Chapter 78

That made sense. The person who had cursed me must have been prepared for death, so there was a possibility that they left behind some last words or at least a will.

And it was likely that something so important would have been passed down to their child or a close disciple who had inherited their magic.

“But how do we find that person?”

“By using a formula invented by the wizard Serenity, we can trace the trajectory of their magic. However, it will take about three months.”

Three months wasn’t bad. The surge in dark magic was expected to happen a year from now, and my death from the curse would come even later.

I nodded. There were more questions I wanted to ask, but since I was planning to stay at the Magic Tower for a few more days, I decided to postpone them until the next day. I was too tired from the various experiments we had done before even having a rest.

We were given a room on the upper floors of the tower. I was surprised that it was just one room, not two, but with Bley smiling brightly and commenting on how well we got along, I couldn’t very well say,

“We sleep in separate rooms.”

So, we entered the room together. Although small, it was clean and quiet, unlike the cluttered atmosphere I had seen elsewhere in the tower.

The ceiling and the nightstand were softly illuminated by magic stone lamps, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The luggage we had brought was already neatly organized.

“Hmm, the room is nicer than I expected,”

I said with an awkward smile. We had shared a bed before, but that was when we hadn’t even acknowledged, let alone confessed, our feelings for each other. It had been awkward initially, but later, I slept so soundly that I hadn’t even noticed when he left.

Julian, noticing my discomfort, smiled faintly.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.“

“What? That’s ridiculous.”

“How can I sleep beside you when you look like a frightened rabbit? Clearly, you don’t trust your husband.“

“No, that’s not it! It’s the opposite! I’m worried that I might… jump on you…”

Before I could finish speaking, I wanted to bite my tongue. But the answer was evident when I thought about which of us had less patience.

Covering my mouth, I glanced at Julian, who soon let out a low chuckle.

“Ah, I see. I’m the one in danger here.”

At that point, I decided to just go all out.

“Yes. So, I’ll sleep on the sofa. You’re the rabbit, and I’m the beast.”

As soon as I spoke confidently, Julian suddenly lifted me into his arms. Startled, I let out a short scream and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Julian walked over and gently placed me on the bed. Sitting on the soft sheets, I looked up at him. He kissed my nose and said,

“Do you think I’m the kind of brute who would make my wife sleep on the sofa?”

Why the nose and not my forehead or cheek? Did he see me as a child? I absentmindedly touched my nose and spoke in a sulky tone,

“The beast will sleep quietly, so please lie beside me, Mr. Rabbit.”

Julian kissed the back of my hand with a smile.

“Alright, my duchess beast.”

Only then did we adequately prepare for bed. We washed up, changed into pajamas, and had warm tea. After that, we lay down side by side on the bed, turned off the magic stone lamp, and enveloped the room in peaceful darkness.

As I lay there staring at the ceiling, I cautiously touched Julian’s arm, which was lying beside me.

“What is it?“

“I can’t sleep in an unfamiliar place.“

“Should I turn on the light?”

Even though I knew he couldn’t see me, I shook my head. Then, I tugged lightly on his arm. His arm followed willingly, and I rested my head on it.

“I think I’ll sleep better if I use your arm as a pillow.”

“I see.“

“I’m making a move on you, you know. How can you be so innocent?”

I heard Julian chuckle softly nearby. He always smiled faintly, so it was rare to see his smile or hear him laugh.

But now that we were so close, I could feel his body trembling slightly with laughter. I felt like I was floating in warm water, entirely at ease.

Once this curse is lifted, I want to have your child. I’ll give birth to a beautiful, healthy baby and raise them with all my love. Let’s plant flower seeds in the garden together. Let’s read fairy tales before bed. Just like your mother loved you, I will love them, too…

***

For the next week or so, we lived peacefully. Contrary to my initial wariness, Sylvia was a polite wizard, and thanks to her help, we could study how to break the curse without attracting attention.

During that time, I had to give more blood, and this time, it was enough to make Julian angry, but aside from that, nothing unusual happened.

After the blood was drawn, I chewed on some cookies Sylvia had given me. They had a refreshing taste, perhaps because of the yuzu in them, and I liked them.

A wizard brought over teacups for three, but I placed two in front of me and looked at Sylvia.

