Chapter 49

Strangely, my whole body was shaking and I can’t manage it as I wished, and that’s all I had in mind.

Is my body overreacting, or is my heart concealing something from its owner?

My stomach wasn’t calming down, so I skipped meals and locked myself in my room. I read the black magic book I read earlier, and the books that I had skimmed over because it was difficult for my brain to understand were also reopened.

I couldn’t achieve much success.

The text in the book is for the wizard, not for the subject of the spell. At the moment, there was no single way to see if I had been brainwashed or hypnotized.

Even if I went through those many books one by one … how do I solve the magic that might remain? Should I go to the temple and receive a blessing? Should I get holy water and drink it? Or should I carry the same relic that Alice gave me all day long?

Mechanically, I wrote down the solutions I had come up with on a piece of paper. These were ways that seemed plausible.

Nevertheless, I just stared blankly at the letters I had just written. Even though they were all things I could do right away, I didn’t have the motivation to do anything.

I just kept feeling nauseous. I felt dizzy right before my eyes, so I closed my eyes tightly before I finally raised my eyelids.

Then, another book came into my eyes. A magic potion book that Alice gave along with the black magic book that revealed the truth to me. Alice asked me to take a look at that book.

I forsook the actions I ought to take now, and I put my hands on it without thinking.

The moment I tried to turn over the cover, the door opened without a knock. The one who opened the door was Duvel, the old butler who had just gotten out of probation.

The deep blue sky looked unusually gloomy today.

My mind, which had been soaked in helplessness a while ago, was stained with anxiety and embarrassment, and I slowly rose up.

“What’s the matter, Duvel?”

“There’s a big problem, my lady. His Majesty the Emperor has passed away.”

Again, it was unexpected news.

***

The Emperor’s death was sudden, but the faces of those who attended the funeral were clearly calm.

Even though he was constantly calling the priest and receiving treatment, the age of 78 was old, and the curse he received during th battle for the throne on his younger days remained. Most aristocrats must have guessed that the Emperor would be replaced soon.

Most of them, except me.

Under the black veil, I bowed my head as if I were mourning the dead, but I was embarrassed and chewed my lips without knowing what to do.

Why did the Emperor die already? Based on the original book, < He and Alice >, the current Emperor was not destined to die yet. After spring, Alice Limorand arrived in the capital and a year later, Roa Valrose was burned. Since the ultimate purpose of putting Durua Baloz to the stake was to remove the obstacle named Duke Limorand and make the Emperor a puppet, of course the emperor was still alive then.

Though time has passed since I swallowed Memoria’s Seal, I still have clear memories.

So, my memory wouldn’t be wrong, but now it was winter that didn’t even smell spring.

Why did it change? Why did it go wrong? Maybe this time too … maybe it’s the work of Nocton Edgar.

While my mind was getting complicated, the funeral proceedings were carried out without delay. A blessing from the Pope’s hand wrapped around the body of the dead, and soon the casket was covered. It was a quiet funeral with no one crying.

“What are you thinking?”

As I looked up at the whispering little noise, Aaron approached me. There must be only people in black clothes here, but how did he find me?

I couldn’t even smile even thought I felt glad to see his face after a long time. Maybe I was a little tired.

Fortunately, Aaron didn’t seem to notice my abnormalities because my face was covered by the veil.

“I think you’ve been thinking about something else, Roa.”

“I prayed for the safe return of the late Emperor to the arms of God. What else do I need to think about?”

“Didn’t something really happen?”

“Something happened, but it wasn’t on me. I just remembered the book I read before. It’s nothing important.”

“A book?”

The book of the mind magic title and the original book < He and Alice > were long books, and both confused me.

The weight was a little different.

I wanted to talk to him in moderation, but Aaron’s eyes seemed somewhat persistent, he didn’t seem to want to let go before hearing the answer.

Well, there’s nothing I can’t tell you.

I spoke without much thought, not to be a lie, but to the point where his interest diminished.

“It’s a novel. A love story. You’re not interested in that, right?”

“I read that much, too. Not now, but I also had a romance novel that I liked when I was young. It was everybody’s favorite at the time, but there was something to be gained.”

“Yes…? Gained? My goodness, you’re not studying love with romance novels, are you?”

“It’s not like that! It’s just for a name or something like that.”

“Umh, so it’s for the Sir’s children who may be born in the future.”

“…No, it’s for a pseudonym. It was helpful to create a pseudonym.”

While talking without much thought, I suddenly felt awake.

It’s a pseudonym? What kind of pseudonym is used? Is he referring to the name “Ed” he used in He and Alice?

Ha, it was a common name. To the extent that any novel book would write that name in at least one volume.

