n

n

nA moment in the past, a piece of memories which haunted a man to the present day every night,

n

"Jellal, I've lived a good life...I hope you'll learn to take care of yourself...

"

nNo...no...don't go.

nAnette, please...I beg you...

n

"Jellal...what we did was wrong...nor right...don't blame yourself...I really wish you don't have to suffer alone any longer...

"

nAnette, stay...stay with me...

n

nMarinette's POV

nHm?

nJust a little bit of light that radiate from the moon shining into father's bedroom, his face was quite different.

nHe was sweating murmuring asking someone not to leave him in his sleep. I sat beside his bed with the history book in my hand staring at him.

n

"Anette...don't...leave me.

"

nIt was the woman named Anette he was dreaming about in his sleep. He must be having a nightmare since he dreamed about that person.

nA chill of guilt hit me, I could only look away.

n

"Anette, don't--

" he got up from his sleep suddenly making me startle, I erased my presence and hid well before he regain back the sense of reality.

nLucky enough, he didn't get up looking at my side.

nI hid behind his closet and observed him, my eyes seemed to be giving me a strange image lately because I seemed to see someone patting his head.

nIt was a woman with pink hair, her face looked similar. What spell did she use which allowed my father not to notice her even when she was doing that?

n

"...I can't...live on any longer...Anette...

" he covered his face with both of his hands and even from my distance I could hear him sobbing and his tear dripping on the bedsheet.

nI stood there watching him crying over the woman named Anette, I never saw her face and if I did, it was only from looking at the portrait...maybe that was why I didn't have any lingering feeling of sadness.

nThen he got up from the bed and cast a magic spell, soon after, the room turned pitch black just like how I used my memory magic back then.

nMy father could also use this magic...

nThere were memories of my father everywhere surrounding him, ordinary people might not be able to slip inside someone's memories, but that wasn't the case for me.

nHe caressed the memories looking at the woman inside it, it was the pink-haired woman, she also had the same purple eyes like mine.

nThat was the first time I could see her face since her portrait in the duchy was removed.

nMy father also knew that Diana wasn't his real daughter, he knew from the start but he was always treating her as his own.

nThere was only a night that he and Duchess Catherine shared the room together.

nHe manipulated the Duchess's memories with false memories that he slept with her but in reality, he didn't.

nHe knew...Diana wasn't his child.

nAnd the only man that make Duchess Catherine pregnant was none other than the dead prince, her ex-lover.

nI couldn't believe he really raised another man's daughter. That was his perspective, but it seemed like he was still confused why Diana had the death roses magic.

nHe hasn't figured out that Diana was the child Duchess Catherine got from lady Jessica.

nThe night her child was born, there were two options for Duchess to choose, it was to give up on her child or her life. She chose to live by giving up her child.

nWhen she was about to run away, she ran into Jessica who was carrying baby Diana in her arm, that was when everything began.

nIt was all part of Jessica's plan to take revenge on my father.

nThe memory land of my father disappear right after he calmed down, he went back to his poker face and walked out of his room to his study room.

nI wasn't caught.

n

"You're my mother...right?

" I finally had the gut to talk to my mother's soul who appeared in the room a moment ago. I never knew she had a face like that.

n

"You can see me...?!

" I nodded.

nSomehow, there was dust in my eyes, my eyes started to feel itchy upon seeing her like that.

nI wonder why I could see her.

n

"Sorry...

" when I heard her apologize and the sad tone she used talking to me...I felt something stuck in my throat, I always wished to see my mother but it felt different when I really saw her.

n

"Why did you choose me over your life at that time...?

" I finally asked it.

nShe also had options like Duchess Catherine, but she choose the opposite, she choose me instead. If I wasn't born, everything would've been better.

n

"Because you're my child...you deserve to see this world.

"

n

"Mother...

" she patted my head when I rushed to her would and hugged her. It wasn't touchable but I could feel the little bit of warmth from her soul.

nWhy...

n

"Marinette...my daughter, you suffered a lot.

