Chapter 42

The Eyes Speak as Much as the Mouth

“—”

I caught my breath.
The Emperor’s voice wasn’t harsh at all.
He wasn’t shouting or interrogating me sternly.

He spoke calmly, as if asking something obvious.

As if it were only natural.

In that moment, I understood.

A person from the Tsoabella Dynasty could be an enemy to the current regime—the Lumos Empire.

To them, I might be a potential threat.

“Father.”

His Highness Lian opened his mouth to say something.
But before he could, the Empress spoke in a gentle, leisurely tone.

“Now, now, Your Majesty, saying such things. Isn’t that right, Felicia-san?”

“…Yes.”

When I responded, she smiled softly.

“You’re not an evil witch, are you? …Right?”

“…Yes.”

Her tone was gentle, and she wore a smile—but her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

☆

(That… was terrifying!!!!)

Having escaped the audience chamber (if you can call it that?), I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.

My frozen emotions slowly thawed.

(What… was that!? That was insanely, ridiculously scary…!)

Compared to the Lumos Empire’s royals, the Tsoabella royal family was so tame…

Felix-sama was practically cute by comparison.

Thinking of that indescribable terror, Felix-sama seemed like nothing more than a yapping dog.

But then I shook my head, rejecting the thought.

Dogs are cute.
Felix-sama was not cute.

That’s a big difference.

As I indulged in these (pointless) escapist thoughts, a voice called from behind.

“Well done, Lady Felicia. Were you nervous?”

It was His Highness Lian, who had followed me out of the room.

If there’s someone with a strong enough heart to not be nervous in that situation, I’d like to meet them.
Nodding stiffly, His Highness Lian gave a wry smile.

How is he the only one so calm in that royal family…?

(Especially after that, his kindness and consideration feel even more touching~~!!)

He looked even more radiant than usual, and I couldn’t help but squint.

(No, those eyes!!)

The Empress’s eyes.
She was smiling, but the depths of her eyes weren’t smiling at all—they were ice-cold.

Terrifying.
Horror?? Is this horror??
Isn’t it a bit early for that, seasonally speaking??

It’s still early summer. Can it wait a bit?
No, that’s not the point.

As I mentally quipped to myself, His Highness Lian, who seemed lost in thought, suddenly looked up.

“…In that case, how about a walk to clear your mind?”

☆

“This… isn’t a walk, is it?”

His Highness Lian led me to the castle’s back entrance.

There, a plain carriage was waiting.
Clearly, one meant for discreet outings.

This didn’t feel like my definition of a “walk” at all.
When I looked at him for an explanation, His Highness Lian, who was talking to an attendant, noticed my gaze.

With a soft, warm smile, he said:

“Since we’re at it, let’s go to the Tower of Grief. I’m curious if the time-leaping magic is still active.”

That’s when I understood.

(So that’s the real goal!!)

Apparently, the walk was just an excuse.
His Highness Lian opened the carriage door, gesturing for me to enter.

“Please, Lady Felicia.”

At this point, I couldn’t exactly say, “Nah, I’ll pass!”

It was my fault for not confirming the destination, and besides, I also wanted to see the Tower of Grief—once my room in the Frenzel Ducal Estate—and what it was like now.

With that thought, I placed my foot on the step—but something nagged at me, and I turned back.

He probably wasn’t expecting me to turn around.
His Highness Lian looked at me, slightly surprised.

“How long does it take to get to the Tower of Grief from here?”

I lowered my eyelashes.
After what just happened, it felt awkward to mention Tsoabella’s name.
Still, that place—

“…That place, five hundred years ago, should have been near Tsoabella’s castle. I heard from a civil official that it’s quite far from here.”

That official with the dimples when he smiled.

(Come to think of it, I never got his name…)

The Tower of Grief should be where the Frenzel Ducal Estate was five hundred years ago.
Naturally, that would place it near Tsoabella’s castle.

But the capital’s location has changed over these five hundred years.
I heard the Lumos Empire’s castle is quite far from where Tsoabella’s castle once stood.

(Being absent from the castle for a long time would probably be bad…)

Who knows what kind of rumors would spread?
I’d rather not have dishonorable nicknames like [Witch of Abduction] or [Witch of Depravity] tacked onto [Witch of Grief].

His Highness Lian seemed to catch my concern.
He gave a soft, reassuring smile.

“In that case, there’s no issue. It’s about an hour from here.”

“…Eh?”