52.2: The Foundation of a Nation is made from the Ashes of the Loyal Departed
Side: Sheila
Why.
Why did you betray me, Iris?
I believed in you!
So why did you collude with Elda?
How could you, when they were the ones who killed your family!
“—For now, I need to escape. I’ll just catch her later and demand an explanation. Ah—!”
I escaped through a secret route that my father had shown me. However, since strenuous exercise wasn’t for me, I soon found myself out of breath. I couldn’t run properly and my feet got tangled, causing me to fall.
“—!”
During the fall, I scrapped my hand, and blood soon seeped out.
“I need to get it treated quick.”
I had never been injured before. It hurt so much. Then, I imagined getting stabbed by a sword…
“N-no, someone—! Father—! Please help me…”
Scary.
I’m scared.
I’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscared.
I don’t want to die.
Idon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodieIdon’twanttodie.
“I don’t want to die, I’m scared, I’m so scared…”
As I crouched down and cried, I heard a very familiar voice.
“Your Majesty.”
“…Lou? Lou—!”
I jumped into Lou’s arms.
I’m glad to find you’re still alive.
Lou was my younger brother. In fact, he was the one who told me about this passage. Surely, he had come to help me.
Everything will be fine now. Someone will save us.
“Iris betrayed me. How could she collude with Elda!?”
“I know. They’ll be here soon.”
“Don’t worry, Lou. We’re the only ones who know this place.”
“No, they will come.”
“Eh?”
When I heard Lou’s affirmation, I suddenly felt faint. I released Lou and stared at him. That was when I saw his gaze. It was devoid of any emotion.
An alarm went off in my head.
Get away from him.
But Lou was my younger brother, so there was no way he’d betray me.
“Lou, let go of me.”
The arms that tightened around me felt like chains.
Lou should be my only family—my only ally…
…So why am I terrified of him?
“As of this moment, the Elda army and the Lowenberg army are marching for this place, led by His Highness Milan and Lady Iris.”
“…How?”
“Because I told them about this place.”
I was betrayed. By my only immediate family—by my only family.
“In fact, I’ve been passing information to Lady Iris for a long time now. You probably didn’t realize it. I’m Lady Iris’ spy.”
“W-what are you saying…?”
I can’t comprehend anything. My mind refuses to understand.
—Because if I do, my heart would shatter.
“Hey, how does it feel to be deceived by someone you looked down on as a filthy brat from the slums?”
“Why, why would you betray me?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
Where did it go wrong? Was it when I took him in? Was it when I befriended Iris? Was it when I showed mercy to poor commoners?
When did my perfect life start to go awry?
“You used to get involved with Lady Iris often, right? In truth, you’re envious of her. A sheltered princess, raised to be obedient and innocent. Even though the same should go for Iris, she somehow managed to stand on her own two feet and made a name for herself. You refuse to accept that because if you had, it’ll only make you miserable.”
He’s right.
I truly despised Iris. She’s as bright as the sun, I feel like I’ll be dazzled by her.
Even though I was the princess of this kingdom—even though I’m special, Iris was stealing the spotlight. My existence waned because of her radiance.
“But to me, you are my sun. You were the one who saved me from that Hell. My love for you equals my hate. Your hypocrisy disgusts me to no end. But that will end today. Before Paides falls into ruin—before the people began to hate you, I’ll end everything.”
“…Lou—”
—My back felt hot. Lou caught me as I lost all my strength and collapsed.
“Don’t worry. I’ll follow you soon after so you won’t be lonely.”
As my consciousness faded, my last sight was the smile on his face, while the last thing I felt were his warm tears.
The finally is one chapter away. Read ahead on Patreon~
***T/N: Man, I can’t even. It’s like seeing a haughty child getting murdered for being pompous… F in the chat for Lou
Please also consider donating to my ko-fi! It’ll greatly support me in action, no matter the amount!
https://ko-fi.com/antoinettevanessa
Have a Japanese story or the likes (Drama CD, etc.) you’d like to read? Want it to be translated? I’m open for commission!
https://www.fiverr.com/s2/aaab08c14d
Lou…
A better ending then she deserves. Up till the end she still never understood anything, died peacefully, and full of ignorance.
I’d like to think that it’s only thanks to Lou that Sheila avoided a gruesome death. In the hands of another author, she’d have been imprisoned, beaten, whipped, before being sent to the gallow