Chapter 8
As soon as the Sacred Tree withdrew its branches, the warm spring sunlight poured through the glass ceiling and fell directly onto the Duke.
On the opposite side of the light, the shadow beneath him grew darker.
Darker than the night itself.
Even the Sacred Tree, which embraced all things, trembled as if it alone could not bear to accept that shadow.
Artiella quietly drew Bardo, taking great care not to make a sound.
Will it react differently this time?
After hearing the Duke’s story, she had examined his soul several more times.
The shadow lurking within it had seemed the most suspicious.
Each time, she had infused Bardo with aura and struck at the shadow.
It had never disappeared.
Things might have been different if she had possessed more divine power.
But this place is overflowing with divine energy…
This should work.
Against evil beings, divine power was far more effective than aura.
And beside her stood Yusiel—the greatest Saintess in history.
Together, the sisters were stronger than either could ever be alone.
Artiella poured aura into the Holy Sword.
Immediately, part of the power surrounding the Sacred Tree flowed into Bardo.
Soft green aura became wrapped in brilliant blue divine energy.
The instant it did, Yusiel opened her eyes.
The sisters exchanged a glance.
Yusiel immediately nodded.
SKREEEE!
The shadow, trapped by Yusiel’s divine power, let out a hideous scream as it desperately tried to flee.
You’re not getting away!
Without hesitation, Artiella drove Bardo straight down, its blade overflowing with divine power.
Screeeech!
Like fingernails scraping across metal.
The shadow vanished.
Only gray smoke remained.
“Ugh…”
Kirien suddenly staggered forward.
“Your Grace! Are you all right?”
“Y-Yes.”
He blinked in surprise.
“My body suddenly felt… lighter. I lost my balance.”
He experimentally moved his hands and feet.
“It felt as though someone had been holding me down… and then suddenly let go.”
“That was the shadow.”
Yusiel removed her hand from the Sacred Tree.
Having poured out so much divine power in such a short time, she looked exhausted.
“It was an extremely old and powerful curse.”
“A curse that hasn’t fully manifested yet.”
“Only its seed.”
“Then… all of my misfortune was caused by this curse?”
“That’s… difficult to answer.”
“The evil energy was only targeting you.”
“It wasn’t spreading to those around you.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
For just a moment, Yusiel’s gaze turned cold as she looked at him.
Then the expression vanished.
“Tell me… have you ever experienced gaps in your memory?”
“Or gone to sleep in one place and woken up somewhere completely different?”
“No.”
“I’ve never experienced anything like that.”
Why is she asking that?
Did Yusiel discover something?
“Who cast the curse?”
“It attached itself before he was even born.”
Artiella pressed her fingers against her temples.
From experience…
The older a curse was, the more troublesome it became.
Finding its origin—and breaking it—was a headache.
If only they could catch the one who cast it.
Then everything would be over.
“The shadow we destroyed…”
“It’s probably not the curse itself, is it?”
“I think the same.”
Artiella scratched her nose.
I’m doomed.
Why did I have to boldly promise I’d take responsibility?
Kirien seemed to understand every word the sisters exchanged.
“So… the curse hasn’t actually been broken?”
“No.”
Yusiel shook her head.
“We only forced it away temporarily.”
“We could do that because we’re inside sacred ground.”
“Then once I leave this place…”
“…that ominous shadow will attach itself to me again.”
Yusiel didn’t deny it.
“Is there no solution?”
Surprisingly, Kirien remained calm.
As though he had expected it wouldn’t be easy.
“There are sacred relics infused with divine power that can purify evil.”
“However, lending one to an outsider requires approval from the entire priesthood.”
Hearing that, Artiella frowned.
“The entire priesthood?”
“That’s right.”
“Even with an emergency summons, the council won’t meet for at least half a month.”
“Those stubborn old fossils aren’t exactly known for arriving quickly.”
Artiella’s expression darkened.
Those old priests had constantly questioned every decision she made as a young Saintess.
A noble lady of the Empire… becoming a Saintess?
A woman… wielding a sword?
They were the kind of people who still said such outdated nonsense.
The same tricks they had once used to keep gentle, common-born Saintesses under control.
They never imagined the owner of the Holy Sword would appear again.
She still remembered…
“Saintess, this is unacceptable. The people who fund the temple are the nobility, not the commoners.”
