Chapter 9

After leaving the Crown Prince's palace, Mephisto didn't say a word until they reached the guest room prepared for them.

"…Aren't you going to ask anything?"

In the end, it was Iris who spoke first when they arrived at the prepared room.

"I don't need to ask. But, can I say one thing?"

"What is it?"

Mephisto pulled Iris's hand, which he had been holding, closer and faced her.

"Even if you weren't the Holy Maiden, you're too precious for that man. You're such a wonderful woman."

"…Thank you. Not just for your words, but for helping me earlier, for holding my hand all the time, and for singing to me in that endless darkness of the prison. If you hadn't been there, I might not be standing here now."

When Iris expressed her heartfelt gratitude, Mephisto smiled wryly.

"All of that was just something I did on my own, you know."

"That's true, but it's not just that, is it? I was actually saved."

"It's not something that deserves thanks."

"Then, let me hear your story tomorrow. I can't keep being the one who gets saved. This is a deal, after all. I need to be of use to you too."

"Hmm… Alright."

"Hey, I'm being serious. Why are you laughing?"

"I'm not laughing."

"You are."

Iris hadn't talked so freely with someone in a long time. When was the last time she laughed and talked with someone like this?

Before being imprisoned… before her family was executed… before her father plotted rebellion… before Mina became the Holy Maiden… before she studied hard to become the Crown Princess… no matter how far back she went, she couldn't remember a time when she smiled.

"Goodnight. Have sweet dreams, Iris."

"Goodnight. You too, Mephisto."

Iris felt for the first time that she was looking forward to tomorrow.

The next morning, Iris visited Mephisto again, bringing a map, paper, and a pen to discuss the future.

Seeing her serious demeanor, Mephisto secretly smiled.

"First, can you tell me about your country's situation? How did it come to the point where a rich land would consider giving it to another country?"

As Iris turned around after spreading out the items on the table, Mephisto quickly hid his smile and put on a serious face.

"It's a long story. It goes back to the founding of our country, Satanford."

"Oh, that sounds interesting. I love history."

Mephisto was momentarily taken aback by Iris's playful smile but quickly regained his composure.

"Then, let's start with the events that occurred when Satanford gained independence from the empire. Can you list them?"

Thinking back to her studies at the academy, Iris said, "Satanford gained independence about a hundred years ago. Around that time, the empire's magic power began to wane, and a large-scale drought started in the west. Also… ah! The first Holy Maiden appeared around the same time."

"Quite impressive for someone who loves history. Do you think all these events happening at the same time was a coincidence?"

Iris, who seemed to be enjoying the discussion as much as Mephisto, narrowed her eyes in thought.

"I've never thought about it before, but you're right. A savior like the Holy Maiden usually appears when the country is in crisis. So, it's possible that the disasters and the decline of the country led to the appearance of the Holy Maiden."

"You're on the right track. Ah, this is fun. Not many people can have such discussions with me. You really are a wonderful woman."

"Stop flattering me. If I'm on the right track, there must be another correct answer, right?"

Iris pouted, and Mephisto smiled, pointing at the map in front of her.

"You're right. A hundred years ago, the empire was in crisis, and God sent the Holy Maiden. However, there was a clear reason why the empire was in turmoil, and that was the independence of Satanford."

Iris's map was old, and the name "Satanford" was crossed out with a double line and rewritten as "Duchy of Satanford."

"Does that mean… Satanford's independence led to the empire's decline?"

"Exactly. Before independence, who governed the territory of Satanford?"

"The same as now. The Duke of Satanford. I believe the dukes were chosen from the imperial family's bloodline. If there was no suitable candidate, it was directly governed by the emperor."

"Right. Then, what kind of person do you think was chosen as the Duke of Satanford?"

Mephisto's question made Iris think deeply, bringing her pen to her lips.

"Well… first, they had to be from the imperial family. And… they had to be skilled in martial arts, I think. I've heard that the dukes of Satanford were given military authority by the emperor. Also, I think they were often short-lived. Their reigns were short, and few left descendants. The only one who left a bloodline was the first Duke of Satanford, your direct ancestor, who founded the duchy a hundred years ago."

"You really are amazing. You're mostly correct. However, there's a secret known only to the imperial family and the House of Satanford."

"Secret?"

Tilting her head, Iris listened as Mephisto revealed Satanford's hidden secret without hesitation.

"Before Satanford gained independence, the title 'Duke of Satanford' was given to a 'cursed one,' a person born every few generations within the imperial family."

"A 'cursed one'…?"

