Bab 124: Save 69 ─ Lucy, the Priestess of the Sacred Tree
Erselica's mansion was silent.
Part of this was because the usually noisy five idiots had left, but it was also due to the dark and gloomy atmosphere.
It was already dark. Erselica planned to sleep when this was over. Cana spoke to Erselica, who was in that state.
"Erselica-sama, about Lucy-san."
"Did something happen?"
"She lived with us before this event, so there's nothing worrisome. But, how should I put it, it's like she's putting on a brave face. Sometimes she looks very depressed."
The day Erselica saved Lucy.
Actually, Bell was monitoring Lucy's situation. That's why they managed to notice Jude's approach.
Erselica arrived in time to protect Lucy, but her condition was strange.
"... I see. I'll take care of that, Cana, you go get some rest now."
"Y-Yes."
Erselica ordered Cana to rest and stopped writing in her household ledger. She held her head as she lay on the table.
"Stupid brother, what am I going to do now?"
The Priestess Emblem appeared on the back of Lucy's right hand. Rudel had returned to the Kingdom before he knew that.
Ixion's main body, Schwartz, also temporarily returned to the Kingdom, so this news had not yet reached Rudel.
She intended to report this later as Rudel would be returning soon.
Bell was with her at this time, so she was reassured. But, the problem was not the emblem, but Lucy herself.
(Why does she have to fall in love with my older brother, what good is he? His personality is bad, he talks foul, his looks are average, well yes, he's good at making money. In the matter of intelligence my older brother is exceptional... oh no. Maybe, my older brother is someone worth at least earning money.)
Compared to Liam and the others, Rudel's money making skills wouldn't even come into consideration, it was something she couldn't express.
Rudel had obtained Ixion and his status right now was that a count.
Moreover, he had just obtained money in compensation for the trouble Aster caused him, so he was also rich.
If she closed her eyes towards his bad personality and mouth, then he was an excellent catch.
"Hah! It's not that, the problem is my older brother! I've noticed for some time now that Lucy harbors a feeling for my older brother, but he doesn't realize that himself."
Erselica had realized that, ever since Rudel and Lucy arrived at this mansion. Lucy was aware of Rudel.
But Rudel himself didn't realize that.
Just before summer vacation arrived, Lucy was blatantly trying to get Rudel's attention and yet... he didn't even notice.
(Really, why do you hate dense characters so much? You're a dense guy too.)
(Besides, you're the super dense type!)
Rudel hated dense characters in stories where they wouldn't notice the feeling of the opposite sex, but he didn't notice at all that he had been standing in the same position.
Erselica was worried about whether she should say anything.
Rudel has two fiancés, she should have said that from the beginning, but she couldn't say it when she saw how happy Lucy was.
Lucy was a very good girl.
She would help with the housework while staying at this mansion. Her bright and sincere personality was not disliked even among other girls.
To tell the truth, she even wanted to cheer Lucy up.
(Thanks to that, I couldn't tell Lucy the truth.)
Erselica felt guilty about that.
(I should have told her as soon as possible.)
She was irritated with Rudel who didn't realize Lucy's feelings.
(I should have told my older brother too. Did he even know Lucy was trying to get his attention? It made me angry just to look at him.)
It was infuriating, but the problem would not be solved simply by anger. Erselica gave up and decided to talk to Lucy.
She went to Lucy's room.
◇◇◇
Erselica arrived while Lucy was distracting herself in her room.
Lucy made a forced smile at Erselica's arrival. After Erselica came in, they sat face to face.
Lucy was sitting on the bed, while Erselica was sitting in a chair.
"... What do you want to talk about at this hour?"
Lucy didn't understand why Erselica visited her room. That's why she asked, but Erselica apologized to her.
"I'm sorry. If only I had told you quicker."
She guessed what Erselica meant by just that.
Lucy wished Erselica had told her sooner too, but she looked down and shook her head.
