TBKBS 25

Chapter : 25

How much time had passed, I didn’t know, but finally, Eden looked at me and spoke.

“So, what you want to hear from me is whether I can grant you asylum?”

“Yes.”

Will he accept me?

I stared straight into his eyes. Eden met my gaze steadily. And finally, he answered.

“Come to think of it… I suppose it’s not really that difficult.”

Just as I expected.

I was a valuable card—even to keep my father in check.

I hadn’t thought he would refuse anyway.

The really important part was what came next.

I needed to find out how the Dacarus Empire would act toward me once my position changed.

“Thank you for saying you can grant me asylum.”

Suppressing the storm of emotions inside me, I spoke calmly.

“The thought of you coming to my country is… somewhat exciting.”

Me… going out?

I ignored his nonsense and moved on to the main point.

“Your Highness, but what if, in the war you start, the Dacarus Empire is defeated, and Duke Leon’s rebellion also fails? If my father were killed by Crown Prince Calix…”

“Kaelin Brockburk.”

Eden interrupted me, calling me by my full name.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t understand why you only imagine such negative outcomes. Don’t you ever imagine the opposite?”

I don’t.

What use is imagining?

I already know the future.

“If I were to just imagine that things would turn out well, I wouldn’t even be seeking asylum. I just want to calculate every possible scenario.”

There is only one scenario. What I just described—that’s the future.

“Hmm… well, it can’t be helped. If you insist, then. So, what is it that you want to know?”

Eden asked me, looking slightly awkward.

“If the rebellion fails, I would become the daughter of a family that committed treason against Emperor Calix. In that case, what would the Dacarus Empire do with me? What if Calix demands my extradition?”

“……”

Eden fell silent, and I waited once more for his response.

His silence lasted quite a while.

Finally, as if he had finished thinking, he began to speak again.

“Lin… do you want an honest answer, or a sweet one? I can give you both.”

I couldn’t believe it.

After thinking for so long, that’s what he came up with?

Does it look to you like I want a sweet little answer?

“Eden!”

“Whoa! Alright, alright.”

Unable to suppress the irritation that flared up instantly, I raised my voice. Eden, trying to calm me, spoke gently.

His attempt to soothe me made me even more annoyed, but I took a deep breath to calm myself.

Seeing me regain my composure, Eden’s expression changed.

He had grown serious.

“So you want an honest answer. You’ve been unusually kind to me these past few days. I wondered why… now I see it’s to hear this answer. Isn’t that right?”

Hearing him say that made me feel ashamed—I had underestimated him, thinking him a careless idler.

Apparently, he had been paying close attention to my change in attitude.

“Yes. That’s right.”

I admitted it honestly.

“Alright. Since you’ve been honest, I’ll be honest too. Consider this my reward for the effort you made being kind to me these past few days.”

“Yes. Please, be honest.”

Eden began speaking at the same time I replied.

“I’m not someone who gives to those who have nothing. I only give proper rewards to someone who can offer me something I need.”

Too honest.

I already had a sense of how he would answer.

I waited quietly.

“Now, could I even take in the daughter of a traitor if the Dacarus Empire were defeated? Even if I were to take you in under such circumstances, it seems like I wouldn’t gain anything.”

Of course…

Yes, I had vaguely expected this answer.

But I couldn’t help the sense of despair that welled up.

I said with a firm expression:

“If you don’t take me in… would you at least exile or kill me?”

Eden, smiling faintly in a way that seemed insincere, replied:

“Exile or kill you? How terrifying. Of course, your father would defeat Calix.”

Hmph!

He will lose!

“What if my father loses? That’s what I’m asking.”

My cold voice wiped the smile off Eden’s face.

“Lin… in that case, you would be a burden the Dacarus Empire could hardly afford. A burden that gives me nothing, to put it bluntly.”

Eden was openly saying that in such a scenario, I would be worthless and a burden.

At least it was some comfort that he was not lying about this.

“If I’m a burden you cannot carry, you’d end up killing me, right?”

Even to my own ears, my voice was sharp and bitter.

“I can’t say for certain about that. We’ll see if it comes to that. But if it doesn’t… asylum is welcome.”

I would only be welcome if I weren’t a burden. But that situation was bound to happen, and Eden Dacarus would kill me if I became one.

Asylum in the Dacarus Empire had become a card I had to abandon.

