The Executed Saint Reincarnates as a Princess and is Loved by Her Older Brothers - Episode 55

Lionel was stunned.

“What is this…?!”

After finally being freed from Nathan’s relentless scolding, what Lionel saw when he followed Angela to the outer shell tower was an astonishing sight that made him doubt his own eyes.

The library building was eerily quiet, not a sound to be heard. And no wonder. Every single librarian had fallen asleep.

“Hey, what are you doing! Where is Her Highness the Princess?!”

Lionel shook the librarians, but there was no sign that anyone was waking up.

There are no external injuries. It seems like they are just sleeping soundly.

“No way…”

Lionel, with a changed expression, moved to the back of the bookshelf.

As expected, the princess’s guards were also collapsed at the scene. Like the librarians, they had no injuries. Their breathing was normal, but they were deeply asleep and did not wake up.

It is unthinkable for a knight of the illustrious empire to fall into a deep sleep during a mission.

“Your Highness the Princess!”

Lionel stood up and rushed in without looking sideways. To the closed forbidden room, he would enter for the first time in fifteen years.

Angela was quietly standing alone indoors.

As she gently turned around and caught sight of Lionel, a rosy hue lit up the innocent girl’s cheeks.

A sparkle like scattered stars spills from her shiny blonde hair. Her translucent skin radiates a glow, and her distinctly long eyelashes flutter, framing her round purple eyes.

Lionel involuntarily held his breath.

“Princess… Your Highness?”

Angela was a beautiful girl, just like her name suggested, resembling an angel. It was no wonder the three princes adored her; she was an enchanting princess with stunning beauty.

However, if I were to consider Angela, who is now before me, as a newly emerged butterfly, then until now, she was nothing more than an incomplete and awkward chrysalis.

Angela’s appearance hasn’t changed at all. Even though it hasn’t changed, it’s clearly different.

With a depth that seemed to have traveled through fifteen years in such a short time, Angela gently parted her lips, which resembled the buds of a flower.

“Lil…”

Lionel’s whole body broke out in goosebumps.

It was the first time in fifteen years that he was called that.

Before he could even think about it, Lionel’s mouth was already uttering the name.

“Jill……”

Lionel quickly glanced at the black book chained up.

“Did you see it…!?”

“I saw it all. Everything you did fifteen years ago.”

Angela straightened her back and looked up at Lionel with determination.

“Jill, please don’t cry…”

Only when asked like that did Angela realize that she was crying.

A transparent droplet fell from the corner of the eye, trickling down the cheek.

“Lil, why…?”

If ten-year-old Lionel had been even slightly intimidated, those ominous, sinister hands of darkness would have devoured his entire being. Without heeding his wishes, they would have destroyed him along with the catalyst.

Confronting a sealed forbidden technique is an act that carries such great danger.

If Lionel had even the slightest hesitation or indecision, he might have had not only his eyes but also his life brutally taken away. Just thinking about it was terrifying, and I couldn’t stop crying.

“Why did you do something so reckless!?”

“That much is nothing.”

“There’s no way it’s nothing…!”

Being gouged out alive by an aberrant being is nothing short of reckless.

Angela couldn’t help but feel heartbroken, but Lionel calmly shook his head.

“If you can be happy, I don’t mind giving up anything.”

The royal family mercilessly condemned Juliet, who had served them faithfully.

The people persecuted Juliet, who had devoted herself to them, ungratefully.

So at least for Lionel alone, I wanted to pray for her happiness.

I wanted her to be freed from this cruel country and the brutal mob, to be born in some other country, and this time, I wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to live a life more blessed than anyone else’s.

“It’s nothing. Compared to what you’ve done for me, that’s no big deal.”

Lionel stated it without a trace of hesitation.

I really wanted to protect Juliet’s life. I wanted to save her while she was still alive. The words “I will definitely save you” were my heartfelt promise.

Even so, I couldn’t keep a single promise with the woman I loved, and I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with my childish and powerless self.

So losing an eye is nothing.──I would gladly give my hand, my foot, or even my life for her.

“Lil…”

Angela clenched her hands tightly.

“I… I always thought… that I died enveloped in sin and hatred…”

Juliet was executed after being branded with the mark of a witch.

I was stoned by people, surrounded by angry shouts, and died miserably covered in shame.──I always thought so.

It wasn’t like that.

“I was born enveloped in your love…!”

At the end of Juliet’s short life, there was Lionel’s selfless love.

Angela was born into this world under the protection of Lionel’s prayers.

“Has my wish come true?”

Lionel hesitantly asked.

“Did you really… manage to find happiness…?”

“Yes.”

Angela answered with complete confidence.

“I was born in the happiest place in the world.”

After all, I was raised as a member of the royal family of the Sapphire Empire. I can proudly say that I was in the safest and happiest place in the world.

Father was… a bit unreliable, but Mother and my three older brothers loved us enough to make up for it.

The highest position that everyone envies and the days when I was cherished without any inconvenience.

Even if you searched the whole world, I can confidently say that there is no girl as fortunate as I am.

“I’m glad…”

Lionel’s remaining right eye narrowed in genuine relief.

“I’m so glad… Jill…”

Angela choked on her words.

I never knew such a great love.

They do not know the selfless love that does not shy away from personal sacrifice and does not seek anything in return.

The sorrow and guilt over Lionel losing an eye never disappeared, but more than that, my heart was filled with gratitude.

The gratitude for him who had devoted such deep feelings overflowed endlessly in Angela’s heart.

“Thank you. Lil…”