Chapter 181: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (45)
Chapter 181: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (45)
As the Head Maid took a step forward, the Princess let out a scream that sounded more like a shriek.
"…Don't come any closer!"
As she shouted, a high-level spell formula began to manifest in Cien’s hands.
Even as a first-year, she was the top student of the Magic Department. Naturally, her combat capabilities were outstanding.
However, the Head Maid merely tilted her head as if she still didn't understand. Stopping in her tracks, she began to mutter in a faint, hazy voice.
That voice, which started as a stuttering flow, gradually began to twist into something bizarre.
"W-Why is everyone? Why? H-How… I, I, I, ugh, ah… Uuuuuugh, h-huuuuugh, AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Soon, the Head Maid clutched her own throat as if having a seizure.
A series of violent tremors followed. With every sickening crack and snap, her arms and legs twisted into grotesque angles.
By any standard, it was not a normal sight.
Confronted with such a macabre spectacle for the first time, the Princess’s eyes welled with tears. She had only just become an adult.
She did not possess the mental fortitude to maintain her composure in the face of a mortal threat.
After twitching and creaking for a while, the Head Maid’s body eventually regained its stability.
The atmosphere shifted entirely.
If she had exuded a gentle aura just moments ago, the Head Maid now gave off a somehow sinister, dismal scent.
Her head, which had been tilted back, snapped forward to face the front again.
A faint, blood-red glow lingered in her brown eyes. With a smile so wide it felt exaggerated, she spoke.
"A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."
The voice sounded as if it were boiling up from deep within her lungs.
At that tone, which carried a hint of madness, the Princess trembled in silence.
Listening to the voice flowing from the Head Maid’s mouth, the Princess couldn't help but realize it instinctively.
It was different.
This was not the benevolent tone the Head Maid always used. On the contrary, it was a voice that felt rough and jagged.
The being before her was speaking through the Head Maid’s body, but it was not the Head Maid.
Cien could not hide her trembling hands. Nevertheless, she tried her best to feign composure as she asked.
"…Who are you?"
"Puhuhu," the Head Maid let out a frivolous laugh. A flash of delight even flickered in her eyes.
Her head slumped forward. It looked like she was showing respect, but in reality, it was anything but.
It was an act of excessive etiquette.
Not a shred of respect could be found in that sequence of movements. It was a greeting that bordered on mockery.
"My, my, for a descendant of the dragon to inquire with such an exquisite voice… how could a lowly thing like me refuse to answer? Though I have lived hiding my true identity for decades—yes, indeed! However, to commemorate this special encounter today, I shall tell you, Your Highness."
Having finished its sarcasm, the Head Maid’s body returned to a formal posture.
Then, it took a step, closing the distance to Cien.
That alone was enough to drench the Princess in fear. A paroxysmal scream tore from her throat.
"D-Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I'll—ugh, AAAAAAAAAAH!"
But the Princess’s desperate warning was utterly useless.
Two poison needles shot out from the Head Maid’s hand, which had moved with lightning speed.
Thwack. Her shoulders pierced by the needles, the Princess let out a shrill cry and staggered back.
The mana fluctuations that had been gathering in her hands dissipated. Seeing this, the Head Maid offered advice laced with ridicule.
"Your Highness, warnings should be made with actions, not words… What kind of benevolent enemy would listen to the pleas of a trembling little girl?"
Hearing the woman’s leisurely voice, the Princess’s gaze momentarily turned sharp.
She felt a surge of emotion rising in her throat.
In truth, it was closer to a final struggle than actual anger. It was the last bit of pride exerted by a human driven into a corner.
But Cien currently lacked the mental capacity to distinguish between the two.
The Princess’s roar soon echoed through the cave.
"I—I am no mere girl! I am the Fifth Princess of the great Imperial Household—!"
"You are a girl."
Or rather, it would have echoed.
But at the woman’s voice, which remained calm as if stating a universal truth, the Princess’s mouth snapped shut.
"Or would you like to prove it? It’s simple, isn't it? You just have to defeat me with that grand power of the Imperial Household you speak of."
With that, the Head Maid shrugged.
Seeing that 'do it if you can' attitude, Cien blankly retraced her past memories.
