The Executed Saint Reincarnates as a Princess and is Loved by Her Older Brothers - Episode 17

After that, Lionel exercised his own power for the first time in his life.

I ordered a few priests who knew his true identity to secure the right to access the palace library.

I want to learn more, gain more knowledge, and be of help to Juliet in any way I can.

Having made that resolution, it was just then that I started secretly frequenting the library building.

An event that would greatly change Lionel’s life occurred.

Juliet was accused of murdering the queen and was detained by Crown Prince Nathan.

“Rul! Jil!”

The underground prison of the palace is intricate and heavily guarded, making it a place where ordinary people cannot possibly enter.

However, Lionel knew of a shortcut. A special hidden passage that was passed down orally only to those of royal bl00d.

After crawling through the narrow tunnel, Juliet, who had somehow managed to reach the front of the prison, was being dragged with her wrists bound.

“Jill! Are you okay!?”

“Thank you, Lil.”

Even in this unjust imprisonment, the words that came out of Juliet’s mouth were words of gratitude.

Next, she asked Lionel. “Run away before someone finds you.”

Are you still thinking about others even at a time like this?

Juliet is concerned for Lionel’s safety. She wishes for him to stay in a safe place without getting involved in her sins.

“I’m with Jill.”

Lionel gently stroked Juliet’s hair with his outstretched hand through the iron bars.

“I will protect Jill! I won’t let anyone kill Jill!”

“Lil, I’m fine.”

Juliet smiled warmly, as if to encourage Lionel.

“Even so, I am the saint of this country. I will be given a proper opportunity to explain myself.”

Lionel tightly grasped Juliet’s hand.

“Jill! I will definitely, definitely save you…!”

With a heart-wrenching determination, Lionel once again passed through the hidden passage and worked tirelessly to free Juliet.

However, the next day, a scene so cruel it made one doubt their eyes blazed red in the square in front of the palace.

“Jill! Jill!!”

In a half-crazed state, Lionel ran on.

The sky stained crimson. The voices of the people’s resentment. A whirlpool of hatred ignited by incitement.

The last thing the left eye, which was lost amidst the turmoil, saw was the searing flames that burned the girl he loved.

Thus, the Kingdom of Coral lost its saint, and Lionel lost half of his light.

Juliet was fifteen years old at the time of her death.

It was an incredibly merciless end for the saint who had continued to serve her country and its people ever since she was welcomed into the temple.

Lionel, having lost an irreplaceable presence, sank into the depths of despair.

“Jill…!”

I don’t know how to get back up anymore. I can’t remember how to breathe.

I can’t breathe. It feels like my neck is being squeezed. My throat is so tight that I can’t make a sound, but tears just keep flowing.

No matter how much I cried, just lifting my face made the tears spill again. Whenever I tried to speak, sobs would rise instead.

“Jill! Jill!”

The scar of Juliet’s death deeply etched itself into the heart of ten-year-old Lionel, never to be erased.

“Jill…!”

Lionel is the king’s son, but he has never desired status or power.

I just wanted to live with Juliet. I wanted to see her smile.

I didn’t want to lose Juliet. I didn’t want her to be taken away.

Even though it was just that──not even my small wish could be granted.

After spending days feeling like an empty shell, some time passed.

Lionel was summoned to the palace and reunited with his biological father, King Coral.

Taking advantage of the queen’s passing, the king decided to formally add Lionel to the royal family.

“Isn’t that a one-eyed gaze? Someone who aspires to be part of the royal family shouldn’t have such a…”

Crown Prince Nathan made a blatant face of disgust at the sudden appearance of his half-brother, and like their father, he expressed his disapproval of Lionel’s injured appearance.

Nathan opposed recognizing Lionel as royalty and grumbled in discontent, but the king did not heed Nathan’s wishes.

Rather, it seems he is angry with Nathan for unilaterally executing Saint Juliet during his absence, and whispers to disinherit him. Nathan trembled and changed his attitude. He probably couldn’t afford to be disinherited here.

“I recognize Lionel as royalty.”

Nathan reluctantly said that and made further suggestions.

“How about granting Lionel the territory of Rochelle and making him a duke?”

The Rochelle territory was once held by the previous generation’s king’s younger brother. Since the younger brother passed away without an heir, it has been left ungoverned and remains vacant.

A barren wasteland in a remote frontier. An ancient castle that has fallen into ruin and decay, becoming a desolate ruin without a master.

It is an extremely difficult position that a mere ten-year-old boy could never possibly handle.

“I will humbly accept.”

Lionel did not resist.

With solemnity, we departed from the royal palace and made our way to the distant Rochelle territory.

“This is just too much…”

A young lord and a few attendants. Unable to bear the sight of such an unreliable group, the palace servants felt pity.

“To govern a desolate and remote area without providing proper support or sufficient vassals is an unreasonable demand… The path ahead for the Second Prince is a thorny one, isn’t it…”

One of the ice-blue eyes that remained wide open.

Lionel quietly shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter. Thorns are just roses.”

Thinking of the precious girl who is no longer in this world, Lionel placed his hand on his heart.

“No matter how much I am wounded by thorns and bleed… the path where roses bloom should be beautiful.”