“Alright.”
I began to dance in step with him.
The people, who had quieted down somewhat, started to whisper again as they saw me. After all, this man and I had caused quite a stir before.
I wondered if Dorothy was watching this. She might be regretting helping me.
As we moved to the music, one step at a time, he leaned in closer and asked,
“What worries you so much today that you’re so busy?”
“Well, I don’t think you’d believe me even if I told you.”
“Oh my, you make such a statement without sharing anything.”
“Because something unbelievable is about to happen.”
“Something unbelievable, you say?”
He spun me around in the air once more. Ah, I’m getting dizzy.
“Yes. So, it might be best to run away as soon as the dance ends.”
“Is that advice?”
“Closer to a warning.”
Just as our conversation wrapped up, the piece of music ended. I naturally stepped away from him, and he elegantly bowed to me. I awkwardly held my skirt and returned the gesture.
As I lifted my head, I felt someone watching me from the second-floor railing.
Ah, it’s Carlothian.
Heh heh heh, I chuckled inwardly. His eyes were filled with the desire to slash the man right in front of me.
I hurriedly pulled away from him.
“Then I hope you take my words to heart.”
“Of course. Who would I not listen to?”
With that, he disappeared into the crowd. I sighed and turned away.
Hah.
Looking out the window, I saw that the sun had set. It seemed to have gotten dark in the meantime. I felt fatigue washing over me already, so I pushed my hair back that had fallen forward.
Thud.
Suddenly, something fell to the floor. When I looked down, I saw the blue flower that had been adorning my neck lying on the ground.
Why does it keep falling?
It was unsettling.
And in that moment—
“Ahhh—!”
A scream echoed from somewhere.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
It first appeared in the hall on the first floor, to the westside.
The portrait hanging on the wall twisted into a grotesque shape and fell from the wall. A black monster with dozens of arms opened its massive mouth, revealing hundreds of sharp teeth.
Screams began to erupt in succession. The shouts of men, the screams of women, and the sound of fleeing footsteps mixed together, as if the gates of hell had opened.
Yermondi, who had infused the curse object with black magic, feigned a look of panic and shouted at the people.
“What in the world is happening!”
At her scream, someone stepped forward and shouted.
“It’s the witch! It’s the witch’s doing!”
At those words, everyone fleeing from the monster turned to look at one place. Ariadeline, standing in the center of the hall. Her.
“It’s the witch!”
“It’s the witch’s doing!”
“We must kill that wicked woman!”
“In the end, that witch summoned the curse!”
As Yermondi’s planted people began to point fingers at Ariadeline, the nobles believed those words wholeheartedly and began to shout together.
“Your Highness, please save us!”
“Stop the witch!”
“No, we must kill her!”
The people on the first floor shouted. The Diamond Hall consisted of a total of five floors, and one could not exit without passing through the first floor. However, monsters were still emerging from the walls on the first floor.
“Ariadeline! It’s you!”
Yermondi shouted at Ariadeline with a mix of despair and anger. Ariadeline stood there, unmoving. Everyone was pointing at her, shouting to burn her and kill that woman.
Ahhh—!
Aah—!
Amidst it all, the sounds of people being attacked by the monsters could be heard. Ariadeline stood still for a moment before raising her voice.
“Knights! Evacuate the people! I’ll be fine!”
Ariadeline shouted. At that moment, the knights of Carlothian, who had been hiding among the attendees, swiftly grabbed people and pulled them away from the monsters.
The people’s eyes widened at what Ariadeline had just said. Yermondi glared at her, gritting his teeth. This time, no matter how much she struggles, she won’t escape.
This incident would be recorded as the work of the witch Ariadeline, and she would die because of it.
“Capture the witch!”
At Yermondi’s command, the palace knights, who had been on standby, quickly drew their swords and aimed them at Ariadeline. There were as many as thirty of them. She stood among the swords and looked around. The monsters were slowly crawling toward her.
In other words, toward Ariadeline.
“Look! The monsters are going after the witch! It’s clear that witch summoned them!”
A maid planted by Yermondi shouted. The nobles, who had moved to the safe terrace and the second floor, threw down what they were holding and cried out.
“Kill the witch!”
“We must kill the witch!”
“Die, you witch!”
Ariadeline waited.
Clang!
In an instant, a vase flew past Ariadeline’s head and shattered on the floor.
It seemed she had been hit, as blood began to flow from her forehead. Carlothian, watching from the second floor, cursed as he leaned over the railing.
“Don’t move!”
Ariadeline shouted at the Carlothian. She locked eyes with him. Trust me. Don’t move. Carlothian.
Reading her gaze, Carlothian stopped in his tracks.
Ariadeline was certain. The cursed monsters were heading toward her. This meant they were created to harm her.
However, to those who knew nothing, it would appear that the monsters were following her.
Ariadeline spoke to the palace knights aiming at her.
“Knights. Stand aside.”
They were tense, watching the monsters draw closer. Ariadeline shouted once more, more forcefully.
“If you want to live, run away!”
“Knights! Bring me the witch!”
Ariadeline’s voice overlapped with Yermondi’s. The knights were left helpless, forced to watch as the monsters approached.
“Those monsters are coming solely to harm me! If you flee, you can survive!”
“Knights!”
Yermondi continued to pressure the knights, making it impossible for them to escape. Eventually, Ariadeline gritted her teeth. It seemed Yermondi wanted to push her to her death as the witch.
Even at the cost of another’s life. But Ariadeline had no intention of just watching.
“There will be divine judgment!”
Ariadeline intentionally shouted loudly.
“The wrath of God shall descend upon those who have summoned evil through a pact with demons!”
Her voice was loud, but the people’s curses and cries for help were even louder. The knights were sweating coldly as they felt the cursed beings crawling up behind them.
Seeing this, Yermondi secretly smiled. Yes, no matter how much you struggle here, you cannot defeat me. These many nobles will be witnesses.
After I kill you, the witch, with my own hands, I will…
Just as Yermondi was thinking this, a song suddenly erupted from somewhere. A sharp voice, like a rising spear, struck the ears of the screaming nobles.
Ariadeline began to sing. A song calling upon God and the angel, the spear of God.
A sacred and cruel song descending from the heavens, piercing down with that white, sharp spear to judge sin.
It was bursting forth from Ariadeline’s lips.
“Is this… a hymn?”
