Chapter 41

"Ugh, how disgusting. ... Disgusting, disgusting...!!"

Emilia, having activated her magic, shouted while glaring at Claudia standing in the courtyard.

"It's because of you that Mother is troubled. It's because of you that I can't have what I want..."

Her gaze fell on Noah, who stood protectively in front of Claudia. In the dim light of the moon, Noah stared straight at Emilia. His gaze lacked the gentleness he had shown when he used magic for her yesterday.

(... He should be mine...)

She clenched her lips tightly.

(Fine. Noah will surely realize that the child is of low birth and has no value. Mother said that when the punishment begins, the hall will be covered by a barrier. No adult can interfere. Father won't be angry either...)

However, Claudia, completely ignoring Emilia's emotions, said calmly,

"Move aside, Miss Emilia."

"I won't allow it, Sister."

Gripping the rose ornament tightly, Emilia declared,

"You will be punished. Cursed by my magic, you'll get what you deserve."

"..."

"The curse is very painful and terrifying. You probably don't know, do you?"

Emilia had learned about the curse from her brother Erenfrit earlier. The second brother, who read many books, was particularly fond of stories from the era of the witch Adelheid and had told Emilia many things.

"You might not be able to endure it and die."

"..."

Saying this, Claudia would surely be frightened. She would turn pale with fear, cry out, and beg for forgiveness. Then she would apologize to Mother, regret being born, and never come to this castle again.

If she were ordered, Noah would surely let go of her.

Then, with no place to go, Noah would come to Emilia. He would fall in love with her and become her loyal servant and lover.

With this plan in mind, Emilia observed Claudia.

(There. Cry and scream in front of Noah.)

But the next moment, Emilia's eyes widened. Claudia's expression in the dim light was not what she had expected.

"... Hehe."

"!?"

The young girl was smiling.

"I know about curses. They are truly very painful and terrifying."

(What... what is this child...!)

Claudia, holding Noah's hand, slowly walked over.

"That magic tool you have can kill about a thousand people at once if used on someone with weak magic power."

"Wh-what...!?"

Hearing this, Emilia reflexively let go of the necklace. The rose ornament hanging from the chain swayed against her neck. The tool she had just used suddenly seemed very frightening.

"Don't say such nonsense!! You don't know anything...!!"

"Claudia has studied a lot about curses."

Tilting her head, Claudia, who was supposed to be a young child, seemed very frightening.

"That rose is a tool that absorbs magic power."

"Wh-what...!?"

Her small finger pointed straight at Emilia.

"A tool that absorbs magic power from the people around it and gathers it for the caster. It was also used in wars to absorb magic power from enemy countries and supply it to one's own magicians."

"But! What nonsense have you been spouting...?"

"In the order of absorption, it targets people with weak magic power. The Empress chose this tool to target me, who has no magic power. ... It's really a pity."

"Shut up!!"

Emilia shouted at Claudia, who had started to say incomprehensible things.

"What do you mean by 'detailed'!? It's a waste no matter how much you know!"

"Hmm."

"The only one who can deal with curses is the legendary witch Adelheid...!!"

Erenfrit had said that curses were most commonly used five hundred years ago and are now almost lost magic. Therefore, the most knowledgeable about dealing with curses is the witch who died five hundred years ago.

"Ha, ha!"

"!?"

Claudia started to giggle at the words meant to threaten her. Emilia's spine shivered with cold, not understanding what was so funny. Then Claudia smiled in a very cute way.

"Claudia, like Lady El, will teach Miss Emilia something amazing. I'll tell Lady Ilmela later too."

After that, she made a very cold expression.

"--- Curses will eventually return to the caster."

"Ah...!?"

Emilia collapsed on the spot.

Her inability to move was not just because Claudia was frightening. Her heart, in the area of her left chest, began to beat heavily and painfully.

(... It's... so hard...!!)

She wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

(Why, why, why!? It's wrong!! The one who should be punished is Claudia!! Why is nothing happening to Claudia!? Why am I suffering...!!)

"Noah, come here."

Even trying to breathe, her throat felt constricted. A mist like a snake rose from the ground and wrapped around Emilia.

"St-stop...!!"

Sitting on the courtyard floor, Emilia tried desperately to pull it off. But she couldn't touch the mist. It had no substance, and it felt like grabbing air. Emilia hugged herself.

(I'm scared...!!)

"Can you lend me a hand? Can you channel it to me?"

"No problem. ... This."

Unable to grasp the situation or who was speaking, Emilia swatted away the touch irritably.

(Cold, stop, it hurts...!! Why, because I cursed Claudia!? I just followed Mother's orders and did as I was told...!!)

Unable to even sit, Emilia fell to the ground.

"Princess, if the magic has already been---"

"Later. She comes first now."

(It hurts, I'm scared, I don't like this...!! I didn't want to! When Mother told me to curse, I didn't want to at first! I didn't do anything, nothing...!!)

She tried to think that, but she knew better than anyone else.

(... No... I decided to curse Claudia, not because of Mother, but because of me...)

She let out a short breath, and her vision began to blur with tears.

(At first, she was just a nuisance, an obstacle. Mother always said that a girl of low birth had come to the castle!! I wanted to drive her away, and I was miserable when Father chose her. Mother's mood worsened, but more than anything...)

Noah was looking straight at Claudia. She couldn't forgive that.

(Because I tried to take what wasn't mine)

Her heartbeat grew louder, and her whole body felt numb and painful.

(Am I receiving the punishment for cursing myself? ... I was trying to make a child younger than me suffer so much...?)

Tears welled up. She had spoken lightly about making someone suffer with a curse, not understanding its weight.

(Then, of course, it's only natural to feel this pain...!!)

The pain was so intense, she felt dizzy. Emilia was certain she would die here.

"Mother..."

Calling for her mother's help was futile; the hall was sealed. She had been told that if she activated the curse, adults couldn't enter. Mother wouldn't come, but Emilia searched desperately for her.

(Mother, where are you? Where...? I have to say it. I don't want to curse that child... I have to say it...)

Unable to think clearly, Emilia opened her eyes dazedly. There, a girl with milk tea-colored hair was looking down at her.

"..."

The girl's hand was glowing, and her face was visible. Her eyes, which had been a pale gold earlier, were now different.

"I'm sorry..."

"..."

Emilia uttered an unconscious apology.

"You're my sister, and I did something terrible. I'm sorry..."

"..."

Then Claudia, with eyes that seemed to contain many jewels, smiled gently at Emilia.

"You're a very good girl, Miss."

"..."

Claudia closed her eyes and placed her hand on Emilia's neck.

(... It's warm. It feels like the purification Noah did for me yesterday...)

Almost simultaneously with this feeling, the pain of not being able to breathe began to subside.

(Is this magic? Did Noah use it on me again... No, it's different...)

Emilia, known as the "princess with the strongest magic among all the princesses," had never neglected her magic practice. That's why she knew the magic being used now was not Noah's.

"Claudia...?"

"Sleep a little, Miss Emilia."

Claudia's small, warm hand was placed on Emilia's eyes. Emilia, using this as a trigger, let go of her consciousness.