Chapter 470-Fight Between Senior and Junior.
Tria Twilight, the younger sister of Carmel and one among the princesses of the Twilight Empire is again a capture target, similar to Elda's. The player would have to save her to earn more affection points from Carmel. The outcome of the story depends on how it is woven, but Tria is a very peculiar character to deal with, and most players stay away from her.
The main reason for this is the curse that affects her, which brings misfortune into her life. It is so severe that she has her own distinct section to live in. In fact, this part about her is a closely guarded secret. The Empire even brought the Saintess of Razellia to see why such a curse affects her, but all they could derive was that Tria is cursed with a powerful curse that even the saintess isn't allowed to touch.
Tria's special curse also affects her surroundings, bringing bad luck to others. In the game, I have seen several players experiencing bad luck after choosing Tria as a challenge. There was even a situation where a character died from drinking poison, which was actually meant for someone else!
That is just a small glimpse into the bad luck that can come into your life if you include Tria. However, it didn't affect me due to Razellia's blessing that protects me from all types of curses. Hence, I have the green light when I want to deal with her.
"So what's this about your sister?" I asked as Carmel and I took a seat. My eyes focused on hers, and a moment of hesitation flashed through her eyes as she replied.
"She's sick. All the specialists were called in, but none can identify it. It seems her bad luck is acting up..."
"Bad luck?" I asked in an intrigued tone. Upon hearing my words, Carmel took a deep breath and started to explain Tria's special condition. My expression turned from calm to surprise and finally to sympathy. A sense of disbelief filled my tone as I spoke.
"This... how can someone live like this?"
"Indeed, Tria is going through too much..." Carmel added to my words. Unlike the rest of her siblings, Tria is directly linked to Carmel, as they both have the same mother. Carmel cares deeply for Tria, sometimes even risking her health and luck to be near her.
"I can't solve her luck, but I will be damned if I let her be sick," she spoke in a resolute tone, but the sadness in her eyes was ever-present. Seeing this, I remained quiet, my expression going through different angles, reflecting hesitation and doubt. I seemed to be deep in thought and didn't answer. Carmel caught onto this and looked at me with questioning eyes.
"This sickness you spoke of, I might know what it might be," I said with some doubt. But my words were more than enough to bring back the spark in Carmel's eyes.
"Really?!" she asked, zooming her face close to mine. Anticipation was ever-present. I gave her a wry smile and pushed her beautiful face away slightly as I spoke.
"Calm down. I can't agree to it until I hear more about the symptoms." Carmel nodded at my words and began to speak in detail about Tria's sickness. I remained thoughtful during her talk, my expression becoming more and more sure as Carmel continued. Finally, she stopped, and the thoughtful look on my face turned resolute.
"Um, I think it might be the same sickness as the one I know of," I said as I finished speaking. Carmel didn't answer immediately. Her face seemed to be in a daze for a second before becoming completely ice-cold. Carmelia seemed to have taken control as she looked at me with her cold eyes while asking.
"Just how do you know about this sickness that even experts in the field of healing don't know?"
She asked with a chilly tone. I 'flinched' for a moment upon hearing her tone, my expression becoming serious as I asked her in a calm tone.
"Are you insinuating that I might be related to how your sister got sick?"
Seeing my expression turning bad, Carmelia was unaffected as she spoke.
"My sister got mysteriously sick, then you appear at the perfect time, knowing the only solution to save my sister. Forgive me for finding it hard to believe that something smells fishy."
Her words caused my expression to relax, my eyes accepting her words as I spoke in a light tone.
"Indeed, if I were in your shoes, I would think the same. But I wish to ask you a question. After all, you have seen me for me, does your heart really say that I am someone not to trust? Do you not see me as a family?"
My words seemed to strike a chord with Carmelia as she turned silent for a moment. Her ice-cold expression displayed confusion as she asked me.
"As a princess, I have dealt with several issues in my life. The play of control and manipulation always surrounds me. Being vigilant is a key prerequisite for a ruler."
Her words seemed to evade the answer, but I didn't accept it. My expression turned taut as I spoke to Carmelia.
"Don't beat around the bush. You know me. We have spent many nights battling in the night. Many nights you savored my cooking, a simple way I could kill or control you. We fought to the death in a city, and our relationship runs deep as senior and junior. After all this, do you still doubt me?"
This time, the heaviness of my voice was present for Carmelia to understand. The side of Carmel that deals with all the filth of the political and deadly world stayed quiet for a moment. Her expression shifted between daze and control, undoubtedly Carmel trying to regain control. I stayed silent, waiting for the final verdict.
Soon, the facial expression of Carmelia softened. Her ice-cold expression finally thawed as she spoke.
"Yes."
A simple word it was, but it caused me to close my eyes. A deep sigh left my mouth as I leaned into the chair. A tense silence lingered between us for a moment, broken by my opening my eyes and speaking in a tone that held no care.
"During my travels through the world, I ended up in a closed-off domain where people live cut off from the rest. It is there that I came upon this peculiar sickness, one forgotten by the era of the world."
Just as Carmelia opened her mouth to speak, I raised my hand to stop her, maintaining a detached gaze as I continued.
"The place is sealed off, and it can't be accessed without me. I made an oath to keep that place a secret, but knowing about the life of this girl, I shall venture into that place and find the solution to help her overcome her power."
My last words lingered in the air, and Carmelia trembled before me as I spoke.
"Yes, this is not a sickness. It's something that might help Tria. I will speak of it later. Right now, you don't have to worry about her. Her symptoms will fade soon. She will be alright until I find the solution."
After speaking up to this point, I stood up, my eyes on Carmelia as I placed a casserole on the table.
"It's some sweets I made to cheer you up."
I opened it, revealing Carmelia's and Carmel's favorite type of biscuits.
"And as for how your sister might have got this peculiar problem, I have no idea. Just check with your palace. I will also inform you of the time I shall leave to get the solution. So, good day, Princess."
With these final words, I started to leave the room, but I was interrupted by a call from behind.
"Wait! We didn't mean it!"
I turned my eyes towards Carmel, who was holding the sleeve of my shirt. I didn't react to the change as I spoke in an impassive tone.
"You both have the same thought process and ideas. What Carmelia feared, so did you. Please let go of my hand, Princess. I have things to do."
Slowly pushing away Carmel while maintaining a polite look, I walked out of the room, leaving behind a shaken-up Carmel and Carmelia.
'Guess it's time to deal with Marlene.'
I thought, with a happy hum, as I walked away.
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