Chapter 50

50

At the seamless response, my and Sharent Clow's gazes turned to each other.

Please don't say such chilling things. What daughter?

If I had been related to him by blood, I would have abandoned him as a baby and been adopted by another family.

Hearing my answer, the emperor, with wide eyes, chuckled lowly.

He glanced at me, then tapped the shoulders of the two children hanging from his legs.

"Eli, Derry. Play with the young duke's son."

"Yes."

"That boy is the young duke's nephew, so be kind to him."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The two children answered in unison.

They were a boy and a girl with golden hair, around the same age as Kaishan, but not quite at a level to mix with me.

"What is it, Your Majesty?"

Desar Clow, who had been silent, was the first to speak.

He was the one to break the silence, seeing the emperor's expression, which didn't look good.

I'm curious too, what happened?

"A ruin has been created."

"I know."

"The location is just 5km west of Onyx Village."

Desar Clow's face hardened.

Sharent Clow, who had been relaxed, crossed his arms and took a deep breath.

I also stiffened.

'Just 5km?'

It's a distance where the guardian might mistake the villagers for intruders.

The range of a ruin's guardian varies by type, but winged guardians usually have a wide range.

The problem is that the guardian that appeared this time is a 'wyvern,' a fierce, flying dragon.

'Onyx Village...'

A place you can reach in about an hour if you ride without stopping from the capital.

"Has there been any contact from Silophia?"

"There was no prior warning. Actually, this is understandable. They are responsible for managing existing ruins. The creation of ruins is somewhat mysterious and sudden, so we can't blame them for it."

The emperor, who had conquered the continent, seemed to be more reasonable than expected.

I thought he would blame everything on Silophia, but he didn't.

'What am I thinking about Silophia?'

I felt my breath catch as my thoughts involuntarily drifted that way.

My legs were starting to hurt from standing. I wanted to sit down. This poor stamina is exhausting.

Looking down at the soft rug, I was lost in thought.

"But now that the ruin has been created, it falls under their jurisdiction."

"Have you decided to send a detachment?"

"Yes. Silophia has already provided the entry conditions and information about the guardian."

"Already?"

Desar Clow asked, puzzled.

It was indeed strange.

'If they didn't know about the creation of the ruin in advance, how did they know the conditions?'

I had a bad feeling.

'Could it be...'

My face contorted involuntarily.

'...the senators.'

Those greedy old men are the problem.

Given the series of events, it seemed that Silophia knew about the creation of the ruin but deliberately kept it secret.

It's more surprising that they didn't feel the massive magical fluctuations from the creation of the ruin.

I even made a magic magnifier to prepare for any unforeseen situations!

"Let's have a slow talk with Silophia. It seems they've lost their reasonable leader and are thinking incorrectly."

A chill ran down my spine.

A thick aura of killing intent emanated from him, making it hard to breathe.

I involuntarily shrank back.

"Tsk."

A low sound of disapproval and a warm sensation.

When I came to my senses, Sharent Clow had somehow approached and embraced me.

"Calm down."

The killing intent enveloping my body made my vision flash white.

Desperately seeking something to lean on, I clung to Sharent Clow's clothes and buried my face in his chest.

My hands, gripping his clothes, trembled like leaves.

He patted my back a few times.

"Ah."

The emperor, seeing me over his shoulder, seemed to lose some of his intensity.

He looked quite perplexed.

"Your nephew seems quite sensitive."

As his intensity decreased, my trembling naturally subsided.

I felt like prey caught by a predator.

Sharent Clow, seeing my trembling subside, glanced at me indifferently and asked if I was okay.

"Ugh..."

I answered in a small, calmer voice, and he immediately let me go.

Am I some kind of dirt to him! How despicable.

Still, I felt a bit embarrassed after calming down.

Hella, the great, trembling from killing intent. Where did the stubborn me go?

Sharent Clow resumed his conversation with the emperor.

"We plan to send someone from our side."

"Hey, what's your name?"

Go away, let me listen to the conversation.

"This is Sherina, Your Highness."

