Please Answer Me - Chapter 123

“Why…?”

Then, something clicked in Rosetta’s mind.

“Could it be because of the magic stones?”

“Yes, it was before you were born, and Grandfather was under extreme pressure as the magic stones were running out. He must have thought, ‘Are the magic stones really only in Lysa? Maybe they exist elsewhere too?’ So, he investigated and discovered a massive amount of magic stones in the western region of Arden.”

“So, you’re saying the Basque chieftain kidnapped his mother because of the magic stones?”

“They couldn’t invade Arden without any pretext. They thought if the Basque chieftain made a move, the Quat tribe would be furious and attack the Basque tribe immediately. Then, we would have a sufficient reason to intervene directly. In the end, things didn’t go as planned.”

“And Father was the one who led that operation?”

“Yes, it was by Grandfather’s order. He commanded Father to reclaim Arden at any cost. But the Quat chieftain chose to die alone in such a manner that we couldn’t directly intervene, leading to failure. Then you were born, and it was revealed that you were the covenant bearer, which allowed us to catch our breath. But when Grandfather passed away and we could no longer use your power…”

“They needed the magic stones again. So this time, they resorted to stealing them.”

“Stealing… Well, I suppose that’s not entirely wrong.”

Her heart grew cold as ice. Her body trembled uncontrollably. The truths that were uncovered were more vile and filthy than she had imagined.

“…How could they do something like that?” Rosetta clenched her fists and shouted, “Let’s say the past was Grandfather’s doing. But they could have negotiated with the Quat tribe to trade the magic stones fairly.”

“If they had asked them to sell the stones, do you think they would have sold them willingly? They would have first tried to find out why we were so desperate to obtain those stones. Our secret power could have been exposed.”

“But to steal them?”

“If you don’t like it, you could always go back to the underground of the temple.”

Rosetta’s body stiffened. Tanit looked at her coldly and said, “Would you like that? At least then, in our generation, we wouldn’t have to reach out to Arden again. Or you could kill me and take the throne yourself.”

“Sister…”

“You want that chieftain, don’t you? Then do it. Become the queen, conquer that land, and bring the man here to be with you. As the owner of the golden bird, you could do anything, just as the kings of Lysa did in the past.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m speaking very practically. Our parents raised you as someone who knew nothing to prevent this sort of situation, but now that you know everything, there’s no more reason to hide it. Listen carefully, Rosetta. We have only three options. One, like the kings of the past, I can imprison you underground and use your power until you die. Two, you can prove your legitimacy, kill me, and take the throne.”

As Rosetta flinched and tried to pull away, Tanit grabbed her wrist. The strength of her grip was like a claw, leaving Rosetta unable to move.

“If you can’t do either of those, then accept the last option. It’s a compromise between the two. Live as you have until now. If you marry Iselle and go to Hezen, live quietly without doing anything for the rest of your life, and I’ll guarantee your safety. I might even make your child my heir. After all, I have no intention of marrying.”

Tanit looked at Rosetta’s pale face and spoke coldly, “Think carefully about which choice you’ll make. You’re an adult now.”

***

The nanny paced around the room. Unlike her, Allen had been sitting quietly in a chair for a while. Eventually, the nanny couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up.

“This won’t do. I must go to the princess right now.”

Allen let out a small sigh. “Just stay put. The princess didn’t bring us with her precisely because she anticipated this.”

“What if the princess tells His Majesty everything? I might as well offer my life for failing to serve the princess properly, but if His Majesty gets angry at her…”

“Even if His Majesty gets angry, it’s not as if he would kill the princess… Ouch!”

The nanny suddenly struck Allen’s back hard. She put her hands on her hips and scolded him. “Don’t you care about the princess? How can you be so indifferent?”

“It’s not that. It’s just that there’s nothing we can do but wait for the princess.” Allen rubbed his sore back.

The nanny let out a heavy sigh. “I should have persuaded the princess more. I should have firmly convinced her to abandon that absurd idea of not marrying Lord Iselle!”

“In the end, she’ll marry Lord Iselle. There’s no other choice.”

“Right? She won’t get entangled with that barbarian chieftain again, will she?”

Allen slightly grimaced at the word “barbarian.”

“Please don’t use such words in front of the princess. If she hears you talking about the man she likes that way, she’ll be hurt.”

