Chapter 96 - My Family

Leaving Helene to Achillios, I went back into the palace. While I was able to find Helene and the coffin just in time without much trouble, I couldn’t do anything for the next little while. Nonetheless, I could take one of Achillios’s houses.

“A house?”

“Yeah, you said I’m your master, no? Give me a house.”

“With pleasure.”

Both Luciana and Helene looked on in horror, but Achillios was only too happy to help. He seemed to be enamored with the ruthless way in which I took things from him. I didn’t even care what his deal was anymore. I was preoccupied with other thoughts. 

Through talking to Helene, I realized something. From the moment I became Priscilla until now, I had never been lonely. My favorite character was living and breathing in this world. Would I have been like Priscilla if Daddy didn’t exist? That was a possibility. But I probably wouldn’t have. 

Chapter 96. My Family

My three favorites had something in common. Other than the fact that they were all extremely unlucky, Miltiades, Kais, and Priscilla were all alone. And they each dealt with this in their own way. Miltiades suppressed his emotions, Kais became hostile to everyone, and Priscilla… 

…Accepted everything unconditionally. She naively believed that someone would eventually accept her. The thought of this familiar emotion made me tear up. Why did I feel so sad whenever I thought about Priscilla? Was it because I became her? I wasn’t sure of the exact reason, but I was certain of one thing: it was a clue as to why I became Priscilla. Someday, I would find out everything, including the truth about Priscilla. Perhaps because I now possessed her memories, everything I knew about her felt fresh. 

I would never forgive them. Most of the people whom Priscilla trusted had betrayed and took advantage of her. The few who had stayed to protect her were eventually killed. I wouldn’t let the exploiters get away with what they did. I was not a good person. I wanted to live a happy life with Miltiades, but my plans had changed. After I ruined them all, I would live happily with Daddy. I decided not to think too much about Miltiades’, Kais’s, or Priscilla’s enemies. From now on, whoever messed with me became my enemy. “Perfect! The simplest way is the best one!” I exclaimed, satisfied that I had found a good solution in my mind.

“What on earth are you thinking about…?” Luciana clicked her tongue but didn’t push the matter when she saw the grin on my face. 

“Saintess.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t you have something to tell me?”

“Hm? I don’t think so.” Was there something that I needed to tell her? I wracked my brain, but couldn’t think of anything. Luciana remained silent. She seemed a bit upset. What was the matter? “Luci, what’s wrong? Are you upset with me about something?” I smiled brightly and grabbed her hand, shaking it slightly. Her mood seemed to lift a bit by my gesture. “Tell me if something is upsetting you, okay? You know you’re number one in my heart!”

“What do you mean? I know that Emperor Miltiades is the most important person to you.” 

“Ah, you caught me. How did you know?” I looked at Luciana closely, “Hm… are you upset that I’ve been caught up with the pretty lady?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then what is it? You’re not jealous of Helene?” Luciana made a somewhat intimidating face. I didn’t have any other clues to go on. I had to use my last resort. I took out the macaron I had been hiding and handed it to her. 

“I had been hiding this for a while…but you can have it.”  

My precious macaron! I had been saving it for later! Luciana’s expression changed as she saw my sad face, “Saintess, you really love macarons.”

“I love you more.”

“But not as much as His Majesty.”

“Do you want to be the first place in my heart?”

“No, I don’t,” sighed Luciana as she fed me the macaron. I took a bite, “Yummy!” Luciana saw the smile grow on my face, “You’re the prettiest when you smile.”

“So why were you upset?” 

“I wasn’t upset.”

“Yes, you were.” 

She fell silent and lightly sighed, “I just…”

“You just…?”

“Wanted to know why…you didn’t ask me to be your subordinate…”

Huh? I blinked in confusion for a while before realizing what she meant. “Luci, you want to be my subordinate?” I had no idea! Luciana’s expression changed slightly, but I was too emotional to notice. I really had no one else but Luci. “You were jealous, huh?”

“No, it’s not that…” Luciana sighed deeply, knowing that her denial would only further prove I was right. I didn’t even notice as I relished in my happiness. I had no idea Luci liked me this much. It was important to give as much as I took.

“Luci, you are not my subordinate.”

“Then what am I to you?”

What else could she be? “You’re my family!” Luciana’s eyes widened in surprise. I smiled at her. Luciana was always special to me. She had never tried to push me away like Miltiades, nor was she selected like Ludwig. She was different from Achillios and Helene as well. The real reason why I wasn’t lonely was probably because Luciana accepted me as I was. 

“You’re my mom, sister, nursemaid, teacher, hero, and friend.” She was an existence totally independent from Priscilla. The first person I met in this new world. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this ‘fate.’ “That’s why we’re family.” As soon as Luciana had been by my side, this fact was as natural to me as breathing. True parents are not only those who had given birth to their child. Even if it wasn’t recognized by the law, “You’re my family.”

I smiled brightly as I reached over and hugged her. A conflicted expression flashed across her face. It looked like she was about to cry. Luciana looked at me for a while before finally regaining control of her emotions, “Wait, does that mean His Majesty is my father?” Her disgusted voice brought an abrupt end to the touching moment. I couldn’t stop laughing.