Chapter 135: Moirai
by rosalie“Yuria, do you really have to go with me?”
Xavier spoke as he lowered the coffee cup from his lips. The dazzling morning sunlight streamed in through the window beside him as he sat, and I squinted slightly as I replied.
“Of course. I played a role in making the peace agreement happen, so I must attend.”
Even if it was the result of some rather intense struggles.
“The carriage is already on its way, so what can we do? Especially when there’s an oracle that’s already been issued.”
Pope Melvin chimed in.
“And why are you in this carriage? Haven’t you eaten and slept in my house for several days already?”
Pope Melvin had stayed at the ducal residence for a few days after attending Arthur’s trial, claiming it felt awkward to return to the temple. Xavier had been extremely displeased about it.
“Why? Naturally, I’m going as the chairman of the peace agreement.”
“Then take another carriage!”
Despite Xavier’s irritation, the Pope calmly sipped his coffee.
“Your Eminence. Here, have a macaron.”
“Thank you. You should have one too, Pope.”
Xavier glared fiercely at Melvin and snatched the macaron just as the Pope was about to put it in his mouth, shoving it into his own instead and chewing aggressively.
“You—!”
“Hmph.”
Xavier’s reaction was understandable.
The location of the peace agreement was none other than the capital of Moirai, Moirai itself.
Originally, the Emperor was supposed to attend as the Empire’s representative, but with Arthur suffering a cerebral hemorrhage and becoming a living corpse locked away in prison, the Emperor had stopped eating and eventually fell ill.
As a result, Xavier, who had been managing the practical affairs related to Moirai, ended up representing the Empire.
After swallowing the macaron, he downed his hot coffee in one go, placed the cup back on the tray, and let out a deep sigh.
“Of all things, the goddess had to issue such an oracle.”
“Indeed.”
When Xavier widened his eyes at me, I pretended not to notice and sipped my warm coffee.
“The saintess must go to Moirai. There, a peace agreement will take place.”
Who would’ve thought the oracle would hit so directly?
It was a remarkably blunt oracle.
‘Why not just tell me to go to the Cursed Land while you’re at it?’
The damned author must have been desperate. They were using the oracle to push me toward the Cursed Land.
‘As if I wasn’t going to go already. You were silent when I was kidnapped! Hmph, next time I see you, I’ll kick your shin as hard as I can.’
And for the record, I’m going to the Cursed Land for myself, not for the author’s sake.
According to the materials Albert gave me, the curse passed down through the Auguste family had lasted for centuries.
The documents only mentioned what it was like to transform into a beast, how to maintain a human appearance, and so on—there were no hints on how to break the curse. The same went for the history books.
However, one particular phrase caught my attention.
「To seek death is to live, and to seek life is to die.」
This was a phrase left by the first Duke, and it was said to be the words Goddess Maha spoke to the first saintess in history.
I mulled over what Goddess Maha, or rather the author, had told me.
‘Take it literally. Think carefully about what is most precious to the saintess. It’s very simple.’
Although it was a hypothesis I came up with, I felt a certain conviction. That conviction gave me the courage to head to the Cursed Land.
“Yuria, what are you thinking about?”
“Ah.”
“Have you finished your coffee?”
Xavier’s gaze shifted to my empty coffee cup.
“Yes, I’ve finished it.”
With a peculiar expression, Xavier took my cup, placed it in the coffee bag, and set it aside next to his chair. Then, he looked at me seriously and said,
“Let me make this clear: don’t even think about going near the Cursed Land without telling me.”
“Then if I don’t go secretly, it’s okay to go?”
“Yuria, I’m not joking.”
“Neither am I.”
Though the atmosphere had been peaceful despite our bickering, it suddenly turned tense. Melvin, sensing the shift, tried to mediate.
“Now, now. Is it proper to have a marital quarrel like this on the way to a peace agreement?”
“This isn’t a marital quarrel.”
“This isn’t a marital quarrel.”
“Ah, I see.”
And so, the first round of our argument ended there.
In any case, the carriage faithfully continued its journey and eventually crossed into Moirai’s borders.
Once we crossed the border, the scenery changed dramatically. Instead of the Empire’s vast plains, an endless lush forest stretched out before us. Beyond the Hume River, a verdant green zone reminiscent of the Amazon unfolded.
After traveling for a while through the forest, the carriage emerged into a field, and in the distance, a city began to appear.
“That’s the capital of the Beast Kingdom, Moirai.”
“Wow, I’m really curious about what it’ll be like.”
I knew Xavier was watching me, but I pretended not to notice.
It was time for him to face reality.
The city gates of Moirai were enormous and majestic. Towering statues of lions stood on either side, and the city walls were adorned with colorful murals of animals.
Countless towers of varying shapes and sizes filled the city, with many birds resting atop them. Melvin explained that some beastmen even built nests and lived on those towers.
