“Your Majesty!”
“Wait!”
Raphael and Prince Norton followed Linel.
As they entered the kitchen, they saw the door to the wine cellar.
Linel tried with all his might to open the door, but it wouldn’t open.
“Why, why won’t it open!”
He flew and crashed into the door.
The party that joined late also tried to help, but it was no use.
“Your Majesty, please step aside for a moment. I will look into it.”
Linel stepped back and gave him space as Bellos stepped forward.
“There is a barrier.”
Bellos closed his eyes and placed both palms in front of the door, then opened his eyes.
“What? Who set up the barrier? Are you saying there is a wizard here?”
“No. It’s beyond the level of a wizard. This is...”
Bellos hesitated for a moment about whether he should say that.
He was also dumbfounded by the energy he felt.
“Say it!”
Linel roughly turned Bellos’ shoulder and pressed him.
“I sense a strong evil energy.”
“Evil energy? Are you talking about black magic?”
Bellos shook his head at his question.
“It’s on a different level from the energy that black magicians use.”
“Then what the hell are you talking about!”
Linel grabbed Bellos by the collar and shouted.
Zelda is trapped inside!
He couldn’t make a rational judgment.
“It’s... the energy of the demon.”
Linel and everyone who followed Bellos into the kitchen looked bewildered after hearing Bellos’ words.
“A demon? A demon in the monastery!”
Linel stared blankly at the door for a moment before asking again.
“Your Majesty, if what the Magic Tower Master said is true, then it seems that the rumors about this place being cursed are true.”
Prince Norton glanced at Prince Tesla, who was standing at the back with his cane.
“That makes sense. Didn’t the abbot himself say that he set up the trap at the order of the demon?”
Grand Duke Martins also spoke to him in an excited voice.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
But Prince Tesla interrupted Grand Duke Martins.
He didn’t believe in the demon. Even if there was, Prince Tesla had no choice but to deny it.
They were already in a situation where they were being watched closely by many countries... If the perception that there was a demon in this border region of the Kingdom of Shattonil, and especially in this monastery, was planted, the image of the kingdom could fall to hell.
Linel looked back at the angry prince.
“T-That’s just the abbot’s crazy ramblings, Your Majesty.”
Prince Tesla, aware of the gazes focused on him, spoke as if making excuses.
“However. If the Lord of the Tower strongly sensed the evil energy, wouldn’t it be more likely that the abbot’s words were true and not crazy?”
Grand Duke Martins refuted the Prince’s opinion.
Linel turned his gaze to Bellos again and asked.
“Are you sure it’s the devil’s energy?”
“Yes, no matter how great a warlock is, he can’t cast such a terrible spell.”
Bellos replied with a look of despair.
The fact that the owner of the tower was making such a troubled expression was an ominous sign.
“Is there no way? The Empress is inside. Inside! My wife is... Please.”
Linel grabbed one of Bellos’ shoulders with his hand.
The strength of his grip was so strong that Bellos felt like his shoulder blade was going to break, but he didn’t show it.
“Hmm, I’ll try.”
Bellos was also worried about Zelda.
However, the situation wasn’t that simple. There had to be some ‘condition’ to release the demon’s energy.
There was no such thing as a free lunch in the world of demons.
They had a habit of trading. They were a race that didn’t give anything for free. If it wasn’t a direct transaction, and the wizard tried to release the demon’s energy on his own, there was a condition that shortened his lifespan.
The stronger the barrier, the shorter his lifespan was.
Bellos rested his forehead against the door and took a deep breath.
Where the demon’s energy was, there was a smell that only the owner of the tower could smell.
'It's not that strong.'
It was a blessing in disguise.
For some reason, the smell of the barrier the demon had cast out wasn't that bad. It was an evil aura, but it was a stench that seemed to have lost some of its power.
In that case, it was worth a try.
After living for 250 years since his incarnation, he didn’t really care about his lifespan being shortened.
Besides, he didn’t regret it because it was for his companion.
“Let’s get started.”
Bellos gently waved his arms and began to gather the magic power within him.
Roxana sent her away after discussing the wedding dress with the designer.
