episode_0258

Episode 258

“…No way, that court magician…”

The broken pendant is lying on the floor. I wasn’t completely out of shock yet.

Monaz was sincere. He truly believed that what he was doing was for the royal family.

Maybe it really is. Depending on what he was trying to hide… But I had to face the truth.

“Continue what you were doing. I’ll have to think about that after I return to the capital.”

There were a lot of scrolls piled up on the desk that hadn’t even been opened yet. It was fortunate that Monaz prioritized our suppression over the destruction of the documents. It may have been an unavoidable choice since mana was limited.

“Please read, Aila. In whatever order you think makes the most sense.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Aila was smiling softly. It’s probably just an act anyway, but it’s quite a contrast to when he showed his fangs at Monaz.

At least for now, my position is in line with my desire to know the truth of the past. Eila took out a scroll and opened it. Judging by my limited ability, the contents appeared to have been copied from a letter.

Aila began to read the text in a voice that made her feel like she had become a different person.

* * *

This is my first time writing a letter like this, Enekra.

Is it worth living in the north? Isn’t it cold?

Well, I guess it would be presumptuous of me to worry about you, since I’m just an ordinary person.

For your information, I’m doing well. Same goes for the kids you brought with you.

They are now adapting to the village.

It seems like just yesterday that I was shivering under my desk and just watching.

Yesterday, I even said that I wanted to see my sister in green.

Yes, it’s your story.

Enekra, you said this on the day you left.

Luke’s country no longer needs you. And that too while crying and making a fuss.

Oh, I don’t know what I heard from that gisaeng-like man, King Luke, but I don’t think so.

It may be true in this country, but in our town, these kids need you.

You know what I mean, right? If you change your mind, you can always come back.

There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Considering all the things you’ve done so far, this isn’t even this level of obscenity.

I miss you, Enekra.

Answer me. I will write to you again.

* * *

People named Lustier came to the village.

It looks like he’s very intent on sitting down.

He even asked me very persistently about your whereabouts.

Do not worry. Because I said I didn’t know anything.

It might be best not to come back for a while.

Please stay healthy.

* * *

I don’t know where to start.

A lot of people died.

Let me tell you in advance, it’s not your fault.

I think those bastards were planning to annihilate the village from the beginning.

I also lost one eye while running away.

Now I think I understand how those children feel. The world seems so painful and scary.

I’m sorry, Enekra.

The children you brought with you died.

The only thing I could say to the hurting children was that you would come soon.

It was a lie, though.

I still don’t know why those children had to die so cruelly.

A witch’s child.

It seems that the goddess they are putting forward has such a bad heart that she cannot even embrace small children.

It’s a little uncomfortable to have tears overflowing from my only eye.

Lustier’s army may soon invade the area where you live.

Please kill them. Please leave no one behind and turn it into a trace of blood on the white snow.

In fact, this is probably not a request you should ask someone with a tender heart.

It would be difficult for this letter to reach you normally.

Since you are a witch, I hope you will find it somehow.

I’m sorry until the end.

Suddenly, I want to see your black and luscious hair.

I miss you, Enekra.

* * *

The stories Aila read were quite harrowing.

The heroic story of King Luke, who builds the kingdom of Lustier against vicious lords. It was completely different from the story that Lustier’s people would have memorized.

“Is this all true? Answer honestly, Aila.”

“As far as I know, it’s all true.”

Aila is a human who is obsessed with black goat sashimi. I couldn’t take those words literally. But at least as far as Aila knows, it is not a fabrication or a lie.

This was not simply a matter of throwing away Enekra, who had helped found the nation.

Even after Enekra left the kingdom, anyone even remotely related to her was brutally murdered. That too may have been a measure to hide the fact that witches contributed to the founding of the nation.

That’s not all. Among those who survived the massacre and among the people of the north, where Enekra last lived, a belief in Enekra arose.

It would have been unacceptable to those who wanted to bury them. It must have felt like the pests that you thought had been completely eradicated had become rampant again. They, the Black Goat Society, also became the target of thorough suppression.

“This didn’t end with the reign of the first king. At least several generations… It was probably during that era that such an insidious role was added to the court magician.”

“Yes, I will.”

Although her voice was very polite, Aila’s eyes were somewhat sharp. Maybe it’s because reading these things to me rekindled a deep hatred.

However, these in no way provide the slightest justification for Aila’s actions.

Whether those killed by Lustier or those sacrificed by Eila, innocent lives are the same. It was a completely different massacre, with only the seating positions changed.

However, at least I now know where the deep-rooted hatred toward Lustier came from.

A hatred so enormous that it can change a person’s personality in an instant. What was contained in Mystilia may have been gradually replenished as generations passed.

“…Did you find something there, Mother?”

“Uh, um… no, this is almost all secret books of magic. That’s mostly just what I’m learning, and there’s nothing else.”

Carmel was also listening to Aila’s voice as she looked through the documents assigned to her. Carmel seemed to have heard this for the first time.

“Then I will withdraw. Rika, please take care of these things.”

“Yes, princess.”

I feel very tired both physically and mentally. After collecting important documents, we left the ruins and returned to the Château de la Seine.

* * *

After returning to the castle, I was lost in thought for quite a while.

I think I had a pretty serious look on my face without realizing it. Carmel asked with a worried voice.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes? Ah yes. Of course it’s okay.”

Knowing the dirty history of the Lustier Kingdom does not really change my purpose. All I want is to live happily with the people I love. For now, the secrecy of the kingdom was not a hindrance to it.

“I was just thinking about Enekra and Luke. To what extent was Luke involved in Enekra’s ousting?”

“Is that very important? As long as the Goddess Church was used as the foundation of Lustier, there was no place for Enekra. Moreover, there would have been no better scapegoat than a witch to appease the dissatisfaction of those who sacrificed their lives in the war of liberation. It’s a cruel story, but…”

I raised my head and looked at Carmel.

“What, why?”

“No, because it is a more valid and drier point of view than I thought. Well, your mother said this was her first time hearing this story, right?”

“Okay. Except for the story in the dream.”

“Then… why didn’t Aila tell her mother about this? It would be a perfect material to incite hatred.”

“At the time, I was completely dominated by Mystilia… Didn’t I think that acting based on pure and blind hatred would be more effective than resentment?”

“Hmm… maybe.”

My mind is a little confused. In addition to what happened in the distant past, we also need to think about what to do with Monaz when we return to the capital. I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Even if it was inevitable that Enekra was kicked out, as my mother said… I still think Luke’s position and feelings are important. Enekra as an individual.”

It seems that I am the reincarnation of Enekra. Even so, no memories or emotions have been inherited.

But suddenly a thought occurred to me.

Two past lives across two worlds. Even within this, Enekra’s will may be continuing.

Even though she was carrying someone else’s child and cursed Lustier with blood and black magic that would last forever, what Enekra really hoped for may have been a very small wish.

A very ordinary, human wish to know Luke’s heart.