On a bleak afternoon with clouds covering the sun, gray mist bloomed around Castle Elzedun. The castle, armed with pointed spires, looked impenetrably solid, making one feel overwhelmed just by looking at it.

It took exactly three days by carriage to get here. Not too far, but not too close either. It was an ambiguous distance that seemed to match exactly how much space Natalie occupied in Rashid’s heart.

Creeak, thud. The sound of chains and a dull thud intertwined as the gate lowered over the moat. The sound of hooves on wooden planks echoed eerily.

As we entered, I briefly looked down at the deep blue water where I couldn’t see the bottom. The water surrounding the castle appeared particularly deep.

“Kyaaaaaah!”

As soon as we entered the castle, a scream rang out as if it was waiting for me. I unconsciously frowned at the sound that echoed even louder as it bounced off the walls. It was chilling.

「It was an agonized scream as if seeing a ghost or facing a demon.」

A sentence rose like smoke in my mind. It was exactly as described.

Goosebumps rose involuntarily. As I unconsciously wrapped my arms around myself in the eerie atmosphere, the castle keeper kept bowing deeply.

“I apologize, my lady.”

What was there to apologize for? Who could silence that mouth?

I lifted my head to look around. The prison of this noble yet wretched woman held a strange air. Inside the castle that was as dark as night even in daytime, only weak light through the bars indicated the time.

The old statues lining the castle walls bore the weight of years on their shoulders, but their elaborate and delicate features hinted at past glory.

I followed the castle keeper down to the basement. The sound of footsteps on the circular stairs echoed hollowly, wandering through the castle like ghosts.

The woman was behind the bars. She sat alone in the dusty, musty space, her head bowed low.

Her silver hair that must have once been glossy was now no different from white, and her eyes that must have sparkled like amethysts had lost their light and looked unfocused.

Her hands bound by handcuffs were so thin the bones showed through. Her legs, like iron rods restricted by heavy shackles, were sprawled carelessly. The handcuffs and shackles were connected to iron plates fixed to the wall, thoroughly restricting her movements.

It was a shocking sight. I couldn’t understand why this level of restraint was necessary.

I deliberately forced strength into my eyes, trying to maintain composure. I felt I shouldn’t let my face show hostility while looking at her.

She was the Duchess of Penvernon, and after all, Rashid’s mother. I felt I should show some courtesy. Though I wasn’t sure if that would matter in this situation.

「Natalie painfully lifted her head.」

The action occurred simultaneously with the sentence. She trembled as she looked up at the unfamiliar person. My image reflected in her clouded purple eyes. We shared the title of Duchess, yet our circumstances were so different with just these bars between us.

“Who…… are you……”

Natalie’s voice was rough like sandpaper. Her throat, which once must have been moistened with the finest tea, was now cracked and produced a metallic sound.

「The harsh environment had torn not only her mind but also her body.」

Seeing her treated like a prisoner made me uncomfortable. I struggled to open my mouth.

“I am……”

I hesitated for a moment.

“I’m Alisa Penvernon.”

“Penvernon……”

Natalie showed confusion. She probably had already guessed my identity internally. I confirmed her suspicion with words.

“I am Rashid Penvernon’s wife.”

Natalie’s eyes widened. What dwelled in her purple eyes was fear.

「The monster’s wife has come.」

Her sentence rose ominously. I immediately frowned.

* * *

“No, don’t come! Nooooo!”

Natalie screamed. The sound piercing my eardrums from right in front of me was sharp. The mentally unstable woman soon began thrashing her limbs.

My heart pounded. I wanted to turn around and run until I couldn’t hear these sounds anymore.

But I couldn’t do that.

“Kendrick, how do I strengthen the seals with magic?”

“His Grace would place his hand over there.”

Kendrick pointed to the restraints on the wall. A camellia flower pattern was engraved in one corner of the long iron plate connected to the restraints binding Natalie’s limbs.

“I see. Then I should try this.”

I took out the crystal. The red shadows inside were swirling with even more intensity than when I saw them at Camelli.

“You monster!”