Passing through the large gates, the carriage rolled along the main road inside the city. The streets were bustling with beastmen, some in human form and others in animal form, all dressed beautifully as they mingled together. Some had their ears and tails on full display.
“Wow!”
Since the saintess’s visit to the Beast Kingdom hadn’t been officially announced, no one paid much attention to the carriage I was in. Thanks to that, I was able to stick close to the carriage window and thoroughly enjoy the sights of Moirai.
Moirai was truly in a festive mood.
The city was decorated with freshly harvested spring flowers, and large balloons floated in the sky. It seemed that celebrations and parties were taking place all over the kingdom.
Today, the day of the peace agreement, was a historic moment for the Beast Kingdom—a day when they would finally secure freedom and equality after centuries of suffering under the Empire’s exploitation and interference.
Before long, the carriage arrived at its destination, the royal palace of Moirai.
If the Brillante Imperial Palace was a combination of gold and white, the Moirai royal palace was like a green emerald. At a glance, it looked like a massive mountain, blending harmoniously with the surrounding mountains that framed it like a backdrop.
As the carriage stopped at the palace entrance, monkey beastmen waiting nearby began waving their tails and sounding fanfares.
Soon, the grand gates of the palace opened wide, and King Lucas of Moirai, accompanied by his retainers, came out to greet us.
Xavier, Melvin, and I, along with the attendants, disembarked from the carriage and greeted them respectfully.
Though I was secretly glad to see Lucas again after a long time, I quietly waited my turn behind Xavier.
“Thank you for coming, Duke Xavier.”
Lucas warmly extended his hand, and Xavier grasped it with a slight nod.
“Thank you for inviting us, Your Highness. Or rather, Your Majesty now.”
“Haha, thank you. This is all thanks to the efforts of the Duke and the saintess… huh?”
“Hello, Your Majesty.”
Lucas’s cheerful expression darkened the moment his eyes landed on me.
＊
Inside the royal palace, a banquet was held in a peaceful atmosphere, accompanied by the soft melodies of string instruments. The banquet was meant to welcome the Empire’s peace delegation ahead of the agreement.
After observing the situation for a while, Lucas pulled Xavier into a private space behind a curtain reserved for the king.
“You sly cat! How could you bring your wife here?”
“The oracle said it must be done.”
“And so, you bring her here, with the Cursed Land right next door? Did you chew up and swallow the note I gave you? Even now—”
“Yuria knows about the final inscription on the Obelisk.”
“What?”
Lucas was dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open. He grabbed his hair and cursed.
“You idiotic duke! Do you have any idea what I went through to avoid that path?”
“I’ll see it through to the end. I won’t give up.”
“And how exactly do you plan to do that? Do you think you can manage it? Can’t you see? The saintess is planning to go to the Cursed Land herself!”
“Raccoon, I’ll offer myself in her place. If the Cursed Land wants my life, my abilities, I’ll give them all to save her.”
Lucas, who had been fuming, softened his tone and pressed his lips together.
“Do you really think that’ll work? You might actually die.”
“Every life ends once, anyway.”
“She won’t like it.”
“My decision won’t change.”
“Damn it.”
Lucas bit his lip before pointing his chin toward the banquet hall and asking,
“By the way, why did you bring those people along like accessories?”
“What do you mean? Rexton is one of my trusted aides.”
“Not them—those two.”
Lucas pulled back the red curtain slightly. Both he and Xavier peeked into the banquet hall.
“Who’s that idiot with the glasses? And why did you bring that scary woman?”
“!”
Xavier’s eyes widened as he was momentarily at a loss for words.
The man with round black glasses, wearing a shabby shirt and cotton trousers, was holding a plate and looking around nervously. It was Dr. Daniel Origin.
“What is that guy doing here?”
And a little further away, Rosetta stood beside Rexton, who wore a serious expression.
“Forget about the woman named Rosetta; who’s that man?”
Lucas asked, pointing at Daniel.
“A shady eccentric.”
“What?”
Realizing the implication immediately, Lucas clung to the curtain for a better look at the strange man.
“He looks like a leftover dog bone! Does he dare to have feelings for my goddess?”
“Lucas, do you want to die?”
“I didn’t mean it like that! Anyway, this won’t do. I’ll kick him out right now.”
For a moment, something flashed through Xavier’s mind. His lips curled into a wicked smile.
Let’s throw the dog bone to the raccoon.
“However, that dog bone happens to be a very clever dog bone.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Raccoon, don’t you want to create a portal?”
Lucas, who had been about to summon the guards, froze. His raccoon ears perked up atop his platinum-blond head at Xavier’s words.
“…A portal?”
Got you.
“He’s an incredibly valuable talent, but I’ll generously leave him here for you. Make good use of him.”
With a benevolent smile, Xavier patted Lucas on the shoulder and walked out past the curtain. Lucas watched Xavier’s retreating figure as he headed into the banquet hall, his eyes sparkling.
“A portal, huh. Not bad.”