Chapter 36

This is the story of the era when the ninth king ruled the country.

The king had a second child.

It was around the time the prince turned five. The first princess, a girl, was named Seranet.

Seranet was raised in secret, deep within the palace, as a child of heresy.

However, one cannot control what people say.

Everyone feared the princess, calling her a "cursed child," and gossiped about the queen's infidelity, which eventually led to the queen falling ill.

"Because her hair and eyes were black, right?"

When Renetta asked, Weiss raised his head from the book and nodded. Renetta continued:

"And she had high magical power."

Ah, Weiss lowered his gaze back to the book.

Seranet grew into a beautiful young woman.

But her beauty was nothing more than a demonic charm that highlighted her black hair and eyes. Everyone feared and shunned Seranet, who could effortlessly cast spells that even the castle's mages could not achieve.

Whenever a song was heard from her room, people would throw stones. How terrifying. How abominable. She is a demon. She is a cursed child. Seranet lived quietly, neither crying nor laughing.

Then, Seranet began to venture into the forest almost daily.

It was creepy. Was she plotting something? One day, the second prince, who was afraid, followed Seranet.

In the forest, the prince saw Seranet smiling warmly with a being that was not human.

"A being not human?"

At Rivo's question, Sophie's heart grew hot.

She instinctively pressed her chest and closed her eyes, and a white light spread, with a small white bear landing softly.

"Finally, I can come out..."

The white bear wiped its forehead with a short hand. Eh, can it sweat?

"Azwerlo"

"Of course, it's been difficult to move since we entered this country. There's a different god's presence here."

"Eh?"

Azwerlo lifted his small head and looked at Weiss.

"A god, I suppose."

Ah, Weiss turned the page.

Seranet was holding hands with a beautiful god.

Seranet, blushing and smiling shyly, and the god, who looked at her with a protective gaze, made the prince realize that Seranet had fallen in love with the god.

The prince immediately reported to the king.

That Seranet was deceiving the god and cursing the country.

"Huh?"

Rivo kicked the king at his feet with a low voice.

"What is this? That's quite a leap. What was he thinking?"

The king, who compiled the records, came up with two hypotheses.

One was that he feared Seranet's power.

Seranet already had such strong power that the castle's mages could not match her. If she gained the god's power, no one could control her. He might have wanted to prevent that.

The other was that the prince loved Seranet.

"Huh?"

Sophie, who couldn't help but exclaim, felt uncomfortable.

Love? After treating her so badly? Disgusting.

Sophie frowned and sighed, and Weiss smiled slightly.

The prince, like everyone else, found Seranet eerie, a cursed witch, and avoided her.

However, he also visited Seranet's room daily, bringing her meals.

The prince, who said it was disgusting and annoying, never missed a day visiting Seranet. The meaning of this, no one knew.

The prince strongly advised the king to separate Seranet from the god.

"...No, I really can't understand what he was thinking at all."

To Rivo, who showed his discomfort, Weiss shrugged and said that the prince probably wanted to keep Seranet close.

He didn't want to let Seranet out of the castle.

He didn't want the god to get close to the castle.

He needed a strong reason for that.

If the second hypothesis was true, however.

Regardless of the truth, Seranet was locked in a room with a seal.

A strong seal created by the castle's mages.

Seranet couldn't leave the room, and sobbing could be heard day and night.

The prince continued to visit Seranet.

He told her every day that she shouldn't disobey him again, that she shouldn't plot, and that he was watching her.

However, not everything went as the prince planned.

"The god didn't give up, right?"

Azwerlo snorted.

"A god wouldn't just follow a human's plans. If he loved that girl, even more so."

Foolish, Azwerlo laughed, and it was true.

The god sought Seranet and continued to call her name. Fortunately or unfortunately, the barrier the mages set up prevented him from finding Seranet. The eerie voice calling Seranet's name was heard all over the country, and it rained continuously.

People who didn't know about the god feared that Seranet had finally shown her fangs.

The king, fearing further chaos, did not hand Seranet over to the god.

The prince convinced the king that when Seranet gained more power, the first to be executed would not be the country but the royal family.

Was that his true intention?

Or did he fear, as the records suggest, that the country would be taken over?

No one knew the prince's heart. The only fact left was that the king, driven by fear, took Seranet's life before the god could find her.

However, the one who was most shaken by this was the prince, as if he didn't want to lose Seranet.

"...For a year after that, it rained continuously. Does that mean the rain was caused by the god...?"

When Sophie asked, Weiss said, "Probably," and turned the page.

The god continued to search for Seranet, unaware of her death.

The rain didn't stop, and the mages were busy dealing with diseases, disasters, and famines.

By the time everything calmed down, the king was worn out, and the prince ascended the throne. Everyone rejoiced at the beginning of a new era.

Amid the joy, the king took a wife.

The beautiful, golden-haired and golden-eyed mage soon had a child, and the next year, a princess was born.

A princess with black hair and black eyes.

The king immediately placed the princess in a room surrounded by barriers.

This time, he said, he wouldn't let her go to anyone. If the king's words were trembling with fear, and if the prime minister or a trusted mage had heard them, the outcome might have been different.

But it was the queen who heard them.

The king visited the room whenever he had time.

