I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

069. The Second Princess of Despair (3)

There was no thrill in Philia’s acknowledgment, as if I had answered correctly.

Instead, I blamed myself.

If it weren’t for my prejudices, this woman would have been easier to understand.

‘Fugitive.’

Before the regression, Philia had fled abroad.

It was the time when the war had just broken out.

A time when no one yet doubted the Empire’s defeat.

It was the time when the second prince had just become emperor.

―Her Highness the Second Princess renounced her royal status and left. Although there was some noise in between, the process itself was handled surprisingly cleanly. Some say that it was because her conduct could become a blemish on the current emperor’s reputation, and that she was expelled by the House of Estro…

Even my sister could only make such conjectures about the inside story.

So I believed those words as they were.

But let’s think a little differently.

Why did Philia leave as soon as the second prince became emperor?

No one thought about it because of the neatness of the process, but if she were really a fool, would she have left the Empire at that point?

No, she would have tried to stay until the end.

Why wouldn’t she?

The Estro family, my maternal relatives, had become powerful. The head of the family, who had always been fond of me, had become the de facto ruler of the empire. So why would I run away?

I added Ias’s words and Peto’s words to that reasoning.

So, a conclusion was reached.

This woman is actually pretending to be a fool and deceiving everyone.

She is protecting herself that way.

From what, then?

‘Probably the second prince.’

He knows how to be cunning and sly.

That is a skill that only those who know how to observe their surroundings can show.

The second princess must have left to see through the second prince accurately.

I am not foolish enough to resent why I did not protect the empire.

If my assumption is correct, Philia must have made the wisest choice she could.

But this matter was separate from that.

The reason why such a smart woman approached me.

That was the one thing I wanted to know, and Philia answered it that way.

“I thought you were someone similar to me.”

“Me, with Your Highness?”

“Yes, because you know how to hide yourself.”

Is that the story?

Then there was a misunderstanding.

I have never hidden myself and never felt the need to.

But yes, if judged only by appearances, it might seem that way since the rogue suddenly became quiet and even took the position of Grand Chancellor.

I did not bother to explain that.

Then Philia buried her head between her knees and said.

“So, I was curious.”

“Is that so.”

“I thought we could be friends if we were similar. But… hmm, you are different from me.”

She glanced at me.

Her face was visible through her hair.

It was close to expressionless, but there was a hint of loneliness.

Unlike before.

“You are confident, sir. You seem like someone who knows what you want. I envy that.”

“……”

“I don’t know. What I want, that is.”

Philia’s gaze turned once again to the distance.

The figure staring endlessly at the sunset enveloping the system… looked both blank and hollow.

Fourteen.

For someone that age, she spoke quite maturely.

Thinking about the 3rd prince, the 2nd princess, and even Aria, who would become the emperor at that age, it seemed that all royals matured quickly.

Philia shut her mouth tightly, as if she had no more will to speak.

I pondered.

‘What should I do…’

In the end, all of this was more about the personal curiosity of a teenage kid than anything grand.

That was the conclusion I reached, and it didn’t seem like this meeting would affect future events.

It could be ignored.

But for some reason, it bothered me.

Maybe it was because she looked so pitiful.

I made my decision at that moment.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“Have you eaten?”

Philia looked at me.

I took out a packaged cheeseburger from the backpack I had brought.

“If you haven’t eaten, have one. It’s dinner time, after all.”

Even the most beautiful scenery is better enjoyed on a full stomach.

Even misery is less miserable when you’re full.

* * *

Philia stared blankly at the cheeseburger Yuren handed her.

She knew what it was.

It was the food that Aria, who she occasionally conversed with, praised so highly, and the food that Kalios ordered from the chef almost daily.

Why had she never tried it before?

It was simply because she wasn’t curious enough to try it herself.

But now, she found herself holding such food in her hands.

As she stared at it in wonder, she heard a voice.

“If you’re not going to eat it, give it to me.”

“Um, I’ll try it.”

Following Yuren’s lead, Philia carefully unwrapped the packaging.

Then, the aroma of cheese and meat exploded forth.

Warm steam rose up in swirls.

How was this possible, she wondered for a moment, before taking a bite of the burger.

It was at that moment.

“…Ah.”

A low exclamation escaped her lips.

Her eyes widened like a rabbit’s at the most stimulating taste she had ever experienced.

It was an involuntary reaction.

Philia looked at Yuren.

He was chewing with a frown, as if something displeased him.

“Ugh… the seasoning is a bit strong.”

Philia blinked.

Then she stared blankly at the cheeseburger in her hand.

Silence followed.

It was quite a peculiar atmosphere.

There was no one around but Yuren and herself, and the breeze was cool.

