CH 104

“I will prove it now.”

When the viscount first put this necklace on Eristella, she wondered what his intention was.

Perhaps he gave her this necklace to test her.

‘That’s why I can clearly feel black magic only in this necklace.’

‘You who thought I would run away lost this time.’

“Let’s see what happens when I put magic into this necklace.”

‘Thanks. I figured out a way. This will prove the existence of dark magic.’

‘I’m now able to properly mess this place up.’

In this hall, there was a person who was sensitive to black magic like Leighton’s friend.

It was Eristella herself.

So, she decided to show her own condition as proof.

As everyone watched with bated breath…

The necklace exploded as it cracked. 

And, colliding with the black magic, Eristella collapsed.

‘It’s a grand welcoming ceremony.’

The sudden return of the princess, who then fell.

It took mere seconds for the banquet hall to become a mess.

By turning the place upside down, Eristella made it impossible for the business presentation to continue any longer.

Among the confused people, Heinricion stepped forward and took care of Eristella.

“Are you insane?”

Heinricion supported the fallen Eristella. His face was crumpled as if he was tired. 

Eristella, her mind still blurry, struggled to speak.

“This was only one way.”

Then she fell completely unconscious, leaving her body to Heinricion.

*******

‘Ugh. My head.’

Eristella felt dizzy, as if her head had been hit with a blunt instrument.

‘I think I heard some things after I fell.’

She heard a stiff voice right when she frowned and opened her eyes.

“It’s been three days.”

Blinking slowly, she thought, ‘I’ve slept for much longer than I thought.’

“You’ve abused your body. You’ve hurt yourself.”

Heinricion rebuked Eristella in a low voice.

“What happened?”

Eristella reflexively asked as soon as she opened her eyes.

In response, Heinricion sighed in frustration and said,

“The business presentation was immediately canceled, and the imperial knights immediately rushed in and are investigating.”

After Eristella fell, the situation was well sorted out thanks to the timely arrival of the imperial knights. 

The nobles in attendance were informed of the dangers of the objects and were asked to dispose of the ones they currently possess.

It was just the castle where the business presentation was held that was thoroughly searched, so were the residences of Viscount Diaclen.

Since the scope was wide and it was still in progress, it would take some time for the results to come out.

“We keep warning people about the dangers. I’m sure something will come out soon.”

“We must find something. No matter what.”

“We will. His Majesty has also stepped forward.”

Hearing that, Eristella felt a little relieved. 

But that wasn’t the only thing she had to worry about. Unable to fully let her guard down, Eristella asked,

“Declen… Viscount Diaclen?”

“As expected, he’s the black wizard you mentioned, right?”

Heinricion realized the moment Eristella revealed herself to the crowd.

Eristella nodded.

“It’s under investigation. There is no clear evidence yet, so we can’t hold him by force.”

Despite that, Eristella didn’t feel much disappointment or regret. Declen’s tail could never be caught that easily. 

“In the end, we still have to figure out how he put black magic into so many things.”

Indeed, they couldn’t solve everything just by Eristella’s direct demonstration.

First of all, it was important that with this opportunity, the business of the Viscount Diaclen was forced to be completely reexamined and a reason for the investigation was obtained.

“What about Oliver?”

(TL/N: I suppose this is the name of Leighton’s friend. Pfft, it sure took a while. When will the emperor get a name?)

She was worried that something might have happened while she was down.

“I made a neutralizer and fortunately, it’s quite effective. He is slowly recovering.”

While Eristella was asleep, Heinricion was busy examining Oliver and conducting research to neutralize his addiction to black magic.

“Considering how bad it was, it will take some time for him to fully recover. But now he’s up and hanging out with Leighton.”

Eristella smiled, thinking it was good enough for now.

“Did anything else happen while I was down?”

Instantly, Heinricion showed a strange reaction.

‘Why are you staring at me instead of answering right away?’

“Yes.”

“…What is it?”

