Chapter 25

The person of fate, is that ██ magic?

To think I’d only realize such an important thing now.

I’m no longer the daughter of the Frenzel Ducal House.

I was prepared to be disowned by Father when I made my presentation, but to hear that not only the Frenzel Ducal House but the entire country was gone… what am I supposed to do?

(Feeling anxious is because I don’t know anything. First, I need to find out!!)

That’s right. In all things, gathering information is crucial!!

I somehow managed to pull myself together and raised my face.

His Highness Lian was frowning, his expression stern.
He was probably thinking about the words I’d just said.

“Lady Felicia, you didn’t seal yourself away voluntarily, nor were you holed up for years… is that correct?”

I nodded in confirmation.
Then, I voiced the question that had been nagging at me.

“To begin with, is it even possible to stay in the same space for five hundred years? I’m human. I can’t live for five hundred years…”

I have no sense that five hundred years have passed.

To me, it was five days.
I spent that time watching the wall clock in the room, so there’s no mistake about it.
In response to my words, His Highness Lian spoke slowly.

“…We assumed you were the Witch of Grief and Sorrow. That you entered the room of your own volition—”

“Wait a moment. What’s this about grief and sorrow? I’m neither grieving nor sorrowful. I stayed in that room for five days because I had things to do. I wasn’t shutting myself away in despair.”

“…There are various rumors about the witch of the sealed room. But the one thing they all agree on is—”

At that, His Highness Lian averted his gaze, as if hesitant to continue.
Then, he said softly:

“…‘She was betrayed by her fiancé and fell into the depths of despair.’”

“Huh…”

I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
It’s true that I was betrayed by my fiancé.
Felix-sama wouldn’t call it betrayal, though.
He doesn’t even realize he betrayed me.

“Wanting Onee-sama is [fate], so it can’t be helped.”

He genuinely believes that.
If it’s fate, it’s not betrayal, he thinks.

It’s true I was betrayed.
But even so, I didn’t fall into the depths of despair.

If anything, it was a turning point, a moment to decide to live my own life.

Suddenly, a thought struck me.

(…How much does His Highness Lian know?)

Raising my face, I asked him:

“Do you know about Onee-sama and Felix-sama? Those two…”

They were [fated], I was about to continue, but His Highness Lian answered first.

“Yes, I know. It was due to charm magic, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, the person of fate—… Wait, charm!?”

Seeing me let out an unladylike, shrill voice, His Highness Lian now looked perplexed.

“Historical records state that Agnes Frenzel used charm magic to ensnare Crown Prince Felix. That was the trigger that later caused the First Great Magic War, or so we, the people of later generations, believe.”

“Onee-sama and Felix-sama were fated. They had matching patterns on the backs of their hands… Even the temple blessed it. The prophetic priest said so. For mages, there’s such a thing as fate.”

In my panic, my words became incoherent.
To His Highness Lian, it must be unclear what I’m trying to say.

(Calm down, I need to organize my thoughts.)

I tried to quiet my chaotic mind, but why? how? what? kept racing through my head.

Because the person of fate is an absolute system—

And to think it was due to charm… magic.

If that’s true.

If that’s the case.

Then I.

Felix-sama.

The social circles of Tsoabella.

(Everyone was deceived—)

To my confused self, His Highness Lian spoke in an eerily calm voice.

“The pattern… is it something like this?”

And then, he calmly unfastened the cufflinks of his sleeve and rolled it up.
His pale skin came into view.

I gasped at the sight.
On the inner side of His Highness Lian’s wrist—there, like an engraved mark, was the familiar red pattern.