The view of the island bathed in the sunset was as warm as ever, and so was the burger.

The mix of unfamiliarity and familiarity felt strangely special.

Philia didn’t know how to describe such a moment.

So she cast her gaze towards the island.

It felt awkward to look at Yuren any longer.

In that moment, something welled up inside her.

Her insides tingled too much.

It was also peaceful.

The dual emotions made me feel different than usual.

Was it because of that?

“…You know.”

“Yes.”

“I couldn’t do it like others. I think it was like that since I was young.”

Philia began to tell a story she had never shared with anyone in her life.

“I was different. I saw better than others, so I think I could be more careful.”

Philia suddenly recalled the moments she had lived.

It was very easy for Philia.

She knew it was called cleverness.

And she knew it could be poison.

“I am the second princess, you know. The second princess with a different mother from Callios’ brother.”

“That’s right.”

“So I must not stand out. If I am outstanding, it gives strength to my brother. Ah, I mean the second prince.”

“Ho.”

“Anyway, my brother is incompetent, isn’t he? Ah, this is a secret.”

“Isn’t it too well-known to be a secret?”

“Indeed. Whatever it is, I know everything will fall apart if my brother becomes emperor.”

Yuren chuckled.

Philia did not bother to delve into his intentions.

It was the first time she had ever shared her story with someone.

This was so unfamiliar and warm that she wanted to continue a little longer.

“So I hid it. Living like that, I suddenly became curious. Is everyone like this? Am I the only one living in hiding?”

“What was the answer?”

“I am peculiar. But I don’t want to change. Because this is right.”

“Well, you are not wrong. The second prince is beyond incompetent; he is maliciously incompetent.”

“…Then I started to think.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I have to live hiding all my life, where is my happiness?”

Philía smiled bitterly.

It was the first time she had made such an expression.

“So, I wanted to try love. Everyone says that’s happiness, so I thought maybe that’s what I really wanted. So, I wanted to try something hot and dangerous.”

“Is that why your partner looked like that?”

“What do you mean by ‘looked like that’? It was a carefully chosen selection.”

“Self-destructive tastes are not good.”

“Are you going to keep saying that?”

“…Go ahead.”

She glared at Yuren with a pout.

It was also the first time in Philía’s life that she had glared at someone like that.

It was quite enjoyable.

“…Anyway. So I tried, but it never worked out.”

“Did your partner get scared and run away?”

“More like my heart didn’t move.”

From noble mtl dot com

It was an embarrassing thing.

To tell someone who had asked to build a bridge that she wasn’t actually interested in them.

But she wanted to be honest.

At least for now.

“No matter who I met, I could see it. What this person wanted. What they were thinking.”

“That’s impressive.”

“When you see the bottom like that, it becomes repulsive. Their happiness… it didn’t feel like happiness to me.”

So, it became even more unclear.

But it was too late to stop, and the frustration grew as she became less and less sure of what she wanted.

Like drifting in the open sea, continuing such aimless actions.

“What is it? What I wanted… what happiness is.”

There was no answer.

Philía was not disappointed.

She just wanted to tell her story.

Finally, it was over.

So, Philía just took a bite of her cheeseburger.

The burger was still warm.

“…It’s delicious.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, truly.”

A gentle smile spread.

It was at that moment.

Yuren gave an answer.

“Isn’t that enough? Today, we ate something delicious, the scenery was quite beautiful, and we can go back and sleep well.”

“…Pardon?”

“If you don’t know what you want, so what. You got through today safely.”

A hastily made-up answer.

Even while thinking that, he said it.

“Uh…”

Those words scratched somewhere inside.

Today, too, safely.

Yuren’s words carried an inexplicable specialness.

Philia’s gaze turned to him with an indifferent expression.

“That’s how everyone lives. Most people in the world say that getting through today safely is happiness. Even the Peto you met said so. They hoped to see the sunrise safely tomorrow morning.”

“……”

“Happiness is generally at your feet, so if you look up, you might not see it.”

Philia glanced down at her toes.

Then Yuren spoke.

“You can live without knowing. And when you think of it once, look back.”

Philia’s eyes widened slightly.

“Then you can see it sometimes. The happiness that has passed.”

Yuren, who was speaking, was smiling slightly.

“It’s advice from an elder. Listen well.”

“Elder…?”

“Yes, elder. That’s what you called me.”

His gaze seemed to be drifting through some time in his memory, not seeing what was in front of him.

That aroused Philia’s curiosity.

It was then.

“Is this enough?”

“What, what is?”

“The teaching. Didn’t you call me for that? You even wrote it in the letter, did you forget?”

Philia blinked.

Then,

“Puhat…!”

She burst into laughter.

