Volume 4, Chapter 78 – The Siren’s Mirror

After returning to the palace, Fia headed straight for Mizuki’s room.

She was the one who had asked her to move into the palace. As its owner, she naturally had the obligation to visit, for example, to ask if she was lacking anything and to provide it for her. In addition, she had to supervise her to ensure she didn’t secretly slip away to the magic training grounds to practice the Holy Tree Dance. The possession-like symptoms that had appeared on her, although brief, came with no guarantee that they wouldn’t lengthen as the dance was further restored. And Mizuki, of all things, held a strong professional ethic about restoring the dance, feeling that she couldn’t just enjoy the benefits without putting in the work. So, she had to be warned.

However, before Fia could go to her room, she met her in the living room. To be precise, she met both her and Claire. The two of them were sitting on the sofa by the fireplace, talking. From the side view of Claire covering her mouth with a light smile, the atmosphere of their chat was very harmonious.

“Hah,” the warmth flowing through the room relaxed Fia’s tense body. She tilted her head curiously. “What are you and Mizuki talking about?”

“Oh my, the main character has arrived.”

Hearing Fia’s voice, Claire, who had just been chuckling, turned her head. But for some reason, seeing her smiling face, an ominous premonition rose in Fia’s heart.

Claire continued.

“We were just chatting about the time little Fia almost took her own mother as a lover and tried to hide it from me. I didn’t expect you to be so bold while I was away, and now you’ve even brought her home so openly. Should I praise you for your immense charm, that even the maiden-mother couldn’t escape?”

The moment Claire mentioned “lover,” Fia’s expression and neck stiffened. She had clearly told Mizuki not to tell Claire about this, but she had let it slip anyway.

Wait, there’s nothing to feel guilty about here. I clearly rejected her request at the time. I shouldn’t be reacting as if I’ve been caught cheating. I’m innocent.

Claire must be teasing her.

At this thought, Fia lifted her chin and gave a light snort.

“How could I do such a thing? I let her move into the palace only to learn the Holy Tree Dance.”

“Really?” Claire crossed her arms under her chest, as if to deliberately emphasize her ample bosom. “Even if you wanted to be with Mother Mizuki, I wouldn’t be jealous, Fia. After all, you’ve always lacked a mother’s love. It’s not incomprehensible to want a wife who is like a mother. Ah, I can also play the role of a mother, as long as little Fia likes it.”

Mmm…

Fia was silent for a moment.

Although I do find that to be a very charming proposal, to have me agree to it in public is asking too much. This kind of thing should be a forceful demand from Claire, and then I would pretend to go along with it.

With this internal monologue, Fia did not let her inner thoughts show. She feigned a look of disgust and waved her hands repeatedly.

“That’s all your fantasy, Claire. I’ve never thought of such a thing. Besides, my Father has already annulled the engagement with her. The title of ‘mother’ is a thing of the past.”

“Wuu… but I really liked that title,” Mizuki, sitting on the other sofa in her shrine maiden’s attire, muttered with a pout. “Little Claire is also very suitable to be a lover. Little Fia won’t mind anyway, so you can be my practice partner, little Claire…”

I would mind! I would mind!

Although she thought this in her heart, because Mizuki was speaking to Claire, Fia had no opportunity to interject. However, without needing her to explain, Claire had already politely refused with a smile.

“The feeling of love is not something you can have just by having a practice partner. As long as you truly meet the right person for you, even if you make a fool of yourself because you are unfamiliar with some things, the person who likes you will smile and accept you. This, in turn, will become a beautiful memory for the future.”

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“…Even if you say that, it doesn’t change the fact that I have no confidence.”

“Then why don’t you try to make little Fia fall in love with you?”

“N-no, Claire, this isn’t something to joke about, is it?”

Fia had a feeling she was being sold out by Claire.

However, Claire just placed an index finger on her chin, her eyes wide with a look of incomprehension.

“I never thought of having little Fia all to myself, you know? There are many areas where I don’t do a good job, and she is the future elf queen; she needs someone to complement her. If you meet a truly suitable partner, you just need to bring her before me and let me test her—but I will not give up the position of the first royal consort to anyone, not even if you act spoiled, little Fia.”

