~Chapter 107~
“…The goddess Hecate hasn’t abandoned me after all.”
Mathias muttered, his voice thick with tears.
His tears dampened Leah’s shoulder.
Leah carefully hugged him back.
He couldn’t let go of his cousin, whom he hadn’t seen in so long, for quite a while as they stood at the doorway.
It felt too much like a dream.
If this was a dream, it would be a cruel one to wake from.
“Your Highness, I think it would be better if you went inside and caught up there,” Johann suggested, worried they might end up hugging all night.
“…Right, ahem. I’ve been holding Alicia for too long. My apologies.”
“It’s fine, Your Highness.”
Leah entered the room with Johann.
“Both of you, have a seat.”
Mathias wiped at his eyes with a handkerchief.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…You’ve grown up wonderfully, Alicia.”
Mathias couldn’t take his eyes off her—half amazed at how much she’d grown, half afraid she might vanish if he looked away.
“Thank you.”
“If your late uncle and aunt could see you, they’d be so proud.”
He patted the back of her hand.
“Alicia, did you live with your grandmother in the north?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Johann mentioned you recently regained some childhood memories. Could you tell me what happened?”
“Yes, I’ll tell you.”
“Thank you.”
Leah’s story ended up being long.
She tried to keep it short, but it wasn’t easy.
She had to explain how she’d ended up in the north after the family tragedy, how she’d lived with her grandmother, how she’d met Johann, and how she’d been killed by a maid sent by the empress—only to come back to life.
While she spoke, Mathias cried again, glared at Johann, and even jumped to his feet in anger.
“Regression… I’d heard vague rumors that there were ancient relics blessed by a goddess that could make such a thing possible, but I didn’t know it was real…”
“Regression can be done with magic?”
Johann asked in surprise—it was the first he’d heard of it.
“Not with just any magic. Only with the goddess’s strong power behind it,” Mathias replied.
“If that’s true… then maybe it wasn’t the goddess who sent me back, but magic instead.”
She had never even considered that.
Magic that could turn back time…
“That’s possible. But whoever used it for you, we have no way of knowing.” Mathias shrugged.
Who would use such ancient magic for me?
“Whether it was divine grace or regression magic, I’m just grateful you’re alive and that we could meet again,” Mathias said, taking both of Leah’s hands.
“Oh—Alicia, did you bring the jewelry box?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
She set the box she had brought on the table.
“…So it really is that jewelry box.”
Mathias carefully picked up the Goldscheider family heirloom.
“Damn it… most of the Goldscheider treasures are in the empress’s possession now. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect them, Alicia.”
“Your Highness, please don’t say that.”
She waved her hands.
“I’m already so grateful that you always believed in my parents’ innocence.”
“That’s only right.”
“But back then, all the evidence pointed to the Goldscheiders.”
“True. But your uncle was like a father to me. My real father—the emperor—always disliked my mother, and with the empress, he pushed us away.”
His brow furrowed at the thought.
“Even as a child, I could tell who had really framed my mother.”
Leah’s heart ached at his bitter expression.
“Alicia, have you ever opened the jewelry box?”
“Yes, a few times when I was little.”
“There was nothing inside, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Because it’s enchanted, and I doubted your grandmother told you about it.”
“…Enchanted?”
“My mother told me that when peace returned, people kept trying to steal the potions the first head of the family had created.”
“I didn’t know that.”
On the day they’d parted, her mother hadn’t told her about any secrets.
And her grandmother had died without saying a word about it.
“She probably didn’t tell you because she wanted you to live a normal life. If you knew the jewelry box’s secret, you wouldn’t be able to live as you had before.”
“…”
“She didn’t want you to spend your life obsessed with revenge.”
Leah bit her lip.
Thinking of her grandmother’s care made her eyes sting with tears.
“Anyway, the first head of the family was small and weak compared to other heroes, so protecting the potions was hard.”
“I see.”
“The goddess, feeling sorry for them, gifted this jewelry box—one that can hide anything.”
“The goddess did?”
“Some even say she was a little biased in our ancestor’s favor.”
“I’ve heard that too,” Johann nodded.
“They say she carved the owl—the symbol of wisdom—on it, and from then on the Goldscheider emblem was the owl.”
Mathias pointed to the engraving.
“So… how do you open it?”
“Put your index finger on the owl’s eye. It might sting a bit.”
He guided her finger to press lightly on the owl’s eye.
“…Ah.”
It was as sharp as a needle inside.
“You okay?”
Johann immediately checked her finger in concern.
“…Just a little sting.”
A drop of blood welled up.
“Your Highness, what on earth—” Johann began, but then the owl’s eyes glowed red.
To truly open it, a drop of Goldscheider blood was needed.
“Go ahead, Alicia,” Mathias said with a smile, nodding.
“Okay.”
She opened the box.
Inside were her parents’ wedding rings, the family’s signet ring, and an old folded note.
Did Mother leave this?
Leah picked it up, seeing her mother’s hurried handwriting.
[To Alicia,
If you’re reading this, it means you made it safely to Grandma’s.
If we can resolve what happened to us, I’ll come find you.
But if we can’t… Alicia, please live well.
We love you so much, our daughter.
I hope your future will always be filled with bright, happy light.
From your mom, Frida.]
Her fingers trembled.
Only now did her mother’s deep love reach her.
“Hhngh… Mother…”
Leah clutched the letter and began to sob.
She’d thought she’d cried enough lately, but the tears just wouldn’t stop.
Johann gently rubbed her back.
“I’m sorry… hhic.”
“It’s okay to cry, Leah.”
He pulled her into his arms.
He couldn’t take away her grief, but he could share the weight of it.
“…Alicia, you’ve been through so much,” Mathias said, holding her hand once her tears calmed.
“I’m so thankful you’re alive and came to see me.”
“I’m happy to see you again too, Your Highness.”
Both their eyes glistened with tears.
“I’ll expose all of the empress’s crimes and return the Goldscheider name to you.”
“I’ll work hard to make that happen too.”
“You mentioned you were going to see a magician who worked back then?”
“Yes.”
“I wonder if they’ll actually tell you the truth after keeping silent so long.”
“…I have a feeling they will. I’m sure they had their reasons.”
“Alicia, if you say so, I’ll believe it.”
“I’ll invite you to the palace officially next time.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I wish I could tell you to call me like you used to, but until your name is cleared, I can’t.”
Until the false accusations were gone, they couldn’t speak freely.
“…You mean ‘Brother Mati’?”
“You remembered.”
“Of course I did.”
“When the time comes, call me that again.”
“I will.”
Leah smiled faintly at the memory.
“Your Highness, we should head back before it gets too late,” his attendant reminded—they had to keep this meeting secret.
The sun was already rising.
“Alright, I’ll be going first then.”
Mathias left with his royal guards.
“Leah, aren’t you tired?” Johann asked as he opened the door.
“No, I feel fine.”
“Really?”
“I could even go meet Dorothea right now.”
She smiled brightly, hands on her hips.
“Still, let’s get some rest first.”
Grrrgle.
Her stomach growled loudly.
“Actually, maybe we should get you a good breakfast first.”
“…Ha ha, yeah.”
She rubbed her nose in embarrassment.