Nancy was worried that the designer might spread rumors in high society after seeing the scars on Roxana’s back.
“She wouldn’t tell anyone, would she, my lady?”
“If I were a noblewoman, I would be excited and talkative, but I'm a Princess of a duchy. She knows full well that her life will be lost if she speaks carelessly, so she won’t be able to do that. Merchants are quick-witted.”
“Is that the demon?”
Moiya approached the demonic figure hanging on the wall and asked curiously.
Zelda was worried that the demon might attack Moiya, but there was no sign of that happening.
The demon answered Moiya’s question with a voice that seemed to be lacking in confidence, as if he too was suspicious.
“Is that so? Oh, no, I’m a demon!”
“Not a devil, but a demon who can speak human language?”
I asked the incarnation while listening to the demon’s words, and the incarnation cautiously replied.
“Don’t say that. It might hurt his pride.”
“That’s right, I’m an evil devil! A demon? I feel bad. The demon is angry!”
The demon seemed to be able to hear the incarnation’s words just like Moiya.
“If you’re not a demon, then why are you yelling and making a fuss? It’s already a place where noises are rumbling.”
Moiya fearlessly admonished the demon.
“Oh, sorry... No, I’m not sorry! This is my house. Why are humans coming into my house and making a scene?”
The demon apologized to Moiya in a sullen tone, but then, as if his true nature had returned, he became angry again, strengthening his voice.
“You like my house. You came in without permission and are showing off.”
This time, when the incarnation spoke as if it were a medicine, the demon got angry again.
“Don’t you know how scary the subject of the demon is? Don’t make me angry, incarnation that doesn’t have a physical body.”
Yes, guys. The more you mess with the demon, the more I, a human, will be the one who gets hurt.
“Can you all watch your mouths?”
I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I earnestly asked Moiya and the incarnation.
“Hey, demon. Don’t you have a name? I’m Zelda. I’m the Empress of the Lapion Empire.”
Let’s try to resolve this through conversation for now.
Even though I couldn’t shake the demon’s hand, I introduced myself first.
“...I don’t have a name, but I do have a nickname.”
“Omg? Are you asking me to ask? What’s your nickname, demon?”
Moiya asked the demon, pretending to be curious, while rubbing his chin.
“Angel.”
“What?”
I doubted my ears.
“Wow, you’re delusional more than our orange-haired ones?”
Moiya held his stomach and giggled.
‘Why don’t you have that much energy? You’re a corrupted demon, aren’t you?’
When the incarnation snorted and asked the demon in a knowing tone,
“Huh, how did you know?”
The demon’s figure on the wall became clearer.
“It’s obvious that you’re hiding here alone, teasing humans. Did you get kicked out of the demon world and crawl into the monastery?”
“Hmm, originally I was going to sweep away all the villages in this border area, but I was weak-hearted and ended up in this monastery with a bad abbot.”
The demon replied in a dejected voice.
It seemed that he was kicked out of the demon world because he was neither good nor evil.
How could I convince the demon, who was in such an ambiguous position, to leave this place?
“But Moiya, don’t you feel like you’re getting suffocated?”
I asked Moiya as I looked around the wine cellar.
At some point, I felt like I was running out of oxygen. When I realized that, my frustration grew worse.
“Moiya, you don’t mind running out of oxygen, do you?”
Moiya smiled brightly and let out a ‘Haap!’ Then he even pretended to hold his breath.
“You’re right, Empress. The oxygen is running out. That’s why you’re going to die soon.”
“Is there a reason to even take away the oxygen?”
“I’m sorry. Demons have a quota of bad things they have to do every month. I had no choice but to fulfill it...”
“Oh my gosh! Hey, you open that door quickly. Or else you’ll kill the oxygen!”
“I-I’m sorry, that’s not possible.”
The demon suddenly whispered to me, his voice turning completely frightened.
“And there are people outside trying to save you? Do you think I can kill them? I’m a little scared.”
“...What?”
I whipped my head around to the wine cellar door.
“Zelda!!”
At that moment, I heard Linel’s voice outside the door.
“Wait!”
Raphael and Prince Norton followed Linel.
