With her consent, I quickly established a secure mental thread, linking my consciousness directly to hers. Speaking aloud risked waking the sleeping child beside us, and telepathy guaranteed better privacy within the walls of this foreign castle.
She began to speak directly into my mind, unraveling the complex and dangerous history of her world. As the silent conversation progressed, my expression constantly shifted from profound shock to deep realization. Finally, after she finished outlining the grand structure of the realm, I took a moment to organize my racing thoughts.
’I see...’ I muttered through the mental link, carefully processing the heavy influx of information. ’So, in short, Nemure’s royalty stands divided into two primary factions. One side aggressively pushes to wage war and conquer other worlds. The other side prefers to negotiate whenever possible and act strictly according to the shifting situation.’
I paused, letting the massive scale of this multidimensional politics settle in my mind.
’Furthermore, the entire ranking system here relies entirely on bloodline purity,’ I continued, watching her reaction closely. ’And the current ruler is that boy, Xeron, who just returned to the throne after years of deep seclusion. Is that correct?’
Caelia offered a slow, deliberate nod of affirmation. The soft purple light of the room highlighted the ancient sorrow pooling in her vibrant crimson eyes.
’And you belonged to the second faction,’ I transmitted, keeping my mental tone incredibly gentle. ’Due to a specific incident you prefer to keep hidden for now, a massive fallout occurred. That tragic event directly resulted in your forced expulsion, the disappearance of Cathiel, and your real husband’s... death.’
She lowered her gaze, staring at her pale hands resting on her lap. A profound sadness radiated through our mental link, washing over my own consciousness.
’Yes,’ she transmitted softly. ’Everything you deduced is entirely accurate. The memory carries immense pain, causing me to keep the finer details locked away for now.’
I nodded slowly, absorbing her confession. A lingering question finally surfaced in my mind, demanding an immediate answer.
’Then did you know I was someone else from the very beginning? That I was not ’him’?’ I asked, keeping my mental tone steady and direct. ’If so, why spare my life, conceal my true identity, and act like I was your husband?’
Caelia sighed softly. The sound carried the heavy weight of years spent in absolute isolation.
’I lived in complete solitude for countless years,’ she replied, her crimson eyes reflecting a deep vulnerability. ’The endless isolation caused my memories to blur and fragment. When you first appeared, you carried our daughter’s aura deeply embedded within your soul. You also possessed the unique ability to withstand my... curse. Your presence simply reminded me of him so much that I believed he finally returned.’
She shifted her gaze toward the sleeping Cathiel, a gentle warmth returning to her face.
’But... Although deep down my mind recognized the truth,’ she confessed quietly, her mental voice trembling slightly. ’I still chose to embrace the illusion...’
’Because... I held absolute faith in his survival,’ she transmitted, her mental voice carrying a profound, agonizing weight. ’Because... He promised to return to me with our daughter. He promised to... He...’
She fell completely silent. Her vibrant crimson eyes lost their focus, drifting away as she immersed herself in those distant, painful memories.
I stared at her, a heavy wave of complex emotions swelling within my chest. A deep sense of tragedy clearly shrouded their shared past. She had clung desperately to a shattered promise, using my sudden arrival to briefly mend her broken reality.
’...Hmm.’
I also found myself conflicted on how to process her raw confession. A profound sympathy for her immense loss filled my heart. I held deep respect for the man who sacrificed his life to secure his family’s safety against such overwhelming odds. Furthermore, a heavy wave of pity washed over me for little Cathiel, destined to live her life separated from her true father.
Yet, surrendering to these overwhelming emotions offered zero solutions to our current predicament. Wallowing in tragedy provided meager defense against the hostile factions scheming outside these walls. I gently shook my head, forcefully clearing the sorrow from my mind, and shifted my focus toward a highly pressing mystery.
’How exactly did I manage to withstand your condition all this time?’ I asked through our mental link, steering the conversation toward our immediate survival. ’What is the true nature of this terrifying curse anyway?’
As if expecting such a question, Caelia blinked and pulled her consciousness back to the present. She focused her intense crimson gaze on me once again.
’My curse targets the soul directly,’ she transmitted, her tone shifting into a quiet, analytical whisper. ’It completely ignores physical forms and actively breaks down the spiritual core of others. The servants earlier possessed fragile artificial constructs, causing their animating energy to simply turn to ash in my presence.’
She slowly extended her hand, pointing her finger gently at me.
’But you...’ she paused, a spark of genuine awe flashing in her crimson eyes. ’Your soul possesses a fundamentally unique architecture. Your spiritual core perfectly assimilates my energy. It breathes the harsh pressure in, purifying the density and converting it into gentle warmth.’
I absorbed her words carefully, feeling a profound sense of clarity wash over me.
’You act as a flawless vessel,’ she continued, dropping her hand back to her lap. ’Your presence creates an absolute equilibrium around me. That singular trait makes you the sole existence capable of standing safely by my side.’
Her explanation finally shed light on the grand mystery. My survival relied entirely on this strange spiritual compatibility. A deep realization settled in my mind. But...
’Are you sure it’s not because I am bonded with Cathiel? And it doesn’t affect her, right?’
She gently shook her head.
’No,’ she transmitted, her mental voice carrying absolute certainty. ’Your bond with my daughter lacks any connection to your immunity. This unique trait belongs entirely to your own spiritual core.’
She then turned her gaze toward the sleeping child on the bed. A warm, maternal light filled her vibrant eyes.
’Rest assured, Cathiel remains completely safe from my aura as well,’ Caelia continued softly. ’Firstly, she shares my direct blood. Secondly, her innate bloodline already surpasses mine in both purity and absolute rank.’
’I see, that’s good then.’
’Mm.’
’Then... Does it affect others? Can you control it?’