Please Answer Me - Chapter 136

“What are you going to tell Lord Iselle? Are you really going to be honest and tell him that it’s another man’s child? You absolutely cannot do that!”

As expected, Allen’s reaction was similar to that of the nanny.

“So, you’re telling me to lie to him?”

“Princess, this is not a simple matter! No matter how much Lord Iselle loves you, raising another man’s child is…”

“I know what you’re trying to say. If he doesn’t want it, I won’t force him.”

“My point is that we need to approach this with more caution.”

“I’ve already thought about this carefully, over and over. What’s clear to me is that I will definitely have this child. And I will choose the path that is most beneficial for the child.”

Rosetta gently stroked her flat stomach. Strangely enough, from the moment she realized the child’s existence, a surge of courage had risen within her. She had never known how empowering it could be to have someone to protect. For the sake of this child, there was nothing she couldn’t do. After all, she was the only one in the world who could protect this child.

“For now, that’s all I’m going to think about. Protecting this child is my top priority.”

Allen, clutching his head in distress, paced around the room before speaking to Rosetta. “Fine. I won’t interfere anymore. But please, at least see a doctor. We need to confirm whether you’re truly pregnant and if your body is healthy enough to carry the child. I’m really worried about whether someone as small as you can safely give birth.”

Rosetta shook her head. “That won’t work, you know that.”

If she were to be examined by the court doctor, her parents would immediately be informed of everything.

“But we have my grandfather, don’t we?”

At Allen’s suggestion, Rosetta looked up. Allen’s grandfather, who had once been a court doctor, was now retired.

“I’ll bring him here. He occasionally visits the palace to see you, so no one will suspect anything. You can trust my grandfather, right?”

Rosetta nodded immediately. He had watched over her since she was a child. If she had to choose one doctor in the world she could trust, it would be him without hesitation.

***

Tanit descended the dark stairs. Since the day the temple caught fire and part of it burned and collapsed, Tanit had been allowed to come and go freely here. Currently, only two people have access to this place: the king and Tanit.

Tanit reached the bottom of the stairs and walked down a narrow corridor into a large space. Her gaze briefly flicked toward the room at the farthest end of the space. That room, where Rosetta had stayed until ten years ago, had been empty ever since.

Tanit turned and walked toward the room on the right. As she pushed open the door and entered, she saw the back of a man standing there. In the room, countless glowing stones floated in the air.

“Father.”

The king turned to look at Tanit, offering her a faint smile.

“Come in, Tanit.”

Tanit stood beside him. As they stood together, gazing at the same spot, the king spoke. “I called you because I have something to tell you. I thought it was time you knew.”

Tanit was aware that his recent behavior had been somewhat unusual. Under the guise of succession training, he had delegated all state affairs to her, including the national council meetings they had once attended together. He either stayed here or spent long hours meeting with the High Priest. Tanit had been planning to question him about it.

“What is it?”

“There’s been a change in the magic stones.”

“A change?”

“It seems that the magic stones are gradually losing their power.”

Tanit stared in shock at the glowing stones in front of her. The stones still shone brightly, appearing no different from before. With a hardened expression, she turned to the king, who continued speaking.

“The duration of their power is shortening. Especially recently, the power has been fading rapidly. The High Priest says the same. I cannot predict how long this power will last.”

“…Why is the power disappearing?”

“This was something that was always going to happen, and you knew it too. You know what happens when a covenant bearer is killed.”

When the first covenant bearer was killed by his brother, the world was overrun with monsters. Countless people died, and the long-established civilization of humanity was reduced to ashes in an instant. Only Lysa and the surrounding nations under Lysa’s protection survived the catastrophe. This was all due to the power of the magic stones.

Ironically, though the covenant bearer had been killed by his brothers, it was he who had opened the path for their survival. After all, the power of the magic stones was born from the covenant bearer.

“When Rosetta was on the brink of life and death, I had a premonition. If Rosetta were to die, the catastrophe would come for us again.”

