“You—stop right there,” I called out.
We were just outside the employee exit at the rear of the concert hall, in a dark alley. The man I’d stopped was dressed in a tailcoat and looked for all intents and purposes to be a musician. There was nothing overtly off about it, but I found it strange that he was sneaking out through the back like this.
“Er, can I help you?”
“I’d like to ask you a few questions, if that’s all right. Do you have the time?”
“I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a rush. If that’ll be all, then I’ll excuse my—”
“Move and I’ll shoot.”
“Wh-what?!”
I took the wand I had returned as I left the concert hall and pointed it his way. I wasn’t certain, but something didn’t feel right about the man. I felt a sense of déjà vu talking to him.
“What is the meaning of this?” he asked.
“…Show me your hands.”
“Okay…?” The man obeyed. I neared slightly and carefully inspected his hands and what he held. He had a violin just like Pepi’s, as well as a violin bow. Nothing seemed unusual, but my suspicion still remained.
“The bracelet, Claire,” someone drawled sleepily.
“The bracelet? A transformation magic tool!” I exclaimed.
“Blast!” The man clicked his tongue and broke into a run.
“That’s far enough.” A woman appeared and pinned the man to the ground.
“Emma?! Are you betraying me?!”
“My master has always been Lady Catherine and none other. I have no recollection of ever serving you.”
“Unhand me! Unhand me right this instant, or else!”
The one restraining the man was Emma. The way she held him in place certainly didn’t look like something an ordinary maid would be trained to do.
“Emma? Catherine? What are you two doing here? Wait…” From their conversation, I pieced things together. “Then this man is…”
“Yeah. Emma, take off the bracelet,” Catherine said.
“Yes, my lady.” Emma pulled the man’s bracelet off, causing his figure to warp before my eyes.
“Clément Achard? But how?” I asked.
“He had a musician who could use magic ready to swap places with him just in case. Kind of like…castling magic, if that makes sense,” Catherine answered, using a chess metaphor. She approached, wheeling her chair closer.
“Catherine, you fool! Have you forgotten who it was that raised you?!” Clément said.
“And I greatly appreciate all you’ve done for me, Father. But please, let’s put an end to this. Don’t drag the Achard name through the mud any more than you already have.”
“Nonsense!” He writhed in Emma’s hold, still trying to flee. “I am House Achard! So long as I’m alive, House Achard lives on!”
“No, Father. Our house has been doomed for a long time now. Ever since that day ten years ago.”
“…Ten years ago? Catherine, what are you saying?” I asked. I had a bad feeling that something I wouldn’t like was about to follow.
“I must apologize to you, Claire.”
“…Catherine?”
“Ten years ago, the one who killed Lady Melia, your mother…was me.”
“…What?” I couldn’t make sense of her words for a moment. I was sure my ears had heard her correctly. But my heart just refused to understand. How? How could such a thing be possible?! “What are you saying, Catherine? My mother died in an accident.”
“That accident was arranged. I assassinated her on my father’s orders.”
“What…? No… No, I don’t understand!” Feeling terribly confused, I lifted my wand to point it at her.
She didn’t move, but just smiled. Smiled the same smile she always did.
“On that day, the commoner carriage that collided with your parents’ carriage had me and three other assassins inside. After stopping your parents’ carriage in a way that looked like an accident, we attacked them. The one who stopped our attack was Lady Melia.”
“My mother…?”
“I assume Master Dole’s magic isn’t suited for combat, as we only fought against Lady Melia. She sealed her carriage with Master Dole inside it using protection magic, then faced us empty-handed.” She closed her eyes as though remembering the moment.
“…And then?”
“It was a draw, I suppose. Lady Melia was left unable to fight, but so were we. I injured my left leg and could no longer move. And then Lady Melia…died protecting me.”
“…What? I…I don’t…understand.”
She opened her eyes again, her face warped with self-hatred. “We were being monitored. If we failed, another group was in place to make sure we were eliminated, thereby silencing us. But I survived…thanks to Lady Melia.”
“Mother…”
“After it was all over and done, my father ordered me to use my magic to make it as though nothing ever happened. Those at the scene only remember it as an accident now.”
“Catherine…? I can’t…believe this.”
“Claire… Your mother died because of me, and I’ve always wanted to apologize for it. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m sorry.” She bowed as deep as she could from her wheelchair.
“Why…why tell me now of all times?!”
“I won’t ask you to forgive me. I know I don’t deserve forgiveness. But let me at least atone.”
“Catherine…?”
She lifted her head. I could now see she held a wand in her hand.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to cause any more harm than I already have.” She took her wand and pointed it at Clément.
“Catherine?! What do you think you’re doing?!” he shouted.
“This is goodbye, Father.”
“St-stop! I’m still not finished! I’ll flee to the Empire and—”
“Erase.”
I felt powerful magic come from her wand. Something my eyes couldn’t see began to envelop Clément.
“N-no! I don’t want to forget myself! My being! Somebody! Somebody…help…me…” He went limp with a thud.
“…Did you kill him?” I asked.
“No. I just tampered with his mind a little.”
“I thought your magic only allowed you to hide?”
“It can be used that way. But its true nature is something entirely different.” She issued an order to Emma, who began hauling Clément off. “My magic erases memory. I hide myself by erasing people’s memory of seeing me.”
“How clever.”
“Ehe heh, thank you. But this magic’s original purpose was for a different thing.” She pointed her wand my way.
“Catherine?!” I was careless. I shouldn’t have taken what she said about doing no further harm at face value.
“Claire. I’m going to erase your…no, everyone’s memory of me.”
“…Catherine?”
“Not even death would be enough for me to atone for what I’ve done. So instead, I’m going to live my life forgotten by everyone.”
“But…that’s no different than not existing!” Living life unnoticed, unremembered—such a thing could not be called living. That was a fate worse than death.
“Yeah. But such a cursed life is all I deserve.”
“Don’t do this, Catherine!”
“I’m sorry.”
I felt strength drain from my limbs as something dear faded from my mind. “No! I won’t forget, I swear! No matter what!”
“Claire…”
“Just you watch, Catherine! …No matter how strong you act…I know you…you…” My consciousness grew distant… Who was I talking to again?
“…I don’t want to do this…really. But…I have to.” In my last moments of consciousness, I heard somebody force those words out through sobs. I could no longer recall who they were, though. Their final words were full of sadness. “…Goodbye, Claire.”
Unable to stop the tears streaming down my cheeks, I fell into a deep slumber.