Bab 20: The Truth That Was Never Shown In The Novel
"…what?"
Neo was dumbfounded.
Elizabeth explained to him.
Her sister lived in secrecy.
No one knew she even existed.
Her sole purpose was to replace Elizabeth if she was assassinated.
The heirs of Mermaid Country had been assassinated countless times when the country refused other nations' demands in the past.
The practice of having a hidden heir came into existence due to it.
"My sister didn't like a life like that and ran away. After her disappearance, my parents grew, well, let's just say my life became not so good anymore.
"I was married to a prince of another country and had to live with them.
"He never loved me."
She chuckled.
"Turned out he liked men. To hide the secret, I had to undergo insemination.
"I gave birth to Clara and Paul."
As he heard her, his mind was thrown into chaos.
Amelia was her sister's daughter?
Clara and Paul were her children?
It sounded like nonsense.
However, a lot of things made sense.
It explained why she would take care of two orphans so much and why was hurt when Clara and Paul tried to kill her.
They were her actual children, not just adopted.
Thinking logically, since Amelia looked similar to her, and no one knew Elizabeth's sister's existence, she had no choice but to act as if Amelia was her daughter.
"When the pirates attacked the ship, my sister returned with Amelia.
"She defeated the pirates, and gave me the Tremor-ranked Spell and Amelia, saying she was on a run and had to leave as her life was in danger.
"She asked me to protect Amelia before she left."
After explaining everything, she looked at Neo to know what he thought about her life.
This was the first time she told someone about it.
There was a single thought in his mind.
What the fuck in abracadabra shit was this?
Was why something so important never explained in the novel?!
'…Maybe the author planned to reveal this during the final arc.'
Neo calmed down after reaching a conclusion.
"Why are you telling me all this? I don't care about your past."
His words made Elizabeth freeze.
A downcast expression appeared on her face.
"Right, why would anyone care about me?"
She returned to her Tyrant Queen demeanor.
"I don't want to live. Leave. I have no intention of giving my curse to you—"
"No, I won't leave you." He stared at her with a determined gaze. "You won't die as long as I'm here."
If she died, Neo would be in deep shit.
And she had to give him the Tremor-ranked Spell and the replica of Poseidon's Trident.
"What…? You just said you don't care about me and now you don't want me to die? Are you making fun of me?"
A terrifying pressure descended.
"Don't overstep your boundaries, kin of Death."
Her chilling voice sent shivers down his spine.
However, he maintained his stance.
"I'm not making fun of you.
"It's you who are making a mockery of yourself.
"What are you trying to achieve by telling me about your past?
"You just want someone to acknowledge you."
Elizabeth flinched as if he had hit the nail on the head.
He continued.
"Does your life have meaning only if others say you are important?
"No.
"Stop trying to look at others for support.
"You and only you can determine the value of your life."
He stood before her and looked down at her.
"Not me, not my acknowledgement, and… not your children."
"That's easy for you to say!"
Elizabeth clenched her fist and let go of her mask for the Tyrant.
She screamed from the depth of her heart.
"No one wants me to live! They curse at me every day as if I'm a blight on their life! Even my children think it's better if I die!"
"Not everyone."
Neo answered with a calm tone.
"I, for one, want you to live.... and Amelia too."
He added,
"Did you know, after Amelia first met me, she thought I would kill her?
"But when the slightest chance appeared, she tried to take the Divine Water pond to save you, even if that put her life in danger."
Elizabeth lowered her face.
Her shoulders shook.
"She loves you."
"But I am a Tyrant."
"She knows it and I know it too."
Silence descended between the two.
Only the noise of the sea and Elizabeth's hiccups continued.
Tears dripped onto the sandy beach.
"I... I'm not crying."
"I don't see any tears."
"A Tyrant never cries."
"Is that so?"
"If you tell anyone what happened here, I'll imprison you and torture you."
"Sounds painful."
He smiled.
"Does that mean you are ready to leave with me?"
She wiped her tears but didn't look up.
"…Hold my hand if you want to leave together," she said.
He followed her words.
"I don't care what happens to you after you take my curse."
"…"
"Even if you die, it's your fault."
"…"
Just as they were about to disappear, he heard a small whisper.
"Thank you…"
She raised her head and smiled at him.
It wasn't scary like her usual smiles.
Her smile was lovely.
…
Neo woke up with a groan.
Not much time passed since he lost consciousness.
The hours he spent with Elizabeth in the dreamscape were mere moments in reality.
"—what's happening to you?"
"Stop shouting," he ordered, irritated.
"A-ah, I thought you were about to lose consciousness."
"You don't need to think. Just do what you are told."
Clara clenched her fists.
Her nails dug into her palms, but she did not talk back.
Suddenly, the purple veins on Elizabeth's body wriggled.
They moved towards her arm and seeped into Neo's arm as he held her hand.
"The curse is transferring! She let go of it!" Clara exclaimed.
Neo grunted.
The pain was beyond anything he imagined.
He felt he was skinned alive and dipped into salt water.
She had been enduring this for days?
He shuddered.
His skin cracked, revealing purple veins, and his body rapidly deteriorated.
He felt someone grabbing his hand.
Raising his eyes, he noticed Elizabeth looking at him with a stone-cold gaze.
She looked calm, but the warmth of her hand revealed her worries.
Elizabeth tried to sit, but Neo stopped her.
"R-rest. Don't worry, these two won't do a-anything to you."
His lips turned black and his nails started to fall off.
It didn't take long for him to lose his eyesight and hearing.
"I… I'll back."
Neo tried to smile, only to fail miserably.
It made her heart ache.
"D-don't forget. I'm Immortal."
He went limp in her hands.
Elizabeth had no choice but to believe his words.
Because she did not think she could forgive herself if he never woke up again.
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