148 – 45. Climax of tragedy (1)
About 10 years ago.
Maria was sitting in the carriage.
It was quiet inside.
The only sound is the rattling of wheels running on the dirt road.
Narrow carriage cabin.
There are no windows so you can’t see outside.
Rubbing her black hair, she sighed deeply.
I don’t even know where the carriage is headed.
Guessing from the quiet surroundings and the sound of the unpolished floor, it seems like they are heading to a rough area with few people.
This is probably what you want to process.
I will probably die today.
Several months have passed since she was discovered and taken away by Narcisi while living in hiding with Elijah.
In the meantime, Maria lived in solitary confinement in a remote area whose location she did not know.
All that is allowed is a small meal and water. And it was just a letter.
Letter to Elijah.
At first she did not give in to Narcissi.
She didn’t last long.
Narsisi threatened Elijah with his life.
In the end, Mary had to write letters to Elijah from time to time.
At the beginning of her kidnapping, she felt fortunate.
She lives like this, so she can write her letter to Elijah.
She was crazy.
It was only when she finally came to her senses that she realized.
Just as he threatened himself, Narcisi also threatened Elijah.
Her holding on to her very own life.
She would have submitted her letter as evidence.
She must have scolded him that he would have to listen to her carefully from now on so that he could continue to receive her letters.
Just by imagining her, the internal organs of her entire body seemed to be twisted and twisted.
I was angry with her head all the way, and there was nothing I could do.
Not only did she not know where she was imprisoned, but she was also shackled.
Even outside the door, sturdy soldiers took turns to watch closely.
It was impossible to write such words as running away in her letter.
This is because Narcisi verifies the letter once.
Several months have passed since she was taken advantage of like that.
Today, the soldiers who were watching took him out of his cell and are moving somewhere.
He will probably die.
For some reason, Narcisi seems to have decided that his usefulness has run out.
As a result, the intention is to clean it up.
‘Ellie….’
She was not afraid of her own death.
She was more worried about Elijah, who would be left alone.
Will she be able to get along alone from now on?
She is that small and delicate child.
Her mind was disturbed.
I want to run out of here and return to Elijah.
That cannot be done.
She doesn’t have the strength, and if she rebels, she might treat Elijah even harsher.
In front of the realistic wall of class and power, she was weak to the point of disillusionment.
I didn’t even expect Ballack to do anything.
She is a human being who neglected Elijah because of her great cause.
The reason they lived in hiding was because he did not have the confidence to take them to their home and take care of them.
If I had known he was that kind of man, I wouldn’t have even hit him in the eye.
The speed of the carriage gradually slowed down.
The time has come.
‘Ellie…. Sorry….’
There is no way Narcisi and her children, who were jealous of Elijah’s magic, will leave Elijah alone in the future.
I want to protect you, but I can’t.
It is not because of death.
Even though he is alive, he is not very helpful to Elijah.
All he did was give birth, a relationship in name only.
No matter how much affection and love she gives, she is a helpless person who cannot protect her daughter from the world.
The title “Mom” Is also a luxury.
But once again, I want to hear that child chirp that she is her mother.
-Ratly.
Finally the carriage stopped.
The door opens.
Maria just closed her eyes and waited.
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But the voice I heard was someone I knew.
“Maria!”
“… Ballack? “Why are you here?”
“More details later! “Get off!”
Maria was led by his hand.
When I got off the carriage, I found myself on a path in a dark forest.
The coachman must have fainted, sitting down with his head down and quiet.
“Narsisi placed a request for Ramek.”
“Are you trying to kill me? “The Duchess prepared a needlessly large knife to kill a commoner.”
Balak remained silent despite Maria’s sarcasm.
“So what are you going to do to save me? How are you going to avoid the request you placed in Ramek?”
“Do not avoid it. “You have to make it look dead.”
“So how…?” .”
Balak lit the chariot on fire.
Burns with scarlet flames.
“What is this? Lamek always leaves traces that it was their fault, so are you planning on faking it with a fire?”
“This season, around here, is famous for natural combustion occurring in the forest.”
Balak spoke indifferently and threw a small spark into the forest.
It will soon burn up and attack this area.
“We have to get out of here quickly before the assassin comes.”
“Ha….”
