NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38 - Episode 38: Frim woke up and realized many things... but
Episode 38: Frim woke up and realized many things… but
(Returned to Frim’s Perspective)
The usual dining table, a normal, typical family that could be found anywhere. The pleasant scent of kombu, perhaps today we’re having hot pot? Dad, mom, younger sister, and younger brother are all here, in our usual home. Dad is trying to avoid the chrysanthemum greens and getting scolded by mom. The brother, who sprinkles sesame seeds on everything, is piling up his plate while the sister remains glued to her smartphone, checking social media without looking up.
Before I knew it, the dining table was surrounded by the sea, and it became clear that this was a dream. Even square-headed sperm whales and orcas were swimming around. Everything feels strangely large, maybe because it’s a dream.
As the dining table slowly drifts away from view, I realize I need to tell my family… I try to speak up, but no sound comes out. Instead, I’m greeted with a smile from mom as she turns to look at me.
“Mom, I’m sorry… I… huh!?”
I try to apologize for dying before her… but the pain wakes me up.
“Are you awake? I’ll call someone right away.”
“W-who… are you?”
My whole body aches as if it’s being pulled. I’m lying on a soft bed with luxurious wallpaper. A beautiful maid stands nearby. Somehow, it seems I’ve survived. From my fingertips to my throat, everything hurts… but that’s probably a sign that I’m still alive. Both my hands and feet can move. I wonder if the bandage is covering my eye.
—Ah, I really messed up.
My magic is almost depleted, so I used my trump card. If it’s the same type of magic, I can use several simultaneously, like being able to summon five high-pressure jets. I could use water orbs, high-pressure jets, water streams, barriers, and water blades all at once, but lately, I’ve only been using barriers and high-pressure jets. Using a single type of magic allows for more focused control than using multiple. By reducing the types used, you can allocate more resources to other spells… By deploying multiple layers of water barriers around myself like an egg, all I had to do was maintain it with my remaining strength. With my last remaining power, I infused oxygen and hydrogen into the outer layers. Oxygen and hydrogen are easy to produce, but I wasn’t sure how much I needed. Perhaps I made too much… If the outer layer explodes, the opponent would be wary, and even if I couldn’t defeat them, I could generate oxygen and hydrogen again and restore the barrier… That was my plan to buy time and endure. Magic power also recovers over time, so I thought if there were repeated explosions, the security guards would eventually come. Maybe I caused a big explosion. I don’t remember, but those assassins must have tried to break the barrier. It exploded. And before I knew it, I was here… But more importantly…
“Have you… realized… what you’ve done?”
“W-what are you talking about? What’s happening??!”
As I move my toes, my foot cramps. I ask the beautiful maid to help me stretch my Achilles tendon. The pain is unbearable, especially since my body is already hurting.
—I couldn’t escape, and it was a gamble, but… if both he and I are still alive, it seems we won the bet.
A suspicious person, a king, or a prince… I don’t know who he is, along with a grandpa-like figure, entered the room, creating a tense atmosphere… but at least I was examined by a doctor. They closed the major wounds, but they couldn’t determine what was wrong internally, and it seems they didn’t want to use strong medicine because it’s not good for the body. Perhaps it’s because I was dragged by the whip, but the inner thigh and ankle of the leg that didn’t hurt are also quite painful now. I still can’t walk on my own.
“Frim, thank you for saving my life. I’m truly grateful.”
“……”
“……You can lift your head and speak. I want to talk to you.”
Even though I’m lying in bed, I immediately adopt a submissive posture. No, it’s more like a prostration, as I couldn’t bend my legs due to the pain. It’s almost like doing push-ups. If this blond handsome guy is a king, then Frim-chan is in trouble… I did something like torture for the sake of treatment. Even if I explain, he might not understand the medical practices of my previous life, and it might be futile. Would I be treated as a pervert and executed? Just being treated as a pervert might be bad enough.
“……”
“……”
Where’s the conversation?! Nobles are beings different from humans who sometimes treat commoners as toys and play with them or even kill them, with the king at the top, right? Do we have paper, a pen, or bamboo sticks?! No, wait, isn’t this the kind of situation where you present yourself at a daimyo procession and end up being executed anyway?!!
“I forgive all your rudeness. You can relax.”
“I’m sorry…”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“I heard that if you’re reported to the Red Dragon Knights as a pervert, you’ll be executed.”
Before it becomes a problem later, it’s better to apologize in advance. If you don’t apologize when you have the chance to be forgiven, things can get scary later on.
