The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 130
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
Amber could imagine how devastated her mother must have been after losing her. She realized that this despair had given rise to the Blessing of Regret.
By bringing her back to life, her mother had corrected her regrets, and that blessing had carried on to the present.
“So… does that mean the time when I died hasn’t completely vanished? It still exists somewhere?”
“Yes. If I may share what this old woman knows, this world is actually woven from three pillars.”
“Three pillars?”
“Yes. Each of these pillars contains a different self. However, one can only be aware of one at a time. The Blessing of Regret essentially allows the awareness of the self to shift from one pillar to another. That’s how it can be explained.”
It wasn’t an easy concept, but it wasn’t completely incomprehensible either. It just felt strange since it was the first time she had heard it.
“So, my past—the time before I was brought back—has been engraved on the first pillar, but since my current self has moved to the second pillar, it feels like that story has vanished?”
“Exactly. That’s what I’ve heard. It’s similar to seeing moonlight reflected on a lake or sunlight breaking into shimmering patterns… Occasionally, perceptive individuals can catch glimpses of these recorded stories.”
So, that’s why Igmeyer sees things in his dreams?
If that’s the case, it made sense. He wasn’t an ordinary person, so perhaps he was affected by the records of the pillars.
Though this was just a theory, it was the only explanation she had.
“By the way, Princess, speaking about the Blessing of Regret poses no problems. After all, it is indeed a blessing.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It would be strange if something problematic arose from a blessing.”
Grandmother Linda smiled, pressing her wrinkled lips together.
Amber blinked, thinking, ‘That makes sense.’
“Did Mother ever talk to Father about it?”
“The Queen did not. She bore it alone.”
“I see…”
“She likely feared that if the story spread, it might be misused. She would rather die than let anything happen to her precious daughter, the princess… always worried that it might stir trouble.”
At Grandmother Linda’s explanation, Amber gasped, “Ah.”
That was it. That was why she was feeling conflicted now.
If it wouldn’t matter to speak up, she wanted to confide in him.
But what if it only made things worse?
Wouldn’t it be better to confess when the moment really came?
‘What if I say something foolish and make the situation worse?’
After all the effort she put into improving her relationship with her husband and with the Northerners…
‘I’m scared. There’s no second chance.’
Had she ever felt this terrified of losing what she held in her hands?
Just the thought of losing everything made her body tremble.
“Don’t be too frightened, young princess. Life is long, and even if you fall, you can get back up and keep walking.”
Having lost her sight, Grandmother Linda’s other senses had sharpened, and she quickly sensed Amber’s distress and patted her hand.
“Oh dear, I’m getting forgetful with age.”
“Huh?”
“I had something for you… I wrapped it up in this bundle.”
A bundle?
Wiping her eyes, Amber spotted the dark brown bundle at Linda’s feet. It blended in with the chair’s color, so she hadn’t noticed it right away.
“Open it, princess. Inside, there’s an old book.”
“This is it.”
“As far as I know, it’s the only book about the Blessing of Regret. The late Queen Mother gave it to me, perhaps having foreseen the future… and now it’s being passed to you.”
Amber gazed at the old book and Grandmother Linda, then gently embraced her now smaller frame.
“Thank you, Grandmother. You’ve come all this way. Please rest well.”
“I’m not sure if I can… My strength doesn’t seem to return. Perhaps this is where I will close my eyes.”
Grandmother Linda’s expression, as she said this, looked remarkably peaceful.
Amber felt a sudden urge to hold her tightly, yet she couldn’t bring herself to apply pressure, instead just patting her dry back.
“You can stay as long as you like. Even if it means staying here forever…”
“Well, if the Princess faces any troubles, you can come visit my grave and share your burdens. This old woman secretly looks forward to that joy.”
It was a sharp joke, the kind only someone close to death could make.
Amber could neither laugh nor cry; she simply cherished the embrace with Grandmother Linda.
For a long, long time.
It was a day filled with mixed emotions.
