Chapter 60:

Chapter 60:

Chapter 60: The Blossom in the Western Forest

There was a woman who had lost her child.

The child was a twin.

The woman was a witch, and she struggled desperately to save her twins. Her husband, a man of high status, disapproved of her actions.

In the end, the woman renounced her status. She immersed herself in her work and finally achieved some results.

Though she couldnt bring back the lost lives, she was able to hold onto their souls in one place.

However, the woman was cursed.

- You shall neither see nor touch your twins.

The woman continued her research and wrote books in her spare time.

She hoped that anyone who came to this forest after reading her book would be guided by her daughters and bring news of them to her.

****

Is Elenia alright?

Yes.

She always seemed sad because of us. We were a nuisance. She had that same look then.

Sushia stroked the girls hair.

No, your mother loved you very much.

But Elenia never told us she loved us.

Thats true. She always got angry when we called her mom.

Ascal pondered for a moment before approaching the girl.

May I take off your hat for a moment?

...Will you dislike us then?

That will never happen.

...Then, its okay.

Ascal removed the girls pointed hat. As expected, there were patches of hair missing, and the exposed skin on her head was stained with black spots.

Witchs disease...

Witchs Diseasea rare, congenital illness that afflicts only a handful of children. Those born with this disease often dont survive past childhood.

No one knew a cure. After someone coined the term Witchs Disease for children believed to be born under a witchs curse, the name stuck.

This condition, and the mothers of the afflicted children, were deemed accursed.

Ascal gently touched the girls head.

It tickles... hehe.

You must have gone through so much.

Ascal looked back at Elenia, who was watching his actions with a vacant gaze, clearly terrified.

What... what did the children say? Do they hate me? Do they despise me?

They asked if you were alright.

Elenia had trapped the souls of her children in the forest but was too frightened to approach them actively, scared of what they might say.

The news brought by visitors was probably all she could handle.

Are these children reaching their limit?

Sushia asked, observing the state of the children.

Yes.

You may have bound them to this land, but I can see that the connection is gradually weakening. Maybe, at most, by the end of todayRight. Ive tried everything, but its been in vain.

Elenia responded with a sense of resignation.

Is this why you confessed that the medicine was actually poison?

Yes. I wanted to take revenge while the children were still here, but now its pointless.

The Empire had abandoned these children, not even recognizing them as human. In return, she wanted to set the Empire ablaze.

She wanted to inflict maximum pain on the father who had forsaken his children, keeping him alive just long enough to witness his empire crumble before his eyes. But now, it was too late.

Elenia laughed as if she had lost her senses.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Suddenly, Fer rushed in and kicked Elenia with its front hooves.

Kyah!

It seemed to have controlled its strength, as Elenia merely sprawled on the ground. Even Fer must have found the sight pitiful.

Dont hurt Elenia.

Stop it.

The two girls wrapped their bodies around Elenias, shielding her with their tiny forms even though they couldnt physically touch her.

This is absurd!

Sushia crossed her arms in anger, looking up at Elenia as if to say she should speak her mind.

Talking about revenge on the Empire, saying its pointless, I cant understand any of it. Isnt this supposed to be for the children?

What am I supposed to do then...

Play with them.

But Elenia couldnt see the girls.

How were they supposed to play together?

Sushia drew a line in the dirt with a stick.

Indeed.

Elenia watched Sushias actions with curiosity.

Come on, kids! Its the stick game! The first to complete it wins!

It was tic-tac-toe.

The childrens eyes lit up.

Ill go first!

One girl drew an O right in the center.

Sushia handed the stick to Elenia.

Your turn now.

What is this...

Hurry up.

Elenia drew an X next to the O.

Soon, a new O appeared next to the X Elenia had drawn, a bit squished.

Lorian?

Lorian had always struggled to draw a perfect circle.

Elenia quickly drew another X. This time, the new circle was elongated.

Flora.

They were whimsical children. Instead of aiming to win the game, they seemed to find joy in simply drawing circles anywhere on the board.

Elenia, too, started drawing Xs in random places. Circles even started appearing outside the drawn lines.

I cant lose.

Elenia found herself smiling as she began to draw more Xs.

Dozens of Os. Dozens of Xs.

The circles seemed to lean against Elenias Xs, as if trying to follow her lead.

Oh no. Ive lost.

Elenia declared her defeat as if following the whimsical rules set by the children.

Wow! We beat Elenia!

Lorian and Flora laughed, and Elenia laughed along with them. Even though they were invisible, she could tell where her daughters were.

Dance, Sushia.Starlight was invisible under the sun.

Sushia looked distressed, suddenly seeming like a psychopath.

Just then, Fer stretched its front legs, readying itself.

Here we go!

The day was bright. Fer ran effortlessly through the trees, the wind refreshing.

