The fact that he had to use Anasis and the Occult Society's jewels to lift the curse without dying was the biggest reason Geneon refused Simone's proposal.
It was a matter of pride before the rejection. Anasis, who had made Geneon's life a living hell for 300 years.
Would he be completely happy if he could lift the curse with Anasis's power? Even if he were to give in to Simone's persuasion and lift the curse, he would certainly feel uneasy inside.
“Lord Geneon, don’t you want to live? It would be unfair to die right after the curse is lifted.”
Geneon nodded.
“Maybe I would have done that if I were a little younger.”
At least a hundred years ago, he might have been willing to take this approach.
But now that he has given up on living long enough, hr no longer has any regrets about human life to the point where he feels like he needs to go that far.
No matter how much it was Simone's request, he couldn't readily say yes.
His mouth was stubbornly shut. Seeing his determination, Simone lowered her head with an expression as if she was suppressing something.
Then, she quietly looked at the jewel in her hand and placed it down in front of Geneon.
“Yes. Then, for now, Geneon, you keep this.”
“...”
Simone wants Geneon to live. She truly wished that he would continue to be her teacher and comrade even after the curse was lifted. But Geneon has his own life and he will have his own ending.
Above all else, his will had to be respected.
“Once I return to the Luan Empire, I plan to head straight to where the Demon King is sealed.”
She made a deal with the God of Death. The God of Death readily accepted the offer, and Simone intended to completely annihilate Anasis there according to the deal.
“If the Demon King dies and Anasis is eliminated in one breath, Geneon’s chance to live will disappear, so I would like you to make a decision before that.”
“Simone...”
“I will follow whatever choice you make.”
Forcing him to live that long would be another curse to Geneon. She didn't want to do something that made him feel that way.
Simone stood up from her seat, leaving Geneon behind, and turned to the group who were sitting far away, just watching.
“Let’s go. We need to discuss with the Crown Prince what to do next.”
“Yeah, yeah- get out, get out.”
The group hurried out of the room as if they were finally free from this tiresome fight.
As the incident grew, there was nothing for Simone to do.
Simone left the institution and came completely into the mansion where the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Illeston were staying. There, she ate, slept, and rested all day, and Louis took care of everything.
It was Louis and the Grand Duke of Illestone who actively took the initiative in protesting to the Empire and receiving compensation and an apology.
Not only that, but also the families of the many students who had been sacrificed by the Ksaki family and the director of the institute, as well as the families of the noble children who had attended the institute together, strongly opposed the institute, so the institute was temporarily closed, and the Serk Empire had to compensate for the great losses.
At least once a day, someone was sent from the castle of Serk to the quarters of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Illeston, where Simone was staying.
Right now.
“That guy’s here again? Doesn’t his complexion look even worse?”
“I guess this time he's going to be punished if he doesn’t meet Lady Simone! Huh!”
The servants stood at the entrance to the lower floor, muttering as they watched the man of the palace waiting for someone to come out. Simone also looked up from the book she was reading and turned her head to the window.
Today is already the tenth day since he came without fail, but he was treated rudely every time. He seemed to be a nobleman, like the Emperor's personal secretary, but he was acting so restless that it was pitiful.
“Hmm...”
In fact, judging by the fact that the nobles protested as a group, this probably wasn't the fault of the Serk Empire itself. Judging by the Emperor's reaction, it seems like he really didn't know.
The compensation was not bad, so it would have been acceptable at this point, but Grand Duke Illeston still did not accept their apology.
'It's not my place to meddle in the matter, though.'
It was a dangerous thing that could have resulted in death, so it would not be something that the Illestone couple, as guardians, or as the Grand Duke of the Luan Empire, could easily forgive.
But...
'That's why I'm getting late getting back home.'
Now Simone can't learn anything from the institution and she has achieved all the goals she set out to achieve before coming here.
There is much to do when returning to the Luan Empire, and she cannot return at will until the inter-empire agreement is concluded.
So time really flew by.
Actually, this is absolutely not the time to be this relaxed.
Simone sighed deeply and closed the book she was holding.
“When will Abel and his party return?”
“Ah! Lord Abel and his party said they would be back before dinner at the latest. Since His Highness the Crown Prince is also arriving around the same time, we will all be able to eat together today!”
