Witch – Chapter 56- The Two Witches (36)

Яｅαđ оɴ ​Ǩａṫ​ŔėαɗίոｇϹа​ғ​ε

Beryl’s love life was sailing smoothly.

Holding hands with Nicks had become routine, and she even lifted the smaller Nicks onto her lap at times… During meals, she’d use her blindness as an excuse to ask him to feed her.

Though they weren’t officially dating, anyone who saw them would assume they were a couple.

Beryl had come close to crossing the line a few times, but Nicks skillfully maintained the right distance, taking things step by step.

The combination of an older sister trying to push the boundaries and a younger man trying to hold the line… it was perfect.

Beryl, who had once been like a wild beast trying to pounce on me, had now been tamed into an obidient fox by Nicks.

Beryl’s love story was progressing step by step according to my plan, with only the final goal left.

Nicks was also showing signs of affection for Beryl, so it was practically a success. But love is something you can’t let your guard down about until the very end.

As the days passed, the day before the festival arrived.

And then, an unexpected emergency struck Beryl.

“Estelle…?”

Beryl called my name in a hoarse voice, as if she had just regained consciousness.

“Are you awake? How’s your body?”

My heart sank when I found Beryl collapsed in her room.

Her body was burning hot, and she had a high fever.

Witches don’t catch colds, so I suspected someone had attacked her.

There were no signs of a break-in, so I thought maybe she really had caught a cold… but it couldn’t be just a cold.

I removed the wet towel from her forehead and placed my hand on it. Only when I felt her fever had gone down did I feel a little relieved.

“Was I… asleep the whole time?”

“Asleep? Do you even know you collapsed?”

“Collapsed…?”

Look at her. Where did her memory cut off?

“Yes, you collapsed. You had a high fever too.”

“Ugh… What time is it? What if Nicks leaves…?”

I stopped Beryl as she tried to get out of bed.

She should be worrying about her own body first, not Nicks.

I understand she wants to see Nicks, but now is the time to take care of herself. I couldn’t let her get up.

“Nicks is gone. Do you know what time it is? It’s already night.”

“No… I wanted to eat with Nicks, go for a walk… hold his hand…”

Ugh, how do I stop her?

But I had to stop her.

It’s not a cold. That leaves only one possibility.

The Witch’s Curse.

When a witch’s body shows abnormal symptoms, it’s usually related to the curse they bear.

Before becoming a witch, I had heard this countless times from Dorothy, the Witch of the West.

The curse is influenced by the power each witch desires.

It stimulates their desires, gnawing at their sanity until nothing but destruction remains—a punishment from the world for defying its laws.

If it’s gotten to the point of collapsing… Beryl’s mind must have already reached its limit.

“Beryl, be honest with me. When did it start getting worse?”

Talking about the curse among witches is almost taboo.

It’s like cows asking each other when they’ll be slaughtered.

But as a friend, I had no choice but to break the taboo and ask.

“Huh? Worse? I’m perfectly fine…”

“Don’t joke around. I’m serious right now.”

“Estelle, you’re worrying too much. I’m really fine.”

To show she was okay, Beryl moved her body around, but she didn’t seem to realize how weak and limp she looked.

If you’re going to lie, at least make it convincing.

Her blatant lie made me lose my temper.

“If you don’t tell me, we’re done as friends.”

“No… we can’t do that… If I lose you, I’ll have no friends…”

We’re not kids, and here I am declaring the end of a friendship.

Beryl’s childlike response made me feel like a sulky childhood friend.

“Actually… it’s been getting worse for a while… I forgot about it because I was busy with Nicks… Hehe. Sorry. I didn’t want to worry you.”

“…….”

‘I’ve been hearing voices a lot lately. It must be the curse. That’s why I decided to live quietly. I stitched my eyes shut, and I’ve already prepared myself… but honestly, I’m scared.’

I remembered what Beryl had told me before, and I couldn’t lift my head.

Maybe I pushed Beryl too hard because of my own selfish desire.

I wanted to see Beryl’s love story, but I didn’t want to lose her because of it.

“Why are you apologizing? I’m the one who should be sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you…”

If I hadn’t dug up Beryl’s buried feelings, we wouldn’t have reached this point.

I should have just let it go when Beryl said she was fine with how things were.