As they entered the kitchen, they saw the door to the wine cellar.
Linel tried with all his might to open the door, but it wouldn’t open.
“Why, why won’t it open!”
He flew and crashed into the door.
The party that joined late also tried to help, but it was no use.
“Your Majesty, please step aside for a moment. I will look into it.”
Linel stepped back and gave him space as Bellos stepped forward.
“There is a barrier.”
Bellos closed his eyes and placed both palms in front of the door, then opened his eyes.
“What? Who set up the barrier? Are you saying there is a wizard here?”
“No. It’s beyond the level of a wizard. This is...”
Bellos hesitated for a moment about whether he should say that.
He was also dumbfounded by the energy he felt.
“Say it!”
Linel roughly turned Bellos’ shoulder and pressed him.
“I sense a strong evil energy.”
“Evil energy? Are you talking about black magic?”
Bellos shook his head at his question.
“It’s on a different level from the energy that black magicians use.”
“Then what the hell are you talking about!”
Linel grabbed Bellos by the collar and shouted.
Zelda is trapped inside!
He couldn’t make a rational judgment.
“It’s... the energy of the demon.”
Linel and everyone who followed Bellos into the kitchen looked bewildered after hearing Bellos’ words.
“A demon? A demon in the monastery!”
Linel stared blankly at the door for a moment before asking again.
“Your Majesty, if what the Magic Tower Master said is true, then it seems that the rumors about this place being cursed are true.”
Prince Norton glanced at Prince Tesla, who was standing at the back with his cane.
“That makes sense. Didn’t the abbot himself say that he set up the trap at the order of the demon?”
Grand Duke Martins also spoke to him in an excited voice.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
But Prince Tesla interrupted Grand Duke Martins.
He didn’t believe in the demon. Even if there was, Prince Tesla had no choice but to deny it.
They were already in a situation where they were being watched closely by many countries... If the perception that there was a demon in this border region of the Kingdom of Shattonil, and especially in this monastery, was planted, the image of the kingdom could fall to hell.
Linel looked back at the angry prince.
“T-That’s just the abbot’s crazy ramblings, Your Majesty.”
Prince Tesla, aware of the gazes focused on him, spoke as if making excuses.
“However. If the Lord of the Tower strongly sensed the evil energy, wouldn’t it be more likely that the abbot’s words were true and not crazy?”
Grand Duke Martins refuted the Prince’s opinion.
Linel turned his gaze to Bellos again and asked.
“Are you sure it’s the devil’s energy?”
“Yes, no matter how great a warlock is, he can’t cast such a terrible spell.”
Bellos replied with a look of despair.
The fact that the owner of the tower was making such a troubled expression was an ominous sign.
“Is there no way? The Empress is inside. Inside! My wife is... Please.”
Linel grabbed one of Bellos’ shoulders with his hand.
The strength of his grip was so strong that Bellos felt like his shoulder blade was going to break, but he didn’t show it.
“Hmm, I’ll try.”
Bellos was also worried about Zelda.
However, the situation wasn’t that simple. There had to be some ‘condition’ to release the demon’s energy.
There was no such thing as a free lunch in the world of demons.
They had a habit of trading. They were a race that didn’t give anything for free. If it wasn’t a direct transaction, and the wizard tried to release the demon’s energy on his own, there was a condition that shortened his lifespan.
The stronger the barrier, the shorter his lifespan was.
Bellos rested his forehead against the door and took a deep breath.
Where the demon’s energy was, there was a smell that only the owner of the tower could smell.
'It's not that strong.'
It was a blessing in disguise.
For some reason, the smell of the barrier the demon had cast out wasn't that bad. It was an evil aura, but it was a stench that seemed to have lost some of its power.
In that case, it was worth a try.
After living for 250 years since his incarnation, he didn’t really care about his lifespan being shortened.
Besides, he didn’t regret it because it was for his companion.
“Let’s get started.”
Bellos gently waved his arms and began to gather the magic power within him.
***
Roxana sent her away after discussing the wedding dress with the designer.
Nancy was worried that the designer might spread rumors in high society after seeing the scars on Roxana’s back.
