This Book is Not Available for Subscription Under the Age of 18 - Chapter 189

You’re Here Now? (6)

Before Chenin could say more, Evan hurriedly intervened, and I silently observed the scene before me.

“Why can’t I go? I’ll just sit quietly and watch. I can just laugh at her stupid face as she falls into despair!”

“You would be a hindrance.”

“What?”

Even Evan, who was struggling to hold Chenin back, spoke firmly enough to stop her in her tracks.

“You would be a distraction. So just wait quietly.”

Chenin’s eyes seemed about to burst. Her lips trembled, and her breath was so heavy that it made her chest rise and fall dramatically. However… she seemed unable to argue back, as neither of her two fists strike, only trembling under her arms.

“You know….all the hardships I’ve been through, so how could you…?”

“How could you say that? You call Serdebella the one who threw you into the abyss? Then what would the people who fell into the abyss because of you think when they see you like this? Would they laugh at you?”

“…What?”

“People in Sezaine who almost had their lifelong home taken away, the village chief who had to hand over his beloved granddaughter to an old and sinister noble, and even the past me who had to watch my husband fall into misery under a drug.”

“……”

“Bringing an ignorant person who only thinks of herself without considering the consequences is very distracting.”

I felt Chenin’s momentum deflate. Her eyelids, forcing back tears, were visibly trembling.

I couldn’t tell whether her tears were a reflection of her past regrets, or if she was angry at my firmness that left her unable to throw a tantrum. Or perhaps if it was a belated embarrassment about her own behavior. I couldn’t discern the exact reason.

Without any further rebuttals, Chenin chose to leave. Her footsteps made a quiet tapping sound on the floor, filling the room with an awkward atmosphere. The uncomfortable silence made no one dare to speak up.

“Ah…”

Amidst the uncomfortably silent room, Evan seemed to be the most uncomfortable. Despite his evident desire to follow Chenin immediately, his manners held him back, keeping him squirming in his seat.

“Um,… ah, that….You know that the execution of Count Abitz is tomorrow, right? The, the Demon King…”

“Go.”

“What?”

His persistent efforts to lighten the mood felt almost pitiful.

“Go and listen to Chenin.”

“…”

“We just arrived. We might need some rest.”

“Thank you.”

Evan, finally able to express his emotions, quickly stood up, bid farewell to Merson with a nod, and then followed after Chenin.

In the room now left with only Merson and me, there were four teacups still sitting there, not yet gone cold. The ownerless teacups, sitting undisturbed on the calm and clear surface, felt empty.

“You held it together well.”

I playfully grabbed Merson’s hand and toyed with it, pushing my thumb playfully into his palm.

“You did well too, Erina.”

“I didn’t really hold back.”

“I thought you might grab her by the collar as you did in Sezaine.”

I certainly held back the urge to smack her babbling mouth.

“Chenin isn’t as ignorant as she used to be. It’s like she’s learned to think a bit.”

“I always find Erina’s swearing amusing, no matter when I hear it.”

Hey, I just praised her, not swore at her, right?

Merson pulled his chair closer to mine, resting his cheek against my head.

“So, do you like her now?”

“Not so much liking her, but… I do feel a bit sad.”

“Sad?”

“Yes, sometimes she looks pathetic. Well, she might need a few kicks to snap out of it, though.”

I felt Merson’s cheek rubbing against the top of my head.

“If Erina thinks that way, then I’ll think the same.”

I think you need to have your own judgment… No, wait, no. Your judgment is too harsh.

We sat feeling each other’s presence for a moment. Then, we headed to the Emperor’s office to meet him. We should at least notify after suddenly coming to someone else’s house without notice.

However, when we teleported to our destination, there was only the Emperor’s aide, and no sign of the Emperor himself.

The gray-haired aide was experienced. He remained composed as he watched us appear out of thin air without any hint of surprise. He already seemed familiar with Merson’s face and respectfully greeted us, bowing one knee to the ground.

The Emperor was busy with the upcoming execution ceremony and the confiscation of County Abitz’s property. We didn’t want to cause any disturbance by intervening in his schedule, so we changed our plans to meet after the execution.

We were guided to a whole room… no, an entire separate palace, and the attendants that came with it was astounding. We were handed a list of entertainers, including actors, comedians, and poets, to ensure we wouldn’t get bored.

“I appreciate the gesture, but this is a bit…”

Burdensome.

Some might enjoy being pampered, but having lived as a commoner my whole life, I felt overwhelmed by the offerings. It seemed better to refuse than to accept more than I could handle.

In the end, we only accepted a single room, rejecting the separate palace, the entertainers, and the whole entourage of attendants. Of course, the room itself was more like a small house, with multiple rooms inside.

Until the execution ceremony was over, there was nothing much to do, so I considered going outside for a stroll. But the moment I made up my mind, raindrops started to patter against the ground outside.

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