Chapter 44
Gremory retraced her steps.
In other words, back to the dark garden where the man and woman who had caught each other’s eyes at the banquet were having a secret meeting.
Gremory, who was on her way back to the banquet hall, suddenly stopped.
‘Should I grab a snack before I go?’
The atmosphere around her was dark and eerie, perfect for someone to sneak up and consume their soul, wasn’t it? Plus, since she had finished her business quickly, she had some time to kill.
At just that moment, she saw a couple committing infidelity nearby. As she was about to approach them, a blade was pointed at her neck.
“…Who are you?”
Gremory slowly turned around. The Crown Prince, Severian, with his icy blue eyes, was staring directly at her. It seemed like he had snuck out of the palace against the curfew.
“…”
Gremory silently gripped the blade with her bare hand. Then, a screeching sound echoed as the blade bent at a right angle, breaking off like a stick of candy.
“???”
Severian was taken aback. The Empire’s sacred sword had been shattered by a mere woman’s bare hand.
Gremory, as though nothing had happened, dropped the broken blade on the ground and continued on her way.
But the foolish Severian rejected the mercy of the witch. He charged at Gremory again, aiming a dagger at her neck.
“You don’t seem like an ordinary human. What’s your identity?”
“Why do you care?”
“You must have a weakness I can exploit to use against Cheshion Edel. Did you think I’d live under his control forever?”
Severian was bewildered. Why wasn’t this woman scared? Her neck was clearly bleeding from the sword’s cut, yet she acted as if nothing happened. Why wasn’t she acknowledging it?
“Are you really going to… me?”
“Yeah. Since Cheshion seems to care for you, I’ll capture you as a hostage…”
“Shut up, idiot. Go on your way while I let you live. Before I seduce you and devour you.”
“…Huh?”
Severian’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s. Who was she talking about seducing and eating?
“Did you not understand? Get lost before I seduce you and eat you up.”
“Hah! Seriously! Who do you think you are…! Hah!”
Severian, stunned, sheathed his dagger and scoffed. Even in a threatening situation, this absurd confession was too much. Sure, he was somewhat good-looking, but he never expected this.
“Do you even know how many women are after me? Even if they lined up their entire lives, you wouldn’t even get a chance, so give up. And stop trying to cloud my judgment with your nonsense.”
Even after giving him two chances, he still wouldn’t leave. Gremory decided to take just a bite out of Severian’s soul. She wasn’t that hungry, and if she ate too much, he would become an idiot. Just one bite. A Crown Prince turning into an idiot overnight would be troublesome.
“I’ll just have one bite.”
As Gremory approached, Severian jumped back in alarm.
“Wait! There’s no need to be this aggressive…!”
“Come closer. If you’re too far, I can’t see properly. I need to carefully decide where to taste first…”
“This crazy…”
Severian’s face turned bright red as he fled. The many men and women who were secretly having their illicit affairs nearby watched the scene.
Gremory, rubbing her bleeding neck, returned to the banquet hall. The wound healed quickly.
The plan for the pre-banquet was a success, though there had been a few variables.
The given quarters in the eastern wing of the mansion for the Edel family. Gremory went to Cheshion’s bedroom to report on Seaira.
“She’s alive and well. With her nurse.”
“Her nurse? I see they’re still treating her like a princess.”
“And I met the Crown Prince.”
“What? What did he say to you?”
Cheshion’s eyes sharpened in surprise.
“He said he wants to use me as a hostage since you seem to care for me.”
“So what did you say?”
“I told him to leave, or I’d seduce him and eat him up.”
“…”
Cheshion’s face turned pale. He seemed to want to say something, but his lips trembled.
Gremory continued, expressionless.
“He left.”
“…Our Mori sure likes playing around.”
“So, are you just going to keep checking if Seaira is safe? Not going to rescue her?”
“I don’t have a good reason or authority for that. Checking in once in a while is enough.”
Gremory thought about it. Leaving Seaira and Alice like this felt too dangerous.
