Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 46

Chapter 46

 

“That is an answer I was hoping to hear.”

The empress bent her knees and collapsed onto the floor. The filthy, unsanitary ground no longer mattered to her. She edged closer to the shaman and pressed on with her questions.

“Is there no way to harm the great star? I’ve heard you possess exceptional skill in curses.”

“The empire’s great star was born bearing the aura of a rising star. Moreover, he is already under the protection of the goddess. To place a curse on such a person would bring far greater calamity upon me.”

The shaman slowly shook her head. She even added that this was one person who must never be touched.

“Is there truly no way? Try something, anything.”

The empress did not give up and urged the shaman once more. On top of the offerings she had prepared in advance, she added the diamond ring she was wearing.

The large diamond gleamed brilliantly even in the darkness. The shaman licked her dry lips, then quickly slipped the ring into her sleeve.

“It may be possible for someone other than the crown prince. I will draw misfortune toward the person he loves most. Slowly, over time, until they are steeped in unhappiness.”

“Good.”

After that, the shaman muttered words no one could understand. The crystal ball emitting a radiant glow, and the old woman’s upturned white eyes, were eerie no matter how many times one saw them.

Yet the empress’s face was filled with ecstasy like never before. She stared at the shaman with shining eyes and clasped her own hands tightly, joining in the curse.

Please let them die the most miserable death imaginable, and live the rest of their life steeped in misery!

 

***

 

Cecil opened his eyes.

Morning sunlight poured warmly over the soft blankets wrapped around his body. As he slowly sat up, his body felt strangely light, and he didn’t even feel like yawning.

After lightly stretching his stiff neck, Cecil tugged on the bell cord that had slipped down beside the bed. With a cheerful chime, the ever-loyal attendants appeared with youthful faces.

“Lord Cecil, did you rest well last night?”

“Yes, good morning. Did you all sleep well?”

After greeting them, Cecil stepped barefoot onto the floor. He washed his face with clean water and brushed his teeth while being attended to. Just as he was changing clothes with a refreshed expression, the head attendant, Leo, tied the ribbon of Cecil’s shirt and spoke.

“Lord Cecil, have you looked outside? The weather today is absolutely wonderful. The sunlight is beautiful, and the breeze is cool.”

“You’re right.”

“Isn’t it a shame to just look at it? How about having breakfast in the garden?”

“Mm, sounds good. I’d like some well-toasted croutons and green pea potage. Have them make plenty so everyone can share.”

“Yes, I’ll go inform them at once—”

Just as the excited Leo was about to dash out, a thrush came flying in from afar at full speed and slammed straight into the window.

Crack!!

With a sharp impact, cracks spread across the clear glass. The small bird, no bigger than a palm, died with its head embedded in the window. Red blood dripped down the shattered glass, and everyone froze, forgetting even how to breathe.

“W-What is this…!”

“Lord Cecil, are you all right? Please be careful!”

Though frightened themselves, the young attendants rushed first to check on Cecil. A bird crashing in and killing itself on such a bright morning was nothing short of an ill omen. They fretted anxiously, worried Cecil might be shaken.

But Cecil showed no sign of surprise. Instead, he calmed the attendants and approached the window.

He reached out with a pale hand and pulled the small bird free from the glass. The bird in his palm was still warm, its feathers damp and matted with blood. The miserable death only seemed more pitiful the longer he looked at it.

“…Poor thing.”

Seeing Cecil touch the dead bird directly, the attendants turned pale and hurried to bring clean water and cloth.

“Bury it somewhere with good sunlight. As for the window… it needs to be fixed quickly.”

“Yes, yes. Ah, really, how could this happen…”

Cecil silently washed the blood from his hands. The attendants chattered about it being an ominous sign, but he let it go in one ear and out the other. How could death be ominous? He, too, would meet it someday.

After breakfast, he went to the chapel to pray. In the imperial family, there was a rule to offer prayers to the goddess Gaia every Sunday without fail.

Today, Cecil spoke the words he wished to say to the goddess.

I am grateful for the grace you have given me. I will live without regret, so please watch over me.

After the service, it was customary for the family to gather for light refreshments. The emperor sat at the head of the table adorned with jewels and surveyed the faces gathered before him.

“So many unsettling things have happened these past few days. Even I haven’t been able to sleep well because of it. This is troubling. The imperial palace, which should be the safest place, has grown so noisy.”

Emperor Arnold clicked his tongue, referring to the recent string of unfortunate incidents. Beside him, Empress Elizabeth carefully set down her teacup and replied in a gentle tone.

