Don't Concern Yourself With That Book
Chapter Side Story 3-7

Side Story 3-7

Translator: yun

“Rebecca!”

Not long after she sent off Ashley, the Duke of Aventa came running looking for her.

“Do not take a step foot out of this place. No matter what, do not leave the princess’ palace. The Aventas were not involved in the coup. But someone close to the princess was. And as a result, we might find ourselves in trouble for being associated with them. It would be best if you can leave here… but that would only cast more suspicion onto us. You have to listen to your father.”

It was only at that moment did Rebecca learn that there was a coup. 

The coup had started off violently. However, it was all for vain. The coup that had begun like a large forest fire was extinguished ridiculously easily. It was all because of the power the emperor had hidden up his sleeve. 

The instant the 2nd Prince’s last line of defence collapsed because of the emperor’s hidden power, Rebecca met Fleon. 

“Ha, ha… Ducal princess, do not step foot out of that chick’s palace. You must not leave this place.”

Fleon who uttered the same words her father had just did looked at Rebecca with a reddening face soaked in sweat. Before Fleon could turn away, Rebecca grabbed him in spite of herself. 

“What about you? What will happen to you?”

Fleon paused. 

“Listen carefully. Ducal princess, I will probably be imprisoned… as the mastermind behind this coup.”

Regardless of his actual will, he would be taken in as the mastermind because Vulcanus had taken part in the coup. And the coup had ultimately failed. 

Fleon closed his eyes.

“Fortunately, Ashley will be unscathed. And so will you and Aventa. That’s why you should just forget about me. Just think of me as someone you had never met before.”

“What… What do you mean by that?”

Until that point, Fleon had yet to make eye contact with Rebecca. 

“Can’t you just plead that you were not guilty? You are innocent, my prince. You never participated in the coup!”

“… Ducal princess. The world we live in is not so innocent. Don’t you know that better than anyone else?”

He knew that Rebecca must have been very flustered by this news too. She had always presented herself to be a calm woman but for some reason, he found himself liking the way she was speaking a little faster because she was anxious. 

“Traitors will be executed.”

“…..”

“This will be the last, no. Perhaps you might be able to come see me while I’m imprisoned at least once. If you would like to see me.”

“W-what are you saying!”

At the sound of her urgency, Fleon found himself turning around before he could catch himself. She had always put up an elegant facade but he realised that that, too, had shattered into pieces. 

“W-why are you ending this on your own?”

Panting, Rebecca blurted out. The last words she uttered did not sound familiar. No, she had never said something like that before and her tongue felt like lead in her mouth. 

Traitors were executed, Furthermore, as long as the fact that Vulcanus participated in the coup remained, Fleon could not escape his punishment. There was no way Rebecca would be unaware of this. 

It was only at that moment did Rebecca realise what she wanted to say. 

“I-I shall join you.”

“… Do you understand what you are suggesting right now, ducal princess?”

“I cannot let you go like this, my prince. The princess will be sad. D-doesn’t she cherish you?”

“… What about you?”

“… Huh?”

Stunned, Rebecca lifted her head before freezing. 

“I’m not interested in what my sister would feel. I’m asking you how you feel.”

Fleon was staring at her with an expression she had never seen on him before. 

He looked distressed. Nevertheless, his arrogant gaze that bore into people never wavered. 

Soon, Fleon roughly swept his hand across his face before groaning. He swore to himself that he would never, never say a word about it. But the fact that this moment might be their last was weighing on him too.

“Damn it. I thought I would never say this.”

“My… prince?”

“Ducal princess, for the first and last time, could you excuse my informality? You may slap me or stab me with this blade if you wish.”

Rebecca flinched. As she stared at Fleon who had grabbed her wrist, her gaze was shaking. She could have avoided the face that was inching closer to hers but she did not. Until the moment his lips parted and clumsily enveloped her lower lips. It had been an extremely awkward kiss. 

His hot breaths tickled her lips for the longest time. It felt like rain was falling on her collar. 

When Fleon slowly lifted his head, Rebecca’s palm now held a ring she had never seen before. Rebecca knew that this was the ring Fleon had always carried. She also knew that this was the ring that symbolised his position as the Heir to Vulcanus. Because she had once overheard him mention this to Ashley. Because it was so precious to him, he always carried it on his body.

“… I always thought love or whatever you called it was a trick of one’s emotions.”

Staring at Rebecca, Fleon continued.

“Still. Even so. From the day we met under the rain. No, or, perhaps, even before that, towards you, I…”

Unlike how he usually stuttered and spluttered as though he was flustered whenever they were in close proximity, he spoke eloquently. Rebecca could feel that this was the end. 

So, this would be the last time they would meet. Something… something that would never happen again… So, that was what it meant. 

“Why, are you telling me this now?”

It was only then did Rebecca realise how she felt. Sometimes, Fleon’s words would tickle her heart and make her want to stare at the back of his hand for the longest time. But the reason was all the same. 

… Why was it that she only realised it when they were approaching their last?

“If you were going to do this… Why did you refuse my hand in marriage!”

She poured out her resentment. 

“… I wanted to be your first but I thought you would never accept… No. No, no. I was just being  a jerk.”

Fleon’s fingers swept her tears away. It was only when he had did she realise she had been crying. 

