Home/I Became the Emergency Food Supply of the Bear Family/ch110

Chapter 110

As Ber blinked quietly, she rubbed her eyes in disbelief. What is this—am I dreaming?

"Yes, you're right."

Just then, the girl before her spoke as if reading her mind.

"You're dreaming."

After saying that slowly, the girl approached Ber and clasped her hands tightly.

"I've wanted to talk to you for a long time. It's a pity I can no longer be by your side, but I'm glad I can greet you like this."

"...You are."

Ber murmured as if realizing something, but the girl raised a finger to her lips.

"For now, I came to show you something."

The girl shook her head slowly and said with a smile:

"How this world originally ended."

Ber blinked in puzzlement.

The original world? Did she mean the original story?

The girl nodded quietly.

"I'll show you."

Soon, an even whiter light descended upon the already white space.

"Senior."

At the familiar voice, her vision opened.

"I'll go to the palace."

It was Einja.

With a resolute expression, she walked toward the enemy, toward the Imperial Knights and the Sled Dog Knights—but Kaien caught her.

To Kaien, with the face of a lost puppy, Einja smiled and shook her head.

"Don't worry. The Imperial Court wants my power. They won't harm me."

Kaien soon released her hand.

He knew—he couldn't stop her with that look in her eyes.

"I'll be back, Senior."

Einja waved goodbye to someone.

It was Adrian.

Adrian clenched his fists, as if holding something back—the impulse to grab Einja, and the cold calculation that surrendering her to the palace was the only way to plan for the future.

I see.

Seeing it with her own eyes, rather than reading it, made it clearer.

Adrian didn't want to hand Einja over.

Because he had fallen in love with her.

Yet in the end, he chose to plan for the future. Adrian let her go.

Einja's back as she boarded the carriage, escorted by Heinz.

Ber's eyes widened. This was as far as I—as Na-bom—had read. But the scene before her continued into the unknown.

Before the palace.

Einja was surrounded by the forces of the Marquis Renard and the Marquis Noirel, facing the enemy.

"All of you, cease battle and show respect! The one before you is His Highness Lucian Adrian de Albero, Crown Prince of the Empire!"

At the man's shout, Adrian rode forward toward the enemy.

Srrreeng! As he drew the golden sword from its golden sheath, the enemy gasped.

"Th-that's...!"

"The Golden Hilt Sword?!"

"The Golden Hilt Sword?!"

The sudden appearance of the Crown Prince threw the enemy into chaos.

Then Theodor, standing at the vanguard of the Sled Dog Knights, raised his hand to silence them.

"Everyone, calm down!"

His expression was unusually dry, but his eyes still held a sharp gleam.

"Now that His Highness has appeared, we can no longer simply be swept along. Think for yourselves—do you trust the imperial command, or do you doubt it?"

At Theodor's words, Ber frowned.

Something was wrong.

If it were the Count, he would have known from the moment he received the edict—that it came not from the Emperor, but from someone else—the Chancellor.

So why was he only now expressing doubt?

The moment she felt the dissonance, she understood.

Yes.

In the original, I—the Grizzly family—didn't have an "incarnation."

That meant the Countess's curse was never lifted, and she likely...

Ber bit her lip. The loss of the Countess must have clouded his judgment.

"Dou-Doubt the imperial command? What do you mean by that, Grizzly Count!"

"Exactly what I said, Viscount Vertier. I mean to question whether the edict we received truly came from His Majesty."

Theodor's bold stance left Vertier stammering.

Murmurs spread among the knights blocking the palace.

And one more person fanned the flames.

"Give the Imperial Knights time as well!"

It was Knight Commander Heinz Hedwig.

"To think the Imperial Knights were following orders not from His Majesty—there is no greater shame. After deliberation, we will decide whether to hand Einja Oakley over to the palace or send her back."

With the Grizzly family and the Imperial Knights declaring neutrality, the atmosphere shifted.

How much time passed?

Sylvain Serpierre—the Chancellor—appeared before the palace gate.

"Those who defy the imperial command are traitors. Execute the traitors and hand over the girl. I trust you will make the best choice for His Majesty and the Empire."

At his command, the noble forces moved to obey—just then—

"Viscount Serpierre."

Theodor's short voice stopped everyone.

"Where is His Majesty?"

"...He is at the eastern villa for recuperation."

Even at the Chancellor's answer, Theodor did not nod. He looked to Adrian—Adrian shook his head silently. Theodor's gaze sharpened.

"As a loyal subject of His Majesty, I request this: let me and the Crown Prince enter the palace to confirm His Majesty's absence. Once confirmed, we can teleport Einja Oakley to the eastern villa—would that not be reasonable?"

It was a perfectly logical proposal—it would both verify the command's authenticity and hasten the Emperor's treatment. After a moment of silence, the Chancellor nodded.

Just as the gate was about to open—

The Chancellor's eyes met Vertier's.

"Traitor!"

At Vertier's shout, an archer behind him drew his bow. Hwiiik! An arrow flew.

Not toward the Knight Commander, not the Grizzly Count, not the Crown Prince—

It was aimed at Einja.

Thunk, thwack.

Several large, sharp arrowheads pierced flesh. A black-haired young man who had shielded Einja lost his balance and fell from his horse.

"Senior Kaien...?"

Einja murmured in disbelief.

Then her scream echoed across the battlefield.

Kaien, struck by three arrows, did not open his eyes. Holding his body and weeping, Einja—and everyone—realized:

Einja Oakley—Eostre's incarnation. The Chancellor and Vertier had tried to kill her. The only way to save the Emperor.

They were the traitors.

The situation turned in an instant.

After the Chancellor's rebellion was put down—

Einja was in the palace with Adrian.

Deep beneath the palace, before the iron cages where Arctic hares had been held.

Most of the dozen or so hares were dead—all with brown-gray fur. Only one remained alive: a white individual, breathing faintly.

"There's still a rabbit alive!"

Einja called urgently—Adrian drew his sword and cut the lock.

As Einja cradled the rabbit, ready to use time-reversing magic, the small body went limp.

Holding the rabbit that no longer breathed, Einja murmured as if realizing something:

"...This one. This was the Arctic hare—Eostre's incarnation."

"What...?"

Adrian was stunned—he had believed Einja was the incarnation.

Realizing the misunderstanding, Einja began to explain.

About her power—Eclat Chronique.

"What I have is only the power to move time. But the power this rabbit held... with this power, it could have completely cured Kaien's lung disease."

Back   Next