With a serious expression, Heinricion said, 

“It was two days ago.”

Eristella was nervous, focusing intently on Heinricion’s impending words.

That day, before entering the banquet hall, Eristella created a dove with magic and sent instructions to the imperial knights.

— Something will happen soon. Wait nearby and come in the moment you sense something strange. —

It was to prepare for a possible disturbance by the black wizards when she fell.

‘Is there any problem? But I’ve thoroughly prepared just in case. The black wizards couldn’t have come forward.’

The Declen she knew was not one to reveal his identity right away.

“Huh…?”

Eristella blinked blankly.

She worried about all kinds of things, but the words that came out of Heinricion’s mouth were completely different from what she expected.

What really happened was…

While she was asleep, a controversy had arisen among the nobles who had accepted the return of the princess.

“Wait. Then what about the ghost commotion?”

“Was it done by the real princess?”

“How can she put on such a show? My, this is ridiculous. To think she is the imperial princess…”

Since the real princess appeared alive, there was no way there was a ghost.

Word spread and everyone got to know she orchestrated the disturbance.

“Oh right. I hadn’t thought of that.”

Eristella murmured as she belatedly heard about the people’s astonishment. 

When she started the ghost commotion, she didn’t think of the future.

‘I didn’t know that such preparation was necessary.’

Heinricion’s warning passed quickly.

Since it had already happened.

Quickly returning to her usual bold face, Eristella tilted her head. 

“But isn’t it rather a good thing?”

She heard that there were nobles who still confess in church that her soul appeared in their dreams.

“Thanks to that, they will sleep well from now on.”

However, Heinricion couldn’t agree.

‘Even if they don’t wake up from fear, I feel they’re going to find it hard to sleep with thoughts of unfairness.’

But really, it didn’t matter.

Anyway, the nobles complained that they were made fun of, but that was all.

The fact that the princess had returned was far more important to them.

“Anyway, it’s fine.”

“Her Imperial Highness has returned, so there is no need to worry.”

Whether they liked her or not, they had the firm belief that the princess’ presence alone would drive harm away from the empire.

“I’m not afraid of black magic or something else. We have the princess.”

“There will be no more anxiety.”

People were shocked yet relieved at the belated realization.

—Princess Eristella will protect them from the black wizard.

Of course, there were also those who trembled with shame as they remembered what had happened that day.

*******

Eristella’s eyes widened when the emperor came. For some reason, it seemed like the tails of his eyes were slightly lowered.

“You’re still the same. Charging head-first into an accident.”

It was an unpleasant nagging out of concern.

“Sorry.”

Eristella lowered her tail straight away. For a moment, surprise was present in Heinricion’s eyes.

‘What did you just say?’

‘Were you the kind of person who apologizes so easily?’

Her past words and actions towards him swirled in his mind like a kaleidoscope.

‘How scary is it when my brother gets angry?’

Receiving Heinricion’s silent protest, Eristella simply smirked and turned away.

Then she smiled at the emperor, going ‘ehehehehehe’.

The emperor sighed deeply and squeezed Eristella’s hand tightly.

“Didn’t I tell you that you shouldn’t hurt yourself no matter what?”

“I will definitely do that next time.”

Eristella nodded eagerly and spoke as though she was making a promise.

“If this happens again, I will never forgive you.”

The emperor gave a terrifying warning. However, only his face was stern; his voice was already soft.

“But why am I here?”

It was only now that Eristella asked about her surroundings.

“It bothered me since I opened my eyes, but this is my palace, isn’t it?”

Yes. This was the Princess Palace where Eristella lived.

“The princess has officially returned. So you can’t go to the grand duchy.”

The place where the princess, who returned after nearly a year, would be staying was naturally the Princess Palace.

Due to the long time she spent at the Grand Duchy of Adelesia, Eristella forgot about it for a moment. 

Ame: We have black wizards to catch, but a part of me wants a ‘missing you’ arc T^T