Chapter 74
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Chapter 74
At the Duchess's proposal, Chesa blinked.
Chesa knew how to make such things.
It wasn't merely knowing how—whenever she wielded her fairy power, it sparkled brilliantly without restraint.
Well, the Duchess didn't know Chesa was a fairy, but still.
'Does she want to teach me magic right now?'
Chesa had once shattered the Duchess's tracking spell.
She'd thought it had been glossed over without comment.
'She must have mistaken me for someone with magical talent.'
No wonder she'd been winking and making a fuss ever since they first met at the Holy Temple.
Mages were peculiar creatures who seemed to relish taking on disciples and instructing them.
There were reasons—a disciple's achievements enhanced their own mastery, and given how few mages existed, they sought to preserve their accumulated knowledge and maintain their lineage.
But from what Chesa had observed thus far....
Mages simply loved to boast.
It seemed like an occupational trait.
The only quiet mages were dark mages.
'Because they'd be executed if caught using dark magic after bragging about it.'
In any case, Chesa was a fairy with no magical talent.
Fulfilling Duchess Ibroyel's wish presented considerable difficulty, leaving her no choice but to refuse.
Chesa shook her head firmly.
The Duchess's eyes widened.
"Why...?"
It seemed that sparkling gaze was her signature move.
The shocked Duchess clung to her pathetically.
"No, isn't this to your liking? Just wait a moment. I'll create something far more magnificent!"
Kieran stopped her as she forgot her surroundings and suddenly began drawing a massive magical circle.
"Your Grace."
"...No, I was merely...."
Duchess Ibroyel withdrew her magical power and reluctantly handed Chesa back to Kieran.
She gazed at Chesa with evident disappointment before speaking.
"Let's have a longer conversation next time. I'll visit you."
The Duchess smacked her lips and pointed behind her with a finger.
"Count, spare me a moment. There's someone I'd like to introduce."
Kieran handed Chesa to Ishuel, who stood beside him, and obediently followed her.
Ishuel deftly cradled Chesa and adjusted the slightly askew ornament in her hair.
"Allowing you to recognize that the power I possess is merely trivial sleight of hand."
Chesa observed intently the Singer who performed the Fairy Queen's song.
Beneath a floral crown woven abundantly with flowers, luxuriant wavy hair cascaded gracefully.
Small flowers and jewels adorning the strands of hair sparkled dazzlingly as they caught the chandelier's light.
Her large eyes, rosy cheeks, and crimson lips were extraordinarily beautiful.
Singing within the illusory magic of flower petals scattered by mages, she appeared as dreamlike as a scene from a fantasy.
Yet Chesa gazed at her with disappointed eyes.
'As expected, it's rather difficult for a human to play the role of a fairy queen.'
She was truly beautiful, but fell far short of what a fairy queen should be.
A fairy queen was, after all, a queen in the truest sense.
Being crafted from the most beautiful thing in the world, she should possess a nobility and mystique surpassing any other fairy.
Of course, I had never actually met a fairy queen myself.
Yet like an instinct carved into my very being, I felt certain of how a fairy queen should be.
'I wish I could remember how to grow back into an adult instead of thinking about things like this.'
While Chesa harbored these conflicted thoughts, the song drew toward its conclusion.
"As your servant, I offer the most precious thing."
A voice that soared to a dizzying height performed the aria with intricate vocal techniques.
Several in the audience wiped away tears with handkerchiefs as the heavenly voice unfolded its melody.
The Singer knelt and removed the floral crown resting upon her head.
"Glory of the sacred, may it be eternal and immortal."
She raised the hand holding the crown toward the heavens.
Brilliant light poured down, and her crown vanished, enveloped in sacred white radiance.
The song had ended.
Thunderous applause filled the Ballroom.
Among those clapping until their palms grew raw, some even shed tears of emotion.
Surrounded by the cheering crowd, Chesa felt utterly isolated.
A rising nausea gripped my stomach at the sight of it all.
The moment I saw the Singer offering her crown.
A strange thought occurred to me.
Hundreds of years ago, when the fairy queen offered her crown to the Holy King.
The Holy Empire was already conducting experiments on the fairies to uncover the secrets of immortality.
Had the fairy queen truly praised the divine and offered her crown of her own will?
History was always written from the perspective of the victor.
It was entirely possible that records preserved a truth far different from reality.
What if the queen had not praised the divine.
What if she had not offered the crown with her own hands....
The horrifying imagination that surfaced unbidden made Chesa retch.
With trembling hands, I grasped at Ishuel's sleeve.
"...Chesa?"
"I don't feel well...."
Ishuel startled and whispered urgently to Karha.
"What do we do? My sister says she's not feeling well. I think there are just too many people."
I looked for my dependable older brother, but Belzeon was engaged in quiet conversation with young nobles from other families.
Ishuel quickly scooped up the wilting Chesa and spoke hurriedly.
"Let me take her outside for some fresh air. Stay here."
Karha naturally moved to follow along.
"Let's go together."
"You stay here! If you carelessly ruin the outfit, I'll kill you."
"Okay...."
But faced with Ishuel's forceful threat, I could only nod obediently.
Ishuel led Chesa toward the Terrace.
But there was no empty Terrace.
After wandering through several areas, Ishuel gave up and headed out to the Garden.
"Phew...."
The fresh air opened up my breathing.
Chesa eagerly inhaled the fragrance of flowers and the scent of grass.
Since Duchess Ibroyel had filled the entire Garden with fresh flowers, the floral fragrance was so rich that my mood brightened immediately.
Several people were strolling through the Garden to escape the commotion of the Ballroom.
They each held glasses of champagne from the tables set at one side of the Garden, sipping slowly while enjoying the subtle music flowing from the Ballroom.
The outdoor tables were prepared with not only various types of alcohol including champagne, but also fruit juices and light refreshments.
Ishuel set Chesa down on a bench near the table and sat beside her.
"I'm all better now!"
Chesa, who had recovered quickly, exclaimed cheerfully.
"Still, let's sit for a bit longer before going back. If we go in too soon, you might get dizzy again."
Ishuel fidgeted with her toes before speaking suddenly.
"Did you see how everyone kept staring at us? They kept asking which Dressmaking Establishment the outfit came from."
Pleased with the achievement I had accomplished, my cheeks flushed with pride.
"Ah, I just hope Karha doesn't ruin the outfit or accessories before the ball ends."
I complained that he was too careless, wishing he'd be at least half as nimble during sword training as he normally was.
Since Karha was rough with clothes, I had warned him firmly even before coming to the Ballroom, yet I remained anxious.
"It's been so long since I've liked something this much. The hair ornament is so pretty too...."
Ishuel's platinum hair was tied up with an ornate ribbon decorated with lace.
Seeing that she liked the ribbon Hata had made, Chesa felt proud too.
Ishuel poked Chesa's cheek with her finger and whispered.
"My sister is so pretty too."
We were facing each other and smiling brightly.
Suddenly, at the sound of hurried footsteps approaching, Chesa turned in surprise.
Ishuel immediately stood up and blocked Chesa.
Splash!
The sound of something spilling rang out.
"Oh no."
The sweet scent of fruit juice spread through the air.
A red stain rapidly spread across Ishuel's outfit.
The person holding the empty glass shrugged and spoke.
"Sorry, my mistake."
It was the Silver-haired Boy wearing Hata's hat.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org