Whether I die in Everetia or the Dacarus Empire, it would only be a matter of days. Why would I struggle to escape to that annoying Eden Dacarus’ country just to die?

Exhausted, I forced myself to muster strength.

“Your Highness! I cannot go into asylum in a place that does not guarantee my life. I will give up on seeking asylum in the Dacarus Empire. But I ask one thing.”

I had heard all I needed from him. Now I needed to shut his mouth.

“What?”

“Forget our conversation about my asylum, as if you never heard it. Please, tell no one.”

Even though Eden wouldn’t normally blab about this, I had to secure a promise from such a reckless person.

“Lin… haven’t I told you before? I’m bad at forgetting things—I remember everything.”

Ah, yes, yes! You remember, you remember!

Annoyed by memories of the past, I interrupted him:

“Fine! You may remember, but please keep this a secret.”

“…we’ll see…”

Ugh, the back of my neck!

I knew he couldn’t act recklessly because he was involved in the rebellion, but his attitude was infuriating.

“Let’s go home!”

I turned sharply and started crossing the park.

The next day, I decided to go to the library.

I needed to study a bit using an atlas.

So far, I had only established the names of the powerful Everetian Empire and the Dacarus Empire. I hadn’t named the surrounding minor kingdoms—just that there were many of them.

But since asylum in the Dacarus Empire had become an unviable option, I needed to see if any of the minor kingdoms could serve as a suitable refuge.

If not, I would have to consider traveling farther, to other empires.

If I stayed here in Everen, I would eventually get caught up in my father’s, the Empress’, and Eden’s plans—and meet a miserable end.

As I was about to go out for a walk, Eden called after me.

“Lin, where are you going? You should come with me.”

“No. Why would I? There’s no reason for me to take along a useless crown prince who offers me nothing. You’d just feel like a burden.”

Sorry. I don’t need you anymore. Your kindness ended yesterday.

“Hahaha. So kindness is over, huh? But I’m quite the pretty burden to carry, aren’t I?”

Wow! I was grateful for your honesty.

I was relieved I could abandon the country of a lunatic like you.

Ignoring Eden, who laughed to himself, I left and headed to the library.

I went to the world geography section and looked for maps and reference materials.

But… there was nothing!

No suitable country.

No matter how much I searched, apart from the Dacarus Empire, there was no nation likely to accept me for asylum.

The nearby minor kingdoms were too weak.

They had enough power to hand a traitor’s daughter back to Everetia, but that was it. The only other empire on the eastern continent where Everetia was located was Dacarus.

Even the mighty Dacarus Empire was weaker than Everetia.

Perhaps that was why Eden aimed for Aolium—because of the power difference.

To the west of Dacarus lay the western continent, but information on it was scant, simply described as “lands of foreign tribes.”

Moreover, a woman traveling alone to another continent was nearly impossible.

Wait!

What if I didn’t go alone?

What if someone could accompany me for the long journey and asylum?

My mind began spinning again.

Luke!

What if I tried persuading my brother?

Thinking I couldn’t go alone, I immediately thought of Luke.

Luke would also eventually be killed if he stayed here.

Father couldn’t back out, but maybe Luke and I could escape this situation together.

If I could persuade Luke to come with me, my asylum would become easier, and I could save his life too.

“Knock, knock.”

“Come in.”

Hearing Luke’s voice, I cautiously entered my brother’s room.

“Lin, what’s the matter? Coming to my room?”

Luke greeted me with a gentle smile.

“I went to the library and… I have something to say.”

“Oh, did you go for a walk?”

“Yeah.”

“Were you with Crown Prince Dacarus again today?”

“No. I went alone today.”

Fortunately, Luke’s question naturally brought up Eden.

“Really? Next time, shall we go for a walk together?”

The conversation was about to drift toward Eden, so I quickly changed the topic.

“Yeah. But Luke… do you know why Eden is staying at our house?”

“I don’t know. Do you, Lin?”

Luke, still smiling, returned the question.

Did he think I didn’t know and try to dodge?

Following Father’s orders, Luke was also actively participating in the rebellion.

So he couldn’t be unaware of the secret alliance with Eden Dacarus.

I sighed deeply.

“Yes, I know. It’s part of the rebellion my father and the Empress are planning. I know about the secret agreement between Father and Crown Prince Eden Dacarus.”

Luke froze at my words and muttered:

“…So you knew.”

Yes. I knew.

Brother… you knew too.