Chapter 43

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 43

Chapter Title: Ami’s Burial

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I placed my hand on the back of his and shook my head.

"Can't save it."

"Then tell me how to make another one."

"That'll be somethin' totally different from Ami."

Adrian's gaze dropped to the floor.

I remembered him riding at the front of the victory parade after the Holy Demon War.

Even before taking in his beauty—like the world's rarest treasures gathered in one place—what hit me first was his fierce dignity.

He was the Knight of Knights, daughter of Duke Amities or not—even my fine hairs stood on end in awe.

I'd vaguely thought no one could ever hurt him.

But the boy before me now was covered in wounds. So fragile, it made my heart ache.

"But I can make a grave for it."

I whispered softly. Bunne fidgeted wildly with a

but I pretended not to hear.

Adrian lifted his head and stared straight at me. I didn't look away.

"Dig deeper."

Adrian glanced at the girl pointing at the ground, cradling Ami carefully in one hand.

"You're gonna hit another layer of dirt at this rate. Come out here."

The girl brushed the dirt off Adrian's hand, then carefully placed Ami back on top.

She crouched down and started digging. She was so thorough that in just a few minutes, she'd made a pit twice as big as Adrian's.

"Now we bury it here."

She really was a strange kid.

She dug dirt like a farmer, but bossed around an imperial prince like it was nothing—better than any royal.

Adrian had never met anyone who treated him so casually.

But.

But if this kid knew who he was, things would change.

Everyone did.

Royals, nobles, even the palace servants—they all saw him like a boil. Too scary to touch, too annoying to ignore.

He was the emperor's eldest son, yet under the watchful eye of his first empress, Yvonne—niece of the Empress Dowager and eldest daughter of the Marche Ducal House.

He was alive, but not really there.

So this kid would change too, once she knew.

Those sparkling eyes would cloud with fear, that lively face would turn sullen. It was a shame, but he figured he should tell her now.

"I'm the imperial family's eldest son."

"So?"

"I mean, I'm the child of the late empress, so..."

"And?"

Adrian blinked, speechless.

This was weird.

She should be shocked.

Even if she was too young to grasp the tangled politics, "imperial family" alone should scare her.

As Adrian eyed her strangely, the kid tilted her head.

"That important right now?"

"...Huh?"

"If it's not a big deal, let's bury Ami quick."

The kid tugged his hand.

Adrian followed in a daze, kneeling down. He poured the completely soggy Ami into the pit with a slosh.

The kid patted the dirt over it in his place.

"Now we pray."

Adrian stared at the kid, hands clasped tight, eyes squeezed shut.

"Please let it live long long happy."

"..."

"Even if fight and mad, please make morning greet natural."

"..."

"No sick. Every day healthy so today's pain just silly talk."

The kid gazed softly into Adrian's eyes.

"Please let this child warm-hearted."

It felt like she was talking to him.

He couldn't say a word, just stared at her in a trance.

He didn't know why his throat burned or his eyes stung.

One thing was clear: this was the first time he swore he'd never forget someone's name.

After burying Ami and finishing the prayer, I stood up.

"Gonna go?"

Adrian grabbed my hand and asked. I was a little flustered but answered.

"Yeah."

"...Come again?"

"Huh?"

"Come again."

His eyes on me were so earnest, I rolled mine dramatically.

"Maybe."

"But if you don't..."

Adrian's eyes dimmed. His long lashes, catching the sunlight, half-hid his clear red eyes.

Wow...

Worth the hype of stealing hearts across the empire and beyond.

Even with my tastes numbed by Duke Duvered's looks, my heart skipped.

"We fwiends now. Fwiends keep pwomises. See sometime."

"Friends..."

Adrian mumbled it over and over. So cute, I giggled inside.

I waved goodbye, turned, and ran off.

Late, late!

I'd come under pretense of hide-and-seek, but 30 minutes had flown by.

Panting toward the garden, I heard, "Where are you, Little One!"

Pale-faced soldiers and servants searched frantically.

"Hewe, hewe!"

I yelled and hopped. They rushed over.

"Oh my..."

Lea gasped at my dirt-covered self.

"Where on earth were you? We looked everywhere—we were so scared!"

It wasn't far from the garden, but they hadn't found me—Adrian must've set a barrier.

I fidgeted my hands and mumbled, "Sowwy fow wate."

Lea sighed and brushed my skirt.

"You're safe, so it's okay. But if you vanish like that again, my heart might actually stop."

"Otay."

"Your travel pass came through. Shall we head back to Duvered now?"

She said, so I nodded brightly.

Bunne nagged, so I sneaked a peek up at Lea.

"Wea, ten stwawbewwies?"

"Well..."

Lea's eyes narrowed.

"You broke your promise, so just five."

No way.

I clutched my cheeks in shock. Laughter erupted around us.

I only got five strawberries, but I was still in a great mood.

I had Bunne return the money Ursou had pocketed to its owners—and plenty was left over.

I hadn't returned the bribes from the loan sharks.

Six thousand francs with this.

Seria's bounty was thirty thousand, so now I had thirty-six thousand total.

Time to really invest—enough to buy a place for exile.

I knew some good spots.

Problem was, I was too young to approach them.

That's why I'd stayed poor as a beggar.

Sure, staying low-key was key, but age blocked investments too.

Need an adult to help.

Seria was around, but as a criminal, she had limits. Plus, she was in jail now.

Couldn't rely on Bunne forever. His divine power was iffy—five days max before he faded.

Need to decide how to use Bunne's ability.

It wasn't something I needed, but wasting it felt wrong.

Might make money.

As I pondered, the carriage stopped. We'd reached Duvered Castle.

The door opened, and Henri and Ishak rushed to me.

"Why're you so late?"

Ishak shoved his face close. Henri pushed him away and hugged me.

"Tough trip, huh?"

Ishak reached to snatch me.

"I had the kitchen prep tons of your favorite meat."

Henri turned his back, guarding me.

"Eating late's bad for you. How about terrace snacks tonight, then a yummy breakfast tomorrow?"

"It's not gonna hurt you."

"She's delicate. Don't compare to a monster like you."

They tugged me back and forth till my eyes spun.

"Euuu..."

I whined. Whoosh! Suddenly airborne—now in the duke's arms.

"Don't fight over your sister."

The duke said sternly. Henri and Ishak glared at each other, then mumbled, "Yes..." all sulky.

Phew, saved.

Long ride plus keeping Bunne up had drained me—being squished between them was rough.

I leaned into the duke's chest, then remembered.

Gotta greet.

"I'm home!"

The duke, Henri, and Ishak's lips softened.

"Welcome back."

"Good to have you."

"Let's go in."

Home sweet home, huh? After months here, it really felt like coming home.

The next day, I got my promised strawberries as a lunch snack from Lea.

Whipped cream piled high—I stared with sparkling eyes. Bunne cheered,

Lea tied my bib, then scooped strawberries onto my plate.

"...Three, four, five."

She counted, saw my gleaming eyes, chuckled, and snuck two more.

"Yay, Wea!"

I smooched her cheek in thanks. The maids clamored jealously.

"I prepped the cream, Little One."

Dahlia thrust out her cheek.

"I picked the strawberries."

Linda scooted close.

"Just do me too."

Yuni tilted her head my way.

I pecked each cheek, then grabbed my fork again.

'...?'