Chapter 108
There were several reasons why she wanted to retrieve the letter from the Crown Prince.
First, it had been something she’d been curious about for a long time. She had always wanted to know why Eligia had written a letter to the Crown Prince, and what exactly she had written.
The second reason… was that she couldn’t stop thinking about the message from the previous cabin: “A letter is a double record.” Of course, it was likely unrelated to this particular letter, but it reminded her of the peculiar nature of letters as a medium.
“We weren’t particularly close to the Crown Prince, and we probably didn’t have much to say to each other. So what on earth did she write?”
Even if this action caused the Crown Prince to dislike her even more, it didn’t matter. She would at least retrieve one letter. With that resolve, she decided to go for it.
But the reaction was unexpected.
“…She actually wants it back.”
“…?”
His voice was a little dazed. Then the Crown Prince’s expression followed—serious. Somehow, it seemed as though he had anticipated this moment, and his demeanor was calm, almost indifferent.
After a brief pause, the Crown Prince smiled faintly, as if it were his usual painted-on expression, and spoke.
“Of course I can return it, Eli. After all, you asked me to when you first sent the letter.”
“…What?”
Was it possible that the real Eligia had requested this? Had she anticipated everything that would happen?
As she struggled to hide her agitation, the Crown Prince continued.
“I was just about to ask you anyway. You said before, didn’t you? If I didn’t send a letter suddenly, I should ask at least once. And if you ever wanted the letter back, then I should return it.”
The Crown Prince slowly lifted his gaze to meet Eligia’s eyes. His expression was serious, entirely devoid of amusement.
“Do you really want it back?”
“…Yes.”
Eligia nodded resolutely. The Crown Prince looked at her for a moment, then gave a small smile and averted his gaze.
“So you won’t tell me what it’s about until the end, huh? I really don’t understand your actions. I have no idea why you think this is necessary.”
“…”
“The nerve to use me is remarkable too. One day, you suddenly refuse my letters, and now you want the ones I received handed over. I have pride too, Lady Semperion.”
Ding!
Crown Prince’s Interest Level increased!
Interest Level: 50% → 70%!
The notification appeared after a long time. Beyond it, the Crown Prince’s face was visible. The smile on his lips had deepened, but his eyes didn’t look pleased.
“If Eli asks me for something, I should get something in return. By now, you should probably be honest, right?”
His voice was low and calm, but sharp. Eligia tensed, waiting for his next words.
‘What does he mean by that?’
“Information about the Destruction.”
He added.
“You know a bit, right, Eli? How much do you know?”
In the suffocating silence and tension, Eligia asked back, bewildered.
“…Excuse me?”
Blinking as if she had just heard it for the first time.
“Here… it’s going to be destroyed? When? Really?”
“…No, I really don’t know…”
Lady Marigold had a happy ending!
Tilting her head, Eligia continued.
“I don’t have prophetic abilities. Should I ask the temple on your behalf?”
“No, wait…”
“Or maybe your father…”
“No.”
The Crown Prince cut her off hastily, looking incredulous.
“Ha… you really don’t know? Or are you threatening me right now?”
“Threatening? Me?”
“Of course, don’t tell the temple or your father… I underestimated you, Eli. I didn’t think you’d push someone this hard, no matter what.”
The Crown Prince shook his head, defeated, as if he had just faced a real villainess. He sighed dramatically, closing and opening his eyes, making Eligia feel exasperated and compelled to retort.
“No, Your Highness! I didn’t do anything! I don’t know about the Destruction either. Who could possibly know for certain when or how the world will end?”
“…Still.”
“Then why are you asking me? Is the world really going to end here? Who says so?”
“Ha…”
The Crown Prince’s face fell.
“Eli, why are you denying it after saying it yourself?”
He pulled something from his chest: a white envelope, bearing the Semperion family crest, and the sender’s name written elegantly below.
Eligia Semperion.
“This is the last letter you sent. Remember?”
“….”
“Here, clearly, you…”
He took out the letter, as if to show her. But…
“…There’s nothing important in it.”
Eligia skimmed the contents and frowned.