Maria had a headache.
Is this the right choice?
I don’t think the Duchess will be fooled.
What if, as a result of this incident, I treat Elijah more harshly?
“I understand first.”
Maria accepted.
The situation happened anyway. She cannot even stop Balak, who is determined to do it.
Let’s think more positively.
Maybe we can see Elijah again.
It’s not enough, but it might be possible to help a little.
First, I hurriedly left her place, following her footsteps.
The fire that fell on the carriage and in the forest quickly became a large fire.
And in that place, a boy appeared.
“… ….”
Golden eyes calmly looked around.
The carriage scheduled to transport the target is on fire.
The coachman did not wake up even in this fire.
Did he faint?
Or is he already dead?
It’s a bit unnatural.
This entire scene.
‘Who intervened?’
There is no goal in the carriage.
With this, her own request failed.
However, she didn’t just hate it.
To kill an innocent person.
It is better to fail.
But she cannot go back empty-handed.
Angra will scold you harshly.
Minimum sincerity must be shown.
He stabbed the unconscious coachman with a dagger coated with deadly poison.
There is no such thing as guilt.
A person purchased from Ramek.
He cooperated in killing several people in this way.
Next, we carefully entered the inside of the burning carriage.
It was dangerous, but I could afford to escape after finishing my work.
The sword was probably inserted into the spot where the target was sitting and then removed.
As if the assassination was accomplished anyway.
This is the best we can do at the moment.
Afterwards, the boy left the scene.
A mother and daughter lived in a small tree house in a forest close to her hometown village.
Shortly after they left, all the villagers were massacred.
The boy was told that it was their doing, but after looking into the details, it was not the case.
It could not be said that it was solely their responsibility.
They just got caught up in something they didn’t want to do.
So, this is enough.
This is not forgiveness.
It was just an epiphany and a weak fear at the same time.
I was afraid and hated the daily life of killing people and enduring hellish training every day.
I wanted to give up if possible.
Or he was hoping for an absurd miracle, for someone to take his place.
It is a meaningless prayer.
The boy fled the scene, leaving behind the carriage that had been hit by a fire horse.
*
A vague mountain ridge.
Mary said to Balak.
“What are you going to do next? You know I can’t go back. “If the Duchess finds out, neither I nor Elijah will leave it alone.”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I think it would be best to just go far away and hide.”
“What?”
“I will give you news about Elijah from time to time. She stays nearby and tells Narcisi not to get caught by her….”
“I can’t do that. “How can I trust you?”
This person, who is blinded by the great cause and the absolute peace and quiet of the Bevel family due to their monopoly on power, cannot be trusted.
If we’re going to trust him, it’s better to just attack the Bevel family like this.
Then anything will work.
Maria wasn’t reckless enough to really do it.
“Then is there another way?”
“We have to think about that from now on.”
“Hmm….”
Mary glared at Balak disapprovingly and then sighed.
Isn’t there a sharp way?
She came to mind without difficulty.
“I need to be next to Elijah.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Of course it can’t go on like this. “I will be by your side in a different form.”
Although there may not be much we can do.
*
“… ….”
Elijah slowly blinked her eyes and she looked up at the woman who came to see her.
Hair as red as fire.
Deep black eyes.
This is the first servant assigned to her since she lived without a proper maid at her home.
But the maid was looking very intently at her own face.
A little later, her maid opened her mouth.
“… It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Elijah. “My name is Lia, and I am the maid who will be serving you from today.”
Elijah looked up without answering, and she spoke blankly.
“Where is mom?”
“… Yes?”
“Mom. I miss my mom. “She needs a letter from her mom, but she hasn’t come for weeks.”
“… ….”
“If you are now in charge of me, will letters come through you in the future? “Do you know?”
Maria, disguised as her maid named Lia, forced herself to maintain her businesslike smile.
She bit down so hard that her teeth broke inside her.
She had to hide her outburst emotions.
Thanks to her Valak, she escaped and prepared for several weeks.
She dyed her hair, put on heavy makeup to make her look older than usual, and even faked her speech and voice.
She finally stood before Elijah.
It was not a good reunion.
When I saw my daughter for the first time in a few months, she was very thin and haggard.
You can tell without even looking at how she was living at home.