“By the way, Simone, what have you been reading?”
The servants of the mansion crowded around Simone.
Simone, who usually spent her time blankly staring out the window or taking a quick walk, suddenly started reading books yesterday.
She had been reading it with such concentration that everyone from the servants to her companions wondered what she was reading. Simone put the book on the table as if it was nothing special.
“I just borrowed a few books from the institution, but it closed down and I had nowhere to return them. So I had nothing else to do, so I read this.”
As expected, a country that has a necromancer training institute is different. The institute's library was filled with books that would have been considered forbidden books in the Luan Empire.
There were books on the Necromancer's techniques and even books on Anasis. Among them, the book that caught Simone's eye was [The Necromancer's Black Magic].
This book does not cover the secret techniques of necromancers, such as curses and skeletons, but rather the danger they pose is just as great as black magic.
She borrowed the books for reference since they were all things that Anasis liked to write about, but after reading them carefully, she found that there was a lot of useful information.
It was written in such a detailed way that even Simone could understand it right away, with instructions on how to cast curses and how to preserve corpses, that it seemed like it might actually be a book that Anasis had referenced.
Simone borrowed this book with the thought that she might use it someday, but when she happened to open it again yesterday, some really interesting thoughts came to mind.
“How can I just sit back and wait until I get back to Luan?”
Anasis will be waiting while dancing with her sword. Fortunately, Simone checked the letter from Count Chaylor, so it seems that there are no problems yet.
'But when did you send that letter?'
Simone suddenly remembered the letter she had received from Count Chaylor a few days ago. It was the first letter she had received from him, but he had foolishly sent it by regular mail, so she could only receive it after all the work at the institution was over.
Knock knock.
“Lady Simone, His Highness the Crown Prince and his entourage have returned.”
Abel and Bianchi were heard talking loudly outside the door, along with the servants' voices. Simone smiled and gestured to the servants, who opened the door for the group and left.
“What does the Emperor say?”
“I still hope to see Lady Simone in person and apologize. From the Serk Empire’s perspective, they would like to end this incident within the Serk Empire at all costs.”
“That’s right. No matter how great the Serk Empire’s power is, do you think they would want to side with Luan?”
The Luan Empire is the largest and wealthiest nation in the world. No country would ever want to be at odds with the Luan Empire. They would want to avoid the embarrassment of a deal that was started on good terms.
For now, the best way for them to resolve the situation was to apologize to Simone and get her to put an end to it.
“I received the director and the new recruits from the Ksaki family. I also received a few other things. I feel like I have received all the compensation from the Empire, so from now on, I will decide the schedule according to Lady Simone’s opinion. What do you think?”
Simone put down her teacup at Louis' question.
“This is enough. Why would we blush over something so trivial? We will take what we deserve and then leave, Your Highness. We can’t stay in Serk forever.”
“...That’s right.”
Grand Duke Illeston had a very displeased expression, but he nodded without saying anything and gestured to his servants.
“If someone comes from the palace tomorrow, open the door for him. Have him guide them to Simone.”
"Yes."
Simone looked at the departing servants for a moment, then spoke to her companions.
“Rather than that, now that this matter seems to have been resolved, I would like to talk about something else.”
“Another story?”
“...I knew it. Her expression was strange from the moment she came to the dining table.”
Abel whispered to Bianchi with a frown. Abel had long guessed that Simone, who usually had no expression on her face, must have come up with another strange plan because her eyes were sparkling today.
Simone smiled as if that was true.
“I thought about it. Why do we have to be treated like this by Anasis?”
“Suddenly Anasis?”
“It wasn’t all of a sudden. The purpose of coming here in the first place was to gain the strength to eliminate Anasis. Let’s get back to the main topic.”
Isn't this love? From the moment she wakes up in the morning until she falls asleep, all Simone thinks about is Anasis.
Then one day, Simone suddenly got angry.
“Why is it that Anasis always attacks and we always defend?”
It's not that they're powerless or without power, but aren't they always being swayed by one person, Anasis?
Simone was determined to break this repetitive cycle. To do so, she even made a deal with the God of death at the crossroads of life and death and returned.
Simone said, poking the meat with her fork.
“So now we’re going to make it the opposite. We attack, Anasis defends. I have a good idea.”