"It's all right. I got my hopes up myself. No wonder someone like Rudel already has fiancés. A-As I thought, good men wear out quickly."
"Hahahaha." Lucy laughed gleefully, but... it only made her cry. Erselica looked sadly at Lucy.
"What do you see good in Rudel?"
"You're asking me that now? Well, it's okay, though. I felt calm when I was with him. It's a precious thing that I can be by someone's side without having to worry about anything."
I was even thinking that it wouldn't hurt to follow Rudel back to his country. The matter of Vermillion Household.
The matter of the priestess.
And then the matter of the Aristocratic Kingdom of Aster.
She came to think that she wanted to go with him, even if she had to throw various things away.
"So in the end, it's impossible to get away from the sacred tree..."
Didn't it feel like the sacred tree wouldn't allow anyone to escape once they got involved with it? That's how it felt to her.
Lucy briefly looked at the bandage around her right hand. And then she told Erselica a certain story.
"You know, Erselica-chan. There's a famous story in Aster."
"What is it?"
"There is a guardian and a priestess in Aster, though there is none at the moment. The priestess happened to be one among the women of a certain family for generations."
Vermillion Household was a house with a woman as head of the house.
That was because only a woman could inherit the priestess emblem.
"But, only the guardian's emblem could not be inherited. The priestess would choose the man of that generation whom she believes to be the most worthy."
The emblems of the priestess and the six great nobles were passed down based on bloodline, but only the guardian's was chosen based on the actual strength of the person.
And then it was the priestess who chose the guardian. Erselica was calm.
"I don't know the details, but I think I've heard about that."
"Ah, then you already know. Then I'll just say the conclusion─ the priestess can choose someone she loves as the guardian. And then the guardian's emblem will appear for the first time when the guardian also loves the priestess. That sounds really romantic, doesn't it?"
Erselica agreed that it was romantic, but there was something that bothered her.
"But, the guardian is chosen primarily from among the six great nobles, isn't he?"
"Yes. Well, that's because it's someone strong who will be chosen as the guardian, while almost all the powerful people in Aster are the ones with the emblems. The exception to that was only one person, I guess?"
That was his own father.
Her father didn't come from the six great nobles, plus he didn't have an emblem. His mother chose his father in spite of that.
"... That's why, there is a legend that if you become the priestess, any kind of impossible love will come true."
But, Lucy's love did not come true.
"As I thought, it's just a legend."
Lucy said.
"Yes, if the priestess' emblem appeared on me, do you think the guardian's emblem will appear on Rudel?"
Erselica made a serious expression toward her question. And then she closed her eyes and nodded.
"Surely it would not be chosen."
"Is that so? Then... that's great."
Her heart was weakening.
She wanted to tell someone about the priestess emblem right away and asked that person to help her.
That person in Lucy's imagination was Rudel, but then she shook her head.
"Aah~. As I thought, a broken heart is really painful. I'm sorry, please give me a little more time. I'll be able to forget about him after a while."
To be honest, Lucy at this moment was thinking that she was glad that Rudel had left her side.
◇◇◇
After Erselica left Lucy's room, she held her head with her hands.
(SHE'S SERIOUSLY SIIIIIICK! SHE'S JUST LIKE THOSE TWO! BROTHER, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO THOSE GIRLS TO TURN YOU IDIOTS IN LOVE? Rather, did you also forget that I was there when the priestess' emblem appeared on your hand? It would certainly be strange if you already knew about the priestess' emblem! But you should be more on your guard!)
They had lived together until now, but Lucy never gave any hint that she was a survivor of Vermillion Household.
And yet it was completely obvious that she had obtained an emblem. She often looked at the back of her right hand and sighed.
(BIG BROTHER, IDIOOOOOOOOOOT!!! How did you so seriously screw it up like that!)
Erselica cursed Rudel in her heart that he wasn't here.
Of all people, the person Lucy chose was Rudel.
