Chapter 38
“You cheeky little brat, why not just say you gave it to me because you like purple?”
That was actually true — I’d looked up purple flowers in the dictionary before choosing it. But it was also from the heart.
“Is that… not okay?”
“One more day.”
My father brushed the hint of laughter from his lips with the back of his hand. When his crimson eyes folded in amusement, he was devastatingly charming.
“If that’s what you want, I suppose I can grant it.”
Was that… permission?
‘It is! He said yes!’
For the first time, I felt like I’d really used my gift properly — like I’d just proven the worth of the “Child of Prophecy.”
But one final step remained.
I took a deep breath and gathered my courage.
“But not tonight.”
“Are you setting the date now?”
“One year from today. You have to sleep holding my hand, promise.”
His tone teased, but I answered firmly.
He paused for a moment.
I studied his expression nervously.
The “one month” I had left had shrunk to “three weeks,” and now only half a month remained. I was anxious. I wanted to still be his daughter even a year from now.
Kan had told me again and again that I wouldn’t be abandoned — but I wanted to hear it from him.
‘Please tell me it’s okay to stay here.’
I wanted to stay with Blake, with sweet Sarina, with Mikael and the knights — with all of them.
My father looked at me, as if I were something rather impressive, and then slowly smiled.
“Very well. I swear on the honor of House Archibiades that I’ll keep that promise.”
…Wow.
‘Wow!’
I had expected him to refuse, but there wasn’t even a hint of hesitation.
One of the knights nearby looked uneasy and almost stepped forward but ultimately withdrew.
Father reached out and gently brushed my hair.
“Your flower crown’s all ruined.”
“I don’t mind! I’m happy!”
Even as petals fell from it, I grinned brightly.
He frowned slightly.
I was only eight years old, but somehow, I understood what it meant to be so happy you could die.
“Thanks, Kan.”
The boy sitting in the tree, reading a book, looked down at me. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, turning his silver hair dazzlingly bright.
“Looks like it went well.”
“Yeah! Dad was really happy! He even patted my head! And he promised to hold my hand and sleep beside me a year from now!”
I was practically bouncing with excitement.
“Kan, you’re amazing. You really know everything.”
A little while ago, Kan had taught me how to summon the earth spirit.
He jumped down lightly from the tree, landing softly on the ground. The book he had been reading had no title.
I sat down and, like before, covered my right hand with a handful of dirt as if it were a blanket. Then I spoke carefully, sounding out each word.
“Ossa tegébat humus.”
(The earth covered the bones.)
That was the incantation for summoning the spirit of earth.
A ticklish feeling stirred inside me, as though something were gently being drawn out.
Then, to my astonishment, an earth spirit appeared right before my eyes.
When I’d begged the soil before, nothing had happened — but after just one chant, it worked instantly.
<Adelle, we meet again!>
“I missed you too!”
The spirit floated upward and perched on Kan’s shoulder. It looked like a small, triangular lump of soil with a tiny blue leaf sprouting from its head.
I brushed the dirt off my hands and stood up.
“This is amazing. It appeared just because I said a few words.”
“Not just anyone can summon a spirit with a spell. You’re exceptionally talented — I’ll put it that way.”
For the first time, Kan’s words made me really feel that I might indeed be the “Child of Prophecy.”
The earth spirit was rubbing its body affectionately against Kan’s cheek. Spirits seemed to really like him.
I liked Kan too.
I bit my lower lip and said quietly,
“That sounds like you’re saying I’m really incredible.”
“You are incredible.”
He said it in such a calm voice — so casually that it made my cheeks burn bright red.
That wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but still, it made my heart pound.
His deep black eyes looked unfamiliar for a second, and I turned my gaze away. Trying to change the subject, I asked,
“So, what’s a Ringspell? How’s it different from a normal spell?”
“A spell is a spoken incantation that commands spirits through words. A Ringspell, on the other hand, uses no voice — it’s done purely through emotional resonance. It’s an advanced technique, far more difficult.”
My mouth dropped open in awe.
That meant I’d been unconsciously using Ringspell all along — since spirits often appeared near me without me saying anything.
“But your resonance is still unstable, so your Ringspell isn’t complete yet.”
I nodded at Kan’s explanation.
“I always thought the spirits just came to me on their own.”
“They didn’t come to you — you drew them in. But since you’re the Child of Prophecy, that absurd level of talent makes sense.”
When I studied with Blake, I always felt so lacking — but hearing that I had real talent made me happy.
“You’re a genius.”
“Stop saying that, you’re making me blush.”
“At least when it comes to spirit magic, there has never been, and never will be, anyone greater than you. You’re one of a kind in all of history.”
Even after I said I was embarrassed, Kan just answered as if it were a fact.
Every time I met him, I felt like the most powerful, most special person in the world.