Alice wasn’t a reliable witch. Who knew if Seaira would escape with Alice and end up meeting some other witch?
‘Alice might very well do that.’
Rather than let that happen, it was better to keep Seaira close and monitor Alice. Cheshion would also be better off living with Seaira, whom he treasured, by his side.
“Cheshion.”
“Yeah.”
“Can you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Take Seaira and her nurse to the Duke’s mansion.”
“Huh? I just told you, I don’t have the authority to do that.”
“There’s a way to make Seaira escape the palace on her own.”
“Hmm?”
Cheshion thought over his agreement with the Emperor. Although there was a clause about not touching the royal family, there was nothing about accepting a royal family member who came on their own accord from escaping the palace to visit the Duke’s estate.
“Well, that’s true, but if Seaira gets caught in the process, she might be treated worse than she is now.”
“She won’t get caught. Her nurse and I go way back. We can escape together easily.”
“What? Is Seaira’s nurse a warrior from the northern snowfields like you?”
“No, she’s a witch.”
“Well, if you go way back, I guess she must be pretty quick with her words. Once the banquet is over… No, I can’t wait that long. How about we leave tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll make sure to pass that along.”
Gremory was satisfied with Cheshion’s answer. Now Seaira and Cheshion could live together, and Gremory could monitor Alice more closely.
“How will you tell her?”
“I’ll use the signal witches use.”
“Is that a special trick only the northern snowfield people know? Interesting.”
“It’s a signal witches use. Why can’t you believe I’m a witch?”
“Because witches don’t exist.”
“Right. Go get some sleep.”
Gremory felt a headache coming on as she turned away from Cheshion. His hand, which had reached toward her, hesitated but was quickly withdrawn.
“You too. Sleep well.”
Alice was grinding her teeth in frustration.
‘Damn it, I need to report to the demon realm right now…!’
Gremory—she needed to take her to the demon realm before she awakened any deeper emotions. Even now, with just a shallow awakening, Alice was already unwilling to be a sacrifice. What would happen if her feelings grew stronger?
The demon lord only wanted the strongest witch. It was uncertain whether they would welcome Gremory’s mother, a mere substitute.
Meanwhile, Seaira kept pestering Alice, asking for a lullaby.
“Alice, I want to sleep. Could you use your lap as a pillow and sing me a lullaby?”
“Yes, Seaira. But I don’t know any human lullabies. Is it okay if I sing you a demon realm lullaby?”
“Yeah, I don’t mind. I’m a little too old for lullabies, but… I still want to hear one.”
“Alright, ho-ho. On a quiet night~ the soul of a human comes down to feast~ The soul is delicious~ No matter how much you eat, you won’t get tired of it~ The night when humans are terrified is the best night~”
Seaira, lying on Alice’s lap, fell asleep with a happy expression. Alice covered her with a blanket, furrowing her brow.
‘Damn, I didn’t come to the human world just to be summoned by this little brat.’
And now she had to live in this miserable little tower. Alice, who was used to luxury, had to take care of a child in a place worse than a toilet!
Worst of all, she was going to be stuck here until Seaira grew up?
‘Damn.’
She wanted to get out and occupy the royal palace or some noble mansion. But she had to be ‘good’ for now, so it wasn’t possible.
‘If some noble would take me to their mansion, I’d even consider obeying them.’
Just then.
“Did you just think that?”
Gremory was sitting on the windowsill, grinning. Alice hastily grabbed Seaira.
“When did you hear my thoughts…! Ha! If I don’t have any noble to take me in, do you think you can help me?”
“Of course. I live in the Edel Duke’s mansion. I can easily take both of you in.”
“!”
Alice’s mind clashed between duty and instinct. Should she reject Gremory and report to the demon realm? Or should she shut up and follow Gremory to lead a peaceful life?
Of course, it was the latter. The witches would never appreciate her for doing the former. Those damn witches were all selfish.
“I’ll follow you as a sister.”
Alice bowed her head respectfully.