"

n

"Mom...I always wanted to hug you.

"

n

"My baby is really grown up now, you're doing well...I wish you happiness, Marinette.

"

n

"Huh?? Mom...what are you--

"

n

"It seems like I could rest in peace now.

" her soul was shattering in front of me into ashes...I haven't said goodbye yet and she was gone.

nI fell on the floor, my heart throbbed, it was quite short, I wanted to talk with her more.

nIn the end, I went back to my room feeling remorse. I also figured out why I could see the soul. It was because I messed with the soul.

nAt that time, I didn't know whether it was a curse or a blessing for me to see souls. I fell asleep in my dress and when I woke up again in the morning, Ella, my personal maid came in and woke me up enthusiastically.

nI rarely saw her in this life ever since I came back, I was really glad to see her. She was the one who betrayed me in my last life, she was the one who found the poison in my room and everyone accused me of poisoning the duke.

n...but there was no one other than her who was always beside me making me feel less lonely.

n

"I haven't seen you lately, where have you been??

" she was strange when she only stared at me and didn't even say anything except smile.

nKnock knock

nBut when I heard the knocking sound from outside of my locked door, I could hear something breaking inside of me.

nI walked to open the door biting my lip, it was Anna who stood in front of the door.

n

"My lady, I'll be your personal maid from today.

"

n

"I see...you may go now.

"

nI closed the door and turned back to the floating Anna, she smiled warmly at me and finally opened her mouth.

n

"I died.

"

n

"...

"

n

"But I could rest in peace now since the necklace you gave me will be given to my family...that way, they don't have to be hungry all the time, my brother could also study...

"

n

"...farewell, Ella.

" when I waved my hand goodbye at her, that was when I realized it was a curse. Her soul turned to glittering light and flew to the sky, unlike my mother's.

n

nMarinette wore the black dress again today, the dukedom started to be better again since the duke and she woke up.

nThey attended the meeting among the noble together to reassure them there was nothing to be worried about.

nTristan came to her and said,

"You did well.

"

nShe no longer cared about his compliment, she glanced at Diana who was glaring toward them. Marinette walked away in the other direction although Tristan called for her many times.

n

"Marinette!!!

n

"Marinette, let's go to the hospital--

" Tristan finally knew a little bit what it felt like when she ignored him the way he used to treat her. Her back seemed to be cold that day as she walked away from him with her knight.

nThe family of three went back to the duchy by carriage, Marinette walked around the street to the small house where she remembered in the past.

nThere was a small funeral in front of the house, she clenched her hands after watching the little kids crying over the body in the coffin.

n

"Are you not going??

"Flynn who once again stood behind her asked her.

n

"When did she die?

"

n

"Yesterday. I heard she was drowned.

"

n

"...Flynn...I...I need some time alone.

"

n

"...yes, my lady.

" Flynn took many steps back as she ordered, he could see her tear rolling down, it was such an unpleasant sight for him to see her like that.

nAfter a while,

nMarinette walked back to him and said,

"Let's go. We have many places to go for today.

"

nThe first place they went was the hospital where Aurora stayed, Tristan was also there. He was holding Aurora's hand.

nIt was unexpected seeing him there instead of Aurora's family.

n

"Why are you here??

" Tristan flinched when he heard Marinette's voice behind his back.

n

"She was the one who saved me!!

"

n

"Yeah, I heard about it. I need to take a look at her, can you give us a moment??

"

nMarinette ignored Tristan's presence and approached Aurora's body which was wrapped in bandages, she touched her legs gently, there was no hope in her legs.

n

"I know you're awake.

" Marinette said to Aurora who was faking sleep the whole time Tristan visited her. She heard all of the apologies Tristan said to her when she was faking her sleep.

n

"I won't be able to walk again, Marinette.

" she opened her eyes and looked at Marinette with her sad eyes filled with tears.

n'It seemed like we're close friends hearing how she talks casually to me.

