Capítulo 192: [Chapter 192] Gem, Confession
Neris was momentarily speechless at the spot where the carriage had stopped.
The partially collapsed wall and the charred ground.
The wide field showing traces of a terrible fire was where the Elendria Marquis's mansion once stood. Now, there was hardly a single intact brick left.
"This... "
She clearly remembered seeing flames and smoke rising from the mansion as she was escaping. Despite being dragged away, she found some joy in it.
But she couldn't truly imagine the mansion completely burned down. It was the Elendria Marquis's mansion.
Whether it was a thousand years or ten thousand years, it always seemed like a place where he would show off.
"Sitting with his wife in the carriage, Cledwin, who behaved as if it was a legitimate excuse to hold her tightly and whisper in her ear, cheerfully remarked.
"Interestingly, the Marquis seemed so distracted when the fire first broke out that he couldn't properly command."
Interestingly? Not really. Even if the Marquis was distracted, he still gave clear instructions to move Neris. Besides, the Marquis's knights were well-trained elites who could handle most situations. In fact, didn't they handle the rioters well despite being outnumbered?
That's Cledwin. She was certain.
"Where are the Marquis's people now?"
"They're scattered around. The Marquise was at her family's home anyway, the Marquis is at a small estate owned by the family, the son is fighting with his father and staying at another house he owns, and the daughter is at school."
Just about a month ago, no one would have imagined that the perfect family admired by society would be so thoroughly scattered.
Even if the Elendria Marquis's family reconciled in the future, these memories would forever remain. The wife would no longer trust her husband, the parents would no longer trust their children, and the daughter's first memory of not being able to trust her parents' love.
Despite only traces remaining of the grand mansion, it wasn't as refreshing as expected. It was rather melancholic.
As it crumbled in an instant.
"You know how mischievous your brother is. As the mature one, you should consider my situation. Do as Valen wishes and don't interfere."
"You're also part of our family and have obligations. Why do you seem so averse? I think I should be appreciated. It's becoming the Prince's Consort. It's a great honor above all."
"Just wait a bit, Neris. When the family's long-cherished wish is fulfilled, you too... Engagement? It's just a formality. You know. In fact, I..."
Words heard from the Marquis's family in a past life slowly came to mind.
Hypocrites. Vicious betrayers. Mimicking sincerity when they never truly meant it.
I tried to be happy with them, believing they would keep their promises, but not a single one was kept.
I endured the dreadful palace life solely on faith. Hoping that if I did better, they might love me.
But now she also knew. What she suffered in this dreadful family was not discord but abuse.
No amount of good deeds from the receiving end would resolve it.
Echoes of words heard from Valentin just before dying in a past life followed.
"Marriage to people like us is a transaction, so naturally it should be with one's own daughter."
"Is there a master who just watches as the dog runs away?"
Yes, Valentin. The dog even said a corpse has its uses.
But even a dog bites back at its owner.
You should know that fact now too.
"Your sister's mother, Nel's brother, is the one who got rid of that annoying woman from the world. Didn't you think about that?"
Thank you for revealing who the enemy is.
The Elendria family mansion burned down, and the once affectionate family members scattered.
The rest will be taken care of by the palace. The Elendria family must never be destroyed, but their throats will be squeezed to ensure they never rise again.
If the family they spoke of could crumble so easily...
"They wouldn't have clung so desperately."
Cledwin swiftly brushed his hand against Neris's forehead, now devoid of words.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"You have a pained expression on your face."
Of course. Her heart truly, truly ached.
A princess in her thirties who met a futile death at the hands of her stepbrother and stepsister. Thinking of her made Neris's heart ache as if she would lose her sanity at any moment. It felt futile and unjust.
Yet, she had never pitied herself as she did now. She found her foolishness laughable, detestable, and unpleasant, but at the same time, pitiful.
Perhaps in her past life, Neris lacked the ability to think. If someone had pulled her out of that situation and allowed her to spend a few peaceful years like now, the Neris of that time might have viewed the situation more objectively.
However, for Neris Elendria and Neris Visto, there was no such opportunity. In the precarious life where one wrong step could send her tumbling off a cliff.
"Are you okay?"
Neris tried to say she was okay. But the words just wouldn't come out.
She had toppled a major pillar of her enemies from her past life. So she should have felt relieved and good. She should have been reassured by the downfall of those who tried to hold her captive in this life.
But it wasn't so.
"No."
Neris muttered in a daze.
The Elendria family being torn apart wasn't the end. It wasn't refreshing at all. There was still more to come.
Someone in her heart screamed out as if in agony.
"I'm not okay.
That's right. She quietly agreed with that voice.
Even with the burned mansion in front of her, she's still not okay.
Why is that?
I'm scared. I'm afraid that even more revenge won't be enough.
Am I being greedy? Am I wanting more than I should? Is even the sense of tranquility shattered?
Neris lost focus in her eyes. Cledwin held her in his arms for a long time.
When she finally regained her ability to speak, she remembered to put on a cold expression to protect herself. And she calmly commanded the coachman.
"Let's return to the mansion."
The carriage moved slowly. Neris drew the curtains so she couldn't see outside.
