Chapter 5
Reincarnation (5)
The imperial court physicians came into the prison, examined my wounds, and wrapped bandages around my feet.
At that moment, the black bear that had left earlier returned and gave a thumbs-up in front of my cell.
“I went and hit that guy too.”
“Uh… oh?”
Who did he hit?
Could it be… the blockhead? Did he really go and hit the blockhead?
No, and he’s still alive? Is there even anyone in this empire who could survive after hitting the emperor?
The burly man with thick black hair and a beard laughed loudly, clearly delighted, and then obediently went back into his cell.
Seeing the bear return to the cage after his walk, the guards shouted, “Welcome back, Your Excellency!”
Wait, am I the only one who doesn’t know who this burly man is?
Of course, I usually have little interest in people outside my immediate circle, but I should at least know the profiles of major nobles!
“By the way, Beomgora.”
“Yes?”
“Shave a bit.”
“…….”
“Don’t go around looking like a bear.”
“…….”
No joke, I really thought a black grizzly bear was walking in. The kind that eats salmon in the northern mountains of the empire in autumn.
Even in prison, looking like that is unacceptable.
What separates a human from a beast? Even beasts groom themselves. They straighten their fur with their tongues, for example.
Though I hadn’t washed my face this morning, I lectured him with my stiff tongue. Beomgora banged on the wall to stop me.
“Your Highness, the princess, don’t you have anything else to say?”
“Huh?”
“I said I went and hit him for you.”
“Did you do it because I asked you to?”
“…….”
See? He has nothing to say.
He acted on his own without any request, so why should I praise him?
Besides, acts of kindness are inherently done without expecting a reward. If you expect compensation, it’s no longer a good deed—it’s a transaction.
That’s why service is called service—it is done without expecting anything in return.
“Enough.”
“Service, Your Highness, is originally…”
“Please stop.”
“Do you know the meaning of self-satisfaction, Beomgora? It’s a great driving force in life…”
“Your Highness, I beg you.”
“Fine.”
I could have lectured for another hour, but seeing his effort in hitting the blockhead, I decided to stop.
Upon hearing that, shouts of gratitude echoed from Beomgora and other prisoners throughout the prison. Apparently, even the other inmates had been listening attentively to my noble words.
“Hmm, children should be sleeping now. Everyone, quiet down.”
Since we had missed a meal and had been active, I decided to sleep. From various cells, including Beomgora’s, voices called out, “Good night, Your Highness.”
They were political prisoners, yet they knew how to show respect to a princess. Later, when I leave, I might reduce their sentences using my royal privileges.
I thanked them and climbed into bed, covering myself with the blanket.
Sleeping on such a hard bed for the first time in my life, I woke up with bruises all over my body.
“AAAAH!”
Morning came. I took a spoonful of the served food and immediately kicked the tray, rolling on the floor.
It tasted awful.
Did they dare bring this pig feed for me to eat?
Outraged and incredulous, I screamed in protest, and the prison inmates, in unison, urged me to calm down.
“The food in prison is never tasty, Your Highness!”
“It’s for your rehabilitation, please endure it, Your Highness!”
“The person in charge of meals skims on salt! Please calm down!”
Even if you all accept it, shouldn’t the only legitimate heir of the royal family receive proper food?!
I kept shouting until my throat shook. The prisoners and guards, seeing my distress, asked for my understanding. Eventually, the head guard appeared and promised to bring a proper meal.
“Wait. I have more commands.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Ahem. Even if the food is delicious, it’s no fun eating alone. We’ve lived under the same roof, so meals should be shared.
The chef from the royal palace prepared food so delicious it felt a shame to eat it alone.
“From now on, whenever she is in this prison, all meals shall be prepared by the chef of the princess’s palace!”
“My deepest gratitude!”
“We will follow your command!”
Even without the blockhead’s order, I could manage this by my own authority. Even if he hears about it, he wouldn’t care.
By this time, he would be passed out asleep anyway.
