Emperor Ishnad’s hand was outstretched like he’d failed to grasp something. King Glenreed spoke to him firmly.
“Laetitia is my queen. I don’t care if you shared some connection in a past life, or if you’re the leader of a powerful empire. You don’t touch her hands. I’m the only one who can touch Laetitia.”
“King Glenreed…”
Was it that gallant face I saw when I looked up? Or was it his firm grasp on my shoulders?
Something was suddenly making my heart race.
✦ ✦ ✦
WE bid farewell to Emperor Ishnad and returned to the castle in our carriage.
“We might be mutual enemies when we next meet, huh…?” I repeated his words to me.
From the window, I watched the Flying Dragons departing in formation. Emperor Ishnad had taken off on his dragon as soon as we left. He was no bigger than a sesame seed in the sky now
“It seems he’s actually taking the role of emperor seriously.”
He told me he became the emperor and expanded his country to search for me after my reincarnation. But I knew. Emperor Ishnad still cherished the comrades and status he’d gathered in this life. If he didn’t, his people wouldn’t follow him—no matter how brilliant of a leader he may be.
Emperor Ishnad had warned me that, if we next met as enemies, he wouldn’t go easy on me again. It was proof that he’d come to see me as a stranger who merely shared a soul with his loved one.
“How long are you going to watch those dragons?” Something in King Glenreed’s voice sounded sullen. “And why are you sitting so far away from me?”
I was seated diagonally from His Majesty in a corner of the carriage, trying to put as much space between us as possible.
“There’s no reason in particular,” I said.
“Then why not get a bit closer? You look uncomfortable there.”
“Please don’t mind me.”
I felt bad, but I wanted him to leave me alone for a little while. Emperor Ishnad had just told me to avoid shocks to my body and mind. Then King Glenreed hugged my shoulders and made my heart race.
I’d decided that it was safest to play it slow when it came to approaching King Glenreed.
…Well, I’m probably just being overly cautious.
King Glenreed had startled me and done things to my heart many times since I came to Wolfvarte. It wasn’t just him either—I’d had so many fun and surprising experiences since I came to this country.
Maybe it means my soul is safe if I haven’t run into any trouble yet.
Relieved, I leaned my body against the carriage wall, where I felt a flood of exhaustion. It wasn’t surprising. I’d been incredibly tense since Princess Ileze’s collapse all that time ago.
“Now that I think of it…”
I felt a strange sensation that day too. Was it because my soul was cursed?
My homeland of Elltoria bordered the Maldion Empire. Though we were currently on bad terms, our countries’ nobles and royals used to marry each other long ago. Therefore, even I had the blood of the Maldion’s imperial family in my veins, if only the tiniest amount.
Supposedly, the curse that came during the Renewal was meant to affect anyone with royal Maldion blood, making it possible that I’d felt the influence of the curse too, if only very subtly.
That sensation…
It was like a gust of wind blew through my body for a brief second…
“Huh…?”
Suddenly, my vision sloped downward in one big jump.
What…? But why? What’s going on?
All I did was remember the sensation!
“Curses are a kind of spell that work on the soul.”
“It’s best to avoid strong shocks or emotions that could affect the soul.”
Wait, just remembering it counts as the curse affecting my soul?
“Laetitia?!”
King Glenreed’s voice…reached my ears…as my soul…shook violently inside me…