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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall]
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Chapter 20 - So, The First Kiss...
Selina ripped her dress, tying it into a sturdy knot to make a long rope.
She wrapped the rope around Eric's body, instructing him to wait outside the lake like an anchor.
"Here I go!"
Selina jumped into the lake wearing only her drawers.
Upon finding Janus underwater, Selina quickly tied the rope she brought around his body.
This was possible because Janus was small due to not eating much at that time.
After securing the rope tightly, Selina pushed Janus to the surface.
As Janus floated, Selina climbed onto the lakeshore first to catch her breath.
"Huff, huff. I'm alive. I'm alive."
"See, what did I tell you? I said you'd die if you went in!"
Selina flicked Eric's head as he complained.
"Idiot! I came out alive! Now hurry up and pull the rope properly."
"How dare you, how dare you hit the Crown Prince?"
"What are you doing? Pull the rope, I said."
Selina and Eric finally pulled Janus out and laid him on the ground, but he remained unconscious.
"He... he's not breathing."
"We have to tell the adults."
As Selina stood up, Eric stopped her.
"No, we can't."
"Why?"
"They'll think it's my fault you're dressed like this. I can't be punished for something I didn't do."
"What are you talking about? What if he dies?"
"So what if he dies! I'm going to win anyway. He's nothing."
"Who cares about winning right now!"
Selina smacked Eric on the back and checked Janus's breathing again.
"Oh no. He really isn't breathing."
As Selina worried, Eric thought to himself.
'So much for his powers. Hmph. He's nothing. It's better if he dies.'
Eric's shallow mind was filled with the thought that he would be favored more if Janus died.
"This won't do. I have to use the method Mother read to me from a book."
"What method?"
"Go away, you can't watch."
"What is it?"
"Go get someone!"
"How can I go looking like this! I can't go, I won't go! I'll definitely get scolded!"
"Fine, whatever. Watch if you want."
Selina gathered her thoughts and prayed.
'Please, fairies, let him live.'
* * *
"So you saved me 12 years ago..."
"Yes, it was me."
"Ha, ha. This is unbelievable... Ha."
Janus let out a hollow breath, neither laughing nor crying, seemingly dumbfounded.
He added, looking at the confused Selina.
"I had no idea. I lived like a dog chained to the imperial family. Going to war and returning at their command in exchange for information about that day. A pathetic dog."
"Your Grace..."
"If only... If only I had known sooner."
His face, filled with resentment, pierced Selina's heart with sorrow.
"If only I had known sooner that you were my mate... Why didn't you stay until the end that day?"
"It was His Majesty's order. After saving you, my clothes were in disarray. Even though I was young, he said I was a girl and had to protect my honor, so he ordered me never to tell anyone about what happened that day."
The Emperor had thoroughly concealed the incident.
"That lake disappeared within a week. His Majesty couldn't leave a place tainted by the Crown Prince nearly killing the Grand Duke."
"I see. I had completely forgotten about that. Such an important thing."
'So that's why he greeted me as if it had been 12 years.'
Looking at Janus gazing at the calm water, Selina asked,
"Aren't you afraid of the water?"
"I learned to swim after that."
"That's a relief.. Now you don't have to worry about drowning."
"My Lady..."
"Yes?"
"How did you save me back then?"
"Pardon?"
"How did you save me when I wasn't even breathing properly?"
"That day... back then, I was... still very young..."
"Young?"
"Well, you see... in fairy tales, when a prince wakes up a sleeping princess..."
"Wakes her up?"
Selina's gaze suddenly fell on Janus's lips.
Janus, watching her closely, couldn't miss it.
In that moment, both of them felt a warmth spread across their cheeks, as if they were blushing.
As Janus's face slowly drew closer, Selina involuntarily closed her eyes.
'Please calm down, my heart.'
As she held her breath in anticipation, Janus whispered in Selina's ear.
"Next time, please tell me in detail how you saved my life."
"Oh, yes, of course."
After stepping back from Janus and cooling her cheeks, Selina said,
"Shall we go in now?"
"Allow me to escort you."
As Selina placed her hand in Janus's outstretched hand once more, he grasped it firmly and said,
"I won't let go this time."
* * *
"It's been a week already! Why haven't we found them even after sealing off all the temples? Did you send troops to the Grand Duke's and the Count's estates?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. How could I neglect your order? Both the Duke's and the Count's estates report that they haven't found a trace of either of them."
The Emperor slammed his armrests in anger. Ruth continued his report.
"Count Arsene is bedridden due to his daughter's defiance and has entrusted the merchant group's affairs to the temporary Acting Head, Brandon. No one except a servant delivering documents has entered the mansion..."
"Are you suggesting that Count Arsene anticipated all of this and prepared for it?"
Ruth paused for a moment at the Emperor's furious question.
"Your Majesty, it's not certain..."
"Since when has Count Arsene been plotting against me?"
"Judging by his past actions, it's absolutely impossible that..."
"Perhaps he was never on my side to begin with, only pretending to be."
"Since the time Count Dale saved Your Majesty's life on the battlefield?"
The Emperor did not respond to Ruth's question.
"It was a life-or-death situation. Count Arsene, as I've known him, is not that kind of person."
"Ruth, my patience always has a limit. If anyone has extended it even a little, it's you and Count Arsene. I know that much. I know who I can trust."
"Then you should put aside such suspicions."
"Can you say that after seeing Count Arsene's attitude?"
"He was the one who jumped in front of the blade and took the blow for you. Count Arsene's left arm still hasn't regained its strength, and he said he can't even hold his children with that arm. You know this better than anyone."
Despite Ruth's persuasion, the Emperor's expression remained unchanged.
"After that day, the Empire's promising knight laid down his sword. He quit being a knight and became a merchant, selling goods. The one who used to wield a sword, now sells them. Do you not understand the meaning of this?"
The Emperor's lips trembled slightly. Ruth continued without pausing.
"Dale... Count Arsene has never once resented that. He remains loyal to you, just as he was when he protected you on the battlefield."
"Yes, he's been spinning this tale of loyalty for years now."
"Perhaps his skill in handling such emergencies has improved after running the merchant group for so long. Especially since he had something he couldn't protect even after he risked everything."
"Do you still trust Count Arsene?"
Ruth had been by the Emperor's side for 30 years.
He knew well enough not to push any further.
"Honestly, I don't know anymore. But he has always been sincere to Your Majesty. I've witnessed that throughout our time together on the battlefield."
"Ruth, remember that it is only your words that are keeping Count Arsene alive right now. If you value your friendship, go and tell him. Tell him my patience is running thin. Tell him to show himself and make his intentions clear."
Ruth was inwardly relieved that his persuasion seemed to have worked.
"If this continues, I'll have no choice but to take drastic measures. If the one with the dragon's power succeeds in marrying his mate, I will declare them traitors and have them beheaded to protect the Imperial family. And I don't need to explain what happens to a traitor's family."
The Emperor had lost countless comrades due to his greed.
Count Arsene was one of the few precious friends Ruth had left.
"...I will try my best to persuade him to see you, Your Majesty."
"Yes, if you don't want to lose your friend, persuade him and bring him before me."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall]
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