Since when? 

“Do you really find me noble?”

Was it from that moment? She did not know exactly when it began. Because there was no way to find out where the tower began once she found herself standing atop it. 

But her heart ached. She could vividly feel the pain. 

And the first person who made her realise that she had a heart was Ashley. But Fleon was the first person she had ever told how she almost became a templar. Yes, she knew she should follow her heart before her logic. 

“Rebecca, what’s your ideal type?”

When her mistress had asked her, Rebecca had answered. 

“I don’t like ones who are too smart. Because they wouldn’t be able to live for long.”

And when she then talked about someone who smiled softly, she already had someone in mind. 

She always wanted to be with a man who would live longer than her… But the time for reminiscence was over. 

“… I’m sorry.”

Fleon slowly said. 

“Next time, if there’s even going to be a next time…”

“…..”

Fleon flashed a bitter smile. 

“Will you accept my proposal?”

Seeing how Rebecca could not bring herself to respond, Fleon lowered his head. He might have said that but he did not want to hear the answer. 

“You might never forgive me for confessing to you even as I am about to be taken in and executed.”

Rebecca still could not bring herself to grab his hand even as he moved away. 

As she stared at his gradually distancing figure, Rebecca collapsed. 

Eventually, Ashley returned. But there was nothing she could do even after she returned. 

As things began spiralling out of her control like a typhoon, the man Rebecca first held in her heart. 

She witnessed his execution. 

For the first time since she had accepted herself, Rebecca felt regret. If she had been a templar, if she had been an extremely powerful templar… Could she have saved him? 

No, would she even be able to help with this situation? 

However, Rebecca accepted her loss and continued to sharpen the blade that was her heart. 

Her sword allowed her to protect. Yes, it was a sword that continued to protect her heart even though it could not defend her body. 

“Three have disappeared so I am merely taking on their roles.”

Rebecca had forced herself to quickly accept these deaths to protect her mistress who had yet to get over them. 

No one knew that she had not even given herself time to grieve. 

After a long time passed, a miracle blessed her like a dream and brought the one she loved back…

But even in the midst of her bliss and happiness, Rebecca’s mind would still drift to the sight of his execution.

***

“Rebecca, Rebecca!”

Rebecca slowly opened her eyes.

“Are you alright?”

Rebecca only first realised that she had fallen asleep when she caught a glimpse of that wheat blonde. 

“Yes…”

She would often dream of the moment Fleon was executed whenever she fell asleep. But Ashley, who was oblivious to that fact, caressed her cheek. As she brushed her hand cautiously against Rebecca’s cheek, she felt something wet on it. 

“You surprised me, you were crying a little in your sleep. Are you sure you are alright?”

Her tears must have flowed down while she was sleeping. Rebecca blinked her eyes slowly. In that split second, Rebecca returned to her usual calmness. 

“I must have had a nightmare.”

“A nightmare? Rebecca, you have nightmares?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Ah. That’s not what I meant. Is it better to say that it doesn’t really suit your image? You always present yourself as someone calm.’

Resting her chin on her hand, Ashley puffed out her cheeks before staring at her curiously. 

“Did Fleon come after you in your dreams with a bouquet of flowers?”

Recalling what Rebecca was most bothered by these days, Ashley joked. 

“The girl who hated flowers must have dreamt a nightmare where a boy was bringing her flowers.”

“Really? Then, was it a dream where the girl continued escaping his pranks for a month?’

Ashley, who had responded to Rebecca nonchalantly, stared at her.

“Sometimes, I get a little upset that you don’t trust me. I even cried my heart out in front of you before.”

“Your Majesty…”

Looking back at her mistress, Rebecca was in agony. Should she be honest? Or should she try to cover it up? Soon, Rebecca confessed honestly. 

“It’s not like I too didn’t have a hard time during those times of crises.”

She had always known that she found her mistress, Ashley, precious to her. That was why she thought it would be alright to be honest with her sometimes. 

But Ashley’s expression soon fell. She looked at Rebecca with pity before patting the back of her hand. 

Ashley soon flashed a comforting smile before saying.

“Rebecca, nightmares do not last forever.”

“…..”

“Everything ends someday. So, you have nothing to be afraid of.”

Ashley’s hands held hers together. 

“And I shall be by your side till the end. So, Rebecca, do whatever you want to do”

Although she had awakened, Ashley was still shorter with her hands still smaller than Rebecca’s. 

“You mean I should be doing everything I desire?”

“Yes.”

However, Ashley then smiled with a gaze deeper than anything Rebecca had ever seen. It was during moments like these she felt like someone who had lived for much longer than Rebecca had. 

“… And what would that be?”

“Shouldn’t you know that?”

Rebecca shook her head. 

“I don’t know. Is there anything I want other than to serve by Your Majesty’s side?”

“Oh you. Rebecca. People who are used to hiding their true feelings never truly know what they want.”

Ashley poked her chest.

“That was how I was in the past.”

Her fingers pivoted to point at Rebecca’s chest now. Once again, Ashley’s words stirred something within her.

“That’s why, Rebecca, you should ask your heart before it’s too late. Aren’t we currently in times of peace?”

“…..”

“You should do whatever your heart desires right now.”

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