Chapter 22. Magic

‘An unpulled trigger, a golden arrow missed by the god of love……?’

It seemed like a meaningful sentence, but I had no time to decipher that riddle.

My mind was in a rush, so I hurriedly searched through the jewelry box.

But there was nothing inside the jewelry box.

Really nothing.

“……Ha…….”

A sense of emptiness washed over me. What was that opal-like glow earlier? I was sure there would be something in this jewelry box…… Something, some great secret beyond my imagination……

But seeing it empty, everything seemed to be just my delusion.

I had been comforting myself with the thought that Mother was not just a simple madwoman but had a special insight that ordinary people couldn’t fathom……

‘If I can’t get help from this jewelry box, I have no choice but to find someone else to propose to me besides Marquis Anderson…….’

Can I find such a person within the remaining time? Anyone would be better than Anderson, but…… Can I love that person? Is it really possible to live a married life without love?

……Considering that my life is at stake and I’m thinking about these things, I must still be immature.

What does love matter? As long as someone can save me from this hellhole, whoever it may be.

‘Yes…….’

I was about to close the jewelry box with a heavy sigh.

“……?”

A very small inscription on the bottom of the jewelry box suddenly came into view.

[Blood]

It was just one word, but it was very meaningful. I stared blankly at the letter, slowly realizing what it meant.

‘Blood…… Does it mean to drop blood in here?’

Probably. That seemed to be right.

From the beginning, this jewelry box seemed to have a double mechanism to prevent anyone from taking out what was inside easily.

What was needed to open the jewelry box was white astilbe.

And what was needed to take out what was inside…… was human blood.

No, to be precise, it had to be ‘my’ blood.

Mother would have made sure that no one but herself and her daughter, me, could take out what was in this jewelry box.

‘……What on earth is inside this?’

I guessed it was something intangible, not a physical object.

Though I felt a bit uneasy, I couldn’t stop now. I took out a needle from the sewing kit in the drawer. After heating the sharp end with a candle flame, I unhesitatingly pricked the tip of my index finger.

“Ouch…….”

After a sharp pain, a dark red drop of blood formed on the tip of my finger. I blinked a few times to clear my watery vision, then dropped that small drop of blood onto the bottom of the jewelry box.

I thought I heard a tiny sound. The jewelry box greedily absorbed my blood. I paused in surprise for a moment when I saw the drop of blood disappear. The ensuing phenomenon was enough to evoke fear and astonishment.

“What is this…….”

Purple smoke flowed out of the jewelry box, filling the room. The smoke sparkled finely as if it contained stars. As it began to wrap around me, I screamed and struggled.

But no matter how much I tried to shake it off, the smoke couldn’t be grasped and instead quickly seeped into my body.

A scream for help rose to my throat, but no sound came out. The last thing I saw was the purple light, shining like the night sky, filling my vision, and then I lost consciousness.

This is a dream, and at the same time, a memory from some time ago.

―Ellen, look here.

In the dream, Mother, with a pale face, called me. Playing with drawings near her bed, I ran to her as if I had been waiting for her to call.

In Mother’s hand, shimmering purple smoke swirled.

At that moment, ‘I’ realized this was a dream and simultaneously sensed something was off. This dream was a memory from some time ago…… But did I ever have such a memory?

―This is magic.

―Magic……?

―It’s my magic. Each mage is born with a unique magic.

―Mother, were you a mage?

―Yes, I am a witch. A very bad witch……

The faint smile on Mother’s lips looked somehow dangerous. The young me, feeling scared, hesitated and stepped back, but Mother’s hand gripped my arm tightly.

―M-Mother……

―This is very bad magic. That’s why I never used it in the end.

There was a contradiction in those words. If Mother was a bad witch, she would have used that magic without hesitation.

―It’s a love magic that can make anyone fall in love with you if you wish. But it can only be used once in a lifetime.

―Why……

I stopped myself from asking if she hadn’t used it on Father.

I was afraid of the madness in Mother’s eyes.

―I will pass this magic on to you.

―To me……?

―With this magic, you can make anyone kneel before you……. Come, sit here, Ellen. You’re a good girl, aren’t you?

The grip on my arm loosened. I could have run away then, but the young me couldn’t bring myself to escape and followed Mother’s instructions.

She was the only person who could give me something resembling love.

At that time, I desperately needed even such false affection……

―I will put my magic in this jewelry box. And…… your magic too.

―My magic? Do I have magic too?

―You haven’t realized it yet, but……

Mother filled the antique jewelry box with her magic and pricked her finger with a needle. The dark red drop of blood was swallowed up by the jewelry box and disappeared.

―This jewelry box is a magical artifact. I obtained it with great difficulty.

―A magical artifact……

I knew what a magical artifact was even as a child. It is when a mage imbues an object with their magic. It could be permanent or temporary. The object that contains such magic becomes a magical artifact.

