Chapter 312

We finally find out what happened to Tara after the events in the Capital.

This chapter is dedicated to Monica, thank you for your encouragement!

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Chapter 312

Three Petals Fluttering Down the Road.

Elias Horse Ranch on the western Pantheon Plains / Night.

January 10th.

The weather in the West during January was similar enough to that of the Capital that I hardly noticed the cold. Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to go outside without putting on the white rabbit-fur coat Beth had made for me.

I loved the vast plains of Pantheon and the way they stretched endlessly towards the edge of the far-off horizon as far as my eyes could see.

My daily routine began with galloping across the plains along the Pantheon River on Cheese, the horse my father had bought for me.

The Elias Trading Company had reclaimed all the businesses, property, and assets that had been taken from us.

Moreover, the company had secured a larger share of the lucrative business ventures formerly handled by the Toulouse Trading Company than any other rival firm.

Massive investments poured into the Elias Trading Company almost overnight; the business expanded, and the workforce tripled in size.

Furthermore, the portion of the Elias Trading Company which held a monopoly on the distribution of luxury goods entering from the Principality of Ga’an via the Pantheon Plains had elevated its status even further. Now, it not only handled distribution to regular citizens, but had also entered into a new agreement with the Principality that allowed us to participate in the production and supply of luxury goods ourselves.

This diversified the revenue stream, and the ability to supply these luxury goods directly to the Imperial Palace had led to the Elias Family receiving offers of partnership from other nations as well.

“Haa... My Lady. Another letter arrived asking when you’ll be returning to the Capital. Have you read it yet?"

There was a two-story building designed to house staff at the eastern edge of the property, bordering the plains.

“Hmm. It’s probably Father again, isn’t it?”

I replied half-heartedly. I remained seated on the sofa and took a bite of a sweet macaron.

"I should have been less ambiguous back then..."

As I savoured the sweet cookie, my thoughts drifted back to the morning after the Coronation ceremony.

At dawn, after packing all my belongings, I'd gone to see my father in his study.

[Father, there is something I’d like to ask of you.]

[Oh? Yes, yes. Go ahead and ask whatever is on your mind.]

[Please sign this.]

[What is this?]

[An agreement to comply with the Ministry of Security's investigation and an oath that I will attend the trial once a court date is set. I require a guarantor to verify my identity and witness the oath.]

Father looked back and forth between me and the documents on the table with a bewildered expression.

[...Where are you planning to go?] He asked, having quickly grasped my intentions.

These documents would be entirely redundant if I intended to stay in the Capital.

[I’ll be staying at Pantheon Ranch.]

Logan had been spared punishment because he never made it to the protest in Ga'an. My entire family had narrowly escaped the crisis and our entire lineage was no longer on the brink of doom.

The deaths of Hans Button, the Third Prince, the Empress, and the Duke of Toulouse hadn't been a part of the original plotline. It was clear the current outcome was now far removed from the events of the original story.

If I hadn't possessed this body, would my family have fallen because of Logan's involvement with Hans?

There was no way to know.

But what I did know was that the attempt to assassinate the Second Prince in Ga-an had failed, and he'd been able to foresee the conflict enough in advance to fake his death and devise a plan for the Coronation ceremony.

Thanks to him, my family had survived the crisis, turned the events into an opportunity and I had managed to survive being held hostage in the midst of it all.

It was aggravating to know that I now owed him a life debt.

I didn't fully understand, but perhaps in his eyes I was deserving of it simply because I was an Imperial Citizen who was owed that basic level of protection.

However, the bottom line was, there was nothing else for me to do here.

Now I was determined to break free of the shackles that held me down.

The Pantheon Ranch was a dormant family estate in the West that hadn't housed anyone or anything, not even horses, for the past 3 years.

My father was taken aback.

[...For how long?]

[It could be a month, six months, or even a year. I want to stay there for a while, with no intended deadline.]

[There’s nothing there but a small town. It will be quite inconvenient. There won’t be any nobility to socialize with, nor any suitable places other nobles will frequent. If you really want to go somewhere, why not the family villa in Veroto?]

[It's not that different from the Capital, except for the sea. It's too crowded. Besides, I don't socialize much with other nobles, even here in the Capital.]

Father stepped away from his desk and paced around the office, stroking his chin. After a few minutes, he turned and looked at me, his expression serious.

[What about the competition to become the next Family Head?]

[I’ve already been removed from my administrative post. So, I’m no longer eligible. I admit defeat and will consider myself eliminated from the competition.]

[I gave all of you three years. So there’s still some time left to turn things around. It's not too late to change your mind, even after the initial three years have passed.]

[That would be unfair to Chloe, Father.]

[Chloe will agree with me on this.]

[Father.]

[Very well. It seems you need the rest. Perhaps this is for the best. You can take a good long rest and then come back and assume your responsibilities at the company more gradually.]

[.....]

At the time, I gave no indication about the truthfulness of his assumption. I had no intention of ever working for House Elias, or anyone else, ever again, but I deliberately feigned indecision in order to avoid another long, drawn-out conversation with my father.

Father sat back down at his desk with a relaxed expression and pulled out the letter, likely satisfied he would get his way.

[Hmm. By the way, what exactly do you plan to do out there in the middle of nowhere?]

[Nothing.]

[What?]

[I don’t want to do anything. I just want to rest, Father.]

I secured permission to leave immediately on the condition that I would be accompanied by four bodyguards, alongside Beth and Niels. In addition to the condition that I would return after exactly one month.

I knew Niels was likely sending updates to my father and mother every week, but I didn’t interfere. I saw no reason to stop him, since it seemed to put their minds at ease.

I had already been here for three months and postponed the date I was supposed to return twice.

Now, Beth was sitting in front of the warm stove, busily hemming a pair of men's trousers that looked like they belonged to a set of practice gear. She paused to hand me the letter. The trousers she was working on looked like they would fit Bernard perfectly.

I felt a sudden, inexplicable twinge of annoyance.

"Is it from Mother this time?"

"No, Lady Chloe."

I slammed the book I was reading shut and asked.

"Wait a minute, Beth. You haven't even looked at the letter; how do you know it's about me returning to the Capital?"

“Do I have to? You've gotten dozens of such letters. Up until now, every single letter your family has sent you has ended that way, hasn’t it?”

“Wow... Beth, you're a quick study! You’ve really caught on quick!”*

I gave her a thumbs-up and opened the letter.

"Was I right?"

"..."

“Miss?”

"Yeah... You were right, but... this one is a bit different." 

At my unexpectedly serious tone of voice, Beth froze mid-yawn, jumped to her feet, and rushed over to me.

“Is something wrong, Miss? Did something happen to Sir Bernard?”

"...Goodness."

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

As I laughed, Beth's face suddenly turned as red as a beetroot, and even more so as she realized what she’d just asked.

“Oh... I’m sorry. I just assumed something happened because Sir Bernard is in a dangerous position at the moment. I mean truly... I don't understand why he's remained a General now that the crisis is over. The last time we spoke, he assured me it was only temporary, and I believed him without hesitation...”

“You’re going to start crying if you keep on worrying like that, Beth.”

“Oh, me? Crying? I’m not going to cry, I promise. Hehe.”

I smiled back at Beth, and she grinned broadly back at me.

"I can't predict everything, you know. It seems the Emperor holds Bernard's abilities in high regard. Our Bernard is steadfast and loyal—and he always does a fantastic job."

Beth nodded so vigorously it looked like her head was about to fall off.

“Yes, yes, that’s right.”

"But right now, Bernard isn't the main issue."

"Oh, I’m sorry. I got a bit too worked up again."

“It’s okay. It’s no big deal.”

"So, what is it really about?"

“The Emperor wants to see me.”

“H-His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor?”

Beth asked, her eyes wide as saucers. She gulped nervously.

"Yes. Apparently, His Majesty wants to adjust some details regarding the temporary agreement we signed previously."

“Wait. Isn’t that something the Head of the House should handle…?”

"He requested that I attend as well. Since I acted as the representative for the initial agreement."

"Shall we get ready, then?"

“No.”

Beth, who had been about to head up the stairs to the second floor, turned back and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Huh? You’re not going?”

"Yes... Well. I don't want to get involved. I certainly don't want to go to the Imperial Palace. The absolute last thing I want to be doing is associating with the Imperial Family."

“...”

“What? Do you think I’m being irresponsible?”

Beth planted her hands firmly on her hips—much like a mother hen protecting a young lamb—her face twisted into a fierce scowl.

"No! Not at all! Of course you shouldn't go, My Lady. I am on your side no matter what! After going through such a terrible ordeal, if you don't want to go, then you shouldn't!"

