The magician hid the King's curse from the Queen. Also, the high priest cleverly manipulated the oracle to say that the Queen was the god's favorite. Therefore, they can no longer keep the Queen in a place like this.
"..."
Killian was desperate.
"I want to set you free, Your Majesty. Where your powers are not suppressed and you are not oppressed. Where you are surrounded by like-minded people who do not deceive you like this."
His silver hair flowed softly over his handsome face, creating a sorrowful atmosphere.
"I was miserable. Because of the future I dreamed of with you since I was young. But my helpless childhood days were not able to protect you. And until now, I tried to ignore you and endure it because you were happy."
Oh, this is it.
Julia noticed the soft and sweet voice. As a woman, it was impossible not to know what this emotion that a man was showing meant.
"Even though it's late, I can't miss this opportunity any longer."
"Sir, stop it."
Julia pushed him away with a voice as authoritative as a Queen. But Killian whispered with his eyes wide open, revealing his longing for her.
"I will remove that chain-like ring for you. So that you can all escape from their clutches, which are all one and the same."
His silver gaze lingered on her left hand, the ring that held her magical powers. Now, it had lost its original function due to the strength of Pal and was filled with useful magic.
Julia blinked in confusion. But Killian seemed to think she was denying reality due to the shock of being deceived. His voice became more desperate.
"If you take my hand, I will help you. To make everything right."
Julia now realizes the strange feeling she had when she met this man again at her coming-of-age ceremony. The relationship she thought was pure when she was young was deeply engraved in Killian's heart as a different emotion.
But.
'...This is an obsession.'
Julia searched the silver eyes fixed on her. Sadly, there was neither justice nor even pity in them.
Killian, who whispered forbidden love to the Queen of a foreign country, was no longer pure.
Julia refused and tried to leave first. It was more urgent to find out why Endymion and Milady couldn't remember what happened twelve years ago, and whether the spell cast on Endymion was really related to the 'curse'.
"Sir, I..."
But then, a question occurred to her.
How did he know? A noble from the rural kingdom of Ametrine, the secret of the powerful nation of Semele.
"Sir. How do you know all this so well?"
The oracle was kept a secret for twelve years, and only Milady and the Archimandrite heard about it directly.
The ban was recently lifted, and even the high-ranking priests have just shared this information. It was something that Julia, the current Queen and the person concerned, also heard yesterday.
Moreover, the only known prophecy was that the Princess of Ametrine would be loved by the gods.
Killian paused and said nothing. Silence flowed between the two.
'You know everything in too much detail. And you suddenly blew up so many things at once.'
Just like... trying to sow discord.
The moment Julia realized that, the clues quickly came together in her head.
"In a place where there are like-minded people who will not deceive you like this."
Those who reject the magic tower that controls the use of magic. Those who seek to use magic for personal greed, like Hamas or Eshi.
'They're black wolves.'
Julia's back was cold. They were clearly the only ones who would use secrets as weapons for such purposes.
Julia hesitated, her steps turning to retreat with goosebumps, but then stopped dead in her tracks.
But if she confronted them right now, she wouldn't be able to dig up the true roots of the Black Wolves. Their base, their intentions, their plans.
'First.'
Julia swallowed dryly, trying not to show her true colors. Killian was clearly trying to shake her. If that were the case.
"Tell me, how did you know all this?"
She has to pretend to be confused and figure out what the real purpose is.
Then Killian looked straight at her and said.
"...Are you not thinking of following me without asking?"
"I'm so confused. Everything I've ever known. So please help me understand."
Julia pretended to shake and measured her magical power. The golden power that filled her body happily responded when it realized that her master was looking for her.
"I understand. It seems like you still can't get over the shock of being betrayed."
The silver eyes studied her sharply, then quickly returned to their original state and smiled bitterly.
"...But you will understand soon."
Killian spoke affectionately and snapped his fingers. Then the air tore, and a pitch-black, rippling space appeared.
"Everyone knows that I was right."
Crack.
The silver magic suppression ring that had been worn on a woman's delicate hand was shattered into pieces.
'It was a lie.'
At the coming-of-age ceremony, it was said that the magical powers had deteriorated.
Julia swallowed dryly at the powerful silver magic swaying around her.
At this level, it seemed like he was one of the best wizards alive. He was barely between high-ranking and mid-ranking. By guesswork, he seemed like a top-tier mid-ranking wizard.
'But you are below me.'
Killian reached out.
"I'll reveal everything from now on so you can make up your mind."
The moment her wrist was grabbed, she instantly sent her well-trained, strong magical power somewhere.
Almost at the same time, an icy hand pulled her into the black space.
Sssss.
In the blink of an eye, the midnight garden became quiet. The space that had swallowed the two people rumbled and then slowly disappeared without a trace.
