Ch.89Rose (1)

“It’s been two days since visiting headquarters.

I headed straight to Sharlotte.

It was to keep the promise I made a few days ago.

Since we had to be careful of prying eyes, we met in a deserted slum where no one would see us.

A clandestine meeting.

“You came.”

“I promised, after all.”

“Yes, this way.”

A carriage was waiting in the alley.

We boarded silently and immediately headed toward our destination.

The scenery outside the window passed by quickly.

I felt the swaying of the carriage while staring at the princess sitting across from me.

The reason I was summoned was simple.

-I will gladly help you. If that is your request.

-Your Highness need only trust me.

The words I promised in the cathedral.

It was because of the desperate voice of the girl who had pleaded.

Recalling those eyes filled with melancholy, I quietly contemplated the original story’s setting.

The young prince had only one wish.

-I need help.

-Please… save Elise.

The Empire’s Second Princess suffering from an incurable disease.

Having received a terminal diagnosis with little time left, Sharlotte was praying for a miracle.

It was the heart of an older sister thinking of her younger sibling.

For the past few years.

Despite countless attempts to cure the illness, no herb could breathe life back into the rose.

Even renowned physicians could only shake their heads.

Despite repeated failures, unable to abandon hope, the girl reached out in all directions searching for a cure.

Following black mages was for the same reason.

-There might be a way.

While the primary goal was to eliminate cultists.

On the other hand, there was also hope of finding clues from the research materials confiscated in the process.

The situation was desperate enough to look into forbidden knowledge.

‘Rose has approximately one year left to live.’

Not much time.

Despite the increasingly narrowing deadline, with no tangible results to show, her heart could only grow more anxious.

While spending each day in such worry and distress.

-I don’t intend to reveal your identity. You don’t seem like a bad person.

-I’m just… curious about you.

She had discovered me.

The alien power I possessed was enough to draw attention, and with a glimmer of hope, it dug into the girl’s inner thoughts.

Until now, I had merely observed as part of the assessment phase.

But after seeing me return the thought entity a few days ago, she seemed convinced of my abilities.

That scene was nothing short of a miracle.

‘How could she not be tempted?’

This part had gone according to plan.

Knowing I was being watched, I displayed my power more flamboyantly than usual, and ultimately manifested an impossible miracle, leaving a strong impression.

For Sharlotte, it must have been irresistible bait.

Blinded by the intoxicating scent, she stepped into the trap to take a bite.

Perhaps she considered it her last hope.

“Hehe.”

Things were going smoothly.

As I smiled with that thought, a voice came from across.

Blue eyes now looking at me.

“…Can you really cure her?”

A faintly scattered question.

Sharlotte wore an unusually complex expression.

Perhaps because it concerned her sick sister, anxiety seemed to pierce through her stoic face.

I responded with a calm smile.

“I’ll need to see her condition first. My abilities aren’t exactly omnipotent.”

“I see.”

“I’d appreciate your patience until after the examination.”

“Sorry. I was being hasty.”

Sharlotte nodded as if understanding.

Meeting her gaze, I soothed the girl with a gentle voice.

“Still, I’ll do my best. Please don’t worry.”

“……”

“Your Highness need only trust me.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

My lips twisted cunningly.

Deliberately erasing the ominous air, I whispered as if biting a white earlobe.

Afterward, we sat in silence.

The carriage continued without rest until we reached our destination.

The rolling wheels reached their destination several hours later.

***

Meanwhile.

Around the time the snake and the princess arrived at the palace, Rose, lying in her room, heard the news.

The girl looked at the maid with haggard eyes.

“The princess is coming…?”

“Yes. She’s coming directly to the annex without informing His Majesty first.”

“When will she arrive?”

“She should be here very soon.”

“Ha.”

Rose let out a hollow laugh.

As she slightly raised her body, her long red hair fell in disarray.

The girl slowly brushed it back.

Her deep green eyes reflected only the maid’s face.

