Is That My Alter Ego - Chapter 129



Chapter 129 – Resolution

What could this mean? After such a long time, they entered through the restaurant door, yet upon seeing my face, they sank into their chairs, wailing in despair.

“Ah… Aah… Am I dreaming…?”

“I… I must have lost my mind…”

The princess destined to be the next emperor, Kael, and the only daughter of the Empire’s greatest merchant, the Gold Rush Guild’s matriarch, Pria.

Surely… they had not changed from the last time I saw them, yet something… something about them felt irrevocably broken.

“…It’s been a while. Kael, Pria.”

“Eh… Ariel. You… right now…”

“Are you… smiling? You…?”

They gazed at Ariel, who, while shedding tears, managed a bittersweet smile, their expressions betraying disbelief.

…The state of Ariel, who had been said to have fallen apart since my departure, must have been far more dire than that of Kael and Pria.

To be honest, when they burst through the door, my body had flinched, and I felt a slight breathlessness…

Yet, witnessing familiar faces in such agony, weeping so painfully, was something I wished to avoid.

“Hello… It’s been a while…?”

“You… you…!”

“This… this is impossible… it can’t be…”

“Listen, it’s Venice. Though she’s much smaller now… and undeniably cuter, I assure you, it’s true.”

As I offered my greeting, Ariel chimed in, and their eyes widened in shock, trembling as if caught in a tempest.

“Is it really… really her…?”

“Yes… yes, it’s me.”

“Ugh… this… this is truly absurd…”

Their bodies still shook, tears streaming down their faces, looking so pitiful and heart-wrenching.

I approached the two of them, kneeling to grasp their trembling hands in mine.

“…It’s not your fault. So… please, don’t cry. Do you understand?”

“Si… sister….”

“Uwaah….!”

They clutched my hand as if it were a lifeline offered by a savior, sobbing uncontrollably.

I turned to glance back, half-wondering if Ariel and ‘the others’ would stir up more chaos at my actions, but—

—

“”……..””

Contrary to my expectations, they said nothing, did nothing.

Instead, their expressions seemed to gaze at something from the past, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

They appeared far too fragile and sorrowful to be the women who would soon govern the empire and lead it as a whole.

Without a word, I gently patted their backs, offering words of comfort.

*

After a long while, as they began to calm, Mrs. Frost hurried into the room, having paused her tasks, tears streaming down her face as she apologized, to which I replied once more that it was alright.

And, with the ties of the past still lingering, I descended to the Frost estate where those people would be.

“…Is it really, really you…?”

“Yes. Sister… it’s me.”

“Ugh… Hwaang… Be…nis…”

I greeted the bakery sister, who was not the vibrant figure I last remembered, but rather one with vacant eyes and a feeble voice.

“Since the day you left that tiny coin and note… I haven’t had a moment’s rest.”

“I’m sorry. Sister… the situation was dire back then.”

“Ugh… Huh… This isn’t a dream, is it…? Really…?”

“Yes. So… please don’t hate the Frosts too much. I… I’m alright.”

The emptiness in her eyes flickered with a faint spark as I offered my greeting, and the sister, who had been sobbing, embraced me tightly with a small smile.

“Is it really… you, Venice?”

“This can’t be… Huh.”

“The children… they’re well, right?”

“Truly… yes. I told them you found a good job after you left.”

“Then… that’s a relief. Please take good care of the children from now on.”

Afterward, I made my way to the newly established orphanage in the Frost estate, where I was welcomed with tears by Lenny and Berry, who covered their mouths with their hands.

They had learned the truth after my departure and felt disillusioned with the Frost family, choosing to leave on their own.

I offered words of comfort to them, who had lived each day wearing a mask of sorrow while spinning white lies for the children.

“The children… are doing well. I hope they continue to grow up strong…”

“…Commander. In this second life, you even took care of the children…?”

“Yes… Aren’t they just adorable?”

“Oh my….! This Selis is once again moved by your boundless generosity, Commander…!”

“You… truly never change, no matter the situation.”

As the women who had silently observed my steps began to murmur their praises, I felt an unexpected flush of embarrassment creep across my face.

“…So, is this it? Have we met everyone, Venice?”

“Y-yes… It seems so. Now… what should we do?”

“What do you mean, what should we do? We must return to my home. We haven’t yet received the ‘hospitality’ my father spoke of, have we?”

Ah…! Thinking back, the meal the Northern Duke had mentioned had yet to take place.

And now that I considered it… my stomach felt a little, no, quite a bit hungry…

Grrrrooowl-!

“……..! Th-this is, um…!”

“Ha ha… let’s hurry along.”

