Chapter 182

Chapter 182

Translator: Yonnee

—

Earlier, after he had finished his discussion with Liam and Schubert, Albert opened the bag that Jung-in had used before.

And he found a platinum bracelet that Jung-in had prepared for him, along with a letter she wrote.

As though to latch onto a trace of her presence, he held the bracelet tightly in his hand and looked at the book of ancient magic next to it.

The tome contained such powerful spells that even legendary archmages wouldn’t easily try them.

Inside the tome, Albert found a spell that could give form to a soul.

The period it could hold was only one month, and the soul given a form could only be seen by one person. However, even with these limitations, it was enough.

One month was enough time to find and return her to her original state.

Back in the office, he inscribed the spell onto the bracelet and called Jung-in, but she did not appear.

If she had seen him inscribe the spell into the bracelet, she would have surely gravitated towards it.

So, thinking that she would have followed Rosé Artius if she wasn’t with him, he headed to Rosé’s room, but no one was there.

Then, the only place he could think about was the tower.

Just in time, Mercy had contacted him.

Rosé Artius went to the tower.

And it was while he was flying to the tower that Blanc began to cry. After that, he met Mercy and flew all the way here to face Rosé.

With a smile, Albert asked.

“Do you vow that you wouldn’t kill her?”

“As long as you enter the contract, Prince.”

Rosé agreed quickly. Albert’s eyes were narrowed.

That woman’s gaze was so full of murderous intent just now. Would she truly keep her word that she wouldn’t kill Jung-in if he would enter a contract with her?

In any case, ever since he appeared, it seemed like Rosé’s interest had shifted from the magic circle and to the contract.

Truthfully, Albert could not fathom why Rosé was so obsessed with him.

With a strained expression, Albert spoke once more with a languid tone.

“Then, I’ll enter that contract. So just stop and come take my hand.”

“……”

“Have I ever lied?”

Albert offered a hand to Rosé.

The corners of her lips slowly tugged up. Entirely delighted as if she had been waiting for this moment, the joy painting Rosé’s features made her look innocent for the first time ever.

The light of the magic circle faded away.

Walking out of the blood-colored magic circle, Rosé gingerly placed her hand over Albert’s and grasped it.

She held on tight as if she would never again let go. All of her attention was on Albert and Albert alone.

Right then—

As Mercy had been hiding in the woods until now, she raised her wand and wielded a spell. It was the same, powerful illusion spell that she had cast over Rosé, making her panic.

But the spell did not reach Rosé. Rather, it was repelled.

“…What?”

Mercy could not understand what just happened.

Just as Albert, flustered, was about to wrench his hand away, Rosé wrapped her arms around him tightly. Grimly, she murmured.

Her expression was completely devoid of any emotion.

“I knew it. You also tell lies, Prince.”

“……”

“I truly cannot trust anyone. The Marquis taught me one thing right… that no one could possibly love me.”

As soon as she said these words, the magic circle began to glow yet again. Rosé whispered to Albert.

“It’s a magic circle that I made with half of my lifespan. After all, a price needs to be paid when hexing a soul.”

“……”

“If I can’t be happy, then I hope, Prince, that you may stay miserable as well.”

At that moment, Albert could not hide his pure hatred for Rosé. How could he smile at someone who wished to ruin his life?

Albert threw Rosé off of him in an instant. Rosé collapsed helplessly.

And Albert realized.

The magic circle did not disappear. It’s just that it was waiting for the hex to be completed.

“I don’t want anyone else to see your smile!”

Rosé shrieked, then shouted the hex.

“VANISH!”

It was the magic spell that would make a target disappear.

Once activated, it wasn’t possible to counteract the effects of black magic with another spell. Even so, Albert shouted a spell with all his might.

The glow of the blood-colored magic circle began to fade.

The black magic was so powerful as it had been infused with lifeforce, but Albert’s strength was enormous as well.

If he couldn’t stop the spell that had already been activated, then he would erase it.

Gnashing his teeth together, he focused everything on the magic circle.

However, the hex with lifeforce powering it was much stronger than he had thought.

“It’s no use, Prince.”

In the background, Rosé cackled.

Then, he heard a voice he didn’t know.

“Albert, I’m still alive!”

Right now, there was only one person who called him Albert.

Unconsciously, he turned his head towards the direction of the voice, and he was faced with the place where Blanc and the bracelet should be.

The voice sounded strangely familiar.

However, the voice’s owner was not there.

Neither were Blanc and the bracelet. That spot was empty, as if they both had never been there in the first place.

Blanc and Jung-in had disappeared.

* * *

When I came to my senses, I saw Albert and Rosé, confronting each other. Rosé was in Albert’s arms.

I felt remorseful towards Albert. Anyone could tell that he was only keeping up an act to appease Rosé and lower her guard.

Hurriedly, I went to Blanc’s side. He was writhing and screaming—it was exactly what I saw in the nightmare.

“What should I do…”

Blanc was suffering because of Rosé’s hex.

With despair clouding my gaze as I looked at Blanc, I found a glowing object next to him.

“…What’s this?”

After looking at it closely, I realized that it was the platinum bracelet that I had prepared as a gift to Albert.

He wouldn’t have brought this here for no reason. I then reached out towards the bracelet.

And as soon as I touched it, my transparent body took form again. I was no longer translucent, and as I moved my hand, I could see my skin more clearly. I was overwhelmed with emotions.

I can see myself! The first thing I did was shout to Albert at the top of my lungs.

“Albert, I’m still alive!”

But the moment I said this, I got sucked into an unknown place along with Blanc.

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