Sylvia placed my blood in a vial that I suspected was made of Viscario, saying that the magic circle engraved on the bottle would prevent the blood from clotting.

“Sylvia, I have a question,” I said.

“Yes, go ahead.“

“Do you know anything about the phenomenon of the sudden increase in beast numbers?“

“Yes, of course.”

Beasts were initially said to exist everywhere on this continent. However, as humans began to settle the land, the beasts were gradually pushed out, and now they could only be found between borders or in remote forests.

But historically, there were infrequent occasions when the number of beasts would suddenly surge, overwhelming villages.

The intervals between these events could range from decades to centuries, but a sudden increase in beast numbers was no ordinary disaster. Each time, countless people died.

However, research on the subject has not advanced much. The events were too rare to find clues easily, and interest naturally waned after a few decades.

As far as I knew, the most recent case of a beast surge was about 150 years ago. That was enough time for everyone to forget.

But the Magic Tower was secluded, and much of what they learned often remained hidden from the world.

“Do the wizards know what causes the increase in beast numbers?”

I asked, hoping for some insight, but Sylvia shook her head.

“That is one of the unsolved mysteries, even within the Magic Tower. Since the last beast surge happened 150 years ago, everyone who witnessed it is dead. Research based solely on records has limits, so progress has been minimal.“

“I see.”

Julian gazed at me intently as I sulked. Oh no, I had forgotten to tell him about the beast extermination that would occur a year from now. The conversation escalated into such a big fight that we cried and argued about it.

I gently patted his hand under the table and continued asking Sylvia questions.

“Is there any unusual phenomenon just before a beast surge?”

Sylvia, still looking stoic, seemed slightly puzzled by the question.

“May I ask why Her Grace is curious about that?“

“I grew up in the frontier and still live there, so I’m always on guard against beasts. I’ve seen many people injured or killed by them. It would be a good thing if there’s any way to prevent such tragedies.”

Sylvia nodded, seemingly finding my reasoning logical.

“That is commendable. Unfortunately, I don’t know much more. If there is a minor anomaly… it would be the explosive increase in magic energy accompanying the beast surge.“

“Magic energy?“

“Yes. For that reason, after the beasts are completely exterminated, it’s common for a Magic Tower to be built in that area. But that’s about it. I’ve read the records several times, but there are no clear indications. What’s more perplexing is that the beasts don’t gather secretly and build their forces before appearing above ground. They just suddenly appear all at once.”

How could that even be possible?

“I’ve heard of something called a portal in magic. Could it be that the beasts used something like that?“

“That’s possible. But beasts don’t have the intelligence to do that, so if that’s the case, we would face an even more terrifying reality.“

“…That would mean a human transported the beasts.“

“Yes.”

Who in their right mind would do something so insane? But then again, there were far too many evil people in the world, and I knew that better than anyone. Villains could kill people for reasons that regular folks could never understand.

After finishing our conversation with Sylvia, we prepared to head out for a meal.

“Since I’ve given blood, I want to eat some meat.“

“I’ll make sure to get some ingredients, even if they are from outside.“

“Really? That sounds great.”

Julian and I chatted as we stepped out of the soundproof magic barrier protecting our space. Suddenly, the crowd’s murmurs hit my ears like an overwhelming wave. The combined voices of dozens of people filled the area with chaos.

“What’s going on?”

Despite Julian’s attempts to stop me, I moved closer to the group of wizards. One of the wizards climbed onto a table, holding up a water-soaked paper, and shouted,

“Beasts have appeared on the eastern Riar Plains! They’re recruiting volunteers for a beast extermination operation!”

When I heard those words, something inside me seemed to shatter with a loud crack. My vision swam, and I felt like I was standing on broken glass. Julian quickly grabbed me as I stumbled.

“This can’t be happening.”

With trembling hands, I pushed Julian aside and stepped forward. I reached out toward the wizard standing on the table. The noisy wizards fell silent, perhaps finding my behavior odd.

I took the letter from the wizard. Though it was wet from the rain, I could still make out the words:

「Beasts have surged on the eastern Riar Plains, causing immense damage. We are seeking brave knights and wizards to join the beast extermination operation. Those who participate and achieve victory will be handsomely rewarded.」

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.