Is this the view of marriage on the World Tree Continent…

Fia was at a loss for words for a moment. She really had no such thoughts about Mizuki. She could only let out a deep sigh and change the subject.

“Hah, besides all that, you stayed in the palace last night, right, Mizuki? Did you sleep well?”

“It was comfortable, but a little too luxurious. I’m not quite used to it…”

Although she thought she heard Mizuki say something like, “you’re changing the subject that easily?”, Fia decided to pretend she hadn’t heard. She plopped down on the armrest of the sofa next to Claire.

“What specifically? If you’re not used to it, you can have the maids in the palace adjust things according to your situation.”

“No, it’s not to that extent. How should I put it… the room I lived in before wasn’t this warm. It’s warm everywhere you go. It’s snowing outside, yet I still feel hot dressed like this.”

As she spoke, Mizuki pinched her red and white shrine maiden’s skirt. By the faint light of the fireplace, Fia could see a fine layer of sweat on her forehead. Sitting on the sofa, she was like a child, most of her body sinking into the soft cushions. Her feet, in their white short socks, couldn’t even touch the carpet, and her hands were sliding from her thighs to her knees. She didn’t look at all like a three-hundred-year-old elf, but rather like an innocent child.

“And the bed is unbelievably soft. I don’t know how to eat those dishes. I feel like the maids will laugh at me.”

“No one knows how from the beginning. You don’t have to care about what others think,” Fia said, understanding her sigh very well. When she had first come to this world, she had also encountered some dishes she didn’t know how to eat, and had worried that people would laugh at her for being an uncultured country bumpkin. But in reality, no one paid any attention. Those were all psychological burdens she had placed on herself. As long as one was generous enough to admit they didn’t know and humbly asked for guidance, no one would criticize them.

“By the way, where are Anastasia and Liti and the others? Liti and Erin Slate were just in front of me a moment ago, but they disappeared in the blink of an eye.”

“Milu and Anastasia are in the magic training grounds improving their Martial Skills. Liti said she was going to take Erin Slate to see your room, gave us a wave, and left.”

“What’s there to see in my room…”

Although the entire palace, including the maids inside, was her property, the princess actually lacked a personal space. The maids who served her often entered and exited her room, and even her wardrobe and drawers could not escape their grasp. The bedsheets and pillows were changed every day. Even if she wanted to hide something, it would quickly be discovered. All Liti would see was a brand-new room.

Speaking of her room, Fia remembered something important that she hadn’t had a chance to say.

She turned her gaze to Mizuki, who was sinking into the sofa, and asked curiously.

“Were you not affected by Claire’s curse, Mizuki?”

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“You mean the fear curse? I did feel a little of it when I first saw her yesterday, but it’s much better now. As long as I don’t suddenly see her, it’s fine. Looking closely, Miss Claire’s beauty is by no means inferior to an elf’s. If not for the curse, she would surely have become a heartthrob long ago.”

Heartthrob… that expression really has a sense of age to it. It seemed Mizuki had not obtained Divinity by being the maiden of the Holy Tree.

Fia reached into the space pack at her waist, and after searching for a moment, found a magnificent silver brooch.

The moment it appeared, Claire’s attention was drawn to it.

“This is…? It’s the first time I’ve seen a magic item with no magic reaction at all. Is this really a magic item?”

“Mhm. This is a divine artifact called the Siren’s Mirror. Because I helped Estelle solve the problem of the Despair Demon General, she gave me her mother’s keepsake. Her mother, like Claire, was born with a curse. Anyone who saw her would be charmed by her and commit acts of violence. Later, Estelle’s father, Count Oro, fell in love with her. In order to solve the curse on her, he asked the then-founding king of the Bart Duchy for the Siren’s Mirror, and thus it fell into my hands.”

“The Siren’s Mirror can cut off all magical connections between the wearer and the outside world. While ensuring that the wearer is protected from mental magic attacks, it also causes them to lose the ability to use magic. Although the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, it is very suitable for people who are cursed. As long as you wear it, your own curse will not be able to affect the surrounding creatures. When you need to use magic, you just have to take it off and put it in a storage item.”

