66
‘Regressor.’
[What does that mean?]
To Blade’s question, I answered while pacing back and forth in the room.
‘The Stella I knew lived happily after marrying Lucas, and that was the end. But now she’s talking as if she knows the world is about to end.’
[You’re saying she’s acting like someone who has seen what comes after the prophecy you read?]
‘Yes.’
What on earth did Stella see to say the world is ending? What did she see to have a face where not even a speck of hope can be found.
Suddenly, I became curious about where the current time is in the original story. Thinking hard, originally around now was the time when Prince Lucas kills the Crown Prince and receives abdication from the Emperor.
It’s completely derailed.
The original story no longer has any meaning.
Was my remembering my previous life from the beginning an abnormal sign?
I was confused. I don’t know what’s going on, but I thought that not only my life but the lives of everyone in this world could be in danger.
Otherwise, would the saintess who saves lives be talking about the end of the world with dead eyes.
I made a decision.
‘I need to escape.’
[Now? Will that be okay? Think about it a little more….]
Before Blade could finish speaking, someone’s footsteps were heard. There were two people. Since I’m the only prisoner here, they must be here to see me.
Soon, I could tell who they were.
“Marion.”
“…I greet His Highness the Crown Prince and the Mage Tower Lord.”
I greeted with an unwelcome face. They were really the number 1 and 2 people I didn’t want to see.
Seeing the Crown Prince, a slight murderous intent arose. But fortunately, self-control was exercised enough not to break the iron bars and go out.
I looked down at my left wrist with a suspicious face. Is this germanium bracelet really effective?
The Crown Prince seemed not to have brought guards because the Mage Tower Lord was with him. Well, one Mage Tower Lord would be the best escort.
“Your face has become very gaunt.”
“I ate well and slept well.”
My tone didn’t come out politely. The Crown Prince didn’t mind my rude attitude.
“Then that’s fortunate. I ordered them to pay attention to your meals. Weren’t you lonely? I sent a band in case you were bored.”
So that was your doing.
“It became an unforgettable memory.”
“That’s good. I knew you would like it.”
No, I didn’t say I liked it.
The Crown Prince tended to think as he pleased. I swallowed my irritation and asked him.
“What brings you here.”
“The Mage Tower Lord said he would lift the remaining brainwashing curse on you.”
“!”
I was startled and stepped back.
It was unsettling that he didn’t hide that he had brainwashed me, and that he knew the curse still remained.
“You don’t need to be so guarded, Lady Marion. You already knew everything anyway, didn’t you?”
The Mage Tower Lord smiled and approached closer to the bars. I widened the distance from him even more.
“You have no intention of hiding it anymore.”
“You need to come closer to completely lift the curse.”
“Why would I trust and approach you?”
“Oh dear.”
When I guarded against him, the Mage Tower Lord smiled as if troubled. I raised my guard all over my body and watched his every action. If I made a mistake, I could fall under another curse.
I recalled what Durante, the mage from the Grand Duke’s residence who had broken my brainwashing curse, said.
“Curses need a medium. Things like jewels imbued with the curse’s malice and the hair of the curse target. So, if you meet a sorcerer who can use curses, I recommend keeping distance first.”
As Durante said, I kept maximum distance. I was even prepared to break the wall and escape if necessary, when the Mage Tower Lord made a surprising sound.
“But what is that fluttering on your shoulder?”
Blade and I froze in surprise.
“Something red is flying around like an insect….”
[Ca-can you see me?]
Blade muttered with a small hiccup. I also waited for the Mage Tower Lord’s next words while breaking into a cold sweat.
“Do you see it, Lady Marion?”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about. It seems you’re seeing things, so it would be good to go to some mountain valley and recuperate.”
I feigned ignorance and glared at him. Since he couldn’t hear Blade’s words, it seemed he couldn’t fully see the form.
I don’t know if I should call it fortunate. Anyway, it’s saying some shape is visible.
“Lady Marion is always interesting. I want to research you. Won’t you come to me?”
It gave me goosebumps for it to be the scholarly interest typical of mages. Because those words sounded exactly like wanting to dissect me.
“Yes, Marion. Come to us.”
The Crown Prince chimed in.
But ‘us’?
If it was the Crown Prince, he would have said come to ‘me’, but ‘us’? Come to think of it, the Mage Tower Lord was daring to tell me to come to him in front of the Crown Prince. The hierarchy was unclear.
Only then did I realize the Crown Prince looked a bit strange. He had dark circles under his eyes like someone who hadn’t slept for days, and his focus was blurry.
‘What? Did the Mage Tower Lord brainwash him?’
As soon as I thought that, the Crown Prince muttered.
“No, no. For a lowly commoner-born to ignore the position of knight directly under the Crown Prince is already a great crime, so no forgiveness. Kneel before me and beg. Then I might let you out of here.”
It was definitely not normal speech.
“…That won’t happen.”
“What? Why not!”
The Crown Prince suddenly got very angry, grabbed the bars, and shook them. The clanging sound echoed in the underground prison.
“Why don’t you listen to me! If you beg for forgiveness and act like before, I could let you enjoy glory unfit for your status! Yes, I will marry you!”
It was nonsense.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I will marry the Grand Duke.”
“Marry Kaiden? Don’t make me laugh. You are mine.”
“What….”
What is this nonsense?
The Crown Prince shouted like a madman.
“You said you liked me and chased after me, when was that, and now you say it was all lies and mock me? You are mine for life! Do you think I’ll just watch you marry that Kaiden guy? Anyway, soon when I become emperor, you will be my possession until you die!”
…If you try to possess me, do you think I’ll stay still? I’m a swordmaster?
He was clearly already out of his mind.
“Calm down, Your Highness. It’s a bit noisy.”
The Mage Tower Lord gently smiled with his eyes and placed a hand on the Crown Prince’s shoulder. Then the Crown Prince, as if he had never been angry, looked blankly at the air.
It became quiet in an instant. It was chilling.
“…What did you do to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The Mage Tower Lord smiled.
“Lady Marion is quick-witted. Seeing how you kept distance from me.”
He was boldly saying he was brainwashing.
“…You, you won’t die nicely.”
When I warned him, the Mage Tower Lord burst into loud laughter.
“Hahaha! Who is the one going to die soon!”
“What…?”
“All preparations for His descent are already complete. We have collected all the sacred relics.”
What is all that?
Confused by the incomprehensible words, suddenly the Mage Tower Lord glared and said in a chilling voice.
“One last proposal. Won’t you come with me? I like you. If you follow me, though your mental state won’t be intact, I will at least guarantee your life.”
“Crazy bastard. Shouldn’t you check your own mind first?”
When I sharply cut him down, he laughed again. He really seemed crazy, and I broke into a cold sweat. And there’s no medicine.
“That’s a shame. It would be fun to have you by my side. But it can’t be helped.”
“Get lost.”
My only thought was to escape quickly once the Mage Tower Lord leaves. But this guy put a damper on my plan.
“However, I don’t particularly like the idea of Lady Marion escaping from here,”
He looked around the prison and made strange gestures in the air. Then a humming sound rang from the walls. Surprised, I looked around here and there when he said.
“I have cast reinforcement magic on the prison walls and bars. So you can’t break them.”
Evil bastard. He had already noticed I would escape.
“Then I will take His Highness and leave now. Have a pleasant death.”
Leaving only dogshit-like words, they disappeared from the underground prison.
I hurriedly coated both hands with aura. And grabbed the bars and applied force to spread them left and right.
[…Oh my god. It won’t budge at all.]
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