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Chapter 285: Bombshell Statement (4)
Chapter 285: Bombshell Statement (4)
Chapter 285: Bombshell Statement (4)
Even though Cecily’s speech, which was like a tactical nuclear strike, had ended, the fervor in the square showed no signs of dying down.
For now, the nobles and I were engaging in conversations, much like during the speech in Alvenheim, to strengthen our networks.
Most of the discussion centered around Cecily’s speech and speculating on how the future political landscape might change.
Given the clear evidence that the shackles binding the demons could be removed, it was a troubling development for other countries.
The demons were already several steps ahead in magic and culture. While the elves could match them in magic, culturally, it was a different story.
With the potential to break free from their restraints, Helium’s influence would continue to grow.
However, this didn’t mean that Helium would have the upper hand. While showcasing potential was good, it also meant giving time to potential enemies.
Thanks to Descal laying a solid foundation, Cecily wouldn’t immediately face all kinds of political attacks as soon as she ascended to the throne of the Demon King.
Nevertheless, it was an optimal situation for strengthening their internal affairs. No matter how much Cecily had subdued her inner devil, it would not be an easy path.
I expected a directive to be issued soon, especially since demons have a “little devil” adolescence.From the perspective of demon parents, it was the most dangerous time in raising a child, fraught with challenges as the child would be rebellious and their inner devil would run rampant.
It was already tough, and if the children decided to subdue their inner devil, it would be an additional headache for the parents.
Thinking briefly about the increased difficulty for demon parents, I shifted my gaze to the citizens of Helium who had watched Cecily’s speech.
O light we found in the twilight!
We shall never falter. Farewell to our shadow!
Let us move forward toward the light once more!
With their arms around each other’s shoulders, they were singing Helium’s national anthem passionately. Cecily’s speech had given the demons not just empty hope but a solid conviction.
Cecily had kindly demonstrated the process of subduing one’s inner devil, leaving no room for hesitation.
Now, what remains is for them to make a significant leap forward, not as demons but as part of humanity.
The inner devil that had confined them since birth was no longer something to be feared but something that could be overcome.
Though there would be many incidents and accidents with plenty of talk and issues, I believed they would manage well.
‘Not that I have to worry about my identity being exposed…’
As I conversed with nobles who approached to strengthen their connection with Marie and me, I glanced in another direction.
The person I was looking at was neither Rina nor Leort but Hiriya.
As usual, she was impeccably dressed in her uniform, talking to a noble who had approached her, but she occasionally glanced this way.
I didn’t understand why Hiriya showed such great interest in me, but the most plausible reason was my identity.
Perhaps due to her insignificant desire for revenge against Adelia, she had been watching me even during Cecily’s speech.
‘There’s nothing to hint at my identity… hmm…’
Cecily had called herself Xenon’s woman, but that was merely to say she was the person who inspired a character.
Some high-ranking nobles might question her, asking if she really has no relationship with Xenon. However, as I said before, Cecily didn’t lie. Even if they asked the gods, they would answer affirmatively.
Hiriya has no leverage. The only option was when Cecily looked at me, and Hiriya happened to look at both of us simultaneously.
Even so, there’s no certainty that Cecily was precisely looking at me.
‘I need to be cautious.’
I should avoid Hiriya for a while. If she approaches, I must find a way to evade her.
To do that, I need to spend more time with Marie.
Since Cecily will be busy with state affairs and unable to come to the academy, I will naturally have more time with Marie.
Moreover, given my duties as an assistant, it will be difficult for Hiriya to find me unless she actively searches.
“But do you really think Princess Cecily is Xenon’s woman?”
As I was lost in thought, someone’s question caught my attention. I looked ahead.
The person who asked had wavy blonde hair and striking blue eyes.
Objectively, she was quite beautiful, but with Marie beside me, she didn’t particularly stand out.
“Hmm… I’m not sure. It could be used for propaganda…”
“Shouldn’t we hear from Xenon first?”
“Yes, we can judge based on what Xenon says. If Xenon denies it, then Princess Cecily would have lied in front of everyone.”
Listening to the conversation, I realized I needed to write a letter.
There’s no lie in the fact that Cecily was the model for Lust, Lilith. Her seductive appearance, aura, and even her fighting style were all inspired by Cecily.
Since she was indeed the model, it was the undeniable truth.
However, I still need to write a letter for Cecily. It needs to be carefully written to support her claim.
“But do you really think Princess Cecily is Xenon’s woman?”
Of course, there are always skeptics. One man crossed his arms and expressed doubt.
Yes, not everyone would believe Cecily’s speech entirely. There would definitely be people investigating further.
Although she didn’t lie, the subtle truths within those words would arouse suspicion.
Cecily isn’t foolish, so she must have anticipated this, but it doesn’t change the fact that she’ll have a tough time ahead.
“If that were the case, she would have shown solid evidence instead of just making a declaration.”
“Evidence like what?”
