Chapter 1 - Part 1
Huge thanks to Dani for the kofi!
Bonus Chapter (2/2)
My Childhood Friends Are Trying To Kill Me now has extra chapters up on kofi-shop! Buy them now, only at https://ko-fi.com/rainofsnow/shop ! Tier 1 with 3 advance chaps is for 5$, tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$, and tier 3 with 10 advance chapters is for 18$~
***
The next morning.
Waking up early in the morning, Lelia washed her face half asleep.
Yet something was strangely missing.
“Huh?”
Lelia, who had been agonizing for a while, noticed that the UI of the game, which was floating in the corner of her view, had disappeared.
After a large-scale update, the change was so brief that it was not even known whether there was one or not.
“What is it?”
Anxiety suddenly poured in.
She had lifted the golden spell, but without the game system…!
Lelia fiddled with the necklace she always wore.
“Alchemy?”
However, no matter how hard she tried pressing the jewel, the screen did not turn up.
There was no answer from Alchemy.
[I can’t believe it. What’s going on all of a sudden?]
Maybe it’s because they had always been together since childhood, but she felt like she lost an arm.
How is she going to live without Alchemy?
No, but why is it gone all of a sudden?
Lelia sat absentmindedly for a long time in confusion.
***
A long time later.
When she heard that her grandfather was looking for her, Lelia finally came to her senses.
There was a maid waiting at the door.
[I have to go now…]
But the shock still left her head blank.
It was only when she managed to get myself up from the sofa, that suddenly…
Ring!
At the familiar and welcome sound, Lelia raised her head.
- The system was shut down and rebooted due to an emergency error] (*˙︶˙*)☆*°
- Please reset security mode! (•ᴗ́•))و
[No, why did you shut down without saying a word?]
Lelia was in tears of joy. She was so glad that she wanted to hug Alchemy if it were in front of her.
“I thought I’d never see you again…”
- Don’t worry] The pensioner is always with the master!
*(What’s wrong with her ;)*
“……”
Lelia breathed out a sigh of relief. However, the security mode was reset by entering the setup window as instructed.
The security level can be adjusted from normal to lowest to best, and it was now set to the best.
Then, she went to visit her grandfather.
[Are you looking for me because of Almos?]
Two days ago, Almos was found dead in the house. Romeo told her not to worry, but she didn’t expect this to happen.
Also, Almos and his wife, who secretly set up a family, fled out of the estate with their child.
All of the assets, which Almos illegally acquired and siphoned off, were also recovered.
[I’m glad to hear that.]
Grandfather, who had no doubts of him, seemed shocked.
But… It was Aunt Atias who was most shocked by this.
It wasn’t a marriage of love, but she believed he was a good friend and partner, so she felt a lot of betrayal.
[But my aunt will get through it well.]
[She’s a strong woman.]
Knock, knock
In front of the drawing room.
When the servant knocked on the door, she heard her grandfather’s voice say “Come in” from within.
Lelia carefully went inside.
But in the drawing room, Uncle Carius was also with him.
“You are here too, uncle?”
“Yeah, come and sit down.. Lelia.”
Lelia went to her uncle’s side and sat down.
Then, her grandfather who was behind the desk, approached the other side with a serious look.
“Lelia.”
“Yes, Grandpa.”
Her voice trembled a little, maybe she was nervous.
The question of where did you get information about Almos Galicia was likely to fly.
But Lelia wasn’t prepared for the answer.
All she had to say was thanks to alchemy.
She was so nervous, but what he said was completely different.
“Do you want to go back to the Imperial Castle?”
“What?”
Lelia blinked at the sudden question.
What do you mean, the Imperial Castle all of a sudden?
It was a question she never thought of.
“What do you mean?”
“… Emperor Perseus.”
Grandfather was unable to speak further.
Lelia was able to catch the meaning of those words however.
[The Emperor knows.]
The nanny who raised her as a child returned to the capital. It was already expected.
“The Emperor knows.”
At Lelia’s words, the Duke of Superion seemed a little surprised and nodded.
Carius had a lot to say, but he kept his mouth shut.
He didn’t want to force Lelia one way or the other.
Carius had just heard the Duke scold him.
“Yes… Lelia, the Emperor knows that you are my granddaughter.”
“……”
“So I’m going to leave you with a choice.”
Lelia lowered her gaze. It was the moment she expected to come one day.
“If you want, you can regain your status as the Princess of Auraria and enjoy everything.”
“……”
“Tell me if you want to go to the Imperial Castle. Even if we aren’t there, we’re a family forever. So…”
“I’m going.”
“……!!!”
The Duke of Superion looked a little surprised at the unhesitating answer.
Carius also looked at her with a look as if the world was collapsing.
“… I’ll go tell him and come back.”
“……”
“I don’t have a father. It’s been like that all my life, and it’s still the same now.”