She allowed Cledwin to position her body as he pleased. He obediently sat up straight as she instructed.
"Cledwin Maindland."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Her husband replied sincerely. Neris opened her eyes wide.
"If you're willing to spend your life with me despite many unfavorable conditions, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
Although she had already made up her mind, it took some courage to say the next words.
"You know there are many things in the world that are more amazing than you realize?"
"I know. You seem to have abilities similar to what your eyes can see, but nothing more."
A brief silence passed.
Neris didn't know what to say. About his abilities within the gem... she knew. She had already hinted to Nelucian and the Marquis, and she had used her abilities when escaping from Nelucian.
But she didn't expect him to be so sure and take it so casually.
"You knew...? Since when did you know?"
"Since you arrived in Maindland. Just to clarify, I didn't deliberately investigate. The innkeeper's child overheard it from the stable boy. It seems he overheard when he was trying to deliver medicine to you because you weren't feeling well. Judging by how easily he mentioned it to Nelucian, it must have been more than once a day."
Neris's face turned bright red. Did he know from the beginning? From the moment her abilities manifested from the gem.
All the lies she had told to hide her abilities seemed foolish now.
"If you knew, why didn't you use it? There's so much I can do with my abilities. It's the ability that all the rulers have wanted so far. To make others believe what they say without any doubt."
"It's your ability, not mine to use. If you want to use it when it helps me, then use it."
The sunlight briefly illuminated Cledwin's face.
His eyes softened.
"If you deem it necessary, use that ability. If you don't want to, there's no need to use it."
This time, Neris's face flushed for a different reason.
Not just her face, but her hands and chest were also warm. She couldn't understand how to handle the bright emotions bubbling deep within her.
She wasn't being manipulated.
"Even though he knew about the abilities within the gem, he met someone who didn't use them and pretended not to know until he was about to speak first.
'Should I spill it.'
The real secret bigger than the abilities within the gem.
The past.
Neris's lips twitched. Then the charred remnants of the Elendria Marquis's mansion came back into her eyes. To be precise, the shabby remains of the door.
It was exactly the same as the cold, small, dark room she had spent with Isabelle a long time ago.
The door might not have been the one hanging in that room. There were dozens of doors that looked the same. But seeing it, her mind cooled a bit.
Neris whispered to herself. You're a fool for making such impulsive decisions about important matters. Even if there's no reason to say it now, would anyone believe it if you blurted it out?
And does he really need to know how you lived in your past life?
How many people did you harm and live a miserable life before dying miserably? How would he look at you if he knew?
Her lips, which were about to open, barely managed to close. She thought.
Maybe she was not at all suited to hiding secrets.
Cledwin asked softly. ...As if it was okay to stop talking now.
"Can I hug you now?"
She nodded. Soon, her delicate shoulders were embraced in his strong arms.
The sparkling purple eyes slowly closed over the pale eyelids.
After their outing, the couple went to their respective studies. Neris, having had a late morning, quickly settled for lunch with bread and then called for Talfrin.
"Did you call for me, Your Highness?"
"Is our person inside Lord Ricandros's estate? If not, can we have them brought in?"
"There's currently no one, but there's no issue with bringing someone in. Where would you like them to be seated?"
"Somewhere in between, not too high or low. Have them approach Rebecca Shirley before anyone else."
"Understood."
Talfrin nodded with an amused expression and withdrew.
In Neris's past life, Lord Ricandros and Rebecca Shirley eventually married after a long cohabitation. It was just before she became a princess.
While marriages between nobility and commoners might be legally recognized in the temple, they were not accepted in noble society. Children born from marriages between people of different social statuses were not considered bastards, but they were simply commoners who couldn't inherit noble titles.
They were not at an age to plan on having many children, so perhaps Lord Ricandros and Rebecca married out of love without any concern for children.
Despite being long-time public lovers, why did they marry so late? There were rumors circulating in noble society, but no one had a definitive answer.
Neris roughly knew the answer. Megara probably opposed their marriage.
As Megara and Colin were about to marry, Lord Ricandros might have felt he could marry without worrying about his daughter.
'Watching Rebecca closely.'
In this life, their peaceful relationship would be disrupted. Whether Rebecca grew tired of Lord Ricandros's lukewarm attitude and left, or Lord Ricandros, unable to bear the sight, married her much sooner than planned, Megara would be exhausted by the outcome.
"Pity has become a common excuse, so it would be nice if things worked out well with Abelus and Megara Ricandros.
Abelus Visto. Megara Ricandros.
If those vile individuals are so affectionate towards each other, this time without Neris as an obstacle, they should get closer. If they can outsmart Natasha, that is.
In Neris's mind, the faces of the Grunehalts siblings came to mind. Grumblings about Abelus and Megara having secret meetings. Natasha planning to kidnap Neris upon hearing this news and sell her, with the willing assistance of Eustace.
However, Neris was not the one Natasha should have kidnapped. After all, Neris had never once tried to win Abelus's heart, and Megara had already fulfilled Natasha's desire to become a princess.
So in this life, it would be best if the parties involved in the conflict fought well among themselves.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder