Chapter 262: Ghost Dance Party (2)
In Julie’s heart, the embers of darkness smoldered. It was a bad feeling that had been rejected and denied. It was the feeling of a curse buried under the bottom by emphasizing the morality of a knight and vowing to live by the sword and die by the sword. Julie vaguely knew all of that. She pretended not to know.
…It always snowed in winter in Freyden. The night wind was cold, and the sleet fell as if it would break her. Julie endured that severe cold alone. Born a sinner, the daughter who killed her mother. She had no qualifications in the clan and would not be given anything, living as nothing but a remnant of their lineage.
Julie acknowledged her meaningless self. At such a young age, she accepted a worthless life.
“…Julie. Would you like to try it?”
However, on a cold winter day, she held a sword in her little hand. It was when she felt the mana in that sword, the crystals sprouting green, and that mana drew her in. Julie realized, if there were any chance that she could be worthy of existence, it would be only by this one sword.
“…It’s a serious injury. You will never hold a sword again.”
So, when she heard that one day, Julie felt like her heart was breaking. Her body trembled, and she resented it. She regretted it every day.
I shouldn’t have accepted Deculein’s mission. I shouldn’t have protected him. I should have left him alone and ran away. All because of him…
Endless hatred and old grudges. But Julie rejected them, denied them, and honed her sword. She only blamed herself. No, she was used to accepting the fault alone. That was how she lived and would always live.
“…It’s a miracle. The wound is healing. Of course, the curse is still not, but if you’re careful about your abuse of mana, nothing will happen if you hold the…”
Overcoming it was a miracle. The day she was diagnosed by the family’s elder, Julie had the brightest smile. Zeit patted her back, saying that she did a good job, and Josephine hugged her silently. At that moment, Julie was sure.
Effort never betrayed. No, the sword didn’t betray. The dream given to her was still alive.
“…Julie. The Yukline family is thinking about the marriage between you and Deculein. This is a good opportunity, so think carefully.”
On a clear spring day, Deculein appeared again. Zeit said it was a good opportunity, and the elders pushed her back. Julie groped for her feelings and thought of the man she had once resented.
However, she couldn’t refuse. Zeit wanted it, and Freyden wanted it. For the first time in her life, her family told her, ‘I need you.’
“…No more dangerous missions. Leave the Imperial Knights as well. I will give you the Knights of Hadekain. Build a career there for about three years, then live with me.”
Deculein demanded those conditions. Leave the Knights Templar and live with him. If she did, he would give her everything.
Julie refused. She had no choice but to do so. Telling her to let go of the sword was the same as telling her to die.
“…Julie. You are off this mission. It’s dangerous. Your fiancée will come.”
Following that, Deculein tied her up. He clasped her neck, saying it was love. She was thoroughly isolated so that none of the knights could approach her, and she was also excluded from dangerous missions.
In the end-
“…Julie said she would quit? Nice. If she remained, we would be the ones suffering.”
“I know. I wish she could live like a lady for a while. Hadekain is so nice. That resort…”
She lost her dream. At that time, she couldn’t help but resent him. She couldn’t help but remember the first time. She couldn’t help but say it out loud.
…I should’ve let you die.
-By the way.
“I did that to you.”
…Returning to reality, Julie looked at Iggyris. He said that the start was all due to his actions.
“Your world seems hazy from here. Everything feels so far away. It seems like it’s been less than a year since I’ve had this clear a mind.”
The boundary between the underworld and this world, a place where the souls who couldn’t pass on lingered. It would be a disgrace for a knight to exist in this state.
“Julie. I, who said that knights should not have any regrets, remained here and became a ghost in the Imperial Palace.”
Iggyris bowed his face and murmured.
“However, my regret was not resentment for my death, but shame about my life.”
Whoosh-
A gentle breeze brushed past the candles on the wooden table.
“At the time, I was obsessed with what I thought was right. I thought I had to stop Decalane’s plan, and I used you for it.”
Julie didn’t move. Without thinking or acting, she hardened like wax in place…
“Deculein knew it too.”
“…”
Julie blankly raised her eyes. On the other hand, Iggyris bowed his head.
“But Deculein didn’t tell you.”
Iggyris knew why Deculein was trying to be hated by Julie. Also, why Julie’s healing could be done through hatred, he realized it here, watching him.
“He was just trying to save you.”
“…”
“Julie. You have a special strength. You may not know it, but your emotions control it. You are a child of Freyden more so than anyone in our family.”
Master of Winter, Freyden. Just as Yukline was shaken by the demons and Iliade was engulfed in ambition, Freyden had their blood to serve as proof of their lineage.
“If you hate someone, your mana becomes cold. Enough to freeze the world.”
