TMHLBBQ_ARCHIVE_ INTERMISSION CHAPTER 13: And So Entrust.

Intermission Chapter 13: And So Entrust

This is chapter 71 in the raws 

"Are you prepared to… ‘confess everything’ to Father and Mother?"

Upon hearing my words, Chancellor Gilbert's eyes widened in shock. His mouth moved silently as if asking, "What do you...?"

“It’s painful, you know. You’ll be tormented by guilt, yet no one will ever judge you for the sins you’ve committed.”

Even in the game, Stayle suffered in silence. He hid the fact that he had killed his mother due to the enslavement contract, carrying the burden of that guilt for the rest of his life.

Now, I am commanding Chancellor Gilbert to do the same.

Having given him his orders, I looked over at the others before giving them new instructions, "I also command Marianne-san and the maids, to forget everything you heard and saw here."

Marianne and the maids looked at each other in astonishment.

“Are you saying… you’re going to forgive me? Someone like me, who has committed such a grave sin?”

“I am not forgiving you.”

I mercilessly cut off Chancellor Gilbert’s words. I wasn’t opposed to executions. I had been tasked with simple judgments, including executions, a few times by my mother after the knights' surprise attack.

“Chancellor Gilbert, if you truly feel remorse… or even if you don’t, if you’re willing to leave your judgment to me, then swear it here and now. Swear to me, to everyone present, and to the one you loved so deeply that you would abandon everything for her. Swear that, as long as the king desires, you will dedicate yourself to serving the people of this country, and continue to fulfill your role as Chancellor.”

He is a non-aging person, freely capable of manipulating his age, one could say he’s an immortal man. Surely he will continue to live for a hundred years or a thousand years, so long as he doesn’t succumb to illness or injury, he will live on forever

Even when Father and Mother are gone, even after I die, and when his beloved Marianne reaches the end of her natural life span

If he made this vow now, he will have to continue to live on.

Just like his ending from the game.

He had made a similar vow in the romance route he had with Tiara, “Surely, my sins will lead me to hell. But until the heavens pass judgment on me, I will protect the people of this country, the ones you loved so dearly.”

In reality, nothing was tying him to the role of Chancellor anymore. If I were truly thinking of his happiness, I should have set him free. Let him live as a simple citizen with Marianne, no longer bound by duty.

But he had made too many mistakes. One misstep and the consequences could have been catastrophic. If he truly wished to atone for his sins, then this was his chance.

“As Chancellor, step away from illegal dealings. Use the information you’ve gathered on human trafficking to capture and judge those involved. Then, dedicate yourself to serving this country—the very one you tried to betray. You can do it, now that you’ve seen the consequences.”

I saw the light return to his eyes as I held his gaze.

His tears still flowed endlessly, but the cloudiness in his eyes gradually cleared.

After a few seconds, he spoke with renewed strength, “Understood!” His voice was firm and resolute. He then gently placed his hands over mine, which still held his face.

“I swear, until my heart stops beating, I will protect the people of this country, the ones you love so dearly…!” He then clasped my hands tightly, his gaze more determined than I had ever seen

I was confident that he could do it.

For he is a person who continued to push forward, even after losing his fiancée and causing the deaths of innocent people. Driven only by the wishes of his late fiancée, dedicating himself to the people left behind.

He would surely keep this vow he made before the woman he loved the most.

As he gently released my hands, I stood up and reached out to touch his face once more.

The dark circles under his eyes were still visible.

Slowly, I brushed my hand against his cheek, letting it glide down to his neck. His thin neck, hidden by his light blue hair, felt frail under my touch. (Eunie: UMM.. MISS MA’M WUT 😲/j)

His cheek, too, was sunken, without much flesh beneath my fingers. He was gaunt as if he had been suffering for a long time. I was certain that he had been struggling, day after day, wondering what he could do for his fiancée as she grew weaker.

I was six years old when Marianne-san fell ill.

For years, though we didn’t see each other daily, I had regularly crossed paths with him. Yet I hadn’t noticed… not until he had wasted away to this extent.

If only I had remembered the events of the game sooner, I could have helped him and Marianne earlier.

If only I had told Arthur about his true special ability sooner, maybe we could have saved Marianne before Chancellor Gilbert’s heart had withered.

