Chapter 79
“Earlier… when treating Sir Jerron, the reason he was in so much pain…”
“Mm?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but I think it might have been because of magic?”
“What? Magic?”
According to Moonflower, magic in this world stems from dark sorcery. It’s different from the magical power—or mana—that other races wield through their beasts.
The binding curse Kilian suffered in the original story was also a form of dark magic.
I thought that since I was no longer a villainess, I had done everything I could to prevent something like that from happening… but just because I changed, it didn’t mean dark magic had disappeared.
The original setting was truly terrifying…
Still a little flustered, I asked Adel,
“So, does that mean Jerron is a victim of dark magic?”
“That would be one way to look at it.”
Adel picked up a chicken leg from the table.
“Not that he uses dark magic himself, right?”
Kilian asked. Honestly, I was curious about that too. Was he simply a victim, or…?
I waited for Adel to answer, but after taking a bite of the chicken leg, she just shrugged.
“Ugh. I should’ve finished the basic training and learned more. I really can’t tell the difference…”
Tsk.
“But the amount of magic in his body isn’t much, and the energy isn’t strong. It’s very old. And since I’ve cleaned it all out completely, you don’t have to worry, Tia.”
“Thanks, Adel.”
“And if by some chance there’s still magic left in him, and he tries anything foolish with you—”
Adel rolled a knife in her hand a couple of times, then slammed her fist onto the table.
“I’ll kill him.”
Near Adel, who had just spoken so chillingly, I thought I heard the faint sound of cracking—like the table itself was splitting.
“Y-yeah, okay, Adel. Got it. But let’s only use knives for cutting food, alright?”
“Of course, Tia.”
“Shall we eat now? We’re all good, right? Ugh, I’m starving. Let’s eat quickly!”
I smiled at Adel as I spoke. She nodded, put down the knife, and picked up the chicken leg again. Kilian…
Huh?
Did my eyes deceive me? The handle of the knife looked bent into an S-shape.
I quietly switched the knife and fork.
That night…
The supposedly intact dining room table split as if cut by a blade and collapsed with a crash.
It was impossible to tell who was responsible.
Meanwhile, the imperial banquet at the Emperor’s palace was dragging on for another reason.
Robis looked at the position of Empress, filled for the first time in 14 years.
Olivia, pale as a ghost, sat up straight and held a fork uselessly.
When he closed his eyes, Robis remembered how Cheryl would scold him for leaving food, how there were starving people outside, and she’d insist he eat his broccoli. Even the playful smile when asked what his least favorite food was—broccoli—came back to him vividly.
Robis put down the fork and knife he was holding, wiped his mouth slowly with a napkin, and spoke:
“Empress.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Olivia answered a beat late and averted her eyes.
Looking into her eyes, which seemed empty yet not quite, Robis felt a chill run down his spine.
“What is the reason for this audience?”
“…I wish to attend the upcoming debutante ball.”
“The Empress?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
It was a reasonable request that didn’t require further questioning. The Empress could attend any social gathering in the empire without the Emperor’s permission. Still, Robis wanted to ask why, even though he knew he wouldn’t get an answer.
“Why?”
“…As a mother… I must celebrate dear Celestia’s debutante ball.”
For a moment, it seemed like a crack appeared on her porcelain-like face…
Robis clenched his fist and nodded.
“Very well.”
“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Only then did Olivia set down the fork she had been holding all through the banquet, bowed like a wind-up doll, and rose from her seat.
“…I shall take my leave first, Your Majesty.”
A palace maid at the door quickly came forward to support her.
After the Empress left and the door closed, Robis let out a long breath.
The strange, inexplicable discomfort gnawed at his nerves.
Finally, the day arrived.
The very day everyone had been waiting for, each for their own reasons!
“Debutante ball!!!”
Liz was bouncing around from the morning.
“Liz, it’s not your debutante ball. Calm down.”
“It’s the debutante ball of His Highness, whom I raised—or rather, assisted. So it’s basically my debutante ball too. Feels like sending my grown daughter off to marry.”
“Don’t feel that way. Why are you fussing over a wedding you’re not attending? And is getting married really such a happy thing? Doesn’t look sad at all.”