“That was my fault. I was disguised.”
“Your Majesty?”
“S-so, do you have any other questions?”
He apologized, but he doesn’t seem unreasonably angry. There was a moment when the maid said something and sounded flustered, but I wonder if she tell anyone?
By now, I have no choice but to believe he’s the king. But I think it’s better to say I didn’t know.
“Um, who exactly are you?”
“Me? Me or… I am… your father?”
“Huh!?”
My voice, the voice of the old man in fancy clothes, and the maid’s voice all matched. What’s with this guy, claiming to be my dad?
“No, that’s not it! That’s not it at all! Your sister!? No, that’s not quite right either!?”
The old man is surprised by the idea of the king having a secret child. If he’s surprised because the king hasn’t given birth to any child, maybe there’s a custom where someone else names the child and become the godfather
Apparently, the king has trusted guards like older siblings that has a child named by him, so this young man wanted to say he’s the one who named me.
“Ahem, well. I am Chaltoru Vainoa Ria Ruuna Obeiros. I am the king of this country, the one you saved.”
“I’m Frim. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
Hmm, I don’t get it. Could this guy be my real dad, and he’s hiding something about messing around with a prostitute or something? Is he trying to cover it up? It makes sense why he seemed strange when he asked for my name during the suspicious incident. If my parents were his guards, as he claims, they would be nobles, and they wouldn’t be connected to my alley, right? No, Frim’s memories start with being beaten up and don’t seem to include being in a glittering mansion, but I can’t say for sure. But I have no memory of this godparent. I didn’t even know I was born from the old guards, but apparently, they asked him to name me…
“No, it’s not just the hair color; I confirmed the identity properly.”
How? No, maybe they did a DNA test or something? Maybe there are some physical characteristics? Like moles or something.
“So what’s my name then?”
“Fleemis Tanana Raym Lucarim. So, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Lucarim!? Your Majesty, I haven’t heard anything about this! Earl, I’ll leave this place to you for a while!”
“Yes.”
The self-proclaimed king, who grabbed me by the neck, left with the old man. What was the king’s name again? I only remember “Cha.” It was too long to remember. And Frim-chan isn’t Frim… What was it, Fleming Tanacum Rim?
“I’m still recovering from illness, and I am the king, you know?”
“Just come along already!”
I almost said “One more time!” but the king had already been taken away by the pompous old man.
The old man actually looks more like the king with his completely white hair and dignified air.
“Um, I want to go home.”
“…I think that might be a bit difficult right now. Sorry.”
“Huh!”
I was suddenly embraced by the maid. Even though I have the body of a young girl, I’m aware of myself as an adult woman. This is embarrassing, and I want her to let go, but…
“…So, you were alive, Flana…”
She strokes my hair. Maybe she was someone who had some interaction with my dad or mom. I can’t be rude to her.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
The two of them returned after a while. Mr. Red Eyes is still red around the eyes. Mr. Cha-something came back with a smile. The old man seems to be enduring a headache with furrowed brows.
It seems they’re having trouble handling me.
“Um, what happened to my family home?”
I should ask this. Even if my dad and mom have long passed away, there should still be a legitimate guardian or legal representative.
“…”
“…”
“…”
They look hesitant to speak. Is there a reason why it’s difficult to say?
Come to think of it, there were several Water Houses, but now they’ve been integrated into one, right? Does that mean my family home is gone?
“To cut to the chase… Your house still exists.”
“The Lucarim family is a prestigious Water House and currently the head… They support the late King’s older brother Riaum.”
“If I may add, it was likely Lord Riaum who sent the assassins.”
“Oh…”
This is the worst. The Lucarim family supports the faction that opposed this king. While it may not be openly acknowledged, it’s clear they were the masterminds behind the assassination attempt. They must harbor considerable resentment toward me for thwarting the assassination at the last moment.
“What will you do from now on?”
“I just want to go home for now.”
I’m also worried about the gambling den and my obligations.
Come to think of it, is Bursa-sama okay? Is the gambling den, is the capital city safe?
“And after that?”
“I haven’t really thought about it yet.”
“Until your wounds heal, it’s best to take it easy and rest without thinking about anything. That’s what you should consider during that time.”
King Cha-something grabs my head and moves it from side to side… What’s this? Is he trying to pat me?
“Good night, I’ll leave it to Ael to take care of you.”
Well, I’m injured, so if there are people who will take care of me, maybe it’s okay to rely on them?
(Note: Before moving on to ch 39, you can read “setting material 1” that contains character summarization)