NOVEL NEXT Chapter 119
“Lady. Don’t respond, just listen carefully.”
As the iron bars creaked open and the knights following Tiel Orelli unshackled Selleana’s chains, Rakrensius’s voice softly whispered into her ear. It seemed he had used a perception-disruption spell to ensure only she could hear him.
“I will continue to follow you closely.”
Two soldiers grabbed Selleana by her arms and led her out of the cell under Tiel Orelli’s guidance. Seeing her being dragged away, Rakrensius’s voice groaned.
“And… you will need to take Di temporarily.”
What? Me? I’m currently held, though? Selleana almost spoke out loud in surprise.
[Not to carry me around.]
Then…?
“You will temporarily form a contract with Di in my stead.”
…Is that even possible?
“Briefly. Just so you can communicate with Di even when we are apart. Since the saintess already suspects something, you shouldn’t possess Di.”
Right… She probably confiscated everything, thinking that something I had was immune to her power.
However, something seemed strange. Even without touching Di, she could hear its voice.
…But how am I hearing your voice now?
[Because I’ve temporarily released my contract with Rakrensius.]
Is that… okay?
Hearing Selleana’s concern, Rakrensius responded immediately. “Usually, only a member of the imperial family can resonate with the holy relic through a contract… But Di awakened upon sensing my presence, and we could communicate right away. So releasing the contract doesn’t change anything.”
[Asmion devised the tradition of contracting national treasures within the imperial family to prevent others from communicating with them.]
Does that mean other treasures can’t form contracts with non-imperials?
[I doubt it. Other treasures likely lack consciousness.]
Since I could communicate with you without a contract, it means that even non-imperials could potentially become contractors.
“Di proposed a hypothesis about why only Lady and I can communicate with him.”
[Remember what the empress said about the leakage?]
“Indeed, when Leakages gather, they become this audacious…”
When the empress stopped time and space, it felt like she was referencing the connection between Rakrensius and Selleana. Di found a clause in the private records of the temple officials.
[Agnesia. That’s your friend’s name, right?]
…Yes, that’s right.
[That friend seemed to have similar concerns. ‘Could the fact that we changed the original story be a leak?’ Such content was written in her diary. In your language, no less.]
Selleana’s brow furrowed even more, holding back genuine tears.
The fact that Nesia kept a diary is unexpected…
So Agnesia had been contemplating this situation for a while and kept it to herself to avoid worrying them. And eventually…
[Even if I search through the Apocrypha of Orot’s scriptures, the word ‘leakage’ doesn’t appear at all. It seems to be a concept passed down orally among the priests and priestesses.]
And that refers to me, Master of Tower’s mother… and perhaps even Agnesia and the rest of my friends.
[The commonality among you is knowing your original fate and living a different life. And Rakrensius’s mother, most likely…]
…
“…”
If Rakrensius’s intuition was correct, his mother couldn’t go to the imperial palace because she had a fate to avoid, just like them.
So, Master of Tower is… the child of a leakage.
[That explains why the saintess said Rakrensius’s fate was originally nothingness… He wasn’t supposed to exist.]
Not supposed to exist. Those words echoed eerily, and a silence fell between them.
Alright.
Selleana quickly replied to change the mood.
Let’s do it. The contract with Mr. Sword and me.
A faint light surrounded Di. Because Rakrensius had cast an invisibility spell on both Di and himself, the source of the light was unclear, but it was a pale light foreign to the environment. Only those who could resonate with Di could see it, so the knights escorting Selleana seemed unaware.
[I, Di, who knows all, am the only flaw in fate…]
Mysterious sounds in an unknown language resonated in Selleana’s mind. Though she couldn’t understand them, it was clear they were of various types.
[…My knowledge shall be your strength.]
Di’s voice echoed mystically as if marking a seal.
…Wow.
Selleana felt she could hear Di’s voice more clearly than before.
Please tell the tower master I’ll use you well and return you back.
[All right. Take care, Temporary Contractor.]
Well then… let’s confirm if they’re targeting only us.
