My Childhood Friends Are Trying To Kill Me…

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Ko - fi & Pateron

Table of Contents

  • 1. Chapter 1 - Part 1
  • 2. Chapter 1 - Part 2
  • 3. Chapter 2 - Part 1
  • 4. Chapter 2 - Part 2
  • 5. Chapter 3
  • 6. Chapter 4
  • 7. Chapter 5
  • 8. Chapter 6
  • 9. Chapter 7
  • 10. Chapter 8
  • 11. Chapter 9
  • 12. Chapter 10
  • 13. Chapter 11
  • 14. Chapter 12
  • 15. Chapter 13
  • 16. Chapter 14
  • 17. Chapter 15
  • 18. Chapter 16
  • 19. Chapter 17
  • 20. Chapter 18
  • 21. Chapter 19
  • 22. Chapter 20
  • 23. Chapter 21
  • 24. Chapter 22
  • 25. Chapter 23
  • 26. Chapter 24
  • 27. Chapter 25
  • 28. Chapter 26
  • 29. Chapter 27
  • 30. Chapter 28
  • 31. Chapter 29
  • 32. Chapter 30
  • 33. Chapter 31
  • 34. Chapter 32
  • 35. Chapter 33
  • 36. Chapter 34
  • 37. Chapter 35
  • 38. Chapter 36
  • 39. Chapter 37
  • 40. Chapter 38
  • 41. Chapter 39
  • 42. Chapter 40
  • 43. Chapter 41
  • 44. Chapter 42
  • 45. Chapter 43
  • 46. Chapter 44
  • 47. Chapter 45
  • 48. Chapter 46
  • 49. Chapter 47
  • 50. Chapter 48
  • 51. Chapter 49
  • 52. Chapter 50
  • 53. Chapter 51
  • 54. Chapter 52
  • 55. Chapter 53
  • 56. Chapter 54
  • 57. Chapter 55
  • 58. Chapter 56
  • 59. Chapter 57
  • 60. Chapter 58
  • 61. Chapter 59
  • 62. Chapter 60
  • 63. Chapter 61
  • 64. Chapter 62
  • 65. Chapter 63
  • 66. Chapter 64
  • 67. Chapter 65
  • 68. Chapter 66
  • 69. Chapter 67
  • 70. Chapter 68
  • 71. Chapter 69
  • 72. Chapter 70
  • 73. Chapter 71
  • 74. Chapter 72
  • 75. Chapter 73
  • 76. Chapter 74
  • 77. Chapter 75
  • 78. Chapter 76
  • 79. Chapter 77
  • 80. Chapter 78
  • 81. Chapters 79
  • 82. Chapters 80
  • 83. Chapters 81
  • 84. Chapters 82
  • 85. Chapter 83
  • 86. Chapter 84
  • 87. Chapter 85
  • 88. Chapter 86
  • 89. Chapter 87
  • 90. Chapter 88
  • 91. Chapter 89
  • 92. Chapter 90
  • 93. Chapter 91
  • 94. Chapter 92
  • 95. Chapter 93
  • 96. Chapter 94
  • 97. Chapter 95
  • 98. Chapter 96
  • 99. Chapter 97
  • 100. Chapter 98
  • 101. Chapter 99
  • 102. Chapter 100
  • 103. Chapter 101
  • 104. Chapter 102
  • 105. Chapter 104
  • 106. Chapter 104
  • 107. Chapter 105
  • 108. Chapter 106
  • 109. Chapter 107
  • 110. Chapter 108
  • 111. Chapter 109
  • 112. Chapter 110
  • 113. Chapter 111
  • 114. Chapter 112
  • 115. Chapter 113
  • 116. Chapter 114
  • 117. Chapter 115
  • 118. Chapter 116
  • 119. Chapter 117
  • 120. Chapter 118
  • 121. Chapter 119
  • 122. Chapter 120
  • 123. Chapter 121
  • 124. Chapter 122
  • 125. Chapter 123
  • 126. Chapter 124
  • 127. Chapter 125
  • 128. Chapter 126
  • 129. Chapter 127
  • 130. Chapter 128
  • 131. Chapter 129
  • 132. Chapter 130
  • 133. Chapter 131
  • 134. Chapter 132
  • 135. Chapter 133
  • 136. Chapter 134
  • 137. Chapter 135
  • 138. Chapter 136
  • 139. Chapter 137
  • 140. Chapter 138
  • 141. Chapter 139
  • 142. Chapter 140
  • 143. Chapter 141
  • 144. Chapter 142
  • 145. Chapter 143
  • 146. Chapter 144
  • 147. Chapter 145
  • 148. Chapter 146
  • 149. Chapter 147
  • 150. Chapter 148
  • 151. Chapter 149
  • 152. Chapter 150
  • 153. Chapter 151
  • 154. Chapter 152
  • 155. Chapter 153
  • 156. Chapter 154
  • 157. Chapter 155
  • 158. Chapter 156
  • 159. Chapter 157
  • 160. Chapter 158
  • 161. Chapter 159
  • 162. Chapter 160
  • 163. Chapter 161
  • 164. Chapter 162
  • 165. Chapter 163
  • 166. Chapter 164
  • 167. Chapter 165
  • 168. Chapter 166
  • 169. Chapter 167
  • 170. Chapter 168
  • 171. Chapter 169
  • 172. Chapter 170
  • 173. Chapter 171
  • 174. Chapter 172
  • 175. Chapter 173
  • 176. Chapter 174
  • 177. Chapter 175
  • 178. Chapter 176
  • 179. Chapter 177
  • 180. Chapter 178
  • 181. Chapter 179
  • 182. Chapter 180
  • 183. Chapter 181
  • 184. Chapter 182
  • 185. Chapter 183
  • 186. Chapter 184
  • 187. Chapter 185
  • 188. Chapter 186
  • 189. Chapter 187 - The Final Chapter
  • 190. Side Story - 1

