The Abandoned Empress Will Not Return - Chapter 96

“I am the last remaining member of the Kirkel clan.”

The last remaining member of the Kirkel clan?

Rodelia, puzzled by Marka’s words, raised one eyebrow.

‘Were the rumors about the Howard clan exterminating them true after all…?’

But that wasn’t that important to Rodelia.

There was just a catch.

‘She looks familiar.’

Black eyes, black hair, and a gorgeous appearance.

It wasn’t very common on the continent, especially in Thebes. But the fact that it was so familiar meant that it was a face she had seen somewhere before.

But where?

There weren’t many people in her life who had made a mark in her memory.

At most, families, foreign delegates, and a few nobles.

It was already rare for her to go out when she was young, and after becoming empress, going outside the imperial palace was even rarer.

She went out but even then she was accompanied by escorts, so it was difficult to meet anyone other than her vassals.

‘Where have I seen it?’

Rodelia bit her lip.

The question lingered in her mind until Marka got up from her seat and headed towards her cupboard.

“There are many people who are looking for me.”

Staring at her back with a dark gaze, Rodelia came to her senses when she heard Marka’s meaningful words.

“It’s such a nuisance.”

Marka stood on her tiptoe as she rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out something from deep inside.

“Found it.”

She hummed a song as she walked towards Rodelia’s side.

In her hand was a small dagger with a pattern engraved on it.

Rodelia’s body hardened as she instinctively became wary of the sharp object.

It must have been comical to Marka because she burst out laughing.

“Are you wary?”

“Isn’t it even more strange not to be wary?”

Marka approached Rodelia and pointed the dagger at her throat.

It was instantaneous. Her movement was so quick that she couldn’t avoid it even if she knew in advance.

“Do you think I can kill you with a soft knife like this?”

“…Why did you hide your identity?”

“Hiding my identity. I’m pretty sure I told you. I am a member of the Kirkel clan.”

Marka shrugged her shoulders and pulled the dagger back.

“You know very well that’s not what I meant. You had the appearance of an old woman….”

“That was me and this right now is also me.”

All the strange things that existed in ancient times were regarded as just one of the legends that have been passed down as jokes.

However, a strange thing happened right in front of her eyes.

Rodelia had a hard time fully accepting the situation.

“Do you know what this pattern is?”

She was sure she saw a pattern like that in a book about the Kirkel clan.

After searching her memories, Rodelia answered calmly.

“…..It is the Kirkel clan’s insignia.”

“Yes, it is our emblem. I thought it was a bluff but it seems that everything is really recorded in the Aizen family’s study.”

Marka let out a faint smile and set the dagger down on the desk.

Her busy eyes, trying not to miss even the smallest of her actions, turned upwards again.

“How did you know that?”

Rodelia tensed up and asked.

For some reason, her mind seemed to be hazy when she stared at Marka’s black eyes. But she intentionally didn’t avoid it.

As if that appearance of her awoke immense interest, Marka’s eyes bent deeply.

“If you have read a book about us, then you’d know. We truly know everything. Perhaps even the things that are fated to happen in the future.”

“……”

“So you don’t have to be wary. Sometimes there are exceptions, like no killing.”

Marka said in a nonchalant manner and walked forward. Sitting across Rodelia again, she leaned back on the couch.

“At least for now.”

At least for now, it meant that there was still a possibility of getting killed.

She wanted to ask about that, but right now, she had many other questions.

Marka might be able to answer all her questions. So it was only right to set her question aside.

Rodelia opened her mouth, thinking it was something she would come to know later.

“What is the Kirkel clan? Are you human?”

As soon as the question came up, Marka started laughing maniacally. She responded that she had been asked a completely unexpected question.

“You really don’t remember?”

Rodelia frowned. It’s because she couldn’t understand a single thing of what she was saying.

“What are you talking about? You talk as if I already know the answer.”

“That’s right.”

“What is that….”

“I didn’t expect to use this in my generation.”

Marka, slowly crossing her legs, nodded to the dagger.

“It’s a gift.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, it’s supposed to be given to the original owner, so take care of it.”

“…Say it in a way that I understand.”

Did the Kirkel clan normally talk like this?

It was so out of the blue that she couldn’t make sense of it.

As Rodelia busily blinked her eyes, Marka smiled and asked.

