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[CHAPTER 114]
I felt like I had to say something, so I cautiously opened my mouth.
“Lady Sylvia isn’t feeling well, so we arranged for her to rest in the waiting room.”
I did not expect him to believe it, but it was still the most plausible explanation given Sylvia’s movements.
“I see, that makes sense.”
Fortunately, Count Ascard did not question that. Instead, he brought up something more concerning.
“Sylvia Norman, truly a remarkable child. I have seen many magicians, but few with such talent. Sometimes it made me jealous, seeing someone reach heights I struggled to attain so effortlessly.”
Count Ascard handed an empty cup to a passing servant, who fumbled and the cup slipped from his hand.
But just before it fell, its speed slowed and it landed softly on the floor, rolling gently to a stop.
“Th-thank you.”
The servant hurriedly bowed and retrieved the rolling cup.
I instinctively hid my wrist behind my back; the bracelet on my sleeve must have been flashing.
“But what was the issue? One day she suddenly left the Tower and disappeared. I was curious, and now seeing that you came together with the princess, I wonder how that connection came about.”
He couldn’t have been unaware of how we met.
On the way back from the slave auction in the carriage, we had greeted loudly, hadn’t we?
Yet with his brazen questioning, I had no choice but to brazenly answer.
“It was by chance that I learned of her, so the Crown Prince and I escorted her. She’s a capable magician.”
“By chance?”
“Yes, by chance.”
I repeated my answer clearly when he asked again.
“Quite a curious connection.”
Still, I averted my gaze slightly to avoid his direct, interested stare.
“Are you close?”
“Not yet… I can’t say we’re close. Just acquaintances, I suppose.”
“You can at least introduce her later. A farewell is in order. There are things to advise her as her teacher.”
He requested that I arrange an introduction.
I was shocked by the words but spoke calmly.
“Well, as I said before, Lady Sylvia isn’t feeling well. I don’t know if she would want to meet you, Count.”
“That’s a shame. Then should I contact the Crown Prince’s palace to meet Sylvia?”
It didn’t make sense to say she couldn’t be seen, so I agreed.
“Understood. But… Princess.”
He stepped closer, slightly bowing and whispering low in my ear.
“What do you think, will the plan succeed? You understand what will happen next, yes?”
“W-what…?”
I turned to find his ash-colored eyes staring at me.
Looking into them felt like being drawn into an abyss.
The surrounding noise faded, and I felt as if I were floating in an empty space.
‘What is this? What magic is this?’
But soon, scenes poured into my mind like a waterfall, and I realized that my innate precognition had activated.
Count Ascard, walking down the corridor, checked his pocket watch; the short hand pointed to eight.
He hurriedly opened the door and went inside, rushing to the drawer. Yet the bottom compartment, which should have been locked, was open. It was supposed to be secured with double magic.
He bent over frantically, but the medicine bottle that should have been there was missing.
Count Ascard’s face contorted as he snapped his head up.
“…How dare you.”
His voice growled low, no longer the usual elegant tone, but a beast-like snarl.
In the dark room, half of his face was lit by the outside light.
His calm face slowly twisted; beneath the skin, a bulging shadow seemed to boil, and his mouth twitched.
His once strong body shrank, leaving no trace of the handsome young man, only a grotesque old man. His back was severely hunched, his nose and mouth horribly distorted.
“How dare you, Sylvia Norman, Prince Vincent…!”
The ash-colored eyes burned with rage as he looked out the window at the towering Mage Tower.
He took from his chest a necklace set with a black gemstone, his hand trembling violently.
“Rather than be discovered like this, I will choose to die together.”
He muttered a long, incomprehensible spell, and a complex magic circle appeared beneath him. Black smoke rose from the Mage Tower’s body along with the circle.
Moments later, the spell stopped.
At that moment, a blinding light flashed from the tip of the Mage Tower, striking directly toward Lumiere Hall.
The hall was instantly transformed into hell.
The grand chandelier and delicate ornaments shattered and flew everywhere, marble fragments and ceiling debris crushed the people below.
Screams of terror and pain grew louder. The fine dresses and suits were torn; the floor was covered in blood and debris. On one side, a noble lay dead with blood flowing from their head; on the other, a bloodied lady clutched her husband, desperately begging for help.
“Help! Someone, please!”
“Someone is trapped here! Please!”
A pillar collapsed completely, crushing those beneath it. Some died instantly without a sound. Blood spread across the floor in a horrific sight.
“No, this is….”
I muttered unconsciously, an alien voice piercing my ears.
Suddenly, the floor brightened, and the previously inaudible music grew louder.
I was still facing the ash-colored eyes. The beautiful sounds of the hall and the nobles’ laughter filled the surroundings.
“…Ah.”
My legs weakened and I swayed. Count Ascard caught my waist firmly with his arm.
Recalling the Mage Tower Master I had seen, his touch felt even more terrifying. I twisted to escape his grasp.
“Th-thank you. I’m fine. I must have just felt dizzy.”
“I see, you must have been tired.”
Yet he did not loosen his grip. Hearing his soft voice and the elegant curl of his lips, I recalled his true cruel nature.
“It seems you saw something in that fleeting moment. What did you see?”
“Nothing, I didn’t see anything.”
“You clearly saw the future. Or at least something important, if not the future.”
“No, I didn’t. Please leave me alone.”
“Amelia Wentworth, speak.”
The growl in his commanding voice felt increasingly beast-like; it was the voice I had heard in my head.
“You are someone who knows the secret I have wanted to know my entire life. Princess Wentworth. Tell me. What did you see? What do you know?”
“…….”
I kept my mouth tightly shut, and a familiar face appeared.
Vincent approached with a stern expression and firmly grabbed Count Ascard’s arm.
“What are you doing to my fiancée, Count Ascard?”
Count Ascard slowly turned his head and met Vincent’s gaze.
His usually smiling eyes darkened, coldly staring at Vincent.
“Release her.”
At Vincent’s second warning, Count Ascard gradually loosened his grip. Vincent pulled me firmly behind him at the same time.