And he always made the princess sing. Every time a song was heard from the room, the queen reportedly screamed that it was horrible.

Finally, the queen couldn't take it anymore.

That girl is cursed by Seranet. She is cursing the king and the country. She spread such rumors.

People were afraid.

They began to wish for the princess's death, fearing they would suffer again, and it rained again.

The king was also afraid.

The rain didn't stop. That meant the god, or Seranet's soul, had sensed her presence again.

The god was searching for Seranet.

The king was afraid.

The persecuted princess gaining the god's power.

The god obtaining Seranet's soul.

The 11th king, who lived later, could not know the truth.

What was certain was that the king was afraid of something. And that the princess was executed for cursing the country. And that it rained continuously. Only that record remained.

"...Some time later, the king passed away, leaving behind the queen and his son. He couldn't sleep due to nightmares and didn't eat properly. It was said to be a curse, but who knows."

With a pat, Weiss closed the book.

"After that, as Renetta knows, princesses with black hair and black eyes were born, and when they died, disasters struck. Out of fear, the kings of each generation kept the princesses with black hair and eyes in strictly sealed rooms. Even after the truth was known, this continued."

Renetta looked straight into Weiss's deep blue eyes.

"...The first witch was killed by this country."

"Yes. If the second hypothesis is true, it was due to the foolish prince's obsession with his sister."

There are such people in the world. The world is vast. Who falls in love with whom, who thinks of whom, or who chooses to live alone, that's their freedom. No one has the right to limit another's heart.

Even if you truly loved someone.

Taking away that love or hurting them is not allowed.

"In other words, the princesses died because of this country, and the god noticed them."

"...Even so, the witch who cursed the country wished for its peace. She didn't curse anyone."

"Yes, it feels more like the god's curse."

Weiss glanced down, and Azwerlo, who had his arms crossed, nodded.

"Right. If she wished for the country's peace, the witch probably sealed herself as well?"

At Azwerlo's question, Renetta nodded. Her long black hair swayed.

Sophie felt a pang in her chest. She's so beautiful.

"You're also sealing your soul now, right? A barrier to prevent your magic from leaking out?"

Renetta nodded again.

"It's a spell that the witches have researched over generations. It's more effective if applied as early as possible, not just at the time of death."

"Indeed. Without knowing the origin, it's impressive that you managed to achieve it. By doing so, you can prevent the god from sensing that Seranet's soul has been reborn. ...But when that soul burns out, the magic will be released, and the remaining essence of the god will react to the leaking magic. The god will only know that he has lost it again. He is still searching for your soul, even now."

Sophie looked at Renetta, who placed her hand on her chest.

The one living here now is not Seranet.

She has beautiful long black hair and black eyes, but Sophie has never heard her sing, and she looks at the god like an experiment subject, and calls the king "heika" with a childish tone. She's a small, cute girl.

"Renetta is Renetta."

Sophie said, feeling a deep, indescribable feeling in her chest, and Renetta nodded.

"I don't want to be stalked by an unknown god."

"S, stalking..."

Stalking, huh.

Is that the right word?

"Heika"

"A?"

Renetta stood up and called Weiss.

"What is this?"

At Renetta's words, Weiss tilted his head with the book on his shoulder.

Renetta's hair and eyes glowed red.

"It's creepy. I really, really want to use magic. I can't explain it well, but it's just, creepy."

Renetta gripped her chest.

Sophie could see that Renetta's eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Huh? Sophie tilted her head.

She shouldn't laugh. She really shouldn't laugh. Renetta, you're so...

"Ha!"

The one who couldn't help but laugh was not Sophie.

Looking up, Weiss was laughing like a child. It was the first time Sophie had seen an adult laugh like that, and her heart skipped a beat. How cute.

"Renetta, you're angry. You're angry right now."

"Angry..."

"Yes, the one who used to look at us like we had no right to be angry or cry! You're angry!"

Weiss seemed very happy.

Seeing an adult express such joy for the first time, Sophie's heart skipped a beat. So cute. And he's such a good person.

Because now, Sophie understood.

Being able to cry, be angry, and be sad is a great happiness. It's something you can only do if you know happiness.

Renetta realized that this was unjust and wrong. She was in such a happy place.

Renetta clenched her hand tightly.

"Heika, is it okay for me to be angry?"

"Go ahead."

Do it, Weiss laughed.

Renetta blinked, as if realizing something.

Maybe she was smiling. Weiss's smile deepened with joy.

Azwerlo grew larger with a "pon!"

"Master, shall we help?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Alright, leave it to us."

With Azwerlo's nod, Sophie also stood up.

She patted her skirt and took a deep breath. In, out, in, out.

Then, she looked at Rivo, who was stepping on the king behind Weiss.

Sophie's favorite blueberry-colored eyes were sparkling.

That was probably the excitement of "Let's do it!"

After countless years, in this castle that had been built to create a curse, making countless girls lose their emotions.

Helping the last witch to be angry.

How glorious, Sophie spread her arms.

She cast a defensive spell, one of the few she could use, and one that was easy to enhance with Azwerlo's power.

A spell to protect human life, which many witches had maintained to keep the country alive, Sophie wove.

Renetta took a deep breath next to her.

Now, everyone together.

"Damn it, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh