"So one of the empire's princes is secretly donating and helping the two dukes? That's serious news" [Dana].
"Silver lining, it's not Prince Rufus. He's a headache to deal with" [Sas].
"Can't say for sure he doesn't know about it. Knowing Prince Rufus, he is probably fully aware of it and just calculating every move. If he thinks it's worth the effort, he would definitely hijack this plan and make it worse for all of us" [Nar].
"That means, whether the two dukes know it or not, they're dragging Amleth to become part of the Empire" [Khamisah].
"This is bad... I heard that the Empire only tolerates humans and only humans. What would happen to Kat and the others..." [Diana]
"Actually, it is not them specifically who do not tolerate the non-human species. It's the Illumination, who have strong roots there, who have that feeling" [Head Maid].
"True. While most of the royalty and nobility there share those beliefs, Prince Rufus isn't even one of them. For him, talents come from all kinds of life, be it human or non-human" [Ledang].
After I help modify the barrier inside the Duke of Prosperity's mansion, Aunt Amleth and Master Merlin immediately get to work. If it weren't for Teliara, JOATMON, and me, who knows how we would have gotten this information. Well, I'm sure they'll find it, they just have to make more of an effort.
Aunt Amleth already knew about the plan to dethrone her a year ago. Nar even said that there was a plan to replace the two dukes, and now that they're planning something terrible, it's the perfect excuse for Aunt Amleth to take them out of the picture and put Miss Eisheth and Miss Akela in. The problem is
"Chaos... I don't even want to imagine it" [Diana].
"Me neither" [Dana]
"You two weren't there before and frankly, I don't want that to happen again" [Khamisah].
"What do you mean?" [Diana]
"The time when Amleth had to take her sword and slaughter her own family and friends..." [Khamisah]
I think I saw it in Ophelia's memories. One of her many memories. I never asked Aunt Amleth about it, but now that I think about it, the three of them weren't best friends... So
"What really happened back then?" [Diana].
"Honestly, we figured it all out, but it wouldn't be wrong to hear it from you" [Sas].
"That if you want to share" [Nar]
"I will share. I think it's for the best for us all to understand it as well. Diana, can you ask Merlin to join us as well" [Khamisah].
"I will take Fie and tell Master Merlin" [Diana].
I take Fie with me and through Fie I tell Master Merlin about us family sitting and discussing this important matter and how Sister Khamisah asked her to be here as well.
"First of all, do you know what a curse is?" [Merlin]
Master Merlin speaks through Fie.
"Something that harms people?" [Dana]
"That's the simplest version, but you're absolutely right. In fact, it's a good place for your sister to start her story, I might add. While a curse is usually negative, it's not the opposite of a blessing." [Merlin]
"Hence the saying that a blessing can also be a curse?" [Diana]
"100 points for my apprentice. The Vars family, I mean the former Vars family, is afflicted with a blessing and a curse at the same time" [Merlin].
"For the blessing, is it the Maleficent Blessing?" [Head Maid]
"Correct again. You were there when Amleth was just a little girl, so I'm sure you know it as well. Do you also know the curse?" [Merlin]
"The curse that plagues this land. It turns everything into barren ground. Turning friends into enemies. Turning the sane into madness. Nothing ever works here. It's a strange curse of unknown origin, and the only one, or rather, the only thing responsible for keeping it at bay was the blessing of the Maleficent, stopping its progression" [Head Maid].
"Maleficent is the dark and time fairy, right? If the Vars family is the one blessed with it, how come Queen Amleth is the one currently blessed with it?" [Dana]
Sister Khamisah chimes in
"Because it is the request of Ophelia Vars herself. She manifested her blessing to be able to summon Maleficent herself" [Khamisah].
"Really!?" [Diana]
This is shocking news! Still...
"It's not the full awakening you were hoping for, darling, but I'll say it's good enough" [Merlin].
"Gosh... Here I'm excited because I'm getting a lead, but it's still a good lead" [Diana].
"And where did the curse come from? THE THING?" [Dana]
"Maleficent and I suspected it at first, but no, it's not related with THE THING, for better or worse. As far as my own research goes, it goes back to after Aru defeated the Devil King" [Merlin].
"That long ago?" [Ledang]
"Yes. It all began with the first king of this land" [Merlin].