Maybe then, he wouldn’t have committed today’s terrible crime. Maybe he would have resigned as Chancellor and been living happily with Marianne by now.

If only I had realized sooner. If only I had acted sooner.

The more I thought about it, the more it hurt.

Chancellor Gilbert looked at me curiously as I continued to keep my hand on his neck, not letting go.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize… not until you were like this.”

I felt him gasp, the movement of his throat trembling under my hand. His throat moved again as he swallowed hard as if he were trying to say something.

He was… truly in a pitiable state.

Maybe under his clothes, it was even worse. His body… and his heart were both worn thin, yet he had continued to push himself for the sake of his fiancée.

“I’m sorry I could only pass judgment by binding you to the role of Chancellor.”

As I spoke, Chancellor Gilbert’s eyes widened again… and then he smiled faintly.

He gently took my hand, which was still on his neck, and kissed the back of it.

“Eh…?!”

A strange sound escaped my throat.

Frozen in shock, I watched as Chancellor Gilbert let go of my hand and placed his hand on my foot.

Realizing what he intended, I couldn’t pull my leg away. Instead, my memories of my past life, where I had lived modestly, made my face flush red. I knew what this was—it wasn’t that kind of gesture.

This was Chancellor Gilbert’s vow.

I pressed my lips tightly together, trying not to resist, and allowed myself to be completely at the mercy of Prime Minister Gilbert.

He gently removed my shoes and lifted my foot slightly, holding it carefully in his hands. Then, he began with my toes.

The top of my foot.

And then, smoothly, he pressed his lips against my shin.

The sensation was so soft and unexpected that it made my face flush with heat and my body stiffen in shock. Even though he’s close in age to my father, he’s a target and a hidden character. The very thought of his beautiful face being so close to my feet made my head feel like it was on fire!

I was worried about whether Marianne was angry and, like a doll, lifted my face only to see her smiling. Of course, for an adult, this must be insignificant. Prime Minister Gilbert must have kissed Marianne in far more significant places. Yet, Arthur, standing beside Marianne, looked utterly stunned, his mouth agape and his face flushed red. Please don’t look; I’m the one who’s most embarrassed here!!

I understand it all in my mind. I know the meaning behind Prime Minister Gilbert’s kiss. I’ve learned this before from my teacher, and it’s not my first encounter with a kiss on the back of the hand.

The back of the hand represents “respect.”

The toes signify “reverence.”

The top of the foot indicates “subjugation.”

The shin signifies “obedience.”

The back of the hand, symbolizing “respect,” is not unusual at this age when meeting nobles. But it was so sudden, and more than anything, the feet! The feet! The feet!!

If I had known, I would have worn a proper dress. I’m probably the only royal to be kissed in pants or tights. Just being kissed in this outfit is mortifying enough!

And why did the protagonist Tiara only get kisses on the back of her hand?

I was becoming more and more flustered, trying to keep from screaming as I held my mouth with both hands. Prime Minister Gilbert then, as if nothing had happened, helped me put my shoes back on.

“I am neither a knight nor someone who can pledge fealty to you. That is why, here and now, I vow with my own body.”

He knelt gracefully, looked up from below, clasped his hands as if in prayer, and gazed up at me.

“Her Highness, Princess Pryde Royal Ivy-sama, the First Princess of our country. Not as the daughter of the current Queen, nor the consort we serve, nor the first heir to the throne, but to you as a person, I pledge my heartfelt loyalty here and now.”

He bowed deeply, and his previously disheveled appearance seemed almost like a falsehood.

“I am profoundly grateful for the chance you’ve given me, a great sinner, to dedicate myself to the country once more. Including Marianne, I will never forget this favor for the rest of my life.”

When Prime Minister Gilbert, for the first time, smiled softly, he appeared just as we knew him, but his smile was even gentler.

When I smiled and said, “It’s a promise,” Prime Minister Gilbert responded with a sincere smile.

It was a pure, unblemished smile, one I felt I had never seen before.

Eunie_tln: ehehehhehehe....TBH I already have this translated since last year but I never got to post this chapter and the other ones I've already translated cause I got into a car accident last year. Like I was on my way to school for the last day of our midterms and yeah...my dumbass got into a car accident. 

BUT LIKE DAMN......GILBERT WHAT WAS THAT??????  But at times like this a real time POV from Stayle or Arthur would be super awesome!!!🤣

 

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