The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 81: The Distance Between (II)

Actually, it was positive.

Having been with the emperor for a long time, Eristella couldn’t help but have doubts as well.

Although he did not have a great talent for magic, he was thoroughly educated as a member of the imperial family and well-versed in theory.

He was also proficient in many fields including swordsmanship, and besides, it was not easy to break through the strict boundaries and approach the emperor. How could that maid have brainwashed him?

No matter how much she thought about it, there was only one big possibility.

The emperor calmly revealed.

“To be honest, I knew of the existence of black wizards before I was brainwashed.”

“…What?”

After he ascended the throne, he inherited a national treasure passed down from generation to generation only to emperors.

It was an old treasure commemorating the founding of the country. A record, and a few paintings that were not publicly disclosed. It didn’t take long for him to realize that the paintings weren’t just about the founding.

There was something hidden in this work.

He couldn’t turn a blind eye to a question that had arisen.

The emperor pursued the truth contained in the painting, and in the process, came across black magic.

“And I found out that black magic continues to this day.”

“…….”

“The traces were cut off, but its faint presence has been growing in strength since more than ten years ago.”

He discovered it was when he was 19-years-old and still had a good friendship with Eristella.

It was a time when he was stabilizing his reign bit by bit. He was an emperor who shone more brilliantly than anyone else, who had no doubt that he would make the empire more prosperous than ever.

The appearance of the emperor then came to the listeners’ mind.

“I had to be prepared. But I was too clueless to get a clue about them.”

19-years-old. He was too young to bear the fragments of truth, but as the emperor, he was not allowed to use that excuse.

“I went too far. I have to show some loopholes for that side to move as much as I want.”

The emperor sighed lightly, shaking his head.

“I thought I was careful though.”

He took it for granted.

“Why didn’t you tell Eristella?”

Heinricion, who had been listening to the story until then, cautiously asked.

“Especially considering she has stronger magical power than anyone else in the empire.”

The emperor made a puzzled expression at Heinrision’s question.

According to common sense, the moment the emperor learned of the existence of black magic, he should have consulted Eristella.

Instead, the emperor almost ruined everything by moving alone.

“…I couldn’t.”

The emperor glanced at Eristella as if he was still hesitant to speak. He couldn’t bear to tell Eristella about the hypothesis he had come up with.

Then, the silently watching girl quietly said,

“Is it because it is related to dad and mom? Maybe the entire imperial family is involved.”

Her voice was as per normal, as though she had already made up her mind to accept it. But even so, it trembled inevitably.

“You already knew.”

Pretty much confirming what she had been thinking, the emperor fell into a deep silence.

Eristella understood everything.

The emperor would never have been able to tell her.

Eristella loved her father and mother, and she had a lot of pride in the empire.

That’s why… he didn’t want to damage Eristella’s affections.

It was the same with Eristella.

A lot of things got tangled up while they made secrets thinking they were being considerate of each other.

“I think it has something to do with what the black wizards are aiming for.”

Extra weight was heavily placed on the scale of doubt.

Father and mother. And something in the imperial family’s past that they didn’t know about.

The black wizards reached the point of revealing their presence, and what they said suggested that what they were aiming for might have something to do with the imperial past.

Therefore, only by finding out the past link between the imperial family and the black wizards could they find out the true goal of the black wizards.

“…….”

Wordlessly, Eristella and the emperor looked at each other. The two of them were family, so they could tell what each other was thinking.

There might be a truth waiting in front of them that was better not to know.

—Are they prepared to face those possibilities without turning a blind eye?

Having made up her mind, Eristella smiled.

At that very second, the emperor, who had been conversing in a healthy state, suddenly coughed.

Unlike his appearance, it seemed his weakened body could not withstand it.

“Brother. Are you okay? Can you continue?”

Eristella couldn’t help but be sensitive to the small details of the emperor. Worried, she looked over his frame.

She was terrified, fearing that at this rate, the emperor would collapse again.

