Despair (2)

After taking the medicine Arthur gave her, her quick recovery allowed her to participate in the upcoming succession ceremony without worrying.

Erasing the despair deeply embedded in the body and dressing up as a calm her. Unnecessary emotions are only weaknesses, and she just has to pretend to be okay.

‘It’s okay, I’ve been waiting for it.’

Stand up straight and leave the room with a confident look. Even if she didn’t tell them, everyone knows the stories are gossiping about her.

People’s guesses about missing Carl were also heard, pretending not to know.

‘She sold him to the devil.’

‘He was sacrificed to save her eternal life.’

‘The reason why the court ladies of the Imperial palace disappear is because of the Princess.’

People may be looking at her as a witch, and it wasn’t all wrong. Carl was sacrificed for her, and she got her life.

When she appeared at the banquet hall in such a fine state, everyone closed their mouths firmly and stared at her. The authenticity of the rumor is no longer important, and it is just judged as being seen.

Their eyes stand sharp together. As her body was cut one by one by the gaze, her expression became stronger and stronger.

Standing in front of her father, she bowed her head.

It was the day when she achieved her long-cherished desire. There was no disagreement between her inheriting the throne and becoming an Emperor in the future. She took her breath by correcting her disturbed composure.

“Princess Mary Anastasia. Will you swear to uphold the will of the Arpen Empire and protect and lead the people?”

“I swear.”

The crown was placed over her bowing head. People’s whispers subsided when heavy swords were placed on both stretched hands.

It was a sword that defended Arpen and a symbol of power that came down from the previous Emperor.

Upon accepting the sword, the long silence was broken as soon as she stood up.

The banquet began with the voices of people’s excitement. Music fills the banquet hall, and people’s expressions ease.

“Mary, you look exhausted.”

“It’s okay. It’s just that I left the room after a long time, so don’t worry.”

She was just frustrated. As she turned her head and looked around, she saw a face she didn’t want to see.

She brazenly pushed her face in and stared at Nox, she smiled brightly at Nox’s smirk.

Her hands were numb with anger. Her eyes were not cold, but they were sinking, and she slowly moved to Nox.

‘Don’t laugh. You don’t deserve it.’

He doesn’t know the meaning of laughter, and pretends to know what happiness is. His empty smile rarely calmed down her anger.

She expected him to come here to see her, but she didn’t know he would look at her proudly. Other people were also not even paying attention to whether he was visible.

By the time she approached Nox, she was turned by someone.

“…Arthur.”

“You can’t go.”

“Let go of me.”

She struggled to escape Arthur’s arms, but it was useless. His hard hands held her waist and pulled it toward the stage. She held hands countless times and danced to the music in everyone’s eyes.

She stared at Nox’s eyes and weighed his lips.

“What are you doing? Are you crazy because you want to die?”

“What do you think you can do to him? You didn’t even come up with a proper contract.”

“……I don’t think I need to hear this advice from you.”

She pushed Arthur away and took a couple of steps back. She was acting impulsively, but she knew she couldn’t do anything about it right now. She just didn’t want to see his smiling face.

“Well, looking at Nox’s face, this isn’t bad either.”

Looking at her and Arthur, Nox’s face was crumpled with anger.

“He looks pretty angry.”

If she thought the other way, she was rather an advantage. Nox’s eyes were asking why Arthur and not him.

Is the contract really completely broken?

Arthur no longer has to experience death repeatedly. She also didn’t have to dwell on it because she didn’t know when she would die.

The string connecting her and Arthur finally broke. At Nox’s persistent gaze, she hugged Arthur closely and whispered in his ear.

“I need to get rid of Viblant.”

They have to break down the world created by Nox. Viblant, which is his strength and a place to rest, must disappear.

Arthur spoke in such a small voice that only she could hear from his serious expression and tone.

“It’s not impossible.”

That it is not impossible means that it is possible on the contrary. For him, Viblant may mean something else.

They have been together for many years, and it must have been his home and his only space.

Nevertheless, she asked Arthur to break down his nest.

For her sake.

“Sure, do it for me. It makes Nox disappear from my sight.”

“If that’s what you really want.”

“I want it. Because I want to see him collapse.”

She didn’t mean to not to sign a contract with Nox, and she just wanted to bring it down to despair a little more perfectly. And she didn’t want to see Arthur disappearing by Nox.

Arthur was now also a being who could be killed at any time. There was nothing impossible to get rid of when the contract was broken.

“Don’t die at the hands of others.”

Something she didn’t have to say came out of her mouth. Arthur’s face seemed to be shaded, but it was quickly removed.

“I’ll take your order.”

At that moment, Carl came to mind. A bitter smile spread on her face. Did he answer on behalf of Carl knowing that she was missing him?

He kissed the back of his hand lightly and moved away from her. While staring blankly at the place where he left, she turned away. Where Nox was, it was already filled with others.

***