It was sudden.

“—Which is more important to you, me or your research?”

At that time, I was engrossed in my research on miasma.

Due to the miasma, monsters were becoming more violent. As a result, the number of epidemic　outbreaks was gradually increasing in various places. Besides, I was sure that we’d be ordered to discover a way to quell the miasma soon.

“Hmm… Right now, the research?”

I answered while weighing it.

Sure, the life of the crown prince was important, but what about the lives of the tens of billions of citizens? …Sorry, but no matter how precious an individual life was, I believed in the majority. Or rather, was it selfish of me to want him to be rational on this matter? He was such an important figure…

Lately, I heard rumors that His Highness was always seen with a woman.

I heard she was a baron’s daughter, but… well, who was I to speak? I used to be an orphan. I’d be grateful if His Highness could spend his free time with me, though.

Actually, if you have time, why don’t you help me out?

“Anyway, could you take a look at this report? I’m close to being able to make a device that’ll stop the miasma that’s seeping out of the earth’s veins. However, doing so could cause the natural system to collapse and lead to more frequent volcanic activity—”

“—Enough!”

Oh, he left without even glancing at my report…

Was he that busy? I should’ve been more considerate of his hectic schedule and wrote it more carefully…

“Well, I guess I’ll just do it on my own, then.”

The situation wasn’t dire yet, so I should be able to make it on time even if I did it on my own.

My guess was right. About six months later, the Magic Associated asked me to carry out a top-priority research project due to an emergency. By that time, I had almost completed all of my research, and even prepared a report detailing all the possible medical applications of miasma recycling.

Since stopping the miasma completely would have a negative impact on the environment, we decided to evacuate the area for a while. In the meantime, we prepared a magic circle to reduce the miasma concentration. Over the course of the several hundred years, the environment should return to its original state.

For the time being, I decided to report this to Prince Shuel. I also asked him to let me know if there were any errors in the report.

But he said.

“—You treacherous wench!”

“Eh?”

“Even though you can stop the miasma, you’re going to let it be?! And you’re even going to use it to treat the human body?! There’s no way I can report something like that to the people!”

“Wait?! In the report, I clearly explained—”

Then, there was a ripping sound.

The report I had spent over half a year completing was torn.

It’d be easy to fix… but I was so shocked that I froze for a moment, and then…

“Guards! Capture this woman! Such an incorrigible villain as her! She wants to use the entire nation for her own research!”

◆

To this day, I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.

Why did Prince Shuel suddenly say something like that?

Even after 800 years, the pain in my heart from that time still hadn’t gone away, so much so that  I still dreamed about it.

It was still dark outside. Cecily showed no signs of waking up.

“I worked hard on my research… and yet…”

In reality, the world was still peaceful even 800 years later.

In fact, isn’t it more peaceful now…?

It was as if—as if it’d had been better if Nora Noz didn’t exist in this world.

“I wish I had never woken up…”

“Shall we go for a night stroll, then?”

A voice came from outside the window.

The window shook with the sound of a knock. With a wry smile, I opened it.

There, a ladies’ man smiled, narrowing his eyes.

“Didn’t I tell you not to barge into a woman’s room?”

“I didn’t. I knocked.”

“On the window, though.”

Eivind Dahl extended his hand without any sign of remorse.

“Let’s go. I had trouble falling asleep today too, so I wanted someone to play with.”

“What would you have done if I were asleep?”

“Wake the Sleeping Beauty up with a kiss.”

I didn’t like his smug look, so I pinched his nose as hard as I could.

“I won’t give Cecily’s first kiss to someone like you.”

“Oh, so that’s how you’re going to interpret it?”

“If you want me to keep it a secret from Cecily, buy me some ice cream.”

I put on a suitable cardigan and was about to leave through the window.

“Don’t I always?” Eivind said with a bitter smile, grabbing my hand.  “With pleasure, my queen.”

---

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***T/N: No science, we love sorcery

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