To think I have to take these four to the Superion Territory.
There were so many things to handle once we arrived at the territory.
First, there was grandmother and grandfather, my aunt and uncles.
And now I had to worry about these four on top of everything else.
My mind was complicated. On the other hand, my heart pounded with joy. Honestly, I was worried but happy.
The thought that I wouldn't have to be separated from my friends.
If only they would stay by my side without suspecting me until I gathered 100 billion, that would be even better.
Just then, Romeo, who had been bickering with Calix, stopped and smoothed his clothes.
"Oh right, there's a strange rumor going around about you and me?"
"Pardon?"
Lellia asked, bewildered.
Romeo was clearly pointing at himself with his finger. A strange rumor about Romeo and me?
"That you and I are in that kind of relationship."
"……!"
At those words, her eyes went round like a startled rabbit's, and Calix cackled with laughter.
"That's ridiculous! You two?"
"Exactly. Anyway, don't smile when you look at me for a while. I understand that I'm so handsome that just looking at me makes you beam with pleasure, but restrain yourself. Got it?"
At Romeo's instruction, Lellia nodded blankly.
Griffith also frowned as if offended.
"I don't think I'd mind either way, whether it's a man or a woman."
Just then, Oscar, who had been sitting beside Lellia, spoke in an indifferent voice.
At those words, Calix and Romeo jumped back and slowly moved away from Oscar. Griffith also frowned more deeply and looked at him.
But Oscar smiled at Lellia with a composed expression.
"By the way, is Lellia your real name?"
"…Yes."
Calix, who had been feigning retching, was startled and sat back down.
"What? You poor thing! Ah…! You must have had to deceive people since childhood, so your mother gave you a woman's name!"
"…Yes."
"Well, whatever. Not bad! It sounds like a man's name too, it's fine. Don't be discouraged."
Calix reached out and ruffled her hair as if to comfort her.
When Oscar asked with his eyes what this was about, Calix went "Ah!" and straightened his posture.
It was a posture indicating he was about to tell a story in earnest.
Lellia put her hand to her forehead in advance.
Calix began reciting the story of Lellia's unfortunate past.
Lellia's mother had given birth to a baby, and because the imperial succession was precarious at the time, she had raised her son disguised as a daughter to protect him from harm.
The story was so long and tragic….
Looking at Calix, who was truly without any suspicion and so innocent, Lellia couldn't help but sigh.
After finishing the childhood story, Calix also brought up how Lellia had been suspected before the Emperor.
"At that time! When that guy suddenly did something—!"
Then he held out his forearm and began explaining in detail.
"Hey, how audacious is this guy? I don't think even I could take off my pants in front of the Emperor! Could you guys do that? Huh?"
At those words, everyone shook their heads. Lellia wanted to faint.
"Just like Leo's younger brother, truly audacious."
"……."
Throughout the story, Oscar had been laughing behind his large white hand.
Lellia grew uncomfortable with the look Oscar was sending her. Somehow his eyes seemed to see through everything.
He might have figured out the whole truth. If that were all, she would rather say to Oscar, "Thank you for recognizing me."
But she didn't feel that way at all.
Though he seemed to be hiding something, Oscar's gaze at her was faintly layered with betrayal and hatred. That was why it was uncomfortable.
"Anyway. We should leave the Imperial City as soon as possible."
Lellia stood up abruptly, avoiding Oscar's gaze. Because of his stare, she felt increasingly strangled and wanted to avoid it.
"Right, well. We could leave as early as tomorrow."
At Romeo's words, Lellia nodded and headed to her room as if fleeing.
And later that afternoon.
Root suddenly came to her quarters.
Lellia looked up at him in bewilderment as he stood before her door. Root fidgeted restlessly before speaking.
"I'm sorry, but Lord Raymond. I have something to say. May I come in and talk?"
"Ah…."
Lellia thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but the inside is messy. Is it urgent?"
"…Then I'll say it here."
"……."
"I'm sorry, Lord Raymond, but could you return the sacred artifact I gave you then?"
"Pardon?"
Lellia frowned. So it had come.
She had suspected as much, but still….
"Actually, I originally intended to give it to Princess Juliana… When I told Her Highness about the sacred artifact, she said she really wanted to receive it. Would it be alright? I'll give you a different gift in return."
"…Please wait a moment."
