Chapter 139: Bones

Chapter 139: Bones

On our way to Antoninuss house, Im meditating. By meditating, I mean Im taking a sneak peek at two massive, jingling

A backhand to my stomach almost makes me puke my breakfast.

Everyone stops, including my abuser.

Princess Laura towers over my bent figure.

Well, we can definitely keep going.

I straighten up and take a few steps forward, putting the Princess behind me.

The good thing about my hat is that it doesnt fall. Its magically glued to my head unless I try and remove it myself. Thats cool.

But my head inevitably goes back to one thought. To be more precise, two thoughts. Two massive thoughts.

Its the first time Princess Laura wears a robe that goes below her collarbone. Its similar to a dress but much more peculiar. And the one who took her measurements clearly did not account for the ginormous UFOs scuttling under the fabric.

Wait.

Are bras a thing here?

Lord Juler! Lord Juler!

Joey Luciani. I have been working on the equations for the gamma knife. My research shows that if we accelerate the mass of

Shh. Whatever! I have a very important question!Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Oh, another grand theory?

Kind of. Kind of.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Yeah, well. Do women wear any support for their chest? Apart from rudimentary bands, have [Tailors] made any specific garments to support womens graces?

Come again, student?

Bras? Have you ever heard the term? Can you look at my thoughts if I visualize an image?

Sure I canJoey Luciani! What is that?

As we near the house, we find a very inconspicuous building that looks exactly like the other fifty houses in this district. Nothing stands out. The doors, taller than your human standard, are closed.

Is this the place? I ask Gaius.

This is the place, Joey. Antoninuss mom whatever. If hes home, hell show you.

I knock on the door. Moments later, a stocky female Elf opens the door.

Hi, Im a friend of Antoninus. Joey Luciani, my pleasure, I extend a hand toward the woman. She shakes it but doesnt say much.

My brother is upstairs with Lucillus. My mom is ill. Could you come back later?

As she speaks, her eyes glance over us before zooming in on the Princess.

Your Highness! the stocky woman almost falls to the ground.

At rest, please, Princess Laura says. We would like to help. I have many means. Im sure I can help. Joey and I will enter. The rest of you, please wait.

Laura takes charge, enters the house, and, without even looking around, she opens a few doors, finding herself in Antoninuss company. I follow her, embarrassed by her aggressiveness.

Antoninus is crouching beside a bed. His enormous figure would be almost comical in this position if there werent a middle-aged woman, paler than snow, shaking and moaning in pain on the bed.

Your Highness? Lucillus speaks.

Antoninus doesnt turn. Instead, hes putting some kind of balm on his mothers limbs. His eyes are focused and grave, something I rarely see with the man.

I want to help, Princess Laura nods at the woman.

Shes suffering from a [Curse], Your Highness.

Lucillus lowers his gaze to the ground, powerless.

[Curse: Brittle Bones]. [Curse: Shaking Bones]. Even if she doesnt move around, her bones crack during the flare-ups.

Antoninus keeps putting the balm on her limbs after muttering a few words lifelessly. His mother is feverish and in a stuporous state.

Shes a Gold-rank. She got these curses a year ago after enlisting to rout a cabal of [Necromancers] terrorizing the countryside. Hundreds of Gold-ranks had participated thats standard procedure when facing hordes of low-level monsters. However, the [Necromancers] were much higher level than anyone could have imagined. In the end, almost every adventurer died. The army was called in, and the Royal Guard too. It was called the Cursed Battle of Bones. Thats because they later found out that those necromancers belonged to the Cult of Mauser. My mom survived. But no one managed to lift the curses. She killed their leader, but she hasnt been able to rise from the bed since then. Your Highness, the court had sent for special [Healers] and [Mages]. The curse is rooted deep in her bones. Theres nothing you can do.

Princess Laura opens her mouth to speak, but I hear only one voice. And its not hers.

That disgraced child, Lord Julers voice booms with unprecedented strength. His folly still taints this world.