The nanny cautiously asked Allen, “But are you sure? Does the princess really like that man?”

The nanny had joined them at Sirone and immediately came to this place, so she hadn’t had enough time to talk. When she heard Rosetta declare that she had fallen in love with the Quat chieftain and wouldn’t marry Iselle, the nanny was so shocked that she almost fainted.

Allen nodded weakly. “It’s true. Even if I don’t want to admit it.”

“The princess, who always saw men as stones… how did it happen?” The nanny suddenly leaned closer to Allen. “Allen, you saw that chieftain yourself, didn’t you? As a man, what did you think of him? How does he look?”

“His appearance was just average…”

“So, you’re saying he’s very handsome.”

Allen immediately put on a stern face. “How does that translate to handsome?”

“When a man says another man’s appearance is average, it means he’s very handsome.”

Allen gave a helpless laugh. The nanny continued her interrogation.

“What about his abilities?”

“He’s not completely without ability…”

“So, he’s quite capable. And lastly, his personality?”

“He was extremely annoying!”

“Even his personality is attractive. What are we going to do? Of course, our princess wouldn’t give her heart to just anyone. Her standards are so high.”

Allen covered his forehead with his hand. He wanted to argue with the nanny, but he couldn’t find the words.

The chieftain was good-looking, capable, and though he was a bit arrogant, he was certainly kind to the princess.

“Still, that man isn’t right for her. I hope she realizes it’s just a passing fancy and pulls herself together…”

“Nanny.”

“Hmm?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure anymore.”

“What aren’t you sure about?”

Allen sighed deeply. “I’m not sure if forcing the princess to marry Lord Iselle is really what’s best for her.”

At first, he had been strongly opposed, but now he was unsure. When Rosetta was with the Quat chieftain, her face shone, and she looked happy. Watching her ride with him, Allen realized that the saying ‘a woman in love is the most beautiful in the world’ was true. In contrast, when she returned to the palace with the duke, she was silent and looked miserable. It was as if her spirit had been drained.

“She’s not like Princess Tanit, who will inherit the throne, nor like Prince Arman, who holds an important position. Can’t the youngest princess marry someone she loves?”

The nanny let out a long sigh. “Well, if he were at least a lower noble in Lysa, we might manage something, but he’s a chieftain…”

Just then, the door opened. Seeing Rosetta enter, the two of them rushed to her.

“Princess…”

Allen couldn’t bring himself to ask the next question and only swallowed hard. Eventually, the nanny spoke first.

“Did… did you tell His Majesty everything? That you want to break off the engagement with Lord Iselle and marry the Quat chieftain?”

When Rosetta shook her head, they both sighed in relief. Allen, overjoyed, exclaimed, “Princess, you did the right thing. Even if you’re going to tell His Majesty, today is not the day. For now, rest and clear your mind…”

“Allen, tell Iselle to come to me tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what time.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“And I want to rest now, so both of you, leave.”

The two exchanged glances before quickly exiting the room. Rosetta walked to her bed and collapsed onto it.

“But I think your answer is already decided.”

Rosetta bit her lip as she recalled Tanit’s words from earlier. Perhaps, as she had said, the answer was already decided.

***

Iselle’s footsteps stopped at the palace garden. As he searched for the person who had summoned him, he noticed a head of platinum-blonde hair glinting behind a tree and walked toward it.

“Princess Tanit.”

At his call, the princess turned around. Princess Tanit, the heir to the throne and a woman whose power already rivaled that of the King of Lysa, looked at Iselle with a regal bearing.

Iselle quickly knelt on one knee and offered her a respectful greeting. Despite the long years he had spent with Tanit, he had never once neglected the formalities towards the princess. This time was no different. He only rose when the princess granted him permission.

“Why did you call for me?”

“I thought you would come to see me, but you didn’t. So I called you instead. I’m curious about what you think since Rosetta wants to break off the engagement with you.”

Iselle lightly bit his lip. “That won’t happen.”

“Well, she seems quite determined. It seems her memories have returned as well.”

“She will soon come to her senses.”

“Aren’t you going to ask for my help?”

“I can win Rosetta’s heart.”

“Was her heart ever truly yours?”

Tanit gave a small, bitter smile as she watched his face harden.