“Estelle? Is that the pureblood vampire princess?”

“Mhm, that’s her.”

Come to think of it, since she had the [Transmission Beacon], perhaps she should also set a coordinate in Estelle’s castle. That way, she could bring her from the Bart Duchy to Blossom at any time.

“I remember that she was a child with a tragic past. Although you did this for my sake, Fia, is it alright to just take her mother’s keepsake like this? Won’t it make her think you’re too utilitarian?” Claire’s clear, emerald-green eyes were filled with worry.

“Estelle herself said it was fine, so it’s fine. She’s not the type to keep her dissatisfaction to herself. If she didn’t like it, she would have said so long ago. You should try it on first, Claire.”

Putting aside its own function, the Siren’s Mirror was an item obtained from a god by the founding king of the Bart Duchy. It was a divine item and should be able to counteract the curse on her.

Under Fia’s expectant gaze, Claire gently took the brooch with her thumb and forefinger and carefully pinned it to her chest. Under the firelight, its silver exterior reflected a brilliant light, adding a lot of color to her whole person.

Fia asked with a look of joy.

“How is it?”

Although the Siren’s Mirror could not completely solve Claire’s curse, it could ensure that she could live a normal life, without having to always wear a helpless, wry smile when she met people for the first time.

“Mmm… I don’t feel any change. It seems I can still use magic—[Fire].”

As her words fell, a ball of flame instantly shot up from the palm of her right hand. This undoubtedly violated the properties of the Siren’s Mirror.

It was probably because her magic system did not belong to this world. Although she tried to console herself with this, she still couldn’t lessen the bad premonition in her heart. Fia turned to look at Mizuki.

“What about you, Mizuki? Do you feel that Claire’s fear curse has weakened a little?”

A hint of hesitation appeared on Mizuki’s slightly childish face.

“Even if you say that… I’m already used to Miss Claire’s fear curse. Even if it weakens, I can’t tell.”

Tsk.

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It seemed she had to find someone else to verify it.

Soon, Fia had a maid from the palace pull a maid who had always been in charge of the back kitchen and had almost never seen Claire to come before her. As a result, the maid was trembling all over before she had even seen her, and when she did, she was so scared that she collapsed on the ground and could only get back on her feet after more than ten seconds.

Without a doubt, the Siren’s Mirror had failed to control the curse on Claire. Fia had the maid take the other back to rest. The entire receiving room fell silent, with only the lingering scent of wood and the crackling of the fire in the fireplace.

“…I’m sorry, Claire. I thought the Siren’s Mirror would work.”

With her head lowered, Fia’s expression was full of guilt. The maid’s terrified reaction not only dashed Claire’s hopes, but also hurt her.

And as if she had seen through her thoughts, Claire smiled and stroked her head.

“Why are you apologizing? You obtained the Siren’s Mirror for my sake. I haven’t had time to thank you yet.”

“But—”

“But the Siren’s Mirror didn’t work, is that what you wanted to say? What’s important is the thought.”

Claire first pointed to the Siren’s Mirror on her left chest, then gently tapped the spot of Fia’s heart. A knowing smile appeared on her gentle face.

“I am satisfied that you have this thought, Fia. Besides, the thing I want most is you. Whether this brooch works or not, I will cherish it. So you don’t have to feel embarrassed or guilty. If you feel guilty, I will feel like I am a burden to you. Alright, be happy. I am not as fragile as you think. I’ll accept this gift. You just have to look forward to the return gift.”

With that, Claire used both her thumbs to push up the corners of Fia’s mouth, forcing a smile.

“That’s right. I also think you don’t need to put on this look of having done something wrong. It will only make people feel bad. Be more generous. If it doesn’t work this time, we’ll try again next time,” Mizuki also consoled from the side. Then, as if she had remembered something, she suddenly jumped up from the sofa.

“By the way, why did His Majesty and you not allow me to continue restoring the Holy Tree Dance, little Fia? This is my mission. I can feel that I am only a few steps away from success. I can even hear the call of Lord Elf God.”