Fortunately, the emperor’s cough quickly subsided. He cleared his throat and smiled lightly.

“You’re too concerned over just one cough.”

The emperor’s spirit returned, but his body, which had been weakened over the past few years, could not immediately recover.

He  glanced down at his own body again. His bony arms jutted out, bones sticking out at every joint.

Even without looking in his mirror, he could guess what his face would look like.

His healthy body, which had been strengthened through long training, disappeared without a trace, leaving only a skinny and scrawny body.

Eristella’s heart was also heavy as she watched. She was afraid the emperor would feel helpless at his weakened appearance.

But although the emperor looked at his body condition bitterly, he took his gaze away without regret and smiled lightly.

“It can’t be helped. I have no choice but to slowly build up my health again from now on.”

The emperor was not in a hurry.

Even though the past hours were painful, he did not regret or hold on to what was already done.

He was always on the side of seeing the possibilities in front of his eyes.

“I can’t lose to the Grand Duke of Adelasia.”

And he spared no effort to achieve his goals.

“I look forward to the day you compete with me again.”

“Do expect it.”

Even after setting a goal that seemed impossible for his frail body, the emperor remained calm.

Although he now possessed a haggard appearance due to being eroded by black magic for a long time, he was originally a promising knight.

Compared to Eristella, he didn’t have any noticeable magical power. However, he was gifted with the sword.

It might take a long time, but if he went back to the way he was before, Heinricion wouldn’t be able to deal with him easily.

When that day comes, he would be the emperor who protects and makes the empire prosper again like before.

“There’s something I’m more concerned about.”

The emperor spoke meaningfully, his gaze alternating between Eristella and Heinricion.

Earlier, when he observed the room…

The room where he, Eristella, and Heinricion were located and the outside were perfectly separated. It was in a state of being blocked, to prevent sound from leaking out as well as to protect.

Though it made sense since they were protecting him, it seemed that the space was more thoroughly separated to hide something else.

The emperor’s eyes landed on Eristella.

“I guess I need to hear an explanation now, Lala.”

“Yes?”

“While I was down, I came back to consciousness a few times.”

The emperor looked at Eristella intently and continued speaking.

“I’m pretty sure I saw something then. What is it?”

Eristella was sweating profusely.

‘I guess he didn’t completely lose his mind then.’

‘Uh. My brother’s gaze is too hot.’ 

She knew how her brother would react if he knew that she too was under the influence of black magic.

Uhhhhhhh.

Averting her gaze, Eristella muttered in a sheepish voice.

“It’s only from midnight until the sun rises that I maintain the form I’m in now.”

As for the rest of the time, she was trapped in a fox’s body. And while hiding the fact that she was alive, she lived as a fox of the grand duke. She explained it entirely.

The emperor’s face became even harsher when he learned what had happened to his sister.

“No need to worry. At least I’ll return for a part of the day.”

The brighter Eristella spoke, the darker the emperor’s face became.

“I’ll find a way for you to return to your original form at all costs.”

The emperor resolutely promised.

He was more heartbroken by the current situation of Eristella than the pain he had suffered these few years.

“From now on, your brother will protect you.”

Right when the emperor was busy thinking about what to do next.

Heinricion looked out the window and said,

“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to go back now.”

Morning would come soon.

They must return without delay when Eristella changes into a fox.

The second Heinricion got up from his seat and glanced at Eristella…

“Grand Duke Adelasia.”

The emperor spoke to Heinricion.

“I’d like to have a little talk with Eristella, just the two of us.”

As the emperor said this, his gaze was fixed on Eristella. At his apparent request to leave, Heinricion’s eyes lingered on Eristella.

He could guess what the emperor would say in his absence. Maybe after the conversation, he wouldn’t be going home together with Eristella.

But that’s none of Heinricion’s business.

“…All right.”

Heinricion turned around. 

But, strangely, it bothered him. Uncharacteristically, before walking out of the last door, he glanced back at Eristella. 

…He saw nothing but Eristella’s back as she turned toward the emperor.