Pot!
But then, something burst out of the space, ripping open. A small object rolled down onto the soft grass with a thud.
Bam.
It was a delicately crafted diamond ring. It was a gift that Julia had received as a coming-of-age ceremony, and it was like an alter ego that she always wore on her right ring finger.
Twinkle!
Suddenly, a deep golden light appeared on the diamond in the center. Then, it wrapped around the entire ring and rippled like a wave, and then it penetrated and dug into the inside of the gem without leaving a trace.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty!"
"Where are you!"
After a while, the maids and knights who had sensed something strange came running. They were lost in thought after discovering the invisible Queen and the only remaining ring.
"The Queen has gone missing!"
***
Paat.
After a flash of light before her eyes, Julia settled down somewhere. A familiar, yet unfamiliar space appeared in her field of vision.
"This is my room. But no one will know you're here."
Killian smiled affectionately and let Julia go.
Julia quickly pulled her wrist away from him. There was no trace on her white, thin wrist, but a sense of foreboding remained.
Julia rubbed her skin nervously, as if erasing it.
"Please excuse my rudeness. I thought rescuing you was more important."
Killian approached her with a soft smile, as if he thought she was hiding her anxiety.
"Please sit down, I'll explain everything."
Soon, Julia was gently led into a comfortable chair.
Jiying.
The magic suppression ring on her left hand, but now she could feel the vibration from the magic ring on her arm. However, Julia quickly pressed down on the protective magic that was about to be activated.
"I understand that you still don't trust me. You must be quite confused right now."
Killian didn't seem to notice that a spell had just been neutralized. Relieved, Julia decided to do exactly what he expected.
"I'm so dizzy... How could my husband cheat on me?"
As if she were conflicted by the information he was leaking.
Her thin voice trembled, and her purple eyes filled with tears. Then Killian wiped away his pitiful expression and handed her a handkerchief.
"When I first learned everything, I was like you. But in times like these, you have to be wise in your decisions."
Killian took her hand as she received the handkerchief. Julia looked at him with tearful eyes, secretly hiding her nervousness from the unfamiliar warmth.
"I found out about these shameless secrets."
"..."
"It was thanks to my colleagues who shared the same vision as I."
Wow.
As Killian waved his hand, the air tore open. This time, unlike when he teleported, a silvery streak appeared.
"12 years ago, I fell into a coma for no apparent reason and could not wake up. Even when you left Ametrine for a political marriage. Then they showed up and saved me, and told me that suppressing my magical power was the cause of my coma."
As Killian spoke forcefully, silver magic slowly enveloped the surroundings. Then, the silver cracks split open and transformed into a silver space.
"With their help. I lived a life where I hid my magical powers without anyone knowing. And through my interactions with them, I learned about magic and secrets that were unfairly hidden from the world. Your oracle was one of them."
"So that's why you were able to use magic. You clearly said that your magical powers had deteriorated last time."
Julia glanced at the silver space, pretending to be surprised.
"Yes. It was a hiding to survive. And I realized the contradiction of the Magic Tower. Those with outstanding looks use their looks as a weapon to get what they want, and those with noble status use their status as a weapon to get what they want, but why is it that only magicians are prohibited from doing so?"
Killian opened a silver space with a bitter look in his eyes and drew a pattern with his hand. Then, something like an illusion emerged within it.
"We felt this was unfair. So we gathered together to fight against the tower and take back our freedom."
Some people became rich by selling magic tools they made themselves. Some people became nobles by achieving great feats through magic, and some lived a life of helping those in need with their magic.
They were all happily displaying their abilities to the fullest outside the magic tower. It seemed like a very natural dream, to the point where no one could find a problem.
"Can you guess who these people are?"
It seemed as if Killian was trying to gauge how much she knew. At this point, pretending not to know would have raised more suspicion. Julia quickly answered.
"Are you talking about... black wolves?"
Her prediction was right. As she spoke the words, a small sparkle appeared and disappeared from his silver eyes.
"You're right."
"That's ridiculous."
Julia covered her mouth and looked shocked. Then Killian spoke sweetly to her, as if to soothe her.
"Perhaps what you have heard so far is a completely different story. That we are destroying the peace and causing division. But that is all a lie. Just as King Semele has been deceiving you so far."
"Huh... Then what should I do from now on?"
Julia's long, beautiful eyelashes fluttered. Killian hid a smile of satisfaction at her appearance, which seemed to have completely lost its composure.
"Listen carefully to what I say. From now on, we will create a world where we can unfold our freedom like everyone else."
"Freedom?"
"I have no intention of causing division as the Magic Tower claims. I am simply talking to change the law that states that wizards must be subordinate to the Magic Tower."
Killian smiled reassuringly.
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