Volume 3, Chapter 1 – The Curse of Forgotten

“It feels like it’s getting hotter and hotter… Anastasia, has the Alfrieg Kingdom always been this hot?”

Fia, who was sitting in the carriage fanning herself incessantly, shouted to the outside.

Four days had passed since their departure from Oro Territory. The carriage had long since left the Bart Duchy and arrived at the border of the human-dominated Alfrieg Kingdom. Looking at the map, it wouldn’t be long before the three of them could enter the elf territory. By then, the carriage would travel much faster than it did now. Anastasia had once boasted with a proud expression that the roads of Silvar were flat and solid, not difficult to travel like those in the Bart Duchy and the Milcandis Holy Kingdom.

Despite having been exiled to the Land of Exile by the Elf King, Anastasia was still extremely proud of her elf identity.

“This… your subordinate is not too sure either.”

Anastasia, from the driver’s seat, turned her head. Today, she was still dressed in her green hood and windbreaker. The standard-issue longsword at her waist and the pointed ears peeking out from her swaying golden hair gave her a strong “traditional elf at one with nature” feel.

“The last time your subordinate passed through the Alfrieg Kingdom to get to Silvar was when I was only fifty years old. In my memory, this place should have been a vast, rolling, dense jungle.”

Anastasia looked into the distance hesitantly.

There was a reason Fia felt it was getting hotter. Looking out from the hillside where the carriage was, one could see vast expanses of yellow sand stretching out in layers into the distance. The sun baked the ground until not a blade of grass could grow, and even the air near the ground shimmered like water ripples.

If one looked nearby, one would also notice that there were almost no green plants around; the land was barren, a sea of earthy yellow. On the way from the Milcandis Holy Kingdom to the Bart Duchy, they could still see many refugees along the road. But from yesterday until now, Anastasia hadn’t seen a single person, not even a corpse. If she didn’t take a sip of water to moisten her throat from time to time, the dry and scorching air would cause a burning pain.

“A rolling jungle…”

Repeating Anastasia’s words, Fia gazed out the window. This scene of endless yellow sand didn’t look anything like the dense jungle Anastasia had described. She couldn’t help but frown, proposing a chilling possibility.

“We couldn’t have taken the wrong road, could we?”

“Absolutely not,” Anastasia denied decisively. “All the landmarks along the way have matched the map. It’s impossible for us to be lost. It can only be that the map in my possession is too old, and in the past seventy-odd years, the environment in the northern part of the Alfrieg Kingdom has undergone a drastic change.”

“Hmm… that’s possible.”

Fia nodded thoughtfully. Yesterday, they were supposed to rest in a city marked on the map, but when the three of them arrived, they found that the city had long been abandoned, with no one inside.

Seventy-odd years was enough time to change many things. In an era where communication still relied on letters, it was quite normal for maps to not keep up with the times.

“If your subordinate remembers correctly, although this area is nominally under the jurisdiction of the Alfrieg Kingdom, it’s actually a chaotic zone similar to the Land of Exile. It’s too far from the center of the Alfrieg Kingdom, full of dense forests and mountains, dangerous magical beasts, and venomous insects, and has inconvenient transportation, so the Alfrieg Kingdom doesn’t have the resources to manage it.”

Rеαԁ оn ΚаtReаⅾіngСаfe

“After all, this place is too close to our Silvar. If they invested a large amount of manpower and resources to develop it, only to have it taken by us elf in the end, the Alfrieg Kingdom would suffer a great loss. This is also one of the reasons why the Alfrieg Kingdom is unwilling to manage this area.”

“Hmm, Princess Liti is right. It’s just…” Anastasia looked at Liti with confusion. “Princess Liti’s teacher, Mr. Alfred, has repeatedly mentioned in the palace that Your Highness’s academic performance is poor. While it’s fine for being a princess, you wouldn’t be able to become a wife who can share her husband’s burdens. But now… especially when you helped Miss Estelle with political affairs with me, the knowledge you displayed and your understanding of the surrounding countries were almost on par with mine…”

“Ehehe.” Liti stuck out her small, pink tongue. “That’s because if I performed too outstandingly, I would become a thorn in everyone’s side. I don’t have support like my older sister does. I’m only telling you this because I trust you, Anastasia. You have to keep it a secret for me.”

