Chapter 41

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Chapter 41

A few more days passed, and I still couldn’t say anything to him.

‘Does it make sense that I can’t even apologize?’

Even though I can say everything I usually want to say, I can’t say the most important things and become a coward like this.

Still, that didn’t mean I was completely distracted. I searched through the books to see if I could find any clue about Ielro, but to no avail.

‘Is my strength alone not enough…?’

First of all, I didn’t know the exact keywords, so the content to look at was too broad. While struggling alone, the guild leader who had kidnapped the doll was executed after making all the confessions.

“Is Count Nolan still holding on?”

Declan asked sternly.

“Yes. I increased the intensity of the torture, but he did not open my mouth.”

Mason raised the corners of her mouth up and shook his head.

‘That’s a lot of loyalty. The master has already turned around.’

By now, the word that the aristocrats had already abandoned Count Nolan was already circulating.

“Stupid dogs don’t live long. That’s enough. Tell the shadow to step back.”

“Are you going to throw it away?”

“You don’t need to give strength to the dead anyway.”

“Okay. Oh, the shaman you mentioned last time.”

As I listened to Declan and Mason’s conversation, I tilted my head.

“I think you can meet this afternoon.”

“Good.”

Declan glanced at me and gave me a look of concern and anticipation. Seeing so, I asked him back.

“What did you tell them?”

“Just asking to check about curses.”

‘Curse? Did something happen to Declan?’

Worried, I gazed at Declan worriedly, but I didn’t see anything wrong.

“Let’s meet in turn. The shamans should not meet each other.”

“Yes.”

Mason said he would let Declan know when it was ready and went out.

“Why did you call the shaman?”

“Ah.”

Declan made a slightly troubled face before answering, “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance. I’m afraid you’ll worry like last time…”

Suddenly, the word “curse” that I had heard earlier came to mind.

“Are you under a curse?”

“Well, Erica. Don’t get me wrong, listen.”

I nodded straight away at Declan’s cautious demeanor.

“From now on, I will try to solve the things you asked for one by one.”

What did I ask for…?

The day I met the puppet master, I remembered the things I had yelled at him, and I bowed my head.

‘I can’t delay any longer.’

Eventually, I clenched my fists and lifted my head.

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry.”

Declan’s eyes widened at the sudden apology.

“I couldn’t overcome my emotions that day and accidentally blamed His Majesty. I’m really sorry!”

Saying so, I jumped up from my seat and bowed my head towards him before continuing. “What I said that it was Your Majesty’s fault is not true. I’m really, really, really sorry that I don’t know whom to blame.”

I should have apologized sooner. I hope it’s not too late…

“Ha—”

A deep sigh was heard above his head.

Is it too late…? What if he told one that he was hurt and was disappointed? I couldn’t even raise my head in anxiety.

“Erica.”

The low-pitched voice made me even more nervous.

“Look at me.”

Declan waited patiently for me to raise my head. Unable to overcome the pressure of silence, I finally raised my head.

“I didn’t mean to make you say you’re sorry…”

I felt like I was about to burst into tears when I met those eyes that didn’t contain any resentment.

“It was my fault.”

“I…”

Declan chose his words for a moment.

“I still don’t know what you fear, though one thing I know for sure…” Declan said, gazing at me slowly and continuing talking.

“I don’t want to see you struggling again.”

His eyes shone harder than ever.

“So, I decided to start with what I could do.”

Needless to say, it was a conclusion that was reached after much deliberation…

“First, I thought you were afraid of the curse, so I asked the shaman.”

…However, in the following words, it was difficult to know what expression to make.

“I think the light ball you were talking about is related to the curse. Wouldn’t it be reassuring to find out the solution in advance?”

By then, he would be dead and no longer in the world.

‘What’s the use of doing everything without Declan? What should I do with myself as a soul?’

I couldn’t explain how I knew it, so I was just frustrated.