“She wouldn’t tell anyone, would she, my lady?”
“If I were a noblewoman, I would be excited and talkative, but I'm a Princess of a duchy. She knows full well that her life will be lost if she speaks carelessly, so she won’t be able to do that. Merchants are quick-witted.”
Roxana answered leisurely as she changed into her dress.
Knock knock.
Roxana turned to the door with a meaningful expression when she heard a knock.
She seemed to know who was visiting.
“You came at the right time. Let’s take a look.”
“Yes, Miss.”
As Nancy opened the door, the witch Kaline stepped into the room, holding a bundle in her arms.
“It was hard to come here.”
“Thank you for the trouble. I came comfortably after receiving the carriage you sent.”
The witch giggled sinisterly and looked around the Princess’s splendid room.
“You brought the crystal ball, right?”
Roxana asked, staring at the bundle the witch was holding.
“I wonder if there is any. What are you curious about today that made you bring this old man to the mansion?”
The witch took out the crystal ball and placed it on the table.
“I want to see the inside of the Lapion Empire’s palace. Is that possible?”
Roxana said, looking down at the crystal ball.
“Yes? The Lapion Palace?”
“First, I would like you to take a look inside the main palace. You should show me the place that the court ladies are most interested in.”
“Hehehe, you will soon be the mistress of the royal family, so of course I should show you.”
The witch nodded with a sinister smile.
“Yes, if I sit on the throne of the Empress, Misha can become the Empress’s servant?”
“Our Misha as the Empress’s servant? Oh my, this is the time to be grateful.”
The witch’s droopy eyes lit up when Roxana mentioned her granddaughter, Misha.
“Then, as you said, I will direct my energy to a place that is currently drawing attention within the Lapion Empire’s palace.”
Five minutes after the witch spoke, a hazy fog appeared inside the crystal ball and swirled around, then gradually cleared, revealing a scene.
Roxana leaned her face close to the crystal ball and opened her eyes wide.
“Who is he, surrounded by so many people?”
The place the witch showed seemed to be a room in the main palace.
In front of the bed, there were servants, nobles who seemed to be ministers, and several priests. There seemed to be someone lying on the bed, but the palace doctor was standing at the head of the bed, blocking her view, so she couldn’t tell who it was.
But soon, as the court doctor stepped back and the high priest approached the bed, Roxana was able to see who was lying on the bed.
“A child?”
Nancy, who was looking into the crystal ball next to her, spoke first.
“A child in the Lapion Imperial Palace? Oh, I heard that Emperor Linel has a younger brother...”
The witch muttered.
Roxana immediately recognized who the child lying on the bed was before the witch spoke.
It was when she visited Bellos’ room again before returning to the witch’s house from the villa last night.
Bellos wrote down information related to Emperor Linel and the people around him on a piece of paper and handed it to Roxana, who was telling him not to give up.
Roxana quickly opened her desk drawer and took out the paper that she had put deep inside.
“That’s right. It’s Grand Duke Joseph. Three years ago, he was cursed to be trapped in ice by a magician who was a disciple of the Magic Tower Master in the Valley of Death. The Magic Tower Master said that the Grand Duke was somewhere in the palace and was taking care of him.”
“Then I guess he came out of the cursed ice. But how did he come out? Judging from his body shaking, he must be in bad shape. That’s too bad. He’s still young.”
Nancy felt sorry for Grand Duke Joseph, who was visible in the crystal ball.
Why did the cursed ice that had imprisoned Grand Duke Joseph for three years suddenly break?
Roxana was curious.
“It seems to me that the Grand Duke has been under the control of the cursed ice for three years, and his body keeps shaking because of its effects.”
“Yes, the imperial couple probably didn’t know until right before they left for the hunting competition. The cursed ice must have broken after that.”
If Emperor Linel had known that Grand Duke Joseph had broken out of the cursed ice, he would have given up the continental hunting competition.
Fortunately, it seemed that the news of Grand Duke Joseph’s escape from the cursed ice had not yet reached him.
Even if the messenger left immediately, it would take at least two days to catch up with them.
“If I hold that card.”
She could make a deal with Emperor Linel.