Lellia closed the door and leaned her back against it, letting out a deep sigh.
'I knew this would happen.'
No backbone at all. Lellia inwardly criticized Root as she headed to the storage cabinet inside the room.
Then she took out a replica she had made using the 'Alchemy Lottery' item just in case.
It looked exactly the same on the outside, but in reality, the genuine one was combined with the other half of the sacred artifact in Lellia's bag.
Lellia opened the door again with the fake sacred artifact.
The original owner was Root, and though giving him a fake pricked her conscience, it couldn't be helped.
If she gathered 100 billion shillings and broke the Golden Word Magic, she planned to return it afterwards. She didn't know when that would be, but….
"Here you go."
"I'm truly sorry, Lord Raymond."
Root couldn't even meet her eyes properly, looking ashamed. Lellia told him it was fine, that she was tired, and sent him away.
"Thank you."
Root wore a secretly pleased expression and walked away quickly.
Lellia sighed deeply as she watched him disappear at the end of the corridor.
Just then, a low voice came from behind her.
"The thing you gave him, it's fake, isn't it?"
Lellia was startled and turned around. She definitely hadn't sensed any presence.
When she checked behind her, Oscar was standing with his arms crossed, leaning casually against the wall with a faint smile.
Lellia looked at him silently, then tried to slip inside and close the door.
But just before the door closed, his toe wedged into the gap.
"Ignoring me completely?"
"……."
"You're determined to hurt me, aren't you?"
Oscar laughed in disbelief, then pushed Lellia aside and instantly entered the room.
Click.
At the sound of the door locking, Lellia stepped back. What is wrong with him….
Just then, the events of last night suddenly came to mind.
Because she had been so focused on the thought that Oscar had figured out her identity, she hadn't thought deeply about it, but Oscar had kissed her then.
At the same time, the words Oscar had said earlier came to mind.
"I don't think I'd mind either way, whether it's a man or a woman."
Goosebumps rose on her forearms.
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Oscar didn't seem to have realized that she was a woman.
But he had definitely figured out that she was 'Leo.' She couldn't even guess how he had figured it out.
Oscar looked at her tensely, then laughed lightly and rubbed his brow bone.
"I'm so angry I want to twist your neck off, but at the same time I'm so happy I could kiss your feet."
"…Lord Oscar."
"…I don't know how long you plan to pretend not to know, but I don't care."
Lellia looked up at him with anxious eyes.
Fortunately, he didn't come any closer. But his gaze clung to her thickly, as if he were devouring every inch of her.
"I will… do everything I wanted to do if you were alive. I won't ask for your consent."
"……."
Oscar said this as he took another step forward.
Lellia unconsciously covered her mouth with both hands in surprise. At this action, Oscar scoffed.
Instead of coming closer, he looked her up and down. It was a sticky gaze.
"As I said earlier, I don't care even if you're a man."
"……."
Taking another step forward, he bent down and brought his face close to Lellia's ear.
Lellia shrunk her shoulders, still covering only her mouth.
A low voice seeped into her ear.
"Just as I endured in hell. You should experience hell once too."
"……."
"Don't worry too much. I'll be with you for the rest of my life."
The last words were whispered very softly, like sharing a secret. Her heart dropped heavily to the floor.
Oscar said those words, then turned and left.
Left alone, Lellia's legs lost strength and she collapsed to the floor.
Tears welled up.
It was painful. This situation where she couldn't speak honestly was so painful.
She felt like a sinner who had cast Oscar into hell.
When they stayed at the temple, Oscar had always been a friend who relied on and leaned on her. She had always protected small, fragile him steadfastly.
She had whispered affectionate promises as if she would protect him forever.
That was why she could understand Oscar.
If the situation had been reversed, Lellia too would have lived through hell.
She would have lived her whole life longing for the dead Oscar.
But what if she learned that his death was all a lie, and that he was alive?
He would have felt tremendous betrayal.
He should have at least told me, at least me… Such resentful thoughts would have surged in.
He would have thought that the precious memories and friendship they shared were all his own delusion, and would have been filled with the shock of being betrayed.
A fresh sense of guilt for inflicting such deep wounds on her friends washed over her.
This deception, continuing even now, felt like something she shouldn't be doing.
For a long while, Lellia couldn't escape the swirling vortex of emotions that engulfed her.