“Your Majesty, please do not worry too much. The crown prince stepped forward and handled the matter himself, did he not? There should be no further trouble. We prayed with devotion today, so surely the goddess Gaia will continue to protect the imperial family.”

The emperor shook his head as if that alone was not enough. He tapped the table with his fingers, then spoke after some thought, his face heavy with concern.

“Alexis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Bring Yuria Beatrice into the palace.”

At the sudden order, Alexis paused mid-sip, teacup in hand. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet the emperor’s.

“For what reason?”

“We must regularly receive divine protection from the saintess. Everyone is worried, are they not? The incident hasn’t truly been resolved, and to ease these anxious hearts, that is the only way.”

In truth, the most anxious person was Emperor Arnold himself. The assassination attempt at the hunting competition and the murder within the palace had both made him feel his safety was under threat.

He had always been timid and weak-willed. Knowing this well, Alexis replied calmly.

“Your Majesty, I have already ordered the guards and the imperial knights to strengthen palace security. We are taking greater care than ever regarding Your Majesty’s safety.”

“Are you trying to monopolize the sacred power for yourself!”

“How could that be?”

“I will hear no opposition!”

Bang! The emperor slammed his fist onto the table. At that point, Alexis could no longer defy him. Swallowing the sigh rising in his chest, he answered.

“I will obey your command.”

Yuria Beatrice’s entrance into the palace proceeded swiftly.

A separate residence was prepared for the saintess who would now stay within the palace, and the necessary procedures passed through the council in the blink of an eye.

Crown Prince Alexis carved time out of his busy schedule to personally oversee every step of Yuria’s arrival. Normally, such matters would fall under the empress’s authority, but there was no way he could entrust Yuria to her.

“It would be best not to assign personal attendants to Miss Beatrice. It may be inconvenient, but it’s better than risking any unsavory incidents.”

Cecil was facing Alexis, discussing the matter. They were currently in Yuria’s new residence, a single-story building within the palace that had been renovated for her use.

Compared to the grand palace, it was modest, but charming and delicately furnished. As palace property, everything from the furniture to the wallpaper and decorations was of the highest quality.

“I agree. Yuria isn’t used to being waited on anyway. Even when she lived at the ducal estate, she always complained about feeling burdened by it.”

Leaning back against the sofa, Alexis spoke. His blue eyes stared into the air as he mulled things over, the foot of his crossed leg tapping lightly in rhythm.

“Still, we must assign guards. I can no longer fully trust the royal guard, so I’ll need to select suitable knights from the order.”

“It would be best if they had no family attached to them. I don’t believe the imperial knights would be swayed by the empress, but we should eliminate even the slightest possibility.”

“So you want to remove every potential leverage point? Thorough, aren’t you?”

A long curve formed at Alexis’s lips. Discussing matters with Cecil like this felt unfamiliar, but not unpleasant. He was sharp, and every word cut straight to Alexis’s intentions. Their thoughts aligned naturally.

The blue eyes that had been staring into space turned toward Cecil. Sitting upright with straight posture, Cecil Adrian exuded the unmistakable dignity of imperial blood.

Though traces of the empress could sometimes be seen in his face, the feelings he stirred in Alexis were entirely different. Cecil no longer felt disagreeable. If anything, the more Alexis looked at him, the more he liked him.

As he gazed at Cecil’s refined features, the smile on Alexis’s lips deepened. Tilting his head slightly, he rested his chin on his hand.

“Cecil, I have one favor to ask of you.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“I want you to be close with Yuria.”

“…….”

“She’ll be lonely once she enters the palace. Claude and I are both rather detached by nature, so she might feel neglected. If you were to talk with her, it would help her adjust much more comfortably.”

“If I grow close to Yuria… Mother may try to use that.”

“It’s fine. You’ll tell me everything anyway. If the empress schemes something filthy again, we can turn it against her.”

Cecil concealed his bitterness and fidgeted with his hands in his lap. He could clearly feel that Alexis had opened his heart to him, yet for some reason, his own mood sank.

Talking about paying the empress back would have been fine. No, perhaps that approach wouldn’t have been bad at all.

What made Cecil’s heart grow heavy was simply the fact that from such close proximity, he could feel just how much Alexis cared for Yuria.

“Well? Your answer?”

“I will do so.”

Cecil forced the corners of his mouth upward. How could he refuse Alexis’s request?

Jealousy and disappointment were luxuries. In this life, they were feelings he must neither possess nor harbor.