Hansel’s Enchanted Fairytale: Fill Me Up With Magic! - Chapter 97
Margaret collapsed to her knees.
Her entire body trembled as if her nerves had shattered. She needed to stay calm—she couldn’t falter now. But the desperation was suffocating, as if she might forget how to breathe any second.
Kneeling, Margaret pressed her forehead to the floor. Tears streamed down her sharp nose and fell.
“You can kill me. But spare my child. I beg you—please.”
Only silence responded. Margaret kept her head bowed for a long time, desperately hoping Hansel wouldn’t break into a loud cry.
“Bu… uhh…”
Hansel began to whimper, restless. Margaret bit her lower lip so hard it drew blood. Hansel, my beloved child. Please, not now.
“Your baby?”
At the soft question, Margaret’s head shot up. Dante was staring at Hansel with curious eyes.
Could it be?
Could there be a shred of compassion for a baby in that being?
Margaret hastily nodded.
“She’s my daughter. My precious, beloved, one and only child.”
“What is love?”
The mechanical, emotionless tone made Margaret swallow hard. She gently rocked the whimpering Hansel, struggling to answer.
“It means to care for someone more than anything. To the point that nothing else matters.”
Something hot and sharp climbed Margaret’s throat. Whatever it took, she had to save Hansel.
“Every mother loves her child like that. Even… even your mother must have felt the same.”
Margaret, as a mother, knew. The maid who had given birth to Dante would not have cursed her child, even as she faced death.
She must have suffered. Pained by the thought of how her child would suffer once he learned the truth. That pain would have been the greater torment.
Margaret had to survive, even if she had to invoke such a tragedy. Because Hansel had to live.
Dante, who had been staring at Margaret, turned his gaze back to Hansel.
“Show me your baby.”
Margaret’s heart dropped.
“If you promise not to hurt her… I’ll show you.”
“Okay.”
The simple answer made Margaret carefully place Hansel on the floor.
Dante didn’t move closer but stayed where he was, observing Hansel. Stressed and restless, Hansel scrunched her face and let out a small whimper.
Dante tilted his head, as if watching an interesting animal. After a long moment, he spoke abruptly.
“Ugly. All wrinkly.”
It was an innocent, unfiltered judgment. Oddly, Margaret felt a slight sense of relief. The fact that he expressed curiosity was, in itself, a positive sign.
Fixing his gaze on Hansel, Dante murmured.
“I need to kill all the mages.”
Margaret’s heart began to race again.
“That’s because you think mages might threaten you again, like they did this time, right? Lord Dante?”
“Yes.”
Even if he was the reincarnation of the First, he was still a five-year-old child. His response was straightforward and innocent.
Perhaps it would be easier than expected to resolve this.
Margaret’s gaze turned cold and resolute. Now was the time to act.
“I’ll make sure no mage can ever threaten you again. Without the Herodts, I am the ruler of the mages. I will ensure that no one can lay a hand on you or my child. In return, you must let us go.”
“What will you do?”
“I will guarantee your territory. The northern forest where the First Herodt lived. Any mage who invades that place is your enemy—kill them as you see fit. But beyond that forest, allow others to live freely.”
“……”
“In return, you must never leave the forest. That way, no one will have to kill each other. You can live peacefully. Just like when you lived alone with your mother.”
Peaceful days.
Just like when you lived alone with your mother.
The words struck Dante’s heart like an arrow.
Margaret spoke gently, as if soothing a child. Even Hansel, who had been whimpering moments ago, grew quieter at her soft tone.
Margaret delivered the final blow.
“Your mother would have wanted that too.”
“……”
“Don’t meet anyone. Live alone, Lord Dante. That is your destiny.”
Dante lowered his eyelids slightly, his long, thick eyelashes casting a crescent shadow.
He seemed to be pondering.
After some time, Dante slowly lifted his eyelids. Margaret could see her reflection in the shimmering crimson of his eyes, and she instinctively held her breath.
“Alright.”
Dante pointed his finger at Hansel.
“But in return, give me your baby.”
“…What?”
Margaret’s voice turned sharp. Perhaps thinking she hadn’t understood, Dante repeated himself, enunciating each word carefully.
“In return, give me your baby.”
“……”
Margaret felt her mind shatter into pieces. No, she had to remain calm. She could reason with him.
Margaret exhaled a shaky breath.
“That’s not possible. I love my child too much to live even a moment apart from her.”
“Is that what love does?”
“Yes. That’s why I can’t grant your request.”
“Okay…”
Dante looked slightly disappointed. His lips puckered, and the soft baby fat on his cheeks shifted slightly.
As if a good idea had struck him, Dante’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Then tell me her name. Your baby’s.”
“……”
“I won’t call her. You said you love her, right?”
Margaret swallowed hard.
Even if she didn’t say it now, he would figure it out with just a little effort. The invitation list from the Arsinoe family would contain her name.
As the lord of the Herodt family, Dante only needed to ask the wolves to reveal everything.
This might even be a test.
Margaret steadied her trembling hands and whispered in an almost inaudible voice.
“Hansel.”
“……”
“My daughter’s name is Hansel.”
At last, the young Dante nodded, satisfied.
Dante, Hansel, and Margaret.
This was the day the three of them first met.
***
I’m sorry, Hansel. I truly am.
You were right. This mother of yours believed you wouldn’t adapt to this society.
I wanted to keep you as far away from Herodt as possible. Because he knew your name.
I thought it was better for you to be somewhere you would be respected without lifting a finger, rather than be scorned for your weakness here. I thought that… was the best path for you.
But I never once stopped loving you.
I’m sorry I never said it.
My beloved daughter, Hansel…
