The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 114

Something soft brushed against Grace’s forehead—smooth and warm, like the touch of someone’s hand.
Who is it? Curious, Grace tried to move her limbs, but her body felt as heavy as iron, refusing to budge.

 

Her vision was pitch black. She wanted to lift her eyelids and see the light, but she couldn’t muster even the smallest amount of strength. After trying briefly to rise, Grace gave up and let herself fall back into the darkness.

 

‘…Is it serious? There’s no risk of it getting worse…’

 

‘Yes. Now she just needs to recover…’

 

Faint voices echoed around her. She couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.

 

She wanted to get up and check—to see who had touched her, who was talking nearby. She was curious about their identities, but her consciousness kept slipping away.
She was tired. She just wanted to sleep. She was so exhausted.

 

‘…Rest is the most important thing now…’

 

A woman’s voice. She was right. What Grace needed most right now was sleep. Her body had no strength, and she just wanted to rest and think about everything later.

 

Grace allowed herself to sink into the haze and helplessness surrounding her. Her consciousness slowly faded.

 

 

How long had she slept?

 

Grace opened her eyes, feeling sunlight brushing across her face. A crisp white blanket covered her.

 

“This must be… the room I was staying in?”

 

The ceiling pattern was familiar. It was the room she had stayed in at the Imperial Palace.
Who brought me here?

 

“You’re awake.”

 

“Frederick?”

 

Turning her head, she saw Frederick sitting beside the bed. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

 

“You really do know how to make people worry.”

 

“H-How long was I out?”

 

Memories of what happened just before she collapsed briefly flickered through her mind.

 

She had been on the verge of being overpowered by Felixius when the divine beasts appeared. With their help, she had defeated him, but the moment she descended to the ground, her strength gave out and she lost consciousness. Everything after that was a blur.

 

“You were unconscious for two full days. You didn’t have a fever or anything, but you showed no signs of waking up, so everyone was worried. People across the palace were hoping you’d open your eyes. You’re the hero of the rebellion, after all—we couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”

 

“A h-hero? Me…?”

 

“I heard you were the one who stopped the Emperor of Bahorne. That you fought and defeated him midair.”

 

“It wasn’t just me. The divine beasts helped—”

 

“And only you could’ve called on them.”

 

Frederick placed his hand gently over hers.

 

“Fighting an opponent who floats in the air… it’s nearly impossible. Back on the plains, we couldn’t even reach him. All we could do was try to pin him down long enough for the mages to cast spells. Without your help, it would’ve been a losing battle.”

 

“…”

 

“And I later heard it was also you who woke the Emperor, which forced the reinforcements to retreat.”

 

A faint smile crossed his lips.

 

“I had to admit I was wrong. I’m ashamed I tried to stop you from joining the fight.”

 

“You were just trying to protect me, Frederick.”

 

“I appreciate you understanding that.”

 

The warmth from Frederick’s hand was comforting. Grace smiled at him.

 

“On our way back to the palace, I was so worried you might not make it. I nearly lost my mind.”

 

“I… I’m not that fragile, you know.”

 

Grace pretended to puff out her chest with mock pride.

 

“I mean, I was a commander in the Imperial army. That has to count for something, right?”

 

“There’s no such thing as certainty. You talk like someone who’s never seen real war.”

 

Frederick chuckled lightly and shook his head.

 

“No matter how brave or skilled you are, the battlefield is unpredictable. Every time I go to war, I accept the risk that I might not come back.”

 

“But you’re the strongest on the continent, aren’t you?”

 

“Complacency is what gets you killed. And besides, someone even stronger could appear one day. …Anyway, thank you for holding on.”

 

“…”

 

“Thank you for staying alive.”

 

Grace placed her hand on top of his.

 

“And I’m grateful you made it back safely without a scratch, Frederick. So… is it over now? What about Prince Vladimir?”

 

“He’s been arrested. And he’s no longer a prince—thanks to you.”

 

“I suppose that’s true…”

 

Grace nodded slightly.

 

“So… it’s really over.”

 

“We’ll be heading back to the territory soon. We’ve done all we needed to do here.”

 

“What about Duke Reinhardt?”

 

“He was one of the main leaders of the rebellion. He and his direct heirs are all set to be executed. He’s imprisoned with his two sons. The women are to be sold into slavery.”

 

So that’s how it ended. Even without vengeance, their downfall had been inevitable.

 

“Can I see them?”

 

“Why would you want to?”

 

“There’s something I need to say.”

 

 

Carrying a lantern, Grace cautiously descended the dark staircase. The underground prison was poorly lit, and a single misstep could send her tumbling down.

 

‘Since they’re traitors, visits aren’t usually allowed. But His Highness made an exception for you.’

 

The cell holding Duke Reinhardt and his sons was at the very end of the prison.

 

Inside the cramped space, the three of them sat huddled together, their bodies slumped in defeat.

 

Grace brought the lantern close to the bars.

 

Sensing movement, they stirred, adjusting their posture. When their eyes met Grace’s, all three of them widened in shock.

 

“Grace…!”

 

Duke Reinhardt howled her name like a wounded beast.

 

He and his sons were in a wretched state. Their hair was disheveled, faces pale and sunken, their expressions devoid of life. It was hard to believe they were once the well-groomed nobles who roamed the ducal estate.

 

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

 

“You… you…”

 

The Duke pointed a trembling finger at her, his voice ragged and strained.

 

“How… how could you have come this far?!”

 

“I came to say goodbye before leaving the palace.”

 

“You—! How can you just stand there when your own flesh and blood is rotting in a cell?! Let us out! You can do that!”

 

“Were we really blood? You never treated me that way. So I figured I’d forget it too.”

 

“You bitch!”

 

Duke Reinhardt trembled with fury. Grace turned her gaze to his sons. Their faces were blank, tired, and hollow, as they stared at their father.

 

“You still feel no remorse for what you did to me, do you?”

 

Even at the end, they had no real understanding of what they’d done wrong.

 

“Would you spare us if we repented?”
Benjamin’s voice was flat.

 

“You must pay the price. You destroyed my life.”

 

“If you’re not going to save us, then what’s the point of apologizing? Saying sorry to you won’t change a thing.”

 

So they wouldn’t ask for forgiveness unless there was something in it for them. They’d go to their deaths never understanding what they had done.

 

“You arrogant wench. Just because you had a duke backing you, you act like some damned wild beast!”

 

Duke Reinhardt shouted, glaring at her.

 

“I should never have married you off… You were too unworthy of such a position.”

 

“Oh? Didn’t you do it for yourselves anyway? You didn’t want to give your precious daughters to the so-called ‘Monster Duke.’”

 

Grace laughed dryly.

 

“Why are you really here? To mock us in person?”

 

“Yes. What other reason would I have?”

 

Her answer was immediate.

 

“I wanted to see, with my own eyes, how miserable your end would be. The ones who ruined my life—watching you go out like this is the only real closure I’ll get. And let’s be clear—this wasn’t my fault. It was your greed that led to this.”

 

“…”

 

“If you hadn’t joined the rebellion, you wouldn’t be here.”

 

With those final words, Grace turned and walked away.

 

“Damn you…”

 

A string of curses followed her, but she didn’t care in the slightest.

 

Even the brief guilt she had felt about standing against her own blood seemed ridiculous now. She felt no pity for them at all.

 

“It’s over.”

 

Leaving the prison, Grace felt an odd sense of liberation—like she had finally freed herself from the weight of her past.

 

“It’s really over now.”

 

Time to start anew. Let the past stay in the past.
And with that, she walked toward the light.