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you… Estelle, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m glad I could bring out these feelings.”

Beryl weakly raised her trembling hand and patted my head.

“I was too scared to approach Nicks before. I’m so happy I got to do so many things with him.”

“Hey, don’t talk like you’re about to die.”

“Hehe. Did I sound like that?”

While Beryl was unconscious, I strengthened the curse-weakening magic circle I had set up in the room.

The Witch’s Curse is one of the incurable debuffs that even elixirs can’t fix, so all I could do was slow it down.

Fortunately, the magic circle seemed to work, as Beryl’s complexion improved significantly.

To lift the curse, the original story would have to begin…

But the original story wouldn’t start for another 200 years.

“Estelle, what was the last step again?”

“When the festival starts, Nicks will ask you to dance. Then, you’ll wear a beautiful dress and dance at the ball. If you confess there, Beryl’s love story will have a happy ending.”

“The festival is tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. The ball is on the last day of the festival. For now, focus on your health.”

The festival starts tomorrow, but the ball is on the last day,

so there’s no need to rush.

Nicks isn’t the type to ask anyone but Beryl to dance.

For now, all I could do was wait for the curse to improve…

“I’m looking forward to it. Dancing with Nicks… I’ve never danced before. Will I do well?”

“What’s so hard about dancing? Just hold hands and move to the music.”

“Is that all?”

Sorry, Beryl. I’ve never danced either.

Beryl seemed to be imagining dancing with Nicks, as she hummed a tune.

“To dance, you need to be healthy first. Take this medicine and get some rest.”

I took out a potion that increased resistance to status ailments from my inventory.

I also added a potion to help her sleep deeply without dreams.

“Is it grape-flavored?”

“It’s strawberry.”

Ignoring Beryl’s grimace at the grape flavor, I forced her to drink the potion.

“What if I’m still like this by the end of the festival?”

“Hey, don’t even think like that. Since when does the Witch of Emerald talk so weakly?”

“The Witch of Emerald… it’s been a while since I’ve heard that.”

Beryl’s epithet was the Witch of Emerald, named for her jewel-like green eyes.

Though they were now hidden behind a blindfold and stitches, it seemed to bring back old memories.

“Hey, Estelle… no, Witch of Love.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to hear your love story.”

Suddenly asking for a story about my first love…?

I couldn’t disappoint Beryl, who was looking at me with such anticipation.

But… I’ve never liked anyone before.

The atmosphere didn’t allow me to brush it off, so I racked my brain.

If I don’t have any experience… I can just borrow someone else’s, right?

Am I a genius?

My mind is filled with the narratives of all the protagonists from the Aria Chronicle series.

Which protagonist’s story would Beryl like…?

Kyle? Sion? Agnes? Or maybe… Zeke Fricks?

Zeke Fricks, the protagonist of the fourth series, was my personal favorite.

I thought Beryl might like it too.

Sorry Zeke Fricks and the Witch of the End, but if I mix the story well, Beryl will be happy.

“Ahem. Fine, I’ll tell you. Listen well. You won’t hear this story anywhere else.”

I cleared my throat to set the mood.

“Once upon a time, when dragons roared and destroyed kingdoms…”

“Estelle, you’re 400 years younger than me.”

“It’s just a saying.”

This is why I hate perceptive witches.

Listen well, Beryl. I’m about to tell you an amazing story.

The heartbreaking love story of the man who led the golden age of Aria Chronicle.

Throughout the story, Beryl kept interrupting with questions, but I didn’t mind.

Before I knew it, Beryl was completely captivated by Zeke Fricks.

“…And so, peace returned to the world.”

“…….”

Wasn’t this supposed to be a love story…?

It turned into more of a fairy tale, but since Beryl fell asleep midway, I guess it didn’t matter.

As long as it was entertaining.

Making excuses to myself, I checked on Beryl, who had fallen asleep.

Her breathing was fine, and her face was peaceful, free from nightmares.

Sorry, Josie, but I’ll have to let you spend the festival with Leo.

Though Leo might be confused, I couldn’t leave the room until Beryl recovered.

If Beryl were to be consumed by the curse…

Venetia would disappear from the map that very day.

All I could do was stay by my friend’s side to prevent the worst from happening.