TRETTHD 100

#100. Breaking Free from Predictions

The orphanage, which she hadn’t visited in a while, was still lively.

While Belia was speaking with the head of the orphanage, many people had gathered around the building, offering her words of comfort.

The children were no different. They ran up to her, clasped her hands tightly, whispered words of encouragement, or lingered nearby murmuring support.

“Princess! Stay strong!”
“Your Highness! The Second Prince will be safe!”
“Cheer up!”

As these words of encouragement swelled into a collective cheer, Belia stepped outside.

“Thank you, everyone. Your support means so much. I won’t lose hope… please continue praying for me.”

“Of course!”
“We’ll pray for you!”

Belia smiled and waved at them, her face thinner and more worn than before. Some of the citizens, moved by her courage, turned away, tears streaming down their faces.

Even at the clinic, the same scene played out.

“Your Highness, the Second Prince will be safe.”
“We pray every day, so don’t lose hope.”

Those who visited the clinic offered words of encouragement to Belia. Some even approached Rachel, reassuring her that the Marquis of Caprie would be safe as well.

News of Khalid’s disappearance had made the citizens more sympathetic toward Belia. They had admired her before, but seeing her continue to fulfill her duties despite her husband’s disappearance deeply moved them.

“Your Highness,” the clinic administrator approached her.

“Take a look around. The patients are eager to see you,” he said.

“All right,” Belia replied.

Guided deeper into the clinic’s basement, Belia asked,

“What are the results of the search?”

Even in the brief wait for the answer, it felt as if her breath had stopped. Her lips were parched.

Please… please…!

“Nothing was found there,” the administrator said.

Belia’s legs went weak. She leaned against the wall, bracing herself.

“Ah…”

He was alive. Khalid was alive. Not buried in cold, damp earth, but somewhere out there, living. Belia’s eyes burned with emotion.

“No human traces were found. The Second Prince is undoubtedly somewhere out there. But it’s still raining heavily in the Shupel region, and since his status hasn’t been confirmed, it seems he may have encountered some trouble.”

Hope surged.

If he was alive, Khalid would return.

For now, Belia had to focus on what she could do.

‘I need a way to counter Raul.’

Belia wasn’t the only one who knew the future. Raul had been piecing together the events from his dreams, predicting what would happen.

So she had to act beyond the range of his expectations.

‘I can’t rely solely on memory anymore.’

If she acted according to what she remembered, Raul would see every move they made.

“From now on, have the guild track them in Lunes.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And one more thing.”

Belia paused to think, then spoke.

“Investigate the Eastern Nobles’ Alliance. We need to find their weaknesses. No matter how united they seem, there must be gaps we can exploit.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After quickly finishing her conversation with the administrator and touring the clinic wards, Belia returned to the carriage. Rachel, Susan, and Mia, who had joined her in the volunteer work, accompanied her.

“Seeing the citizens cheer for Your Highness like that… it gives me strength,” Rachel said.

“With so many people praying, he’s bound to return,” Susan added confidently.

Belia smiled in response.

“He’ll surely be safe. I just have to wait,” she said calmly.

Rachel’s eyes widened slightly. She knew the clinic administrator was a member of the Lunes guild and had some idea of the news Belia had just received.

‘Ah… Father…’

Rachel turned to the window, holding back tears. Belia let out a small sigh of relief, watching her.

Waiting for Belia at the palace was the Emperor’s knight.

Though she wanted to speak with Rachel a bit longer, she had to send everyone away and follow the knight to the central palace.

“What is it?” she asked.

“…I’ve been ordered to bring Your Highness to His Majesty,” the knight replied, his voice heavy.

Upon reaching the central palace, the knight spoke in a barely audible tone.

“I hope you won’t be too shocked.”

“Huh?”

Before Belia could question him further, the doors to the audience chamber opened.

Inside, on the floor, lay a sword—Khalid’s sword, dirtied from the soil it had been in.

The blade, chipped and worn, told the story of how fierce the battle had been.

“What… what is this…”

Belia’s voice trembled.

“It was discovered buried in the soil by the search party,” the Emperor explained.

