CH 24

My body is trembling.

It’s so apparent that anyone could see it, and I can’t stop it myself.

“Aria?”

Yuren-kun looks at me with concern.

I don’t want to make him worry, but I can’t stop it.

I’m scared.

I’m so scared that I don’t even know what I’m scared of.

An absolute terror attacks my whole body, and I can’t even speak.

“… It seems that the conversation has ended.”

When I hear Prince Laurus’ voice, my body reacts greatly.

Thanks to the exaggerated shaking, the shaking in my body subsides slightly.

Prince Laurus stands up and speaks to me.

“I will come again in three days. If you are willing to take the request, please prepare the item.”

“Y-Yes…”

I can’t refuse anymore.

Without waiting for my answer, Prince Laurus starts to leave.

“Well then.”

“Before you go, can I ask you one thing?”

It was Yuren-kun who called out to him.

Prince Laurus turns around.

“What is it?”

“This afternoon, while we were out, she and I were attacked.”

“Oh? That’s unfortunate. Are you injured?… Oh, thankfully you’re not.”

“Yes, the one who was targeted was not me, but her.”

Yuren-kun glares at Prince Laurus.

Prince Laurus, on the other hand, calmly responds with an unaffected expression, “Oh, really? What happened?”

“The attacker had an item with your royal emblem on it.”

“What! That’s surprising.”

“Do you have any idea about this?”

Tension fills the air.

It was clear that both Hisui-san and Laura-san, who were also present, were looking at the prince with suspicion.

“I’m afraid I have no idea. However, if someone from the royal family is involved, we cannot ignore it. I will investigate as well.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

“Very well. Goodbye.”

And then, Prince Laurus leaves the room.

He appeared like a sudden storm, swirled around me, and left me feeling like a huge hole had opened up in my slowly healing heart.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

“Are you sure? He’s the one who requested for Aria to be attacked.”

“That’s a reckless judgment, Head Department. There is no evidence.”

“Is that so? Do you think there’s someone else?”

“Well, yeah, but…”

After the conversation, we returned to the first room.

While Laura-san and Hisui-san were talking, I sat silently.

Yuren-kun, who was sitting next to me, spoke up.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yeah.”

His expression seemed to suggest that I didn’t seem okay.

I wasn’t okay.

There were too many things happening at once and my mind couldn’t keep up.

“Hisui, Head Department Laura, sorry to bother you, but could you leave us alone for a while?”

“Understood.”

“That seems like a good idea.”

With Yuren-kun’s words, the two left the room.

I looked at Yuren-kun, not understanding why.

There was silence.

“Yuren-kun?”

“On the way to this castle, you talked about how different we are even though we are both princes, didn’t we?”

“Yeah…”

“Did something happen between you two?”

I gulp instinctively.

Yuren-kun looks at me with a serious expression.

It was clear from his tone of voice that he wasn’t just asking casually.

“That is…”

I should tell him.

At first, it was only my problem.

But now, I am the court Transmutation Master of Salem Kingdom.

My circumstances might involve this country and Yuren-kun.

No, I may have already involved them.

It’s not good to keep it hidden.

Even though I know that, my words get stuck in my throat.

I am scared.

I am scared of telling the truth and being blamed.

I am scared of being hated…

Yuren-kun holds my hand, sensing my fear.

“Don’t worry. Whatever happened, I am on Aria’s side.”

“Yuren-kun…”

“That’s why, please tell me. I want to help you.”

“…Yeah.”

I will tell Yuren-kun.

Because I felt that way, I told him everything.

I didn’t hide anything, including my feelings at the time.

He listened attentively without interrupting from beginning to end.

And when I finished talking…

“First of all, you’re not at fault. He is.”

I felt like he would say that because he was kind.

When he actually said it, I felt his kindness even more.

“He took advantage of your position. Anyone would have a hard time refusing in the same situation. And you still refused in the end, right? Then you’re not at fault.”

“Well… maybe, but the fact that someone got hurt by something I made…”

“That’s what’s bothering you.”

“Yes?”

Yuren-kun was troubled.

He listened to my story and there was something he couldn’t understand.

“Just to confirm, can that guy use Transmutation Art?”

“His Highness Laurus? He shouldn’t be able to.”

“Then, was the poison stored in a created state and then stolen?”

“No, I only worked out the theory and didn’t actually make it. So all I had were documents…”

Huh?

Oh, then how did Prince Laurus get his hands on the poison if he can’t use Transmutation Art?

“There are other collaborators. Another Transmutation Master like you is helping him. That person also made the poison based on your data.”

“What? Who is it?”

“I don’t know if you don’t have any idea, Aria. But, it’s certain that you didn’t make it. If we can identify the collaborator, you won’t be held responsible.”

“W-Well, that’s true but…”

How can we identify them?

I have no idea.

Could it be another Transmutation Master working at the court?

If so, that person would have collaborated knowing that it was poison.

Is there really someone like that?

“At this point, it doesn’t matter who it is. We need to expose his wrongdoings somehow… Can you make a truth serum?”

“Well, y-yes, I can.”

“Then let’s make him speak the truth with his own mouth. Preferably in front of the king over there, not us. If we leave him alone, he will only commit more crimes.”

“But, but that’s impossible.”

I thought what he was saying was wishful thinking.

“But we have to do it. Otherwise, you will be charged with a crime and be punished. Even if you were to return, you would be killed. That assassin is good evidence. You, who know the truth, will be a hindrance to him. He intends to prepare only what he needs and get rid of you.”

“But…”

His Highness Laurus would do it.

He’s that kind of person.

“Aria, you’re not someone who can just end it here.”

“B-But…”

My sins do not change.

For whatever reason, I have created an opportunity to hurt people.

I made it happen.

Even if kind words are spoken to me, I don’t think I can ever erase this sense of guilt.

“If you feel guilty, you should stop him even more. To prevent any more sacrifices. That would be redemption.”

“Redemption…”

To stop him.

As Yuren-kun said, if left alone, things could get worse.

I don’t even know who the poison I was asked to make will be used on.

Laurus may look calm, but his heart is pure black.

I cannot…I must not leave things be.

Precisely because I know his true nature, I must stop him.

“Understood. I…will try.”

“Yes, I’ll help too.”

“Thank you, Yuren-kun.”

Thanks to him, I have made up my mind.

To continue working in this palace.

I will now settle the past grudges and confrontations.