The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Reason for Living (3)

***

Alexei Yekaterina.

The Emperor of the Empire, the second most powerful nation in the world, was a man who ascended to the throne purely by luck.

Nine competitors.

Ten siblings, including himself. He and his late wife had been on a trip to an island when a sudden storm stranded them.

By the time they finally returned to the Empire, his siblings had all perished in a war of succession. He was the sole surviving member of the imperial family, and thus, became Emperor by sheer chance.

Having become Emperor in such a way…

…he was far from the image of a stern, powerful ruler. He was generally perceived as a kind, affable man, a devoted husband.

However, he was also known to be stubborn and even tyrannical when it came to matters concerning his wife and daughter.

"…Are you serious? I can't make you a Duke, but I can certainly grant you the title of Earl… I'll ask again, are you sure?"

And now, this doting father, this lovestruck husband, had realized that there might be someone who cared for his daughter as much as he did… or perhaps, even more.

No, he had realized that such a person was standing right in front of him.

"Yes, Your Majesty. My answer remains the same. Please do as I ask. This is the only way to save Her Highness."

***

Upon returning to the palace, the Emperor and I immediately sought out Lili. He didn't want to risk me breaking the precious elixir while carrying it around.

Yes, finding her was our top priority.

Fortunately, Lili was taking a nap in her bedroom. We were able to give her the elixir as soon as she woke up.

"Huh, the elixir…? It'll cure me…? Uh… the color is weird… F-Fine, I get it! I'll drink it…! I'll drink it, so stop looking at me like that!"

…You wake me up from a perfectly good nap just to give me this rainbow-colored juice and tell me it's the elixir…?

Grumbling, Lili brought the elixir to her lips.

-Gulp gulp gulp.

As the rainbow liquid flowed down her throat, her body began to transform.

Her hair, a dull mix of silver and white due to her illness, turned a vibrant silver, the ends tinged with pink, shimmering with life.

Her pale, almost lifeless skin became smooth and radiant, like white jade.

Her lips, a faint blue, regained their cherry-red hue.

The frail girl, who possessed an innate grace despite her illness, blossomed into a breathtakingly beautiful young woman, captivating enough to make anyone stop and stare.

'…In a few years, she'll outshine any actress.'

Her beauty was truly captivating. Even the Emperor and I, who witnessed her transformation from a sickly girl to a vibrant flower, were mesmerized.

Hee hee. …She giggled, looking at our stunned expressions, then began running around her bedroom.

"Wow! Amazing!! This really is the elixir?! I feel like I could fly! I've never felt so refreshed!!"

I was happy.

Seeing her running around in her nightgown, carefree as a child, showing no signs of illness.

Her smile, brighter and more cheerful than ever, directed at us.

I was happy.

….
….
…Yes, I was happy.

"But Father…! Where's Mother? I want to show her! She'll be so surprised to see me running around like this!"

Until she asked about the Empress, who had already passed away.

"…Huh? What do you mean, Father…? I… I can't see Mother anymore…? What are you talking about…!!"

Until the Emperor personally delivered the news of the Empress's death.

"…Don't tell me… this happened while you were searching for the elixir…? Finn, Father, Mother… all of you disappeared at the same time… Don't tell me… No…? "

Until she realized how the Empress had died.

"…And I don't see Finn's parents either? Where are they…? I employed them as attendants too… …Don't tell me… Finn's parents too…? N-No…? That's not true, right?!"

Until she realized that my, Finn's, parents had also died for the same reason as the Empress.

"…All… All of this… because of me? Because you were trying to cure me…? Everyone…? Ahaha… So… it's all my fault…? Mother? Finn's parents…?"

Until she believed that her mother, and Finn's parents… had died because of her.

"…No, don't tell me it's not true. It is, isn't it? They died because of me. They died trying to get this elixir. Tell me, how else did Mother and Finn's parents die?"

"…You can't answer. So it's true. Mother and Finn's parents are really dead? It's not my imagination."

Until our silence confirmed her worst fears.

"…Because… of me… To save… me… Mother…"

Until she collapsed, unable to bear the shock… I was happy.

"L-Lilisiana…!!!"

"Your Highness!!!!"

…And I regretted it.

Rushing to find her before anything else.

I should have discussed it with the Emperor beforehand, prepared her for the news of the Empress and the others.

I regretted it deeply.

***

"…I'm deeply sorry, but this is a matter of the heart… It's beyond the reach of medicine or healing magic. She's lost her will to live, her reason for living. The Empress's death… was too much of a shock… Unless something happens to rekindle her spirit… only time can heal this."

The 42nd physician's diagnosis. Or was it the 43rd?

Countless physicians had tried various treatments and medications. The Empire's most renowned priests had offered their blessings.

Yet, her condition remained unchanged.

This wasn't a physical ailment. She had closed herself off, refusing to interact with the world.

