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I responded in the calmest voice I could muster.

-If you’re a fairy?

-…A fairy, you say.

The black vine let out a hollow laugh in a dejected tone.

-So, this is my destiny now, after all this?

A meaningful remark returned, as if it carried a story.

‘A very important piece of information related to fairies.’

Getting information about fairies was no easy task. I had tried every possible avenue, but all I could find was a tapestry from the Royem Kingdom.

-I have to make good use of this opportunity.

The black vine was still attacking Carlos and the knights. But the voice returning to me lacked any sense of hostility.

-How about stopping saying things no one can understand?

-Things no one can understand. That’s true. Because now, the only fairy left is you.

-Are you perhaps a fairy?

The black vine suddenly snatched Carlos’s sword and swung it. Nearby knights fought to protect me.

-…

A strange sadness filled the voice that returned after a moment of silence.

-I was once a fairy. Now, it’s almost laughable to call me a fairy.

Anyway, I was once indeed a fairy.

-You are indeed a fairy.

-Those days are long gone. Don’t you see that now?

I looked closely at the black vine’s form. The vine that the knights were fighting against was growing ruggedly, gradually overpowering their strength.

-It’s a hideous monster. To think that it’s an existence forced to move according to commands, having lost even its physical body regardless of its own will.

It was clear that the black vine was merely a plant.

‘But why?’

The more I talked to the black vine, the more I felt as if I could glimpse the figure on the other side of it.

A face of despair and resignation, so exhausted that tears no longer flowed, had dried up.

Could it be because he was a fairy?

I felt sorry for him.

-What exactly happened?

-Ah, you don’t know anything about fairies? Perhaps, I’ve been holding on to my sanity all this time just to meet the last fairy— you.

The black vine spoke with a heavy tone.

-There are no more fairies in this world. They are all extinct. The only hope left is that you remain.

The black vine hesitated for a moment, finding the words difficult, then resumed.

-All of this happened because of someone who aims to completely wipe out the fairies.

-Who is that?

-We don’t know. We only know that the existence of the fairy, who carried the blood of the gods at the start of all this, has become a problem.

Suddenly, one of the black vines sharpened like steel and aimed to pierce me.

Clang!

“Danger, my lady!”

A knight fighting nearby blocked the vine with his sword. But the black vine collided with the sword, shattering it. The knight looked distressed and drew a dagger.

-Sorry. I can’t do anything about this on my own.

My mind snapped back. No matter how important fairy information was, it wasn’t worth risking my life.

-Then, is there no way to stop you right now?

-I am now no different from a creature controlled by darkness. Only a stronger power can completely eliminate me.

-So, there’s a way to kill you immediately…

That was when it happened. The black vine rushing toward me was engulfed in blue flames. The flames then swallowed up a magic circle.

Kieeek!

The black vine screamed. Blue sparks spread in the air like flower pollen. The sparks jumped to other vines, igniting a wildfire.

In that instant, only one person came to mind.

The man I was desperately calling out just moments ago. The man I didn’t think would let me die.

As if to prove it, I heard a knight shouting from outside, trying to handle the black vine and protect me.

“Duke Blanchet has arrived! Everyone hold on a little longer! The duke will take care of it with magic!”

“Deal with the wicked monster!”

Among the cries of the knights, the figure of the man became clearer. The handsome man strode straight toward me.

His crimson eyes met mine.

“Took you long enough?”

A languid voice echoed in my ear.

The black vine, which had been desperately trying to destroy the knights, was helplessly burning. The vine withered and fell as its leaves dropped, dying without strength.

Through the falling sparks, John appeared. Dressed in a black suit, his neat appearance was exactly as I knew him.

“John. It’s too late.”

He approached me.

There were no other knights around, but just his presence was enough to reassure me.

For some reason, my eyes welled up, and my legs felt weak. I tried to act indifferent, but I realized I was quite tense without even knowing it.

“Why did it take so long?”

“More things to deal with than I expected. I wanted to come as soon as I got your message. But that monster disrupted my magic and I couldn’t pinpoint the location.”

It seemed the delay was due to that black vine after all.

“Not only does it interfere with my magic tools, but it also calls forth monsters like this at will. Things just got more interesting.”

John’s crimson eyes sparkled fiercely.

“…John, don’t you know who’s behind this attack?”

“Exactly. It’s not many who would dare do such a thing while I was away.”

Hearing John’s explanation, my mind became complicated.

‘It’s related to the one who caused the extinction of the fairies.’

Maybe this entire attack was triggered because they realized I was a fairy.

‘Who could it be? Someone knows I am a fairy?’

I asked the black vine again, with an anxious expression.

-Is it okay that John just attacked you? Disappearing like this…

The black vines around the carriage had almost all fallen. Only a few remaining, engulfed in flames, were on the verge of vanishing.

