(EP-340.2) Of Hearts #9
340 – Queen of Hearts # 9
A dark and gloomy hall.
Torches flickered on both sides of the red carpet, casting eerie shadows. Beyond them, swords and spears stood embedded like a wall of sharp thorns.
And at the center was a throne.
Seated upon it was a woman dressed in black. One leg crossed over the other, her chin resting on a hand, while both eyes closed in thought.
Like a black rose blooming amidst a bed of blades.
A true flower of evil—
Every cell in my body scread that this was the Aira of this world. Was this Aira Von Tarantera before she t ?
Ssuk-.
Her black eyes looked like they were going to open, so Mirna and I hurriedly lowered our heads. But we could still see her reflection in the polished marble floor.
Then, her lips parted, and a single word was spoken.
“Leave.”
Her cold, decisive voice echoed through the hall. The sheer rejection and disdain carried in that word felt almost like a spell, striking directly at one’s heart.
A voice so frigid it could extinguish any love a thousand years strong…
While Mirna and I were taken aback, Elga rely shrugged as if she had expected this.
“You’re in quite the foul mood. Had a bad dream? You only ever make that tragic heroine face when you’ve had one.”
To speak so casually with this thorn-covered queen… Elga’s courage was truly impressive.
As expected, there was no one better as the queen’s cousin.
Perhaps her words had so effect, as Aira’s reflection on the marble floor trembled slightly.
“… A dream. You’re right. I had a long, long dream. But this ti, it was different. A rather amusing, dull, and drowsy dream.”
“Amusing? Then why are you so angry?”
“So, Elga, why did you co here? Get to the point.”
Srrng.
A sword embedded beside her throne floated into the air. If things went south, she’d definitely throw that towards Elga. The current Aira I knew wouldn’t do sothing like that.
It seed Aira, like Elga, had no mories. Lost in this vivid dream, she truly believed she was the queen who once ruled the throne with fear years ago.
At that mont, Elga spread her hands open.
“It’s almost your birthday. So I brought you a present. These guys. They’ll keep you entertained.”
Suk.
Elga gave us a push on the waist. However, Mirna hesitated, seemingly stiffened by Aira’s coldness.
“You fear . Why is that?”
Aira’s eyes narrowed.
Feeling the need to do sothing, I stepped forward and bowed.
“My na is Theo Gospel, Aira-nim.”
“Theo Gospel. An orphan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“There are many orphans in the kingdom. Is that why? Your na sounds familiar. So, Theo, what can you do?”
“Anything to please the Queen.”
“Hmph, I’ve seen plenty of flatterers like you. Do you know what beca of them~?”
“Their tongues were cut, or their eyes got gouged out. But Aira-nim should know that I’m different from those nobodies.”
“Hmm… You know well. Then lift your head.”
At Aira’s command, I raised my head.
And finally, I locked eyes with this world’s Aira.
Eyes as dark as ink. A depthless abyss lurking within them.
Yeah, when we first t, you were just like this.
Aira smiled faintly. There was only a slight crescent on her lips, but that alone held enough power to seduce a man.
“You’re the first man to look at without flinching….”
I felt like I’d heard these words before.
But what she said next was sothing entirely new to .
“However… You are lying to , the queen of all people. Your very existence is filled with lies. This is my first ti eting soone like you. No, can I even call you human in the first place?”
“What do you an?”
“You’d best not feign ignorance. My clairvoyance sees beyond form and illusion, any truths or lies. Now, I ask again—who are you?”
I couldn’t answer right away because an unexpected revelation had just entered my mind.
“If you won’t answer, I’ll open your head and see for myself.”
“…….”
‘Clairvoyance.’
That must be the sa mysterious skill the Demon King once possessed. It was said that its wielder could see through all lies and even reach the ultimate truth.
My skill 《Farsight》might be an inferior copy or perhaps an earlier evolution stage of it.
But I had never heard of Aira having such a thing. Did that an she had seen through every single one of my lies and stories from the very beginning?
No, that wasn’t important right now.
Sssk—
Aira’s long black hair bristled to either side like the legs of a spider. That could only an one thing—a signal for battle.
“Everyone, prepare to fight!”
After warning the others, I quickly began chanting a spell. At the sa ti, the sword floating midair shot toward , faster than any arrow fired by an archer.
Sheeek-!
Normally, that blade would have pierced my neck. If this were two years ago, when I had no abilities, that was exactly what would have happened. But now, things were different.
Clang-!
The sword Aira had hurled struck my mana shield and was deflected. Aira furrowed her brows slightly and tilted her head.
“You blocked my sword.”
“Surprised? It seems having clairvoyance doesn’t an you can see through everything.”
“…….”
Was that right? It didn’t really matter.
“You asked who I am. To be honest, I’m not so sure myself anymore. But one thing I’ve never forgotten is what I must do.”
Who I was would be defined by what I did. In that sense, I knew exactly who I needed to be.
Back then and even now.
In dreams or in reality.
There has always been only one thing I must do.
“—Aira Von Tarantera.”
I would save you.
There was no falsehood in this feeling.
Edit by: faker
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