If Rudel didn't have fiancés, then even Erselica would fully support them. However, she couldn't do that because there was Airi and Alisa.
(What now!!! With Lucy's state right now, it really doesn't look like she can find her next love.)
If they were unlucky, Lucy's condition could drag on for several years. That would not be good.
They would graduate from the academy first at that rate.
If they were unlucky, she might even say something like "Maybe it would be better to stay single?" in her current state.
"Damn. Anyway, I need to introduce a man to Lucy─ aah, that's no good. I can't think of anyone. shit, what should I do now!"
◇◇◇
The location was the Exner Household mansion. Jude was invited there.
He was talking to Linus, who was making a stiff expression.
"... Rosenberg Household get out of the Acting Chairman's seat? That's very extreme of you, Jude-kun."
"Is that so?"
Jude was quietly thinking about the method to obtain Lucy. There was someone who would be an obstacle at that moment.
It wasn't Randolf. It was Sara.
Sara used to fight with Lucy, but that's why he couldn't do anything many times.
Besides, it would also be hard to convince his father if the Rosenberg Household stayed as Acting Chairman.
Linus sent her a sharp look.
"The Exner Household owes a debt to the Rosenberg Household. Randolf-dono acted as my sponsor when I succeeded as head of the house despite my youth. No one else supported me, not even my own family, do you understand what you are asking?"
"I do. If I remember correctly, the two houses have been strongly connected for two generations now, haven't they?"
"It's good that you understand."
The blood connection between the six great nobles was also dense.
It was said that only one member of six great nobles was worthy of another member of the six great nobles.
But because of that, their blood became too close.
That Sara was not married to Linus was also mainly because of that.
His younger brother Tom was born to a different mother. His mother's blood was distant from Rosenberg Household, so it was Tom and Sara who were engaged to each other.
Linus had been designated to be the head of the house from the beginning. Tom had no complaints about this either, so the relationship between the siblings was good.
But, even this connection was changing after the passage of time.
In fact, there was also a period when the Exner Household was in conflict with the Rosenberg Household a long time ago. There was also a period when the connection between the Banfield Household and the Rosenberg Household was strong.
Their relationship varied depending on the time and the head of the house.
Jude also knew that Linus was indebted to Randolf. But he also knew Linus' character very well.
(This person seems mild, but in reality he is the one with the strongest patriotism for Aster.)
(If I convince him to have him on my side, the other great nobles will be a piece of cake.)
"I came to talk to you even knowing about your debt to Randolf-dono. Linus-dono, you should also understand. The current Randolf-dono is not fit to be the Acting Chairman. The proof is his weak attitude towards the Kingdom."
Linus's expression turned gloomy.
"Not only does he show a weak attitude. Schwert─ that airship is already mass produced and there was even an airship of the same type anchored in the harbor before this. What are we going to do if we continue to show a belligerent attitude towards that country?"
"... It will be problematic if it becomes cowardly because of that. It will cause a problem for future negotiations."
Linus had a strong sense of patriotism.
Moreover, it was based on the belief that Aster was a powerful country.
(It must be humiliating that he acknowledged his defeat against the kingdom. But he is also a realist as a politician.)
Jude took advantage of that.
"... The kingdom is formidable. That's exactly why we need to take a proper stance. Randolf-dono's stance is a bad move for the upcoming negotiation."
Linus turned his face away from Jude. He might have the same thought. Jude showed his card for this negotiation─ it was the best possible card.
"... I found the priestess."
Hearing that, Linus turned to Jude with wide eyes. Jude continued.
"There are survivors of the Vermillion Household that was destroyed by Rosenberg Household in the past, they are twin sisters by the name of Lucy and Diana. They currently attend the academy with their last name changed."
Linus was once again surprised to hear that.
"I can't believe Randolf-dono would make such a mistake, but they actually survived."
Rosenberg Household destroyed Vermillion House.
That was all the younger generation knew, but they were not told about the circumstances of that period in detail.