“Of course not… it’s a mix of relief and longing. I’m not really the mother, so the relief is a little bigger? Oh my!”
Liz’s eyes went wide.
Probably because she accidentally said the word “mother” aloud… heh.
I winked nonchalantly.
“If you feel that relieved, why don’t you go instead, Liz? Please. Let me feel some relief too!”
“Oh hohoho. I’m happy even now.”
My loyal little bear!
Liz clasped her hands to her chest and swished her skirt.
“Ugh. What’s so good about it? Later you’ll regret it, and if you blame me for not going, remember I told you to go, okay?”
Getting married at an older age is tough. Late childbirth isn’t something to take lightly, Liz.
Chattering incessantly, I was stopped by Liz choosing to brush my hair.
She mercilessly combed through my tangled, curly hair.
“Ah! Ah!”
“Please bear with it, Your Highness.”
“I think you’re putting emotion into the brushing. Hmm?”
“Oh my, you caught me.”
Hohoho.
Liz smiled as she styled me.
“Expect it, Your Highness. I’ll put all my happiest feelings into it and make you look the most beautiful.”
Even so, Adel would probably look far prettier.
But I only muttered that silently to not ruin Liz’s joy.
After brushing, applying fragrance, corset, petticoat, garter belt, and other difficult-to-name items, I donned the perfectly fitted dress. I yelped as the ribbons were tightened and then styled my hair again.
The top half of my hair, divided in two, was loosely braided and rolled naturally atop my crown. The rest was curled with a little help from a curling iron to enhance the wavy charm.
Even the light makeup—skin makeup was optional, but my eyes were emphasized—was finished. Liz stepped away for a moment.
“Wow… this is intense. I couldn’t do this twice. Really.”
Conquering romance fantasy settings isn’t easy…
While sighing, Liz returned with a jewelry box.
Following Madame Casta’s recommendation from when I first bought the dress, Liz placed a very thick necklace around my neck. Actually, it was more like fastening it snugly than just hanging it.
“Liz… could it be… all diamonds?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Isn’t it beautiful?”
I thought I was used to my father’s lavish spending, but seeing this many diamonds at once was overwhelming.
Ten strands of necklace perfectly fitting my neck, all diamonds, differing only in thickness.
Counting them one by one, there were more than an ear of corn… How much is this worth? If I sold it…
Capitalist money thoughts, bad! Get out!
“Your father bought this?”
“Ah… well… yes…?”
Her hesitant answer suggested my father had wanted to keep it secret, probably to avoid my scolding.
Since today was a good day, I decided to let it slide.
After adjusting the necklace, I put on tiny diamond earrings and gloves woven from the same silver thread as the dress.
“Is it all done now?”
“One moment, Your Highness.”
Liz stepped away again. Soon, she returned hiding something behind her back and asked me to close my eyes.
“What’s with all the fuss…?”
I muttered grumpily, thinking I might cry otherwise. Liz placed something in my hand.
“You may open your eyes now, Your Highness.”
“….”
What Liz gave me was a hair ornament beautifully decorated with various jewels.
“Liz… all of these…”
These were the jewels I had gifted her over the years—on her birthday, when she was happy, sad, or struggling…
Simply because I liked her, appreciated her, and was happy to be with her.
For the past seven years, I had carefully wrapped, casually tossed, or secretly slipped these jewels into her pocket.
“Why… did you…?”
Liz gently dabbed the tears forming in my eyes with a high-quality silk handkerchief and smiled warmly.
“These are the most precious things you’ve given me…”
I had forgotten about the Saliant Empire’s debutante ball tradition.
A mother gives her daughter a hair ornament made of her most precious jewels—a blessing wishing for her daughter’s happiness, whether inherited or newly made.
In Moonflower, Adel had received such a hair ornament from the Marchioness of Luwendip during her late debutante ball. I remembered Adel crying while holding the hairpiece that didn’t fit her short, cut hair.
“I dared… to imitate Your Highness’s mother. I’m sorry for doing so without permission… Please, just for today, Your Highness.”
I cried, wrapping myself in Liz’s arms.
