. Suddenly, the page crumpled. I squished the paper within my fist before looking up. I then smiled broadly at Amor who was staring back at me with mixed feelings.

“This is the worst possible outcome.”

“But from the future I saw, it is going to get worse than this.”

That was because I was going to die too.

“I’ve changed the future before and I can change this outcome too. No, I have to change it.”

After saying that, I tilted my head before smiling. It was more like a sneer at the diary. Diary, if this was all you wanted to warn me about, then you were underestimating me. No, you were underestimating my previous life.

“What your notebook couldn’t have predicted was the speed of your recovery.”

“Amor?”

He stretched his hand out to me before a green glow warmed his hand. I noticed a gleam of gold in his eyes. It looked much dimmer than before but it was amazing how much he could muster considering the fact that he had just gotten out of the sickbed the day before. It would take time to collect his divinity again and he did say it would take a while.

“I learnt that divinity builds up faster in a healthy body. I should be able to help you with simple work from tomorrow morning onwards.”

“What work?”

“The rescue. The one you’re planning on doing.”

As I stared blankly back at him, Amor smiled without a care. It was a smile where the ends of his lips raised prettily.

“Like helping you climb walls.”

Left taken aback by his smile, I went crazy trying to distract myself.

“But, Amor, why haven’t I heard anything from Dane?”

“Well…”

As his expression reverted to that of a serious one, Amor gently rubbed my forehead.

“Let’s go and find out. Your aides should be aware that you’re here.”

“What about my palace? My maids?”

“To start, your palace and maids are safe. I heard that the capital patrols have been guarding your palace in shifts.”

“… Please. Please find out as much as you can quickly.”

“Alright. You’d best focus on your awakening first. … Now, you’re really feeling like a templar.”

Even if I were to run out of this palace immediately, I would have no idea where to head to. Besides, there was nothing I could do now. Amor brushed his fingers past the corners of my eyes.

“Rather than stay anxious, wouldn’t it be better if you complete yourself?”

I wasn’t able to focus on my awakening at all but I nodded at his sincere words. Actually, I might be of better help if I gathered my powers quickly.

“Alright. I’ll get ready.”

Looking satisfied, he kissed my forehead.

Deep into the night, I closed the book. It was a book that Amor had brought, thinking it might be useful. Although it got difficult to understand once I reached the middle of the book since it was content intended only for templars, it was still helpful.

Staring out the window, I let out a sigh.

“… It’s still nighttime.”

I felt a little stuffy. It was only natural for me to concentrate on my most immediate problem. I couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up. After a while, I found myself at Terena Palace. I came here because it was hard to endure my frustrations any longer.

“Why don’t I go on a walk?”

“A walk?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I am having a hard time getting used to these restrictions but it should be safe on the way to my palace.”

Amor seemed to already be aware of the cause for the stuffiness I was feeling. He did say that Terena Palace would be safe. Of course, I still took some safety measures but I was grateful for the fact that he let me go without a word.

“Granius’ reply has arrived. He has begun preparations.”

Granius was preparing to break Fleon out of his cell. Since he had stayed up till dawn, he had replied to the letter immediately. But he looked disappointed. The fact that he wouldn’t be able to play as active a role in the rescue.

To him, his number one priority was me. So, he would ‘try his best’ but he wouldn’t be able to give his all to help. Because I would be there. Because he had to protect the princess.

“If it doesn’t work…”

I clenched my fist and stared at the veins that poked through my skin. Alright, because I still had my last resort.

“Alright. Even if I have to die once.”

I could return back in time to save him. Hadn’t I already experience firsthand how the future could change? I had no fear. I walked through the forest with a long sigh.

Perhaps it was because I came to my palace through the Forbidden Forest, I didn’t encounter any of the patrols. If an unauthorised person were to travel through the Forbidden Forest, they were most likely going to get lost or meet one of the watchmen guarding the said forest. I realised that from some point on, I stopped encountering any of the hounds. I was in the middle of getting to my palace before I met someone unexpected.

“Ashley?”

I looked back at Rusbella in slight surprise.

“Rusbella? What are you doing here?”

“Ah…”

Rusbella paused before soon explaining herself with a smile. Amor had sent her here as soon as he heard that my palace, the Terena Palace, was safe.

That was because Amor had faced some problems placing her in his palace. Because there wasn’t a chef in the Teret Palace. Templars had no problem not eating well for a period of time but Rusbella seemed to later realise that this arrangement did not suit her.

“I moved here last night.”

Certainly, the Teret Palace would not be suitable for Rusbella to reside in. Since he had even kicked his chef out, Rusbella would be able to reside here comfortably because not only were there maids here, no one would find her here.

“That’s good. Since there are maids here too.”

“Yeah.”

Rusbella smiled brightly before nodding. Even in her dark, I could clearly see her smile as if it were glowing.

“Everyone has been kind to me. Since I introduced myself as your friend, everyone has been asking me things about you.”

“Is that so?”

“Mhm.”

I could imagine my maids stuttering as they asked Rusbella. I was glad to hear they were alright. But worry soon took over my heart. I could not be certain if they could continue being like that.

“My maids are all good people. It’d be nice if they liked you too.”

“You don’t need to worry. I’m sure they are.”

Her face darkened and she trailed off. She had chosen to remain silent instead of continuing. I laughed heartily at the sight.

“Who did you find to be the most talkative? It was Hannah, wasn’t it?”

An extremely considerate female lead. At this rate, even I might fall for her.

“Hannah?”

She had a pretty face and nice personality. She was kind and even had a good head on her shoulders. Didn’t that make it impossible for me not to fall for her? I admired beauty not only in men but women as well.

‘You’re really cool, ma’am.’ (1)

“The prettiest blonde.”

“Ah…”

I was half admiring her appearance and half thinking about the original novel. As the dull conversation continued on and on, I momentarily missed what Rusbella had been saying.

“As clumsy as ever.”

“Hm, what?”

“Mhm, still clumsy. She had once forgotten to bring me the wash basin.”

A strange feeling came over me. But I thought I had heard her wrong so I looked down before nodding.

“Right. Hannah is careless at times.”

We were in the middle of our stroll as silence fell upon us for a moment. I was thinking about tomorrow while Rusbella continued to admire the garden. Did she like the garden that was not blooming properly because winter was coming that much? I glanced at her expression as she stared at the leafless acacia tree.

T/N:

(1): She said ‘Eonni’ here so I tried my best to capture the essence of the sentence instead of directly translating it into sister lolol