Chapter 170 - Claire’s Knowledge

Claire Fortunatorum is a genius.

At least, that's what people around her believe.

She was born into a family that had risen because of a certain person—a girl, a prodigy—a murdered lady who was both honored and pitied.

Eulalia Fortunatorum.

Claire had heard from her parents that Eulalia wasn't really a blood relative, given the fact that she was adopted. Claire's parents were hesitant to tell her this, considering Eulalia was the one who practically made their name known.

"Listen, Claire. You have to uphold Eulalia's name at all costs. No one should know that we are not her blood relatives."

Fiery, red hair; fair, snow-white skin, and expressive emerald eyes. Those were the features of Eulalia. It was similar to Claire's, yet she knew that hers were duller. She had seen from the memorial stones how Eulalia looked. She was indeed beautiful. 

Eulalia's death gained the Fortunatorum clan so much sympathy it turned to their advantage. Their family rose unto nobility. The Fortunatorum family belonged in Feuersturm. The king, whose family was murdered by the one who killed Eulalia, shared the sentiments of the clan and had given them support. Magierstadt as well compensated from this. 

Claire Fortunatorum's family was comparable to a vulture eating off remains. She couldn't help but feel disgusted.

Using the dead.

She could barely withstand it.

Eulalia's adoptive parents were different from Claire's parents. They were kind, and were helpful and were indeed grieving still. They possessed red hair as well, so it was hard to pinpoint that Eulalia wasn't a blood relative. 

Claire's father had brown hair, while her mother had green. Her father had emerald eyes, whilst her mother had dark ones. She had inherited her father's eyes, but her fiery red hair was from her distant relatives. 

"She looks like Eulalia..."

"Does she?"

"Claire has magic as well..."

"Then we must train her at once!"

Claire's magic manifested when she was three years old. Her compatibility with the elements was above average, as expected of a noble. Other than that, there was nothing else redeeming about her.

And so, she was put into rigorous training.

A child without a childhood.

Books instead of toys.

Mana crystals instead of milk.

Claire was trained to be a prodigy that was enough to rival Eulalia. Her parents hired the best instructors to train Claire and teach her about multiple techniques in combining magic. Her power grew immense each day as she had already undergone training the moment she displayed similarities to Eulalia.

"Listen, Claire. You have to be the next prodigy of Magierstadt. You have to be like Eulalia. You have to bring glory to the Fortunatorum name."

"Claire, huh? Yes. That child's magic is splendid, but not enough to rival Eulalia."

"She's still a kid. She will improve over time."

** 

The child Claire woke up on a chilly night from a fever. She was already bruised all over and her muscles were sore from the strain of her very own magic. Claire sat slowly, staring at the moon which illuminated her entire room. 

Claire got out of her bed and then headed towards the balcony. Without hesitation, she jumped down, and then, she propelled herself forward using wind magic. She landed on the grass slowly and without fault. 

Claire was barefoot, not because she forgot her sandals, but because she liked the raw feeling of the grass to her soles. She smiled inevitably, a child's innocent smile. Genuine happiness. 

Freedom.

It made her feel less suffocated—stepping to the ground barefoot and walking late at night where no one would expect you to be. 

Claire walked the path to the lilies, and then at that spare and alone time under the light of the moon, she played and embraced her naiveness and childish emotions. She giggled and then threw herself to the grass. She stared at the moon, which was ever-present. Everlasting. Perpetually observing her and the stars.

Claire reached for the moon. 

"Will I be like you one day, Eulalia?"

Claire's emerald eyes gleamed from the moon's radiance. 

And then... the night after that, the hopeful feelings of an innocent child...

...were soon driven into oblivion.

**

Claire listened. 

Eavesdropped.

And froze.

Claire's training was done for the night, and she was headed to her room to rest. Normally, servants would still walk with her, but no one was there due to an important matter. Claire, who was just in a phase of curiosity, went to peak at the room where the discussions are held.

It was odd, really. 

Listening to your own doom.

Claire, who was just a curious child, pressed her ear to the wooden door and listened to their conversation.

The room was filled with anxious noises and angry tones.

The anxious noises were from the servants, 

And the angry ones... 