It was because the people connected with that matter kept their mouths shut.
The current heads of the six great nobles, or their predecessors, knew more about the situation at that time, but no one would say anything about it.
The previous head of Banfield Household had died. It was the same with Exner Household as well. There was no way to investigate what happened.
It was also difficult to go into another house and ask what happened. But, the Rosenberg Household ended up being the Acting Chairman.
A lot of the younger generation was puzzled by that.
Jude was curious about that, too.
"It's unthinkable that Randolf-dono would overlook Lucy and Diana, but is there some kind of reason for that?"
If someone was going to destroy a house, then the heir to that house was someone who should not be allowed to escape.
Overlooking them would mean failure.
But, Jude wasn't really interested in the circumstances surrounding the matter. What was important was that Lucy was chosen as priestess.
"The one chosen as priestess is Lucy. Linus-dono, I'm thinking of bringing Lucy to Banfield Household."
Linus looked at him coldly when he heard that.
"If someone from that house survives and is chosen as a priestess, then she should be placed under the protection of the six houses. A single house monopolizing her is out of the question. At the very least, finding an available partner to commission them is a priority."
Those words were also filled with Linus' real motive of saying he didn't want to pass on so much influence to Banfield Household.
But Jude had also already prepared a compensation.
"About Tom, Linus-dono, do you plan to have him help you after he graduates from the academy?"
Linus was suspicious because Jude suddenly changed the subject, but he nodded.
"That is my intention."
"Tom is a capable man even though he looks frivolous like that. There will be no problem, even if he becomes the head of a great noble house."
Linus strengthened his caution.
"Are you planning to make Tom the head of Exner Household if I refuse?"
"No way. You're someone needed to build a strong Aster in the future. The head of Exner Household is undoubtedly you, Linus-dono. But, even Tom is so talented that he can act as the head of a house, right? After all, that guy's fiancé is Sara."
Linus understood immediately after hearing that.
"It's useless. There's Romeo."
Jude snorted when Romeo's name came up.
"Do you really think a man like him will really be worthy of becoming the head of a great noble house? I'm sure you know about the rumors about him at the university, I'm not a gossip, but everyone does. Besides, that guy hates the six great nobles. Linus-dono, you want to continue to have a friendly relationship with the next head of Rosenberg Household, right?"
And if that head was a half-brother that Linus was close to, it wouldn't be bad for him.
Tom was someone capable, but he had a side that was blindly devoted to Linus. Linus was aware of that, too.
Jude gave one more push.
"Tom and Sara will be the ones to succeed to Rosenberg Household. No one will protest if it is their son who succeeds Rosenberg Household. Except the Acting Chairman."
Linus gave it some thought and then made his decision.
"Very well. I will accept this deal. But, I will have the priestess become the head of her house and then the Acting Chairman after she graduates from the academy and can stand on her own two feet. Will you promise that the head position will be filled by Vermillion Household?"
Jude had no interest in that.
(He must be on guard toward Banfield Household rising up as tyrant, but if I become the guardian, it will be Banfield Household that will be behind Vermillion Household no matter what anyone else says. Well, that will be for the future.)
"Of course. Well, from now on I will be Lucy's sponsor as guardian."
"Does the problem lie in how to convince the other houses?"
"You needn't worry about Banfield Household, my father is a muscle brain, personally. I prefer you to be Acting Chairman after Randolf-dono left office."
Linus flashed for a brief moment a distorted cheek-to-cheek smile. Jude noticed.
"I-I don't think it's as you say! But, yes I will be the benefactor of the next head of Vermillion Household. Perhaps it's something necessary, of course, for the future of our country."
"Well, how will you convince the other houses?"
"Wayne Household will be annoyed, no matter if that nobleman of the Kingdom made fun of us. The current boss is a man who doesn't care about anything but his own neck, it will be hard to convince him since he dislikes me for some reason."