****

Nice to meet you. As of today, Ive received official permission to open a new fortune-telling shop. Ive come to distribute some sweets.

Im the clerk, Lorian!

And Im the cashier, Flora!

Elenia, her face beaming with joy, looking so radiant it was hard to believe she was the same person from yesterday, bowed slightly to Ascal.

...Im the minister here. Who gave you the permission?

Oh. There you are, Ascal.

The Crown Prince, showing himself at the Evaluation Department for the first time in a while, smiled refreshingly.

I was the one who granted the permission.

Cough. Even if you are His Highness the Crown Prince, setting up a common merchant without consulting me...

Is that so? Its not every day someone gets the experience of employing a nations Empress. A former one, but still.

...What did you say?

Elenia smiled gently.

Come to think of it, I never told you my previous name.

Excuse me?

I am Ellen Barba, the former Empress of the Barba Empire. Of course, now Im just a fortune teller.

Ellen Barba.

One day, she disappeared, and her name was erased from history as the first empress of Kamalon Barba.Shes my mother.

What kind of, this cant be, then what about the princesses...

I do meet with Serena from time to time. Its always better to have a daughter whos more sociable than a gruff son.

Ha. Vanishing without a word and now this. What are you saying, mother?

It then occurred to him, he first met Elenia in the guise of an old woman. He remembered how she had watched Yulia for an unusually long time. And setting up an illegal street stall around the Evaluation department on purpose.

Well, what can you do? If I had revealed myself to you, Yulia would have killed me.

Yulia does have her obsessive tendencies.

The Empress of the royal family... a witch?

Oh dear. Youve discovered the secret. We cant have that. Lorian. Flora.

Lorian and Flora stuffed candies into Ascals mouth.

Mmph!

Well, youve discovered the secret. Now youre in the same boat as the Empire. Though, youve been aboard all along. If you were considering emigration or retirement...

The Crown Prince spoke.

Snap out of it.

And with that, the Crown Prince disappeared with a laugh.

Of course, you wouldnt have thought of that, for you are someone, the hidden dragon and sturdy pillar of the Empire! Hahahaha! Continue to protect the Empire! But, having risen so high, why are you still called the hidden dragon?

****

Laika was in the editorial office of the Empires newspaper.

Memories have resurfaced.

What business does a traitor have here?

The forger.

A man with a prosthetic leg spoke coldly, leaning on his cane.

Do not casually mention that name.

Yet, I must express my gratitude to you.

What nonsense is that?

Laika pulled out copies of the Empires newspaper and magazine, filled with articles advocating for the Cat tribe, massage parlors, and their entry into the Empire.

J.S., thats another of your pseudonyms.

You.

At first, I thought it was mere coincidence. But when I put it all together, it became clear. Clapping requires two hands. The minister employed us without discrimination, and someone took up the pen.

Laika knelt, extending both palms forward in a gesture of utmost gratitude.

Thank you. Truly, thank you for saving our kin.

How amusing. I just wrote articles about the Cat tribe because they were well-received. It was just the flow of the times.

The article youre writing now, is it about a witch?

Yes. The shocking truth that the Empress of the Empire was actually a witch. This will shake the Empire to its core.

Forger, youre inherently one-legged.

The forger looked down at his leg, fitted with a new prosthetic developed by the Department of Development and Innovation. It was affordable, widely available, and so efficient that it caused no inconvenience.

Weve faced much discrimination, simply for being born this way.

Yes. And thats why you sought to destroy the Empire. I dont know why Im telling this to a traitor.

"..."

Do you still harbor hatred for the Empire?

Of course...

The forger found himself unable to complete his sentence. The hatred that should have surged from deep within was suddenly blocked, as if stuck in his throat.

Release the witch. She too has suffered long enough.

But.

Im asking you, please.

......

The forger dropped the article he was writing onto the floor.

Damn it! My original draft, not even copied! If I lose this, I wont be able to submit the article on time! This is serious.

Laika eyed the paper that had fallen before him.

Chewing thoughtfully.

It tasted good, must be using quality paper.

This is indeed serious. All the evidence within it would be lost as well.

What can one do? Such is life. Ill have to rewrite it.

The forger picked up his pen.

I heard flowers are blooming in the western forest of the Empire. The place thats always gloomy, known as a spot for suicides and strictly off-limits. That should make for a good filler.

Whats the name of the flower?

Camellia, or something like that...

****

Sushia spoke up.

Im back. Former director.

Werent he supposed to have found peace?

Im not sure.

Sushia has been taking lessons from Elenia from time to time. She seemed to have gotten the hang of controlling her ability to see ghosts.

Ah!

Sushia doused him with water.

-Oh, oh, oh.

The former director found peace once again.

[TL: You can support the translation and read 5 chapters ahead of the release here on Patreon: /OracleTls]