Roxana smiled with satisfaction.
“I’ll have to call the crow.”
She had to tell Bellos about this good news right away.
Bellos had arranged for Roxana to call his own crow, so that she could send him the news directly without having to go through Logan.
Roxana opened the window, whistled, and signaled the crow, then quickly wrote down the news about Grand Duke Joseph on a piece of paper.
Knock knock.
Roxana turned to the door with a meaningful expression when she heard a knock.
She seemed to know who was visiting.
“You came at the right time. Let’s take a look.”
“Yes, Miss.”
As Nancy opened the door, the witch Kaline stepped into the room, holding a bundle in her arms.
“It was hard to come here.”
“Thank you for the trouble. I came comfortably after receiving the carriage you sent.”
The witch giggled sinisterly and looked around the Princess’s splendid room.
“You brought the crystal ball, right?”
Roxana asked, staring at the bundle the witch was holding.
“I wonder if there is any. What are you curious about today that made you bring this old man to the mansion?”
The witch took out the crystal ball and placed it on the table.
“I want to see the inside of the Lapion Empire’s palace. Is that possible?”
Roxana said, looking down at the crystal ball.
“Yes? The Lapion Palace?”
“First, I would like you to take a look inside the main palace. You should show me the place that the court ladies are most interested in.”
“Hehehe, you will soon be the mistress of the royal family, so of course I should show you.”
The witch nodded with a sinister smile.
“Yes, if I sit on the throne of the Empress, Misha can become the Empress’s servant?”
“Our Misha as the Empress’s servant? Oh my, this is the time to be grateful.”
The witch’s droopy eyes lit up when Roxana mentioned her granddaughter, Misha.
“Then, as you said, I will direct my energy to a place that is currently drawing attention within the Lapion Empire’s palace.”
Five minutes after the witch spoke, a hazy fog appeared inside the crystal ball and swirled around, then gradually cleared, revealing a scene.
Roxana leaned her face close to the crystal ball and opened her eyes wide.
“Who is he, surrounded by so many people?”
The place the witch showed seemed to be a room in the main palace.
In front of the bed, there were servants, nobles who seemed to be ministers, and several priests. There seemed to be someone lying on the bed, but the palace doctor was standing at the head of the bed, blocking her view, so she couldn’t tell who it was.
But soon, as the court doctor stepped back and the high priest approached the bed, Roxana was able to see who was lying on the bed.
“A child?”
Nancy, who was looking into the crystal ball next to her, spoke first.
“A child in the Lapion Imperial Palace? Oh, I heard that Emperor Linel has a younger brother...”
The witch muttered.
Roxana immediately recognized who the child lying on the bed was before the witch spoke.
It was when she visited Bellos’ room again before returning to the witch’s house from the villa last night.
Bellos wrote down information related to Emperor Linel and the people around him on a piece of paper and handed it to Roxana, who was telling him not to give up.
Roxana quickly opened her desk drawer and took out the paper that she had put deep inside.
“That’s right. It’s Grand Duke Joseph. Three years ago, he was cursed to be trapped in ice by a magician who was a disciple of the Magic Tower Master in the Valley of Death. The Magic Tower Master said that the Grand Duke was somewhere in the palace and was taking care of him.”
“Then I guess he came out of the cursed ice. But how did he come out? Judging from his body shaking, he must be in bad shape. That’s too bad. He’s still young.”
Nancy felt sorry for Grand Duke Joseph, who was visible in the crystal ball.
Why did the cursed ice that had imprisoned Grand Duke Joseph for three years suddenly break?
Roxana was curious.
“It seems to me that the Grand Duke has been under the control of the cursed ice for three years, and his body keeps shaking because of its effects.”
“Yes, the imperial couple probably didn’t know until right before they left for the hunting competition. The cursed ice must have broken after that.”
If Emperor Linel had known that Grand Duke Joseph had broken out of the cursed ice, he would have given up the continental hunting competition.
Fortunately, it seemed that the news of Grand Duke Joseph’s escape from the cursed ice had not yet reached him.
Even if the messenger left immediately, it would take at least two days to catch up with them.
