Chapter 89: Rose (1)

Two days after visiting headquarters.

I immediately headed towards Charlotte.

It was to keep the promise made a few days ago.

As we had to be careful of possible eyes, we met in a deserted slum.

A clandestine rendezvous.

"You came."

"Because I promised."

"Yes, this way."

A carriage was waiting in the alley.

We boarded the compartment silently, then immediately drove towards our destination.

The scenery outside the window passed by quickly.

I was staring at the princess sitting across from me while feeling the shaking carriage body.

The reason I was called like this was none other than:

-I'll gladly help you. If that is your request.

-Your Highness just needs to trust me.

The words promised at the cathedral.

It was because of the girl's desperate plea.

I quietly chewed over the settings from the original work while recalling her pupils showing melancholy.

The little prince's wish was only one:

-I need help.

-Please... save Elise.

The Empire's 2nd Princess suffering from an incurable disease.

In the end, she was diagnosed as terminally ill with not much time left, and Charlotte was praying for a miracle to happen.

It was the heart of an older sister thinking of her younger sister.

Over the past few years.

Though numerous attempts were made to cure the disease, no herb could breathe life into the rose.

Even famous doctors all shook their heads.

Though she failed every time, she couldn't let go of hope, so the girl reached out in all directions searching for a cure.

The reason for chasing black mages was the same.

-There might be a way.

Though the basic purpose was to eradicate heretics.

On the other hand, there was also a hope that she might find clues from confiscated research materials in the process.

A desperate situation to the point of turning her eyes to forbidden knowledge.

'The remaining lifespan for Rose is about 1 year from now.'

It wasn't a long time.

Despite the increasingly narrowing deadline, there was no particular gain to be grasped, so her heart couldn't help but grow more impatient.

While spending every day in such anxiety.

-I don't intend to reveal your identity. You don't seem like a bad person.

-I'm just... curious about you as a person.

She discovered me.

The alien power I possessed was enough to draw interest, and she dug into the girl's inner self with a faint hope.

Until now she had only watched as it was the stage of grasping.

But after seeing me revert the thought entity a few days ago, she seemed to have gained confidence in my ability.

That scene was an undeniable miracle after all.

'There's no way she wouldn't be tempted.'

It was a part that flowed according to plan.

As there were watching eyes, I displayed my power more flashily than usual, and finally manifested an impossible miracle leaving a strong impression.

For Charlotte, it must have been irresistible bait.

Blinded by the enchanting scent, she steps on the trap to bite.

Perhaps she considered it her last hope.

"Huhu."

It went smoothly.

As I was smiling with such thoughts, a voice was heard from across.

Blue eyes now looking this way.

"...Can you really fix it?"

A question scattering faintly.

Charlotte had a rarely complex look in her eyes.

Perhaps because it was related to her sick sister, anxiety seemed to show through her blunt expression.

I reacted with a nonchalant smile.

"I think I'll have to see the condition directly first. My ability isn't entirely omnipotent."

"I see."

"I'd be grateful if you could wait until the examination."

"Sorry. I was hasty."

Charlotte nodding as if she understood.

While meeting her gaze, I admonished the girl in a coaxing voice.

"Still, I'll do my best. Please don't worry."

"......"

"Your Highness just needs to believe in me."

"...Okay, I understand."

The corners of my mouth twisting craftily.

Forcibly erasing the ominous air, I whispered as if biting her white earlobe.

Afterwards, we sat in silence.

The carriage ran without rest until arriving at the destination.

The rolling wheels reached their destination after several more hours had passed.

***

Meanwhile.

Around the time the snake and princess arrived at the palace, Rose lying in her room heard the news.

The girl looked at the maid with haggard eyes.

"You say the princess is coming...?"

"Yes. She's coming straight to the detached palace without notifying His Majesty in advance."

"When will she arrive?"

"It seems she'll arrive soon."

"Ha."

Rose bursting into a hollow laugh.

Following her body lightly rising, long red hair became disheveled.