―Now, it’s your turn.

―……!

Do I have to see blood too? As I shrank back from Mother’s hand, I heard her scoff lightly. Coward, Ellen. She muttered in an emotionless voice.

―This jewelry box permanently seals magic. Your magic and mine will be contained in it. And someday in the future……

Mother’s hand touched my head. Soon after, her hand slowly fell away, and I felt something precious leaving my body……

It was a dazzling opal-like glow.

―Your magic is so pretty, Ellen.

―Ah……

―But it’s useless now. You’re still too young, so it would only be a hindrance.

Thus, my ‘magic’ was trapped inside the jewelry box……

―I won’t live long anyway. I can’t take revenge on anyone here. But you…… you must take revenge for me. Because you are my daughter……

My consciousness gradually faded.

―When the time comes that you need magic, you will open this jewelry box. Then, you must avenge me.

But on whom?

On Father, on the employees of this mansion?

I couldn’t be sure of anything. What filled Mother’s eyes was closer to hatred for the whole world.

My vision darkened, and my body staggered and tilted. As a child, I lost consciousness and completely forgot about that day.

* * *

[A Very Bad Witch’s Very Bad Magic]

A short story written in the common language of Europia in Mother’s diary.

[A long time ago, on a remote island, there lived a witch.

The witch was lonely. She was not loved by anyone.

The witch desperately waited for someone to come to her.

One day, a large ship anchored on the island.

A man disembarked with his subordinates.

The witch fell in love with the man at first sight.

The witch turned the man’s subordinates into pigs and cast a love spell on the man to capture him.

But the duration of that love was one year.

For a year, the witch was happy with the man. But after a year, the spell broke, and the man eventually left the witch.

Thus, the witch was alone again.]

I retrieved my lost memories along with my magic. The details about my magic were still unknown.

However, I had a clear understanding of the love spell Mother left behind.

The love spell would surely be a strategy to break through this situation. But I hesitated to use that spell on someone.

According to the story, the love created by the spell lasted only one year.

Of course, ‘The Witch of the Remote Island’ was just a simple story, and the actual effect of the spell might last longer.

Maybe, thanks to this spell…… I might find happiness. And finally be loved by someone.

But that love would be a fake created by magic.

I would only be deceiving the other person.

When the spell breaks, I would be alone again. Just like the witch on the remote island.

“Miss Lopez, if you don’t mind, would you like to dance with me?”

Someone’s voice broke my train of thought. The bustle of the ballroom and the waltz music became clear again in my ears. I looked up blankly at the person who asked me to dance.

Red-brown hair, a face full of freckles, green eyes. He had an innocent impression, but his gaze was not good. It was Viscount Maxwell, who had been showing blatant interest in me for a while.

“……I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling well right now.”

“Ah……. Then may I escort you to the lounge?”

“No, thank you for your kindness, but I can go alone. Have a good night.”

After politely declining, I passed him and left the ballroom. As I walked slowly down the corridor leading to the lounge, I felt someone following me.

I sighed softly. Why is my luck so bad today? It seemed Viscount Maxwell, who had been hovering around me for the past few days, finally decided to make a move……

How can I shake off Viscount Maxwell?

As I walked, thinking calmly, I finally reached a conclusion and threw off one shoe at a time.

Then I started running down the corridor barefoot.

“……Hey, stop right there!”

I heard Viscount Maxwell’s flustered shout behind me. ‘Stop right there,’ what a third-rate villain line. Who would actually stop when told to? Really……

“Damn it! Won’t you stop?!”

I ran through the corridor, avoiding Viscount Maxwell who was following closely behind, and entered the gallery. Without looking back, I threw myself into the garden that was directly connected to the gallery. Running and running on the moonlit garden, on the green lawn.

Even though I was being chased, stepping on the dirt and grass barefoot gave me a strange sense of freedom. I weaved through the maze-like garden plants and reached an open space. Half a dozen carriages were neatly lined up there.

Among them, a black carriage with a familiar emblem came into view.

Was it a whim, or maybe because I knew that ‘that man’ was a true gentleman who wouldn’t do anything filthy even if he was a sadist. As soon as I heard Viscount Maxwell’s voice again behind me, I ran towards the black carriage without hesitation.

The emblem on the carriage was the royal family’s gladiolus. Additionally, the black panther, the guardian of the family, was exclusively made for that man.

The gladiolus and the black panther were symbols of Bayern.

In a very unladylike manner, I flung open the door of Grand Duke Bayern’s carriage. Even seeing his astonished expression, I climbed in without hesitation and slammed the door shut.

“…….”

A long silence followed.

I felt Enoch Bayern’s piercing gaze scrutinizing me. I hesitated for a moment, then slowly began to make an excuse.

“……I mistook the carriage.”

It was a ridiculous excuse that wouldn’t work.