Chapter 76
Chapter 76: Resignation and a Place of Obstinacy
Her kingdom was withering before her eyes .
Once in a day, Eldith looked down on Ghazalia’s Hanging Gardens from the only available window in the Tower . She gritted her teeth, and gazed with cursing eyes . Her chest was filled with hatred as well .
She couldn’t do anything . She understood that very well . She had no choice but to decay inside of this Tower . She just wanted to die . Eldith thought that if she ended her life early, she could have a much better life after death .
However, Eldith knew that she couldn’t end her life just yet . She knew that surviving would be the best way to hurt the man who had imprisoned her here . So, she had to live another day . She gave up on everything and spent an empty life each day while trying to live on . Yes, all in order to save her spirit, which would eventually collapse .
It didn’t change the fact that the imprisoned man was an adventurer named Lugis .
Eldith only treated his injuries . She didn’t care if a human died or lived . Nevertheless, it would be troublesome if he were to die right in front of her eyes . Because, where would she dump his body?
Besides, the purpose of his imprisonment was quite clear .
If he belonged to the Heraldic Order, then that meant that he teamed up with their Great Saint . That Order and that woman were unmistakable enemies of Ghazalia . The fact that he was imprisoned in the Tower meant that he was probably an important person . However, Eldith didn’t think so from the looks of it .
She believed that Lugis was put on this Tower on purpose . If he died here, Eldith would take the blame . On the contrary, if he survived here, things would turn to gossip and eventually turn to a crime . “I see; a man and a woman together . ” Eldith thought . “I wonder if that guy wants me to get my hands dirty . ”
Apparently, the palace seemed very impatient . Perhaps, they expected her to go nuts in the Tower; however, she decided she wouldn’t take hard measures . Unexpectedly, Eldith’s eyes narrowed . Eldith had been living here for quite some time now . She had a life without any entertainment and without changes in routine .
Still, her spirit didn’t break yet . She didn’t succumb even if she felt that her guts were eroding and degrading each day .
But, Eldith was not willing to take any of the slightest provocation that would incite the revolt of her own supporters . No matter what, she had to do absolutely nothing . She gave up thinking about her life . To seek better solutions . To seek salvation . All she had to do was survive and hate herself .
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However, the presence of a cellmate was not that bad for Eldith, even though she had some rage wandering in her mind .
Lugis’ language was crude . He probably didn’t come from nobility . He wasn’t very good at having a close relationship with others . That’s why his way of talking lacked finesse and, sounded reckless and rude .
However, he seemed very skilled with his intellect as an adventurer . The story he told Eldith was interesting as well . It sounded like fairy tales .
The story about a Knight who destroyed large monsters with a single slash .
The story of a Sorceress who exercised powerful magic beyond reasoning .
The story of a Hero who shined like the sun .
All of these stories were unbelievable stories, but his narrative was so good that they seemed real . Unexpectedly, Eldith felt drawn into those stories . These interesting conversations were added to Eldith’s daily routine . However, these conversations were more than just mere stories . They were a way to kill time . To be entertained .
Eldith knew that Lugis spoke with her more openly because of the treatment .
She prepared the medicine once again today . The remedy comprised of healing drops that elves received from the grace of earth . She rubbed the herbs on his injuries to prevent the pus from overtaking the serious wounds . He wouldn’t die with this way .
Eldith took another bottle from her closet with her tiny fingers and added it to his medicine . She did this every single day .
Why was she so devoted to this young adventurer? “No, I’m not”, she thought . “This isn’t kindness . At best, it’s pity . ”
Or maybe, it’s a different sort of kindness . She probably felt some sympathy for him because she felt the smell of resignation from him as well . Somehow, she could feel that he gave up many things in his heart . He probably had to let go of many important things . Likewise, she felt the same way . She had empathy because both had “unhealed wounds” .
But, it was okay . It was okay to feel like that . Just give up, break your soul and die . Eldith knew very well that she’s been in a position to change everything . She struggled to alter the course of her life and of everyone around her, but nothing happened at all . Every effort was in vain . For nothing . She failed every time she tried to reach for a different path . Perhaps, it was the same with Lugis .
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Her father was murdered, and the position of Fin was taken away by force . She could only live on with hatred . Hatred about the whole world, the whole system, and about herself . She thought that it would be better for her to rot in jail .
“I got swallowed up by the muddy flow of history . Every prospect and hope disappeared without sparkling . Just like that . Forever” .
Eldith sharpened her lips and went to bed .
“…I didn’t want Your Highness to suffer like this…”
Then, for some reason, a person called Eldith “Your Highness”, but in the wrong direction . She noticed that someone spoke to Lugis thinking that he was the princess, since he wrapped himself in linen and couldn’t get out .
—
The world kept moving . I realized that it made no difference in the human world and in the elf world .
「Please, forgive my incompetence . I couldn’t help Your Highness with my lack of power . 」
I took a small peek at this figure, and I noticed that this elf was the female elf whom I met before in the palace . She was the unmistakable commander of the elf soldiers . This female elf was now kneeling in front of Eldith and begging for forgiveness . Actually, she was in front of me, but didn’t realize that she mistook me for the princess .
Was this female elf on Eldith’s side or did she serve her once? I didn’t know which one was correct . But, there was no doubt that this female elf had a deep sense of loyalty towards Eldith . It seemed that her hidden allegiance came sincerely . I could feel that very well .
「Valianne, stop talking to the fake princess lying over there . And, stop with that type of talk . You know that neither he nor I can get out of here . If we try to escape from here, they’ll cut our necks to separate us from our torso . 」
Those words contained some sort of resignation in them . To me they felt odd . Those words didn’t match the Eldith I knew before . The one I was acquaintance with knocked down everything that stood against her . Every enemy, every obstacle, every wall .
I could see an obvious difference now . I was sure that she had some circumstances that I couldn’t understand, nor did I need to know about them .
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Ah, however . Even so . Those words, somehow, disturbed the emotions that were kept locked inside of my belly .
「Hey, hey . Don’t decide everything on your own, Eldith . I’ve never said anything nor did I pose as a fake princess . 」
I tried to move my body to sit on my bed . I still moved slowly, but I felt much better than before . I shrugged my shoulders then .
I felt a chill when I spoke . The female elf, Valianne, who seemed to treat me as if I were the princess, turned her sharp eyes on to me . I’ve seen that eye color before . It was the color of hatred towards human beings . She looked quite upset, as she looked down on me because I showed some rudeness towards her princess . Well, I was a lowly human after all .
Eldith was still Eldith . However, upon hearing my reply, she blinked her blue eyes mysteriously .
Why would she care? Eldith and I weren’t in that sort of relationship . We were just confined in here for a while . That’s why I spoke informally .
That’s why I threw those words at the princess since she spoke unreasonably to her female knight who apparently swore loyalty to her . Then, I noticed that she slowly wet her lips .
「How absurd . You speak as if you were the victim here . I clearly saw that you were enjoying that moment under the linen of your bed . 」
I felt a murky emotion trembling inside of my chest . I still felt fear of Eldith in the depths of my heart . Sometimes, I felt that my breath was greatly disturbed .
「Either way . I just hope that you can let me go to another place . I don’t want to be your cellmate . It’s enough . I don’t want to repeat what I’ve been through . It seems that your people threw my life in some businesses that doesn’t concern me . 」
That was right . First, it was that Saint woman, and now the elf princess . It seemed that my life got involved in their affairs . It seemed convenient for them to have me as a “side dish” . But, I had my purpose . I had my own will . I was neither a puppet nor a random piece that could be used for their convenience .
I was the one who decided about everything at the end . No one else . My decisions could meet a terrible result, or even an idiotic one, but it would be all my choice .
Talented people shaped the muddy flow of history . I knew that very well . There’s no way that I would create that flow . I wasn’t a talented person, nor a relevant one . No hero . I was a nobody . That’s why I should at least decide my fate with my own will . Then, I tightened my fist out of nowhere .
Was it because of my sudden words? Was it because I was immersed on my own feelings?
While thinking about it, I was a bit late to notice the change in the princess’ complexion .
「Ehh, I see . So, you have given up huh . 」
Eldith’s voice echoed in the room when she replied to my words . Surprisingly, it felt like a shock to me .
I thought that it was Valianne’s voice, the commander female elf . I thought that she was the one who spoke those words to Eldith . After all, she was the woman whose loyalty was unquestionable . I felt that she wanted a different course for Eldith . A path of salvation . It was apparent that she tried to convince Eldith to take a different resolution from some time now .
In addition, Eldith was someone who didn’t care for me . Nothing I said could shake her emotions . My words were meaningless to her .
Or so I thought .
「Okay . Then, you should try that…Valianne . 」
Eldith’s icy voice reached my ears in an ominous way . It felt extremely cold . Yes, it felt as if the room temperature dropped in order to resonate with her voice . My lips quivered as if I were scared . Not only me, but also Valianne .
Valianne kneeled upon hearing Eldith’s command .
「I should’ve dismissed the case you were referring to, but let’s move on with this . Apparently, this man, Lugis, is desperate to die . 」
Her voice was colder and more severe than before . I felt her blue eyes staring fixedly at me . That unsettling color disturbed me greatly . It resembled those of insects, but much and much bigger . I felt that her eyes were devouring me .
This was the first time that I saw Eldith like this .