The letter was simple: just asking how he had been, saying she would visit soon, talking about the weather—nothing substantial. It was intriguing for her to see the real Eligia’s letter, but that was all.
“That’s the problem,” he said.
“When I first received it, there was a warning about the Destruction. I thought it was a joke and didn’t read it properly. Then, when you suddenly stopped sending letters, it occurred to me to check the last letter again. And…”
Pointing to the letter, the Crown Prince emphasized.
“That part is gone. Completely. And now you’re denying it too. How am I supposed to interpret this?”
“…Exactly.”
Perhaps the past Eligia Semperion had used magic. While Eligia also felt suspicious, she spoke confidently.
“Then it’s simple.”
“What is?”
Eligia answered firmly.
“You misread the letter, Your Highness. Why did you dismiss it as a joke the first time? Do you even remember the content clearly?”
“…Well…”
Caught off guard, the Crown Prince looked troubled. Eligia shook her head in disappointment.
“Wow, you received a letter and treated it as a joke, so you don’t even remember it.”
“That’s why I’m asking again. Surely you remember the content, Eli?”
“I don’t remember either.”
No one here knew the content of the letter sent by the real Eligia. It had already disappeared. Asking about its true intent now was pointless. The Crown Prince himself had overlooked what could have been the real Eligia’s final warning, perhaps even her heartfelt message.
Though incredulous, Eligia pressed down her frustration and placed her hand on the letter before her.
“I’ll take this letter for now.”
“Eli.”
“Maybe I’ll remember something.”
The Crown Prince fell silent at her words, and then, as if in apology, added belatedly:
“…I’m sorry, Eli.”
‘Is he really?’
She wasn’t sure if he was sincere, his expression was too well-rehearsed. Sighing, Eligia picked up the letter. After all, she was also a fake villainess in this body, so it didn’t matter much. Feeling slightly bitter, she heard the Crown Prince continue.
“You must have been very hurt… I’ve been neglectful of you…”
His face was full of melancholic self-reproach. Judging by the subtly unpleasant expression,
‘That guy is clearly misunderstanding something again.’
The Crown Prince thought she still had feelings for him, imagining she was hurt or sulking because her letter had been ignored.
“Imagine how painful it must have been for you…”
“Please stop.”
Eligia cut him off in a deadpan voice. Well, at least she had taken one letter. Standing up, she added:
“For the rest of the letters, please deliver them directly instead of having someone else do it. After the last poisoning incident… I thought I should be careful.”
To be precise, after the Holy Relic Pendant incident, she decided to be cautious about letting letters pass through other hands.
“How… how should I compensate?”
Meanwhile, at the temple, a shocked Prilien trembled as she spoke. The laser gun had disappeared the moment she grabbed it, making it look like her fault to anyone who saw.
In fact, it might have been her fault, just like all the times she had faced difficulties before.
‘…Did I ask for too much?’
Suppressing the thought, Prilien clenched her fists. The assistant priest beside her quickly scanned the surroundings.
Too many people were watching.
Many nobles had come to pray. The Duke had visited, bringing his faction with him. Naturally, they were all watching the incident with great interest. They would always testify for the Duke’s side. No temple power could silence them.
At that moment…
“Assistant Priest! Assistant Priest!”
A priest running in, noticing the Duke and the many onlookers, froze. Hesitant, he seemed to have something sensitive to report.
“Wait…”
“Where are you going?”
Seeing the intimidating Duke, he couldn’t leave.
“…Assistant Priest.”
Nervously, he glanced between the Duke and the assistant priest, then opened his mouth.
“I suppose everyone should know anyway… so I’ll just say it.”
“Go ahead.”
With the assistant priest’s permission, he spoke in a trembling voice:
“…The Semperion Lady’s Holy Relic cannot be tracked.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ve tried several times since the signal was strange, but it doesn’t point to the Magic Tower.”
“So that means…”
“The Semperion Lady has either left the Magic Tower, or… the Holy Relic has disappeared.”
At the mention of disappearance, several onlookers instinctively turned to Prilien’s hands—the place where the missing laser gun had been.