It was a matter of pride before the rejection. Anasis, who had made Geneon's life a living hell for 300 years.
Would he be completely happy if he could lift the curse with Anasis's power? Even if he were to give in to Simone's persuasion and lift the curse, he would certainly feel uneasy inside.
“Lord Geneon, don’t you want to live? It would be unfair to die right after the curse is lifted.”
Geneon nodded.
“Maybe I would have done that if I were a little younger.”
At least a hundred years ago, he might have been willing to take this approach.
But now that he has given up on living long enough, hr no longer has any regrets about human life to the point where he feels like he needs to go that far.
No matter how much it was Simone's request, he couldn't readily say yes.
His mouth was stubbornly shut. Seeing his determination, Simone lowered her head with an expression as if she was suppressing something.
Then, she quietly looked at the jewel in her hand and placed it down in front of Geneon.
“Yes. Then, for now, Geneon, you keep this.”
“...”
Simone wants Geneon to live. She truly wished that he would continue to be her teacher and comrade even after the curse was lifted. But Geneon has his own life and he will have his own ending.
Above all else, his will had to be respected.
“Once I return to the Luan Empire, I plan to head straight to where the Demon King is sealed.”
She made a deal with the God of Death. The God of Death readily accepted the offer, and Simone intended to completely annihilate Anasis there according to the deal.
“If the Demon King dies and Anasis is eliminated in one breath, Geneon’s chance to live will disappear, so I would like you to make a decision before that.”
“Simone...”
“I will follow whatever choice you make.”
Forcing him to live that long would be another curse to Geneon. She didn't want to do something that made him feel that way.
Simone stood up from her seat, leaving Geneon behind, and turned to the group who were sitting far away, just watching.
“Let’s go. We need to discuss with the Crown Prince what to do next.”
“Yeah, yeah- get out, get out.”
The group hurried out of the room as if they were finally free from this tiresome fight.
***
As the incident grew, there was nothing for Simone to do.
Simone left the institution and came completely into the mansion where the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Illeston were staying. There, she ate, slept, and rested all day, and Louis took care of everything.
It was Louis and the Grand Duke of Illestone who actively took the initiative in protesting to the Empire and receiving compensation and an apology.
Not only that, but also the families of the many students who had been sacrificed by the Ksaki family and the director of the institute, as well as the families of the noble children who had attended the institute together, strongly opposed the institute, so the institute was temporarily closed, and the Serk Empire had to compensate for the great losses.
At least once a day, someone was sent from the castle of Serk to the quarters of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Illeston, where Simone was staying.
Right now.
“That guy’s here again? Doesn’t his complexion look even worse?”
“I guess this time he's going to be punished if he doesn’t meet Lady Simone! Huh!”
The servants stood at the entrance to the lower floor, muttering as they watched the man of the palace waiting for someone to come out. Simone also looked up from the book she was reading and turned her head to the window.
Today is already the tenth day since he came without fail, but he was treated rudely every time. He seemed to be a nobleman, like the Emperor's personal secretary, but he was acting so restless that it was pitiful.
“Hmm...”
In fact, judging by the fact that the nobles protested as a group, this probably wasn't the fault of the Serk Empire itself. Judging by the Emperor's reaction, it seems like he really didn't know.
The compensation was not bad, so it would have been acceptable at this point, but Grand Duke Illeston still did not accept their apology.
'It's not my place to meddle in the matter, though.'
It was a dangerous thing that could have resulted in death, so it would not be something that the Illestone couple, as guardians, or as the Grand Duke of the Luan Empire, could easily forgive.
But...
'That's why I'm getting late getting back home.'
Now Simone can't learn anything from the institution and she has achieved all the goals she set out to achieve before coming here.
There is much to do when returning to the Luan Empire, and she cannot return at will until the inter-empire agreement is concluded.
So time really flew by.
Actually, this is absolutely not the time to be this relaxed.
Simone sighed deeply and closed the book she was holding.
“When will Abel and his party return?”
“Ah! Lord Abel and his party said they would be back before dinner at the latest. Since His Highness the Crown Prince is also arriving around the same time, we will all be able to eat together today!”
“By the way, Simone, what have you been reading?”
The servants of the mansion crowded around Simone.
