Chapter 123
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It is just speculation, but Iris was quietly furious after hearing about the cursed situation of Ms. Aeris.
She questioned her father, Viscount Gavrett, about what had happened after Ms. Aeris was cursed.
”But… couldn’t we have told the royal family that my sister was cursed and asked for their help to break the curse?”
”Of course, that was something I thought about. But… the mastermind behind this knew about the betrothal partner even before it was officially decided. If the royal family moved to break the curse, it could also be learned by them, and they would likely act to interfere in response.”
”But wasn’t it possible for the royal family to handle that?”
If it was the royal family, they could secure a magical item to break the curse and have many guards carry it.
Wouldn’t that allow Ms. Aeris’s curse to be broken without any problems?
Iris might have thought so, but the Viscount shook his head.
”It could have been possible. However, once someone is cursed, they should decline the royal marriage proposal. Therefore, we couldn’t rely on the royal family.”
”Shouldn’t we just hope the curse will be lifted?”
”It’s not that simple. Even if the curse is lifted, there could still be aftereffects, and if it means they cannot have children, that’s a serious issue.”
”That is…”
From Iris’s hesitant attitude, it seems like she had investigated the curse, and along the way, she learned about the possibility of aftereffects.
The reason we had not heard this from Iris is that after Ms. Meria’s curse was lifted, she could move as she had before, so Iris may have thought there was no need to mention it.
Still… is there really such a thing as aftereffects from a curse?
If that is the case, then the Viscount’s concerns cannot be easily dismissed.
If we inform the royal family that Ms. Aeris was cursed, it would confirm that he was aware of the issue at that time.
Naturally, the royal family would learn about it too, and if they were to marry Ms. Aeris into the royal family with that concern, it would be like selling a defective product while knowing it was defective.
Being a noble, especially with a partner from the royal family, they cannot ignore matters concerning their descendants.
The same went for other noble houses, which was why the Viscount seemed to be moving things forward in secret.
* * *
Iris finished her meal and returned to her room.
Seria and I also came back together, and now I’m sitting on the bed sandwiched between the two of them.
”I can’t believe Big Sister got a marriage proposal from the royal family…”
Iris listens closely to the details about Ms. Aeris’s marriage arrangement and is shocked all over again to hear the other party was royalty.
Apparently, they liked not just her looks but her personality too… From what I heard, she really was lively──riding horses and swinging practice spears around.
Maybe because of that personality, she didn’t like being called “Elder Sister,” so she had Iris call her “Big Sister” instead.
I guess that’s why how she was addressed differed from her parents.
If she got cursed and ended up in that state because of it… Well, it’s no wonder she grew weak and desperate.
As we were talking about this, Iris’s mother, Ms. Elina, arrived.
The moment the door was knocked, Seria and I turned invisible and moved to a corner of the room to listen to their conversation.
Iris looked unusually troubled… What’s going on?
Ms. Elina sat beside Iris on the bed with a solemn expression and spoke.
”Siera, putting aside the matter with Aeris… Were you really okay?”
”Huh?”
”You know, you were dressed like an adventurer? You must’ve headed to Dungeon City, but did you make it there safely?”
Since they couldn’t negotiate with noble houses that might possess curse-breaking magic items, she seemed convinced Iris had gone to Dungeon City.
In response, Iris answered in a way meant to reassure Ms. Elina.
”Ah… I’m fine. I made it to Dungeon City just fine.”
”Really? It’s just that…”
Ms. Elina still looked uneasy despite Iris’s words.
Noticing this, Iris asked back with suspicion.
”You can see I’m unharmed, right? What’s worrying you?”
”How do I put this… Um, your… chastity?”
”──!?”
Ms. Elina, looking a bit shy, seemed like a true lady who doesn’t usually talk about such things.
Still, she thought it was better than being asked by her father, the Viscount, and it seemed like she had taken on the role of asking questions.
She probably didn’t want to leave it to a female servant because she wanted to limit the number of people who knew the outcome.
As for Iris…
”Huh? Ah, um… y-yes, it’s okay, I guess?”
She gave a pretty suspicious reaction.
Of course, I know it’s not okay.
It’s because of me that it’s not okay.
But… she was acting while hiding her identity, so she shouldn’t be bad at lying.
So, while I was wondering why Iris was so flustered, Ms. Elina started to get flustered too, as if she had noticed it.
”Huh? Ah, um… it’s not okay? Were you attacked by bandits or something?”
She seemed to be certain that Iris was not okay.
I admit that Iris’s behavior was suspicious, but why did she conclude that?
In the first place, why did she show such a suspicious reaction… While I was pondering this, I focused on their conversation.
”Ah, no, that… I was attacked by bandits, but I was okay at that time.”
Ms. Elina pursued her question.
”At that time? So, does that mean someone other than the bandits was involved?”
”Ah, um…”
If it wasn’t being attacked by bandits, then it must be something that both parties agreed to, basically.
Well, I can’t say for sure that Iris couldn’t have been the one doing the attacking.
Either way, it’s certain that Iris had agreed to it, and Ms. Elina made a stern face.
”What do you mean? You left the town for Aeris and then… came back after getting along with *that man*?”
”No way! …Yes, that’s right.”
Iris tried to deny her words, but she might have twisted them to hide us.
Ms. Elina shook her head in response.
”It seems like you didn’t just play around. Probably for gathering information or making deals.”
Continuing, she questions Iris again.
”Haah… Siera, I understand that you care about Aeris, but you didn’t need to go that far for something so hard to find, did you?”
”Y-yes…”
Iris shows a shy and reflective attitude.
Ms. Elina tilts her head in curiosity at her.
”…?”
”W-what is it…?”
Iris gets flustered again.
Wondering about her state, Ms. Elina speaks up.
”Now that you mention it, I hadn’t heard clearly.”
”W-what is it?”
”Siera, do you… have a way to lift Aeris’s curse?”
”””!?!”””
Everyone except Ms. Elina gasps.
Of course, I am one of them, surprised by her direct question.
I think that if Iris didn’t bring it up, the way to lift the curse wouldn’t have been found.
If that’s the case, I could proceed without anyone noticing me or Seria.
I thought that, but… well, Iris just has to deny it.
However, Iris was quite shaken at that moment.
”Ah, no, um…”
Huh, not again.
Why does she get so flustered by Ms. Elina’s question?
Has she been mistreated, and does she have a discomfort towards Ms. Elina?
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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