episode_0065

Episode 65.

‘What is that…’

This is an obvious anomaly. The ominous black magic that seeped out like bubbles from a boiling cauldron was about to reach the bottom.

“What, what…? Suddenly…”

Carmel suddenly saw me looking back in surprise and asked in confusion.

Is it invisible to Carmel?

Or are you just pretending to be invisible? Because you don’t want to mention the identity of the item in the box?

If you think about it normally, it was brought by Carmel herself, and considering that Carmel herself knows how to manipulate magic, it would be more likely the latter… but there was no way that Carmel, who was in the midst of her agitation, could have reacted so quickly and cool-headedly.

then…

“Don’t you feel it, mother? There’s a chill somewhere… It’s strange. I didn’t even open the window.”

The appeal was that he did not react to the magic power itself, but only felt a vague sense of ominousness. But Carmel still just tilted her head.

“Chill? No, I am not at all…”

Carmel really didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. He was just puzzled by my suddenly startled attitude.

I think it can be said that it is truly invisible to Carmel. But it was clearer to my eyes.

So, is this also thanks to my magic power? Just like when I sensed the magic seed in the Festival of Swords, it may be something only I can see.

But that’s not the more important part. The question must be why did the object inside the box suddenly start emitting magical power?

Judging from Carmel’s reaction, it doesn’t seem like she used the magic intentionally. If so…

For a moment, I wondered if I should call the court wizard. What’s inside is clearly an extremely dangerous magical item. It is by no means an ordinary situation that it is doing something.

But if that happens, Carmel’s position becomes too precarious. The price for bringing such a hideous object into the royal family. According to national law, no matter how queenly you are, in the worst case scenario, you can even be executed.

That’s not enough. If I had to choose between the destruction of this country and the loss of Carmel, I would make the same choice even if given infinite opportunities.

In that case, I have to deal with that item on my own. To do so, it was first necessary to find out under what conditions and under what effect that product would be effective.

Let’s watch the situation for now. With that in mind, I paid close attention to my surroundings.

“What is it? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

Carmel suddenly closed her mouth, looked at my face whose mood had changed, and spoke in a worried voice.

But that was then.

Something changed in Carmel’s eyes as she looked at me. I felt that Carmel’s shaking eyes were filled with only cold things.

“…Mother?”

Carmel didn’t answer. Instead, Carmel’s eyes began to shake. Those eyes were looking at me but not looking at me.

At the same time, Carmel’s hand, which was held weakly on the table, was shaking ever so slightly. As if he was resisting something.

“Mother.”

This time, Carmel still didn’t answer. Carmel’s face and eyes were filled with a venom that was very familiar to me.

“…Sera…”

At that moment, like a surprise, my name flowed from Carmel’s lips. As pitiful as the sound of breathing escaping while being tortured. I felt like something in my chest was trying to kick down the door and jump out.

The black magic that had been overflowing with Carmel’s outburst was already calming down. The correlation between the two events that occurred and ended at the same time seemed clear.

I asked cautiously, as if I was knocking on a door.

“Mother, are you okay? For some reason, your expression darkened.”

I hoped my hunch was wrong. But what came out of Carmel was a cold, cold voice.

“I don’t want to worry about you, Princess Sera. Could you please stop pretending to be friendly for no reason?”

A sharp voice, as if it had gone back to when the dagger was first pointed at me. It feels like it is cutting into my heart sharper than a dagger.

If it had been the same as it was in the morning, I might have been greatly shocked. But right now, there was no great turmoil happening within me.

Because I thought I knew the identity of the twisted tree branch in that box, the cursed object covered in black magic.

Making Carmel exist as an evil woman who destroys the Kingdom of Lustier. It appears that the function of that branch is to create and maintain Carmel as a hate and curse.

Maybe that’s what Carmel herself wanted. To prevent hatred from being alleviated by the luxury of palace life or by emotions within oneself.

Or, there is a possibility that it was not Carmel but someone else who stopped by. To prevent Carmel from changing her mind.

We don’t even know to what extent it is yet. Will it be at the level of completely resetting the personality, or will it be at the level of re-inciting the weakening hatred?

It’s cruel. Either way.