Chapter 1 - Part 1


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 1 - Part 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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 2 - Part 1


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 2 - Part 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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 3


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 4


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 5


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 6


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 7


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 8


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 9


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 10


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$, and tier 2 with 7 advance chaps is for 12$~

—

Lelia couldn’t answer anything as big tears fell from her eyes. She could not think of anything to say. 

 

It was just that… she was very happy that she looked like her mother, and felt sad too… She couldn’t help but cry…

 

The duke looked at the silently crying child and said; 

 

“That’s why I want to ask. Who are you, my dear?”

 

“…….”

 

Lelia blinked nervously.

 

“I… I… I’m….”

 

She wanted to tell him the truth, but her lips were trembling. She had never imagined anyone would notice her presence before the nanny returned. As Lelia failed to answer and kept shedding tears, the old knight reached out. 

 

His wrinkled, but large and thick hands swept Lelia’s cheek and wiped away her tears. 

 

“There’s no need to feel forced.”

 

As she raised her head, she saw the face of the old duke smiling kindly. Seeing that, Lelia no longer felt afraid of him. 

 

She wanted to tell him the truth. 

 

[I am her daughter. She was my mother…]

 

Somehow she really thought he would believe her without any evidence. 

 

But for so long, Lelia just cried silently. The old knight stroked Lelia on the cheek and head. It was a very warm, caring touch. 

A long time has passed…

 

Lelia fell asleep, exhausted from crying, and Duke Superion laid the child on a fluffy blanket.

 

The duke’s expression grew a bit cold when his eyes fell on the slightly rounded cheeks of a child who had obviously been eating well the past few days

 

“…….”

 

Initially, he had only thought she resembled her.

 

He couldn’t help but think about their similar expressions. He thought of the child he had sent away, his dead daughter who hated him.

 

He took in this girl as an aide out of pure guilt that he had felt towards his daughter. 

 

But now it felt even more peculiar.

 

This child resembled his dead daughter too much.

 

When he looked closely, it was not just her fearful expression, her face, or even her startling yellow-green eyes.

 

But her elated expressions when she gulps down something delicious, or when she beams and the corners of her eyes crinkle in happiness.

 

To be exact, she resembled Elizabeth when she was a child. Elizabeth was very naughty when she was a child, but when she grew up she turned into a completely different person.

 

The duke’s spirits dampened every time he thought about his daughter’s lively self from the past. He felt immense regret.

 

The Duke of Superion admitted that it was he who was in the wrong. It was his fault for raising his daughter in such a cold manner.

