“I don’t know exactly what you mean by flaws, but Valerie isn’t the right child for your needs.”
“What do you mean?”
“She has no flaws. That can’t just refer to simple wounds or sickness, right?”
“Are you trying to lie that the child has problems now? Unfortunately, that won’t work. After all, she has royal blood, so if there were any illnesses or injuries, the palace would have treated her long ago.”
“This isn’t something that can be healed by human medicine.”
I can’t be sure if the fact that Valerie doesn’t belong to this world is a blessing or a curse.
But I should at least inform them that she doesn’t meet their criteria for a ‘sacrifice,’ which would hopefully stave off their immediate anger. I can think of an escape later; for now, securing our safety is the priority.
“Have you really looked at the child’s hands? What about her feet?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“The reason you need a sacrifice is to cast a curse. You must have some idea of who you want to curse if you’re not a fool.”
“I have no intention to hide it. Karl has been a thorn in my side for a long time, so sacrificing his daughter to get rid of him? How delightful it would be to see them both disappear together from this world. She won’t be lonely in the afterlife, will she?”
It was absurd to hear someone talk about using a child as a sacrifice to curse and kill someone as if they were doing a great kindness. Franz was surely not a normal person.
I was chilled by how closely he resembled my cruel mother.
Is such unreasonably cruel behavior inherited, learned from the same environment, or perhaps both?
Fear kept rising at the unimaginable cruelty of Franz, yet I couldn’t be defeated by it. I moved my parched tongue to swallow my dryness.
“Such dangerous curses can’t be performed recklessly. If you get it wrong, you could face backlash. That’s likely why you want a flawless sacrifice. On the other hand, offering a flawed sacrifice could bring dangerous consequences, right? Therefore, you shouldn’t use Valerie as a sacrifice.”
“Why can’t I?”
Franz seemed to doubt my words. In that fleeting moment, I pondered whether I could truly say the next part, but I couldn’t reach a definitive conclusion.
While Franz hesitated to speak, he let out a scoff, thinking “That’s just how it is,” and tried to walk away. If I let Franz go like this, I might never see Valerie again. I called out to him urgently.
“That child doesn’t actually exist!”
Franz, who was about to leave, froze in his tracks.
“That child doesn’t belong to the present. Therefore, you cannot use it as a sacrifice for the curse you’re about to carry out.”
Would revealing this fact be helpful? Or not? I’m not sure. However, at least this statement could prevent the immediate spell. Franz slowly turned his head.
***
The knights of the royal investigation team, who had completely overturned the residence of Duke Toskur, were busy gathering evidence to prove Franz’s misdeeds based on materials obtained from the upper echelon.
There was only one day left until the electoral vote for the prince. If Franz did not appear by the time voting began, the throne would naturally go to Karl, who was present.
However, if Franz did show up, they would have to publicly disclose his misdeeds and declare that he was unworthy of sitting on the throne. If his wrongdoings were revealed, the place he would occupy would be the prison floor, not the throne.
Thanks to the swift movements of the excellent knights, illegal dealings between Duke Toskur and the upper echelon were increasingly being uncovered.
As soon as the investigation team members found evidence, they documented the crimes committed by Duke Toskur, preparing the materials.
By the time the accumulated documents exceeded the height of a child, Karl had devised a way to track Celeste and Franz.
“We have captured evidence that some officials in the Ministry of Magic accepted bribes from Duke Toskur’s side and handed over documents and magical items.”
“There’s no place they haven’t reached, even the Ministry of Magic…”
Among the various ministries under the royal family, the Ministry of Magic was known for its strict selection of officials.
Dealing with magic that surpasses human power required a heavy sense of responsibility and fidelity, making it essential for Ministry officials to be trusted and loyal to the royal family.
The first step in selecting officials, the document review process, was conducted over three rounds, so those who ultimately became officials were generally recognized for their loyalty and integrity.
Yet, to have someone planted within such a Ministry of Magic was indeed impressive in a different way for Franz.
Karl scoffed. If only he had used such efforts and skills in the right place, they would have been of much greater benefit to himself. Reaching for what does not belong to him and committing acts that should not be done was regrettable.
A complex mix of regret and disgust made Karl’s mouth feel bitter.
“Yes. I never expected to find spies even in the Ministry of Magic. I’ve seen cases where a small quantity of inventions was secretly sold to the upper echelon, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a complete infiltration…”
“It seems he was trying to slowly extend his reach across the entire royal family and set up his traps.”
“Well, thanks to this, we can now track Duke Toskur’s movements.”
“How is that possible?”
Matthias handed over a file. It was a statement from an official in the Ministry of Magic, revealed to be colluding with Duke Toskur.
“We obtained this testimony from the infiltrated Ministry of Magic official.”
“Evidence has been secured that they profited by colluding with specific factions.”
“Yes. Moreover, this is something I learned through interest. The department that creates and researches inventions seals documents and halts production for inventions that have no market value or pose high risks…”
As Matthias pointed, there was a notable part when I flipped through a few sheets of paper.
“It seems they secretly passed these to Duke Toskur and developed the magical stone inventions at will.”
“They were rather diligent in committing illegal acts.”
The carefree image he portrayed to the outside world was just a façade. I had vaguely suspected this, but seeing the actual deeds Franz had committed made me astonished.
What had appeared to be indulgences in women and a life of debauchery was all a smokescreen. Meanwhile, he had been diligently and steadily committing evil acts in the background.
“There was a notable invention among these. After magic is performed, a trace of the magic stone used remains at the scene, and this invention was created based on that idea. Here, this part.”
“The moment it comes into contact with the body of someone trying to chase it, it absorbs and disappears, leaving a shining mark from that spot.”
Karl, reading the part Matthias pointed to, stopped. He realized what Matthias was trying to say.
“Since he had planted a pawn within the Ministry of Magic, he must have contacted the group leaving for the Duke’s castle and attached this invention. The fact that the group from the Ministry of Magic departs to bring Celeste must have been heard from Tooper. Now, I can see a picture forming.”
Matthias nodded.
“It seems the situation at the time of the incident is coming together like a puzzle.”
“I understand how they followed and kidnapped the Duchess’s party, but what next? Do we have a way to pursue them?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Someone used a magic stone to trace another’s footsteps, so naturally, traces of the route taken by Duke Toskur’s side will be left. Using a magic stone creates traces wherever it is used.”
“Minister Linke is with the Duchess’s party… Call the vice-minister to confirm.”
“Yes. I have already sent a few detectives and they should be on their way, Your Highness.”
The investigation team consists of quick thinkers as sharp as Clovis. Karl nodded in acknowledgment.
“I’m not sure what their purpose was in daring to ambush and kidnap the Duchess’s group, but it must involve greed for the throne, revenge against me, and perhaps…”
It must have been an act driven by a mix of personal greed towards Celeste. Karl thought to himself, he couldn’t be unaware as a man.
Franz, the way he looks at Celeste, the expression and the gaze he has. Although he might have masked his emotions as teasing or anger on the surface, the ‘real’ feeling inside was more than simple possessiveness.
Karl recalled the day he brought Celeste to LaHart after meeting her in Urentum, and the expression Franz had at that moment.
Seeing Celeste with him, and then the moment he looked at the child with Celeste, that fleeting expression Franz had. It was the face of a jealous man, furious over having something taken from him.