“What business?”

“She said she’s bringing a new doctor.”

“Another pointless effort.”

“But she said there’s real hope this time…”

“I wonder how long she’ll keep this up. That person never seems to tire.”

“You shouldn’t refer to Her Highness that way.”

“What do you expect me to… *cough*!”

She responded with her fine brows furrowed.

Her appearance was bristling with thorns.

As she covered her mouth during a sudden coughing fit, red spots appeared on her white sleeve.

The green eyes looked away, as if accustomed to the sight.

“Coughing blood again… Your condition seems to have worsened considerably lately.”

“I should die quickly.”

“…Please don’t say such things.”

“What does it matter? If you’re going to meddle in everything, you can leave too.”

“Hic, hic…”

The maid became dejected at the harsh words.

Regardless, Rose was busy wiping the blood from her mouth with a handkerchief.

She bit her lifeless lips.

An expression of annoyance.

The girl then muttered quietly.

“…Just give up already.”

No light entered her empty pupils.

Rose sat quietly for a moment, then irritably pulled the blanket over herself.

***

We were crossing through the annex.

Rose’s sanctuary.

Perhaps because it was somewhat distant from the imperial palace, it was less ornate compared to other nearby palaces.

Especially the garden, without a single flower blooming, was utterly desolate.

“This seems too modest for an imperial princess’s residence.”

“…Yes.”

We moved while contemplating this simple observation.

We used a side path to avoid encountering others.

Quietly moving along made me feel somewhat like a thief, but knowing the circumstances here, I had no choice but to follow.

The annex did not welcome outside visitors.

Step, step-

We passed between buildings of modest height.

Walking through the long corridor illuminated by dim sunlight, we reached the very end.

As we approached the most secluded room.

Sharlotte, who had been leading the way, gradually slowed her pace.

“……”

She bit her pale pink lips firmly.

Perhaps she was nervous.

The girl took a calm deep breath, then knocked on the door before us.

It was a dark room where sunlight barely entered.

Knock, knock-

The sound of knocking resonated clearly.

Silence followed.

Though there was no answer, Sharlotte opened the closed door as if accustomed to it.

She seemed to know that the silence was deliberate.

“I’m coming in.”

Creeeeak-

Behind the softly groaning hinge, the girl stepped forward.

A gloomy atmosphere greeted us.

The interior presented a simple impression.

Neat if described kindly, or lacking in striking beauty if described harshly.

It merely served its purpose as a room.

As I briefly surveyed the surroundings, Sharlotte stopped in place and greeted someone.

Toward the bed amidst the darkness-stained background.

“It’s been a while, Elise.”

A rose was blooming on the blanket.

Long red hair, and green eyes holding a decadent light.

I recognized her at a glance.

‘Elise Rose von Staufen.’

Just as in the original story.

Dark circles under her eyes.

Her haggard complexion exuded a sickly atmosphere, yet contained an indelible beauty within.

It was like looking at a flower about to be torn apart by a storm.

“I am honored to meet the Empire’s second star.”

I knelt on one knee.

It was a respectful courtesy. Bowing first upon entering.

However.

“……”

Again, no answer came.

A coldly flowing silence.

Rose merely glared at us from her seated position on the bed.

In her pupils, which alternately gazed at the young prince and the snake, some inexplicable hostility dripped.

Even the maid standing behind swallowed hard.

“Elise.”

“……”

“This person can cure your illness.”

Perhaps trying to break the awkward atmosphere.

Sharlotte stepped forward.

And added an introduction about me.

“Yes. I can vouch for their identity. I’ve been watching for quite some time.”

She must have thought her sister wouldn’t welcome an unfamiliar face.

It wasn’t wrong.

Obvious wariness had been evident from the start.

However, what Sharlotte missed was that Elise’s hostility included her as well.

Rose uttered a brief word.

“Leave.”

Her first spoken voice.

However, it was an infinitely cold resonance for words directed at family.