Chapter 74
Cheshire blinked at the duke’s proposal.
She knew how to make something like this too.
Not just knew how—she caused quite the spectacle every time she used her fairy powers, sparkling and shimmering wildly.
Well, the duke didn’t know Cheshire was a fairy, after all.
‘Is she trying to teach me magic right now?’
Cheshire had once shattered the duke’s tracking spell.
There’d been no mention of it, so she’d assumed it had been brushed aside.
‘She must have mistaken me for someone with magical talent.’
That explained why, from their first meeting at the temple, the duke had been winking and making such a fuss.
Wizards strangely enjoyed taking on apprentices and teaching them.
It helped improve their own skills through their disciples’ achievements, and since there were so few of them, they wanted to pass on their accumulated knowledge to keep the lineage alive.
But from what Cheshire had observed so far…
Wizards just loved to chatter on.
It felt like an occupational hazard.
The only quiet wizards were the black mages.
‘They’d get killed if they blabbed and got caught using black magic.’
In any case, Cheshire was a fairy with no magical talent.
Fulfilling Duke Evroiel’s wish would be far too difficult, so she had no choice but to refuse.
Cheshire shook her head vigorously.
The duke’s eyes widened.
“Why…?”
It seemed that sparkle had been her own version of a killer move.
The shocked duke clung to her pathetically.
“No, is this not good enough? Just wait a second. I’ll make something even more impressive!”
Forgetting where they were, she suddenly tried to draw a large magic circle, but Kierne stopped her.
“Your Grace.”
“…No, I was just…”
Duke Evroiel withdrew her mana and sullenly handed Cheshire back to Kierne.
She looked at Cheshire with lingering regret before saying,
“Let’s have a longer conversation next time. I’ll come find you.”
Smacking her lips, the duke pointed behind her with a finger.
“Count, spare me a moment. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”
Kierne passed Cheshire to Ishuel, who was standing beside him, and obediently followed her.
Ishuel skillfully gathered Cheshire into his arms and straightened a slightly crooked ornament.
“You’ve shown me that the power I possess is nothing but a trivial trick.”
Cheshire carefully watched the singer performing the Fairy Queen’s song.
Beneath a crown woven abundantly with flowers, her wavy golden hair cascaded luxuriously.
Tiny flowers and jewels tucked between the strands glittered dazzlingly under the chandelier light.
Her large eyes, rosy cheeks, and red lips were exceedingly beautiful.
Singing amid the illusory magic of flower petals scattering, created by wizards, she appeared dreamlike, as if from a scene in a dream.
Yet Cheshire gazed at her with a sense of regret.
‘Humans really do struggle to play the role of the Fairy Queen.’
She was truly beautiful, but far from sufficient to be called the Fairy Queen.
The fairies’ queen was, after all, a queen in the truest sense.
Formed from the most beautiful things in the world, she had to be more noble and mysterious than any other fairy.
Of course, Cheshire had never met the Fairy Queen herself.
But it was ingrained in her instincts—like an innate knowledge—that this was how the Fairy Queen should be.
‘It would be nice if, instead of this, I could remember how to grow back into an adult.’
While Cheshire harbored these complicated feelings, the song was already drawing to a close.
“As your servant, I offer the most precious thing.”
Her voice reached dizzyingly high notes, weaving complex flourishes as she soloed the aria.
Several people dabbed at their tears with handkerchiefs, moved by the song unfolding like a celestial instrument.
The singer knelt and removed the crown from her head.
“May the glory of the divine be eternal and immortal.”
She raised her hands holding the crown toward the sky.
Blinding light poured down, and her crown vanished, enveloped in sacred white radiance.
The song ended.
Thunderous applause filled the banquet hall.
Countless people cheered.
Among those clapping until their palms wore out, some were even shedding tears from the emotion.
In the midst of it all, Cheshire felt isolated.
A rising nausea churned in her stomach, making her queasy.
The moment she saw the singer offering the crown.
A strange thought occurred to her.
Hundreds of years ago, when the Fairy Queen had offered her crown to the Holy King.
The Holy Empire was already experimenting on fairies back then, seeking the secret to immortality.
Had the Fairy Queen truly offered her crown in praise of the divine?
History was always written from the victor’s perspective.
It was entirely possible that records diverged significantly from the truth.
What if the queen hadn’t praised the divine?
What if she hadn’t offered the crown with her own hands…
Cheshire felt a wave of revulsion at the horrific image she’d conjured unwittingly.
With a small, trembling hand, she clutched at Ishuel’s hem.
“…Cheshire?”
“My tummy doesn’t feel good…”
Ishuel startled and whispered to Karha.
“What do I do? My little sister says her stomach hurts. It must be because there are too many people.”
He looked for his reliable older brother, but Belzeon was engaged in low-voiced conversation with young heirs from other families.
Ishuel quickly scooped up the limp Cheshire and said,
“I’ll step out for some fresh air. Stay here.”
Karha moved to follow as if it were obvious.
“Let’s go together.”
“You stay put! If you clumsily ruin your clothes, I’ll kill you.”
“Okay…”
But at Ishuel’s forceful threat, he could only nod meekly.
Ishuel carried Cheshire toward the terrace.
But there were no empty terraces.
After wandering to a few spots, Ishuel gave up and headed out to the garden.
“Hoo…”
The outdoor air opened up her breathing.
Cheshire eagerly inhaled the floral scents and grassy aromas.
Duke Evroiel had packed the garden full of fresh flowers, so the vibrant floral fragrance quickly refreshed her mood.
In the garden, quite a few people were strolling to escape the banquet hall’s clamor.
They each held a champagne glass from one side of the garden, sipping as they enjoyed the faint music drifting out from the hall.
The outdoor tables were prepared not only with champagne and various liquors but also fruit juices and light snacks.
Ishuel set Cheshire down on a long bench near the table and sat beside her.
“I’m okay now!”
Cheshire, who had recovered quickly, exclaimed energetically.
“Still, let’s sit here a bit longer. If we go back in right away, you might feel dizzy again.”
Ishuel fidgeted his toes before blurting out,
“Did you see everyone staring at us? They kept asking which tailor we ordered our outfits from.”
Pleased with his accomplishment, Ishuel’s cheeks flushed pink.
“Ah, I just hope Karha doesn’t ruin his clothes or accessories before the banquet ends.”
Complaining that the kid was too clumsy, he wished Karha could be half as agile in daily life as during sword training.
Since Karha tended to wear his clothes roughly, Ishuel had already given him a stern warning before coming to the banquet hall, but he still seemed anxious.
“This is the first time I’ve really liked them. The hair ornaments are pretty too…”
Ishuel’s platinum hair was tied with an ornate ribbon laced with decorations.
Seeing how much he liked the ribbon Hata had made filled Cheshire with pride.
Ishuel poked Cheshire’s cheek with his finger and whispered,
“You’re so pretty too, little sister.”
It was while the two were facing each other, grinning widely.
Suddenly sensing an approaching presence, Cheshire turned in surprise.
Immediately, Ishuel leaped up and shielded Cheshire.
Splash!
Something spilled.
“Uh-oh.”
The sweet scent of fruit juice spread.
Red stains quickly bloomed across Ishuel’s clothes.
The person holding the empty glass shrugged.
“Sorry, my mistake.”
It was a boy wearing Hata’s hat.
