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Translator note: Chloe's finally getting real about Julius—big step, right?
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Cyril ascended to the throne half a year ago, and at the same time, he officially married Aliza, and a marriage parade was held in the capital. It seemed Cyril's sudden ascension was due to the urgent circumstances after the king and queen were attacked by monsters and lost their lives during an outing.
The marriage between the tragic Duchess Aliza Seigrit, who maintained her brightness and righteousness despite being bullied by her half-sister, and the Crown Prince Cyril, who was successively struck by misfortune, were warmly welcomed by the people.
I remembered well that the fireworks I made for the celebration sold like hotcakes and earned me a good sum. Half a year ago, I was only interested in making money, so I didn't bother to watch Cyril and Aliza's parade. I didn't have the slightest interest.
Perhaps there was a bit of resentment, but money mattered more to me than holding grudges.
Celebrations brought in good money, and I had no desire to regain any relationship with Cyril now. I didn't even care to see Aliza's face. So, I would have welcomed a grand celebration with open arms.
Anyway, there seemed to be a huge gap between me, a commoner now, and the royal family and nobility. I rarely saw their faces now, and as long as I lived my ordinary life, I had nothing to do with them.
It was like, I couldn't care less.
So, I just wanted them not to interfere with my modest and content life with Julius. As I was being rocked in the carriage, I pondered over such things.
The scenery of the town in the royal capital, where I had lived for three years, came into view outside the window. Passing through the city center and heading straight south. I saw the drawbridge in front of the main gate of the imposing white castle, which I thought I would never have to approach again.
The castle was surrounded by a moat. The moat was filled with plenty of water, and to reach the castle, you always had to pass through the drawbridge at the front.
It seemed to be built for defense in times of emergency. The history of war with the Dystiana Empire was long. The castle was built strongly to protect the royal family in case the capital was ever attacked.
The king and queen passed away, leaving behind Prince Cyril, who ascended to the throne, and Prince Sieg, the second prince.
Prince Sieg was a year younger than me and was in the same grade as Aliza. Although I've only exchanged greetings with him, I couldn't help but feel he bore some resemblance to Prince Cyril.
There were rumors circulating that Prince Sieg might inherit the Seigrit family's territory, which was under the care of the royal family. However, since it no longer concerned me, I didn't feel inclined to actively listen to gossip.
I gazed at the azure sky.
I wondered where Julius was transported to with the emergency teleportation circle.
I hope he didn't end up in a river or something.
Thinking about Julius getting furious if he fell into a river, my mood lightened a bit.
I hope I could safely return and, ideally, meet Julius again someday, not in a master-slave relationship, but as equals.
I didn't want to involve Julius in my situation. I had been running away without confronting things, swept along by circumstances. I had to figure things out on my own.
When I closed my eyes, I could see my mother smiling at me in my dreams. She said, "You'll be okay."
My father---surely, he didn't commit any crimes.
As a child, I didn't understand, but surely, my father must have loved my mother. Otherwise, she wouldn't have smiled so happily.
I needed to find out. What happened that day. What is going on now.
For me. For my mother, who loved me, and for my father, whom she loved. I had to be strong. Strong enough to stand on my own without relying on anyone else.
I didn't want to be protected by a prince; I wanted to stand beside him. Just as Julius promised to protect me, I wanted to protect him too.
I am Chloe Seigrit, the peerless beautiful alchemist. So, everything is going to be okay.
I repeated that to myself over and over again. I was dragged by the soldiers and then dropped from the carriage.
It had been a while since I had been to the royal castle. Passing through the main doors and the polished stone hall with its tall pillars, there was a reception room beyond. Further beyond laid the offices where the officers work, and even further back was the harem.
The ballroom for royal banquets and dances was located in a separate wing to the east, while the west wing houses the barracks of the knightly order and the dungeons for prisoners. That was where I was once imprisoned.
The guards of the castle, the royal guards, and the soldiers protecting the country were all collectively referred to as the Royal Knights. Although there are several barracks, those who work within the castle were among the higher-ranking members of the knightly order.
I was taken straight to the west wing.
Perhaps to prevent an easy escape, the cells on the upper floors of the tower were just as cold as they were three years ago.
According to the soldier who used to watch over me when I was imprisoned, the upper-floor cells are equipped with the bare minimum facilities to ensure the comfort of noble prisoners.
The real dungeon was underground, just a simple cage with iron bars in a square room with nothing else, he said.
I was escorted up a long staircase and pushed into the upper-floor cell.
It was quite high up, with a view of the city of the capital from the window. There was a solitary, hard bed placed in the room.
The soldiers who pushed me in told me to "behave yourself" before closing the door with a click of the lock.
I stared out of the window for a while. My hands were still bound, but I could walk. It hurt where the rope dug into my skin, so I tried to adjust my hands around it, but I could barely move them, rendering the rope even more difficult to work with I felt utterly miserable.
"...That Cyril. Can't forgive him for tying up and locking away innocent little me. I'll definitely give him a piece of my mind." I muttered that to myself while gazing at the blue sky.
"There's no man scarier than Julius. He gets mad no matter what you say. Calls me an idiot and throws me around like luggage. Compared to living with Julius, Cyril doesn't scare me at all."
That's right. That's true. I felt very convinced by my own words.
Compared to Julius, Cyril was a gentleman. He was a prince, and now he was a king, so it would be unforgivable for him to imprison me, an innocent civilian.
Coldman Trading Company and Mrs. Eliza might have their own intentions, but if we talked to them, they should understand that we're innocent, right?
"Did Eliza want Julius so badly that she even lied to catch him? Or is she angry because her pride was hurt? She's the daughter of a big merchant, and she seems to be a very proud woman..."
I passed the time murmuring to myself. Speaking out loud calmed my mind.
"Sure, Julius is handsome, but... just looks-wise. Get to know him and he's arrogant and bossy, and all he does is make sarcastic remarks... Sometimes he's kind and reliable... But the bad parts are probably more. Living with him is tough. He takes up the bed, and he's always thinking about Helios."
Last night-- he hugged me. What was that all about?
"He listened to me, tried to help me, and he didn't do things I really didn't want."
Will we meet again?
We'll meet again, right? I'm sure of it.
"...When we meet again, I..."
Will I be able to tell him I love him?