“Well… there are many possibilities, but the most convincing would be…”
“A child?”
Flinch
When such a clear piece of evidence was mentioned, Marie’s body flinched noticeably. I could feel it vividly since we were holding hands.
I had been with Cecily numerous times, but we had always used contraception diligently, so there was no risk of an accident.
Despite the lack of solid evidence, Cecily had provided a definitive one by showing her devilization.
She had declared that she was the person who inspired Lilith and that she could subdue her inner devil.
Although it could be seen as wordplay or deception, let’s commend Cecily for her excellent rhetoric and eloquence.
After the brief meeting with the nobles, Marie and I moved to a different location. While we were relocating, Adelia, who had been watching from a distance, also returned.
Since we couldn’t enter Helium’s palace, we planned to stay at a noble-exclusive inn for now.
“Hmph. Xenon’s woman, huh… She’s outright advertising it.”
As soon as we entered the inn to rest, Marie grumbled. The inn was noble-exclusive and had spaces designed for couples, so it was soundproof.
This meant Marie’s grumbling wouldn’t be heard outside. Hearing her grumble made me smile wryly.
“Isn’t it fine since she was vague about it?”
“It might be fine for you, but not for me. This is practically a declaration of war against me. I need to make it clear that I am Isaac’s first. It seems she’s been getting bolder lately, and this must be why.”
Saying that, Marie began to take off her dress. Adelia stood by to help her undress more easily.
The dress was formal, so without help, it was hard to put on and take off.
Although Adelia had fumbled at first, she had become more adept during the vacation and now assisted more smoothly.
“You have something to say to Cecily too, right?”
“A bit, yes. I should talk to her about acting without consulting me.”
Even though there was a plan, her statement about being Xenon’s woman was as impactful as a tactical nuclear bomb, full of potential problems.
If it had gone slightly wrong, her demonization could have ruined everything—a tremendous gamble.
Also, making such a declaration without consulting me could have adverse effects.
“Don’t be too hard on her. Cecily must have had her reasons. And also…”
Tap
As I changed into comfortable clothes, I gently placed my hand on Marie’s delicate shoulder.
Then, bringing my mouth close to her ear, I whispered softly.
“Even if I reveal that I am Xenon, I will say you are my first.”
“…You better keep that promise.”
“Of course.”
As I gently pulled my face away from her ear, I saw Marie’s face turning red like snow-white rice cake. Her bashful reaction was so adorable that I almost proceeded with the main event, but I managed to hold back.
With Adelia present, it would be awkward to proceed here, and with dinner time approaching, I couldn’t afford to dirty myself.
‘My father-in-law is nearby too…’
Though I hadn’t met him yet, Marie’s father and my father-in-law, Duke Requilis, was also here.
He was of a much higher rank than us, so he was probably still conversing with other nobles.
While my father-in-law was working hard, it felt wrong to fool around with his daughter like a layabout.
You might ask if I disregarded Descal while at the palace. Descal actually encouraged me to spend time with Cecily, not worrying about him.
From his perspective, I am a treasure bestowed by the gods, so whatever I do, he wouldn’t mind and would even support me.
He even personally provided ‘dessert’ when I spent my first night with Cecily, so there’s no need for further explanation.
Knock knock knock
[Isaac, it’s me. Can I come in?]
While Marie and I were changing into comfortable clothes, a familiar voice came from outside the door.
It wasn’t Rina’s but Cecily’s voice. The women, including me, looked at the door in surprise upon hearing her voice.
Why was she here when she should be busy after the speech? Did she have something to say?
Though I was puzzled, I gestured to Adelia to open the door. Adelia promptly walked to the door with disciplined steps.
Click
As soon as the door opened, Cecily appeared in the same outfit she wore during the speech. Since Gartz was not with her, it seemed she came alone.
There was no fear of being discovered. She probably used invisibility magic or teleportation to get here.
Cecily thanked Adelia for opening the door and slowly approached us.
She had a happy smile on her face and walked with very light steps.
“What’s the matter?”
When Cecily stood in front of Marie and me, I asked with a curious tone. Adelia stood by the door, observing the situation.
Cecily, still smiling, looked back and forth between Marie and me before opening her red lips.
“Were you surprised by the speech? You must have been quite shocked. I said those things without consulting you.”
“Of course I was surprised. Saying you’re Xenon’s woman, don’t you think that was a bit much, even for you?”
As soon as Cecily brought up the expected topic, Marie crossed her arms and responded curtly, as if she had been waiting for this moment. I felt similarly but remained silent, staring at Cecily.
Cecily looked at the two of us with a deep gaze, then bowed her head low, a clear sign of an apology.
“I’m sorry.”
“··· ···”
“I admit that I acted out of selfishness. I didn’t consult you because I didn’t want to reveal my own ugly desires.”
“Ugly desires?”
“Yes.”
Then, Cecily straightened up and gave a bitter smile, one starkly different from the happy one she had worn earlier—a sad smile.
