------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall]
------------------
Chapter 19 - That Little Girl From Back In The Day
Selina's heart raced as Janus placed his hand over hers, their eyes meeting.
'He said he's only been on the battlefield... A war veteran... Yet, why is he so smooth in his words and actions?'
"I yearn for you so much that I want to marry you as soon as possible."
Before she knew it, her hand had moved to his waist, and her head rested against his firm chest.
"Do you know the truth about that day? Could you tell me now?"
In Janus's embrace, Selina nodded.
"That was the first time I went to the Imperial Palace with my mother."
Somewhere, crickets chirped in harmony.
"It wasn't easy to get close to Eric, no matter how many times we met. I hated having to visit the palace regularly, but I had to. My father always emphasized our relationship with the Imperial family. That day, my mother accompanied me for the first time, trying to soothe my reluctance."
* * *
12 years ago.
It was long before Janus became the Grand Duke of Justia.
Christa had achieved numerous feats in war, but the Emperor hadn't granted a title to his only remaining sister.
Despite the change in emperors and her sacrifices for the country, Christa remained known as Princess Christa.
Princess Christa.
And the commoner knight she married.
When their son inherited Christa's power, the Emperor began to take action.
Claiming that the heir was too young, the Emperor brought Janus to the Imperial Palace under the pretense of protection.
He even employed mages to experiment on Janus, trying to uncover the nature of his abilities.
"Even with our magic, we can't identify his power. It seems to be within his body, but it has no tangible form."
"It's inherently difficult to detect dragon’s power with magic. They are fundamentally different. If you allow us to take the heir to the Magic Tower for research..."
"His wounds heal faster than others, that much is certain. We've flogged him for three days and nights, but not a single scar remains."
"He's so resilient, not even a whimper escaped him during the beatings."
Phillip tried desperately to retrieve Janus, but his opponent was the Emperor.
Even as Christa's husband and the commander of the Hiloa Knights, his influence was limited.
His status as an excellent knight and commander only mattered to the military families who toiled on the battlefield together.
In the capital, among the noble families who controlled the empire's politics and in the eyes of the Emperor, his influence was negligible.
Thus, for four long years, Janus lived confined in the Imperial Palace, until the age of seven, when he was first sent to the battlefield.
Initially, there was no one to properly care for his meals or clothing. However, Janus possessed a peculiar charm that drew people to him.
"He's still Princess Christa's son, shouldn't we do at least this much for him?"
People working in the palace secretly helped him.
Someone brought him ill-fitting clothes, and someone else altered them.
Servants shared their food, bringing him bread and soup.
"He's so adorable when he silently bows."
The number of people secretly helping him, against the Emperor's wishes, grew.
But no matter what, there was an undeniable difference between him and Eric, who was always dressed in the finest attire.
The biggest difference was their hair.
Janus's beautiful eyes and forehead were hidden beneath his unkempt hair.
After two years of living this way, an incident occurred.
"So there's a place like this too."
"Do you like it?"
"Friends don't use those words," she said.
"Who says that?"
"My nanny."
The people working in the Imperial Palace would whisper behind their backs, comparing the Crown Prince and Janus, who were the same age.
That's why Janus recognized Eric right away.
"Your nanny is a fool. You must always use honorifics with me."
"Then I'll use honorifics and we won't be friends anymore."
'But who's that?'
There was a cute little girl next to Eric, someone he had never seen before.
A small face, dark brown hair, and sparkling brown eyes.
Dressed in a yellow dress, she looked like a fluffy chick.
In her hand, she held a wide-brimmed hat the same color as her dress.
"No, you were destined to be my friend even before you were born, that's why you were allowed to enter the Imperial Palace. So you have to be my friend."
"Friends don't use honorifics. I swear to never be your friend again and to use honorifics."
Selina said defiantly causing Eric to sigh.
"Father said I must be friends with you. I have no choice. I'll be your friend and give up on honorifics."
"Yes, you have to listen to His Majesty. Then let's be friends again."
Seeing Selina smile brightly at Eric, Janus moved closer out of curiosity.
"Does anyone live in this lake?"
"No one lives there."
"Then what's that? A fairy?"
"What? A fairy? Where... Ah..."
Eric also knew about Janus.
His cousin, the same age as him.
The cousin who was said to possess some kind of power that he didn't have.
He was always curious about his cousin, but the servants only told him to never go near him.
"You'll be in big trouble if you go near him."
"You'll definitely get hurt, you can't."
"Their Majesties will be very angry if they find out."
The one he wasn't even allowed to see from afar had somehow appeared before him.
'You're in trouble today. I won't let you off easy.'
"Selina, go back today."
"No, I have to wait here until Mother comes."
"Hey, then go around the lake once. I need to talk to him."
"Who is he?"
"Ah, it's someone you don't need to know."
Selina didn't like Eric's tone, but she had no choice but to put on the hat she was holding and go around the lake.
"Hey, you come here."
Eric called, and Janus hesitated for a moment before approaching.
"You know me, right?"
Janus nodded without speaking.
"If you know who I am, why aren't you greeting me properly? I'm the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince. Greet me with proper respect."
Janus stared blankly at Eric, then spoke quietly, as if embarrassed.
"I don't know how."
"What? Say it louder."
"I don't know anything about proper greetings."
"Your voice is so small. Anyway, you didn't greet me, so you have to be punished. Come here."
Since he hadn't been eating or training properly, Janus was dragged along when Eric grabbed him by the collar.
'Huh? This guy’s weak. What's so dangerous about him?'
Seeing Janus being dragged along without resistance, Eric got excited and kept pulling him until he lost his footing and fell into the lake with him.
Splash!
Selina, who was walking around the lake, came running in surprise.
Fortunately, Eric managed to get out of the water by himself with a clumsy dog paddle.
"Eric! Are you okay?"
"Cr-Crown Prince, Your Highness. I told you to call me Your Highness. Huff huff Your, Your Highness won't die from something like this."
Eric, shivering, said this and then looked at the lake with a start.
'What? Why isn't he coming up? Did he sink to the bottom of the lake?'
Eric became afraid when he couldn't even see Janus struggling.
"Where's that kid from earlier?"
"I don't know. I can't go back in. It's deep and scary!"
Selina, disgusted by Eric's cowardice, tossed her pretty hat aside.
"But you can't just let someone die! You know how to swim, but he obviously doesn't! You have to save him!"
When Selina tried to jump in, Eric desperately stopped her.
"No, if you die, I'll be in even bigger trouble. I said no."
"He's going to die like that, he's going to die!"
Suddenly, there was a ripping sound, and the hem of Selina's dress, which Eric had been clinging to, tore. Seeing the long ribbon trailing like a string, Selina shouted,
"This is it!"
Selina's eyes sparkled.
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