“Oh, really? Since we’re being so honest…”
“Would you like me to check whether you’re sincere…”
“…with the Holy Sword?”
One sentence.
That was all it had taken for those self-proclaimed servants of the gods to flee in terror.
Even now, they still talked too much.
Whenever someone tried to change something unreasonable, they always hid behind “tradition.”
Maybe this time they’d cooperate.
After all…
The matter involved one of the Empire’s highest-ranking nobles.
“For that reason,” Yusiel said, “it would be best if Your Grace remained in Edelion.”
“For your own sake.”
“And for everyone else’s.”
“I agree!”
Artiella exclaimed enthusiastically.
Yusiel smiled.
A smile as warm as iced tea on a summer day.
“The Commander of the Holy Knights and I will find a way to break your curse as quickly as possible.”
Danger.
That smile…
It was the smile Yusiel wore whenever she was about to thoroughly discipline someone.
Usually…
Her younger sister.
“Arti. You and I need to—”
“Your Grace!”
Artiella interrupted immediately.
“We should send a messenger to Lady Bailey.”
“We’ll need someone to bring your belongings.”
Run first.
Unfortunately…
You couldn’t outrun the gods’ representative.
“Freeze.”
After suffering through another lecture from her sister, Artiella escorted Duke Rupel to the Holy Knights’ residence.
“I’m sorry.”
“The private villas reserved for nobles are completely full right now.”
Pilgrims frequently visited Edelion for prayer or healing.
Normally, accommodations were never this crowded.
But demand had suddenly exploded.
Rumors were spreading that the Emperor would soon choose an Empress this autumn.
“I’m troubling you again, Commander.”
“I can stay anywhere.”
That wasn’t an option.
She couldn’t possibly let him stay in the knights’ barracks.
Absolutely not.
The place…
Well…
The Duke simply didn’t belong there.
Her subordinates trained until they were drenched in sweat every day.
No amount of ventilation could eliminate the musty smell clinging to their rooms.
It would leave the Duke traumatized.
Her own room, however…
That was different.
The Duke himself had admitted it.
“A pleasant fragrance drifted in on the breeze…”
“A pleasant fragrance…”
“A pleasant…”
“…”
The phantom echo replayed inside Artiella’s head.
She violently shook it away.
“Commander?”
“Is something wrong?”
“W-Well…”
“My room is fairly spacious.”
“And perfectly livable.”
“Then where will you stay?”
“I’ll stay with Saintess Yusiel.”
“It’s been a while since we sisters spent time together.”
“We might even have a pillow fight.”
She answered without the slightest hesitation.
Her cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
She genuinely sounded excited.
“So please don’t feel guilty.”
“I’m sure Lady Bailey will be happy.”
“With you away, she’ll finally be able to repair the mansion properly.”
Kirien chuckled.
“You’re right.”
“Whenever I’m home…”
“…something breaks again as soon as it’s repaired.”
“It’s probably better if I’m away.”
“Just… please don’t let my room get destroyed.”
“I understand.”
Perhaps learning even a little about the source of his misfortune had lifted a burden from his heart.
His steps felt lighter than ever.
The aura constantly shimmering around his face had disappeared as well.
That was a little disappointing.
It was so pretty when it sparkled.
Not long afterward, they arrived at the Holy Knights’ residence.
And there—
“Arti.”
“Have you been well?”
“We came too.”
A father and son stood waiting outside.
Both looked as though they had stepped straight out of a painting.
The silver-haired culprits responsible for making ordinary handsome men seem unimpressive—
Count Felid Soltis and his son, Bleo Soltis.
“Father!”
“Brother!”
“What brings you here?”
Artiella happily ran toward them.
Then…
A red-haired uninvited guest stepped out from behind them.
“I came too.”
Artiella froze.
Without realizing it, she glanced nervously toward Kirien.
“I didn’t realize you’d be together with the Duke.”
Peter openly displayed his hostility.
Kirien must have sensed the murderous intent.
Almost instinctively, aura began swirling around him protectively.
Brighter than usual.
Much brighter.
Even Purcell, Peter’s escort, narrowed his eyes after noticing it.
“Your Majesty.”
Kirien bowed stiffly.
The very next instant—
“Ah! Watch out!”
“Father! Brother!”
She had thought Edelion was safe.
But cracks had begun spreading across the eaves above the entrance to the residence…
