The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 122: Waiting on a Friend (V)

“You plotted this to deal with me.”

It wasn’t spoken with a mocking tone, rather, it was calm. Very calm. The calmness seemed to emphasize the difference in power between the two.

Eristella was outraged. But she didn’t do this without thinking.

“It’s pretty good considering you have a body you can’t fully control.”

Declen invoked the black magic curse he placed on Eristella.

“I wonder if you’ll still be the same after becoming a fox.”

“Who said I’ll become a fox?”

“……?”

Eristella was unaffected by Declen’s black magic. The eyes on his unconcerned face flew wide open at the change that did not occur as he had anticipated. 

It wasn’t just Declen. Everyone else was astonished. ‘What happened to her’, they began to murmur, to the point that it became quite noisy for a while.

“I haven’t told you this yet. Thanks to you, I completely dispelled the curse.”

Eristella looked straight at Declen and added.

“So you won’t be able to fool me with black magic anymore.”

That day, the attempt was successful. The long, binding curse had ended.

“How… did you solve it?”

It was then.

“Declen.”

Eristella called him in a low, serious tone.

“The reason you chose me as the target of revenge is because I have magical powers similar to that of the founding emperor, right?”

The reason he chose Eristella was simpler than everyone thought.

“Isn’t that so? The magic left by the founding emperor reacted with mine. Thanks to that, I was able to hear the message he secretly left.”

Eristella clearly remembered the words of the founding emperor, which she had chanced upon his memoirs not too long ago.

“You’re saying some funny things.”

Declen reacted indifferently to Eristella’s provocation like he would not fall for it.

Whatever the case, with her eyes fixed on Declen, Eristella’s lips slowly parted.

To convey what the founding emperor wanted to say to him.

A low, subdued voice rang out.

“I had no choice but to fight you in the end. It was not my will to betray you, but I was late in protecting you.”

“…What is this now?”

“It was my mistake and error.”

It was as if the founding emperor, not Eristella, was speaking to Declen.

“I wanted to explain and clear up the misunderstanding.”

“What are you talking about?”

Declen’s eyes twitched.

But Eristella ignored him and continued.

“But to relieve your anger, you attacked several villages and made a mess.”

“…….”

“I am your friend, but I am also the emperor of the empire. My responsibility and duty are greater than my feelings, and the moment you hurt the people of the empire, I couldn’t protect you anymore.”

Eristella stared at Declen.

“Those were the words of the founding emperor. How you take this is up to you.”

This didn’t change Eristella’s thoughts. She merely conveyed the founding emperor’s sincerity that was left unnoticed for a long time.

“Are you just trying to shake me with this?”

Viewing it as a lame act done out of confusion, Declen sarcastically criticized Eristella.

“No way. I’ve said it for the founding emperor, not for you. That, and me ending you here are two different things.”

“You sound confident.”

“I can count on one hand the number of times in my life when I wasn’t confident. You are strong. But that’s not the end of the fight, is it?”

Eristella asserted,

“Besides, you’ve already lost once. This time will be no different.”

In fact, Eristella had a method of conversion that could get rid of Declen.

Even if she couldn’t beat him, she could stop him from threatening the empire.

“Hey there, old man.”

Eristella’s head tilted sharply.

Declen laughed. He watched, seemingly amused.

Eristella gladly continued speaking.

“Aren’t you unforgiving? Despite the long passage of time, you want to take revenge even by means of tormenting strangers.”

To be honest, it wasn’t completely incomprehensible.

Whatever the truth, he believed he had been betrayed the most by the person he trusted the most.

“But what should I do? I can’t sit around and see that.”

It didn’t matter what Declen’s story was.

The only thing that mattered to Eristella was whether or not it harms the people living in the empire.

That’s why it was necessary to say exactly.

“Don’t vent your anger in the wrong place. Instead, I’ll let you meet the real person you want revenge on.”

Eristella took out a painting and showed it to Declen.

“Why are you showing this all of a sudden?”