Iris frowned at the ominous sound.

"The 'cursed one' of the imperial family possessed immense magical power and a robust physique, always benefiting the empire with their strength. However, they were short-lived and had certain physical characteristics from birth."

"What kind of characteristics?"

"Let me show you."

Mephisto removed the black leather gloves he had been wearing in front of Iris.

"!? What is that…?"

Iris, who had covered her mouth, stared at Mephisto's hand with wide ruby eyes.

"They were called 'cursed marks' a hundred years ago."

Mephisto's hand was covered with black, strange patterns that looked like tattoos.

"Cursed marks? So, you… you're one of the 'cursed ones'? …Are you okay?"

When Iris looked at him with concern, Mephisto laughed.

"You're the first to worry about me like this when seeing this."

"But…"

"It's not a problem. This is just a remnant of the curse. The original cursed marks spread all over the body, but mine are only on my hands. I don't think they will spread further, and they won't significantly shorten my life. This is also related to Satanford's independence and is quite convenient."

Saying this, Mephisto lit a fire, produced water, and created wind with his hand.

"Still, it's strange. When I saw you in the prison, I thought it was impossible to use magic so freely in a country without magic."

"That's why I said my body is special. It's because of these cursed marks that my hands are filled with Satanford's magic."

Hearing this, Iris suddenly noticed and touched Mephisto's bare hand.

"Hey, let me see…!"

"!?"

Mephisto, surprised by her action, froze.

"Is this… ancient script?"

"Wow, you can even recognize that?"

Mephisto smiled wryly, impressed.

"You're the first to touch my hands and closely examine the cursed marks."

"Of course, I can't read what's written, but this part looks similar to the script I saw in the temple."

"Yes, it's a form of ancient magic. I think it's a technique to absorb and release the power of the land. It was likely a spell cast on the bloodline of the imperial family by the founder of the empire to ensure the empire's prosperity. The constraints of ancient magic become stronger over time. Around a hundred years ago, it reached its peak and was despised within the imperial family as a blood curse or a price to pay for sins. It was truly a curse."

Hearing Mephisto's words, Iris thought about the achievements and short lives of the dukes of Satanford.

"This is something we learned after Satanford gained independence. When Satanford was part of the empire, the 'Duke of Satanford,' the 'cursed one,' was not just a person with immense power but also a medium to absorb the power of the land and distribute it throughout the empire."

"So, you mean… you absorbed Satanford's magic and released it throughout the empire?"

As Iris thought about it and looked at Mephisto's hand, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes, but on a much larger scale. I can use my hands as a medium to handle magic, but back then, the 'cursed one' used their entire body to continuously send magic and the power of the land to the empire. It was so much that it drained Satanford dry. In fact, Satanford is now known as a rich country, but in the past, when it was part of the empire, it was called a barren land."

"Wow! So, that's true? I was surprised when I read a line in Markus Cassina's poetry collection, 'The barren Satanford where even birds don't fly.'"

"Yes, the poetry collection that starts with 'The dragon's nest in the Alpar Mountains.' It's a great collection. Indeed, it was written over a hundred years ago."

"You've read it? Then, what about 'Diabel's Flapping Wings'?"

"Of course, I know it. 'Bringing fate and the empress to the present world,' right? I like that chapter too."

Iris's eyes sparkled, realizing they shared a common interest, but she felt a bit embarrassed and looked down.

"…Sorry, can you continue?"

"Haha, sure. Let's talk about Cassina another time."

Mephisto, amused by Iris's reaction, pointed at Satanford on the map.

"The reason why Satanford was a barren land back then was that it was giving all its blessings—magic, the power of the land, underground veins, and even rain—to the empire. On the other hand, the empire's prosperity and abundance of magic were due to taking all of Satanford's blessings."

Mephisto's finger moved from Satanford to the empire.

"In other words, the land of Satanford existed solely to enrich the empire, filled with magic and the power of the land."

"The empire was exploiting this land until it was drained dry. …It's like a sacrificial offering."

The crossed-out 'Imperial Territory of Satanford' on the map seemed vividly alive to Iris.

"The role of connecting these was played by the 'Dukes of Satanford,' the 'cursed ones' of the imperial family. A hundred years ago, the true purpose of the 'cursed ones' was forgotten, and they were only recognized for their immense magical power and robust physique. However, their power and physique were just byproducts of absorbing the power of the land of Satanford."

Iris, who had a question after hearing this, asked Mephisto.

"Why was the 'cursed one' born only once every few generations?"

