The Return of the Female Knight

CHAPTER 69

"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Carlisle was staring gloomily out the window with his hands folded. His blue eyes lost focus and turned clear again, but he did not turn away from the window as he replied.

"Old memories only. ”

Right now, Carlisle's gaze turned towards the Freesia Palace outside the window. He did not have many good memories of the place. Maybe it's natural. He had a very unhappy childhood.

From the time she was born, she did not live in a palace, but was raised in a servant's residence because of her humble mother's origins. He grew up not knowing that his father was emperor until he was eight years old. Although he was the first son, no one recognized him as a prince.

As a child, Carlisle's mother always apologized to someone. Even if the Empress threw a cup of tea at her mother, she had to bow down and bow to the abuse and jealousy of the other servants. She couldn't understand why her mother was like this when she was a child . but when she grew up, she later discovered that it was for her sake. However, his mother would always apologize to Carlisle as well.

"I'm sorry, Caril. I'm sorry you had such a horrible mother. ”

His mother suffered so much to protect him. It must have been difficult to protect the boy's life without a maternal relative in the palace, where plots and plans were commonplace. When Carlisle thought about it now, he probably survived that far because no one cared about him.

"Caril, if anyone says anything, just say you made a mistake. You can't even breathe a word against anyone. ”

"No . Why should I do that when I don't make a mistake? "

“When you are noticed by others, your life is over. ”

“Bu, can we escape together? I don't want to live as a prince. ”

He meant. He would leave that position a thousand times over if he could only be with his mother. He answered with a weak smile.

"Caril, you can't live like this. How valuable is the blood flowing in your body? Look at high places like birds flying in the sky. ”

He complained many times that he did not need wealth, but his mother pretended not to listen.

The turning point in his life came without warning. One day, Orb appears in Carlisle's body. He lay in bed for a week and struggled with intense pain. There were no words to explain how her skin turned black and then white again. Only then did he realize the changes in his body meant that he was not a normal human being. The sun and moon rose and set several times before the blue ball finished growing inside his body and separated from it.

As he held the perfect bead in his hand, he met his father for the first time. His father told him that the emperor had dragon blood. Carlisle thought he was gonna puke. It's not just monster blood. Her mother was completely wrong; the blood flowing through her body was never precious or blessed. He could still remember clearly when Sullivan patted him on the shoulder.

"You're gonna replace me, Carlisle. Your father only believes in you now. ”

Soon after, Sullivan declared to everyone that Carlisle would serve as crown prince. Carlisle's life completely changed after that. Like a lie, Sullivan begins to love her deeply, and in turn, the days she sees her mother gradually decline. Then one day, his mother spoke to him.

“I have to leave the palace for a while. Your Majesty, can you arrange it yourself? ”

"Where are you going? Don't go ”

"I'll be back . Just count your fingers for ten nights. ”

"No, don't go. Mama!"

No matter how much Carlisle cried and held onto his mother, she turned around coldly and left the palace. Since then, he folded his fingers one by one, counting the nights by ten, but his mother never returned to the palace. He realized at some point that he would never return.

He felt a painful loneliness. Although she lived in the palace, her food was often poisoned and she struggled with death several times. In front of him were smiling faces, but when he turned around, he could not tell who the enemy was. Who tried to poison him behind his father's back? The enemy seems to be on all sides and no one can be trusted. When he is alone and isolated, Sullivan calls out to him. Then he issued a final notice.

"Carlisle, there's no way to protect you here. Go to the border and enter the war. ”

"Dad .. I'll die if I go there. ”

“You are the child who has the blood closest to the dragon. How could you die so easily? Follow your father's decision. This is the best . ”

My father was a lunatic, so obsessed with myths that he wouldn't have seen reality before. Carlisle was only thirteen years old when his father cursed him to death outside the palace. What was the chance that a young man who had never even held a sword would come back to life? Even if there was anyone who wanted to kill him in the Imperial Palace, it would be much worse if he was far from his father's side.

“... Haaaa. ”

It was a sad life. He believed that he would live his entire life in misery. Anyone who married a less fortunate person like him would definitely be cursed.

Carlisle no longer felt anger, resentment, or sadness. All that remains is emptiness. His mother left him in the Imperial Palace, and his father pushed him to a dangerous place, saying it was the only way. The chances of survival were slim, but he had no desire to stay alive.

'Everything. … It's all because of this Orb. '

Carlisle stared at the blue bead ring in his hand.

Before his mother left, he made her this ring so that the Orb would not be noticed, but he doubted it would be useful. He could not use the Orb for himself or for his family …

In those days even the servants working for the Imperial Palace did not want to make eye contact with Carlisle. Rumors began to circulate that his existence was not clean. The rumors were not wrong in Carlisle's mind.