When Rosetta was struck by an arrow, the golden bird incinerated the former king who had shot the arrow with its flames. The High Priest, trembling in fear at the sight, had cried out that this was an omen of doom, as the divine golden bird had punished a human with fire. He had declared that this time, only Lysa would suffer the disaster, and there would be no escape.

The priests who heard his words were deeply shaken. The king, knowing what would happen if they left the temple and spread the High Priest’s words, had them all killed to silence them. The dead could not speak, and the events of that day were known only to a select few.

But contrary to the High Priest’s prophecy, no catastrophe occurred. Rosetta survived. Although she lost some of her memory, she continued to live a peaceful life. Perhaps they had all desperately hoped that this would be the end of it.

“What exists is not to be feared. It is what will inevitably come to exist that is terrifying…”

Tanit murmured, and the king looked at her.

“You once said that to me. Was it a prediction of this day?”

The king smiled bitterly and nodded. “I said that a long time ago, in passing, but you remembered it well.”

“I was curious about what you meant at first, and later, I began to understand.”

“Recently, there have been reports of a golden bird sighted in the Arden region. It might not be just a rumor. It could be a sign that Lysa has lost the protection of the golden bird.”

Tanit could easily imagine what would happen if the magic stones completely lost their power. The authority of the royal family, which had relied on divine power, would plummet. The nobles, who had been suppressed by the overwhelming power, would attack like mad dogs, tearing their rulers apart. And they would fight each other to seize power. Toulouse would not miss such a golden opportunity. The Ardenese, led by the Quat tribe, would also try to exploit the chaos in some way.

She could vividly picture the thousand-year-old kingdom collapsing easily and instantly.

Tanit closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again. Clenching her fists, she spoke through her lips. “…What will you do if Rosetta regains her power?”

Rosetta had lost several years of memories when she was struck by the arrow. At the same time, she lost her power. But now, Rosetta had regained both her memories and her power.

“What do you want to do?” The king’s gaze turned to Tanit. His eyes, as green as Rosetta’s, were surprisingly clear and pure for a man of his age.

“Why are you asking me?”

“I have already shared much of my power with you. This country that I rule will soon become yours. I don’t intend to remain on the throne for long. The years have been exhausting enough.”

The king had never been particularly power-hungry. If he had had another sibling, he would have given up the throne and chosen a quiet life with his wife. But after losing his young daughter, he had ultimately driven his father to death and became king. Perhaps because of that, he had always longed to abdicate early and live in peace.

“My time is ending, and soon it will be your world. That’s why I’m asking. What will you do with your sister? Will you be consumed by jealousy and kill her? Or will you make her a living dead to take her power? Or do you have another plan?”

Tanit bit her lip. “Are you testing me?”

“No, I’m asking about your decision. It’s a choice that every ruler of Lysa must face. I faced it too.”

He sighed softly as he looked at the magic stones.

“When Iselle first came to me, I didn’t immediately accept his proposal. I was torn between wanting to save my young daughter and wanting to maintain peace by sacrificing just one life. I didn’t want to take risks. But in the end, I decided I couldn’t live as less than a human. So, I took Rosetta out of here.”

“So, you’re asking me to decide whether to be human or a beast.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to give it serious thought. You still have plenty of time. But all of this is only relevant if Rosetta regains her power, so it may not matter in the end.”

“What if I decide to become a beast? Just as the former kings did.”

“Tanit, do you know that the power of Maiastra originates from the desire to protect?”

“…The desire to protect?”

“The desire to save a small bird struck by an arrow, the desire to protect a human who has shown it kindness, the desire to give weak humans the power of magic to make the world a better place, and the desire to protect its people. That’s why Maiastra’s power does not attack others. The power is used to create indestructible swords, unbreakable roads, and impenetrable walls against enemy attacks.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“If, by some chance, Rosetta regains her power, it will no longer be a power in the hands of a helpless child. It won’t be something you can take away, even if you want to. But if you wish to protect, you may be able to obtain it.”

The king smiled lightly. His smile was surprisingly serene.

“Tanit, what’s important now is that we must prepare for an era without the power of the magic stones. It will be difficult, but let’s work on it together.”