Chapter 51: The Storm
Clap, clap, clap—
Applause rang out, echoing from more than just a pair of hands.
I turned to see the Lady standing at the door, somehow having made her appearance without me noticing. She was still wearing her white apron, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she clapped her hands relentlessly.
“Wonderful playing… huh, why are you crying?”
Her beaming smile froze on her face the moment I turned.
…Crying? Am I crying?
Confused, I raised a hand to touch my cheek, feeling a dampness on my porcelain-soft skin.
Then, emotions surged forth in an instant.
Cold, numbness, pain, despair.
A fierce desire to survive.
My breath caught for a moment; the complex feelings made my heart tighten abruptly. I pressed my hand tightly to my chest and gasped for air.
“Ha—ha—…”
Thud.
My body went limp; I fell off the piano bench and landed on the carpet in a crouched position.
“What’s wrong?! Are you okay?”
The Duke sprang up, visibly anxious, but before he could step forward, the Lady rushed to my side.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening? Do you feel unwell? Is it pain in your chest? Trouble breathing? Doctor! Doctor…”
Her panicked voice was accompanied by wild gestures—she was clearly in a frenzy.
I hurriedly waved my hand to indicate I was fine, but when I tried to speak, my mouth opened but no sound came out.
My heart felt like it was about to leap out of my throat.
“I’ll go get the doctor…”
The Lady was about to stand up, but I grabbed her arm.
“What’s the matter, my dear little aunt? Why are you pulling me?”
“…N-no need…”
Deep breath… deep breath… I’m fine… I’m still alive… I’m doing just fine…
My teeth clenched.
“Lady, Uncle Duke. I’m okay… I…”
“This child is clearly in distress, yet still saying she’s fine—”
After struggling to take a few deep breaths, I felt slightly better and looked up at them.
“I really am fine. I just… I remembered something.”
At my words, their eyes widened in shock.
“You…”
The Duke reached out towards me, but hesitated, leaving the rest of the sentence to the Lady.
“…you… you remembered…”
Her voice quivered.
She reached out to my face, gently stroking it. Her touch was soft and warm, similar to the memory of the little girl I once knew.
My heart rate began to settle.
“You… you’re Pepé…”
I gazed into her eyes, filled with joyful anticipation, but tinged with the fear of hopes falling flat.
This question had become quite easy to answer now.
Regardless of memories, the soul of Peilo resided within this body.
Or perhaps, it once did.
Even if it had faded for some reason, I thought…
“I think I am.”
The Lady smiled, though her lips trembled.
“You are Pepé… I wouldn’t mistake you… you are Pepé… even if the ages don’t match, I wouldn’t mistake you…”
Words failing me, the Duke lightly patted her shoulder.
“Alright, alright, we’ve known this for a while now—the answer was to be expected. You should be happy now; why act like a child? Pepé, how are you feeling now? Better?”
“Mm, much better.”
The Lady shot him a glare and wiped her eyes.
“Then, tell… mom, what did you remember? Why did you suddenly change like that?”
“I remembered… that night, when many soldiers were chasing me, I fell off a cliff… it was so cold… it hurt all over… so much pain… I was so scared… no one came to save me…”
I recounted that night’s events, bit by bit, from start to finish.
The suffocating despair still lingered in my heart, refusing to dissipate.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, uncontrollable, falling from my eyes onto the carpet below.
One drop, two drops…
Uncontrolled, because this had nothing to do with my emotions.
It felt as if this body was instinctively venting something.
At some point, the Lady had tightly embraced me, gently caressing my back, her voice choked.
“Don’t be scared… don’t be scared… it’s our fault for not protecting you… I’m sorry…”
I noticed the Duke’s fists were clenched tight.
“What happened after that?”
I shook my head.
“I don’t remember… but I do remember the one in charge. His name was Edward, black hair and black eyes.”
Upon hearing this name, the Duke’s eyes turned bloodshot.
“… It’s… Edward? How could it be Edward!” The Lady’s voice shot up an octave, her eyes wide in disbelief, “How could he do something like this… how dare he do something like this!”
“It seems… it was because of… Lafael, that he lured me out… who is he?”
“Edward Bradley, Winter Moon’s great prince, the first in line for the imperial throne, and also… your cousin. His father, Emperor of the Valen Empire, is your father’s real brother.”
“… In recent years, your big brother Lafael might have acted rather extreme, and their relationship isn’t too harmonious… among all the heirs, he fears your big brother the most.”
… I see.
So that day, both Peilo… and I were lured out, trying to negotiate some terms with Lafael… no, judging by the number of soldiers I remember, it seemed like they had murderous intent.
I must have sensed Edward’s sinister intentions and fled desperately to prevent him from succeeding, which ultimately led to my unfortunate fall off the cliff.
A victim of power struggles…
“……”
The Duke remained silent for a long moment, seemingly holding back something, his expression growing eerily intense.
I lay in the Lady’s embrace, feeling soothing softness as I instinctively wrapped my arms around her waist and closed my eyes.
My mood gradually calmed, and I suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness wash over me.
Maybe it was the overwhelming emotion from earlier, but I was feeling sleepy even before lunch.
After a while, I heard the Duke’s hearty laughter.
“Hahahaha——!”
His laughter was hoarse, sounding like an injured beast.
“E—dward! He—he’s your good son! Hahahaha!”
“I, Skarlij, have always worked diligently, aiming to ensure the Valen Empire flourishes! Just think about how much I’ve sacrificed, and how much Shanter Castle has contributed!”
“I focus on my work and never seek to compete with anyone. When the workshop gets bigger, you ask for control; I give it to you! Besides matters of the Holy Church, I can stay out of everything! You want to plant your own people in the Shanter Army? I’ll turn a blind eye—fine!”
“You’re still not satisfied; you want to k*ll my daughter… k*ll my daughter… you know this is my bottom line…”
Bang—
Something shattered.
“Are you afraid of me?! Hahahaha! Are you afraid of me?! … Well, I’ll make you afraid to your very core.”
“… Edward has been suppressed by Lafael all these years; he’s too anxious. The Emperor, His Majesty Kaynse, likely knows nothing about this…”
“Knows nothing? Edward wouldn’t dare mobilize the City Guard! Kidnapping my daughter, and then trying to threaten my son with it. If Lafael had shown up at the meeting back then, do you think what would have happened? Hmph, I’m afraid both my son and daughter would be lost!”
“… Is it worth it to stir things up to this extent just for that bit of power? Pepé is his sister… such a scoundrel…”
“People’s hearts are fickle… it seems my royal brother is getting on in years, becoming a bit senile. It’s time he stepped down from the throne.”
“!! What do you want…?”
“Aren’t they afraid? Afraid that I hold too much power? Afraid that Lafael might outshine the Emperor and take Edward’s spot as first heir? Using my daughter to threaten my son—well done, very clever. I had no such intentions before, but now… let me lend Lafael a hand.”
“Skarlij, what do you want… calm down a bit.”
“I’m very calm. After all these years, I’ve never been as calm as I am now.”
Through the haze, a rough, powerful hand gently stroked my head.
“Pepé, my dear princess. Daddy has made you suffer… don’t worry, anyone who dares to harm you, no matter who they are, Daddy won’t let any of them go. I’ll make you the Princess of Winter Moon, and no one will dare bully you again… sleep now.”
