39
「If it is alright with you, Arthur, if you come to the archives around this time, I will teach you letters. Only for a little while, though……」
「Luca-oniisama, is that alright?」
「Yeah…… because I had fun too.」
「Arthur, how wonderful for you.」
「Luca-oniisama, please take care of me! I will try my best at studying.」
「……」
At Arthur's angel-like smile, Luca nodded despite feeling embarrassed. Although she felt a hazy feeling as if Arthur had been taken from her, Candice and Arthur waved to Luca and left the archives ahead of him with the books.
Arthur was happily showing the letters he wrote to Jeanne. Perhaps happy about Arthur's growth, Jeanne hugged him while wiping her tear-blurred eyes. Holding the books, he pestered Jeanne to read them to him.
After seeing off Arthur and Jeanne, who were going to read books in the courtyard, it was when Candice was walking while chatting and holding books together with Eva and Rose, intending to return to the White Palace as well.
Perhaps because she was walking while explaining the contents of the books, she ended up bumping into someone, and Candice's body was sent flying backwards with incredible momentum and rolled over.
「Ouch……!」
She thought it was strange that Eva and Rose, who normally would immediately call out, 「Are you alright!?」 and worry about Candice, were not uttering a single sound. When Candice looked back at Eva and Rose while pressing the head she had bumped, the two were bowing their heads more deeply than she had ever seen.
Feeling pressure from the front, Candice slowly directed her gaze upward. Platinum blonde hair was shining brilliantly, illuminated by the light streaming in from the window. Deep purple eyes like amethysts glared piercingly in this direction. At the intimidating presence that felt electric, Candice swallowed with a gulp.
（His Majesty the Emperor Valentin…… perhaps it's better to say Otou-sama. Why is he here?）
Since Candice's range of action had expanded, and since this was the Violet Palace, it was only natural, but for a coincidence, wasn't this the absolute worst timing? Never expecting to run into him, Candice stiffened her body while still sitting on the floor.
She felt a tremendous pressure from above. In the past, she would have rejoiced upon seeing his figure, but now it was completely different.
（They are the same eyes as that time…… scary!）
Her breathing unconsciously became shallow. That day, Valentin plunged Candice into despair. On his orders, she was locked in the dungeon, received punishment, and then had her head cut off.
『I will never love you.』
Such words still pierced Candice's chest like thorns even now.
（Because I killed all my siblings. Even before that, maids, servants, guards, and completely innocent people. I hurt so many people I can't even count them…… there's no way I could be loved. It's only natural that I receive punishment.）
Since time had turned back like this, all she could think about was regret for having acted so selfishly. Toward Arthur, toward the maids and chefs, and toward the people working in the White Palace as well. Now, by getting involved with various people and deepening her relationships, Candice had had many new realizations.
Candice had changed her actions with the Exact Opposite Strategy, and it was the same toward Valentin. The way they interacted would probably increase from now on. Candice understands that no matter what she does, she will not be loved by either her father or her mother.
（I can no longer…… obtain love from my parents.）
As she bit her lip and endured the urge to let out a scream, a man with black hair and black eyes peeked his head out from behind.
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