Chapter 149
'There are many stars, but only one sun.'
It was exactly as those words said.
If by any chance the emperor became afflicted with a curse, it meant to survive by using his children as sacrifices.
It was cruel. On the other hand, it was also an extremely rational way of thinking.
When a star falls, it's just sad.
But when the sun goes out, it becomes a disaster.
Therefore, knowledge allowed only for the sun.
I was facing that dirty aspect.
'For now.'
It was confirmed up to the point that the emperor knew about 'curse sharing' and used it.
All circumstances were fitting smoothly.
'There's clear support too.'
None other than Elise's lifespan.
The life expectancy of a mana stone disease patient was 3 years at most.
In a normal case, she should have been dead long ago.
But the rose had been fighting the disease for nearly 10 years.
She was living a full 3 times the expected lifespan.
That's not all.
[EP???. For Elise]
-A lonely nest, a rose withering in winter-
A side story episode.
Even in the original work, the rose didn't die from the disease.
After being mentally driven to the edge, she ended her life through suicide.
In other words, this means she still had lifespan remaining at that point.
It was always a part I couldn't understand.
Now I understood.
It was because one person's curse was divided into two.
I muttered in a somewhat sunken atmosphere.
'The imperial family tree isn't that complicated.'
Moreover, there were only two blood relatives within second cousins.
Valkaros.
And.
"Yuda? What's wrong?"
Perhaps feeling the obvious gaze?
Charlotte tilted her head.
I shook my head meaning not to mind.
To change the topic, I casually said.
"Permission for an audience will be granted soon."
"Well... I wonder if that person wants to see our faces."
"Mm. I believe. Because it's Yuda's words."
"We'll have quite a serious conversation today."
Before that.
I should tell the children about these parts too.
"There's a story I'd like you to hear."
I calmly began explaining.
As if organizing the contents in my head step by step, I laid out the contents I had estimated until just before.
Following the continuing voice, the girls' gazes gradually dyed seriously.
They asked.
"Curse sharing...?"
"Why are you telling us this story? Did someone put a curse on me?"
"There are only two family members within second cousins of Elise."
"...No way."
Gazes focused.
Wavering eyes.
Eyes containing blue and green wavered.
I didn't hastily spit out an answer.
I just gently rose from the sofa I had been sitting on.
Because I felt a faint presence approaching from outside.
Knock knock-.
"Well."
Following that.
A knocking sound breaking the quiet space.
A voice originated from beyond the door.
-His Majesty has granted an audience.
I neatly tidied my attire.
I spoke showing a slightly bitter smile.
"Shall we go hear the remaining story?"
No matter how painful the truth we face.
It would be best to hear it from the person involved.
We left the room.
***
The audience chamber we soon arrived at.
We were kneeling before the high imperial throne.
In the view I glanced up at, a middle-aged man was reflected.
None other than the empire's supreme sun.
"......"
He still had a tired impression.
Just as when I met him before.
No.
Rather, he seemed to have become weaker.
Dark circles that weren't there originally were now in place.
The emperor opened his mouth along with his characteristic expressionless face.
"So. You have a reason for seeking an audience with me."
"That's right."
"Is it important enough to barge into the imperial palace without notice?"
"As one who received the duty of being the imperial princess's personal physician, it was words I absolutely had to convey."
"My interest is piqued."
There weren't many people in the audience chamber.
You could say there was no one besides us.
Even vassals known as his closest aides had been sent outside.
He seemed to have roughly guessed it was about Elise.
"Have you finally cured the Second Imperial Princess's disease?"
"It may be even more important than that."
"A story more important than treatment."
"Before conveying my words... there are a few things I'd like to ask Your Majesty. Would you please forgive my rudeness?"
"I don't know what rudeness it will be, but do as you please. It's not like there's anything that can't be done. A ruffian who handles the imperial princesses as his own."
"I'm grateful for your mercy."
This time too.
The emperor didn't call his daughters by name.
He only mentioned them with stiff titles.
Last time he even called Charlotte 'her'.
He wasn't a person common sense could communicate with.
Eyes like withered leaves.
That gaze was particularly cold.
Not eyes looking down at family, but eyes looking down at objects.
The emperor's heart was cold without even a trace of warmth.
I asked while maintaining calmness.
"First... what was the reason for confining the Second Imperial Princess in a separate palace?"
"Well, you ask an obvious question. If it became known that there was a cursed person among the imperial family members, wouldn't it detract from authority in various ways? Sometimes shameful parts must be cut off."
"You're extremely cold."
"I merely act for the empire's sake."
A lie.
I muttered inwardly.
"......"
Was it because of the excessively direct words?
The rose's brow slightly twisted.
A hand tightly clenched into a fist.
I calmed her with a brief eye signal.
Now was a time to maintain reason.
"I'll continue asking."
I needed to know.
Though I had pieced together everything you committed, I wanted to know the more precise motive.
You were a character whose setting was barely revealed even in the original work.
I didn't know anything about you.
So I had to find out.
Why.
Why you did such things.
"There's something I learned while investigating."
"You even boldly say you investigated behind the imperial family's back."
"I had no choice."
"Continue."
"I heard that Your Majesty... was an unusually devoted husband when young."
"Well. I don't remember well. It's been nearly 20 years now."
"Then how about 18 years ago? The story of the empress returning to the stars' side early due to aftereffects of giving birth to the Second Imperial Princess."
"......"
Returning to the stars' side.
It was a phrase used in the empire to mean passing away.
The emperor who had been silent for a moment soon nodded.
"Yes. I remember."
As expected.
It didn't seem there was a problem with his memory.
Now I understood the whole situation.
"I don't know what you were curious about, but is this enough to resolve it?"
"It was sufficient. Thank you."
The emperor's eyes were still only chilly.
I clearly received such a gaze.
Now it was time to reveal the truth.
As I slowly separated my pronunciation, various explanations were recited inside.
It was a kind of contemplation.
'Curse sharing.'
This much was certain.
The emperor shared the disease.
The subject that can be shared with must be blood relatives within second cousins.
Under these conditions, we come to think of two cases.
Either the emperor's disease was transferred to Elise, or Charlotte's disease was transferred to Elise.
I also thought this was the basic proposition.
'But.'
It was all wrong.
There was one part everyone missed.
None other than a few lines about side effects.
-There are side effects to this process.
-Severe mental wear or loss of emotions are representative.
-Side effects only occur on the side receiving the curse sharing.
Isn't it strange?
According to the hypothesis until now, the rose was in the position of receiving curse sharing.
But Elise's emotions weren't crushed at all.
She clearly knew how to be happy and how to be sad.
This was the same for Charlotte too.
'Then.'
Who could it be?
If not Elise, and not Charlotte.
Who is the only person without emotions in this room?
Who is the person shouldering such deep sins?
"It was you."
Yes.
Perhaps our view was narrow.
Because our eyes were newly opened by the previous reasoning.
Misunderstandings tend to originate from confirmed biases.
We were blind for too long.
'Why.'
Why.
Why did we only think Elise received the curse?
Why didn't we think someone might have taken her curse?
How did we not know of that foolish sacrifice?
"Your Majesty."
I looked up at the man sitting on the imperial throne.
No vitality, interest, or emotion was reflected in his hazy pupils.
As if he had lost his heart.
I gazed at him with sad eyes.
"Your Majesty... took your daughter's curse."
The sickly rose.
The one who shouldered her cursed fate together.
Was the father called her birth father.
Valkaros Lantana von Staufen.
-I merely act for the empire's sake.
He had never once.
Acted for the empire's sake.