MCFATTKM

167

Lelia stood blankly and looked at the window.

A few days have passed since Emperor Perseus left. It was peaceful outside the window. However, Lelia was still anxious.

"..."

'Do you really want me to do you a favor?'

It seemed as if the emperor would come and take her mother away at any moment. Lelia bit her lip in anxiety. She actually wanted to kill Emperor Perseus. She wanted to punish him by piercing his heart with her own hands.

However, she heard the details of the day through Emperor Perseus' servants. After that, her body felt cold. That day, when the emperor heard that they had found Lelia, he set out to find her. Then his madness appeared, and he accidentally found her mother's hut...

"..."

After hearing the story, Lelia couldn't erase the idea that she was to blame. What if she had been more thorough in hiding her appearance? Is it that she shouldn't have said those harsh words to the emperor in the first place? Had she not done so, he would not have suffered from this madness.

She had been in trouble for a long time, and she did not deny that it was his fault, so she asked Perseus to do it. It was her last request. The emperor quickly left the territory as if he would really do her the favor.

"..."

Nevertheless, her heart still beat anxiously. Fortunately, her mother woke up quickly and was now resting. Griffith stepped in and took care of her mother.

On one hand, she felt reassured, but on the other, her uneasiness continued to haunt her, as if in a dark cloud. Her life has always been like this. Except for her childhood, when she was in the temple, she was always surrounded with dark and damp clouds.

[Everything will be fine.]

Still, looking at the current situation, it was highly likely that the emperor would grant her request. Besides, even if he sends an army of wizards... Her friends were there. Her friends promised to protect the estate, her, her mother, and her family. They swore to Lelia she would be okay with them, as it was their habit.

That was then.

Knock knock

A slightly harsh knock was heard and the door swung open. She had already guessed who it was from the sound, but as expected, it was Kalix who opened the door and entered. Kalix came in with an excited expression, but stopped when he saw Lelia's dark expression.

"Hey."

"..."

"Are you okay?" He came closer and looked at her complexion. Lelia nodded her head painstakingly.

"..."

Kalix hesitated for a moment, as if he had something to say, and looked at her. What is he doing? Just as Lelia was about to ask, Kalix's lips opened.

"Would you like to go to my secret hideout?"

"..."

Somehow, it sounded like he was showing her great sympathy. Lelia let out a sigh of relief without realizing it. It was a sigh that somewhat resembled a laugh.

Kalix urged, "It's a better place than the hideout we made in the neutral zone... tell me quickly! Are you going or not?"

"... Let's go."

In response to the hesitant reply, Kalix raised the corners of his lips and smiled. As a child, Kalix was particularly fond of creating his own secret hideout. He knew how Lelia was, and that she would always come and disturb him when he was alone. So he thought of taking her to the secret hideout on his own this time. Like Lelia, who always came to see him as if she would not leave him alone, Kalix didn't want to leave her alone anymore.