But even the memories would not disappear. If that were the case, her activities as a villainess would also be hindered. Even though his attitude has changed, it would be fair to say that he remembers everything that has happened up until now.

Plus that voice.

‘…Sera…’

The voice that I barely let out just before I was completely tainted by the curse. That voice that whispered in my ear several times last night.

To me, it sounded like it was asking for help.

If that’s the case, I can’t just sit there.

Not for anything else, but for my own enjoyment.

Above all, if you do it this way every time, you won’t enjoy being a teaching assistant.

My heart had been taken over little by little by the humiliation so far, and now there was only a little bit left.

However, to suddenly be disturbed by an unknown tree branch, it was very unpleasant.

It felt like the power went out while I was playing the game well. I feel like I’m going to feel violent for a moment.

But I knew this well. What must be done with that cursed object in order to realize my goal, the desire to completely capture Carmel’s body and mind.

I’m used to having obstacles in my way. The problem is how to overcome it.

First, from the time the pension is released. First, we’ll need to gather information on what type of object it is and what needs to be done to destroy it.

“Oh, I feel sad. I thought I had already become quite close to my mother. But, well, if my mother didn’t feel that way… I guess I’ll have no choice but to try harder to become closer to her in the future.”

“Heung.”

Carmel turned her head as if she didn’t want to talk anymore. It was an attitude that felt like heartfelt contempt.

* * *

next day. The last day spent in Carmel’s room.

When Carmel left the room, I opened the box again.

Mistletoe in a bizarrely twisted form. It looks disgusting again. Since it is a cursed item, it is natural to feel uncomfortable.

I took out a piece of paper and started sketching it in detail.

This form itself may have meaning. Or perhaps the variety of mistletoe might reveal something.

In the future, it will be difficult to come to this room as freely as now, so it would be best to at least draw a picture.

The sketch didn’t take long. Unlike me in the previous life, Princess Sera was very dexterous. Every detail was described in detail on paper without leaving out any details.

The problem is who to ask this to…

Monaz, the court wizard, may have knowledge about curses. At least we can get a clue.

However, if this is an item containing an enormous curse, and Monaz asks where on earth he saw something like this, it is difficult to answer. Maybe talking around won’t work.

If there was a person that immediately came to mind… there was one person.

Teneric Street’s magic shop where I purchased the poison I fed to Fehat earlier. The owner of the place, an old northerner, would naturally know something about the curse.

Okay, this is it. When my pension is over, I have to go see him first.

I closed the notebook with the sketch and placed it on one side of the luggage to be sent to my room.

* * *

When I returned to my room after a long time, it felt somewhat unfamiliar.

I already miss the dream life where I could see Carmel’s naked body every morning and evening. Well, I’ll see you again soon.

If Carmel hadn’t been in that state, I would have liked to have asked her how she felt about the days she spent with me, but it’s a shame. I guess I’ll keep this grudge deep down and take it out on that damn tree branch.

While I was thinking that, the maid told me that the knight commander had visited. It seems he came right after hearing the news that I was back. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Philgret’s face.

“I ask you to come in.”

Philgret, who opened the door, still had a face of steel. Although it seems like I’ve lost a little more weight.

“Thank you for your hard work over a long, truly long time, princess. We will spare no efforts to reform and reform to ensure that such unfortunate incidents never occur in the future.”

Hmm… To be honest, the word ‘hard work’ doesn’t suit me. Just last night, I had a fun last night peeking at Carmel’s sleeping body. But there’s no need to say that to Pilgret.

“Uh, um. Please take care of me? That’s good, Philgret. I’m sorry for making you work as soon as I see you again, but please come inspect with me…”

“Of course, princess. But before that, may I introduce you to the man who has become the new captain of the Royal Guard?”

Oh, that guy who was supposed to be the masker? Well, there is nothing that cannot be done.

After I gave permission, a man opened the door and entered. He wore an iron mask on his face. Is this really a masker?

“Nice to meet you, Princess Sera. I offer my greetings after being appointed as the leader of the Obsidian Knights and head of the unit under my direct control. Please call me Masker.”

Masker got down on one knee and showed respect. Looking at him like that, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of absurdity.

“Hey.”

“Yes, princess.”

“You are Walter.”

“Waltera. Sorry, but I don’t know that name. My name is Masker.”

What is this, you bastard?