“If I hold that card.”
She could make a deal with Emperor Linel.
Roxana smiled with satisfaction.
“I’ll have to call the crow.”
She had to tell Bellos about this good news right away.
Bellos had arranged for Roxana to call his own crow, so that she could send him the news directly without having to go through Logan.
Roxana opened the window, whistled, and signaled the crow, then quickly wrote down the news about Grand Duke Joseph on a piece of paper.
***
“Is that the demon?”
Moiya approached the demonic figure hanging on the wall and asked curiously.
Zelda was worried that the demon might attack Moiya, but there was no sign of that happening.
The demon answered Moiya’s question with a voice that seemed to be lacking in confidence, as if he too was suspicious.
“Is that so? Oh, no, I’m a demon!”
“Not a devil, but a demon who can speak human language?”
I asked the incarnation while listening to the demon’s words, and the incarnation cautiously replied.
“Don’t say that. It might hurt his pride.”
“That’s right, I’m an evil devil! A demon? I feel bad. The demon is angry!”
The demon seemed to be able to hear the incarnation’s words just like Moiya.
“If you’re not a demon, then why are you yelling and making a fuss? It’s already a place where noises are rumbling.”
Moiya fearlessly admonished the demon.
“Oh, sorry... No, I’m not sorry! This is my house. Why are humans coming into my house and making a scene?”
The demon apologized to Moiya in a sullen tone, but then, as if his true nature had returned, he became angry again, strengthening his voice.
“You like my house. You came in without permission and are showing off.”
This time, when the incarnation spoke as if it were a medicine, the demon got angry again.
“Don’t you know how scary the subject of the demon is? Don’t make me angry, incarnation that doesn’t have a physical body.”
Yes, guys. The more you mess with the demon, the more I, a human, will be the one who gets hurt.
“Can you all watch your mouths?”
I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I earnestly asked Moiya and the incarnation.
“Hey, demon. Don’t you have a name? I’m Zelda. I’m the Empress of the Lapion Empire.”
Let’s try to resolve this through conversation for now.
Even though I couldn’t shake the demon’s hand, I introduced myself first.
“...I don’t have a name, but I do have a nickname.”
“Omg? Are you asking me to ask? What’s your nickname, demon?”
Moiya asked the demon, pretending to be curious, while rubbing his chin.
“Angel.”
“What?”
I doubted my ears.
“Wow, you’re delusional more than our orange-haired ones?”
Moiya held his stomach and giggled.
‘Why don’t you have that much energy? You’re a corrupted demon, aren’t you?’
When the incarnation snorted and asked the demon in a knowing tone,
“Huh, how did you know?”
The demon’s figure on the wall became clearer.
“It’s obvious that you’re hiding here alone, teasing humans. Did you get kicked out of the demon world and crawl into the monastery?”
“Hmm, originally I was going to sweep away all the villages in this border area, but I was weak-hearted and ended up in this monastery with a bad abbot.”
The demon replied in a dejected voice.
It seemed that he was kicked out of the demon world because he was neither good nor evil.
How could I convince the demon, who was in such an ambiguous position, to leave this place?
“But Moiya, don’t you feel like you’re getting suffocated?”
I asked Moiya as I looked around the wine cellar.
At some point, I felt like I was running out of oxygen. When I realized that, my frustration grew worse.
“Moiya, you don’t mind running out of oxygen, do you?”
Moiya smiled brightly and let out a ‘Haap!’ Then he even pretended to hold his breath.
“You’re right, Empress. The oxygen is running out. That’s why you’re going to die soon.”
“Is there a reason to even take away the oxygen?”
“I’m sorry. Demons have a quota of bad things they have to do every month. I had no choice but to fulfill it...”
“Oh my gosh! Hey, you open that door quickly. Or else you’ll kill the oxygen!”
“I-I’m sorry, that’s not possible.”
The demon suddenly whispered to me, his voice turning completely frightened.
“And there are people outside trying to save you? Do you think I can kill them? I’m a little scared.”
“...What?”
I whipped my head around to the wine cellar door.
“Zelda!!”
At that moment, I heard Linel’s voice outside the door.
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