"The Herring Household will be a piece of cake, won't it? After all, when the current boss finds out that the noble foreigner won't be able to bother us anymore, he'll be happy."
"In that case there would only be Lunor Household left."
"Lugh-kun is Diana-sama's boyfriend, isn't he?"
"Yes. Convincing Lunor Household will be a piece of cake."
"Good. The problem will come when she has to choose the guardian."
In Aster, it was not unusual for the house where the guardian came from to have the authority.
Linus said he would not allow Banfield Household to monopolize the priestess of Vermillion Household in the future as well.
Linus made a pained expression.
His conscience must be pricking him for his betrayal of Randolf. But, Jude paid no attention to him.
(So being indebted to Randolf-dono only goes so far. He immediately betrayed him when he learned that he will be able to get the Rosenberg Household's strength. But, I need you to be useful to me, Linus-dono.)
◇◇◇
In Sara's room that was prepared for her in the Exner Household mansion. Sara lived there during her summer vacation.
On the surface, she was here to deepen her relationship with Tom. It was as if they were practically married already.
It was nothing more than a show for the other six great nobles.
The reason was because Rosenberg Household wanted a connection with Exner Household right away.
It would be problematic for Randolf, who was working as Acting Chairman, if there was no house to become his ally.
But, Tom never visited Sara's room.
The summer vacation lasted more than a month at Aster as well. And yet, he never visited her even once.
Sara would see Tom in his car when she looked out the window.
"Out again going out again to flirt with the girls."
Sara didn't hold that against him. Because they both knew very well that they had no feelings for each other.
(Even though things would progress smoothly if only he would lay his hand on me...) She was just thinking that regarding this matter.
Sara had nothing to do even if she stayed in her room, so she thought about going out shopping.
She then found several maids standing in front of her room.
"Sara oujo-sama, where are you going?"
They looked a little nervous.
"I'm going out shopping, can I ask you to prepare a car for me?"
The servants looked at each other. And then they immediately answered Sara.
"Certainly. Wait in your room until we finish the preparations."
"Anyway, I'll ride in the car in front of the entrance. I'll wait there."
"No, wait inside your room."
Sara was told to go back to her room. She sensed that something strange was going on.
(What's going on? The atmosphere is different from yesterday.)
It felt like they were hiding something from Sara.
◇◇◇
On the evening of that day.
She was supposed to have dinner together with Tom, but he didn't show up no matter how long she waited. The servants who were serving her also looked worried.
"Tom still hasn't returned?"
One of the servants answered Sara's question.
"Thomas-sama has been back for a while, but he was summoned by Linus-sama."
"By Linus-san?"
(He was summoned even though it was dinner time?)
During all this time, Linus was someone who would scold Tom for not taking care of Sara.
"Was there any emergency business?"
Tom entered the room as she pondered that.
He sat down in his seat abruptly and grabbed the bottle of wine held by a servant. He poured it into his glass and began to drink.
Sara warned him.
"Mind your manners."
Tom was smiling.
Sara was curious to see that.
Normally he would just respond carelessly with something like."Right, yeah."
"What's up?"
"Sara, something interesting is going to happen after this."
Tom said that and held out his hand towards the dinner the servants brought. Sara didn't understand what he meant.
Tom raised his glass with an amused look.
"Tomorrow will be a good day for Aster."
◇◇◇
At Erselica's mansion.
Many cars arrived in front of the gate. There were soldiers in ceremonial uniform.
There were also fully armed soldiers behind them. An airship hovered in the air. The mansion was surrounded by air and ground.
Allen pointed outside the window.
"Master, there are more airships coming this way too!"
Airships with different familiar emblems were gathering. They were acting as spotters.
Cana was trembling.
"Erselica-sama, There are even armed units flying! The mansion was surrounded."
This commotion was happening in the morning.
Erselica, who was still in her pajamas with messy hair, was hugging a pillow because she had just woken up in panic.
