Chapter 36

The Witch of Grief’s Repayment

Upon returning to my room from the library, a servant of His Highness Lian came to visit.
He said the urgent matter was resolved, and Lian wished to continue our earlier conversation.

With no particular plans (being quite free), I accepted His Highness Lian’s invitation—and now, he’s guiding me through the castle’s courtyard.

It seems I crossed exactly five hundred years, and like Tsoabella, the Lumos Empire is transitioning from spring to early summer.

Stepping into the courtyard, I could already sense the scent of early summer.
The fresh greenery, bathed in the evening sunlight, was soothing to the eyes.

Instinctively shielding my eyes, a maid handed me a stone-like object.
It was cool to the touch, like a transparent crystal.
Holding the round stone, I tilted my head.

“…What is this?”

His Highness Lian answered my question.

“Try infusing it with your magic.”

He gently gestured, hovering his hand over the stone.

“Magic—”

I repeated the word reflexively, but—

(I’ve never consciously thought about magic!!)

After all, my unique magic is a constantly active type.
I’ve had… practically no opportunities to consciously wield magic.
Close to zero, you could say.

No, it is zero.
I’ve never had such an opportunity before.

(So being told to infuse magic doesn’t really click…)

But since he asked, I had to try.

I can do it. I will do it.
If I set my mind to it, I’m sure I can!
I’m a girl who can do anything if she tries! (Probably)

With a hefty dose of wishful thinking, I focused with a “Hiyah!!”
Though I was focusing, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the right way to infuse magic.

…

……

………

No matter how long I waited, the stone didn’t change.

“Huh? Hmm… nngh?”

Tilting my head, I tried again, focusing harder.

“Seiyah!!”

It probably didn’t look like I was infusing magic.
Was I wrestling with something?
But surely, it’s all about determination! Probably, definitely, maybe!!

Closing my eyes, I focused intently.

(Magic, oh magic, dear Magic-san, please, I beg you, infuse!!)

It was less focusing and more pleading at this point.

“…”

But still, the stone remained unresponsive.
No change whatsoever.
A quiet silence fell.

Slowly… I let go of the stone and realized.

(Uh… am I in trouble right now?)

I’ve reluctantly earned the title of [Witch of Grief], but if they think I have no magic, even that title might vanish.

…And then what?
In that case, I’d truly be just a weirdo.
A suspicious person.

(…Suspicious person?)

At that moment, something clicked.
A sudden unease stirred deep in my chest.

“Lady Felicia, your hand.”

Before I could grasp the source, before I could find the answer,
His Highness Lian called out to me.

Startled, I looked up.
He was reaching out to me.

“Give me the stone. After five hundred years, your magic might have altered. I’ll show you how it’s done, so please watch.”

(So… kind!!)

His kindness warmed my heart.

Thankfully, His Highness Lian didn’t seem to suspect I lacked magic.
His thoughtfulness and care almost brought tears to my eyes.

My life here in the Lumos Empire is, without exaggeration, sustained by his support.

I have to repay his kindness…

Then, I recalled the earlier conversation.
The one I had with Magnolia in the library.
When I asked who Angela was, Magnolia answered, frowning with a puzzled look.

“…You haven’t heard? Angela is—the viscount’s daughter who cast charm magic on His Highness Lian.”

The lady who cast charm magic on His Highness Lian—

“She was a survivor of the Abercrombie family. The Abercrombie ability is the [Charm] effect. She tried to use it to become my fiancée.”

I recalled His Highness Lian’s words.

(His childhood friend, [her]!!)

Finally, it clicked.

“From the viscount’s family that inherited the Abercrombie name and power?”

When I asked, Magnolia nodded easily, as if saying, You didn’t know?

“Exactly. She cast charm magic on him and then got caught in a magic surge and died, apparently. My cousin was such a nuisance.”

“Cousin!?”

Magnolia and the [her] who cast charm unique magic on His Highness Lian!?
My eyes widened in shock, and Magnolia said with exasperation:

“You didn’t know that either? …Well, for His Highness Lian, it’s a past he’d rather forget. Judging by the fact that you didn’t even know her name, he probably hates even mentioning it…”

Shrugging, she continued, her silver vertical curls swaying.

“That’s why I’ve been saying I’ll take responsibility for my cousin (Angela) and become His Highness Lian’s fiancée.”

“Eh?”

That’s a bit of a leap…
As I thought that, Magnolia nodded deeply, as if saying, I know.

“His Highness Lian was subjected to that mysterious curse, right? It’s made him distrustful of women. He’s said he has no intention of considering an engagement.”

“That’s just a polite excuse to turn you down. When are you going to realize you’re bothering His Highness?”

—As expected, it was Zax who cut in.

After that, the two started arguing again, and the conversation about His Highness Lian ended there.

I later learned that both Zax and Magnolia come from prestigious ducal houses.
They’ve known each other since childhood, often interacting—a sort of childhood friend dynamic.

Zax called it a “rotten bond,” though.

(Come to think of it, right before I returned to my room, he thanked me.)

“Thank you for helping Magnolia. She’s a ducal daughter, after all. If she’d been injured, it would’ve caused trouble for you, Witch-sama.”

He spoke calmly and bowed to me.
His words sounded like he wasn’t concerned for Magnolia, but—

“…”

(Was he just… too shy to be honest?)

It piqued my curiosity, but it’s not my place to meddle in their relationship.
So, I simply accepted his words.

As I reflected on this, lost in thought—

A soft whoosh… and a pale blue light spread before my eyes.

“…!!”

Startled, I looked toward it.
The light was emanating from the stone I’d handed to His Highness Lian.
Bathed in the pale blue glow, he gave a faint smile.

“This is how you use it.”

Right after he spoke,
The pale blue light faded.
In its place appeared…

“A parasol…!?”

A white parasol.