The girl slowly brushed it back.

Only the maid's face was reflected in her deep green eyes.

"The business?"

"She said she's bringing a new doctor."

"Another useless act."

"But she said there's real hope this time..."

"I wonder how long she'll keep doing this. That person doesn't seem to get tired."

"You shouldn't call Her Highness that."

"What should I do... Cough!"

She reacted while furrowing her fine brow.

It was a thoroughly thorny appearance.

As she covered her mouth at the sudden cough that burst out, red spots were dotted on her white sleeve.

The green eyes averted her gaze as if used to it.

"Coughing up blood again... Your condition seems to have gotten much worse recently."

"I should die quickly."

"...Don't say such things."

"What does it matter. If you're going to meddle in everything, you should leave too."

"Hic, hic..."

The maid becoming gloomy at the harsh words.

Regardless, Rose was wiping the blood on her lips with a handkerchief.

She bit her lifeless lips.

An annoyed expression.

The girl soon muttered quietly.

"...Please just give up already."

No light entered her empty pupils.

Rose sat quietly, then soon irritably covered herself with the blanket.

***

We were crossing the detached palace.

Rose's dwelling place.

Perhaps because it was somewhat distant from the Imperial Palace, it was less splendid compared to other nearby palaces.

Especially the garden without a single flower blooming was desolate beyond words.

"It's excessively modest for a princess of a country to stay in."

"...Yes."

We moved while chewing over the plain impression.

We used side paths to avoid encountering other people.

As we quietly moved our steps, it felt like we had become thieves, but we had no choice but to follow knowing the circumstances of this place.

The detached palace did not welcome outsiders after all.

Thud thud-.

We passed between buildings that weren't tall.

Walking through the long extending corridor to the very end, entering the faint sunlight.

When we reached the most secluded room like that.

Charlotte's steps leading the way gradually slowed.

"......"

She bit her light pink lips intently.

Perhaps she was nervous?

The girl exhaled a calm three breaths, then soon knocked on the door standing before her eyes.

It was a dark room where almost no sunlight entered.

Knock knock-.

A clear knocking sound ringing out.

Silence spread afterwards.

Though no particular answer returned, Charlotte opened the closed door as if used to it.

She seemed to know it was deliberately ignored.

"I'm coming in."

Creak-.

Behind the hinge groaning softly, the girl stepped towards beyond.

Air of a gloomy brightness welcomed us.

The interior was a scene giving a simple impression.

Neat if spoken well of, lacking eye-catching beauty if spoken poorly of.

It was merely performing the role of a room.

As I briefly scanned the surroundings, Charlotte stopped in place and greeted.

Towards the bed amidst the background stained with darkness.

"It's been a while, Elise."

A single rose was blooming on the blanket.

Long flowing red hair, and green eyes holding a decadent light.

I recognized her at a glance.

'Elise Rose von Staufen.'

It was exactly as in the original work.

Dark circles deeply descended.

Her haggard complexion exuded a sickly atmosphere, yet held an inerasable beauty within.

It was like seeing a flower about to be torn by a storm.

"I greet the Empire's second star."

I knelt on one knee just like that.

It was a polite etiquette. Bowing and entering first.

However.

"......"

This time too, no answer returned.

Silence flowing coldly.

Rose only glared this way while sitting on the bed.

In her pupils staring at the little prince and snake in turn, inexplicable hostility dripped.

Even the maid standing behind swallowed.

"Elise."

"......"

"This person can cure your disease."

Perhaps trying to break the awkward air?

Charlotte stepped forward.

Then she added an introduction about me.

"Yes. I can vouch for his identity. I've been watching for quite a long time."

It seemed she thought her sister wouldn't welcome an unfamiliar face.

It wasn't particularly wrong.

Blatant wariness had been felt since earlier.

If there was a part Charlotte missed, it was that Elise's hostility included her as well.

Rose briefly spat out one word.

"Leave."

The first voice she uttered.

However, it was an infinitely cold resonance to be directed at family.