Chapter 165

Chapter 165

TL: Zimming

My eyes were swollen, so when I entered the office while holding Tri's hand, the chairman, Seria and Trigon were surprised.

"Lady you look......!"

Seria approached me in surprise after seeing my dress all dirty from the fierce battle.

"I fought."

"What?"

"I won."

"What?!"

I chuckled and raised my chin in triumph.

Because of his large size, Max is the object of fear to the nearby beggars, but he's actually not that scary.

Having been hit frequently by Max in the past life, I knew his attacking pattern.

'Wait, that's not it.'

When I was living as a beggar, I was hungry everyday, so I was always beaten up because of my poor performance. But now that I think about it, I became this capable because of Isaac's training for virtual battle. I looked back at Tri as I rubbed my tingling nose.

"What do you want to eat?"

Tri looked at the adults with a timid face.

"N, no......."

'She must be scared of the adults.'

Come to think of it, the adults around me indeed look scary. I used to flinch at the sight of them until I slowly got used to it.

Seria, disguised as an old man, smiled kindly and looked at Tri.

"What kind of drink would you like? Orange juice? There is also milk or chocolate."

"I, I......."

Tri murmured for a long time in nervousness. I grabbed her arms to reassure her.

"How about chocolate? It's delicious."

It's a universally liked taste. I'm sure Tri would love it.

"Then chocolate......."

Seria nodded amiably, then, I whispered to Seria a little away Tri.

"Bring me a pain killer. Also, I'll give you the address,send the kids their favorite food. Cookies, pies, puddings, meat, etc."

"Yes, Lady."

Then I sat down on the sofa with Tri. Seria quickly brought a kettle and chocolate milk. Tri's face brightened as she drank the milk carefully.

"Delicious!"

Right? I also shed tears after drinking it after a long time.

Tri quickly drank everything and licked the chocolate off her fingers. Then, Seria opened her mouth,

"Nice to meet you, Triloni. My name is Sese, the hope mercenary guild manager."

"H, how do you know my name...... an, and why are you so polite......."

"I have to be polite, because you're the niece of an important person."

"Niece?"

When I gave a signal to Zachary, who was standing in a small aisle leading to the office, he lifted the tapestry. Cecilia walked out.

Cecilia's eyes were red even before she saw Tri. She approached Tri and reached out carefully.

"Hello, Triloni."

"Uh......."

Tri looked around with a confused expression. She looked around as if she tried to confirm it.

When I nodded, Tri opened her mouth.

"A, are you my aunt?"

"......Yes."

"M, my mom said she didn't get along with aunt...That's why I'm abandoned, obviously......."

Cecilia wept and hugged the skinny Tri. Soon, Tri also cried and got Cecilia's shoulders wet.

"M, my aunt? Are you sure?"

"I'm sorry I found you so late......."

That's good.

That's really good.

Cecilia was a good person to save Tri.

***

Because of how much Tri cried, she was exhausted. But she was more relaxed as she drank chocolate milk and took pain killers.

"Let's live with your aunt from now on. You can eat whatever you want, sleep whenever you want and do whatever you want."

"Bu, but the other children......."

"I'm going to help them live comfortably. We decided to get a house for them to live together and provide food."

"Then...... but we don't have to go right now, do we?"

"It's better to go as soon as possible."

"I want to say goodbye and then go......and there's a girl who gets along with me like a sister, and if I go without saying a word......."

"Of course, you can say your goodbyes."

When Cecilia smiled softly, Tri was delighted.

"So can I go now?"

"Alone? It's dangerous."

"I grew up here. I know every inch of it. It's not dangerous at all."

Cecilia, who had been agonizing for a while, nodded as if she could not help it.

Tri hurriedly ran, but Seria stopped her and put a coat on her before that.

"If someone with a cold didn't wear this, your aunt will be worried."

Cecilia bowed her head, saying, "Thank you." as Tri smiled and quickly left.

Tri, who was running excitedly outside, looked so small. Cecilia, who had been watching her for a while, grabbed the hem of her skirt.

"When you first suggested it, I wasn't confident. I never dreamed of being an empress."

"......."

"But I will do it. It's a terrible feeling to see my niece growing up in such a terrible environment."

Charity work was often organized by the Imperial Palace. Welfare funds were always delivered, but never once have it been delivered to underprivileged children.