Selleana cleared her throat. “Sir Tiel.”
“…”
“May I ask you something?”
“…”
Tiel Orelli remained silent, seemingly refusing to engage with a criminal.
“It’s about my friend.”
Tiel Orelli’s footsteps faltered slightly as Selleana emphasized, ‘my friend.’
As I thought.
Selleana inwardly smiled at his transparent reaction.
“Last time, when we first met at Enet Palace, Michi received a blessing prayer from Her Majesty… You were there too, right?”
The knight didn’t respond, but Selleana knew it was an affirmation.
“Did you also receive a blessing from Her Majesty? Or have you met her privately elsewhere?”
“I do not feel obligated to answer.” Possibly conscious of his subordinates, Tiel curtly dismissed her.
“I’ve been visiting the imperial palace for over ten years as a companion to the crown prince… but I’ve never received such grace.”
“…”
“So, I think Her Majesty blessed Michi because she intended to present her to the Laten royal family. Michi is so gentle and fragile that she couldn’t possibly go against Her Majesty’s words…”
Though Michi wasn’t truly gentle or fragile, Tiel Orelli likely saw her that way.
“Until yesterday, I even had tea with Her Majesty… Did I do anything to insult the royal family in the meantime? I only told Michi to stay in Nepelsian as she wished.”
“…”
“I know it’s difficult to speak ill of your friend… but Michi said she was scared of the Laten royal family because she doesn’t speak their language. She said she wanted to stay in Nepelsian and build a family with someone from our empire…”
Selleana continued, hoping her words about Michi’s wish to stay would resonate with Tiel, who likely had feelings for her.
“But Her Majesty insisted, what choice does she have… So, even while following Prince Erenst’s call, she continues to be troubled…” Selleana trailed off, sniffing softly.
After a moment of silence, Tiel Orelli muttered, “Her Majesty has never given me personal instructions. Prince Erenst hasn’t informed me about any interactions with the imperial family either…” His voice revealed significant confusion, confirming he felt her friend’s actions were unfair. Because the other party was Michi.
You heard that, right?
[Yes. They’re not leakers, so the empress didn’t intervene. They’re simply following their fates…]
…As expected. Her Majesty took action because my friends were leakers. It makes sense that she was worried about the tower master because he’s the leaker’s son and had you.
Though it didn’t feel good to sow discord in their friendship, Prince Erenst was also trying to take Michi away from her, so Selleana didn’t feel too guilty. Rather, if this situation led to Tiel Orelli siding with Michi even a little when things didn’t go as planned, it would be beneficial.
* * *
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor. May Orot’s glory shine upon the sun of Nepelsian.”
“Come in, Lady Elard.”
When Selleana entered the emperor’s parlor, his demeanor was remarkably calm. He seemed surprisingly friendly for someone addressing a prisoner accused of treason against the imperial family.
Well, I haven’t wronged the emperor.
[It’s probably because your face looks utterly pitiable…]
The tongueless sword clicked its tongue at Selleana’s confident thoughts.
“So, you wished to plead your innocence to me.”
“Yes… As a member of Elard, how could I possibly defame the imperial family…?” Her lips trembled. Stripped of her possessions, her attire shabby, and her delicate arms held by two burly knights, Selleana huddled her shoulders to evoke more sympathy.
“…First, come and sit down.” Tashur III instructed the chamberlain to bring tea and invited Selleana to sit. “And all of you, leave.”
“Your Majesty…!”
“Are you worried she might assassinate me? It looks like she has nothing left.”
“…”
The knights, unable to argue, bowed and left the parlor. Once they were alone, the chamberlain served a simple tea set and then stood by the door.
“Relax and have some tea.”
“…”
“I didn’t summon you to reprimand you, Lady.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Selleana cautiously sipped her tea, assessing his demeanor. If he was so friendly…
“Your Majesty.” With confidence in her assumption, Selleana spoke frankly. “May I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“What does Rakrensius mean to you, Your Majesty?”
Khup
, Rakrensius, concealed by invisibility, let out a sound as if he had choked.