Come to think of it, she had heard a similar warning not too long ago.
From Ian Percus, that detestable and terrifying man.
"Of course, you won't be able to… Haha, I was joking. It seems my introduction has been delayed."
The woman didn't seem to care whether the Princess bit her lip or not.
She seemed certain that no matter what Cien did, she wouldn't be able to escape this trap.
And she had every reason to be.
This was a secret passage known only to the Royals, and the personnel who were supposed to protect her had just been annihilated before her eyes.
Furthermore, the Princess’s party hadn't told anyone of their destination, so they were effectively in checkmate.
The 'Head Maid’s' confident attitude was no bluff. With that confidence, she finally introduced herself.
"My name is Mitram."
It was a voice feigning cheerfulness, like a clown's.
And she actually did look cheerful. The one who introduced himself as 'Mitram' seemed to have no intention of hiding his snickering laughter.
"I am a servant who serves the true master of this world. To put it more simply…"
Stagger. Cien’s knees buckled.
The poison from the needles had begun to take effect. A faint groan escaped her lips.
Her trembling, pale gray eyes turned toward the snickering 'Head Maid.'
"…I am a Dark Priest."
It was only natural for Cien’s gaze to turn vacant upon facing that twisted smile.
A 'Dark Priest'—a being she had only heard of in stories.
The minions who served the Evil God Omeros and his earthly agent, Delphirem.
She had heard that their power had rapidly diminished after the Great War of Gods and Demons, leaving only remnants behind.
Could they possibly still have this much power left?
It was hard to believe.
The eyes of the Imperial Household reached every corner of the Empire. No matter how secret an organization was, it was difficult to escape that vast field of vision.
Especially if they had the strength to mobilize hundreds of demonic beasts.
But the reality facing Cien right now was arguing that Mitram’s words were true.
No one but the Dark Cult could mobilize hundreds of demonic beasts.
No one else could manipulate those closest to the Royals or create such bizarre demonic beasts.
All those stories that defied common sense became plausible if the 'Dark Cult' was the organization behind them.
Though they had fallen now, they were once beings who had nearly brought the world to ruin.
Yet, a lingering doubt remained. The Princess, barely clinging to her fading consciousness, asked in a trembling voice.
"…W-What did you do?"
Mitram’s gaze turned toward the Princess.
He looked as if he didn't understand what she was asking, but it didn't take long for that question to be resolved.
"I mean the Head Maid! What did you do to her…!"
"Ah," Mitram said, as if only just realizing, and looked over the body he was inhabiting.
Then, after humming and nodding, he broke into a vivid, mad laughter.
He looked incredibly amused.
"Ah, she is a material I cherish very much. I kidnapped her back when she was active as an intelligence agent and performed a few modifications. Actually, I had a few more materials like her, but…"
It was then that Mitram’s brow furrowed deeply.
It was a reaction of displeasure, something he hadn't shown until now. It was the reaction of someone when something hadn't gone according to plan.
"…Unfortunately, our Sir Zeros had his arm cut off by some crazy noble."
Hearing those words, Cien’s thoughts delved deeper.
The name 'Zeros' was all too familiar. It was only natural.
He had been the Princess’s guard knight.
But he had recently returned to his hometown, citing recuperation as the reason.
And that was because his arm had been cut off by none other than Ian Percus.
It might have been a coincidence.
Nevertheless, as the suspicions she had harbored deep down merged with the newly discovered facts, the Princess’s thoughts began to tangle in a mess.
The advice to increase her escort and Sir Zeros’s departure.
Information that would add certainty to those suspicions appeared soon after.
A groan escaped Mitram’s lips while the Princess was deep in thought.
His head, inhabiting the Head Maid’s body, tilted to the side. Then, a voice filled with doubt was uttered.
"Come to think of it, why didn't the demonic beasts react? I watched her all day, sticking to her side. I thought there was no opening to break the curse…"
"…A curse?"
The Princess immediately questioned the new information.
At that, Mitram’s face took on an 'oops' expression.
The Princess realized it instinctively.
That this information could be the clue to all the mysteries she hadn't been able to solve until now.
The sound of Cien swallowing hard echoed in her throat.