Lelia had no intention of accepting Emperor Perseus as her father.
The bond between parents and children is called heavenly love.
It’s a kite you can’t choose, but….
Still, Lelia will cut the string off.
Emperor Perseus already had a family. His wife, sons, daughter, and even the youngest son who was born later.
She didn’t want to be part of it at all.
Just as Emperor Perseus did not need her presence, Lelia was the same.
She didn’t need a father in her life.
That empty part of her heart has already been filled with the existence of friends since long ago.
“His wife, sons, daughter, and the youngest son that was born after.”
“……”
The Duke of Superion couldn’t bear to show his face and bowed his head.
He felt proud of his granddaughter, who treated the wound herself and became firm.
‘I wish I’d known her sooner than then…’
He was distressed as if he were to blame and everything was his fault.
“Lelia…”
Carius also looked at Lelia with a painful look. His eyes were teary.
“Uncle, don’t worry.”
“……”
Looking into Carius’ eyes, Lelia noticed the anxiety her uncle was feeling.
[You’re afraid that I am going to die in vain like my mother.]
Lelia said with a determined look, as if to try and relieve him.
“I won’t leave like my mother did.”
Tears eventually flowed down from Carius’ eyes.
That’s what he had been wanting to hear all along. His anxious mind began to calm down.
The child, who was much smaller and skinnier than her age, became an adult and was comforting the two.
***
Returning to the room, Lelia stared at the sky outside the window. It was a determined look, completely different from before, which had always been mild.
In the original, Emperor Perseus regrets belatedly after learning of Lelia’s existence.
[It was Julianna who healed his heart…]
But the future changed because Lelia was alive.
Perhaps… Emperor Perseus will try to keep her in the Imperial City once he meets her.
Lelia turned and looked in the mirror on the side of the room.
[There’s no way you’ll let go of someone that reminds you of your dead wife.]
In the original story, he used to take out a portrait of his dead wife whenever he had time.
For Emperor Perseus, Lelia’s appearance was a weapon.
But Lelia had no intention of staying with the emperor and showing him her face.
Of course she knew.
Her mother’s death was not the Emperor’s fault, and he was also a victim.
However, she got goosebumps when she thought of the cold eyes of the emperor she saw when she was young.
At that time, she had a small expectation.
[You could have recognized me…]
It was a ridiculously useless expectation.
Little Lelia had to flee from the Imperial Castle to survive.
Therefore, it is impossible to feel sad thinking of Emperor Perseus as her father.
[I don’t know if I’d rather have revenge.]
However, she did not want to stay in the palace and suffer from revenge.
As she told her uncle and grandfather earlier, only once.
This will be the first and last time to meet the emperor in this shape.
She will not visit the Emperor after this.
That was Lelia’s revenge.
Tap, tap
It was when she was deep in thought.
At the sudden knock on the window, Lelia turned her head in surprise.
Someone was sitting on a large branch outside the window.
“……”
Lelia opened the window with a confused expression.
Kalix, who was throwing twigs at her window, saw Lelia and laughed.
“… What are you doing now…?”
“Leo.”
“……”
“Leo… I never thought I would call this name again.”
He had a sad voice, as if he had missed her.
Lelia took a deep breath.
She was relieved when Kalix, who had not been seen for several days, appeared in front of her… On the other hand…
‘Isn’t this a bit too far-fetched?’
It was a greeting she had shared with her other friends a long time ago.
Lelia was also happy to see Kalix, but… Rather, her anger came first.
[What the hell have you been thinking about that you didn’t show up?]
Come to think of it, if something happens, he hides his tail… He felt very cowardly. He had a bad habit of running away.
Even when he was young, Kalix was secretly narrow-minded.
When something embarrassing happened, he didn’t even make eye contact for a few days.
‘I need to correct that habit now. I can’t handle it.’
Lelia narrowed her eyes.
“Kalix.”
But Kalix only muttered what he had to say.
“It was a little confusing, but it’s okay now.”
“……”
“I’ll do it!”
“What?”
Lelia furrowed her brow as she heard his last remark.
Then Kalix answered with a smile.
“I’ll marry you. I will do it.”
Lelia stared at Kalix who was uttering nonsense before beckoning him.
It was like she was telling him to come here.
She smiled and waved her hand softly at him, and Kalix’s eyes changed.
With eyes of a certain anticipation, Kalix entered through the window in an instant.
[You want to kiss me? You’re outright active.]
As Kalix thought that and smiled, something else occurred.
“Ouch!”
Suddenly, something flew towards his back.
It wasn’t her lips that greeted Kalix, but her fists.
Lelia looked around her, striking him in the back with her wild hand.
It’s as if she’s looking for her weapon.
“Uh… ?”
Kalix only realized that something was wrong when Lelia gripped her pillow tightly.