From her parents.

"Are you training her enough?" 

"Yes, Lord Fortunatorum..."

"Claire is still not in the level of Duke Feuerlon's child! How can she become a prodigy when she can't be better than anyone else!"

"My lord, we are doing all we can to train Claire... it will take some time..."

"Do you know how many pregnancies I have terminated just to have a child that resembles Eulalia?!"

"M-my lady..."

"We have consulted even dark magicians just to help us conceive a child with similar features as that of Eulalia! And bow you're telling me that we need to wait for her to improve?!"

"Train her harder! You shouldn't let her rest!"

"B-but that would—"

"I don't care if that child won't feel human or what." It was Claire's mother who spouted these words. "Just raise her into a powerful mage who's worthy to be a prodigy! That's why she's brought upon this world—to bring us glory! Frankly, if she didn't manifest Eulalia's appearance, I would have aborted her as soon as possible!"

A tool.

That was what Claire is.

That night, Claire knew why she was born to this world. The path of lilies under the moonlight no longer gave her the same childish comfort, nor did the grass' feeling under her soles did not give her a sense of freedom.

That night, 

Claire was no longer a hopeful child...

But a tool.

A tool for her parents.

A tool to reclaim the glory of the Fortunatorum clan.

**

"I have frozen my heart. There is no physical weapon that could destroy it..." The queen's tears began to resurface. "I am the one who rules the castle, and none shall defeat me..."

Claire turned away from the queen.

"Rest," she murmurs. "Undead queen."

Faustina blinked. Everyone was in awe—Claire had just defeated the undead queen in a moment's notice. All by herself. Claire's eyes darted towards Faustina and then averted with a sigh.

"What are you all doing?" Claire asked. 

They were all in a reverie. Still in a dream-like nightmare. The undead queen's life flashed before their eyes and now they cannot do anything but let their minds float somewhere else. Claire stared at Faustina, who was looking at her anxiously. Before Claire could muster a word—

"How did you know the undead queen is here?" It was Anakin who had spoken. "Did you have prior knowledge about this, Claire?"

Claire only smiled. "Oh. Was I obligated to tell? I didn't know."

Anakin gritted his teeth. At first, he thought Claire was just the average noble... but then...

"Well, we have no time to chat," Claire exclaimed, interrupting Anakin who was formulating a sarcastic response in his head. "Right, Leader Levi?"

Leviticus closed his eyes and then nodded.

"That's right."

"H-huh? So we're just going to have them tag along...?"

"Um... y-yeah..."

Leviticus only stared at Claire, who was simply smiling despite the situation. Leviticus couldn't tell what Claire was thinking. He knew she was suspicious from the start, but to know the weakness of the undead queen... that was just wholly on another level.

"Well, we have no time to waste. Do you guys have speculations on what the exit route might be?"

Although Leviticus wanted to ask so many questions, there were more pressing matters at hand.

"No," Leviticus answered.

"Heeh. Here I thought you actually knew how to escape this," Claire sighed once again. "What about you, Lady Faustina?"

Faustina blinked. "M-me?" She asked as she pointed to herself.

"Yes." Claire smiled.

"I... don't particularly know..."

Claire sighed once again. "Okay. Looks like no one has thought it through, huh?"

Anakin scowled. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think I have figured out how the undead royals operate. Their soul occupies the room they're fond of, or where they died." Claire exclaimed. "The queen is in the halls because it's her sanctuary. The princess is in her room because that is probably where she died. The undead prince is in places where his remains are scattered. All have corresponding places where they belong."

"So?"

Faustina blinked. How did Claire know about those things?

"So I figured, from the undead queen's memory, there is probably a hint where the undead king is."

"Definitely not the greenhouse," Leviticus answered. "We already checked there."

"Then where is the other place he goes?" Claire smirked. "Other than his queen's chambers..."

Faustina blinked.

"Th-the maid's quarters...?" Faustina uttered, which made Claire smile.

"That's right!"

Anakin scoffed at Claire, "how are you so sure that's the right place?"

Claire tilted her head.

"I am a descendant of Eulalia Fortunatorum. What do you expect?"