Ch.5819. I Am Under a Curse (3)

The scent of lavender wafts heavily even before entering the city.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve already been immersed in it on the way here.

While some might have entered the city before the festival, quite a few seemed to have arrived late on the opening day, as lines stretched from the village entrance.

The festival would continue for several days.

In truth, Patina had already arrived at the village earlier, but concerned about possibly running into Kariel, she had been wandering outside the city.

The area around Baroness territory was relatively safe and filled with places worth exploring.

And since this was a time when outsiders frequently came and went, vigilance was lower than usual.

Meeting the demon youth painting a landscape with lavender fields as his backdrop was just one of those chance encounters.

“At first, the criticism was relentless. ‘How dare you join hands with demons?’ they said. But now it’s considered one of the most successful achievements, and as a result, relations with our alliance have improved in some territories. I think it’s been beneficial for everyone.”

The rumor that Baroness territory had partnered with demons for development was a major topic of discussion at the time.

As a result, in just five years, the place achieved growth incomparable to its previous state.

Though it was a barony, its scale could easily be considered greater.

Moreover, its close ties to the central government and emperor-friendly political stance likely led to support rather than opposition.

While relations with the Videnberg family had been poor during Berk’s kingdom era, after reconciliation through Saint Kariel, it seemed the Baroness side had bowed first.

The results of that continue to this day, making it an undeniably profound bond.

Additionally, the Videnberg family was among the founding contributors to the Berk Empire led by the Enzul family.

“Thank you for sharing.”

“The pleasure is mine. It was enjoyable to converse with a noble person in a place like this.”

By the time she returned to the city, Patina belatedly received a report that Kariel had already left.

Along with the location of the person she was seeking.

The church was filled with visitors and believers.

She entered and proceeded further inside.

After revealing her identity and purpose, she easily reached areas normally restricted to outsiders.

The person she wanted to meet…

Was holed up in a guest room, pouring and drinking wine alone.

With striking red hair and a physique that would put most men to shame.

Known to the world as the Saint of Protection, the 4th Saint, Alesia.

“Sister. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“Though it’s festival season, is it just my imagination that the timing seems peculiar?”

Alesia glanced at Patina with reddened eyes tinged with intoxication.

“Perhaps your guess is correct.”

“…So it is?”

She tilted a wooden barrel rather than a bottle to fill her wooden cup.

Alesia took out another empty cup and again tilted the barrel to fill it.

“Drink. I felt awkward making a scene alone in the Lord’s courtyard, but now I have an excuse.”

“…I’ll gladly partake.”

Patina sat across from her, calmly accepting the cup and bringing it to her lips.

For a moment, an unnatural silence lingered between them.

“You had reason to be proud of him.”

Alesia was the first to break the silence.

“He was quite remarkable.”

“……”

“Though I’m not sure why he became so dark and gloomy.”

No, I can guess.

“Excessive expectations and the gazes of others—everything must have been burdensome for him in many ways.”

“……”

“With peace having arrived, the existing powers and privileged classes must have resented a hero of common birth.”

Because he wasn’t born a noble.

As always, those with blue blood couldn’t accept, with their elitist mindset, the rise of someone they considered primitive and inferior.

…Not everyone thought that way, of course.

And such foolishness was appropriately exploited by those who built their power base, slandered others, and used it to inflate their influence.

“It’s not just the Empire that’s like this.”

“…I didn’t expect you to know so much.”

“I don’t know for certain, it’s just what I suspect.”

Perhaps the problem was learning the relevant details too late.

But even if she had known the facts earlier, what would have changed?

The person who was going to leave had already left.

“In your eyes, Sister, what was that child like?”

“He was remarkable. Attractive to my taste, thoughtful in personality… I more than liked him, I was completely smitten. It feels like alternating between good dreams and bad ones. I’ve been kicked around plenty of times before, but… this one hurts a bit more.”

“Sister…”

“I don’t quite understand what excessive expectations people place on those with hero’s blood.”

But even so.

“…I don’t see how that would be reason enough for that child to grow up so darkly.”

“That’s…”

Patina didn’t know what to say, so she just sipped her drink for a while.

“But did you know?”

“…Please tell me.”

“About Kariel.”

Alesia fell silent for a long time after that.

As if deliberating whether it was right to bring this up.

…A contemplative look.

Patina grew anxious.

What fact had she discovered that made her hesitate so?

Though Kariel might resent his father and others, Patina knew well that he wouldn’t easily reveal such things to anyone.

They had known each other for a long time, after all.

He was so reluctant to interact with others that people called him gloomy and somber.

“……”

When he was young, he was the opposite of her.

Had he changed?

Or had the world around him changed?

The princess had casually mentioned the possibility of unknown external pressure, magical influence, or malicious schemes.

But could it really be so vague…?

“He said he was cursed by the Demon King.”

And so.

The moment those words were spoken.

Patina snapped out of her thoughts and.

Wondered if she had misheard.

For a while, she just stared with wide eyes.

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you hear?”

“No… wait. I was lost in thought… I think I misheard.”

“Then you probably heard correctly.”

That can’t be.

“He said he was cursed by the Demon King. Then he self-deprecatingly claimed he had made a pact with the Demon King. When I first heard this, I thought I had misheard something.”

Alesia let out a hollow laugh.

“He said that being involved with him brings misfortune, so don’t do it. That’s the curse. Isn’t that too vague an explanation for something meant to persuade? Huh?”

“Th-that can’t be. You must have mis-misheard…”

“Patina.”

Alesia spoke with resignation.

