Chapter 117 · Royal Talent

“Irritatĭo, dissŏlútĭo, exémptĭo…”

The moment Anastasia placed both hands on Paeon’s chest and recited the activation words, blue light began rippling around them. Soon it took the form of a complex magic formula and radiated a dazzling light.

It was a wondrous sight.

“Cough, cough!”

Paeon vomited blood in a surge. He coughed violently and his body heaved, but Anastasia did not waver in the slightest and kept reciting the activation words.

“Irritatĭo, dissŏlútĭo, exémptĭo…”

Sierra, watching the scene through the crack in the door, could not believe her own eyes. An ordinary child would burst into tears at the mere sight of blood. Yet Anastasia was not startled or afraid, but calmly performing the magic.

“Princess…”

Rather, it was Sierra, watching, who felt tears come. She looked at Anastasia with brimming eyes.

Ever since yesterday, every time Sierra saw Anastasia, her heart ached as if it were being torn apart. She didn’t know the details, but it seemed Anastasia had long known that Princess Aquila was after her life.

It had been strange for a long time. The way she avoided going to the royal palace excessively, the way her expression worsened whenever she encountered Aquila. It suddenly occurred to her how afraid Anastasia had been of attending the Foundation Day Festival.

‘She knew she would become even more dangerous if she underwent the ceremony confirming her succession rights at the Foundation Day Festival.’

While she had been bearing such a heavy burden alone, what had Sierra been doing? She had only been filled with anticipation at the thought of seeing her in a pretty dress standing before people. How much must Anastasia have suffered, seeing Sierra’s carefree attitude?

Sierra had felt great happiness over the past few years thanks to Anastasia—happiness she had never felt in her entire life.

She was a commoner from a remote province far from the capital. The youngest daughter of a large family, she had had to do odd jobs from a young age because of their poor circumstances. Her family was not harmonious due to poverty, and no one paid her any attention. Only after her divine power manifested and she went to the Great Temple did they begin to care about her. It was to receive the support money the Great Temple provided.

There was no way she could have affection for such people, and Sierra had no complaints about coming to the temple. Her life was far more comfortable and she was treated well.

But she could not understand why a corner of her heart felt empty. Even after making close sisters, even as her abilities were recognized at the Great Temple and her priestess rank rose, the emptiness only grew.

‘It must be because I’m tired from all the work.’

She felt fulfillment healing the injured and sick, but the daily routine that always went round like a hamster wheel was exhausting. Yet she could not confide in anyone, fearing it would sound like the complaint of someone too well-off.

Then she met Anastasia.

Sierra fell in love from the moment the child called her an angel. Her daily life with the little princess, cheerful Rosa, kind Yuz, and the blunt but reliable Paeon was completely different from before. Every day was full of astonishing things.

She had never known family affection, but now she thought she understood. It was something that made her chest overflow warmly and ache until tears came. It was also something she could never have for the rest of her life. So it felt truly like a gift from God.

And yet the person who had brought her such a wondrous gift had been suffering alone like that. Tears streamed down her face.

‘The princess is still so young… She became an adult far too early.’

Rosa and Yuz, who had been anxiously pacing in the corridor, came to her in surprise.

“Sister Sierra, what’s wrong? Did something happen to the princess?”

“N-no…”

She spoke with a choked throat.

“I’ll tell you later.”

She had to let Rosa and Yuz know about this too. There needed to be even one more person to protect the princess.

Meanwhile, in the next room, the king and Belus were having a serious conversation.

“It’s a relief that Kalisa didn’t demand anything more.”

“They must know as well. That demanding more here would break off the negotiations. Still, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.”

The king gulped down his hot tea as if it were liquor.

“You must have suffered greatly making such a difficult choice.”

“No. When you first brought it up, I honestly thought it was absurd, but the more I examined it, the more it seemed right. Seeing the nobles’ reactions earlier confirmed it. They were truly selfish beyond belief.”

“I too would never have thought of this method if Princess Anastasia hadn’t suggested it.”

The king marveled at Belus’s answer.

“That child is a born king! No one will be able to raise an objection.”

“Truly, the more I see of her, the more astonishing she is. Princess Beatrice was also a remarkable person, but…”

“That child possesses what Beatrice did not.”

The king spoke seriously.

“Beatrice was outstanding in ability but had no faith at all. That was the one thing I regretted, but Anastasia is different.”

“Sometimes she has faith that makes even me ashamed.”

“Heh heh, and she can use both divine power and mana. She will likely spread the majesty of the Logos faith across the entire continent and become a truly great king. The only problem is…”

When the king hesitated, Belus cautiously asked.

“Is it Princess Aquila?”

“Indeed.”

The king let out a deep sigh.

“Count Alter could not have done something like this alone. She is my child, but she truly exhausts all my affection.”

“…But Your Majesty will not pursue it, will you?”

Perhaps sensing the reproach in those words, the king hurriedly spoke as if to excuse himself.

“Even so, I cannot cast out my own child with my own hands. It’s not as if I don’t understand her.”