Natalie shouted more excitedly upon seeing the crystal.

“Open the door.”

“I’ll do it, my lady.”

Kendrick volunteered. I hesitated for a moment before handing him the crystal. Though I felt reluctant to put him in danger, he seemed to consider me getting hurt as a more serious problem.

The iron bars opened with an eerie sound. Seeing the door open, Natalie thrashed about.

When Kendrick approached, Natalie screamed even louder. Every time she struggled, the clanking sound of chains rattled my ears.

“……There’s no reaction.”

He brought the crystal to the pattern on the restraints, but nothing changed.

“Could we just not be noticing it?”

This was troublesome. Since this was entirely Rashid’s work, even Kendrick didn’t know exactly what should happen.

“I’ll try.”

“It’s dangerous!”

“We have to try everything we can.”

I passed through the iron bars and entered. Trying to ignore Natalie glaring at me with fierce eyes, I took the crystal from Kendrick.

Just as I was about to bring the crystal to the camellia pattern—

“Kyaah!”

A scream escaped me involuntarily. I turned around sensing movement, and Natalie had her hand stretched out toward me. Somehow, one of her wrist restraints had come loose.

“My lady!”

Suddenly my entire back burned hot. Along with intense pain, I felt my back getting wet. She seemed to have used magic.

“Let me go, please!”

Kendrick tried to block her path to protect me.

“Move!”

Natalie cast magic at Kendrick. He screamed and collapsed to the floor. Natalie glared at me again.

In the instant our eyes met, countless thoughts whirled inside me.

Should I dodge? Should I run away? Should I tell the guard to stab her? No, I can’t—Natalie is Rashid’s mother. Will she kill me? What should I do? What should I do?

Her purple eyes directed at me were burning with fever like lava, and I couldn’t help but think of Rashid in those eyes.

That thought made me freeze for a moment. Clank! One leg restraint was torn off. Natalie didn’t miss the opportunity and lunged at me.

‘No!’

I twisted my body to avoid her. Natalie’s hand grabbed my dress hem and yanked me roughly.

I quickly stretched out my arm to press the crystal against the pattern drawn on the wall restraints. Natalie pulled at my clothes, trying to stop me. Rrrip! My skirt hem tore with a sharp sound.

‘Please!’

But the crystal showed no reaction. Was it really useless? What should I do! My breath caught in my throat. The increasingly loud sound of my heartbeat felt like it would burst my eardrums.

Natalie wounded my body again. She dug her nails into my shoulder like she’s trying to tear it apart.

It hurt. It hurt so much that I felt like I would collapse at any moment. I wanted to scream and cry.

Why did I have to endure such pain?

I wanted to run away, but the sense of duty within me suppressed that impulse.

I pressed the crystal hard against the iron plate as if crushing it. When there was no reaction, I struck the crystal again. Please, respond to this magic!

Crack! At that moment, the crystal shattered with a sharp sound. Simultaneously, a red light spread around.

“Aaargh!”

Natalie collapsed with a single scream. I looked at her, panting. It seemed the restraints around her other wrist and ankle had tightened again, sealing her magic.

The fragments of the crystal that had fulfilled its role clattered to the floor. Rashid’s magic had been absorbed by the restraints, leaving no trace of the magic that was inside.

“My lady! Oh my, are you alright?!”

“I’m fine, quickly put the handcuffs on!”

Kendrick hurriedly re-cuffed Natalie’s loosened handcuffs.

She fell, exhausted, twisting her whole body and crying. Her painful sounds echoed in my ears.

「This time, the monster’s wife imprisoned Natalie. All the pain originated from that monster, so to Natalie, he was a symbol of calamity.」

Natalie curled up into a ball and buried her head between her knees. Her bony, thin shoulders shook. It was a weak posture that evoked sympathy.

「I shouldn’t have given birth to him……」

No, that’s not right. Don’t think like that. You shouldn’t say that.

You don’t know. You need to know. You shouldn’t regret it. Rashid, your child, is so……

In my fading consciousness, I clung to the sentence until the end and moved my lips. But no more voice came out.

* * *