A Background Character’s Path to Power Chapter 453: Caelia’s Curse [2]

With her consent, I quickly established a secure ntal thread, linking my consciousness directly to hers. Speaking aloud risked waking the sleeping child beside us, and telepathy guaranteed better privacy within the walls of this foreign castle.

She began to speak directly into my mind, unraveling the complex and dangerous history of her world. As the silent conversation progressed, my expression constantly shifted from profound shock to deep realization. Finally, after she finished outlining the grand structure of the realm, I took a mont to organize my racing thoughts.

’I see...’ I muttered through the ntal link, carefully processing the heavy influx of information. ’So, in short, Nemure’s royalty stands divided into two primary factions. One side aggressively pushes to wage war and conquer other worlds. The other side prefers to negotiate whenever possible and act strictly according to the shifting situation.’

I paused, letting the massive scale of this multidinsional politics settle in my mind.

’Furthermore, the entire ranking system here relies entirely on bloodline purity,’ I continued, watching her reaction closely. ’And the current ruler is that boy, Xeron, who just returned to the throne after years of deep seclusion. Is that correct?’

Caelia offered a slow, deliberate nod of affirmation. The soft purple light of the room highlighted the ancient sorrow pooling in her vibrant crimson eyes.

’And you belonged to the second faction,’ I transmitted, keeping my ntal tone incredibly gentle. ’Due to a specific incident you prefer to keep hidden for now, a massive fallout occurred. That tragic event directly resulted in your forced expulsion, the disappearance of Cathiel, and your real husband’s... death.’

She lowered her gaze, staring at her pale hands resting on her lap. A profound sadness radiated through our ntal link, washing over my own consciousness.

’Yes,’ she transmitted softly. ’Everything you deduced is entirely accurate. The mory carries imnse pain, causing to keep the finer details locked away for now.’

I nodded slowly, absorbing her confession. A lingering question finally surfaced in my mind, demanding an imdiate answer.

’Then did you know I was soone else from the very beginning? That I was not ’him’?’ I asked, keeping my ntal tone steady and direct. ’If so, why spare my life, conceal my true identity, and act like I was your husband?’

Caelia sighed softly. The sound carried the heavy weight of years spent in absolute isolation.

’I lived in complete solitude for countless years,’ she replied, her crimson eyes reflecting a deep vulnerability. ’The endless isolation caused my mories to blur and fragnt. When you first appeared, you carried our daughter’s aura deeply embedded within your soul. You also possessed the unique ability to withstand my... curse. Your presence simply reminded of him so much that I believed he finally returned.’

She shifted her gaze toward the sleeping Cathiel, a gentle warmth returning to her face.

’But... Although deep down my mind recognized the truth,’ she confessed quietly, her ntal voice trembling slightly. ’I still chose to embrace the illusion...’

’Because... I held absolute faith in his survival,’ she transmitted, her ntal voice carrying a profound, agonizing weight. ’Because... He promised to return to with our daughter. He promised to... He...’

She fell completely silent. Her vibrant crimson eyes lost their focus, drifting away as she imrsed herself in those distant, painful mories.

I stared at her, a heavy wave of complex emotions swelling within my chest. A deep sense of tragedy clearly shrouded their shared past. She had clung desperately to a shattered promise, using my sudden arrival to briefly nd her broken reality.

’...Hmm.’

I also found myself conflicted on how to process her raw confession. A profound sympathy for her imnse loss filled my heart. I held deep respect for the man who sacrificed his life to secure his family’s safety against such overwhelming odds. Furthermore, a heavy wave of pity washed over for little Cathiel, destined to live her life separated from her true father.

Yet, surrendering to these overwhelming emotions offered zero solutions to our current predicant. Wallowing in tragedy provided ager defense against the hostile factions scheming outside these walls. I gently shook my head, forcefully clearing the sorrow from my mind, and shifted my focus toward a highly pressing mystery.

’How exactly did I manage to withstand your condition all this ti?’ I asked through our ntal link, steering the conversation toward our imdiate survival. ’What is the true nature of this terrifying curse anyway?’

As if expecting such a question, Caelia blinked and pulled her consciousness back to the present. She focused her intense crimson gaze on once again.

’My curse targets the soul directly,’ she transmitted, her tone shifting into a quiet, analytical whisper. ’It completely ignores physical forms and actively breaks down the spiritual core of others. The servants earlier possessed fragile artificial constructs, causing their animating energy to simply turn to ash in my presence.’

She slowly extended her hand, pointing her finger gently at .

’But you...’ she paused, a spark of genuine awe flashing in her crimson eyes. ’Your soul possesses a fundantally unique architecture. Your spiritual core perfectly assimilates my energy. It breathes the harsh pressure in, purifying the density and converting it into gentle warmth.’

I absorbed her words carefully, feeling a profound sense of clarity wash over .

’You act as a flawless vessel,’ she continued, dropping her hand back to her lap. ’Your presence creates an absolute equilibrium around . That singular trait makes you the sole existence capable of standing safely by my side.’

Her explanation finally shed light on the grand mystery. My survival relied entirely on this strange spiritual compatibility. A deep realization settled in my mind. But...

’Are you sure it’s not because I am bonded with Cathiel? And it doesn’t affect her, right?’

She gently shook her head.

’No,’ she transmitted, her ntal voice carrying absolute certainty. ’Your bond with my daughter lacks any connection to your immunity. This unique trait belongs entirely to your own spiritual core.’

She then turned her gaze toward the sleeping child on the bed. A warm, maternal light filled her vibrant eyes.

’Rest assured, Cathiel remains completely safe from my aura as well,’ Caelia continued softly. ’Firstly, she shares my direct blood. Secondly, her innate bloodline already surpasses mine in both purity and absolute rank.’

’I see, that’s good then.’

’Mm.’

’Then... Does it affect others? Can you control it?’