MFWSP 56

Chapter 56

“If you don’t like it, then call it off. It’s not like I’m desperate for this. What I have is worth several times more than what you own, Marquis.”

I shrugged and took a step back.

“…Hmph!”

The Marquis breathed heavily, his expression twisted in a mix of anger, greed, and innate wariness.

After a while, the choice he made was—greed.

Whether it was desire for wealth or the ambition to become a legend that surpassed everyone in his family, I couldn’t say.

“Fine! Let’s put everything in writing!”

He shouted as if he had made up his mind, then opened a drawer against the wall and pulled out paper and a pen himself.

“I’ll use the ‘Eye of God.’ No objections, I assume?”

“That’s exactly what I wanted.”

I nodded in response to the Marquis’s question.

The “Eye of God” was a special type of high-grade paper used only for major contracts.

It was enchanted with ancient magic so that no contract written through threats or deception could be valid.

In short, no one could object to the validity of a contract made using the Eye of God.

The Marquis quickly wrote down all the terms we discussed.

He added a few minor clauses in his favor, like ensuring that even if I died before the wedding, the title would still pass on to David. But it wasn’t a big issue.

“…Are you serious about this?”

As I was about to place my seal, Karsiel whispered to me.

“If you want to back out and overturn everything, it’s still not too late.”

His hand had been gripping the hilt of his sword tightly this whole time.

“We can kill the Marquis quietly, without anyone knowing.”

“If he dies, I can’t get David. And without David, Your Highness can’t get Adelon.”

I replied with a faint smile, but Karsiel’s furrowed brow didn’t relax.

“If it’s because of me—”

“Helping you is helping myself too.”

I pressed my seal firmly onto both copies of the contract, then raised my head to meet Karsiel’s gaze.

“I told you—I’ll support you to the end, with my entire life.”

“…”

I worried he might get angry for making the decision on my own, but instead, Karsiel slowly leaned down until our eyes met.

“If I said I’d stake my life to help you, you’d probably refuse.”

“…What?”

I asked in surprise at his sudden words, and he let out a quiet laugh, just like I had earlier.

“As you worry about me, I worry about you too. Watching people die for my sake is a painful thing.”

He smiled lightly, but I could feel the heavy sincerity in his words.

Whether it was war, the Empress’s schemes, or betrayal like Gail’s—he had probably lost many people.

“…I won’t die.”

The words slipped out of my mouth.

“My life is tougher than you think.”

Strictly speaking, I had multiple short lives, but I didn’t bother explaining.

“I just want to live well under your rule. Dying a noble death for your sake isn’t part of my dream.”

“Then you and I share the same dream. I want to see you live well too.”

The bitterness in Karsiel’s voice faded.

“I’ll trust you.”

I smiled brightly and turned toward David and the Marquis.

“Each of us will keep one copy of the contract. David and I will be leaving now.”

“Right now?”

The Marquis’s eyes widened again.

“I’m a little impatient.”

I grabbed David’s wrist and tugged him along.

“By this time tomorrow, Marquis, you’ll have lost one of your three sons.”

* * *

“…What exactly is the plan?”

David asked while stroking his pet parrot.

We had come straight from the banquet hall to the Marquisate, so the dress I wore was hardly appropriate for the Black Valley.

As a result, David had to take me to his room and lend me some clothes. Adjusting the belt and sleeves to fit my frame took quite a bit of time.

“And why did you send His Highness ahead?”

“He had somewhere to be. My plan is for you to follow my instructions closely.”

I replied while struggling to remove a bracelet tangled on my sleeve.

“You removed the rest of your jewelry, but you’re wearing that?”

“This is a rare magic stone. And I don’t trust Marquis Adelon—so of course I’m keeping it. Let’s go.”

“…Men’s clothes suit you too well for no reason.”

David grumbled, but I ignored him and walked to the door.

We needed to move quickly.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Bye, Phoenix. I’m off.”

David casually threw the parrot perched on his arm out the window.

“Ah, that one always finds its way home.”

“If you’d said that earlier, I would’ve brought it along.”

David chuckled at my response.

“It only takes an hour between the entrance to the Path of Darkness and the Marquisate. I know the way well.”

“Then lead the way.”

I smiled as I opened the door.

My heart began to pound. The two fruits I had fought so hard to obtain in my first and second lives were finally within reach.

An hour later, what stood before us was the massive silhouette of a rocky mountain.

“So, when you said an hour… you meant on horseback, at full speed?”

“The Black Valley is saturated with chaotic magic. No one would build a castle right next to it.”

David jumped off his horse and looked at my dust-covered face with a grin.

“Don’t worry, you’re still beauti—ah, old habits. You just look… vaguely human.”

He had tried to give a lazy compliment, but slapped his own lips and shook his head.

“The Path of Darkness?”

“Right over there.”

He pointed to a massive black hole.

It gaped open like the maw of a monster, its depth impossible to gauge.

From it poured a powerful magic aura that even normal people could feel. It seemed to warn that stepping inside meant partly crossing into another dimension.

“If you want, we can take another route. I’ve heard it takes people hours just to muster the courage to enter. The Path of Light is about two hours longer but…”

“No, I’m going in here.”

I looked down at my bracelet and shook my head.

“I don’t have time to waste in a bet that could determine a dukedom.”

I leapt from the horse and grabbed David’s arm.

Then ran headlong toward the entrance.

“Ahhh!”

David screamed, and moments later, we both felt as if our bodies had lifted into the air.

Thud.

After about a minute of floating, we landed hard on the ground.

Or what I assumed was ground—it wasn’t hard like stone, but soft enough to guess.

“Darker than any portal.”

I said as I turned my head sharply.

Unlike portals, which were structured, this place was a boundless stretch of darkness.

Small glowing orbs floated here and there, but they barely lit the surroundings.

“…Don’t touch those orbs.”

David muttered, seemingly coming back to his senses.

“I’ve seen many people get cursed just by touching them out of anxiety.”

“Magic stones laced with poison. Fragments of fruit fallen from the Spirit Tree.”

I nodded.

The orbs glittered with rainbow light—seductive. In this endless darkness, it would be natural to reach out to them.

Especially since touching them granted temporary power. The problem was that power would drive people mad.

“The magic in each orb differs…”

“They’re all dangerous. I know. What I want is the Spirit Tree, so don’t worry.”

I stood up and answered.

David remained on the ground, still speaking.

“From what I’ve heard, there’s only one way for guides to navigate the Path of Darkness.”

“What is it?”

“They grope the ground to find the footprints of those who came before. It’s so hard that even experienced guides prefer the Path of Light.”

“Are you blaming me?”

“Not at all. I’m just trying to act like a guide.”

David began crawling to search for footprints.

I reached down to stop him.

“Duke?”

“I just got curious.”

“About what?”

“Let’s say we reach our goal. How do we get back?”

I asked in a lowered voice.

“There’s a way to switch from the Path of Darkness to the Path of Light.”

David responded quietly.

“Some of the Adelon family’s guides use portals.”

“Portals…”

I smiled in the dark.

“Do you think the person following us has a portal too?”