Chapter 27

I have no choice but to own it!!

Hearing an unexpected name in an unexpected place, I couldn’t help but catch my breath.
His Highness Lian continued speaking calmly.

“She was a survivor of the Abercrombie family. The Abercrombie ability is the [Charm] effect. She tried to use it to become my fiancée. However, she only knew she could use the unique magic of charm, not how to wield it. That’s because nearly all documents related to unique magic were burned.”

I listened to his story, speechless.

(The Abercrombie Ducal House has passed down the unique magic of [Charm] through generations…?)

To begin with, wasn’t it Onee-sama who used charm magic?

As I thought that far, I realized a fundamental truth.

(No, Onee-sama has no magical power…)

She possesses only a minuscule amount of magic, just enough to sustain life. She shouldn’t be capable of manifesting or wielding unique magic.

(If that’s the case, did Onee-sama ask Arnold to…)

As I tried to recall their relationship, another question arose.

[The Abercrombie Ducal House passes down the same unique magic through generations]

…Is such a thing even possible?
No, it must be possible, since His Highness Lian was affected by charm magic.

(But… I’ve never heard of such a thing.)

Unique magic manifests individually in each person.
The idea of an ability being inherited by a child was, frankly, unbelievable.

(If it’s inherited by the Abercrombie Ducal House… then Arnold must have also possessed the unique magic [Unique Skill] of charm, right?)

“…”

Was that why he kept bothering me…?

But why?

No good.
There are too many things I don’t understand.

As I was lost in thought, His Highness Lian succinctly summarized the story.

“Even so, she forcibly tried to use unique magic—and as a result, she became someone who never returned. …Leaving me with this as a parting gift.”

His Highness Lian gave a wry smile, lifting his wrist to show me the inner side.
For him, being subjected to charm magic was utterly unwelcome. And since the perpetrator was deceased, the method to break the curse was unknown.
What a parting gift indeed.

I felt sympathy for his situation, but I had my own problems to deal with.

Because—

(If the pattern considered the [Person of Fate] in Tsoabella was actually caused by charm magic…)

That would mean the entire founding myth was a lie.

(If that fable was false… why? Who would create such a lie, and for what purpose?)

That question was like searching for something in the dark.
It was like peering into an abyss, trying to find truth within it.

No matter how much I thought, no answers came, and I felt like I’d stepped into a deep quagmire, leaving me speechless.

How long did silence linger in the room?
Suddenly, as if to change the mood, His Highness Lian clapped his hands with a snap.
Then, with a bright smile, he said:

“I’ve talked too much at once. Let’s pause here for now. Next, I’d like to hear your story, Lady Felicia.”

“That’s… fine with me.”

Hesitating, I nodded.

After all that, I couldn’t switch gears so quickly.

(There’s too much to think about…)

Arnold, Onee-sama.
The [Person of Fate] system.
The unique magic of charm.

The two Great Magic Wars that occurred over these five hundred years.

And—the biggest question of all: why did I end up in a world five hundred years in the future?

It’s a full course of mysteries, enough to make anyone confused and require time to sort through.

As I hesitated, His Highness Lian gave a soft smile.

“But—before that, shall we have a meal? Fortunately, the weather outside is nice today. If it’s alright with you, Lady Felicia, how about lunch with me outdoors?”

To His Highness Lian’s proposal, I replied:

“Yes… that’s right! Food is important. You can’t think clearly on an empty stomach, after all!”

Nodding enthusiastically, I answered.
An empty stomach leads to nothing good.
It’s a saying I heard in my previous life too.

Now that I thought about it, I was quite hungry.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t eaten anything since waking up.

For five days, all I consumed were a few pieces of preserved hardtack slathered with lemon curd.

By the third night, I realized I wouldn’t make it in time!! …So I cut down on meal times.
The last time I had a proper meal was—uhh.

(I don’t know how many days have passed now… but it’s been at least a full day, right?)

The moment I realized that, I felt a fierce hunger.
I hadn’t noticed, but I was apparently starving.

At that moment.
As if to say, “Exactly!! I’m starving!!” my stomach growled.

Guu…

It was a very small, discreet sound, but the timing was terrible.

In the quiet room, the sound echoed clearly—
And His Highness Lian, sitting across from me, blinked repeatedly.

“—!”

In an instant, I shot to my feet.
If it’s come to this, then—

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten anything for over a full day!! I’m terribly hungry~~!! I’ll gratefully accept your kind offer!!”

I have no choice but to own it!!