The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 38 (Part 1):

As evening fell, Count Furst came to my room.

“The princess is in the hall. Let’s go together.”

It seemed he wanted to make an entrance alongside the mage.

“Should I take out my staff too?”

“Don’t be silly.”

He dismissed my joke and walked ahead.

I followed him and said,

“I have some bad news. It’s unrelated to the princess of Franche, so if you want to focus on this meeting, I can tell you after it’s over.”

“No. There might be some unexpected connection, so tell me now.”

“Merlin is alive.”

The Count stopped walking and turned to look at me.

“Are you certain?”

“I was doubtful too, but based on what Master Abana said, yes. It’s certain. Oh, and Master Abana said she would look for the treasure that serves as the communication link.”

The Count pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

“I should have waited to hear this later. Let’s focus on this meeting for now.”

He started walking again. His expression had darkened considerably.

“You should brighten your face.”

Count Furst raised both hands and swept them over his face once.

“Thank you, Ran.”

We soon arrived at the hall.

There stood a woman with a noble air different from other aristocrats, standing proudly in front of two maids and four knights.

Princess Elisabeth de Franche, the second princess of Franche, glanced at Count Furst as he entered and slowly extended her right hand.

Count Furst walked up to her with confident steps, knelt on one knee, and kissed the back of her hand.

Elisabeth spoke.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person after hearing so much about you, Count Furst.”

Count Furst stood up, faced her, and said,

“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess Elisabeth.”

“Please, just call me Princess. I shall call you Count as well.”

“As you wish, Princess.”

Elisabeth revealed her snow-white teeth in a smile, then turned to look at me.

Suddenly, her eyes widened.

“You, you? Could it be, Ran?”

The formal tone that had been overflowing until now vanished, and casual speech tumbled from the princess’s lips.

I can’t believe she knows me.

At that moment, the Count turned to me with a sharp gaze.

What’s going on?

I’m sorry, but I don’t know either.

“Hello. Um, do you know me?”

Elisabeth’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

She walked up to me with clicking steps, grabbed my face with both hands, and said,

“Of course I do! Don’t you know how much I adored you?”

“……”

“Don’t tell me you don’t remember me?”

Elisabeth raised her hand and tapped the tip of my nose.

At that moment, it felt like something exploded in my head.

“Ah, Sister Lisa!”

“Yes, yes! It’s Sister Lisa.”

I think the last time I saw her was five years ago, when I was nine years old.

The Prejean region was quite famous as a resort, so royalty and famous nobles often visited. Among them, I remembered Lisa visiting every year.

I looked at Lisa’s face again.

Just as I had grown over the past five years, she had matured as well.

Back then, she was just a girl about my current age.

I guess I couldn’t immediately recall her because her name was different and her appearance had changed.

“Princess. You know my mage?”

The mental barrier had already been lowered.

Lisa stroked my head and spoke casually.

“Of course I do. Ran was so famous. Those deep eyes that you couldn’t look away from once you saw them. That voice that seemed to enchant you once you heard it. Everyone was certain that when he grew up, he would steal the hearts of all the women in Franche. But…”

Her hand that was stroking my head stopped.

As a strange atmosphere settled in, the Count quickly interjected.

“How about we go to the terrace behind the mansion? We can discuss state affairs under the cool night breeze and bright moonlight.”

Lisa resumed stroking my head, finished, and said,

“Sounds good. Ran?”

“Yes?”

“I want to hold you like I used to. Is that okay?”

Saying that, she went behind me without waiting for my permission and wrapped her arms around me, trapping me in her embrace.

I looked at the Count with pleading eyes, but he avoided my gaze.

I looked up at her and said,

“Holding me is a bit much. I’m 14 now.”

“Hehe. How cute. Alright, but why the grumpy face?”

She let go of me. But instead, she firmly held my right hand. Her firm grip showed she had no intention of letting go.

The Count walked ahead, Lisa and I followed, and behind us came Lisa’s maids and knights.

Lisa started recounting stories from the past one by one, which naturally made me think of my hometown.

“By the way, how did you end up becoming the Second Princess? If I remember correctly, you weren’t in the line of succession.”

“Why? Because everyone above me died, so I naturally rose up.”

“……”

“Hehe. Cute Ran. You said you’re 14, right? It’s about time you face the cruel reality. Oh, right! If you don’t know how your family was wiped out, should I tell you?”

I shook my head.

“Later. First, talk with the Count, and then I’ll listen to your story. You’re staying here for a while, right?”

“Not for long. About three days? I’ll just rest from the journey and then head back right away.”

If that were true, they would have rested first and discussed state affairs tomorrow instead of right now.

It’s strange, but for now, I buried my suspicions and said,

“Then let’s talk tomorrow.”

“Sure, do as you like.”

A princess is a princess indeed.

Even the death of her siblings doesn’t seem to matter much to her, so the annihilation of my family is probably nothing more than another story to her.

It makes me feel strange.

Why does my desire for revenge suddenly feel so trivial?

Dangun

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