“Mmm…”

Although Fia still wanted to say something to Claire, she had already told her to answer Mizuki’s question first by patting her on the back. Fia had no choice but to get up from the armrest of the sofa, think for a moment, and then say.

“What do you mean by the call of the Elf God?”

“It’s a very strange feeling, like being immersed in the world of the gods. The wind and the elements are one with me. They are all close to me. I can hear their whispers to me. It’s like a dream. As long as I enter that state, I don’t have to deliberately recall the movements of the Holy Tree Dance; my body will move on its own.”

“Then have you heard anyone else’s voice?”

“Anyone else’s voice? I’m the only one under the Holy Tree.”

Mizuki’s confused expression had already told Fia that she had not heard the cold voice of the soul that had possessed her.

If she didn’t tell her the truth, she might secretly restore the Holy Tree Dance without her noticing. Fia could understand that feeling of being just one step away from success. It was better for her to tell her the truth.

At this thought, Fia chose her words and told her about how she had seemed to have suddenly changed into a different person that day and had cursed the Alexia family. But she deliberately omitted the part where she had thrown the kagura bell at Yelido. Otherwise, if she knew she had attacked the king, she would surely be terrified and even go to him to plead guilty.

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“How could that be… the Holy Tree Dance is clearly a sacred ritual.”

After hearing everything, Mizuki took a step back, a look of disbelief on her face.

Fia shrugged.

“If you don’t believe me, I can take out a recording crystal and you can try again. But this time I will interrupt you at the appropriate time, so you don’t continue the dance too deeply. Mmm… I can also take this opportunity to memorize the movements of the dance.”

Although dancing was not something where the body could make the movements just by knowing each step in one’s mind, the princess’s body was very flexible, and her control over her body was also excellent. As long as she could overcome her shyness, it shouldn’t take too long to learn. After all, Mizuki had already restored most of the dance. She was just copying it; it wouldn’t be too difficult.

As if she were shrinking back, Mizuki held her slender arms in front of her. She hesitated for a moment, then swallowed and nodded lightly.

“With you watching me, Fia… alright. Let’s start now.”

With that, Mizuki came to the open area in the middle of the living room, clearly about to start on the spot. Fia couldn’t help but widen her eyes slightly.

“Right here?”

“Mhm. As long as it’s quiet enough, no one will be affected by me. A place this big is enough. By the way, Miss Claire hasn’t seen the Holy Tree Dance yet. She might be affected by the ritual—”

“Don’t worry. Claire’s strength is greater than my Father’s. She won’t be easily affected. I remember the recording crystal was placed—ah, found it. Alright, I’m ready when you are.”

As she spoke, Fia placed a silver, eyeball-shaped crystal on the coffee table. Although recording crystals were expensive, disposable items, generally only used on important occasions, Silvar was vast and had several mines that produced them, so they were not scarce in the kingdom.

“Then… I’ll begin.”

Taking out the kagura bell she always carried with her, Mizuki took a step back with her right foot, extended her hands to the left, and assumed the starting posture of the Holy Tree Dance. Almost instantly, both Fia and Claire could feel that she had entered the state. She soon began to dance as the maiden.

Then, just as Fia had seen under the Holy Tree, she seemed to become one with the world, as if everything was moving around her. The most obvious was the fire in the fireplace. The gentle breeze created by her dance clearly did not reach the fireplace, yet the flames inside, as if they had been swept up by something, danced in rhythm with her movements. This was clearly not a natural situation.

And then, she came to a part of the dance where she had been possessed before. As she had no intention of stopping, and did not react even when Fia called out to her, Fia had no choice but to step forward to interrupt. And at that moment, her movements suddenly stopped. Her eyes, so cold they were as if she were a different person, first looked at Fia, then fell on Claire behind her.

In an instant, both Fia and Claire read the hostility in her eyes.

Was she going to speak?

Fia stopped, only a meter away from her, ready to use defensive magic at any moment.

「Hmph.」

But in response, she merely let out an impolite snort, and her body, as if it had lost its strength, went limp and collapsed.

Translator Note

uhuh?!?! tsun ghost? jk~