[No title provided in translation]
“It’s still such an amazing technique, even seeing it again.”
The princess gazed at Luna lying on the bed and murmured. She was once more expressing her awe at the mysterious sword art called Soul Severing—a skill that could slice away only the soul, leaving the body utterly unharmed despite the blade’s cut.
“Still, it’s a relief. We took down one of the Heaven God Cult’s executives quickly, and now I can bring the princess some good news.”
Astraia von Kailum had left for the Imperial Palace after confirming Jelros’s annihilation, offering her thanks along the way. From her position, the death of the enemy who had tormented her and her family must have been a tremendous joy. We naturally understood and saw her off with smiles.
“By the way, why hasn’t Luna woken up yet? Didn’t you say that Jelros guy is gone?”
“It’s probably because her soul and body were separated.”
The saintess pulled the blanket up over Luna with a pitying look on her face.
“People are born with their souls and bodies tightly bound together, unchanging until death. But if that bond is forcibly severed, something terrible happens.”
“Something terrible?”
“Imagine the princess and me in a tug-of-war, pulling evenly. What if I suddenly let go of the rope? What would happen to her?”
“She’d go tumbling backward, flat on her butt.”
“Exactly. The body and soul hold each other in balance. But if one side vanishes or the connection is cut...”
“...She might not come back?”
The princess’s expression grew grave at the saintess’s analogy. She’d thought it was just fainting or exhaustion, but realizing Luna’s condition might be more serious filled her with unexpected guilt.
“No, I don’t think so, looking at Luna’s state now. If it were truly irreversible, her body’s functions would have already stopped.”
But Luna’s body was still breathing faintly, signs of life persisting.
“The fact that she’s alive means her soul—the owner of this body—is alive too. But where she is exactly...”
According to the saintess, no trace of a soul could be felt in her body now. Humans emanate a unique warmth from their souls, but Luna had none of that.
“Was there anything unusual about Luna lately?”
“Why do you ask?”
“If Jelros took over her body, he must have approached her first. Maybe the day she seemed different was when he seized control.”
I carefully recalled the last time I’d seen her, prompted by Polo’s question. But no matter how I racked my brain, nothing stood out as off.
“Hmm... Oh! A few days ago, Luna went out and came back with a necklace I’d never seen before.”
“A necklace?”
“Yes! She’s usually in her maid uniform next to me at the academy, so even one extra accessory stands out.”
The saintess explained that a few days prior, Luna had gone out to prepare healthy meals and returned wearing an unfamiliar necklace. Luna wasn’t the type to care much about accessories, so that detail screamed suspicious to me right away.
“Do you know where that necklace is?”
“Hmm... I haven’t seen it since that day. Probably in Luna’s room.”
A short while later, the saintess and princess returned from Luna’s private room. It’d be awkward for us guys to barge into a girl’s space, so we’d waited—and they emerged with a small ruby necklace I’d never seen before.
“Here it is... This confirms it. I can feel some kind of energy inside.”
“Energy?”
Instead of answering, she flashed a gentle smile and softly placed the necklace on the chest of Luna, who lay as if asleep.
---
For a brief moment, I had the distinct sense that something entered Luna’s body. Then, one of her fingers twitched.
“Luna!”
I rushed to her side, and she fluttered her eyes open, looking straight at me. Spotting me, she broke into a bashful smile. Tension drained from me, and I collapsed into a nearby chair.
“Haa... Thank goodness...”
Luna’s condition normalized almost immediately. The saintess had poured a generous amount of divine power into her, making her look healthier than before—probably not just my imagination.
Smack!
“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”
“Who told you to bring home some sketchy unknown thing?!”
From what she said, Luna had bought the necklace—supposedly a talisman—from some shady fortune teller. That night, as she slept, Jelros had come to hijack her body. The madman had sealed his soul into the necklace to steal hers. It drove home just how insane he was.
“Having your body forcibly taken by a creep like that must’ve been a huge shock... I get it, Luna.”
“Huh? No? I just handed it over.”
What the hell? Even if she’s fearless, giving her body to a villain like that?
As we freaked out, Luna turned to me with a beaming smile.
“Heehee. But I knew Mars would come save me. Better to trust you than act tough and get hurt.”
“Jeez...”
“See... You came for me again...”
Her words—that she’d trusted me—made it impossible to stay mad. I gave her forehead a light flick for her recklessness.
“...Heehee.”
But Luna, for whatever reason, seemed thrilled. She grinned all day, even after the flick.
* * *
Meanwhile, Astraia von Kailum hurried to the Imperial Palace to share the good news, berating her attendants to move faster.
“P-Princess! How can you be so undignified—!”
“Outta my way!”
Running in a dress was hardly befitting an imperial princess, but Astraia had no time for such trivialities. She shoved past the maids blocking her and dashed to the audience chamber where the emperor handled affairs.
Crash! Bang!
“Father!!”
The emperor, deep in discussion with his ministers about this year’s poor relief policies, widened his already large eyes at Astraia’s near-door-shattering entrance.
“Astraia? What are you doing here...?”
“We got him!”
Got him? Did the princess kill someone...?
“N-No, not me! Mars Noctus!”
“!!”
Realizing the gravity, the emperor dismissed the ministers and led her to his private chambers.
“Safe here. So, what happened?”
After meticulously checking the soundproofing spells for eavesdroppers, he urged her on, eager to confirm his suspicions.
“Yes, well, here’s how it went...”
Astraia spoke a bit quickly in her excitement but detailed how Mars had safely defeated their nemesis, Jelros. The emperor, upon hearing it, let tears stream unchecked down his face.
“Good... That’s good... Your mother will be happy now too...”
Recalling the empress, unjustly taken by Jelros’s schemes, he was moved, thinking the woman he’d truly loved could finally find peace. Astraia, who had no memory of her mother, prayed the same.
The emperor thought of Mars, who’d saved his daughter’s life before, vowing to summon him soon for a grand reward.
“Another huge debt, on top of the last one. How can I ever repay such enormous grace...”
“Um... Father?”
They’d talked much since the marriage fiasco, but she still hesitated to call him that. Hearing her say it sweetly now gave him an odd pang.
“Hmm... Lia, got some good idea?”
“W-Well, he’s done the imperial family two massive favors, right? On par with saving a life—mere money won’t satisfy, will it...?”
“So you have another plan?”
“A... w-woman...”
“Hmm...?”
“A... girl...”
A girl? Introducing a woman, then. As the emperor mentally listed eligible noble ladies, Astraia added,
“Ideally, someone as pretty as me... from a family close to the imperial house, with good character like the student council president... and talented in politics... that kind of girl...?”
Crunch.
For a split second, the emperor wanted to rush to the academy and sock Mars one. She was beating around the bush, but wasn’t she just describing herself? He sighed deeply, reliving the misery and outrage from when he’d nearly married her off to Taurus.