"The flow of power is grand. I think once the flow started, it continued for several generations without stopping, like a constant stream. The 'cursed one' was responsible for restoring the flow when it weakened, but this put a great strain on them, leading to their short lives."

"So, the empire's sudden decline due to drought and the waning of magic, and the rapid prosperity of Satanford, were due to an event that forcibly cut off this flow a hundred years ago."

Smiling, Mephisto nodded, impressed by Iris's correct understanding.

"Exactly. That event was the independence of Satanford, carried out by Lucifer Satanford, the last 'cursed one' of the imperial family and the first Duke of Satanford—my ancestor."

Iris took a deep breath, connecting the dots in the history.

"The first Duke, who was the last 'cursed one' of the imperial family… that means no 'cursed ones' have been born in the empire since then. Because… with Satanford's independence, the bloodline responsible for the spell moved from the imperial family to the House of Satanford?"

"Correct. Once the role of the medium was no longer needed, the power of Satanford could circulate within itself. This is just the natural order of things. That's why the curse that manifested in me is only a remnant, a trace of ancient magic."

As he put his gloves back on, Mephisto looked at Iris again.

"When Satanford and the 'cursed one' who served as the medium gained independence from the empire, the connection was naturally severed. No one at the time thought about this, so the empire fell into chaos. The sudden loss of magic, poor harvests, and drought. The empire rapidly declined and became desertified. The Holy Maiden, sent by God to save the country, brought rain and revived the land, starting the empire's excessive worship of the Holy Maiden."

Iris, who knew all too well about the empire's excessive worship of the Holy Maiden, reconsidered the history she knew.

"…Why did the first Duke gain independence? It's not detailed in the history books, is it?"

"There are various theories about the founding of the duchy, but the House of Satanford believes that the first Duke, who had a poor relationship with the emperor, founded the duchy to protect his beloved family."

"The first Duke was from the imperial bloodline, almost a direct descendant, and a cousin to the emperor at the time, right?"

"You know a lot. According to my grandfather, the first Duke had a good relationship with the imperial family when his uncle, the previous emperor, was alive. However, the relationship deteriorated when the throne changed hands, and the first Duke fled to Satanford with his family. The imperial family then abandoned the duchy along with the barren land."

"Wait! So, the imperial family abandoned Satanford?"

Surprised, Iris asked, and Mephisto smiled wryly.

"History is complicated. The House of Satanford believes this, but it might not be true. Only the people involved at the time know the truth. However, it's a fact that the empire allowed Satanford's independence. They probably didn't realize that the barren land was the key to their power."

"How ironic. …How foolish."

Iris didn't know the face of the emperor at the time, but the image of a foolish emperor overlapped with someone else in her mind.

"There are always incompetent rulers in every era."

Mephisto, thinking of someone else, agreed with Iris.

"But, that's not the end, is it? Why does Satanford now wish to return to the empire?"

In response to Iris's question, Mephisto sighed and looked at the map again.

"The first Duke and Duchess noticed the empire's decline and tried to find the cause while working to develop their own country. Even though they had left the empire, they couldn't ignore the sudden crisis their homeland was facing. After several decades, they discovered the truth. By then, Satanford had become a vibrant and rich land, while the empire was in decline."

"I've heard that the empire's productivity has fallen to half of what it was a hundred years ago. If it fell by half in a hundred years, it must have declined significantly in just a few decades."

The old map showed the empire in green, but the current empire is mostly desert in the west.

"Upon realizing that their independence had caused the empire's crisis, the first Duke and Duchess deeply regretted it. They didn't care about what happened to the imperial family, but the people would suffer first. However, returning Satanford to its original state was impossible because it had developed too much. Many people had moved to Satanford from the empire, refugees from neighboring countries, and poor people fleeing the declining empire. Satanford had become a thriving nation without them realizing it."

"You're as kind as your ancestor. You could have just left the country that abandoned you."

When Iris said this, Mephisto scratched his head.

"Why does it always come back to me?"

"Because you're too kind. You must be like your ancestor. So, what did your ancestor do after that?"

Despite her skeptical look, Mephisto continued.

"If they told the empire the truth, the empire would mercilessly exploit Satanford again. This would destroy the country they had built and the lives of the people living there. The imperial family at the time was desperately seeking ways to restore their power. In the end, the first Duke and Duchess gave up on rejoining the empire and entrusted this mission to their descendants. They wished that one day, when a 'cursed one' was born again in the bloodline, they could protect their people and peacefully reunite Satanford with the empire, returning what they had unintention