That cold mana was still holding onto the curse that circulated through her veins. It was keeping her alive.
“Deculein knew that, so he demanded hate from you. He wanted you to live.”
Suddenly, the candle on the wooden table blazed.
“…Deculein’s been enduring being the object of the hatred of the one he loves. Accepting that bitterness hurts him.”
Julie’s eyes burned. Her shadow flickered.
“Only with the hope that you are still alive.”
“…”
She leaned back. It felt like she was suddenly drowning.
“Julie, I am ashamed of myself. And, you too are ashamed.”
Something surged inside Julie. She didn’t know if it was sorrow or anger—
“…Father.”
Julie clenched her fists.
“Have you really, ever loved me?”
Iggyris did not avoid Julie’s eyes.
“Right. I always resented you. You, who killed my wife.”
Julie’s breathing stopped. Her lips trembled. And then, she laughed as she heard the sound of her heart-shattering.
“You, who should not have been born.”
All the emotions she accumulated, the thick perception of time, in an instant…
So foolishly
“…Ah.”
Julie blankly looked up at Iggyris. A single stream of tears flowed down her cheek. As she groaned, she clenched her teeth.
“But why… you.”
She grabbed the sword at her waist and glared at her father.
Bang-!
Julie knocked over her chair and stood, drawing her sword. Iggyris continued.
“Because your mother wanted it, not me. Your mother you killed.”
“…!”
Her rage burned away her reason. Her eyes were bloodshot, and the whole world was dyed bright red. She raised her sword.
“─!”
She screamed.
“…Why are you hesitating?”
But she couldn’t swing the blade down. It stayed in the air, trembling. Julie cried while bowing her head. Blood dripped from her lip.
“I know… it’s a lie.”
Iggyris’s brow furrowed.
“Lie? You’re a fool. Julie. When did I ever-“
“Even if it’s not a lie, I will consider it a lie. I… if I don’t do even that…”
Tap-!
The sound of a staff resounding off the ground. The mood calmed for a moment, and Julie and Iggyris looked up simultaneously.
“…Deculein.”
Iggyris spoke first. Julie’s face was covered in blood and tears. Deculein looked at the two in turn and shook his head.
“Stop it. It is now over.”
He approached slowly and put down the sword Julie held. He pulled her, staggering, into his arms.
“Julie will not harm you. That’s not Julie. You know, right?”
“…”
Iggyris let out a sigh. A scarlet shade spread across his face.
* * *
“…Hmph. It is a very complicated fate.”
A cramped room in the old house. Sophien was now watching Deculein and Julie. Another Deculein, the professor in memory, projected the scene through a crystal ball.
“Professor. Aren’t you sad? That Deculein is with Julie.”
Sophien asked the Deculein that wasn’t Deculein. The Professor answered calmly.
“It was originally up to him.”
“What a shame.”
Sophien shook her head.
“Aren’t they getting together like that?”
“They can’t. You know that too, Your Majesty.”
“…”
Deculein loved Julie. However, he would keep his word. The ending that Deculein promised was a parting, and therefore, the two couldn’t end up together.
“The sun will rise soon.”
“Yes.”
Sophien looked out the window. The sun was slowly rising.
“What are you going to do now?”
He turned to the Emperor.
“As I said, I am a memory. Now, your decision will be necessary.”
“…Decision?”
“Yes.”
The Professor pointed to Deculein in the crystal ball.
“If I meet Deculein over there, the memories between the two of us will be connected. Deculein will also have the memory of being with Your Majesty in 「The Demon’s Mirror」.”
“…”
Sophien’s eyes widened.
“However, I don’t know what will happen to the Deculein who will remember it.”
“…Is that my decision?”
“Yes. I am your servant, and I obey your will.”
The Professor said. However, his gaze was fixed on Julie in the crystal ball.
“Hey.”
Sophien tapped his shoulder. The Professor cleared his throat and looked back at her.
“Therefore, it is now Your Majesty’s decision. Do you want me to be with you? Or…”
It was at that moment.
─!
A roar echoed through the house, and the windows shattered. The ceiling shuddered— and, after a pause, fell.
“They came all the way here. Altar bastards.”
Sophien smiled. The Professor nodded without a word.
“I see.”
“However, you keep talking.”
Sophien stretched her neck.
She wasn’t an emperor without power, and one that would stay still and be quiet. Rather, now that she had been diligently honing her mana and swordsmanship, Sophien was curious about her growth.
“Professor, what will happen when you become one with that Deculein?”
The Professor warmed up his mana.
“Perhaps I will die.”
Die. Sophien’s face hardened at those words. However, Deculein was silent.
“Tell me more. To die means…”
Booooom-!
The wall of the room collapsed. The group of the Altar rushed in through the cloud of dust.