Chapter 52 (2/2)
The nation’s Prime Minister lets out a whisper with a grim expression on his face .
But at this point, even I have realized what is happening to me .
「■■■, ■ am not a specialist either, so it cannot be said for certain, but . . . that magic light just now may have been a curse . 」
「W-what, but there is nothing strange happening with ■■■■ . . . 」
「O-Otou-sama, your voices – no, words that identify people, I cannot hear them . 」(Alesia)
「W-what? What do you mean?!」(King)
I can hear the words that they are speaking . But people’s names and pronouns are disappearing before they reach my ears .
Panicking, I try to remove the necklace, but it will not come undone .
「I-it will not come off; I cannot remove the necklace!」(Princess)
The anxiety at hearing the word “curse” and the feeling of not completely understanding what is happening rush through my mind .
From this point on, time passes in a chaotic fashion .
First, everyone in the castle who is knowledgeable about magic is gathered . However, the soldiers filling the castle have only learned spells for use in combat, so they do not have the ability to explain the theory behind what is happening .
We come to the conclusion that this is not a curse that needs to be purified by a priest, and something needs to be done about the necklace’s spell formula instead .
A sophisticated camouflage has been applied to the necklace, and apparently nobody other than those with specialized knowledge can do anything about it .
In the following days, people from the college town are invited here and research on how to deal with the curse continues .
「That is enough for today; I wish to be alone . Please leave . 」(Alesia)
As I say this and I am left alone in my own room, I grind my teeth in frustration at this terrible situation .
As I am the heir to the throne, it is necessary for me to form as many connections with others as possible right now . Putting it more simply, I need to build a solid foundation for myself .
As this kingdom was founded by a woman, the nation does not avoid having a queen ruling it, but there is still a need for me to prove that I am worthy .
That is why I have had to participate actively in high society, but not only can I not hear people’s names right now, I cannot even hear the words “he”, “you”, “me” or “myself” .
This does not hinder me from living my normal life around the people that I know well, but it is more than a fatal obstacle for keeping up acquaintances in high society .
Even with exceptional individuals brought to the royal capital from the college town, it will take at least two months to remove this curse . And even if I am able to take this necklace off immediately after that, I cannot even imagine the repercussions of being delayed by two whole months .
「Fuh, this is not good . My thoughts are heading in a bad direction . 」(Alesia)
Anyhow, I am tired .
I empty a cup of the warm milk inside, lightly adjust the sleeve of my sleep-wear and stand up from my chair .
As I slip into the bed that is made from the highest-quality monster fur, I immediately let my consciousness fade into the depths of sleep .
. . . With no knowledge of the sleepless nights that are about to begin .
「UGUAAAAAH!」(Alesia)
「Kuh, this is not working; the healing magic is having no effect at all . 」(Healer)
「I see . . . Damn it, when will the people from the college town get here?!」(King)
Late at night, someone capable of using healing magic has been hastily summoned to my room, and the king, my father, is here as well .
It has been three days since I put on the necklace, and I am suddenly assaulted by the truth that has been creeping up on me slowly .
The burns on my back that were supposed to be healing with each passing day are worsening instead .
As if the healing of the wounds is being reversed .
Pain runs through my back, as if someone is slowly burning me .
It is the exact same pain that I suffered from these burns that have taken multiple days to heal .
「Guuuh, ugh, haah, haaauh!」(Alesia)
The wounds have returned to a state where I can no longer sleep on my back .
It is the sensation of needles stabbing at my wounds .
As the necklace’s mana is covering the wounds on my back, radiating a faint light, it is clear that this is the necklace’s doing . But even if Father were to announce that, there is nobody who can do anything about it, and healing magic has no effect either .
The pain causes my sense of time to gradually become hazy .
Before I know it, Father and the healing-magic-user have disappeared from my room . No, perhaps I earnestly requested for them to leave .
My pride as a princess will not allow me to be seen in such a state by anyone .
「I will never . . . forgive him . . . 」(Alesia)
Though there is no proof or anything, I have vaguely understand that this is the doing of that man .
That is why I will never say that it hurts; I will never ask for someone to save me . Instead, I bind the dark emotions caused by the pain with burnt chains, dying them blacker and blacker, into a pure black color .
I will definitely plunge the man who corrupted this necklace, the monster from another world pretending to be a human, into the depths despair .
「I will never . . . forgive . . . that man . I will definitely have my vengeance!」(Alesia)
The princess will chew on the emotions that have been stained black by the pain and spend the night savoring its flavor, making sure not to spill a single drop of it .
「Guh, kaaaaaah, higyih, ugh, AAAAAH!」(Alesia)
That is why I, the princess, will not sleep .