After that, the palace staff diligently supplied my meals, filling the prison’s food with what I usually ate.
They marveled at the generous use of salt and pepper, and some even shouted “Long live the princess!” with every bite.
“Beomgora, don’t you have anything to say?”
“Do you know the meaning of self-satisfaction, Princess?”
“Enough! You ungrateful thing.”
He repeated what he learned from me—Beomgora, you utterly hopeless blockhead.
I devoured the food, drank the antidote provided by the physicians, and even had some strawberries for dessert.
This year’s strawberries were delicious.
Feeling it was too good to eat alone, I extended one through the bars. Beomgora eagerly took it and, unusually, said thanks.
“It’s self-satisfaction.”
“You really won’t say a word of defeat, huh?”
My mother and aunt had taught me that the legitimate heir must never submit to anyone.
This wasn’t just the Ksomalos family teaching, but the Lorowi side, my maternal family, which had a fierce temperament.
“Ah, Lorowi.”
“Oh, you know Lorowi?”
Well, considering I serve a mid-level deity Lorowi and the family is old and distinguished, it’s not strange.
I proudly explained that my mother was the eldest daughter of Lorowi, and my aunt, the current family head’s second daughter, is my aunt Kazelnuga. Beomgora responded grimly:
“I know. Lorowi colluded with my uncle to kill my parents.”
“Uh….”
Sorry, my maternal side is a bit extreme. They never miss an opportunity to kill or start wars.
Ah, so that’s why. My tutors didn’t tell me about the family because Lorowi covered it up. No wonder this seemed like a remarkable person I didn’t know.
“I’m sorry. My aunt’s side is… a bit extreme.”
“No. My parents were weak and died. You need not apologize, Princess.”
You’re really impudent, Beomgora. Still, you shouldn’t speak like that about your deceased parents.
Our blockhead may have deserved death, but from what I hear, Beomgora’s parents were just victims.
“They were partly at fault for losing their fief to my uncle.”
“Hmm….”
“And my uncle, who was supposed to protect me, wanted our family wealth, handed me to the royal family, and waited for a chance to send me to the battlefield to die. Once I came of age, I purged my uncle’s entire family.”
“Sounds messy…”
Every family has its messes. Honestly, our family fell because we ruined the country. But Lorowi’s side… the family was destroyed mainly because of them.
This reincarnation seems more necessary for that family.
“I had enough reason to kill them, but for reflection, I entered this place.”
Ah, so you did have a conscience, Beomgora.
Judging by his long hair covering his face, he must have been here a long time, reflecting on his actions.
Still, one could have had some fun outside. I regret not having fully enjoyed life before death too.
His foolishness had gone beyond the point of pity.
“Beomgora.”
“Yes?”
“Sean. Hold out your hand.”
I didn’t even need to use force to release him. Once he finished reflecting, he could leave.
That’s why guards didn’t stop him from walking in and out of the prison.
“Kisho, Kiso, Kisomalos. Ah, damn it!”
Oh, my tongue is stiff. I can’t speak!
I deliberately raised my blood pressure, thinking of the time the blockhead hit me or the day I endured torture. Gradually, my tongue loosened.
“As the legitimate heir of Kisomalos, I command it.”
“…….”
“I forgive your crimes.”
So go ahead and have fun, Beomgora. Don’t regret like I did.
And hopefully, become a capable person for the empire and help save me from future tortures.
I drew the emblem of Kisomalos on Beomgora’s palm and clapped his hand.
Since I, the second most noble in the empire and the legitimate heir of Kisomalos, pardoned him, he doesn’t even need to dwell on his sins.
From now on, shave properly, keep your hair neat, wash yourself well, wear nice clothes, and live freely.
Beomgora clenched his fist and responded to my lecture:
“Understood.”
“And next time we meet, have some manners.”
“I accept that proposal.”
Alright. Now go. Shave. Comb your hair.
Repeating my advice, Beomgora kicked open the cell door and ran off, covering his ears.
