Sustaining The King’s Life - Chapter 239

“Cheer up, Faustina,” said Orwell, as he gave her a single gr.a.p.e. “It’s not the end of the world.”

Faustina feels as if her eyes were akin to a dead fish. She was staring practically at nothing while lying down at the couch. Orwell was now with her, keeping company. They are both in the study, with Orwell acting as Faustina’s tutor so that she wouldn’t fall behind her subjects in Magierstadt.

“I’m really sorry, Orwell.” Faustina said. “It’s really hard for me to focus right now.”

How many days has it been? Four? It has been four days since the king told her about something in the sapphire palace. And up until now she hasn’t fully recovered. Just in two days and she will be returning to Magierstadt, but Faustina wasn’t at the verge of recovery. At least, not her state of mind. Her body was already fine and well-rested, but her mind was always lost.

“It’s alright. I’m worried about you,” Orwell retorted.

He was sitting beside Faustina, who was lying across the sofa.

“I’m… not a Heilen.” Faustina still couldn’t believe what she said. “I’m not a Heilen.”

That means that even what she is, Eula lied. What about her memories of being sold in the slave market? Was that a lie too? A fake memory? Then what was real, what was fake? Is everything around her fabricated?

Eula…

Just what did she do? And why did she do it?

“To be honest, when I’ve heard your story about the slave markets, I realized something doesn’t pan out.”

“Doesn’t pan out?”

“Heilen slaves do not exist anymore.”

“What?”

“The Heilens in the noble houses are most likely fake. Slaves with hair dyed black with squid ink. I rarely see slaves wash, and so I don’t think the ink will wash out.” He said. “If a Heilen slave escapes the market, it should cause an uproar. But there was none over the past years… because there are no Heilen slaves anymore.”

Faustina couldn’t help but think of her memory back when she was a child. That was her only memory of her childhood, and there was nothing else but darkness other than that.

“There is a possibility Eulalia used magic in your mind.” He said. “But it isn’t as simple as having fragmented memories. It’s something stronger.”

“Something… stronger?”

“You see, the priestess and the king told me about their own hypotheses. And it actually matches up my own.” He said.

Faustina sat down, looking at Orwell.

“Your seal has something to do with your memories… and it wasn’t just Eulalia’s magic alone that did it.” He said. “That, was what they presumed.”

“And I confirmed it.” Orwell exclaimed. “I’ve been researching about magic about mana seals and memory fragmentation. Even in ancient texts do not have something like that.”

“Then…” Orwell said after a long pause. “I looked up at another references.”

Orwell stared at Faustina.

“Other references…?”

“Books from Zweite.”

Faustina’s eyes widened.

“…Black magic…?”

**

Black magic.

Sheila scarcely cares about such things like that. Clairvoyant magic is knowing unforeseen things and purifying corruption. Being a clairvoyant means to be pure, and once you are the purest, you will be able to see the positivity of the future. But once you are tainted, you will be able to see the horror of the oracle.

This is why clairvoyants are divided into two—one is to be pure for the rest of their life; and one is to be tainted to see the horrors of the future. Others choose not the two and decides not to see the future at all—although it is inevitable. It is considered an innate ability for clairvoyants to see the future, although it fades over time. And their perception directly influences the things they see… which is why those who can see the future are to choose two paths—purity or taint.

And Sheila chose to be tainted.

One thing led to another and she was now blind; however, she still has the ability to see what the oracle was pertaining to. She chose to be tainted to watch out for the prophecy. To be a fitting servant to the Feuerkriegers. She had foreseen many things that reeked of death—and it wasn’t a pleasant experience to choose to be tainted.

She clenched her fist.

“No one is allowed to be in Vice-captain’s room.”

Sheila stared grimly at the owner of that voice. “Lorenz Schmidt. I am the High Priestess. Why am I not allowed in the Vice-captain’s room?”

“Just receiving orders, priestess~”

Although she couldn’t see his face, Sheila could feel his smirk. Lorenz Schmidt. He was the one who had seen her attempt to murder Abe, and yet he didn’t even say a word about it… or did he? If so, why is the king still not punishing her?

“Don’t worry, your secret is still safe with me,” Lorenz smiled. “But you need to be extra carreeeful. The king is wary, so he decided only chosen healers and people could see the Vice-captain.”

Sheila clenched her fist.

“…Fine.”

And as she headed out into the hallways on the outside. She used to know what they look like, and now her memories about the pillars, the garden, was fading away through time. Maybe this was how it is because she was blind… but then again, there was an exception.

She could remember him. She could remember his smile, his sapphire-blue eyes and his platinum-blond hair which gleamed to the sunrise as he called her name. His voice was a melody to her ears and he was like a scene out of a painting. Sheila wondered how such person could be different just when his soul is asleep.

“…hah! Don’t make me laugh. I won’t go back to the Disfiegro mansion unless he meets me here.”

Sheila felt a ringing in her ears as she hears that voice. Such an already bad morning and her presence was making it worse. Not only was that Faustina was here, another pain in the head was here as well.

“Lady Disfiegro. Might I ask why are you causing such a commotion such early in the morning?”

Sheila asked as Lilianne stood in front of her. Obviously she was followed by unwilling maids. Who could blame them? No one in the castle could stand her.

Initially, Sheila thought that Lilianne was the best candidate for the king. She was an influential figure in the society—but never did she know that the Lilianne who was revered to be a woman of elegance was such a petty person.

Sheila could still feel the sting from her slap. But that doesn’t matter now; this girl was going to become the future queen of Feuersturm. It wouldn’t be good to get to her bad side.

“The king is busy, busy, busy. I might as well end the engagement.”

Of course, there still isn’t an official statement that pertains to the union between the Feuerkriegers and the Disfiegros. However, there was something called a silent agreement. The officials already initiated meetings between Lilianne and the emperor. On the surface, people would think that the king was meeting her and deciding if she was a good consort candidate, but the real thing is he never even sees her.

But that didn’t matter, because she was labeled as the number one consort candidate. The king, after all, never displayed any interest to other nobles. Sheila considered that to be enough for Lilianne because she didn’t really depict any sign of interest to the king. She gave this impression of wanting power, name, and more influence rather than to be with him romantically.

So why…? “I will personally tell him to meet you in the courtyard to have tea. We deeply apologize for his majesty’s business.”

“…you seem to know your place.”

Sheila smiled. “Of course, I do, Lady Consort. You are the future queen. How could I not know my place?”

These were the words Lilianne wanted to hear. And Sheila drowned her words with sweetness just to get to her good side. If this Lilianne is indeed in-love with the king, then she might have some actual use on the duration of her stay.

Lilianne harrumphed. “It seems like you are not an actual leech. It seems my sources are wrong about you being a leech. Maybe you’re a dog. Yes, perhaps you are.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Sheila smiled.

“Hmm…” Lilianne crossed her arms. “I like you.”

Good.

“I am honored,” Sheila said. “I am a mere priestess. You are the queen.”

Raising the bars. “But I believe your spot might be taken from you.”

“…What?”

Sheila then feigned innocence. “You do know that Faustina Feuerlon was summoned to the sapphire palace, right?”

“…WHAT?!”

Sheila wanted to laugh, but she repressed her urges by putting a surprised façade. “Oh my, you didn’t know? Oh… I don’t know if she was called or she invited herself in. Why don’t you ask her, Lady Consort?”

Although Sheila��s tone was mocking, the shallow Lilianne failed to notice.

And so fuming mad, Lilianne took her leave.

“My. I didn’t think it was going to be that easy,” Sheila said as she ambled forward. “I guess she isn’t that bright, after all.”