She wanted to cry right now, and she wanted to go to Narsisi and her Balak and get angry.
But she couldn’t do that.
She doesn’t have the strength to do that, and even if she does, she ends up nothing more than the meaningless struggles of a lowly citizen.
Once Narcisi finds out that she is alive, she will not let him go.
Even if it is absurd, we must endure it.
Just.
She knelt down on one knee in front of Elijah, who was supposed to be in front of her.
“Lady. I am your servant, and I am a person lower than you. Please make it easy for her to speak.”
“But here, if I speak carelessly, everyone treats me horribly…” .”
“… Me, I won’t do that. So, please make it easier for me to speak.”
Elijah nodded at her, hugging her teddy bear tightly.
I still carry around her doll that I gave her for her birthday a few years ago.
Even though she has become a bit of a bitch.
“And her mother’s letter….”
Lia held her breath once.
She had to act as calm as possible.
She had no idea that she would put her experience as a dancer to good use.
Dance is an emotion expressed through gestures and is also a type of acting.
A dancer’s expression on stage is also important.
He barely managed to look calm and business-like.
“The Duchess is in charge of this, so I don’t know anything either.”
“I see….”
She was so discouraged that she couldn’t even hug Elijah, who was crying.
The words that followed suited the situation and were sincere without embellishment.
“… “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”
*
“I’m sorry….”
Said Mary, spitting out her blood from her mouth.
Her memories pass by as she stayed by Elijah’s side for five years.
She may not have been as good as Elijah, but she never had an easy day.
She couldn’t even sleep, especially when the days came when the Duchess was tyrannical.
I feel unfair and resentful.
She just had to endure it again and again.
It was the only thing that could be done.
At least she manipulated Elijah’s reports and documents so that her interference would be less.
She was nothing else.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have endured it.
If I had spoken earlier, the situation would not have reached this point.
When Elijah had enough strength.
Or when the main Bevel family disappeared.
She would have avoided the worst if it had been any time, at least sooner than now.
So, she is clearly being punished.
In return for ignoring and neglecting us so far.
If death is the price, it is a very fair punishment.
Would it be an extravagant luxury to meet the end in Elijah’s arms or a greater punishment?
It seems to be the latter.
I saw Elijah in pain.
The guilt in her heart hurt even more.
“Oh, uh…. Ah… !”
Leah opened her mouth as she cried and saw Elijah touching her own face.
Consciousness gradually faded.
“Ellie…. My baby…. I’m sorry I’m late….”
“… ….”
“But you shouldn’t get buried in your own beliefs…. Because Ellie is smart, she knows what I mean… ?”
“Ah, uh, uh….”
Elijah couldn’t get the words that came into her mind out of her mouth.
Her lips trembled.
It was frustrating, as if a knife was stuck in her throat.
Besides those reasons, for some reason I couldn’t speak clearly.
“Uh, uhhh…. Ah, ah….”
Leah looked at Elijah crying endlessly and smiled without realizing it.
With her bloody hands she gently caressed her child’s face.
“My baby, he’s still babbling…” . In the past, I said it quickly….”
Cough!
Blood poured out of her mouth.
“Ah, ah….”
“Ellie…. It’s okay, don’t worry. Everything will be okay. “Don’t cry.”
“Uh….”
Lia’s vision became increasingly blurry.
It wasn’t just because of her tears.
Everything in reality gradually became distant.
Probably, the next words will be the last.
It was my first time seeing death, but I felt that way.
What should I say?
In the many memories that passed by for a short moment, all I had was Elijah.
The moment I gave birth to this child in the stable was still vivid.
I remember in such detail that I could capture even the scent of that day by drawing a picture.
It was the moment when a miracle came to my life.
I felt like I was embracing the world.
They breastfeed, they crawl, they babble, they call them “Mom”, And they even start to walk.
It was so cute when its first teeth came out.
“I’m so sorry, mom, for being incompetent and helpless…. I wanted to do better for her too…. She only wanted to do good things, but she, well, it didn’t work out…. Would she have been better off if she had been an aristocratic mother instead of someone like me….”
“Ah, ah….”
“Still, I love you very much. Ellie….”
At that moment, the door burst open and two council members and the wizard Bols came in.
“Lady?!”
Assassin collapsed nearby.