"

n

"You're that woman--I mean my friend, I'll heal your legs.

"

n

"Don't give me hope...even the light magic couldn't do it.

" Aurora talked logically, Marinette shook a little in surprise hearing the light magic didn't work.

n

"I'll be back.

" Marinette said in a serious tone in determination and rushed out of the hospital dragging Flynn's hand with her.

n

"Where are we going??!

" Marinette was sure that if something could restore Aurora's legs, it had to be the powerful magic hidden somewhere in the empire. Only that person knew the location of it.

n

"You have to help me go to a place!

" Marinette replied and paid money to the coachman.

nThey got into the carriage together.

n

"Take us to the Blackwood!

" Marinette told the coachman.

nThe coachman couldn't refuse even though knowing how risky it was to get to that forest.

n

"No one ever set a foot in that forest...why do you want to go there??

" Flynn was surprised knowing that was the place they had to go, but even more surprised to know Marinette would go to such a place.

n

"It's the only way to save Aurora, I have to meet someone there!

"

n

"Who in their right mind lives in that forest??

"

n

"Ah...you're noisy as ever, just shut up and protect me when we're there. I didn't bring you with me for nothing.

" she finally showed her relaxing side when she shouted at him scolding him. It was the side Flynn rarely saw.

nIt took them three hours to get to the entrance of the Blackwood.

nThe leaf of the trees was black there, even the land had no grass on it since it was a dying piece of land.

nThe coachman dropped them off at the entrance, Flynn took his sword out and subconsciously held Marinette's hand tightly.

n

"Herod's tombstone should be around here somewhere.

"

n

"Who is that??

"

n

"It's my ancestor.

" just finished telling Flynn, a group of monsters came out of the dark and chased after them.

nThe magic energy was all crazy here, using magic here might cause harm to the user, Marinette took out the dagger and killed one of them while Flynn took care of the rest.

nThey panted together in exhaustion, without resting another group of monsters appeared again.

nMarinette glanced at Flynn whose blood was all over his face, he was on the verge of collapse, and it was the same for her.

n

"How many more could you hold on??

"

n

"Twenty...

"

n

"But there are a hundred of them.

"

n

"...I'll kill them with my magic then.

"

n

"No!! Let's run for now.

" she grabbed Flynn's hand and ran from there searching for the tombstone along the way.

nA thing caught her attention, and a smile appeared on Marinette's face, she used her magic and covered Flynn's body with the death roses magic energy.

nHer body was in agony but she made in time inside the barrier.

nHuff huff

n

"...is...that what you're looking...for??

"

n

"...yes...it...is...

" they lied on the dirty ground together holding each other's hand. The monster wasn't able to get in because of the powerful barrier of the tombstone which only allowed the death roses magic energy to get inside.

n

"Are you hurt anywhere??

" Flynn got up and looked for any wound on Marinette instead of checking himself first.

n

"I'm not hurt, don't worry.

" she patted his shoulder smiling genuinely at him. Flynn was relieved and murmured,

"Thank goodness...

"

nHe fell asleep and his head fell on Marinette's shoulder.

n

"You've done well.

" Marinette dragged Flynn's body to the tombstone after casting the sleep magic on him.

nHer body was out of magic energy at the moment using two spells in a row. She soon dug the tombstone and wrote spells on the tombstone which the name 'Herod Mortel' carved on it.

nHerod was the only successor of the Mortel who ordered people to bury him in the Blackwood instead of the Mortel graveyard.

n

"Who dares...who dare to do this to my tombstone??!!!

" deadly aura leaked out of the tombstone, Marinette smirked upon seeing the soul of the bastard.

n

"Good to see you again, Herod...

"

n

"You brat!!!! The audacity!!! I'll kill you!

"

n

"Pfft...can you??

" the soul of Herod was fused with anger and killing intent while Marinette calmly smiled and waved at him in a friendly manner.

nTo be continued....!

n