The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 125
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
They, who already knew the true identity of Nidhogg, the creature that had summoned the gate and the monsters. And they were aware that Igmeyer himself would one day bear…. that same burden of eons.
Those around him revered him, just like the butler.
They understood that if he sought out the means to eliminate Nidhogg, he would certainly succeed in reviving the North. Or, if he couldn’t find it and the heir grew up, he would eventually become the next Nidhogg and sustain the North himself.
“Throw the corpse into the forest. We’ll return to the castle immediately.”
“Yes.”
The black scales on Igmeyer’s cheeks and the horns on his forehead slowly dissipated like smoke as he mounted his horse.
“Swear to keep silent about what you’ve seen and heard here today. The secrets of this land must not leak anywhere.”
Having received the knights’ oaths, Igmeyer nodded and took the reins.
The High Priest would be declared missing.
The priests he had expelled would not speak kindly of him, so the matter would likely be settled adequately.
All that remained was to kick the prince back to the capital.
* * *
“Pick the pretty mushrooms, the delicious, pretty, cute, sweet mushrooms.”
Today, the weather had been alternating between rain and clear spells. When it rained, the downpour was quite heavy, washing away the soil and making the path anything but pleasant.
Even the most ardent lover of walks would avoid going outside in such conditions, but Iona skipped along the forest path with ease.
“Oh, mushrooms!”
Unaware that the pretty-colored mushrooms were poisonous, Iona eagerly picked them up with her bare hands. This was a sign that her mind was starting to break down.
However, no one was paying any attention to Iona, so no one knew about her condition.
“I need to make them even prettier…”
As Iona hummed to herself, her foot slipped, and she fell hard, twisting her ankle. She picked herself up, hugging the book tightly, and hobbled along.
‘If I bring this to her, she will accept me again. She will cherish me. She will let me live in the castle.’
Iona’s thoughts had now reached a state bordering on madness—or perhaps outright frenzy.
The actions of a mad person follow no rules.
Dragging her injured ankle, Iona stumbled and fell, then got up and ran again… and then.
In an instant, she lost her footing.
“……!”
Her body was airborne in the blink of an eye.
Thud!
Iona’s head struck a rock, and she collapsed, unable to move.
“Ah, no…”
Blood began to spread from the puddle where she lay. With her vision blurring, Iona slowly closed and then opened her eyes.
She could clearly feel the encroaching death, yet she did not let go of the book she held tightly.
‘I must deliver it… Here, with perfume…’
Ah, but.
She hadn’t even had a chance to spray the perfume yet.
What to do…?
Chapter 6. Dilemma
Amber’s slender wrist moved gracefully.
The brush she held danced freely across the canvas, yet the painting emerging was starkly at odds with her enthusiastic demeanor.
“Good afternoon, Madam. Once again, you’re painting without fail today.”
“Hello, Madam!”
The knights greeted Amber as they passed through the garden. Amber nodded in response and refocused on her painting.
It was a peaceful day.
Since the day Igmeyer had gone hunting in the Yolkie Forest, the High Priest had been missing.
Amber had a rough idea of what might have happened but did not ask deeply. If he wanted to tell her, he would.
Remarkably, neither the palace nor the church had held anyone accountable for the High Priest’s disappearance.
The priests expelled from the North previously, unable to get help from the High Priest in a critical moment, hated Igmeyer as much as they hated Mikael.
Although Mikael’s family had created a commotion about sending an investigation team, Igmeyer had firmly stated that they should not expect a warm welcome. So, the investigation team did come, but they had to return with little to show for it.
All the Northerners were uncooperative, and there was no guide to provide directions. They knew nothing about the monsters. It was honestly a miracle they returned alive.
Prince Loki, on the other hand, had returned to the capital much more quietly than expected.
It seemed that Igmeyer had said something to Loki at the end, but Amber couldn’t decipher what it was. Regardless, Loki did not protest his confinement.
In any case, peace had returned to the palace.
Days passed, and Amber grew increasingly anxious as Nora showed no sign of returning.
It had been quite some time since Nora was sent off, yet there was no news. Why was there not even a single letter?
Amber was worried that something might have happened, but she continued to maintain a calm exterior, pretending not to be troubled. She tried to keep herself busy with painting and staying composed.
‘But where could Iona have gone?’
On the day the High Priest disappeared, Iona had also vanished.
