“I’ll do it! I’ll prove that the Renards are innocent!”
The king’s face softened. Liam and I encouraged Bal as well.
“Please, Bal!”
“Do your best!”
Bal nodded.
“Here, former swordmaster Marcel,” the king said, handing him the box.
“Bal, raise Joyeuse and touch the tool with your left hand,” the king instructed.
Bal touched the bangle, which brought forth the holy sword, and touched the box.
“Gather your magic inside the sword. If you do it right, the records will appear on the blade.”
As Bal concentrated, Joyeuse began glowing with a dark-silver light. But it was just a small glimmer, as though there wasn’t enough magic to power it.
“Use your mana, Bal. You recall Dakini’s breathing technique, do you not?”
“Yes!”
Bal breathed deeply, just like Lady Dakini had taught us during yoga. His mana began accumulating.
“One more time!” Marcel said.
Bal placed his left hand on the box, and Marcel placed his hand over it in turn.
“Holy sword, show us the tool’s records!” Bal shouted.
“Lord Reineke, please lend him your strength!” I prayed.
A golden light mixed with the silver one, seeping into the sword. One after another, the image of those who had used the magical tool in the past were shown reflected on the blade.
The queen grew pallid.
“Your Majesty, you mustn’t! The Great Spirit Reineke is the Renards’ guardian! He’ll show us an illusion that works in their favor!”
“The Great Spirit Lord Reineke,” the king corrected. “He guided the royal family’s founder and helped us establish this very nation.”
Lord Reineke huffed through his nose haughtily.
“Have you forgotten that no matter how royal one may be by blood, they cannot be king if they are deemed unworthy by the spirits?” the king asked.
The queen bit her lip.
“The Lord of Light has been gone for so long, so why now? Am I really supposed to believe that some great spirit has actually materialized?!”
The queen suddenly ran at Bal, a knife glinting in her hand.
“It’s time to end this farce!”
Liam quickly stepped in front of Bal, wielding the Eclipse Blade.
If he reveals Nott now, they really will think it’s treason!
“Brother, no!!!” I screamed.
However, Liam didn’t unsheathe the sword. He blocked the queen’s attack with the scabbard.
And at that moment, a certain person appeared on Joyeuse.
“Here is the one who unsealed this tool last!” Lord Reineke said with a cackle.
The queen was reflected on the holy sword, clear as day.
The king looked up at her.
“It’s a lie! Nothing but an illusion!” she cried.
But the blade continued reflecting the magical tool’s past. It was moving backward in time, displaying the faces of previous House Cordier marquises. The attire of the ones shown became increasingly antiquated, as though this record had been updated every time the tool was handed down. It even showed the face of a child in the clothes of a long-past age—had they opened the tool in their youth as a prank?
“Would House Renard know House Cordier’s history in such detail?” His Majesty asked. “And how would they create an illusion of people whose portraits don’t even exist?”
The queen looked away, out of excuses.
“Arrest the queen,” the king ordered grimly.
The knights obeyed, seizing her arms. She turned her gaze on me, and our eyes met.
“Great spirit contractor... If only it weren’t for you!!!”
It was the same resentful look I knew all too well from my previous life. This was my first time seeing the queen since my rebirth, but the terror I’d felt in the past raced down my spine anew and caused me to shudder.
She’s...horrifying!
Suddenly, a hot wind smacked me in the face. I gasped, feeling the hot air enter my lungs. My chest hurt, like a fire was igniting in my heart. It was the same suffocating sensation I had felt more times than I could count in my past life—the air around my face would heat up, making me unable to breathe.
“Fire magic?!”
Lord Reineke swallowed the air around me, turning it cool and restoring my breath. It was then that I realized the queen had used fire magic to attack me.
I’d never realized it—she was a fire magic wielder all along.
In my past life, I’d often collapsed from a sudden shortness of breath. The queen would add insult to injury, claiming I was cursed. The sight of me gasping for air terrified Hodr, always sending him running and calling for the doctors. But they were afraid of the queen too, so they gave me no medical treatment and just looked the other way. Even I believed I was experiencing fits, and blamed myself for having poor health.
Feeling the exact same sensation now brought those memories flooding back. No matter what I did, the queen scorned me for spreading my curse and told me to disappear. She ignored me when I greeted her, and when I gave her thoughtful gifts, she’d throw them away or break them before my very eyes. Those who suspected the queen’s true nature joined her in tormenting me. I was isolated, with nobody to rely on in the palace beside Hodr.
Then, without ever being taught how to be a crown princess, I was condemned as a vixen and executed.
My chest ached with fear. I clutched it, frantically gasping for air. But no matter how many times I inhaled, I couldn’t breathe. It felt like I was choking. My throat wheezed from how hard I tried to swallow in the air.
Lord Reineke dispelled the fire magic, so why am I still like this?!
I flew into hysterics. My hands were shaking. I had no idea what to do.
Am I actually cursed after all? Would it be better if I disappeared?
I was so full of dread that I couldn’t think clearly. I just gasped, desperately wishing I could breathe.
The queen laughed.
“You disgraceful contractor! If your heart is this weak, then just disappear already!”
Her cruel voice shouting “Disappear! Disappear!” reverberated in my head.
“Lune, did you inhale the fire magic?! Calm down! It’ll go away if you just calm down!” Lord Reineke shouted.
I felt his soft tail rub my back. Usually it would soothe me, but not right now. The roaring chorus telling me to disappear drowned out Lord Reineke’s voice.
All the horrible things I’d heard in my past life accumulated in my head. It was like a vortex of memories was raging inside of me. Soot filled my heart, pressing up against my lungs. More of it kept building and building, making me feel like I was about to burst.
I had no idea how I was supposed to calm down. I was terrified that if I stopped breathing, I’d die.
Please, someone, save me!!!
I was panting, on the verge of tears. My burned heart was hurting. I could practically smell the soot coming from my every breath.
“This isn’t good! She’s panicking!”
As tears filled my eyes, Liam placed his hand over my wide-open mouth. My trembling fingers grasped his and I tried to pry him off.
“You’re breathing too quickly, Lune. Calm down and stop for a moment.”
“Ah! B-But—”
Liam’s gentle voice was a calm amid the storm, but I couldn’t stop my shallow breaths. My body was acting of its own accord.
I’m too scared!
Liam hugged me and pressed the tip of his nose to mine.
“Brother?!”
I quickly held my breath in shock. I didn’t want him to smell the soot coming out.
Liam slowly nuzzled against my nose, then my cheek. He took the pendant around my neck, and pressed the gemstone made from pseudo magical ore to my lips. It had a nice, tingling feel.
“O wind magic, grant Lune pure air,” Liam chanted.
A gentle breeze flew out of the gemstone—it was the Renard domain’s wind. A refreshing scent of flowers mixed with the sweet fragrance of fruit and the strong smell of grass. A trace of Liam’s scent was there too, reassuring me.
“Now, breathe slowly through your nose.”
Liam’s soft skin and hair rubbed against me. I loosened my grip on his hand, inhaling deeply through my nose.
“Haaah...”
It was a little easier to breathe.
Liam pressed our noses together again, then lightly sucked on the tip of my nose.
“Ngh?!”
I involuntarily held my breath.
Liam brushed his cheek against mine. Relieved, I exhaled.
“That’s it, Lune. Very good.”
With the gemstone between my lips, I couldn’t use my mouth to breathe. But each time I breathed through my nose, it became a bit easier. My shallow breaths naturally shifted to deeper ones that filled my abdomen.
Once I was breathing normally and my body had stopped shaking, Liam kissed my fox ears.
“Are you okay?” he asked me gently.
I nodded, causing my ear to brush against his lips.
“Ah! Sorry!” I said, flattening my ears.
Liam just silently petted my head. He picked me up in his arms, then faced the queen.
“Lune is a sweet girl who knows the pain of the less fortunate. In no way does she deserve to disappear,” he said. His voice was deep, soft, yet commanding.
The queen looked away. A strand of red hair fell across her face.
“I will issue the verdict right away: The queen is to be imprisoned in a remote northern villa!”
“Father, that’s ridiculous! They’re the ones in the wrong!” Hodr said, pointing at us.
“You’re going with her, under house arrest,” the king said with a sigh.
With that, the chamberlain led Hodr away.
His Majesty watched on with sorrow as his wife and son were taken away.
Her Majesty lost her title and was imprisoned. House Cordier lost their positions at the royal court, their head no longer a chancellor. Only the auditor who had written that report retained his post.
Hodr’s disrespect toward a great spirit and his general inappropriate behavior had crossed the line, and so he was stripped of his title as well. Anyone related to House Cordier was removed from his associates. With the queen’s influence gone, Hodr was to restart his imperial education, and his future would be determined by his progress.
The royal court mages sealed the magical tool and entrusted it to the mermaid queen. We explained everything that had happened when we brought it to her. She and the other sea creatures were appeased by the news, so they ceased their attacks and returned to their homes.
We all gazed at the calmed sea, feeling at peace.