“If you were worried someone might harm you, you should have told me sooner. I would have advised the Captain of the Imperial Guard to strengthen the security around you.”

“No, the Captain of the Imperial Guard could also be bribed. I only trust the people I want to trust. Although you are very kind, Anastasia, my sister was always so cold back then, so I didn’t dare tell you about this. But it’s fine now, hmph hmph.”

As she finished, Liti leaned her petite and soft body against Fia, humming lightly with a blissful sound.

Although Liti always had a faint, milky fragrance that made one want to get closer, the current temperature was at least 37°C. Even with blocks of ice stuck to the carriage walls using [Spatial Hand], the heat was still hard to bear, so Fia had to shift a little to the side.

“So, Princess Liti has been hiding her true abilities all this time?”

“Mhm, that’s right.”

To put it nicely, she was hiding her strength. To put it bluntly, she was pretending to be docile.

Even I was deceived at first.

Fia murmured in her heart.

Of course, Fia had no intention of complaining. While she had lost an innocent and kind younger sister, the clingy Liti now was just as cute.

“I never expected Princess Liti to have thought so far ahead. From the looks of it, do you plan to continue concealing it in the future?”

“Mhm. Sister will stand in the light, and I’ll stand in the shadows. It’s more convenient for gathering information this way. An innocent appearance can deceive many people and make them lower their guard against me. Sister has to persuade Father to cancel the marriage with the Prime Minister’s son. If I act differently now, Father will realize I’ve been keeping him in the dark too. With his personality, he’ll definitely get angry.”

Liti crossed her arms and sighed helplessly.

Anastasia also showed a troubled expression.

“Indeed, with His Majesty’s personality, if he found out that you were deliberately feigning ignorance, Princess Liti, he would likely push for this marriage even more.”

Sounds like a male chauvinist and an extremely authoritarian, strict father.

Rеαⅾ οn ΚatReаdіոɡСafе

Objectively speaking, based on the bits and pieces of information from Anastasia and Liti, Fia didn’t think the Elf King was a good person. Whether it was forcibly marrying Anastasia’s mother, who already had a family, or exiling the young Anastasia along with her father, the original husband, it all repulsed Fia. Yet, such a person was the elf princesses’ father, which was enough to make one frown repeatedly.

Anastasia said with a joyful expression,

“However, Your Highness is now a powerhouse who can even effortlessly eliminate a Despair Demon General. I think you’ve already touched the threshold of the Eighth Rank. The Unsinkable Moon not only didn’t weaken Your Highness’s power, but it actually made you stronger. Possessing the potential to break through to the Eighth Rank before even coming of age… after returning to the country, His Majesty will surely be overjoyed. As long as Your Highness takes the opportunity to express your desire to keep Princess Liti by your side as an aide, I believe His Majesty will agree to your request. His Majesty is strict on the surface, but he actually dotes on the princess who brings him glory.”

So he’s not happy because his child is powerful, but because his child’s power brings him glory?

The feeling that his children were just accessories made Fia feel a wave of displeasure.

Anastasia continued speaking cheerfully.

“Besides, not long after we arrive in Silvar, the young lady that Your Highness is fond of will also arrive. With the power to destroy the Unsinkable Moon in a single blow, even if His Majesty is reluctant, he will have to be willing. So, Princess Liti, you don’t need to feel burdened by your marriage.”

“Even if you say that, Anastasia…”

“Wait.”

Just as Liti lowered her head in embarrassment, Fia detected something wrong in Anastasia’s words.

In just an instant, the atmosphere around Fia turned serious. Noticing the change in Fia, Liti asked timidly, her rose-colored eyes looking up at Fia.

“S-sister, what’s wrong?”

“Anastasia, do you remember the name of the person you were talking about?”

“Uhm—” Anastasia paused, then quickly lowered her head to think. “Long silver hair, very powerful, kind to others, she is Your Highness’s fiancée…”

“And then?”

There was already a hint of urgency in Fia’s voice.

Anastasia’s brows furrowed deeper as she tried hard to remember, but in the end, nothing came to mind. She could only show a shameful expression and say through gritted teeth,

“Your subordinate… Your subordinate cannot remember that young lady’s name.”

“What about you, Liti?”

Suddenly questioned by Fia, Liti’s shoulders trembled, and she stammered,

“I-I can’t remember either. But I do remember that that older sister has a curse on her that makes people forget. It must be because of this curse that Sister Ana and I can’t remember her name.”