"Calm down you two! Right now you should pinch your cheek to determine if this is a dream or not!"
The three of them pinched their cheek.
It hurt. This was reality.
Allen held his head with his two hands.
"What are we going to do, the count isn't here right now!"
Cana was the same way too.
"Uwaa~n, Count Bradford, come back quickly please!"
The two of them had no expectation for the five idiots. Erselica was also the same.
"Bell, onii-chan still hasn't returned!!?"
"Hmm, there's a communication that they'll be back soon, but it'll still take time. Well, let's get Aurora here and burn them all! It'll be too easy with the cannons."
Erselica was also terrified of Bell.
(Holy shit, these guys, they can kill humans without even blinking an eye! Or rather, will it be okay even if we do something like that? Won't it become an international problem? Huh, but isn't it a problem anymore? Or rather, why are you guys attacking while my big brother is absent? ... W-Wait, aren't they attacking because my big brother is absent?)
(BIG BROTHER, IIIIIIDIOOOT!!!!)
Erselica misunderstood that they were attacked because Rudel was absent, but a coat-suited messenger arrived at the mansion.
"Oh, they're going to declare war? Maybe they think Aurora isn't as powerful as Schwert?"
"Then I'll prove it on you! I'll prove that my Aurora is an even more capable girl than Schwert! I'll shower them with main cannons and missiles, yeah!"
Bell was rejoicing at the very thought of that. Erselica pinned her down with the pillow.
"You idiot! It'll be a war if you do something like that! A-Anyway, let that guy into the mansion!"
The messenger raised his voice while Erselica was panicking.
"I am a servant of Banfield Household. To the priestess, Lucyelle Liz Vermillion We have come to take her back with us!!!"
Erselica's eyes widened like saucers when she heard that.
"H-How did these guys know about that!!?"
Erselica didn't know about any plot like this in the game.
◇◇◇
When Lucy came out after her name was called, the messenger knelt down and bowed his head.
That person must have been the one with the highest status among the Banfield Household servants. There was an emblem on the back of his right hand.
And then he said this in front of Lucy.
"I am glad to see her safe and sound. It is a great honor to be able to welcome the heiress of Vermillion Household."
Lucy looked dazedly at the Banfield Household soldiers surrounding the mansion. There were also onlookers gathering.
They were looking at Lucy.
"Vermillion, he said!"
"Is there a survivor of that house?"
"Huh, but by heiress do you mean.... The priestess!?"
The soldiers pushed the onlookers away.
But, it was already known that she was a survivor.
(Aah~, all is lost now.)
Lucy looked at her right hand. Then she asked the man in front of her who said they came to pick her up.
"You really came with a crowd, what do you plan to do with the people here?"
The messenger answered without raising his head.
"We will stake our lives for the sake of getting the priestess back. If it's for the sake of retrieving the priestess, then our only recourse is to fight even if we have to face the knight of the Kingdom."
Lucy looked down.
(Even though they know Rudel is not here. They're taking advantage of the situation to threaten us.)
A young man came through the door while Lucy was rooted to the spot.
... It was Jude.
"Lucy, I'm coming to pick you up."
"Jude, you─"
Jude looked at the Banfield Household army around him.
The airship wasn't pointing its cannon here, but it was ready to attack at any moment.
Lucy expressed her anger towards Jude.
"Are you planning to fight these people after what happened to Herring Household? Have you forgotten what happened to Derrick? If you do something like this, not only will you lose again, Aster will always be called as a barbaric country no matter how much time has passed."
Jude smiled as he listened to Lucy's speech. He looked really mysterious.
Lucy was startled at the sight of him. Then Jude opened his arms and spoke.
"That shows how priceless you are!"
"Huh?"
Jude ignored the bewildered Lucy and continued speaking with a transparent act.
"Even if we have to lose our lives, we'll fight to save you. It's not just Banfield Household. The other five houses will have to fight too. No, the whole country will fight for you!"
