Chapter 79
“Look at what you did. Why are you doing this? Dean, these days, it’s as if you’re incomplete.”
“God…”
“What made you like that? Is it because of Nera’s prophecy? I, I promised I’ll make sure it won’t be like that. But why are you…!”
Andra couldn’t speak any more. Instead, she glared at Dean, then turned her back and left the place. She felt Dean following her. Still, she didn’t look back. She was then caught by Dean not long after.
“Lady Anat, please!”
Dean was shaking. Like a puppy abandoned by its master, he was restless. He grabbed Andra and knelt down on his knees, begging. Clear tears fell from the corners of his eyes.
“I was wrong. God, please abate your wrath. Please… Don’t turn your back on me. Didn’t you say you love me?”
“…….”
“I must have lost my mind for a moment. It was because I felt like I was going to die if I couldn’t see you. No matter how much I search, you are nowhere to be found… I thought you had abandoned me. I thought you left me again.”
“…Dean.”
“God, please… Please forgive me. I… I don’t know what to do if I don’t see you. I just want to die. There is no reason for me to live in this world without you. So, please… I can’t be without you. Don’t turn your back on me… I don’t want to be abandoned… never again”
Dean wept while holding Andra. The man’s hot tears soaked Andra’s robe. Andra quietly looked at the man who was clinging to her. His thick fingers desperately grabbed her hand and wouldn’t let it go. His strength was so strong that his entire hand ached.
“Don’t leave me, please…”
Andra woke up with a heart pounding at the man’s last words.
“Ha…”
Andra raised her body and breathed heavily. Her heart was pounding non-stop. It’s as if it was going to explode anytime soon. Besides, her thin slip was soaked with sweat from her back because of how much cold sweat she had shed. Above all else, a piercing pain that she did not know where it was from was tormenting her.
“Why why…”
Dean was changing. He wasn’t like how he was before. He’s gradually… Andra took in deep breaths, tapping her heart with her fist as it showed no signs of calming down.
A sense of anxiety, as if something was about to happen, washed over her.
A few days later, Andra went looking for Dustin. No matter how long she waited, he never came to see her. She had to meet him anyway, as she had to tell him about the interpretation of the scroll.
So, as Andra went closer to the building where the Knights’ Department was located, she suddenly finds a carriage with a familiar pattern entering the academy.
There were few people in the Empire who could wear a golden laurel wreath and a sun pattern. One of them was the princess who had recently visited the Academy, and the golden laurel wreath and the sun were the symbols of the imperial family.
If so, the person in that carriage must be the imperial family. Did the princess visit the academy again? Although she had heard that the princess met with Dustin Airak the other day…
‘Did she come again?’
She was about to think deeply about the imperial family in the carriage. The imperial carriage suddenly stopped in front of Andra. What, why? While Andra was bewildered, the knight who got off in front of her opened the carriage door. Andra was startled by the familiar face.
“…Prince?”
Inside the carriage was the second prince, dressed in a golden robe.
“Anna.”
Seeing that the atmosphere was more subdued than usual, he patted the seat next to him with his palm, omitting the greetings, and suggested Andra got on board.
“Are you here to talk?”
“…….”
Andra looked around for a moment. Little by little, eyes were drawn to this direction. She could not hesitate. Andra bowed her head slightly to Jonathan and, as he advised, got into the carriage. As soon as Andra got on, the door closed and the carriage set off.
“Greetings to the dignity of the noble Ishur. Your Highness, why have you come to this shabby place…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jonathan interrupted Andra and asked his question first. Because of that, Andra’s mouth was shut.
“…What do you mean?”
Andra looked like she was lost in the conversation. It was because she couldn’t really figure out what he was asking her. Then Jonathan looked straight at Andra with a little sigh.
“That you’re an Awakened.”
Andra’s eyes widened at the mention of ‘Awakened’. She stared at Jonathan with a frozen face. How did the prince know? Only Dustin and Andra knew that she was an Awakened. No one else knew that Andra was an Awakened. She’s been hiding it so far.
“…….”
Seeing Andra’s stiff expression, Jonathan sighed again.
“So it’s true.”
“Your Highness, actually…”
“I know. You had no choice but to hide it. It would have been completely turned upside down if it was revealed that you, Anna, were awakened while everyone was clamoring for Lord Airak being an Awakened.”
“…I’m sorry.”
She didn’t actually hide that she was an Awakened for that reason, but Andra did not deny it. Because that’s much better than saying that she became an Awakened on condition that she became f*ck buddies with Dustin Airak after they escaped the dungeon. On the contrary, she was grateful for Jonathan for bringing this up first.
“Do you know how surprised I was? Suddenly today I was called by Mother, and she said you are an Awakened. I really…”
Jonathan swept his face as he remembered what happened this morning. Perhaps it was kind of shocking. In fact, even thinking about it herself, it was close to a shocking thing for Andra as well. She’s often surprised that she knows how to use magic.
“Did you plan to hide it forever? How could you hide it for close to two months?”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. But it was an inevitable choice. I swear I didn’t tell anyone except Lord Airak, who happened to know it by chance.”
“…Even to the Avellins?”
“Yes. Neither Father nor Brother know. It’s still very unfamiliar to me that I’m an Awakened, and as an Awakened, I…”
As Andra muffled her words, Jonathan nodded his head, understanding what she was hesitating about. Most of all, he felt a little more relaxed than before, as he was satisfied with Andra’s reply that she had not informed himself as well as her family.
“But besides that, how did you know? Your Highness…”
“Who do you think it is?”
When Jonathan asked back, Andra managed to capture her face, which was about to be suddenly distorted. Yes, he was the only one who could let others know that she was an Awakened. Dustin Airak, you son of a b*tch! She clenched her fists, suppressing the boiling anger.
But why?
“By the way, Your Highness, you probably didn’t come to the Academy just to ask me this…”
“As expected, you’re quick-witted, Anna.”
“Then…”
“Um, that’s…”
Apprehension started creeping in. Jonathan’s reluctance to speak up made Andra realize that, although she didn’t know what was going on, it was a serious matter. What the hell is going on? Maybe it has something to do with the princess’ recent visit to Airak?
“Morgennis border, do you know?”
“Yes. Ansel told me. A conflict has arisen between the two Counts.”
“Right. Because of that, my sister and I are going to the Morgennis border area.”
“…What?”
The border matter is important, but was it enough to send both people who are currently fighting for the throne at the same time? The situation in the Morgennis border area seemed more serious than she had heard. Otherwise, Her Majesty the Emperor would not have given such an order.
“But the problem is, Her Majesty asks me to take you there.”
“Me?”
Andra stared at Jonathan in surprise.
“My sister will take Lord Airak. He’s an Awakened.”
“That means… To strike a balance, I have to go there as an Awakened too.”
“Yes.”
Andra couldn’t keep her mouth shut at the unexpected situation. She was thinking with one side of her head as to how she should approach the Morgennis border, but it was really unexpected that it got decided so suddenly. Even as an Awakened!
Andra became even more dumbfounded by Dustin. He made this important decision without consulting her. Her blood pressure rose.
Jonathan, meanwhile seeing the absurd expression on Andra’s face, said again, thinking that she was reluctant to go to the Morgennis border area because she was young.
“It’s an Imperial Decree, Anna. You cannot refuse.”
Jonathan’s visit to the Academy was not to convince Andra, but to make her ready. Sooner or later, the Emperor will call Andra to the Imperial Palace.
“You must go with me.”
“…When are you leaving?”
“In a week.”
“It’s so sudden…”
“It’s a serious matter. I can’t help it either. Anyway, as soon as I heard it, I came to you right away. Please prepare as soon as possible.”
Mother doesn’t even care. Jonathan muttered as he loosened a few buttons around his neck, feeling stuffy because of how tight it was around his neck.
“Then what about the Academy?”
“Ah, that. don’t worry. Lord Airak is also sent out, Anna, so it doesn’t matter if you get out too. As an Awakened, everyone will understand.”
“But everyone will know that I am an Awakened.”
“Why, is there any reason why it shouldn’t be known?”
Andra glanced at the glowing pattern on her wrist when Jonathan asked again. She couldn’t speak straight away, so she was silent. Her peaceful Academy life in the future was about to be ruined.
Eventually, Andra shook her head in her despair.
“No, it’s not…”
“Anna, I think it’s good. It’s uncommon to be an Awakened. It’s good for you too.”
‘It doesn’t matter as I’m an Awakened now already.’
Andra pressed her head to hold the sigh that was coming out and nodded slowly.
“…Yes.”
“I’ll be there to help, too, so don’t worry too much.”
Jonathan said, reaching out his hand and swept Andra’s hair. Andra’s eyes met his and he smiled softly. Andra, unable to smile, just pretended to smile. At that time. Jonathan looked very curious.
“But how did Lord Airak find out?”
Was it just her feeling or that Jonathan’s mood became strangely subdued once again?
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