'Outwardly, she looks just like I did before I regressed…'

But there was a fundamental difference. She hadn't suffered any physical trauma.

…She had simply given up, locked herself away to escape the painful reality of her mother's death, blaming herself.

Just like I had.

Like a person in a coma.

Lying in bed, waiting for death.

"…I see. You may leave."

The Emperor, his face grim with sorrow, dismissed the physician. The stench of alcohol clung to his breath.

He had raged at the first twenty physicians, demanding they find a way to cure his daughter.

But now, he seemed to have lost his energy, or perhaps his hope. His days were spent drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

'Not only Lili, but the Emperor might die first…'

His skin was gaunt, almost skeletal. Dark circles reached his chin, and his beard was unkempt and overgrown.

Alexei was a living testament to what happened when hope turned to despair.

…Having lost his wife, and now with his recovered daughter in a near-vegetative state, the doting father couldn't bear the torment. Alcohol was his only solace.

…I understood.

'…I'm no different from the Emperor.'

Since her collapse, I had been tirelessly caring for her, day and night.

I couldn't drink, and I wasn't old enough to grow a beard, so I looked better than the Emperor, but otherwise, we were the same.

'Now that I'm doing it myself, I realize… Lili, who took care of me when I was paralyzed… was truly amazing.'

Although maids attended to her needs and priests kept her nourished with their magic, caring for someone completely unresponsive was incredibly difficult.

She had cared for me… for four years, never giving up, driven by love alone, despite her own frail health. I finally understood her strength.

"Lili… Lili… Please wake up… I beg you… Please…."

The Emperor's sorrowful, desperate plea. He clutched Lili's hand every day, begging her to wake up, clinging to the physicians' words that only time could heal her.

…Hoping that if she heard his desperate pleas, if she pitied his wretched appearance, she might wake up sooner.

'Bullshit… That's the same as telling us to just sit and wait.'

…This wouldn't do. I couldn't just wait, relying on the physicians' empty promises.

She had lived for me, burned her life away to stay by my side. She loved me. She devoted herself to me.

All I had done in return was give up an eye. A paltry offering compared to the love she had given me.

'And… I made a promise.'

To him. To Finn.

…To make Lili happy. To end her suffering.

I made that promise to Finn, who entrusted even his life as the Sword Saint to me.

So, I decided that tonight was the night I would put my plan into action.

…A plan I desperately didn't want to resort to, but any further delay was too dangerous.

For the Emperor, for her, and for me.

So, that night, I went to see the Emperor, just like I had before.

***

-Creak.

This time, I didn't go to the audience chamber, but to the reception room.

…Because that's where the Emperor usually drank.

The stench of alcohol and loneliness assaulted my senses as I opened the door.

His slightly dilated pupils and ragged breathing painted a clear picture. This wasn't the Emperor, but a mere drunkard.

"…? Ah, Finn, is it…? Yes, tending to Lili until this late hour? You're truly… devoted."

The Emperor looked at me, arriving after a long night of caring for Lili, with a weary shake of his head.

"It is my duty, Your Majesty."

As always, I simply stated my obligation. The Emperor looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"Duty… Duty… sigh… A young boy like you, sacrificing an eye and now your life… I'm not sure if that's truly your 'duty'."

"So, what brings you here this time? Did you find another way to cure Lili? This time, it's not a physical ailment, but a matter of the heart."

The Emperor chuckled, his tone suggesting he didn't expect an answer, yet a hint of hope lingered in his voice.

'…Then I shall meet your expectations.'

"I've come to ask you to grant me the wish you promised."

"A wish…? Ah… right… a wish… Tell me, what do you desire? Lili… as you know, is in such a state… there's nothing I can do."

The Emperor's face darkened at the mention of his daughter. Despite his words, he seemed to be hoping that his devoted attendant had found a solution.

'At least hear me out.'

"No, Your Majesty. My wish is quite the opposite."

"Opposite…? The opposite of being with Lili… You want to leave the palace? You?"

You, who can't live without Lili?

The Emperor looked at me, clearly surprised by my request.

"…To be precise, I wish for something that will ultimately lead to that."

"…Stop beating around the bush. Tell me what it is. Unless it's too outrageous, I'll grant it."

….

…This is pretty outrageous…

If my wish was granted, Lili would hate me.

But I had to do it. I had to ask the Emperor for this wish. My limited mind couldn't come up with a better solution.

So, I looked at the Emperor and spoke.

With the same look in my eyes as Finn, who had declared he would gladly accept a noble death for his liege.

A way to save her, the woman who had lost her will to live, who had become like a living corpse…

"…I wish for you to tell Her Highness that the Empress's death… was my fault."

A way for me to become her reason for living once more.

This time, not as a loved one, but as the object of her hatred, someone she wanted to tear apart… I conveyed my resolve to the Emperor.

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