Beth’s eyes brimmed with pity, as if the events of that day 3 months ago were still fresh on her mind.

After I returned from the Palace the night of the Coronation, I threw myself face-down on my bed and sobbed uncontrollably. I hadn't even changed out of the red dress—the fabric was still such a vivid shade of crimson that it was almost jarring to look at it.

Beth, Mother, Aria, and Chloe sat by my bedside, not knowing what to do. They could only helplessly rub my back while I cried. Father stood in the doorway watching for a long time before eventually retreating to his study to drink.

Despite the exemplary performance of the Elias Knights, the household remained shrouded in a somber, funereal air that night.

But I paid no attention to any of that; I simply let myself cry without holding anything back. 

Those painful tears were an expression of all of my mixed emotions—the relief I felt at the knowledge that I’d finally succeeded in saving my family, as well as the profound loss I felt after achieving my goal. In a way, the tears were also my way of comforting myself while I finally decided to let him go entirely.

"Yes. Beth, I’m not going. It may be an order disguised as a request, but I can certainly refuse this much! Instead, bring me some paper and a brush pen so I can write a letter in response.”

“Yes, Miss.”

***

2nd District of Oceria. Border of the Kingdom of Barron.

“What exactly does the message say, Your Highness?” Walter asked again.

He watched intently as his Master silently stared at the missive in his hands.

His lord raised a cool gaze and poured more wine into his cup. When he spoke, his tone resonated with suppressed anger.

“I’ve been informed that the Crown Princess Selection will begin on the first of next month.”

"They're selecting candidates for the position of the Second Prince's consort?"

Walter’s voice rose slightly in surprise.

“Yes. A selection for my consort—without my consent. Apparently the Emperor has seen fit to arbitrarily choose a date for it after I chose to postpone it. The announcement has already been distributed to newspapers throughout the Empire, and notices have been sent to eligible noblewomen and their families.”

“But... why all of a sudden?”

“That cunning old man is using me to appease the nobles. Tsk. A futile effort on his part.”

“What do you intend to do?”

"I have no intention of marrying in this lifetime. When I rule, I will do it alone."**

“Then?”

“Well... I suppose I should take this opportunity to shut the selection process down for good so they can’t force it on me again. We're leaving tomorrow. Make the preparations.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Walter bowed and turned to leave, but then paused, as if something had finally occurred to him.

“Oh, and Your Highness... there was also a message from Toby, the agent assigned to House Elias. He is requesting confirmation as to whether his mission has actually been called off.”

Since the day of the Coronation ceremony, Kyle had received no news whatsoever from his people watching the Elias family.

He had recently sent word instructing them to cease their infiltration.

His Master’s expression hardened ever so slightly.

“Yes. It is no longer necessary.”

_____

Editor's Note -

These past two chapters have been all heartbreak. I really want to give Tara a hug right now because she really has been through it. T.T

* Here Tara is calling back to a Korean proverb she cited at Beth many, many chapters ago. 

서당개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다. "Even a dog can recite poetry after attending a Seodang [village school] for three years." It means that anyone can learn anything if given the chance.

** There’s a certain nuance to this part that was hard to convey in the translation, and I wanted to share the angst and my overanalysis with you. The verbatim translation of what Kyle says here is “There will be no woman sitting by my side for the rest of my life”; essentially, he is going out and saying he will never love another woman ever again. (Oof.) I considered leaving that verbatim, but frankly it kind of sounds a bit too vague and melodramatic in English for such a famously emotionally repressed character like Kyle to feasibly say to his subordinate in this situation. 

As a result, I rephrased it and tried to spell things out more in English. When Kyle talked about Tara previously, he always used the language of having her 'at his side,' with the implication that when he claimed the throne, she would quite literally be seated next to him. This ‘by my side’ language is something that I’ve only ever seen Kyle use and isn’t typically how MLs in Korean novels declare their love. But for Kyle, telling Tara she would be by his side when he becomes Emperor was him telling her she was part of his new dream for the future. It's his own particular way of expressing his devotion. So he's not only telling Walter he won't take a wife, he is also shutting the door on any kind of love or partnership whatsoever, and implying he doesn’t intend on ever letting anyone else in again since Tara was the only person he wanted to experience that particular version of the future with. 

All that said, we’ll all get to see whether Kyle actually believes what he’s saying soon enough. Until then, I suppose he has some license to go through a late emo phase.

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