“Now that I’ve found them, I’m trying to figure out how you can become a person.”

Without hesitation, I pressed down the hope that gently raised in my head. I didn’t want to collapse like last time.

“I hadn’t thought of that… Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“If the results are disappointing, don’t worry too much. We can find another way.”

Declan looked at me and quickly added a word.

‘Was he such a friendly person?’

As long as the doll was safe, I thought he wouldn’t care anyway. So, seeing him worrying that I might get hurt made my heart flutter.

“I’m fine. Your Majesty is here.”

Yes, it’s still okay because he’s there to protect me…

I stared at Declan and smiled softly.

“…Yes. Don’t forget that.”

Declan, who had quietly met his gaze, responded softly.

After a while, Mason knocked on the door. The shamans who pressed their hoods deep did not reveal their faces until they saw Declan.

“I greet the Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor.”

I glanced at the shaman I had met for the third time without hesitation. The expectations and curiosity I had when meeting the shaman for the first time were long gone.

…The first shaman.

“What, what, curse are you talking about? Hahaha, do you mean a curse to the Princess? There, there, there’s no such thing.”

From the moment he entered the audience room and saw Declan’s sharp eyes, he trembled and stammered even his words.

“Light, ball? Hell? Haha, where is that?”

Finally, he bowed his head and apologized.

Next was the second shaman…

“The light ball is probably the ‘curse of judgment’.”

He seemed to know a lot, so both Declan and I had high expectations.

“Ah, I can see… I can see the soul of Her Highness the Princess!”

Nevertheless, the moment he was looking in the opposite direction from where I was and muttering, I tapped out.

Eventually, the last one I met was this third shaman.

“My name is Gerald. It’s an honor to see your Majesty.”

There was a sense of intimidation in his eyes, though his posture and attitude were polite and elegant like a nobleman.

“Do you know what the curse of judgment is?” Declan asked straight-forwardly with a slightly tired face.

“I know it well.”

“How to undo it?”

“You can use the Nullification Spell. Any shaman with good skill can do it.”

At that moment, while sitting idly, I became interested in the shaman whose name was Gerald.

“Hmm, you seem quite talented.”

“I’m overwhelmed.”

Replying to his words, Gerald smiled confidently, speaking humblingly.

‘I think it’s because he hid it, but I can see him screaming with his whole body that he’s good.’

It was worth knowing what kind of character he was.

“Then, I’d like to know this.”

“Just say anything. I have a lot of experience.”

Gerald smiled curiously.

“Do you know how the soul takes on the body and becomes a whole person?”

It was something he couldn’t ask the previous two shamans.

“Yes…?”

Gerald opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“You don’t know? …You’re no different from other shamans.”

“Oh, I know. There’s no way a shaman like me wouldn’t know that!”

‘Well, he’s also a very proud person. As soon as his ego was touched, he reacted immediately…’

I watched for an answer from him.

“Are you asking how to raise the dead after all?”

“Well, it might be similar.”

“Such spells are taboo because you’re touching the realm of God.”

“So, is it possible?”

“It is possible.”

At that, I stared blankly at Gerald with my mouth open.

“But, it’s raising the dead, so the price is high.”

At his next words, the excited feelings subsided in an instant.

‘Right… Nothing is free in the world. Besides, I don’t even have a dead body here.”

A deep sigh escaped.

Then, I could sense Declan’s gaze as he glanced at me and nodded my head.

“What’s the price?”

“…It is a living sacrifice.”

Just imagining his answer made it feel like nausea was coming up, so I quickly covered my mouth.

“You can think of it as an equivalent exchange—you give your life to get it.”

Although he talked about taking other people’s lives, Gerald seemed unconcerned.

“How much do you need?”

‘No, what are you asking…?!’

Immediately, I stared at Declan with a puzzled mind, yet he was quite serious.

“The more, the better.”

With a frown on my face, I waved vigorously at Declan.

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