"… The sky is very bright. “

On the day before he went to war, Carlisle hid in the Palace of Freesia, the largest palace in the field, and stared at the blue sky. He was in a gloomy mood, but unlike his mind, the sky was clear. But that doesn't matter, because so far nothing has reflected Carlisle's mood in his life. He is under the influence of others. He will give up everything when–

Jabag, Jabab.

He heard the light footsteps. When she turned her head towards the sound, a blonde-haired girl appeared through the bushes.

"…!"

Carlisle was silent for a moment. She thinks it's a fairy. He could not believe that there was such a beautiful human being. He had golden hair, pale skin, and red jeweled eyes staring at him. When their eyes met, it felt like an eternity.

"Are you a servant who works for the Imperial Palace? I'm lost, where am I? "

"…What?"

Carlisle's eyes widened as he spoke to her informally. Although he did not care, everyone used the title of crown prince ever since he ascended to that position. He did not reply, and the girl said softly, saying,

"Are you also a lost child?"

Hearing her question, Carlisle looked down at what she was wearing. He does look very messy, but tomorrow he will go to the battlefield. She wanted to reveal herself, but at the same time she did not want to hear the girl use her title like everyone else. Although words of respect came from the mouths of others, their eyes and voices were cold.

The girl in front of him spoke again, her red eyes raised sharply as if she was offended.

"Why don't you answer when people talk to you?"

When he saw this girl like a nine-tailed fox in the palace, he couldn't help but be surprised.

"Why should I answer your question?"

"Because .. because the servant must obey the words of the nobleman. ”

Carlisle leaned back and responded in a flat voice.

"There's a strike today. ”

"What's? It is impossible . ”

"Ask others for clues in the palace. ”

“I've been walking for a long time, but I don't see anyone else. ”

It was easy to get lost in the courtyard of the Freesia Palace Labyrinth without a guide. The girl's bad dress was a little worse to wear, but she decided that it was no reason to help her. The girl said something else, but Carlisle closed his eyes and ignored her.

Then, at one point, it became quiet. Suddenly curious, he opened his eyes and saw the girl sitting nearby and looking at the flowers. She looked at the beautiful picture as she smiled prettyly at the flowers, unlike the face she made when she complained earlier. She was also still beautiful before, but she preferred this.

"Is there anything interesting about the flowers?"

"Don't talk to me. You won't even give me direction … "

"I told you to ask someone else. ”

"Well, how am I supposed to find anyone else here? I've been walking around for a long time and I just met you .. I'm afraid to be alone. ”

Carlisle chuckled at how the girl's voice had become smaller and smaller. It had been a long time since he had met someone his age. Unlike the half-brother who always looked at her, she was a perfect stranger.

“I didn't know it was a strange flower. You can find it all over the palace. ”

"Not where I live. Perhaps this flower only blooms here .. Have you ever been outside the palace? "

"… No . ”

"Never?"

"Never . ”

The girl looked surprised at Carlisle's reply.

"Then have you ever been to a bakery or opera outside the palace?"

“No, no. ”

“Wow – Charlie Bakery very good. And children are usually not allowed to go to the opera, but I saw it once because my mother took me there. It was so magnificent and beautiful. ”

"…"

Carlisle did not answer. It was a story about an unknown world.

When Carlisle didn't say anything more, Elena went up to the boy's side.

"Then, do you want to come with me?"

"…What?"

The girl's bright expression fascinated her and Carlisle's heart started beating faster than usual.

The girl continued.

"My name is Elena Blaise. What's yourname?"

"…Nothing . ”

"You don't have a name?"

When Carlisle shut his mouth again, Elena thought he must have made a mistake.

"…I'm sorry . ”

Carlisle did not downplay pity. Despite his position as crown prince, he deserves sympathy. No one else felt sorry for him because he was a prince and had an Orb, but he was only a thirteen-year-old boy.

"Don't worry. If I told my mother about you, she would accept you. Why don't you work at our house if life in the palace is difficult? "

"…Can I?"

He desperately wanted to leave everything that was holding him back and live his life as he pleased. His mother told him to look high like a bird, but he just wanted to be free to be one.

"Of course . So, are you going to come to my house? I'll watch the opera with you, and we can go to the bakery .. I'll show you many other fun things. Promise!"

Carlisle looked at Elena's outstretched little finger, then related it to hers. He almost cried at that moment. He really wanted to live that life with her.

