39 – speed change -3

Eleanor hadn’t even gotten out of bed yet, but she could feel the change in her mood.

Healers watched her from afar and whispered something. Those who smiled brightly until yesterday are looking at her with complicated expressions.

If she had the power of a hero, or at least her body was intact, she would have been able to hear exactly what she was saying.

But with her still unable to lift an arm properly, there was nothing she could do but endure it.

But even with the short words that sounded in her ears, I could infer that negative emotion.

‘After all, I couldn’t hide it,’

No regrets. The emperor would regret it, but there was no need to hide it in the first place. If it hadn’t been for an order, I wouldn’t have hidden it.

Putting aside his anger or his own mistakes, he at least deserved a celebration.

The reason he didn’t find it strange was because he thought he left at the same time he entered the imperial palace.

From the beginning, it wasn’t his own. I just forgot about it because I was so used to it.

The door to the ward opened violently. A few well-dressed nobles were entering in groups.

The shivering body, no matter who looked at it, did not look like a patient. Eleanor was staring at the ceiling with unfocused eyes.

“This is the hospital room. This is the hospital room where the princess is staying. I don’t know what you’re here for, but please go back… oops!”

“Get out of the way. We have something to discuss urgently.”

The nobleman in the lead lightly pushed the healer away. Apart from his rough behavior, his actions were full of ease.

As soon as Eleanor saw his face, she sensed that he had no ill intentions.

“I’m sorry for being ill, Her Highness the Princess.”

“Excuse me. I wanted to get up and greet you, but my body is like this. I would appreciate your understanding.”

Although formally polite, the princess felt his eyes burn with greed.

“However, we have heard a very shocking fact. At least Her Highness… I don’t think it will be difficult to calm the controversy unless we hear what the princess thinks about this.”

The princess did not believe his words. Because that bearded man, Creon, the head of the aristocratic faction, really couldn’t have met her to settle the situation.

The emperor, at least, was someone who truly thought of the empire. He was a person who helped the poor and sincerely cared about the people.

However, there were those who opposed such reforms. The nobles struggled not to let go of their vested interests. And the emperor, with his superior authority, dismissed their objections.

However, there were not a few people who held a grudge against him, and Creon was one of them. If the controversy is spreading, he probably has his hand behind it.

“It’s a very simple thing. In a line that doesn’t strain the body, just a little bit. Can you show the strength of that warrior?”

His smirk gave goosebumps, but he was the one who had the upper hand now.

“What are you asking of someone who can’t even move their body!”

The Huang family’s therapist strongly protested. However, Creon was not shaken in the slightest.

The special treatment for the imperial family gradually decreased, to the point where it could be considered almost non-existent. It was to the extent that even that Eleanor had to be treated by the Imperial Palace doctor in the Imperial Palace hospital room without a dedicated doctor.

It would be a little different if she was formally recognized as the successor and ascended to the throne, but Creon could not be driven out with the authority of an imperial physician right away.

“It only takes a moment. Can’t you see the doubters?”

“…that power, can no longer be used.”

“Then… was it because of the previous imperial palace raid? Because ‘someone’ there was a real hero?”

The fishy smile on his lips stimulated Eleanor.

However, this situation was very rare for him to question someone with the truth.

There was no way out.

“…I am under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor. There is nothing I can say.”

“That’s really unfortunate. If it was Her Highness’s words, no one here would have listened lightly.”

Eleanor was tired of talking to him. A man with a snake-like tongue.

No matter how hard she tried, Eleanor’s achievements in non-sword fields were mediocre.

It’s just that the flaws are not highlighted through the emperor’s infinite favor, her overwhelming force and support. Compared to those who devoted their entire lives to court etiquette, social skills, and political power, they fell far short.

And, among them, Creon was a talented man.

“I know you’re exhausted, but can you show me just a little bit?”

Even if you are fully prepared for a conversation and prepared for a meeting with all your might, it is not enough. Eleanor gritted her teeth.

There was nothing good about a long conversation. For now, we must end the conversation.

“Haven’t you already heard everything?”

Even if I quietly concentrate on treatment, I don’t know when I will be able to raise my sword again.

She entrusted the knights to someone she could trust, but in the end, she was in charge of the force and leadership of the knights. There was no way I could do my best.

The danger of the monsters is not over. Even at this moment, I didn’t know which village was in danger.

“Sir Reinhardt gave me shocking news, but it was hard to be sure because there were so many words going around. Sir Reinhardt’s loyalty is known to all the people of the empire…”

“Then, believe me.”

“But among the words that go around, there are some things that I cannot bear to put into my mouth.”

However, he gently seduced her and forced her to open her mouth somehow.

“People are getting anxious. If, in the worst case scenario… the hero we knew wasn’t actually a hero, all the assumptions we took for granted collapsed.”

Eleanor felt helpless for the first time in a while.

“Where did the truth come from, and where did the lies come from? If we were mistaken in thinking that we were on the side of the warriors, then maybe there is an evil hand reaching inside the empire…”

His soft voice slowly tightened her heart.

“There are rumors that the hero was enraged because he tried to forcefully hold a reverse summoning ceremony to hide it, but it failed…”

It was a ridiculous assumption, but the information others could get was too limited.

“Can you take responsibility for that?”

The level of his remarks was uncharacteristically strong. It could be interpreted as treason.

The celebration of defeating the Demon King was an event held by the authority of the emperor, and among those he defeated, the emperor was included.

“I don’t believe in anything. Even the nobles here aren’t foolish enough to be swayed by such nonsense.”

But even he was not easily caught. He smiled softly and leisurely, and only smiled fakely, as if he really cared about her.

“However, the people are different. Somewhat… less educated and lowly, they like to imagine the full story of this.”

No matter how many witnesses there were, it wasn’t something that would quickly spread to the streets. In the first place, there couldn’t have been many people who could dig up information against the imperial guards.

The source of the rumors must be Vona Mana and Creon.

Eleanor kept her mouth shut. No matter what she said, he and those who followed him were bound to interpret it as they wished.

I could have apologized a hundred times to Enerel. However, I couldn’t let the other wicked people benefit from this incident.

Talking to them is pointless. Because they are ruffians who try to sabotage the empire and take care of their own interests.

I remember the face too. The three who always followed him. And the rest…

“I’m sorry…”

Each of those who followed were nobles of high repute. I also remembered the face.

But the two young aristocrats looking at this place with worried faces from the back were not part of them.

He was a member of the neutral faction if he had to, and a member of the loyalists if he went a little deeper.

There were times when they expressed opposing opinions, but at least they were people who loved Young Ji-min and took responsibility for their title.

Such people are looking at her with suspicious faces.

As if begging her to tell me that this is all a lie, she is looking at Eleanor with a sad face.

The princess hardened her face.

I wasn’t afraid of the truth coming out. There was a lot to explain, but it was natural.

The fact that the real hero was Enerel was the truth without a doubt.

But what should she do if malicious rumors start to spread? Just as Creon raised the issue just before, the forces rebelling against the emperor could unite in front of the name of the warrior.

If Creon threatens the empire by using the truth about Enerel as a shield, how should we respond?

She was aware that she had made a mistake. He didn’t want to respond to Enerel’s wrath.

He didn’t have the confidence to completely give himself up like the saintess and wizard did, but she didn’t want to draw out her sword and fight.

But, if that’s even her desire.

“I’ll just go back.”

As if he had completed his purpose, he leisurely led the other nobles out of the hospital room. Eleanor was still lying there, staring at the ceiling, unable to move.