Rеaⅾ οո КatRеаԁiոgCαfe

“Tsk.”

Although Fia knew she couldn’t blame Anastasia and Liti, she couldn’t help but click her tongue. If she hadn’t realized it in time, in a little while, Anastasia and Liti would probably ask Claire “Who are you?” when they met her, a question that would surely hurt her.

The curse must be broken as soon as possible.

Taking a deep breath and then slowly exhaling, Fia explained,

“Her name is Claire. Before we parted, both of you told Claire that you wouldn’t forget her.”

“I-I remember now! It’s Miss Claire! To think that I would forget something so important!”

“I’m sorry… sister.”

Anastasia and Liti lowered their heads together.

Seeing the two of them apologize made Fia sigh helplessly. She patted Liti’s head, and the seriousness around her quickly dissipated.

“It’s not your fault. If the curse was something so easily overcome, Claire wouldn’t have been troubled by it to this day. Just in case, when it gets dark, we should review what we know about Claire. If Claire knew you two had forgotten her, she would be sad.”

“Yes, your subordinate thinks so too.”

Agreeing with Fia’s suggestion, Anastasia’s expression became a little troubled.

“But why did Princess Liti and I forget Miss Claire, while Your Highness still remembers? A curse should be impartial.”

“I don’t know either. Maybe it’s because Claire left a deeper impression on me, so I remember more clearly. Of course, it could also be related to the amount of one’s mana.”

As she said this, Fia subconsciously grasped the ruby pendant hanging around her neck. It was a gift from Claire.

“Anastasia, how much longer until we reach Silvar?”

“After passing through the next city tonight, we’ll reach the border of Silvar.”

“Let’s speed up. I want to see the Holy Tree and the Elf God as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Rеaԁ οո ΚatRеaⅾiոɡCаfе

As Anastasia spurred the reins, the carriage immediately sped up.

Silently, Fia let go of the ruby necklace and reached for the several magic crystals in her pocket. The number of spells she had mastered was too few, and most of them were low-rank magic. Before reaching Silvar, she had to strengthen her power.

Therefore, the magic crystals the elf princess originally carried with her became a shortcut to learning high-rank magic.

In the distance was an empty desert, a perfect place to use as a testing ground.

I hope they are powerful spells.

Fia prayed in her heart.

“Are you very unhappy, sister…”

Just as Fia was planning to fly over the desert to test her magic later, she suddenly felt Liti’s cold hand grasp hers. Liti’s rose-violet eyes were filled with a probing and comforting intent.

It must be that my impatience about Claire being forgotten showed on my face, making me seem unfamiliar to Liti.

A helpless expression appeared on her face. Fia first gently smiled and squeezed Liti’s hand back, then pulled out her right hand, which Liti was holding down, and took out the several high-rank magic crystals from her pocket, laying them in her palm.

—In total, there were four meticulously polished magic crystals. Their shapes and colors were different, but all of them exuded a sense of nobility. Even if they didn’t contain any magic, just as decorative objects, they would feel exquisite and expensive, which further highlighted the extraordinariness of the magic within.

“I was just a little anxious, not unhappy. Liti, do you know what magic these crystals represent?”

Although she didn’t know why Fia suddenly asked this question, Liti still chose to answer first. She cutely placed her index finger under her lip and carefully observed the four crystal-clear magic crystals in Fia’s palm.

“Hmm—white represents space magic, red represents fire magic, and gold and green are light magic and nature magic, respectively. Ah, the gold one could also be holy magic. Even though sister hasn’t infused any mana into them, I can feel the faint mana fluctuations they’re emitting. The magic contained within is at least Fifth Rank, maybe even a forbidden spell at the highest. Am I right?”

Fia smiled and spread her hands.

“These are the magic crystals I had on me before I was hit by the Unsinkable Moon, so I don’t know what spells they represent either.”

“Then what do we do? These must be things sister kept for saving her life in a crisis. If we don’t know what they do, aren’t they meaningless? I can vaguely sense that the nature magic in this green crystal isn’t an attack spell, but I’m completely unsure about the other three.”

Facing Liti’s question, Fia clenched the four magic crystals in her fist and smiled wryly.

“We’ll find out by testing them one by one.”