Leah bleeding.
Even without an explanation, it was enough to understand the confusing situation.
And for some reason, Elijah can’t use magic.
“Holy shit… !”
Bols cursed and attempted healing magic.
But the wound is too big.
The two lawmakers wiped away the blood.
In order to use the medicine, the pouring blood must first be stopped, but there was no sign of that happening.
Lia felt like her body was gradually becoming colder.
“Yu, Judas, me, me…” . Ugh….”
That word was the only vocabulary Elijah could currently pronounce.
But, Judas was nowhere to be seen.
“Yu, Yuda…” ?”
As I was looking around, he burst through the door and came in.
She didn’t even know when she disappeared.
When he returned, there was a dagger in his hand.
He sat down next to Elijah.
“Lady. “I know it’s hard for you to believe me, but please trust me just this once.”
“Uh… ?”
Elijah didn’t even have time to answer.
-Hook!
Judah plunged her dagger into Leah’s chest.
Elijah just stared blankly at the unrealistic scenery.
Suddenly, Lia closed her eyes and became speechless.
Judah explained as calmly as possible.
“This is the method used to save Sir Gawain. You may be asking what I mean, but this dagger is an item that causes a person to die temporarily and then brings them back to life. “You can think of it as an artifact-like dagger.”
“… ….”
“So, please trust me just this once. “Please.”
Elijah nodded her head blankly.
I didn’t understand what he said.
However, I just believed it.
Because she did not trust herself, the whole situation led to catastrophe.
So you have to believe.
Blindly. Whatever it is.
Judas spoke to Bols with a sigh.
“Will there be healing?”
“It’s impossible. How do you do this….”
“Then, freeze the injured area first. “This body will be completely frozen.”
A dagger that comes back to life after reaching a state of suspended animation.
Even Judas cannot guarantee whether it is actually effective even for people who are almost dead.
If you consider the possibilities, it is quite hopeful.
I have used it for similar purposes before being possessed.
It happened twice, one of whom had his neck cut off.
Failed.
And the other person had one of his limbs blown off and was on the verge of death from excessive bleeding.
After putting him in a state of suspended animation, he was treated with a combination of medicine and magic and brought back to life, and he succeeded in surviving.
I’m not sure what Lia’s case is like.
Nevertheless, it was the best for now.
She had to take responsibility and lead.
After nodding his head, Bols froze Maria’s body.
Elijah just watched blankly as Mary was being eaten by her cold ice.
Judas turned her head toward him.
“Lady.”
“Yes….”
“The enemy is coming outside now. “I’ll go out, take care of it, and come back soon.”
“Uh, uhm…” .”
Elijah was like a speechless child to her, she whined and shook her head.
Judah smiled bitterly as he patted her as she pleaded.
“I’ll be back soon. “Miss, do you remember when we played hide and seek before?”
Elijah’s birthday 5 years ago.
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The day she was almost harmed by Sardis in the magic lab.
“Today is the same as then. If you’re safe and hiding, I’ll come find you right away. “You understand, right?”
Elijah nodded at her blankly.
“Please take the young lady to me.” “I have to go out to fight right away.”
Two lawmakers. Then several servants came and took Elijah and Mary and left.
Because of the uproar, several articles came forward.
Among them, Shylock remained until the end and suddenly asked.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not particularly injured.”
“Not the body. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but your expression isn’t normal right now.”
“… “I didn’t know you were a person who cared so much about others.”
“Tsk…. “I was worried for no reason.”
“Thank you, though.”
Judas took her sword and approached her window.
I don’t know what her expression is.
I’m not even curious.
All she knows is that reason is at stake.
It seems like it will break.
She is barely holding back.
Irritation, anger, resentment, and all negative emotions cool down and are on the verge of bursting out.
Everyone needed something to resolve.
The party who made this decision.
A person who has been waiting intently behind the scenes.
Emperor John. And his forces.
First, we decided to kill those who came in.
It is not a very bad solution.
“But, is it possible to beat that many numbers? “Without a lady.”
At Shylock’s worry, Judas burst out laughing.
While she was with Elijah, she received a lot of magical power.
“It may be difficult, though.”
[Release Magic Power (Lv.200)]
“There’s nothing we can’t do.”
