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Chapter 62
“Choose a region excluding the center of the Count’s territory, the granary district, and a few specific areas. Otherwise,” he said, “the Count of Ichel offered five percent of his territory’s diamond mining output for twenty years.”
Since our family produces diamonds of far higher value, we have no interest in ordinary ones.
“Do you know which area the Duke of Lissianshus and the Master of the Magic Tower requested?”
“The Duke wanted the Bart region in the southern part of the Count’s lands. I’m not sure about the Tower Master.”
Bart—yes, I had heard of that place from Lexian before, so it didn’t surprise me.
“Father, have you already thought of a region you’d like?”
“Well, no. Since it’s your share, it’s best if you decide. Which area do you think is good?”
“Hmm, I’d like to think about it a little longer. By when should I let you know?”
“It would be best if you told me within the week.”
Father went on to explain that, by the Emperor’s mediation, certain overly large or specific areas were excluded.
Even so, this was a greater gain than I had expected.
“I didn’t expect the Count of Ichel to be so generous. I thought he’d smooth things over with an apology letter from Her Majesty the Empress and a few jewels.”
“I heard the Magic Tower lodged quite a fierce protest. So they decided to compensate everyone involved—but to make it fair, they had to give something to both the Duke of Lissianshus and our family as well.”
“Even so, granting territory must have been a difficult decision. Especially since I’m nothing compared to the Duke or the Tower Master.”
“What are you talking about, Roa? He insulted the heir of the House of Levian—of course he must take responsibility.”
Ah, so Father actually declared his dream before the Emperor, then.
Still, if the family regards me as the next head, that means the Emperor’s plan to push me into the position of Crown Princess will crumble.
Having an escape route like this, in addition to dating Silla, isn’t a bad thing.
“Anyway, I doubt the Count’s daughter will be causing trouble for a while. This incident must’ve been a wake-up call.”
Will Merina really calm down?
I could bet the Blue Diamond Mine she wouldn’t, but I only smiled quietly.
I called Ted and had him bring a map.
“Tee, I was insulted by Lady Ichel the other day.”
“I’ve heard a bit about that.”
“Then this will be quick. As an apology, Count Ichel offered to give me a portion of his land. The more valuable the area, the smaller it’ll be; the more useless, the larger.”
When I explained Father’s conditions, Ted looked thoughtful.
The Ichel territory lies in the empire’s northwest—generally cold and barren. The land isn’t very large to begin with, and half of it is forest and wasteland.
It’s wealthy thanks to its gem mines, but not the richest in the empire—an awkward middle ground.
“My lady, does the order you gave me before—to find something related to ‘the tree that bears golden apples, the narrow swaying bridge, the river of burning fire, and the frozen forest where breath turns to ice’—still stand?”
“Of course.”
“Then you should ask for this area.”
Ted’s long finger pointed to a region at the very edge of the Count’s domain—the Dark Forest.
“The frozen forest where breath turns to ice is there.”
“Wait—so that forest actually exists?”
“Yes. It’s hidden, so most people don’t know about it.”
“Wait, Tee—if the tree that bears golden apples isn’t tied to any specific location, how can this forest exist in the same world? That doesn’t make sense.”
The ever-smiling Ted looked genuinely shocked.
“You know about the golden apple tree?”
“If you mean the tree that bears golden apples, yes. You go down the alley, pass through the old abandoned house, and it’s there.”
I deliberately kept my words vague, but Ted seemed to understand.
“Good heavens—what are you, my lady? No, are you even human?”
“I am human. Now keep talking. The apple tree exists in another world—but how can the forest exist in the same plane?”
Ted scratched his dyed nape and rubbed his face with both hands.
“All right. I’ll tell you everything.”
Sensing this would take a while, I gestured for him to sit.
I offered him rosemary tea and sesame cookies, which he devoured as if he’d been waiting for them. It was impressive how much that thin body could hold.
Liss wagged her tail beside me as if asking for one too, so I handed her a cookie.
She crunched it happily.
“The apple tree you mentioned exists in another dimension entirely,” Ted began.
I gave Liss another cookie.
“And about what you asked—it doesn’t have to be followed in the exact recorded order. Those who don’t know the frozen forest is real usually start with the apple tree, but that’s a fake clue.”
“So if I go to the frozen forest, I can reach the destination?”
“Yes. You’ll probably have to pass one or two more stages after that, though.”
I took a sip of the warm rosemary tea, letting the new information settle in my mind until calm returned.
“You sound like you’ve known all this for a while, Tee.”
“Well…”
“I don’t expect you to tell me everything, but at least about the task I hired you for—you should be honest, shouldn’t you?”
When I let my irritation show, hinting that I couldn’t continue working with him otherwise, Ted lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, my lady. It’s just that—”
“Don’t circle around it. Tell me why you tried to deceive me.”
“I didn’t try to deceive you!”
“If not deceive, then what? Or are you saying I should be grateful you’re finally speaking up now?”
I crossed my arms and glared.
“I thought there was trust between us—but clearly not. If you’ve hidden something once, I can’t be sure you haven’t hidden more. I can’t work with someone like that.”
“My lady—”
“Tee, as of today, you’re—”
“I’m half-fairy!”
Ted shot to his feet, shouting.
Revealing his greatest secret—the one he least wanted to share. I must’ve cornered him quite effectively.
So he feared being dismissed that much. Good.
“Half-fairy? And that’s supposed to justify hiding things from me?”
I frowned, pretending ignorance. Ted’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re… not shocked that I’m half-fairy?”
“I’m shocked that you hid information from me. I don’t care about your lineage. If I did, I wouldn’t have hired you in the first place.”
“Ah, right… that’s just like you, my lady.”
A faint smile curved his lips.
Centuries ago, humans, fairies, and elves once mingled freely. But when humans began treating them as commodities instead of friends, the ties were severed.
Still, some contact must have persisted, because half-bloods like him exist—but they are never welcomed anywhere.
To fairies and elves, they’re tainted blood; to humans, they’re rare goods for trade.
“What you asked about is a legend passed down among the fairies. My mother always warned me never to reveal it lightly—it could bring disaster if misused.”
“Disaster, huh? So revealing it could bring calamity?”
“Yes.”
His tone was utterly serious.
Given that he prided himself on being an honest informant, I could understand why he’d kept silent—though that didn’t excuse it.
“I have no intention of causing harm to anyone. Everything I do is only for myself.”
“I figured as much, my lady.”
“So, since you’ve told me this, can I take it that you’ll be completely honest with me from now on?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then swear you’ll never hide anything from me again.”
Ted swore an oath that he would never betray me again. It lacked magical force like Silla’s vows, but it would at least weigh on his conscience.
“All right, keep talking.”
“Those who search for the tree of golden apples, the narrow swaying bridge, or the river of fire either never find them—or die trying. They’re dangerous places.”
That much I could believe; when I went looking for the apple tree, the abandoned house nearly collapsed, and I once ran into bandits inside.
“The higher the stage, the deadlier it gets. By the time they reach the river of burning fire, no one ever returns alive.”
Ted gulped his tea as if parched.
“So going straight to the frozen forest is the safest path. Like you said, it’s accessible without passing through magical transitions.”
That was reassuring—no need for unnecessary gambling.
“At the end of it, people say, lies what they call both the end and the center of the world.”
I suppressed my excitement and asked calmly,
“Is it Delphoi?”