“At first glance, it seems like it wouldn’t harm Isaac, but that’s just a possibility. There will be people trying to dig into my past, avoiding Helium’s eyes. That could endanger Isaac.”
“··· ···”
“So I said those things and even transformed into a devil to ensure the focus remained solely on me.”
“Why?”
“Because if I had consulted Isaac, he would have undoubtedly told me not to worry about it.”
Cecily knows me so well. Indeed, had she discussed it with me, I would likely have given my approval without hesitation.
Perhaps it’s a sense of guilt. Maybe she feels like she’s only been taking from me and giving nothing in return.
As much as she knows me, I know her. Her devotion to me has always been strong.
“And by gaining the devilization ability, I came to understand my true desires. The ugly desires I mentioned earlier.”
“Desires?”
“Yes. To push Marie away and stand by Isaac’s side. Though it was my inner devil whispering to me, in reality, it was my repressed desire.”
Hearing this, my eyes widened slightly, but at the same time, I understood.
As I grew closer to Cecily, I sensed her jealousy towards Marie.
She had joked about wanting to bear my child first, about the struggle for the primary wife’s position never ending.
Though she had said these things in jest, there was undoubtedly some truth in them she wasn’t aware of.
Facing her true feelings while subduing her inner devil must have made her feel disgusted with herself.
She was allowed to stay by my side because of my choice and Marie’s mercy, yet she harbored ungrateful and selfish thoughts.
Not discussing it with me and dropping such a bombshell was likely an attempt to distance herself from me to some extent.
“That’s why I told you. Because now that I’ve faced my true feelings, I no longer…”
“Oh, please. Stop saying such nonsense.”
As Cecily seemed ready to make another bombshell statement, Marie interrupted her, full of irritation. I turned my gaze to see Marie’s face, filled with dissatisfaction.
Cecily, startled by the interruption, looked at Marie with her wide, red eyes.
“You’re not seriously suggesting, after everything we’ve been through, that you’re going to leave because of that, are you?”
“Well, kind of, but… Marie, I wanted to push you away and…”
“Ugh, this is frustrating. You should have said it like this during your speech! ‘My inner devil whispered to me, but that was my true feeling. The courage to face that truth…’”
Marie mimicked Cecily’s speech tone, delivering an exaggerated, humorous rendition. She continued without pause, clearly frustrated. As her impromptu speech ended, she turned to Cecily and asked,
“Are you saying you’re going to stay away from Isaac?”
“I have to. If someone sees me sticking close to Isaac…”
“Huff… Isaac.”
“Yeah?”
“You didn’t accept Cecily without considering this, did you?”
“No.”
This is where Marie’s dignity as the main wife shines through. I answered without any hesitation.
In the future, Cecily won’t be able to stay close to me because of political reasons. If anyone sees us together, they will definitely become suspicious.
When distance grows, hearts naturally grow apart. Even though she’s acquired demonization, she won’t turn into a demon from the pain of heartbreak.
From Cecily’s perspective, watching me from afar seemed like the best option. But from Marie’s and my perspective, it’s incredibly foolish.
“Noona.”
“Y-yes?”
“You were planning to stay away from me just because of that?”
I made it clear, word by word, that I had no intention of letting her go.
I’m willing to face any political attack or challenge. It’s my fault for not realizing her feelings sooner.
Moreover, even if it’s selfish, Cecily wants to be by my side. This is her undeniable truth.
“I can never let you go. If you leave, I will come to you. Understand?”
“··· ···”
As I declared this with firm determination, Cecily’s red eyes began to fill with tears.
Given that Cecily had only recently acquired her devilization powers, she was currently very emotionally unstable. This likely drove her to make such choices and confess to us.
Though her rational mind insisted she should leave my side, she truly wanted to stay close. These conflicting desires had left her deeply confused.
“Sniff…”
Finally, Cecily started to cry. Without saying a word, I embraced her small shoulders and gently patted her back.
As I comforted her, she clung to me tightly, as if she never wanted to let go.
Her horns pricked my chest, causing a slight sting, but mentioning it now would only spoil the moment.
“Sigh. A princess crying like this.”
Marie remarked, looking at the back of Cecily’s head with an exasperated expression.
When our eyes met, Marie shrugged her shoulders, displaying her characteristic nonchalance.
Then, she leaned close to Cecily’s ear and, to lighten the mood, made a playful remark.
“So don’t even think about taking the main wife’s position, okay? And I’ll be the first to have Isaac’s child, got it?”
Cecily immediately responded.
“N-no way…”
“What?”
“I’ll… be first…”
Her sobbing made her words hard to understand, but being close, I caught them.
Marie’s reaction was…
“You little…!”
She was incredulous.
Thus, this situation, which strengthened our bond with Cecily, came to an end.
[The Queen of Alvenheim. If Helium’s princess is the model for Lilith, then Elisha’s model is herself.]
Another bombshell revelation came from an unexpected source.
Translators note: