Volume 1 Chapter 53, Part 2 Mean Villainess, My Thought Circuit Short, Part Circuits
"Yes, Lady."
After school, I headed to Mister Bruno's study, curious about the new documents regarding the fifth king that Elder Brother had mentioned earlier.
Rudger, whom Mister Bruno had apparently called, was there, and Elder Brother was getting tense, remembering our conversation from this morning. But it was completely unfair for me to take the brunt of it, so I wished he would stop.
When I arrived at Mister Bruno's study, I found Elder Brother, Rudger, and Mister Bruno already gathered.
I had brought Rolus along with me, and he took a seat next to me.
"The documents we found this time are not historical texts, but notes from temple officials,"
said Elder Brother.
While historical texts had been thoroughly researched, the notes were a blind spot.
Indeed, I hadn't looked into that area either.
"And what was written in those notes was that the last person to use a spell in this country was the fifth king."
I had seen in various materials that spells still existed during the fifth king's time, but this was the first time I had seen it stated so definitively.
I muttered to myself, "So it wasn't the 6th king."
Everyone's gaze turned towards me, curious about my sudden realization.
"Can I ask why you think that?"
Mister Bruno asked, so I spoke without holding back.
"The 6th king clearly lived beyond a normal lifespan, so I thought he must have used some kind of spell."
Now everyone's gaze shifted to the timeline in front of them.
"Isn't it strange that people don't question that more?"
Since they don't memorize timelines like in Japanese history classes, there are certainly people who don't even know that fact.
But still, I thought it was odd that no one questioned it at all.
I had been speculating that he might have used a spell to extend his life or some kind of concealment spell that wouldn't raise suspicion.
"I also think it's odd that the only portraits remaining of the sixth generation are from when he was young."
Suddenly, Rudger said that.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. There are a few portraits of the 6th generation, but they were either young teenagers or at most in their 60s."
As Rudger muttered that it wouldn't be strange for someone over a hundred years old to be much more wrinkled, he rummaged through the materials on the shelf.
"Ah, here it is. This should be the youngest portrait."
Looking at the portrait placed on the table, my fingertips twitched involuntarily.
I had seen older portraits many times, but this was my first time seeing this one.
Even though it was my first time, I felt a sense of déjà vu.
I felt a wave of disgust wash over me.
And then, I felt an indescribable fear.
"Lady?"
Rolus, noticing my brief moment of shock, called me softly and lightly touched my right arm.
"Ah!"
"I-I'm sorry, Lady."
"No, it's fine. I'm okay. I just got a little surprised."
My shoulders shook unusually, which seemed to surprise Rolus even more.
"Are you okay, Elena?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. So, is there anything written about the spell used by the fifth king?"
I shifted the topic to divert my attention from the portrait, holding Rolus's hand that was within reach.
"The memoir says, 'Reaching for the last spell in memory of the fleeting queen.' But it didn't mention the content of the spell."
Elder Brother answered that way.
Both Elder Brother and Mister Bruno thought that since it mentioned the queen, the spell was likely used for her.
It's a well-known story that the fifth king adored the queen, so it's not surprising that everyone would think that.
I also wondered if the king had used a resurrection spell or something.
However, the 6th king was the child of that beloved queen, so it's possible the fifth king used a spell for the 6th king.
Perhaps a spell for long life.
But speaking of the fifth king's queen, she was the one who apologized to me in that lucid dream I once had.
What if this is the reason why he apologized to me?
"Sorry for making my son live so long," what kind of thing is that to say?
No, even if they felt guilty about making him live long, why would they need to apologize to me?
Why me?
First of all, these people lived about a thousand years ago, so I don't think it has anything to do with me or my past life.
Even if you combine my current life and my past life, it's nowhere near a thousand years.
"Hmm..."
As I groaned and rubbed my temples in frustration, Mister Bruno chuckled softly and said,
"Don't worry, Elena. Spell-ology isn't something you can figure out all at once."
If I were to get married, someone calm like him would be nice, I think.
Mom said teachers were a no-go, but she was probably talking about Mister Eliseo, so Mister Bruno should be fine.
Well, Mister Bruno is definitely married, so it's not even a question──completely off the table!
After the Spell-ology meeting, Elder Brother offered to organize the materials further. I decided to use the time to visit the library with Rolus, hoping to clear my mind with some unrelated reading.
I thought I'd read something completely unrelated to relax.
"Ah, my eyes hurt. Maybe I used my brain too much..."
"With all due respect, Lady, isn't that because you stayed up late last night pretending to sleep?"
"...Rolus, your harshness is hurting my heart."
It's not like I was pretending to sleep.
I meant to sleep, but I got so curious about the story I was reading that I couldn't help but get up and keep reading.
"But Lady, your hand felt very cold earlier. Are you all right?"
"My hand? Ah, now that you mention it, I guess it did feel that way..."
I feel like this happened before, sometime ago.
My hand got cold...
"Back when you were having nightmares, only your right hand got cold."
"...Ah, huh...?"
It was when I had that strange dream, not a lucid one.
"What... kind of dream was it again?"
"Lady, you said it was a scary dream."
That's right, now that I think about it, I felt the same kind of inexplicable fear that I felt today.
That must have been the kind of dream I had. Remember, somehow remember, thinking this, I smack my head.
"What are you doing, Lady!"
Rolus, who seemed surprised by my sudden self-harming, inserted his hand between my hand and my head.
If you continue hitting him, you will hit Rolus' hand.
That's not an option, so I'll just stroke Rolus' hand.
"Maybe if I give him some stimulation he'll remember"
"There's no need to force yourself to remember those horrible dreams you've forgotten."
"But I feel like it was important somehow..."
While I was stroking the hand of Rolus on my head with a frown on my face, I heard a voice from behind me.
"Let's go home, Elena! ... What are you doing?"
"...a little thought"
I answered him like that, but Elder Brother was not convinced at all and frowned.
"I'm sorry too"
Due to the mysterious pressure emanating from Elder Brother, Rolus, who had done nothing wrong, gently pulled out his own hand, which had been caught between my hand and my head and was being stroked.
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