Simone, who usually spent her time blankly staring out the window or taking a quick walk, suddenly started reading books yesterday.
She had been reading it with such concentration that everyone from the servants to her companions wondered what she was reading. Simone put the book on the table as if it was nothing special.
“I just borrowed a few books from the institution, but it closed down and I had nowhere to return them. So I had nothing else to do, so I read this.”
As expected, a country that has a necromancer training institute is different. The institute's library was filled with books that would have been considered forbidden books in the Luan Empire.
There were books on the Necromancer's techniques and even books on Anasis. Among them, the book that caught Simone's eye was [The Necromancer's Black Magic].
This book does not cover the secret techniques of necromancers, such as curses and skeletons, but rather the danger they pose is just as great as black magic.
She borrowed the books for reference since they were all things that Anasis liked to write about, but after reading them carefully, she found that there was a lot of useful information.
It was written in such a detailed way that even Simone could understand it right away, with instructions on how to cast curses and how to preserve corpses, that it seemed like it might actually be a book that Anasis had referenced.
Simone borrowed this book with the thought that she might use it someday, but when she happened to open it again yesterday, some really interesting thoughts came to mind.
“How can I just sit back and wait until I get back to Luan?”
Anasis will be waiting while dancing with her sword. Fortunately, Simone checked the letter from Count Chaylor, so it seems that there are no problems yet.
'But when did you send that letter?'
Simone suddenly remembered the letter she had received from Count Chaylor a few days ago. It was the first letter she had received from him, but he had foolishly sent it by regular mail, so she could only receive it after all the work at the institution was over.
A letter that should have been sent ten days ago by international mail based in South Korea. A letter that would have taken a day to send by magic mail. In many ways, he's a very unhelpful little guy.
“Lady Simone, His Highness the Crown Prince and his entourage have returned.”
Abel and Bianchi were heard talking loudly outside the door, along with the servants' voices. Simone smiled and gestured to the servants, who opened the door for the group and left.
***
“What does the Emperor say?”
“I still hope to see Lady Simone in person and apologize. From the Serk Empire’s perspective, they would like to end this incident within the Serk Empire at all costs.”
“That’s right. No matter how great the Serk Empire’s power is, do you think they would want to side with Luan?”
The Luan Empire is the largest and wealthiest nation in the world. No country would ever want to be at odds with the Luan Empire. They would want to avoid the embarrassment of a deal that was started on good terms.
For now, the best way for them to resolve the situation was to apologize to Simone and get her to put an end to it.
“I received the director and the new recruits from the Ksaki family. I also received a few other things. I feel like I have received all the compensation from the Empire, so from now on, I will decide the schedule according to Lady Simone’s opinion. What do you think?”
Simone put down her teacup at Louis' question.
“This is enough. Why would we blush over something so trivial? We will take what we deserve and then leave, Your Highness. We can’t stay in Serk forever.”
“...That’s right.”
Grand Duke Illeston had a very displeased expression, but he nodded without saying anything and gestured to his servants.
“If someone comes from the palace tomorrow, open the door for him. Have him guide them to Simone.”
"Yes."
Simone looked at the departing servants for a moment, then spoke to her companions.
“Rather than that, now that this matter seems to have been resolved, I would like to talk about something else.”
“Another story?”
“...I knew it. Her expression was strange from the moment she came to the dining table.”
Abel whispered to Bianchi with a frown. Abel had long guessed that Simone, who usually had no expression on her face, must have come up with another strange plan because her eyes were sparkling today.
Simone smiled as if that was true.
“I thought about it. Why do we have to be treated like this by Anasis?”
“Suddenly Anasis?”
“It wasn’t all of a sudden. The purpose of coming here in the first place was to gain the strength to eliminate Anasis. Let’s get back to the main topic.”
Isn't this love? From the moment she wakes up in the morning until she falls asleep, all Simone thinks about is Anasis.
Then one day, Simone suddenly got angry.
“Why is it that Anasis always attacks and we always defend?”
It's not that they're powerless or without power, but aren't they always being swayed by one person, Anasis?
Simone was determined to break this repetitive cycle. To do so, she even made a deal with the God of death at the crossroads of life and death and returned.
Simone said, poking the meat with her fork.
“So now we’re going to make it the opposite. We attack, Anasis defends. I have a good idea.”
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