“Your Highness, examine it. Confirm if it’s Khalid’s sword,” he instructed a servant.

But Belia didn’t wait for the servant. She sank to the floor beside the sword, clutching the hilt with trembling hands.

Her fair, white hands were gradually soiled by the mud.

“No…”

Belia shook her head.

Carefully wiping the mud away, she revealed Khalid’s initials clearly engraved on the blade.

“Ah…”

Tears streamed down her face.

Seeing her like this, everyone watched with sympathy, and the Emperor spoke.

“The Shupel region continues to experience heavy rain, making the search dangerous for the search parties. Therefore, I have ordered the search to be suspended for now.”

“Your Majesty!”

Belia exclaimed, desperate.

But the Emperor didn’t relent.

“Your Highness, the search for the Second Prince will resume once the rain stops. However, the discovery of Khalid’s sword in the landslide implies that the situation regarding the Second Prince’s safety is not without concern.”

Though Belia already knew Khalid was alive, facing his sword brought her emotions to the surface.

What could have happened for the blade to be so damaged?

She clutched the sword tightly and broke down in tears.

“Prepare yourself. I regret this happening so soon after your marriage,” the Emperor said.

Regret?

In a situation where her child—or her husband—might be dead, regret?

Belia let out a bitter laugh, staring at Khalid’s sword.

“…His body hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

“I understand your feelings. But…”

“Nothing is certain yet! He’s my husband, yes, but Khalid is also Your Majesty’s son!”

“We have not officially announced the Second Prince’s death. Wait until the rain stops and the body is found,” the Emperor replied coldly.

Belia, tears streaming, laughed bitterly at his words. Truly…

“Can you stand?”

Raul approached Belia, still seated on the floor, and gently helped her up by her shoulders.

“Don’t. I don’t need your help,” she said.

“I only want to help. If you let go, you’d collapse. I can’t just watch that happen,” he said kindly.

Belia, too weak to resist, leaned against him as she quickly assessed the situation.

‘Khalid isn’t dead. But they don’t need to know that.’

Her eyes shone with determination. No one there was in danger at the moment.

Now wasn’t the time to prove he was alive. The best strategy was to let them believe he was dead, catch them off guard, and create an opportunity.

Khalid would return.

“Your Majesty, I’ll escort the Second Princess to the palace,” Raul said.

“Do so,” the Emperor commanded.

With permission granted, Raul led Belia toward the Second Prince’s palace. Their footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Belia’s body felt heavy and weak, barely moving forward. Raul supported her silently. Then he spoke quietly.

“Are you so upset that he’s ‘dead’?”

“…”

His expression was unreadable. He remained silent after that.

At the Second Prince’s palace, Raul helped Belia lie on a bed and quietly observed her.

“Belia.”

“…”

“Belia. I’ll let you stay here. In return… come to me.”

Belia didn’t answer.

“Think carefully. Remember who you had to choose. In the end, that boy is gone, and I will soon become Emperor.”

“…Leave,” she said weakly, eyes closed.

Raul sighed.

“I’ll come back again.”

As Raul left, Belia opened her eyes and slowly sat up. Khalid’s sword lay on the nearby table.

He had been there during the landslide, but there were no other traces of him in the debris.

Belia exhaled deeply.

‘It’s more certain now—he’s alive.’

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

The Emperor’s behavior today, Raul’s words… nothing was decent. Even in a situation where their sons—or brother—might have died, they showed no sign of grief or mourning.

It was a relief that she had been warned the knights and Khalid weren’t there. Otherwise, she might have lost her mind.

Even knowing, seeing the sword made her heart sink.

‘It’s good Rachel knew the news and returned home in advance.’

Otherwise, she might have fainted from crying.

‘Now…’

She needed a plan.

Derek was with the First Prince, and Rachel and Locus couldn’t act without the Marquis of Caprie present.

Havisa hadn’t moved from the Mage Tower but prioritized Belia’s request.

Through the administrator, she could still act in Lunes, and her intelligence network was still functional. The Duke of Tessa had returned west, but…

‘Wait.’

Belia paused.

‘The Tessa Duchy!’