“Do you have a lot to think about?”

“……”

“Hey, lady. I know you have a lot of questions but sometimes it’s better not to know. You’ll find out soon enough, so don’t fret too much.”

Rodelia’s eyes widened.

Her words were certainly something she had heard before. She certainly did.

With that voice and that face, she definitely said it. Not like an illusion, but an old memory.

“You… Who are you?”

But she couldn’t get a proper answer.

As expected, Marka gave a completely different response.

“Still, let me tell you one thing.”

“I asked who you are. For what purpose are you staying with me?”

“I’m sorry but it’s the lady who came to visit.”

She was right, so she couldn’t refute it.

But the thought that she was staying by her side on purpose did not erase it. However, that thought disappeared like smoke at Marka’s words.

“Rodelia Florence, you are the Aizen family’s sacrifice for this generation.”

Rodelia could not speak for a while. She just blinked her eyes, trying to understand what she said.

She had been saying strange things all along but what she said now was the hardest to understand.

Aizen family’s sacrifice?

She knew that it was all nonsense but why does she keep thinking her words are the truth?

It was probably because the words Cerdian had uttered kept echoing around her.

She asked d*mbfoundedly, as it was something she would normally have passed off as jest.

“Please explain clearly.”

Marka appeared very satisfied with Rodelia’s reaction.

She said in a rather serious tone.

“Do you know the legend of the Aizen family?”

Rodelia naturally recalled the contents of the book she had seen in the study. The Aizen family was the descendant of a divine beast…..

She nodded her head and Marka continued.

“After coming of age, if they do not find their companion within a certain period of time, that man will suffer without being able to live or die.”

It reminded her of Cerdian suffering from unknown pain. It was like what he said.

Cerdian said that only she knew how to break the curse.

Having organized her thoughts, Rodelia asked in a confident tone.

“Is that the curse on Grand Duke Aizen? And that the companion is me?”

“Yes. And the Aizen family is looking for me. For the sake of that ritual.”

The puzzle was now coming together little by little.

She didn’t know what criteria companions were born with but this generation’s companion was her. And Cerdian deliberately approached Kane to get rid of that pain.

‘That’s why he pretended to love me.’

Her common sense simply couldn’t believe it, but it seemed right that the Aizen family had special abilities. She had no choice but to believe it.

Hadn’t she personally experienced things that were out of this world in the meantime?

‘Like the ability to handle poison.’

He must have been the one who poisoned her just as he did with Kane.

‘It must be their ability that made me sick for unknown reasons.’

This meant that everything was planned from the start.

In the end, Cerdian ruined her entire life to reduce his own pain.

He must have given up a hundred times. He must have wanted to escape from the pain to the point that he wanted to die.

But what angered her the most was the fact that Cerdian had tricked her.

‘If only you’d told the truth earlier..….’

Rodelia gritted her teeth.

If he had, she wouldn’t be struggling from his betrayal like she was now.

Rodelia’s body shook. Marka, who was watching her, added lightly.

“But it was all in vain. Unfortunately, I don’t know how either.”

“Didn’t you say that you knew everything?”

“I know. I wish I knew too… They say that only the bride knows how to perform the ritual. You were lucky though. You got away from him thanks to me.”

Marka swept her chest as if she was being sincere. She even looked relieved.

“Then doesn’t it mean that you deliberately approached me?”

“Well, of course, that’s how it was. But I hope you don’t feel bad because of that. It was our destiny to set things right.”

As if she was done speaking, Marka began to pack her things in her rucksack.

Her movements were raucous, like she was about to leave the place.

Rodelia had to accept the situation and tightly held the dagger that was given to her.

“Anyway, my role is over now.”

Reverting to her old woman form, Marka added, carrying her rucksack.

“The choice is yours, lady. If the young lady makes the right choice, Cerdian Aizen, that man will not die soon and will live… If you make a different choice….. Well, I’m just a bystander, so I can’t restrain you.”

Then she let out a strange chuckle again.

“Can’t you at least tell me exactly what kind of curse it is?”

“The Aizen family is paying for breaking a taboo. That’s really all I can tell you so far. I won’t take any more questions. Well then, take care of yourself.”

Pausing at the door, she left a warning and vanished.

“Oh, sooner or later, the lady’s father will visit. Be careful.”

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