"Greetings again, Your Majesty. I am Gerald Joel, the mentor to His Highness the Crown Prince of Ametrine."
He was a solid, angular man. Julia smiled in surprise as his gray eyes seemed somehow familiar.
'It's definitely our first time meeting, it's exciting.'
Was it because she had heard many good things about her father that she had a favorable impression of him?
Julia didn't know if it was just her mood, but that's how she felt.
"Welcome to Semele. I hope you will enjoy our banquet."
"I am honored by your consideration, Your Majesty."
The elderly Duke Joel bowed his head gently.
"I have not seen you since you were very young, Your Majesty. It is so pleasing to see you grow up so well in a foreign land."
"I am more grateful. I heard that my father relies on you a lot. Please take good care of Ametrine in the future."
Well, he seems like a nice guy.
A satisfied Julia went into the banquet hall with them, chatting comfortably.
The dinner went well without any problems.
However, due to the sudden accident of the Vice Minister of Finance, Killian apologized and went back first, saying he had something to take care of.
Duke Joel, the leader of the delegation, went out for a moment to see him off, then returned to his post. Thanks to him, Julia was able to have a good laugh while talking about her hometown for the first time in a long while.
"Semele also deeply sympathizes with Your Majesty's judgment."
"That's good. Then, I think it would be better to finish the negotiations early rather than delaying them. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to enjoy some rest in Semele during the remaining time."
"Is that so? Then how about moving right now?"
Even Endymion and Duke Joel got along quite well. The results of the first round of negotiations were not bad, and the two men who talked about negotiations over dinner hit it off.
"Are you okay? I guess everyone is still recovering from the hangover. Wouldn't it be better to resume tomorrow?"
"Haha. It's okay, Your Majesty. The plan was delayed due to delays on our part, so it would be better if it could be completed as soon as possible."
Despite Julia's concerns, Duke Joel was even more proactive. The other poor envoys, who had just been resting, were suddenly forced to work into the night and were in tears.
'He's a workaholic. I can't stop him.'
Julia, who was trying to stop him, eventually smiled and shook her head.
Anyway, so Workaholic Endymion and Duke Joel went straight to the conference room upstairs.
The dinner was over, and Julia returned to the Queen's Palace to wash and change her clothes.
"Your Majesty, would you like to go to sleep first?"
"No, I will wait until His Majesty arrives."
It wasn't yet late at night. The two countries seemed to be getting along pretty well, so she was excited that maybe today would really be the day that negotiations could be concluded.
Julia changed into her usual dress instead of her pajamas and spent her time reading a book.
'Well, are they going to continue this late into the night?'
Two hours had passed, but it seemed like negotiations were still continuing.
Julia, who was walking through the garden with the soft glow of the night sky, became curious and sneaked through the garden to the castle.
"Your Majesty.'
“Ah.”
And Julia met Killian at the entrance to the castle.
It seemed like all the work that needed to be done was finished, and he probably came for the same purpose as her.
"We meet again here. I guess this is going to be a long one."
"Yes. It seems like it'll take longer than I thought... If it's okay with you, would you like to take a walk together while you wait?"
Killian suggested gently.
'Hmm. Is that so?'
Anyway, it was right in front of the main building, and it was boring to just wait. Julia thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
"Is it so."
In this moonlit garden, Julia and Killian began a light walk, using the luminous light as company.
"Have you been well? I heard the rumors, but I was worried because I couldn't ask about your recent situation after you left for your coming-of-age ceremony."
Killian asked thoughtfully first. Julia seemed to wonder what he meant, then nodded.
'He was really worried that they'd find out I was a wizard and drag me to the magic tower.'
Julia, who had momentarily forgotten because so much had happened since then, quickly answered.
"Yes. As you can see, there are no problems. The negotiations went well, and we are on friendly terms with Magic Tower."
"I'm so glad. I feel relieved now."
Killian closed his silver eyes and smiled as if he were relieved. Julia felt sorry for him, thinking that he must have been burdened by her all this time.
"I heard from my father that you have been supporting Duke Joel and my father very well. I have heard from my father that you have been working especially hard these days."
"It's my duty as a subject. In fact, I don't feel like I've been working too hard lately, just worrying about nothing."
Killian joked softly.
"I thought we should strengthen our national power in case Your Majesty ever wants to return to Ametrine."
Huh?
Julia walked along at a light pace, then tilted her head.
"Am I going back to Ametrine?"
"Ah. Since it ended well with the magic tower, I don't think that'll happen. It was just a thought I had on my own out of sheer old worry, so please forget about it."
Killian blinked and muttered. What he meant, Julia still couldn't understand at all.
Julia asked again, puzzled.
"What if something goes wrong with Magic Tower? Will I have a reason to return to Ametrine?"
"....Have you not heard anything from the Lord Magic Tower?"
But instead, Killian asked back. When Julia opened her eyes wide and nodded, Killian's face hardened a little.
"When the Magic Tower gave up on the summoning, I thought that the Magic Tower had retreated because of His Majesty's condition."
Killian stopped walking and spoke in a low voice. Julia followed him and stopped at the entrance to a beautifully landscaped, deep garden.
"Sir, can you explain what you're saying? I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about right now."
Julia asked with a puzzled expression. She seemed to have misunderstood something, even if she didn't know it.
What on earth does that have to do with her being a wizard, the Tower's summoning being canceled, and Endymion's condition?
"It's the curse of His Majesty. If you are not with His Majesty, his life will be in danger."
"... Yes?"
Julia asked a beat later, doubting her ears. Then Killian looked straight at her with a cold, hard face.
"I guess this is your first time hearing about it."
"What are you... talking about?"
"I knew it would happen. How could they hide this from the person involved until now?"
The silver eyes shone coldly.
"Just before the royal wedding with Semele took place, rumors spread among those in the know that the Crown Prince was weak to magical powers. He was a mutant without basic magical power antibodies, so he would die before long."
It was the first time Julia had heard this story from someone else's mouth. However, she had heard the name of the disease before.
'Mion is weak to magic? He dies young?'
Julia narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"At that time, the Semele royal family asked the temple for help several times, to save their only successor."
"It's surprising since it's the first time I've heard of it. But that doesn't mean that being vulnerable to magic is a curse. And more than anything, it's not like the person you're talking to is in critical condition."
When Julia was speaking calmly, Killian interrupted her.
"It wasn't a magic vulnerability; it was a real curse. And the oracle said that if he married Princess Ametrine, the cursed Crown Prince Semele would live."
"Trust, you say?"
"That is the true content of the oracle. You can believe it. Your Majesty, since you know that there is a 'trace' left in the temple of Semele's capital. That is why the two of you got married. It was in the hope that the Princess, who was loved by the gods, would save the Crown Prince."
'Trace'. A black altar appeared in Julia's mind.
Killian spat out the words.
"At that time, the Crown Prince had a curse that allowed him to take the lives of others. That's why he was previously rumored to be sick and confined. If the oracle had gone astray, the Queen would have fallen victim to the curse without a fight."
Her purple eyes opened wide. The unbelievable letters of the word 'curse' floated around in her head.
'The oracle that his mother heard... was that I was the one who could save the cursed Crown Prince?'
It was true that Endymion had not done any outside activities until his marriage. It was said that it was because of a bad flu that was going around in the castle.
But was it actually because of a curse? And one that kills others?
'That's nonsense. And even if it were true, how would marrying me lift the curse?'
It was shocking, but it seemed like a ridiculous story. Julia laughed in vain.
"Where on earth did you hear such a thing? If you're mocking me...!"
"I tell you, I'm mocking the Queen!"
Killian suddenly shouted, his voice growing louder.
"Investigate right now. You will be able to confirm that His Majesty was imprisoned as a child and that there were rumors that he was vulnerable to magic. However, how could he, who was destined to die young, still be alive today?"
His silver eyes, which were always kind, were distorted with pain. He seemed to be getting angrier and angrier as he took a step closer and spoke forcefully.
"It wasn't because he was weak to magic, but because of a curse. I don't know the details, but His Majesty is alive and well, thanks to the Queen, who has magical powers!"
Something came to mind in that angry voice.
The magic that was cast on Endymion without her knowledge. And the golden magic power that was constantly being supplied to him without her knowledge.
'Could that be what was preventing Endymion's curse?'
Neither Endymion nor Milady knew that she was a wizard. Julia knew full well that it was true.
But if the true oracle that Killian spoke of was indeed true, then the oracle was right.
'If Mion and I got married because of the oracle my mother told me... Then what if Duke Kaimond, who proposed before Mion, didn't complain?'
Julia covered her mouth with one hand. Killian roughly brushed back his silver hair and spat out.
"I thought Your Majesty knew everything from the Magic Tower and chose to stay in Semele. I never thought you would live like this, deceived and ignorant!"
"No, it is not a deception. His Majesty and his mother simply did not remember the difficult times."
Julia could tell the sincerity of the family she had known for over ten years. They were clearly trying to recall their memories, but strangely, they couldn't. Endymion and Milady were the same.
'It's strange.'
Julia had a feeling that there was something fishy about the matter.
"There must have been circumstances. So I'm going to talk about it."
She pulled herself together and cut off the excited Killian. But he spoke stiffly.
"It's not that they don't remember. They lied to capture the Queen. Don't be used any longer. The magic tower is definitely in on it, and they're trying to use the Queen's abilities."
"Brother!"
Julia finally raised her voice at Killian's words that crossed the line.
The fact that even the old title came out showed that she was truly angry. But Killian did not keep his mouth shut.
"After I found out the truth too late, I regretted not being able to prevent this marriage. However, the King had already survived according to the oracle, and the Queen had adapted so well to Semele. I could not bring myself to break the peace and cause trouble so late."
Killian bit his lip with a self-mocking expression.
"Every time the Queen contacted me, you always said that you were loved and happy in Semele. That's why I had no choice but to keep quiet and endure it."
Julia bit her lips in confusion. Then, suddenly, she remembered what she had said through the communication port just before her arm fell asleep.
"Something to do with life. That's right. It was good that you two got married. You both survived."
'Was that a curse?'
The question was... Why didn't Pal properly tell her that huge fact?
'What does it mean that we both lived?'
The situation was a tangled mess. Julia closed her eyes briefly.
She thought she should check the facts first and then make a decision. It would be bad to make a decision influenced by shock and confusion.
"First, I need to meet His Majesty and talk to Him."
But the next words left Julia speechless.
"Please come with me."
"... Yes?"
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