The priestess was such an important existence in Aster. As the saint for the Kingdom.
The priestess had been absent for more than ten years, many people felt uncomfortable because of that.
It wasn't just the nobles, the people living in this country felt the same way. The existence that connected people and the sacred tree.
The priestess was a very important existence in this country that was worshiping the sacred tree.
Surely many people would fight to get Lucy back.
They would still fight, even if they had to face Rudel, who managed the supreme kingdom to just one step before defeat.
(This guy, he's using many people's lives as a shield.)
This was Jude's goal.
(Many people would die if war broke out.)
(They should know that it is impossible to defeat him, but... they are really so blinded by the existence of the priestess, that they don't realize who their enemy would be.)
What's more, Jude did this knowing that Lucy couldn't handle that.
Jude backed Lucy into a corner using many of the people gathered here as her shield.
"Lucy, we will burn every last cartridge for you. What are you going to do, will you ignore our feelings? .... No, will you continue to belittle my hand?"
She heard the sound of footsteps running down the stairs in a hurry. It was Erselica and the others.
Erselica appeared with tousled hair. She looked like she had changed her clothes in a hurry. She saw Jude and snarled.
"That damn bastard! There are things you can do and shouldn't do! Don't be arrogant just because he─ my bro─ Rudel isn't here!"
Jude sneered scornfully at Erselica.
"Ooh~, I'm scared. How scary, how scary. There's that white Schwert anchored in the harbor, isn't there? It'll probably move by itself too and destroy us one after another. But, even then, we'll fight to the end. After all, you are Aster's priestess. We will never leave you in his hands."
The blood rushed out of Lucy's face.
Her legs trembled as she imagined many people dying for her sake. Jude leaned close to Lucy and whispered in her ear.
"Lucy, be mine. That is your destiny."
"Des... tiny?"
"That's right. You are my destined one, we were born to meet and be together. You who were chosen as the priestess have only two paths to choose from now. Will you run and let so many die, or will you come with me and bring peace to Aster? Now, choose. War or... happiness?"
He said she could choose, but there was only one choice for Lucy.
"You are, truly the worst." She began to shed tears.
"I love you. If it's for you, I'd do anything, can you see how great my love for you is?"
Lucy raised her hand to slap him, but immediately lost strength and lowered her hand. Erselica was screaming behind her.
"Lucy, don't be fooled by the crap that guy says! Rudel will be here soon and sort this out!"
Jude frowned when he heard Rudel's name.
"Rudel─ Count Bradford, huh? That guy is certainly strong. But, I wonder how far he's going to seriously fight for you? In the end, he's just a foreigner. He won't give his all for the sake of this country. Well, it doesn't matter even if he does give it all."
Would Rudel risk his life to fight for her?
That would not happen.
Rudel had his own position. He also had fiancés in his home country. There was no way he would fight Jude to save her.
And even if he did fight... Lucy didn't want to make Rudel fight.
(I can't get him in any more trouble. It's none of his business either.)
She turned away.
"I'm sorry, Erselica-chan. I-I'll go."
Erselica was dumbfounded.
Lucy started to walk. Jude stood beside her and wrapped his hand around her waist. Rudely, he pulled Lucy to his body.
Her face showed an expression of melancholy and revulsion about being touched by him.
"I knew you would respond to my feelings, Lucy! You are the only worthy woman for me! Now, let the whole country know of the birth of our priestess! Aster will be at peace with this!"
The surroundings applauded loudly at the sight of Jude and Lucy walking together. Lucy was the only one looking down.
(There won't be any trouble if I just put up with it. Diana, I'm sorry, I exposed us. Because of me, we'll be targeted again by the Rosenberg Household.)
Lucy apologized to her twin sister as she got into the car Jude prepared.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Siegburn
Siegburn The problems with Lucy and her feelings get worse, Jude decides to move and Lucy's life will become hell due to the "game plot".
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone