MEDP 09

 Princess Cassandra’s Unease

Princess Cassandra of the Kingdom of Adanani had a knight she was particularly fond of.

He was a man named Erich, the illegitimate child of the House of Duke Aulāna and the younger half-brother of Cassandra’s friend, Klara.

His mother was not a noble, but a maid who served in the Duke of Aulāna’s household.

Cassandra first met Erich when she was still very young, before she had awakened to her powers as a witch.

At the time, Klara, the duke’s daughter who had been chosen as Cassandra’s playmate, sometimes brought Erich along with her.

For Klara, he was her younger half-brother, but perhaps because he was born out of wedlock, he seemed to be treated like a servant within the ducal household.

Klara would parade Erich around, as if showing off a favorite doll.

Indeed, he was a beautifully striking boy.

Silver hair that shimmered, pale skin like someone from the northern lands, and sapphire-blue eyes. Expressionless and silently obeying Klara, he truly looked like a living doll.

Cassandra also loved beautiful things, so she was drawn to Erich’s extraordinary beauty even at a young age. However, even without saying it, she disliked Klara’s proud attitude, so she pretended to have no interest in him.

Erich disappeared from in front of them when Klara and Cassandra turned fourteen.

The reason was that Klara’s engagement had been decided.

If a daughter’s engagement was settled, it would be improper for her to remain attached to her illegitimate younger brother. Thinking so, the Duke of Aulāna had Erich join the knight order.

It seemed such a waste to place such a beautiful boy into the knights.

Cassandra thought so, but around that time she had just begun to awaken to her talent as a witch.

In the Kingdom of Adanani, it was the first time a witch had ever been born.

The surrounding world became chaotic, and Cassandra herself became intoxicated by the power of making everything go as she wished.

Cassandra’s abilities were apparently much weaker compared to witches born in the Kingdom of Zinasis, the supposed homeland of witches.

Even so, she could still manipulate the people right in front of her.

After making about three tutors who constantly complained lose the ability to speak, no one dared to defy Cassandra anymore.

She was scolded by her father, of course, but he had actually been very pleased that a witch had been born into the royal family of Adanani.

Because of that, he did not strongly reprimand her and instead seemed to be observing just how far her power could go.

As long as she did not use her power on high-ranking nobles, her father would not be angry.

Having learned that, Cassandra began acting selfishly toward lower-ranking nobles and those who worked in the royal castle.

Then, at that time, she reunited with Erich, who had become a knight.

The grown-up version of him was so strikingly beautiful that she was momentarily speechless.

I want to keep him by my side.

She thought so strongly.

The annoying Klara was no longer there.

She had gotten married the year before. It seemed she had taken a husband in order to inherit the ducal house. Hearing that the man was an unremarkable older noble than Klara, Cassandra celebrated extravagantly for her.

Cassandra immediately ordered Erich to be assigned as a royal guard knight and kept him close to her.

When he was still an ordinary knight, he had apparently been very popular.

But that was only natural, given how beautiful he was.

However, after becoming a royal guard knight, any women who tried to approach him were mercilessly eliminated. She also placed surveillance magic on him and spells that prevented him from leaving the royal castle.

Thanks to all of that, he obediently followed every order without resistance.

She would never let him go again. Erich would remain her precious doll forever.

But then, that night—

Cassandra skipped a night banquet held at the royal castle because she did not like her hairstyle. She immediately ordered her personal maid to be fired and then retreated to her room, intending to go to sleep.

It seemed Erich was on guard duty at the castle that day.

The next morning, when Cassandra woke up, she immediately tried to summon him.

But no matter how many times she called, Erich did not appear.

This had never happened before.

Irritated, she tried to use magic, but she could not sense his presence anywhere in the castle.

All of the surveillance magic and movement-restricting spells had been completely undone without a trace.

(Why…? Why is this happening?)

No mage should have been able to break Cassandra’s magic.

Moreover, there were very few mages in this country to begin with.

And yet, no matter how much she searched, she could not sense Erich anywhere.

Completely unable to understand what had happened, unease spread through her chest.

It was the first time she had ever felt such anxiety since becoming a witch.

Perhaps there was something unknown in this country—something even Cassandra could not overcome.

She clenched her trembling hands tightly.

She softly called his name, “Erich,” but there was no answering voice.