Chapter 57 ….
The Witches of Akladie Hill
In an instant, a village festival sprang to life.
Everyone had brought food from their homes, and those who could use magic adorned the entire village with dazzling illusions.
With music played through magic as well, it felt even more lavish than a royal banquet.
Euribe, naturally introverted, felt dizzy at the thought of greeting so many people, yet before she realized it, she was seated at the head table in the center.
Without any awkwardness, people came to her one by one, greeting her warmly and expressing their gratitude for her presence.
She had expected them to harbor resentment toward the royal family for failing to protect them, but that was not the case at all.
Instead, they pitied her for being forced to marry the emperor at such a young age, seeming to blame themselves for not being able to protect her.
In a place overflowing with affection and magical energy, it felt like she was finally home.
This was Estum.
As her heart swelled, Euribe scanned the faces of the Estum people, and her eyes met Leobach’s.
She tried to smile along with him, who was beaming, only to realize that she had already been smiling.
She wished time would stop right there.
May this happiness never be broken.
After the lively greetings ended, a white-haired woman sitting next to Euribe smiled kindly and introduced herself.
“It is an honor to meet you, Princess Euribe. I am Lüsife, an elder of Akladie Hill.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
Though she spoke and was treated like an elder, Lüsife looked energetic and healthy, more like a middle-aged woman than a frail old one.
“I have never seen an illusion powerful enough to conceal an entire village. Is this your work?”
Lüsife smiled gently at Euribe’s question.
“I lost my magic long ago.”
“Pardon?”
“Shall we take a short walk?”
They moved to a quiet spot, and Lüsife began to share her story.
“Before you were born, Princess, I was a royal magic advisor. I served His Majesty King Elhart.”
At the mention of her mother’s name, Euribe’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“Those were happy days. Assisting His Majesty to strengthen the kingdom, training juniors… But everything shattered when the emissaries of the Lemegaton Empire arrived, and one of them made me his target.”
“A target?”
“He attempted to assault me.”
Though her tone was calm, as if speaking of an event long past, the pain behind her eyes could not be concealed.
Euribe instinctively reached to console her, but then realized that while Lüsife’s assault had ended in failure, she herself had ultimately suffered such a fate.
Although the emperor could claim it was a marital relationship, it had been a forced act.
Recognizing this anew, Euribe understood that the pain in Lüsife’s eyes was compassion directed toward her.
Feeling uneasy, she turned her gaze away, and Lüsife continued.
“Overpowering him was not difficult. I could have used sleep magic, defense magic, or even summoned guards. But I was consumed by rage, obsessed with punishing this beast. I crossed the line… and in the end…”
“What…?”
“I killed him with magic.”
“……!”
Euribe’s pupils dilated as if they would tear.
Murder magic?
But that was forbidden…
“The legends are true. The moment I committed murder, the gods withdrew my magic.”
“…….”
“I was also exiled from Estum. People feared that other witches in Estum might incur divine wrath, starting with me. I fully understand their fear. Even I would have advised the princess to exile a witch abandoned by the gods. Estum cannot afford to lose its magic like other nations.”
“But it was self-defense, wasn’t it?”
When Euribe took her side, Lüsife smiled quietly.
“His Majesty Elhart thought the same. He pitied me. But the ministers were adamant, so he had no choice but to issue the exile. Yet he arranged a place for me to live and continued to support me quietly.”
Hearing of her mother’s merciful decision brought relief, but a new worry arose.
What about Vinthera?
The belief that using magic to kill would cause one to lose magic was only a theory based on legend.
But Lüsife’s experience proved it true.
Vinthera would lose her magic the moment she killed the emperor.
Did Vinthera know this?
“Do you know Vinthera?”
“Of course. The magnificent illusion you saw earlier? That is Vinthera’s work.”
“Ah….”
“She is also the one who brought here the victims of the recent witch hunt, resurrecting them.”
Euribe had assumed Vinthera was too busy avenging herself and destroying the empire, but she had still taken care of the people of Estum whenever possible.
A strange mix of gratitude, jealousy, and rivalry surged within her.
While Vinthera ran around, holding the emperor in her hands, what had she done at most…?
“Then does Vinthera know that using magic to kill someone will make her lose her magic?”
“I told her myself. Murder magic will definitely strip her of her magic, and offensive magic will be her final act.”
So, for that final strike, she has been carefully plotting for months?
Managing political struggles while taking the princess and the rising faction along?
Suddenly, Euribe remembered Vinthera’s words inviting her to join in the revenge.
“Offensive magic is a rare talent. If Her Majesty the Empress lends her strength, it will greatly aid the plan.”
“With the blood of Estum royalty, a little practice and she will be the strongest…”
Was that what she meant by asking for help?
Kill the emperor, lose her magic, and let Vinthera clean up afterward…
Or perhaps sacrifice Euribe’s magic to kill the emperor, with Vinthera handling the aftermath…
“Stay here tonight. It will help your suppressed magic recover.”
Sensing the turmoil in her mind, Lüsife patted her gently on the back and suggested this.
Euribe wished she could release the tension and pain, even for just one night, but there was no time.
If the emperor or Nugos noticed her absence…
If the Countess of Tramont were put in a difficult situation…
“Thank you, but I must return now.”
“Whenever you have leisure, come visit. The witches of Akladie Hill will always await you, Princess.”
Even amidst the tangled thoughts, her lips curved into a warm smile.
It felt like she had a home again, after such a long time.
Escorted by the villagers, she left the village. In an instant, the village vanished, leaving only the barren plains.
As if the entire event had been a dream.
“Shall we return to the imperial palace now?”
Leobach asked, bringing over the two horses they had tied up.
It was time to tour the palace for alibi purposes.
But one thing still weighed on her mind.
“Leobach.”
“Yes, Lady Euribe.”
“Do you also know Vinthera?”
“……!”
Leobach flinched.
It was too dark to see his expression, but she could tell he was tense.
Had they ever talked about Vinthera before?
‘Ah, right.’
When he was freed from prison, he had shown no reaction to the story of Vinthera’s help. Logically, it made no sense that the emperor’s mistress would cooperate with the empress.
‘He already knew.’
Even without knowing all the details, he probably expected witches would help each other.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Did she sound angry?
But Euribe had no reason to be angry.
She had never mentioned Vinthera, so there had been no opportunity to reveal that they knew each other.
‘Ah.’
No way…
“You… the person you serve is Vinthera?”
Then everything changes.
Euribe had considered her meeting with Leobach fate.
A man who met her by chance while saving a bird, unaware she was the empress, and felt drawn to her.
A man who approached her knowing her true self, even after learning she was a disregarded empress.
A man who stayed by her side, despite life-threatening danger.
But what if all of that was part of Vinthera’s meticulously laid plan…?
She had wandered the palace gardens to meet Euribe, already knew her circumstances, and remained at her side because Vinthera’s plan was unfinished.
All the memories and feelings she had shared with him would have been lies.
They would mean she had simply been toyed with by Vinthera and her subordinates.
“Answer me.”
In the darkness where even the moon and stars had vanished, the sound of a heartbeat—hers or Leobach’s—resounded loudly.
