I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

"Jeremy, your joke isn’t funny at all."

"I will keep this in mind, but what happened to you? You don't look good."

Jeremy noticed this quickly.

"Oh, I've decided to return to the Agrita Empire. So I was a little upset. Is it so noticeable?"

I said it like it didn't really matter, but for some reason Jeremy was wary.

"So you decided to… come back."

"It's about my father, you know?"

There is always news of the Empire circulating among the mercenaries.

The Agrita Empire is the country with the largest territory on the continent, so when another crisis breaks out there, word of mouth spreads throughout the kingdoms.

Duke Croft, the most powerful nobleman after the royal family, was arrested, so it was only natural that the mercenaries found out about it.

Jeremy gave no answer.

I laughed.

"I think it won't be easy for me to escape the Empire, right?"

"…Ellie, are you okay? If they find out about Carlisle…"

I hate this depressing atmosphere, so I tried to communicate everything in an easy manner. But it didn't work.

He looked at me with a serious and displeased face.

Jeremy knew Carlisle was Raymond's child because he knew who I really was.

"I'll try to hide it. And even if I get caught… Carlisle is my son. I will fight to the end."

I looked straight into his amber eyes. Jeremy had nothing to say, and he just laughed.

"Of course. Carlisle is Ellie's son. Hmm… So you're closing your flower shop?"

"…No, someone you know will take care of it."

"I see. This means that I will have nowhere to stay in the capital. Well, it was nice to come here," Jeremy said with a peculiar playful face.

"Okay… will you stay in the Lund Kingdom?"

I didn't know exactly who he was, but I had my own guesses.

His status was high thanks to the aristocratic posture and manners that manifested themselves without his knowledge. He also carried his blade everywhere.

It looked like a simple sword without gems, but the writing on the sharp blade couldn’t be erased.

‘Black Panther.’

There was only one noble family in the Agrita Empire, symbolized by the black panther.

And if my guess is correct… Jeremy, too, wouldn’t have been able to wander in foreign countries for a long time.

"What's the matter? Do you want me to sail with you?"

"It would be nice."

The smirk on his face was replaced by confusion.

For some reason, it made me laugh heartily.

"Turns out Jeremy also panics."

"Ah… Are you laughing at me?"

"I am not kidding. I can't do it alone. It would be nice if someone could join me."

At first I was afraid of him, a man who was obviously hiding a lot, but over time I realized that he wasn’t a bad person.

And when he settled in the Lund Kingdom, he was of great help to me.

Therefore, I wanted to help him in return, if I could. I think if he were the son of that man, he would have had a hard time in the Empire.

"You haven't changed at all since a young age."

"What?"

He said something, but too quietly to understand what exactly.

"Nothing special. Thanks for the invitation. But think about yourself. If you return to the Empire now, everything will be different there."

"But that doesn't mean that I can leave my father."

Of course, I am no longer an Empress, and since I have been overseas for a long time, I have no connections left to help my father.

However, I had my own trump cards, such as our organization.

At that moment, the bell rang again. None other than Jed entered the store.

Jeremy's gaze turned to Jed. As soon as their gazes met, Jed goggled in surprise.

Helen was the only one Jed saw beside me.

"Welcome to my shop."

Jeremy quickly noticed the oddity, so I greeted Jed like a customer.

Jed smiled awkwardly.

"Ah, ha-ha-ha, yes, I came to buy this tree."

"Okay, one minute."

"I see you have a guest. Then I'll go."

"Yes, of course, go."

"See you in the Empire."

In the Empire…?

Does that mean he is coming back too? But Jeremy left without waiting for my reply.

When I saw Jeremy disappear, I locked the shop door.

"You came so early."

Since Jed did business at night, noon was like dawn for him.

"Ha. I couldn't sleep because I was worried about you."

Apparently, the reason was worth the concern. I first saw him pale. And, perhaps, he guessed about my real identity.

Jed was smart, so maybe he already knew who I was.

I can see those brown eyes studying me. It looks like he figured it out after all.

"Eli. I certainly assumed that you were hiding a lot."

"…"

"This is a magic contraption?"

He pointed to my bracelet.

"My father was a wizard's servant. I've seen this kind of shit a lot. In particular, magic tools with mana stones, such as this bracelet, have the function of changing the appearance."

"It…"

I didn't want to deceive him anymore. Since I had made up my mind to return to my Empire and save my father, I now needed Jed's help the most.

But I didn't know where to start. I need to collect my thoughts.

As if not seeing my hesitation, Jed opened his mouth first.

"Eli. You became my lifesaver that time. Then we raised our organization from scratch. So if it doesn't create a problem, tell me everything, without a trace. What has Duke Croft got to do with it?"

Jed looked at me with trembling eyes.

I glanced at him and put my hand on the bracelet.

It would be easier to show than to tell.

When I pressed down on the bracelet, the magic came out and the color of the hair and eyes changed.

When my pink hair turned silver and brown eyes turned purple again, Jed bulged his eyes in shock.

"You… You… You are…"

"Ellie Croft. My real name."

When I said my name, Jed was amazed.

Even if it was obvious that I was related to the Duke Croft, he didn’t seem to consider me his daughter.

Breathe, Jed, breathe.

He forgot how to breathe. If this whopper falls unconscious now, I will not be able to cope with it.

"The Empress. This is some kind of nonsense… Why did it seem to me that there is nothing unusual in your tone and manner."

"I’m not an Empress anymore. Six years have passed since I divorced the Emperor."

"But you were the Empress!"

Jed suddenly fell silent and froze.

"Why are you suddenly behaving like that?"

"If you were an Empress… It can't be…"

With a light sigh, I spat out everything that he couldn’t himself.

"Yes, that's exactly how it is. Carlisle is His Majesty's son."

"Donkey shit!"

Whether it was too heavy a blow to him, vile curses rushed from Jed's mouth.

"Carlisle is a prince! That time I pulled his ears… the prince's ears! What is the punishment now for touching the prince?"

He could have been beheaded if he touched him with a finger. If I tell him this, Jed will immediately faint.