Kaishan, who I thought always cried, spoke more politely than expected.

Good, you deal with them for me.

"It's better to increase the number of artifacts rather than hand them over to another country. The power of those with artifacts is like having an army at their command."

Artifacts are power. It's like giving a human a weapon that surpasses human capabilities.

"You already have one."

The artifact in the duke's family already had an owner.

It was Sharent Clow. I don't know what kind of artifact it is.

"Clearly..."

"I'm Eliyan!"

Move away!

"And this is my brother, Deryan. Nice to meet you, Sherina."

"Y-yes."

I gave a vague answer to the one in front of me and subtly moved closer to where Sharent Clow was talking.

"...So, the royal family needs one more, don't you think?"

Ah! I missed it! What did he say? What kind of artifact?

'I'm so curious.'

I gave up on listening to the conversation and turned my head.

The twin royals were looking at me with sparkling eyes.

"You're so cute."

You're quite talkative.

"Why don't you play with us?"

Deryan said.

I glanced at the prince and tilted my head.

His slightly raised eyebrows suggested he had a bit of a temper.

Dealing with such kids is annoying, so I had to handle them appropriately.

Of course, I wouldn't be the one to do it.

"Kaisha..."

"Huh? Huh!"

At my call, Kaishan jumped up and answered.

"Why did you call me, Sherina!"

Kaishan's eyes widened, and he ran up to me.

Will this kid grow up to be like Sharent Clow? I gently grabbed his clothes.

Kaishan is annoying, but he definitely treats me like a younger sibling. That means he always takes the lead in difficult situations.

Kids should play with other kids.

"Scary..."

I whispered with my eyelids drooping, and Kaishan Clow's eyes widened.

As soon as I finished speaking, Kaishan stood in front of me as if he had a big mission.

Seeing him block the prince and princess confidently, I thought, 'He's a Clow too.'

"...Then we'll do that. We'll prepare by tomorrow."

"It's urgent, so we'll leave at noon tomorrow."

"Yes."

Wait, what were the conditions?

By the time I tuned back in, the conversation was already over.

I bowed my head in despair.

'This was a great opportunity to learn about the empire's artifacts.'

I glared at the princess and prince in front of me.

And at Kaishan, who stood between them, refusing to move.

A sigh escaped me at the scene before me.

'How did I end up in this situation...'

This powerlessness never gets old.

And the fact that the people at my eye level are these kids.

What is this childish fight unfolding before me?

"Sherina will play with me! Kaishan always plays!"

Since when were we so close?

"No, Your Highness. Sherina is scared."

Kaishan, you always cry and get beaten up, but it was all an act?

His firm voice was unlike the usual Kaishan. It sounded like someone else.

'He's so decisive.'

Of course, the prince and princess dealing with the decisive Kaishan are no ordinary kids.

'Why are these future leaders fighting in front of me?'

Just go grow in a field with plenty of fertilizer.

"Stop talking like that. You yield today, Kaishan!"

Prince, I wanted to say this from the beginning, but your pronunciation is off.

I noticed his front tooth was missing. He's at the age where he's growing.

"No. Besides, Sherina doesn't always play with me either!"

Kaishan shouted, sounding wronged.

I'm sorry, kids.

'I'm the sinner.'

I walked between the three, giving up.

It doesn't seem like Sharent Clow will take me to the ruin, and even if I go, I can't do anything in my current state.

Giving up made me feel a bit better.

When I reached out to the princess, she quickly grabbed my hand. She offered her other hand to Kaishan, leaving the prince standing alone.

The prince looked very disappointed. His outstretched hand, full of hope, was pitiful.

What can I do, I only have two hands...

"Shoulder... grab it?"

Just grab my shoulder or sleeve. I can't grow an extra hand on my back.

If I could use magic, I would have made a fake hand for him...

"Well, you yielded to Nuni, so there's nothing I can do."

Why is he so straightforward?

The prince really grabbed my shoulder. Seeing the kids huddled together, I sighed even more.

'I want to be free, kids.'