“This is one of the national treasures of the Leonian Empire. And like the painting you took, it has a hidden device.”

The national treasures of the empire were, of course, valuable, but they were not very special or rare.

Those who heard of the founding emperor’s reckless personality did not find it strange.

The first time Eristella questioned that was when Declan lifted the barrier protecting the palace.

At that time, she thought of the possibility that other national treasures might have hidden devices.

But even after examining the national treasures several times, nothing special was found.

Well, it was no surprise that finding the secret hidden in the national treasure was not easy.

Nonetheless, Eristella was convinced.

‘If it was me… The Imperial Palace barriers aren’t everything. I could never have left it alone.’

Although she had never met the founding emperor in person, she felt that certainty.

—Everything was connected to the national treasures left by the founding emperor.

Then she found a clue in the memoirs of the founding emperor.

In it, it detailed the secrets of the national treasures and ways to activate the different types of magic pre-casted over the palace.

It was all things he left behind as preparation for the future.

Hopefully, the day he wrote all this for would never come.

Unfortunately, what the founding emperor feared was happening now.

…Which made it time to use it.

“Do you know how the founding emperor died?”

The death of the founding emperor raised many questions.

The founding emperor, who was an old but healthy and strong wizard, suddenly passed away one day.

And the few paintings and memoirs he left behind have been cherished as national treasures until now.

“Do you think you can stop me with just a painting? Really?”

“There is no reason not to. It’s not just a painting, it’s the last one that the founding emperor dedicated.”

“…It’s a long time ago.”

Declan was in denial.

“For your information, this painting is the real tomb of the founding emperor.”

It was likely the official tomb of the founding emperor was empty.

Since in order to seal himself, the body could not remain.

The founding emperor realized that his death was approaching and sealed himself in the painting.

That wasn’t magic allowed in the world. It was black magic taught to him by Declen, who was once his best friend.

“I think the founding emperor knew you would reappear a long time later.”

He seemed to be worried about what would happen when he no longer existed.

“And that no one will be able to stop you then.”

“…….”

As Eristella’s words continued, Declen became visibly and increasingly flustered.

He seemed confused as to whether her words were true or false.

“Or maybe he just wanted to see you again.”

Although the intentions of the founding emperor, who was sealed hundreds of years ago, are unknown.

As Eristella read his memoirs, she wondered if this reason might have been greater.

But that was only her guess, so she swallowed those words.

“…What?”

“The founding emperor has sealed himself there and is asleep.”

“…….”

The landscape painting had a person as small as a dot.

It was the founding emperor.

“No way… No way…”

The instant Declen was dazed. It was the moment that Eristella was aiming for. As soon as their eyes met, Heinricion noticed.

Eristella didn’t miss it. Once Declen faltered, she started the sealing magic.

Declen belatedly noticed the situation and tried to escape, but this was prepared long ago especially for him.

It wouldn’t be easy for him to get out of it, no matter what he tried.

The more he struggled, the tighter it wrapped around his limbs.

“You tricked me…!”

It was when Declen stretched out towards Eristella with terrifying momentum.

—A magic circle activated under her feet.

The painting Eristella was holding reacted, pulling Declen.

Declen forcefully poured out his magical power, intending to tear the painting, but as if in response, the magic coming out of the painting wrapped around him even more strongly.

“This is really… What Ethan really left behind…”

As Declen was helplessly dragged along by the sealing magic, he noticed the familiar quality of magic.

‘Is… Is Ethan really in that painting?’

When Declen’s heart swayed, a gap formed in his magic power.

‘I don’t like targeting the opponent’s weakness because it’s cheap, but…’

Eristella attacked Declen. As his concentration scattered, so did his magic.

At the last moment, Declen made eye contact with Eristella. It seemed he was earnestly asking…

“It’s not a lie that the founding emperor is sealed.”

“…….”

“So, argue, get angry, and get the revenge you want there.”

When Eristella’s words ended, the place where Declen stood was empty.