Maybe that’s why I liked Kan so much.
I scratched my cheek with my finger.
“Honestly, studying alone for the last five days was so frustrating.”
“…Wasn’t Blake acting as your temporary teacher?”
“Well… I asked him who Rehas was, and he ran away.”
“Ah.”
Kan let out just that one word. Then he murmured, “I see,” and nodded.
“I heard he’s been locked in the tower… but that’s all I know.”
Kan looked at me for a moment before asking,
“Have you ever heard of the ‘God’s Curse’ that afflicts the House of Archibiades?”
“God’s Curse? No, I’ve never heard of it.”
The words alone sounded terrifying. My eyes widened in shock.
Kan hesitated, then began explaining quietly.
“All the men born into House Archibiades bear an unspeakable agony. It’s called the God’s Curse. Nine out of ten don’t survive it — they die from the pain. The greater their talent, the worse their suffering. That’s why they call it a curse from the gods.”
“Then… my dad and brother too?”
“Yes. You’ve probably seen Blake taking medicine, haven’t you?”
I had. When I first met Blake, I’d even brought the bowl of medicine to him myself.
I thought I’d grown close to my father, but there were still so many things I didn’t know.
Even catching a cold made me miserable — I couldn’t imagine what that level of pain must be like.
Just thinking about it scared me.
“The current Duke and his son are the ones who’ve survived the curse. The one barely hanging on to life now is Rehas. They say his temper became so violent they locked him in the tower.”
I pictured Rehas alone in a cold tower. I had never met him, but he probably looked like Father or Blake. My chest ached.
“I… I want to save him.”
“There’s a reason they isolated him from society.”
“But he’s probably just a kid, like me. He must be so lonely.”
“…He’ll probably die soon.”
For Kan — who always believed in miracles — to say that with such an expression…
The “God’s Curse” must really be something dreadful.
To be born into such suffering — it was too cruel.
I felt strange inside.
After all, I was born under the opposite fate — praised as the “Child of Prophecy.”
Now I understood why everyone looked uncomfortable whenever I mentioned Rehas.
“You told me once, Kan — that there’s no place the Child of Prophecy can’t reach, no one I can’t save.”
“…”
“I’ll break that curse. I’ll study harder, become stronger — and I’ll save him.”
Kan didn’t reply this time. He just looked at me like I was some curious, unfamiliar creature.
“I don’t want Dad to hurt. I don’t want Blake to hurt. And I really don’t want Rehas to die. I can’t save people who died before I was born, but the ones still alive — I can. The Child of Prophecy is supposed to do that, right?”
“…”
“I’ll save them.”
There had to be a way.
So far, all I’d done was fetch a bit of Rasiteni grass, but learning had power.
By reading books, I’d learned how to give orders to knights, how to go and see Father myself…
Though that had led to me witnessing a murder.
Kan looked momentarily troubled. But maybe I imagined it — he shrugged lightly and changed the subject.
“I heard your teacher, Ehin, has recovered.”
Ehin — my tutor.
I knew he was deflecting, but I still gasped.
“He’s not sick anymore?”
“That’s right.”
That was such good news.
“You’ll see him in tomorrow’s lesson.”
Kan turned slightly as if preparing to leave, and I realized how elaborate his clothing was.
I’d once thought he dressed that way because he was a servant of a noble house — but now I saw it differently.
His manner of speech had nothing to do with a servant’s.
Kan was clearly of high birth — perhaps a marquis or higher. Maybe he’d never intended to hide it at all.
“Kan, are you leaving already?”
“I have to.”
“Can’t you stay and play with me a bit longer?”
“What would we do?”
When he asked that, I suddenly had no answer.
But I didn’t want to let him go — who knew when I’d see him again?
And besides, I’d only ever received from him — I hadn’t given anything in return.
If he were a girl like Madeleine, I could’ve hugged her or played hand games. But what did boys like?
Then I remembered his problem.
“You said before you didn’t want to get married. Is that going okay?”
“…No.”
He paused, then smiled faintly, almost amused. His profile was beautiful.
In Beginner’s Guide to Noble Culture and Etiquette, I’d read that during times of war, high-ranking nobles often entered arranged marriages at a young age.
But if one party refused, the engagement could be postponed.
“So why don’t you want to get married?”
“I hate being loved by women. But the girl they picked for me… I think she’s about to fall for me.”
His fiancée?
Did that mean he already had one?
Kan looked like he’d said too much. He straightened his clothes.
I couldn’t help but ask, calling after him as he turned away.
“When will I see you again?”
“I’ll greet you properly soon.”
Kan answered kindly.
If he was going to “greet” me formally… did that mean he’d reveal who he really was?
Before I could ask, he tore a magic scroll in half.
A brilliant light spread around us — and when it faded, Kan was gone.