 

But this girl had the same warm smile as his daughter.

 

Every moment when he caught a glimpse of this smiling child’s face alongside the weary knights’, the Duke of Superion felt his heart sink and fall to the ground.

 

Once she started eating properly her cheeks, which had been too thin, started to look fuller and she looked even more like Elizabeth. 

 

At the time he thought it was strange. He was told that the Emperor was looking for a child. Unlike Lelia, who was greatly surprised at the checkpoint, Duke Superion had been aware of the news for a while. 

 

He thought she had nothing to do with it. But when he heard that there was a checkpoint going on at the gate, he saw Lelia’s face turn pale. It felt strange… 

 

‘It’s ridiculous.’

 

But when he pulled the crying child out of the secret space of the carriage, his jumbled thoughts became more clear. Maybe it was all a huge delusion caused by guilt. 

 

So he thought about it. 

 

Lelia; the girl and his daughter are very alike. 

 

As soon as he pulled her out, and he saw Lelia crying, he was convinced. 

 

‘This child is Elizabeth’s blood.’

 

It was obvious that she knew something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t make such a sad face while crying silently. Duke Superion raised his big hands and clenched his fists.

 

“How on earth has my granddaughter lived and why is she being chased by the Emperor?”

 

His eyes shone like a fierce lion.

 

Suddenly, he remembered what she said on the first day when they had found the child.

 

[Actually… oh, my dad hates me. So I was running away.]

 

[…did he abuse you?]

 

[…]

 

Recalling the words, Duke Superion closed his eyes tightly.

 

Emperor Perseus.

 

When he opened his eyes again, there was a mixture of deep resentment and betrayal in his eyes.

 

‘He was unable to protect my daughter….’

 

The Duke of Superion had opposed the marriage of Perseus and his daughter from the beginning. Maybe he instinctively predicted the death of his daughter.

 

It was purely because of his grandchildren that he helped Emperor Perseus regain the throne.

 

The twin brothers were thought to be Elizabeth’s only descendants.

 

But they weren’t the only ones Elizabeth had left behind.

 

He didn’t know the details, but it’s clear that the child, who everyone thought had died a short time before Elizabeth, had survived.

 

***

 

When she woke up again, the Duke of Superion no longer asked Lelia questions. 

 

[Is this an illusion? Because I didn’t tell him the truth?]

 

Lelia was feeling anxious, but her anxiety soon subsided. 

 

This was because Duke Superion took care of Lelia with a more friendly look and tone than before.

 

As if he knows without asking me. 

 

As if I don’t have to tell him. 

 

As if he will wait for Lelia to speak up about it and tell him in time.

 

This made her feel at ease for the first time since she had returned from the temple.

 

On the other hand, the Duke of Superion was so kind that Lelia felt like she was with her mother whom she had never met.

 

When she thought that her maternal grandfather really recognized her, Lelia’s heart felt  overwhelmed and it was hard to breathe.

 

[I should have told him the truth.]

 

She tried to say it many times, but the words wouldn’t come out. It was because she knew she would cry if she were to talk about it. 

 

[If my friends find out, they won’t call me Captain anymore…]

 

It seems like it was just yesterday that she was teased for being a crybaby. If they knew that she had cried again… she could imagine how much her friends would make fun of her.

 

[We won’t see each other again anyway…]

 

After she returned to her home country from the temple, perhaps because her friends weren’t there, she had the illusion that she had returned to her younger days.

 

It was clear to her that people became smaller and younger whenever they were lonely and tired. As she lived in the Imperial Palace, her body and mind shrank.

 

[I’m glad I ran away.]

 

Lelia thought and swore she would never cry again.

 

The knights wrinkled their brows when they saw the Duke of Superion, who was behaving especially kind to Lelia.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Did I hear something wrong?”

 

“It scares me even more when he smiles.”

 

The knights were bewildered by the gentle Duke of Superion, who always acted like a vicious bear towards them.

 

Eventually they arrived in Crete, the last big city before they continued on to the Superion estate.

 

The carriage stopped in front of a shop.

 

The Duke of Superion took Lelia in his arms, and lifted her out of the carriage. He took her by the hand, and they headed off somewhere.

 

Lelia looked up at her grandfather with a smile.

 

“…”

 

Chapter 11