The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 145
Her heart raced, and her breathing quickened.
Yet the fact that this wasn’t the end only pushed Amber deeper into despair.
“The reason I gathered everyone today is not just to revisit what you all already know, but also to share something entirely new.”
“Something entirely new?”
Everyone turned their attention to the young Grand Duke.
His lips tightened, and he hesitated, opening and closing his mouth several times. When he finally spoke, Amber was plunged into an even greater shock.
This time, it felt as if the ground beneath her was crumbling away.
“If the Grand Duchess becomes pregnant, the offspring of Niflheim can… become a sacrifice.”
“Excuse me?”
“This is something she only told me, so even my father doesn’t know.”
The previously silent young Grand Duke sighed heavily and stood up, pacing nervously.
“They say that if Nidhogg— the evil dragon— kills the child with the blood of Niflheim and its mother, it will gain not the power of destruction but the power to preserve life.”
“…!”
“It’s said that it will transform from an evil dragon into a benevolent one, bringing eternal spring to the North.”
Could this all be a dream? Perhaps she had misunderstood.
Did they mean they would kill a child to bring about spring?
Amber stumbled, nearly collapsing from the strain in her legs.
Forcing herself to hold on, she bit her lower lip and gasped for breath.
Fragments of memories she thought she had forgotten resurfaced.
The evil dragon she had to confront while pregnant. Those hellish moments. The baby that hadn’t even kicked inside her. My baby.
‘If that’s the case… then what that ultimately means is…’
The current Nidhogg was the previous Grand Duke.
The grandfather was trying to kill his own grandchild.
Spring.
To bring spring to this land.
“But… that is an utterly horrifying thing to do,” an older retainer murmured heavily.
“Even if such a method exists… No, it shouldn’t be done.”
“That’s right. We must not abandon our humanity, Your Grace.”
“I agree. We can’t trust everything the witch says. Even a good witch is still a witch.”
“The witch’s descendants have been hunted for so long because they know of such terrible sorceries. We cannot trust them.”
Fortunately, everyone unanimously said no. If anyone had suggested otherwise, Amber felt she would have shattered right then and there.
‘What’s wrong is wrong. What’s not right cannot be accepted.’
She understood.
When spring arrives in this barren land, the snow will melt.
Fields can be tilled, and even if meager, food production will become possible.
People would live more gently and warmly than before.
Like in the capital. Like in Shadroch.
‘But… no. What about the ski event?’
To abandon humanity in such a way seemed to fall under the scenarios from numbers three to five on the parchment.
If the North were to be so utterly destroyed that regeneration was impossible, then yes. Bringing spring and changing the seasons would be the only option.
But… but.
‘Ah…’
Too much information flooded in, and a strong migraine set in. Clutching her head, Amber squeezed her eyes shut and bit her tongue.
She felt nauseous.
As she tried to process everything, she found it unbearable to endure in a clear state of mind.
‘How could this happen… Did Igmeyer know all along?’
Even as she asked, she ultimately answered herself.
He must have known. There was no way he couldn’t have.
‘Ah… that’s why. That’s why he didn’t want children.’
If this child were born, the curse would activate immediately.
It was an unbreakable curse.
However… the thought of erasing the baby was unimaginable.
‘No, no. It’s not certain yet. It’s just suspicion.’
She wouldn’t cry.
For some reason, tears kept welling up, but it was okay. She would be fine. Everything would be fine…
Amber repeated these affirmations to herself, clenched her fists, and then rubbed her eyes.
Moments later, the surroundings began to shimmer.
It didn’t seem to be due to her tears.
‘Ah, so now I’m leaving the book.’
Hands that appeared from somewhere lifted her up. Their touch was more respectful than when she was brought in.
A moment later, Amber inhaled the refreshing scent of the forest deeply into her lungs.
As she slowly lifted her eyelids, Raphael came into view.
“Are you alright, Madam? You disappeared and then suddenly reappeared.”
“Did I disappear…?”
“Yes, for a brief moment…”
It felt like she had spent a considerable amount of time within the book, but if he was saying it was just a moment, then only a few minutes must have passed in reality.
Regaining her composure, Amber stood up with Raphael’s help.
Although she felt quite dizzy, that wasn’t the most important thing now.
Amber knew exactly what she needed to do next.
“I need to go see Nicholas. I think something might be wrong with my health.”
“I will escort you.”
Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t be strange to seek out a doctor.
Amber moved forward, neither rushing nor dragging her feet.