My lips tickled to ask, but I scratched my lower lip because it was something I could not dig out.

“Huh … you might need it if you’re a knight. It’s like … for an undercover mission.”

Aaron laughed awkwardly at my random words.

***

After the funeral, the mourning period continued. For the former Emperor who returned to God’s arms, the temple was scheduled to continue praying for dozens of days in the future.

However, apart from the mourning for the dead, the throne cannot be empty.

The moment the former owner gave up his seat to death, the empty seat had a new owner. With no twist, it was the Crown Prince.

The emperor has changed, but there has been no significant change. The new Emperor was greedy for the throne, but that was all. Because of his conservative and passive nature, he wasn’t the one who would attempt major reforms.

In the Empire, there was a ceremony held when the new Emperor ascended the throne, so the Imperial family made a grand ceremony for the first tme in decades.

It was a ritual that held a hunting competition and offered the greatest prey caught in the competition to the gods.

Due to the saying that the more hunting caught in the competition, the more likely it is to expect the Emperor’s reign, the hunt caught in the forest became more splendid. In order to raise the status of the new Emperor, there have been many imports of strange animals from abroad.

Therefore I had to attend a hunting competition that wasn’t much fun.

I was supposed to stay dead in the mansion for the time being, but nothing went as I intended.

I reached the forest edge under Aaron’s edge.

“What will be the sacrifice of this generation?”

“The last generation was said to have been a silver lion. This time, I’m sure it must be a moderately divine-looking beast.”

“It would be nice if they didn’t let the beast loose because of the sun.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen, but even if it’s, it’ll be fine. There are so many priests prepared.”

In a rare cynical remark, Aaron shrugged his shoulders.

As he said, dozens of priests, close to one hundred, had arrived, led by six high priests.

Just imagining how much the donation will be sent to the temple is making my mouth water.

Those who can step into the forest are all high-ranking nobles, except for the musicians and the servants, so they must be worried that there will be some injured people.

In the central vacant lot where priests were gathered, seats were left for those who would not attend the competition and would wait.

Among them, a golden chair for the Emperor to sit on was prepared in the middle, and next to it, a black chair with almost no difference in height destroyed the cheering atmosphere.

It is obvious that it’s the seat for the Duke of Edgar.

Although the seat was yet to be occupied, I turned to Aaron again because I was uncomfortable just looking at it.

I only looked away for a moment, but his mood was different from when we had just arrived. His eyes were colder than usual, and the atmosphere around him was somewhat dark.

Still, is he nervous because he’s about to have a competition, or is he always like that when he’s holding a sword?

A man who grew up in a prestigious knight family and made a name for himself as a rare genius in Claymore, he was my fiancé of the engagement that I’m going to break, but I had never seen him touch his sword.

Even after being appointed as a knight, he had delayed his entry into the knights’ order, and when he came as a guest, he didn’t even bring a sword for the sake of politeness.

The strange air was so awkward that I decided to swallow my dry saliva and refresh the atmosphere.

Suddenly, as if surprised, I opened my eyes wide and pointed to one place.

“Oh, there is Alice…!”

“Don’t lie, Roa.”

“I’m serious. Oh, come this way.”

“I won’t be fooled. The estemeed daughter of Limorand is over there, not there.”

Ah, really?

I turned my head reflexively at Aaron’s words, but there’s only a rabbit in the spot he pointed at.

I lost my words for a moment and opened my mouth.

“Oh my god, I’m going to be fooled by Aaron.”

“Please stop using the estemeed daughter of Limorand as a bait.”

“But it’s because Aaron didn’t keep his promise. It’s been almost two months since you promised to be nice to my friend, but you’ve been avoiding her, and you’ve barely said hello.”

“That’s … it’s because I’ve been a bit busy.”

“Now you’re lying!”

“Roa—”

As he called my name with a troubled face, Aaron’s gaze was fixed in one place. The deep blue atmosphere melted in an instant, and his eyes shook finely.

From such a reaction, it was obvious who was at the end of Aaron’s gaze.

Indeed, I could see Alice from far away.

Alice arrived with the Duke and Duchess of Limorand. She got off the carriage, kissed both of the ducal couple’s cheeks then waved her hand.

To save face and fairness, those who served in positions of authority or were over 30 were not allowed to attend competitions.

Thus, the Duke and Duchess had to drop their daughter off and go upstairs.

When I saw the Duke and Duchess. Limorand sitting next to the Valrose family, I thought it was a rather uncommon ironic appearance.

As if she noticed my eyes, I ignored Alroy’s playful wave and turned my head to Alice again.

Just in time, Alice smiled brightly as she had found us.

And at that moment, a carriage that she didn’t realize was approaching, stopped right in front of her.