For the empress, it was a political fund to crown her son.

The welfare fund was considered a bribe, everyone knew it, but they were silent.

"I will be the empress. I want to."

Cecilia's eyes looking at me were tender.

I grinned and Seria put something on the table. It was a contract.

"Let's have a good deal."

"...a deal? Can a cause have a deal? The beginning of cooperation is already trust."

"If we could just trust people, contracts wouldn't exist in the first place."

Cecilia's mouth curled gently and replied,

"You're a perfect match for Dubbled."

"First, we will make every effort to make Cecilia the empress. And I respect Cecilia's will in everything. As long as it doesn't harm Dubbled."

"Great."

"Secondly, when Cecilia enters the palace, I can ask you for three things. Whatever it is, even if it goes against Cecilia's will, you have to comply with my request."

"That's a very dangerous condition."

"I swear I won't hurt you."

"There seems to be no room for negotiation on the second terms. Alright."

"Third, you must not harm Prince Adrian in any way"

Cecilia's eyes narrowed.

"Prince Adrian?"

"I want you to be the protector for the soon to be emperor."

Cecilia laughed when she heard me.

"That's why you want me to be an empress."

One of the preparations for Dubbled's independence, to be exact, I deftly concealed my innermost thoughts and nodded.

"The future of the empire will only be brighter without Empress Yvonne's family. I'll accept it."

"Lastly, keep this deal a secret."

"I swear."

"What are the conditions you want, Cecilia?"

"It's only one."

"One?"

"Be friendly to me."

"......Huh?"

"I like you, little miss."

I nodded as I widened my eyes in surprise.

"Great!"

I put my hand on the contract first, and Cecilia put her hand on the back of my hand.

The pledge was made under the presence of the mage Trigon. For a moment, my lungs seemed tight. And the light became a chain, wrapped around Cecilia and me, and then disappeared. After that, I was able to breathe properly. Cecilia narrowed her forehead and pressed her chest tight.

"It's my second time, but I'm still not used to it."

It's her second time?

I looked at Cecilia in bewilderment when Trigon asked,

"This is a holy relic that only the Imperial Family, Dubbled, and temple have. Did you have a contract with Dubbled before"

"This is not Dubbled's item."

"Huh?"

"Lisette owned that. Lea probably took it after her death and gave it to Dubbled."

"What......."

"As we were being chased in the mountains, Lea, me , and Lea's older sister, Reina, use the magical contract as an oath to protect Lisette's child."

No way.

I stiffened up and looked at Cecilia.

"It can't be true. Lea and Reina were the only two escorts when Lisette died, so why Cecilia......."

"It can't be true. Lea and Reina were the only two escorts when Lisette died, so why Cecilia......."

Cecilia held her forehead.

"It's Lea and Reina."

I shook Cecilia's shoulder, muttering blankly.

"Lea and Reina stayed by her side, how did you...!"

"That's... a battlefield, a mountain... child... Ugh!"

Cecilia was in pain holding her forehead. The blue veins became visible in her neck and body.

"Cecilia!"

Seria helped her quickly.

I looked at the chairman.

"What's happening!"

"I don't know. According to Lea's report, the guards were wiped out at the castle. Dame Cecilia Olga fell behind at the beginning of the mountain, only Lea and Reina were the ones who went up the mountain with Lisset."

"So Lea lied? That can't be true. And what's wrong with Cecilia? It's like...!"

As I shouted, I looked at Cecilia, who struggled with pain.

"It's like... like someone who is under the influence of magic..."

The chairman asked again,

"Is it because of some magic spells?"

We all looked at the mage, Trigon.

Trigon dawdled in surprise.

"There is such magic......."

"What?"

"Trigon...... so it's not me, the real Trigon. It's the magic he risked his life to experiment with......."

"What kind of spell is it!"

When I shouted, Trigon gulped and replied,

"It's a memory manipulation."

"No way......."

"B, but the possibility of this is not very high... The cost is the life of the mage, and Trigon is the only one who can cast-"

Trigon, who was speaking in a hurry, shut up.

He didn't continue, but everyone here had a hunch.

Only one holy knight who was put into battle ten years ago. He was a real Trigon.

There's something we don't know about the death of Lisette.