Chapter 39

At that moment, she unconsciously let go of the strings of the four balloons she was holding.

The balloons, which had been held captive, floated gently into the sky. They escaped from Claudia’s hand and began to swim through the air, where stars twinkled.

The murky sky of five hundred years ago seemed like a fairy tale lie.

“…saved…”

The only reason she could speak such straightforward words was perhaps because Noah was still a child.

Or perhaps it was his innate kindness.

Claudia, feeling a dazzling warmth from something she could never have, narrowed her eyes.

“…me?”

There’s no way, she thought.

She had intended to deny it, but her lips unconsciously asked the question.

Noah answered without hesitation.

“I told you. I, too, am one of the people you saved.”

“……”

Claudia looked at Noah’s unwavering affirmation with a very strange feeling.

Noah’s obsidian eyes gazed at Claudia with concern. Noah, still a child, extended his hand to Claudia.

“In that outfit, you’ll get cold in the garden. —Come inside.”

“……”

She gently took his hand and began to walk.

Her stomach felt strangely warm.

At the same time, she remembered the words people had directed at her when she was Adelheit.

“—Why, great witch Adelheit. You, of all people, should not lose to that country…!!”

“Hurry, hurry, help us!! You’re a witch, aren’t you, the greatest genius in history! Wake up your sons. They’re killing each other without even knowing what they’re doing…!!”

“You failed to prevent the curse. You spread the curse, and you might as well have killed them…!!”

Since her rebirth as Claudia, until she recovered Adelheit’s memories, such voices had always echoed in her mind. She remembered this now.

More clearly than those voices, she remembered Noah’s words from earlier.

“…I was undoubtedly freed from the pain of the curse by the actions you took at that time.”

Claudia, while walking, gently lowered her eyes.

“Noah”

“Please wait. Let’s go back to the hall for something warm to drink…”

“I didn’t come to the garden to talk to you.”

When she said this, Noah, who was holding her hand, stopped.

“In truth, I was waiting. If the queen had a proper conscience, I thought she would come to the darkness.”

“…Princess?”

“I tried using the balloons as a signal, but she never came. Without adults, in the dark, and away from other children… Under such perfect conditions, if she didn’t try to kill me in this garden, the assassin must not be an adult.”

“!”

Noah seemed to have understood what Claudia was implying.

“In other words, it means…”

“That’s a situation I didn’t want to think about. But if someone tries to kill me tonight, it must be someone here…”

Just as Claudia was speaking, something happened.

“—!!”

With a loud *pop*, something burst.

The magical lanterns hanging around the garden suddenly went out.

The courtyard was enveloped in darkness, and Noah instinctively shielded Claudia. Claudia chanted softly and cast a spell.

“‘Protection’”

“…!”

From the other side of the door leading to the hall, the children’s screams could be heard.

“Princess, this is…”

Claudia whispered, feeling it from the bottom of her heart.

The darkness that enveloped the courtyard was not limited to where they were. From the hall where the night party was being held, the cries of children frightened by the darkness could be heard.

“To kill a child, to involve other children…”

As Claudia spoke, Noah looked ahead.

The courtyard, which was originally dimmer and darker than the hall, helped them quickly adjust to the darkness, allowing them to see the surroundings to some extent.

At the glass door leading back to the hall, a girl stood.

Perhaps she was afraid of the dark and didn’t come down to the garden. She had been given the role of the ‘assassin’ but had done nothing.

Still, she mustered the courage she didn’t need and carried out the plan.

“…I was so surprised when it suddenly got dark!”

Claudia, feigning innocence, called out to her.

“Hey, are you okay? It’s dark and scary here, let’s go back to the hall together.”

“…”

“Princess…”

Claudia’s call made the girl react.

Perhaps she wanted to show someone at the night party. The girl was more dressed up than when Claudia saw her yesterday.

Her hair, the same red as her mother’s, was adorned with a black ribbon.

The dress she wore was a deep purple, darker than her eyes. It was elegant and made her look older than her age, suggesting a certain resolve.

A silver necklace hung from her chest.

And Claudia called out the name of the girl who shared her blood.

“Hey, Emilia.”

“…You…”

Emilia glared straight at Claudia.

Her amethyst purple eyes, which spoke of strong magic, were filled with clear jealousy and anger.

“You’re not my sister. A girl with no magic, a lowborn like you…!”

“Noah, let’s go back to the hall. This affects a wide area, and the children are in the most danger.”

“I understand. …Princess, that necklace, could it be…”

“…You’ve shown me something quite nostalgic.”

She still looked beautiful, as always.

The necklace, at first glance, seemed to be delicate silver work.

It was shaped like a rose with leaves. The small silver flower swayed on Emilia’s chest.

Until just now, it must have been an empty piece of jewelry, its magic depleted.

No matter how ominous an object, without magic, it was no different from an ordinary accessory. It was a hateful thing that one might not even notice if it were brought close.

But Emilia had infused it with her magic.

A foul magic residue wafted from the necklace. It was a trace so faint that an ordinary magician might not even notice it.

But Claudia could clearly tell.

“—That is the magic item containing the curse.”

Emilia’s purple eyes, filled with hatred, stared at Claudia.