“You should call me Miss from now on. I don't know about the Imperial Palace, but that's how the servants called me at home, or they would get into trouble. But I'll let you call me by my name when we're alone. ”

“... I'll worry about it later. ”

“Cih, the tightness is different from the old one. ”

So Elena and Carlisle spent the whole day exploring the Palace of Freesia. When she saw Carlisle's little piece, she tore off the tip of her dress and tied it. He takes her somewhere only she knows and shows her a dragon statue, then they go to a man-made lake to splash their feet into the water.

Elena did not know about it, but Carlisle purposely guided her to the deserted areas. He wanted this joy to last forever. But contrary to Carlisle's desperate desire, the time came when he had to leave.

"Len! Where're you? "

A voice called out to Elena. Soon there were also other voices calling out, "Young Miss!" And Elena suddenly realized where she was.

"Oh! Mama! I think I better go. I'll talk to my mom soon to pick you up. ”

Elena stood up and told her to go back to her mother, but Carlisle already knew. Here's finally.

"Elena!"

"Hm?"

At Carlisle's urgent call, he turned around. He handed the Orb ring to her without hesitation.

"Please take this. ”

"What's this?"

"That's a ring. ”

"the ring? My mom said I shouldn't accept things … "

Carlisle tried to explain, but the voices of the people searching for Elena got closer. He didn't have much time to tell her the little details.

"This .. This is my memory of my mother. I can't keep it, and I want you to keep it for a while. I'd like you to make me a promise. ”

"Oh yes . ”

"Save it . I'll definitely be back for that. ”

"Good . ”

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise!"

Elena was beaming, and a bitter feeling welled up in Carlisle's chest. It was impossible to know if he would die when he went to the battlefield, and since he could not use that desire for himself or his family, he wanted to use it now.

'My wish is …'

The orb glowed faintly, as if reacting to Carlisle's thoughts.

– Say your wish, sir.

A voice in his head spoke to him. This was the first time he had heard it, but strangely it sounded familiar at the same time.

As if he knew this would happen.

'Save Elena Blaise from death. '

If he somehow miraculously survived the battlefield and returned to the palace, he wanted to keep the promise he made to her. He will not go in vain.

There is also a prophecy that his partner will live and die in misery.

'… Then don't die. '

Elena suddenly stopped running towards the search party and turned around and waved towards Carlisle. He smiled faintly at the sight and raised his hand as well.

'If I survive, I will come for you. '

At the time, she was not old enough to fully understand what it was like to have friends or get married. Their meeting took place on the day she was only thirteen years old. He thought he might soon die and made a wish with his behavior. But that simple day was ingrained in his heart, never forgotten, and when Carlisle lived his life in hell, he always thought of Elena.

The first time he killed someone, it was when the killer came to his residence. Whenever he felt pain and hardship, he turned his mind to that special day. The promises Carlisle had to keep, the reason for surviving in hell, and the last stop he had to reach. That was his safety.

'… See you alive. I'll ask if you came to see me or if you don't miss me as much as I do. '

The idea was rooted in him like a plant. It grew strong in Carlisle's heart without sunlight or water, until it was like a huge mass of greed. Carlisle still vividly remembered the night when Elena first came to his rescue with her black armor.

– Please marry me, Your Majesty.

Who would have thought that even though she had forgotten all about him, she had asked to marry him herself.

'… Without knowing how I feel. '

A bitter smile spread across Carlisle's face as he looked out the window towards Freesia Palace. Zenard, who was standing still behind him, cut him in a low voice with a report.

"Your Majesty, Mrs Blaise has arrived at the palace. I told the servants to take him this way, so that they would come soon. ”

"I saw . ”

Carlisle was about to turn away from the window when–

Bang out!

The door opened, and Elena walked in, completely flushed. On an unexpected visit Zenard called out to him with a stuttering voice.

"M-My Lady–"

Behind him was a servant rushing after him.

"Your Majesty, not –Caril, why didn't you tell me? When we first met at the palace, you did not tell me that you were the crown prince. ”

Carlisle's blue eyes widened in surprise, but soon a happy-stealing expression on his face. He barked and ordered Zenard and the servants to stand by the door.

“Everything out. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. ”

At his command, everyone quickly rushed away, and before long there were only two people left in the spacious room.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Carlisle stared at her for a long time, as if he was enjoying her presence. It felt like the end of a long journey before they finally met each other.

"Do you remember me now?"

“If you had just told me, I would have no trouble remembering. ”

Carlisle felt joy even though Elena's expression was upset. In fact, even if Elena did not save him that day, she would come back and propose to him. Maybe he really wanted to have it at all costs.

'If I say that I want it, even if I have destroyed the Blaise family that he loves …'

Is he going to run?