-Yes, since the black vine was me, I will now die.

-Ah…

-Little fairy, don’t be sad. It’s fortunate that there’s someone protecting you. Otherwise, a tragedy would have occurred where I, the last hope of the fairies, would have been destroyed by my own hand.

The black vine spoke in a more relieved tone.

-This death is a blessing to me. No more suffering, at last.

-Was there no way to save you?

Suddenly, a word escaped me without realizing.

-There’s no such thing. How could salvation exist for a being who has lost their soul? So, right now, this is the best moment for me.

Now, only a few leaves remained on the black vine. A handful of leaves, discarded like trash, turned to ash in the flames.

I quickly asked the black vine, about to disappear completely.

-What is your name?

A brief silence followed. Eventually, a handful of ashes carried by the breeze left behind a single word.

-Isidor.

In that moment, I could truly understand. The fairy I had been talking to just moments ago had completely vanished.

‘This feels strange.’

A strange feeling crept into my hand, which had been clenched tightly in fear. It was absurd, but I felt as if I was standing in the middle of a lush forest—refreshing and invigorating.

‘Isidor, Isidor.’

I murmured to remember the name.

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

Carlos gazed at the battlefield, now completely consumed by flames, with a dazed expression. The battlefield was over — the situation ended entirely.

He, who had reached one of the highest swordsmanship levels in the empire, could do nothing.

He muttered unconsciously.

“What kind of power is that?”

“Your Majesty, that’s Duke Blanchet’s magic.”

Carlos bit his lip at the palace knight’s reply.

“I know that too. I’m asking whether such power is even possible.”

Duke Blanchet’s reputation as an outstanding mage was well known. Magic itself was such a formidable force that it couldn’t be hidden.

“That… isn’t it even more incredible than what I heard from the palace? Can a human wield that?”

Carlos had also heard about Duke Blanchet’s level.

‘A mage that even palace mages cannot oppose.’

A being beyond normal comprehension.

“If this is the case, we are completely outmatched.”

At that moment, John was seen from afar holding Estelle’s hand. He approached Carlos, walking straight toward him.

John greeted politely.

“Greetings, Crown Prince.”

“Yeah, I see you.”

“I heard you saved my wife. Thank you.”

“No, it was the duke who completely eliminated the monster.”

“Still, if you hadn’t been here, it would have been difficult to protect her. I don’t know how to repay this favor…”

John looked at Estelle with kind eyes, wrapping his arm around her waist. Estelle blushed, embarrassed by John’s attitude.

“John is right.”

The relationship between the two seemed incredibly solid.

‘Can’t I do that?’

A wave of despair flooded Carlos’s entire body. It was an unimaginable misery he had never felt before. His mind knew it was too late, yet an odd thirst persisted.

“Then, I have just one thing to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I want to speak privately with Duchess Blanchet.”

John furrowed his brows. But given his deed of saving Estelle, it was difficult to cut him off.

“John, I’ll handle it myself.”

Estelle gently pushed John aside and stepped forward.

“…Alright. If any trouble comes up, call me immediately.”

John, who seemed unwilling to back down, stepped back at her words.

As John moved to assist another knight injured in the fight with the monster, Estelle was the first to speak.

“So, Your Majesty. What is the story you want to tell me alone?”

“Be honest.”

Carlos asked in a subdued voice.

“Have you ever loved me even once?”

Carlos felt as if his throat was constantly parched. He scrutinized Estelle’s charming face insistently.

Even searching for the faintest trace of emotion.

“I’ve never loved you.”

“…Not even once? Don’t deny even your past feelings just because I married Duke Blanchet. Be honest.”

“No matter what you want to hear, my conclusion is the same. I am already married, and I love my husband, John.”

Love.

“Do you truly love him?”

“Yes, I love him.”

Estelle smiled shyly, mentioning John’s name. It was a tender, bashful smile Carlos had never seen before.

“Still, since you were saved by me this time, I’ll forget all the evil that was between us.”

“How can you do that?”

“It’s easier for both of us. Perhaps you also feel that things between us aren’t properly settled.”

Estelle looked at Carlos kindly.

“Good relationships will come your way too.”

After leaving that remark, Estelle hurriedly ran toward John as if she had nothing else to say. Carlos watched as Estelle, arm-in-arm with John, chuckled and laughed.

Though the distance was quite far, Carlos could clearly hear her words.

“Let’s go, dear.”

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

Fortunately, the Crown Prince seemed to understand my words well. After arriving at the palace, I no longer had to see him.

But I was surprised to hear some unexpected news.

“Did you hear? The Crown Prince fell instantly in love with Saint Stella!”

“Apparently, you two have some kind of deep connection?”

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!