“If neither you nor the heroes knew… doesn’t that seem like a very serious problem?”

“……”

“Weren’t you family? Didn’t you think of him as a brother?”

Then why…

“Why did you do nothing until he was driven to this point?”

“……”

Her head was spinning.

What had she just heard?

Had she misheard?

Was she having a nightmare?

Why, of all possibilities…

Would the Demon King come up?

Wasn’t that issue completely resolved?

‘Perhaps.’

As the princess suggested.

If all the unreasonable things happening to Kariel were actually related to the Demon King’s curse?

“……”

When did Kariel learn about this?

The thought sent chills down her spine.

Her back was already drenched in sweat, though she barely noticed.

“You didn’t know? Really? Why am I the first to… Ah, I see. I’m the first person to hear this directly from him.”

What a…

“…This is perplexing.”

Alesia was stunned that such an astounding, absurd, and incomprehensible situation could occur again.

She felt completely drained.

She didn’t even feel like drinking anymore. That was new.

“If this information reaches the capital, it will cause an uproar.”

“……”

“Kariel probably left quietly because he didn’t want to broadcast it everywhere. He didn’t seem like someone who would easily reveal his inner thoughts to others.”

But even so, that’s too much.

“…Have I been too late again?”

“It’s not your fault, Sister. Absolutely not.”

“Then whose fault is it?”

It’s lamentable.

A sigh escapes involuntarily.

“It’s my fault.”

I should have tried harder to understand him.

Even if the Demon King’s curse led his mind and judgment astray.

…I shouldn’t have been swayed by it.

So, I should have looked after Kariel more, tried to understand him more.

…I should have made even a little more effort.

“I don’t know the details either. I’m just telling you what I heard.”

As she spoke, Alesia seemed to be suppressing her anger despite her resignation.

“I respect Lady Ermina and Lord Rueld. The other heroes too, of course.”

The fact that they saved her is undeniable.

After all, all the education she received and becoming a saint… was part of that.

“But if I see them again, I might involuntarily curse at them. I can’t even judge if that would be right or wrong.”

“…Sister.”

“I was lucky enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in a few districts, to have your back.”

But you know.

“…What you boasted about then was very different from reality. Come to think of it, all your boasting was about the past as you remembered it, wasn’t it?”

I should have noticed something was off. I was so oblivious.

“He might have been quite vicious in the past I don’t know about, enough to earn various infamy within the system. I don’t know the past or the reality, so I can’t be certain. But no matter how I think about it, he doesn’t seem like he would have been that way.”

So let me ask you, since you know him well.

“What was Kariel like recently? Not in the old days you remember, but in the recent past? Did he do such vicious things to deserve such condemnation?”

“I…”

Don’t know exactly.

But descendants of heroes are often swept up in all kinds of slander.

She herself was subjected to various criticisms under the pretext of being cared for by heroes.

Even though people might praise heroes outwardly, behind their backs, they cursed them.

She doesn’t think everyone suffers from such malice.

However, she knew well that humans are not purely good beings.

Embracing even such evil and moving forward, making even such people understand and proceed.

That is proper guidance, leadership, and good deeds.

…Hadn’t they always said so?

In the end, everyone would acknowledge it.

Great benevolence and justice are achieved that way.

What Rueld and Ermina said was certainly true.

Isn’t the current Patina, who has become the pride and self-esteem of the Empire, proof of that?

So, Kariel could be like that too.

…Was I caught in a vague illusion?

He and I are clearly different.

Suddenly, she remembered a boy looking at her with lonely eyes before turning away.

Come to think of it, that child…

At some point, he stopped paying attention to her.

It was she who approached him.

And even that was somewhat one-sided expectation and.

Somewhat one-sided…

“He seemed aware that you were following him.”

“……”

“Do as you will. I don’t know anymore. Beyond being troubled, my heart feels like it’s breaking into pieces… I need to digest this anger… or is it sorrow? Anyway, I need to process it to survive a little longer.”

So, do you have anything else you want to ask?

“……”

There’s much she wants to ask.

But seeing those empty eyes, that drained face.

She couldn’t bring herself to ask candidly.

Besides.

Patina herself felt as if something sharp was poking at her heart.

She suddenly felt pain.

As if something was leaking through those punctured gaps.

She felt completely drained.

As if her heart had emptied.

“…You’re in bad shape too.”

By this point, Alesia didn’t even feel like blaming or getting angry anymore.

She’s a lost lamb.

A lamb who believed she was running diligently without realizing she was wandering, has just realized she’s lost her way.

So perhaps that’s why.

…She looked truly confused.

It’s hard to scold someone in that state, isn’t it?

“Enough, just drink.”

Alcohol is wonderful.

As you drink, everything becomes peaceful, forgotten, and a smile forms for no reason.

Of course.

That’s not true every moment.

When sadness and anger swell so enormously that they’re hard to express in words.

It actually becomes more vicious than usual.

She thought alcohol would wash it away, but not at all.

Rather, it was like stuffing all kinds of filth and garbage into a cramped warehouse somewhere in the mind, soul, or unconscious, like accumulating debt.

“Haah.”

At times like this, she should get some sleep.

Despite the mental haze from intoxication.

Why does that scene from back then appear so vividly, as if it just happened?

Her mind was too clear; she didn’t think she could fall asleep at all.

‘Was it that shocking?’

She lifted the barrel and tilted it, but only drops fell.

No matter how long she tilted it, the amount was woefully insufficient.

Alesia considered throwing the barrel away but ultimately set it down gently.

It seems I, more than I thought, liked him, more than I thought, more than I thought…