Philia understood.

‘Ah, that’s it.’

This person, who looked so delinquent, had come all the way here just because of a single word in the letter asking for teaching.

But why did that goodwill, that unfitting kindness, seem so out of place?

Why did the warmth embedded in that attitude seem so clumsy?

For that reason, she laughed the most refreshingly she had ever laughed in her life.

The louder her laughter grew, the more it felt like her insides were being cleared out.

“Hahaha…!”

Yuren glared at her mischievously.

Even that was funny to Philia.

“Sorry… sorry…!”

“If you’re sorry, then stop.”

“Puhup…!”

Philia covered her mouth with her hand.

Only after taking several deep breaths could she regain her composure.

Before she knew it, it was the time when the sunset was at its reddest.

Even though she knew it wasn’t true, Yuren’s skin, tinged with the sunset, looked as if it was blushing with embarrassment, making her feel strange.

So Philia murmured.

“Ah, this is fun.”

Philia wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

It was the moment in her life when she felt the most refreshed, when she could feel such emotions.

Yuren let out a deep sigh and stood up from his seat.

“Let’s go now. I’ve said everything I needed to say.”

“Yes, let’s.”

As she stood up to follow, Philia thought.

What should I do?

How should I repay this clumsy yet amusing person, who has given me such a ridiculous pleasure?

After a moment of contemplation, Philia came up with something suitable.

She took out a piece of parchment from her bosom and handed it to him.

As Yuren stared blankly at the parchment, Philia spoke.

“Thank you. This is a token of appreciation.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a parchment with the seal of the House of Estro.”

Yuren’s body froze.

His eyes widened as if they were about to tear apart, and his surprised expression was quite delightful.

His gaping lips seemed to be asking.

How did you know?

Philia placed the parchment in his hand and whispered.

“I told you.”

Their eyes met.

Philia smiled with her eyes.

“No matter who I meet, I can see it. What this person wants. What they are thinking.”

How could he think he would be any different?

…No, he was indeed someone who showed many unexpected sides.

That much, I acknowledge.

“Go back safely. I’ll go with the knights.”

Philia walked back gracefully.

Yuren stood on that hill for quite a while after that.

* * *

Philia’s steps were very light.

She hummed a tune as she entered the mansion of the House of Estro, into the head’s office.

There stood her grandfather, who cherished her dearly, with a face more stern than usual.

“Child.”

“Yes.”

“Did you hand over the seal?”

“And what if I did?”

Philia did not shrink back in the slightest.

In contrast, the head of the Estro family was visibly anxious.

This starkly highlighted the disparity between the two.

The old man, the only one in the world who now knew Philia’s true face.

Virgo Estro asked.

“Why…?”

To this, Philia responded.

With a cold smile she had never shown to Yuren.

“Can’t you even manage this much? Do you know how much wealth I’ve brought to you, Grandfather?”

Virgo Estro pressed his lips together tightly at her words.

As she said, the current Estro family had risen to the top of the three noble families because he had faithfully followed the advice of Philia, who was only seven years old at the time.

All the secrets of the Estro family, and all its power, ultimately flowed through her.

The puppet head of the family could not bring himself to argue with her.

He could only regret, why hadn’t he realized that this situation was part of Philia’s plan all along?

Meanwhile, Philia spoke.

“Even if it weren’t for that, Brother will never become Emperor. I’ve told you repeatedly, why don’t you understand?”

Philia sat at the head of the office.

Then she smiled like a young girl.

“Even if I don’t help with that, it won’t happen anyway. But if Brother does become Emperor, I’ll leave this country.”

“……”

“So, let go of any futile hopes. Instead, I’ll give you some good information.”

Virgo Estro bowed his head.

Philia closed her eyes gently and murmured.

“Strengthen the military.”

“…!”

“The royal family has closed the treasury. Just like animals hibernating in winter. For me, it’s a bit… well, you know.”

Tok, tok.

Philia tapped the desk in the office with her chin resting on her hand.

“It smells like iron and blood. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince wants a war.”

At that moment, the head of the Estro family devised another plan to dethrone Callios using this as an excuse.

However, he too was merely in the palm of Philia’s hand.

Philia thought.

Callios already knows to the point of exhaustion.

If he is preparing for war at this time, it is surely due to external factors.

And, that factor is almost certainly Yuren.

Though he may be clumsy, he is not careless.

It can only pique one’s interest.

‘What kind of war could it be?’

The girl wanted to know.

Why a man who loves peace and tranquility would prepare for war.

What the outcome would be.

Philia Orteare.

A genius who had to hide in the shadows simply because she was born in the same era as Callios, faced the most interesting event of her life and smiled joyfully.