“It’s fine, Captain!”

“Quite adorable, really.”

“Hehe…”

Thus, we attempted to return to Frost Citadel. However… wouldn’t it be a bit disappointing to end our meeting like this?

“…….”

“Venice. What’s wrong?”

I halted mid-step, and they regarded me with puzzled expressions.

“Well… Ariel. May I ask you for a favor?”

“A favor?! Just say the word! I’ll grant you anything!!”

“How absurd…! A favor from Venice, of all people!”

“Damn… I shouldn’t feel this way, but I’m envious!”

“…I’m jealous.”

It wasn’t anything so grand, yet I couldn’t quite grasp why they reacted so sensitively.

“So, what’s your request?!”

Unlike her usual icy demeanor, Ariel’s eyes seemed to blaze with heightened emotion.

“Um, I was just wondering… if they could join us for the meal…”

I felt it was a shame to conclude our encounter with such a brief meeting.

From noble mtl dot com

After all, wouldn’t sharing a delicious meal and conversing help ease the emotions and sorrows we had built up until now? It was merely a suggestion.

“Ah… If it’s not possible, then I understand, but… um…”

“Impossible?! How could that be?! It’s your request!!”

“R-really…?”

“Isn’t it only natural, my lord? If it is your request, I, Seris, would even offer the heart of a dragon!”

“Mm-mm. Of course, it should be so.”

“A request… This is truly a sight not easily seen.”

Even if I had said no, I wouldn’t have uttered a word to Ariel, but fortunately, she accepted with a cheerful nod.

“…Me? Is it really alright?”

The bakery sister, upon hearing my proposal, accepted it as if in a trance of delight.

“Us…? We’ve already come out, is that really okay…?”

“It’s a generous offer, but… with the children, it might be a bit difficult for just us to go…”

“It’s fine. Just bring everyone along.”

Berry and Leni seemed hesitant, perhaps worried about the children, but Ariel had granted permission for them all.

—Wow…! So this is the Frost Citadel!

—It’s amazing! It’s so huge!!

—Incredible!

—I never thought it would be this big… Much larger than it appeared from the outside.

—…I didn’t expect to come back here.

In the end, we all entered the Frost Citadel together, and even though everyone found a seat, there was still plenty of space left in the dining hall as we began to chat.

“Now then. Thank you all for coming. Our pride, the chef of the Frost Citadel, will present the finest course meal, and I hope you find it satisfying.”

Clap clap-!

As the words of the Northern Duke drew everyone’s attention, the familiar face of the head maid clapped her hands twice, and right after, the grand doors of the dining hall swung open, revealing numerous maids each carrying a large plate, beginning to set them down one by one on the enormous table.

“Adults, please raise a glass. Children, at least hold a drink.”

Delicious dishes began to appear alongside drinks for everyone, yet no one lifted their utensils, remaining still.

And everyone was looking at someone… Wait, it’s me, isn’t it?

“…Uh? Why is everyone looking at me…?”

“Venice. Today… you are the main character.”

Could it be… that they want me to give a toast? I really can’t do that…

Still… I disliked the thought of keeping so many people waiting even more. I’ll just… close my eyes and do it!

“To… the happy future of us all—!”

“To us!!!”

As soon as my words ended, a grand cheer echoed throughout the dining hall. What was remarkable was that even the children joined in.

“So… are the five of you planning to marry at the same time?”

“…I still don’t quite know. Shouldn’t it be that way? It doesn’t seem like these women will let go.”

“Se, Seris Deputy… Are you also caught up in this crowd…?”

“Yes. It seems so.”

“Kya-ha! This is really something!”

Soon, the interior of the dining hall transformed into a cacophony, everyone engaging in cheerful conversation, laughter spilling forth like a bubbling brook.

“Venice. You have to take a bite of this. A~?”

“Ah, ahh…”

“And we must have a drink too. Soak it in!”

Gulp—gulp.

I bit into the meat that Royu handed me, washing it down with a long-awaited drink.

“Ugh, ugh… bitter…”

“Heh heh… It seems you still can’t handle your liquor here.”

As I stumbled through a barrage of questions and stories, managing to answer a few while downing another drink or two… I began to feel a bit dizzy.

“Ugh… heh heh… I’m spinning…”

In the end, it seems I got drunk. Honestly, I can hardly remember…

“Oh my. You’ve really had too much, haven’t you?”

“….Is this my chance!”

“Today is the day….!”

“How dare you. This is my space.”

Thud.

Listening to the muffled sounds from outside as if submerged in water, I collapsed onto the desk, slipping into a deep slumber.