Belus worried.

“Many will challenge this negotiation in the future. Princess Aquila in particular will lead the opposition.”

“For now she has stepped back, but Kalisa must be dealt with once and for all someday. If only we could find ‘that’ before they make their move…”

Belus flinched at the king’s words.

“Your Majesty, let us speak of that later.”

When he whispered, glancing at the door, the king nodded heavily and changed the subject. And they began discussing countermeasures for the future.

Quite some time later.

“Your Majesty!”

Roktania entered and cried urgently.

“The curse has been broken.”

The king and Belus sprang up and headed to the next room.

Anastasia was leaning against the bed, gasping for breath. Her whole body was soaked in sweat.

“The internal injuries… I roughly healed them… Please finish it, High Priest…”

She spoke with difficulty, then collapsed onto the floor.

“Princess!”

Sierra ran to her in alarm. Anastasia did not stir even when lifted, her eyes closed.

“She seems to have fallen asleep.”

Belus approached Paeon and checked his condition. His face was still pale, but his complexion was much better than before. When divine power was infused, he breathed evenly without any rejection reaction.

“The princess did it.”

“Her willpower was truly remarkable. The princess will surely surpass Princess Beatrice before long.”

Roktania spoke in an admiring voice.

Sierra looked at the sleeping Anastasia. She was smiling very faintly. Her face was like a baby angel.

Seeing that made her heart swell again. It was hard to believe that such a feather-light child had accomplished this enormous thing.

She held Anastasia tightly and resolved.

‘I don’t know if there’s anything I can do… but I will protect the princess for the rest of my life.’

At that time, she did not know. That Anastasia would vanish just like that, without a trace.

◇ ◆ ◇

I woke up after sleeping two whole days. Perhaps because I had slept so long, I felt as refreshed as if I had been reborn, but everyone made a fuss and tried to wait on me. It took quite a bit of fussing before I was even allowed to lift a spoon of soup to my own mouth.

I’m not a baby anymore! Being treated like that is embarrassing!

Paeon is still asleep. Actually, normally he would have woken up long ago, but Belus said he had prescribed a powerful sleeping incense so he couldn’t wake.

And no wonder—even though the curse was broken and he had been healed, all his internal organs had been weakened. He needed to rest until fully recovered, and he would certainly make a fuss about returning to duty the moment he woke, so there was no choice but to force him to sleep.

It was probably the first time in his entire life he had slept so deeply. He must have lived his whole life on catnaps.

Feeling mischievous, I sometimes went to the next room and poked the sleeping Paeon’s face. It was funny how he groaned in his sleep. Was he having a nightmare?

Meanwhile, Leo’s return date was set. Departure was in three days.

I was a little surprised by the schedule being faster than expected, but it was natural since King Pereus would want his son back as soon as possible.

I wanted to see Leo at least once before he left. I had so much I wanted to say. But because his charges had not been completely cleared, I was not permitted to meet him.

I was terribly anxious that I might part with Leo just like this. We might never be able to contact each other again—wouldn’t that be too sad a farewell?

In the end, on the night before he left, I secretly slipped out of my room. I intended to break through the guards somehow.

But my worry was for nothing—the knight in front of my door was fast asleep. Hah! Even in my past lives, my guards were always like this. Only the masters of dereliction of duty were ever assigned to me!

I walked quickly through the empty corridor. I planned to go to a secluded corner where the sound of portal magic wouldn’t be heard, then move to Leo’s room.

Then I nearly screamed at something in the dark corridor. Leo was there!

“Le… Leo?”

He looked at me with a start. Having not seen him for a few days, his handsome face was shining even more.

“Asha.”

I urgently grabbed Leo’s hand and pulled him into my room.

“Careful with your footsteps.”

We tiptoed past the dozing knight and entered the room. The moment we were inside, I sat him on the bed and whispered quietly.

“How did you get here?!”

“I used dual magic. A sound-blocking spell and portal magic. It was my first time, so I wasn’t confident…”

Sound-blocking magic is tricky because it can sometimes block even your own voice, so it’s rarely used.

“Seclúsĭo.”

At Leo’s activation word, a barrier formed around us. Our voices echoed a little inside, but did not leak outside.

“Wow, that’s clean. Leo really is good at magic.”

I marveled, but Leo said nothing with a cold, stiff face. He was as chilly as when I first met him.

Feeling a little awkward, I hesitantly opened my mouth.

“Um… Leo. I heard you’re leaving tomorrow.”

He answered briefly in a dry voice.

“…Yeah.”

“That’s good. That you’re returning home safely.”

I had so much I wanted to say, but his atmosphere was so cold that this was all I could manage. Not knowing what else to say, I fidgeted.

“Is that all?”

Leo glared at me. His deep violet eyes were sunken dark.

“…Huh?”

“I asked if that’s all.”

“…”

Leo’s face came closer. So close that I felt I could count his eyelashes. Startled, I wanted to pull back, but somehow I couldn’t move.

I called him in a slightly trembling voice.

“Um… Leo?”