Le Malheur de Solutide (1)

Within a week, Elroy suddenly became very quiet. Also busy. He's on a "do not disturb, I'm busy" mode, according to a report from Louie. Elroy was focused on one severe matter.

Mariette was left wondering exactly what kind of report Elroy was preparing. He looked like a merchant who would submit a cooperation proposal alone.

At the same time, he looks like a knight preparing for a big war and preparing to die there.

And that made Mariette feel secretly tense. She wasn't prepared for any surprises in Elroy's report.

It's like waiting for something terrible, Mariette thought as she read Elroy's formal invitation. There is a written place and time regarding the application and other attachments.

It has obtained King Vallotton's permission, according to the formal letter. In the attachment, the names of other invitees are written: Count Lavaud, Duke Valent, Sir Valent, and Emmanuele. Elroy openly expressed his disappointment at not being able to invite Louie and Louisa over.

"I was trepidatious when I read it," commented Count Lavaud. "And frankly, His Majesty the King hates reading of Sir Elroy's disappointment."

"Sir Elroy has been rude this time," said Mariette. "But…"

Count Lavaud nodded. "Duke Valent and I also agree that nothing Sir Elroy has to say is anything good."

"There is a high possibility that His Majesty the King will go berserk." Mariette let out a long breath. "Do you think Marquess Gauthier knows about this?"

"Hmm, apparently not. You plan to tell him?"

"Yes. Tomorrow's hearing could threaten Elroy's life or the Gauthier family's reputation. I don't want any clash between the Palace and Gauthier families. They're a strong family. Their loss could impact the politics of the kingdom."

"Take care, My Lady. I also don't want to clash with anyone."

"Yes."

Hope tomorrow goes well.

***

The hearing was deliberately scheduled for the last. And even though Mariette had arrived before the scheduled time, she was the last to arrive. Emmanuele had even come.

The atmosphere in the audience room was taut. It's like an extensive trial to fight over something. Everyone was silent, scared and busy with their own thoughts, including Elroy himself as the opening hearing.

Count Lavaud cleared his throat, then began the hearing. "Sir Elroy Gauthier requests an audience with His Majesty the King regarding the report on the translation of books. The books in question are related to magic and curses—books that are not in Lamamont. They were brought by Sir Anatole Valent."

Mariette could see another strain on Anatole's face. It seemed he already knew the contents of the book.

"Sir Elroy, you may begin your report," Count Lavaud said after a long and tense preamble.

Elroy took time to flash a faint smile at Mariette before he stood up.

The report begins with a presentation about the book that had been read before. The book was in the royal language in the guard castle where he worked. That's where everyone found out where Elroy knew about Mariette's curse.

Elroy took a deep breath. "And this is the book I will report on." Three thin books were in his hands now. "I never asked anyone for help in translating these books. So you can be sure that there is no data leak. At least, until a little while ago," he added, looking at Anatole.

Does this mean I can assume they've made up? Mariette thought. He glanced one at a time at Elroy and Anatole.

"Le Malheur de Solutide,"* said Elroy. The words seemed to echo throughout the room. "That's the name of the curse. The first time it was said by a male wizard who was angry at his daughter, who was more after a man. The daughter left the witch and he swore that his daughter would never get anyone in her life. The father died right after uttering the curse.

*[The Woe of Solitude]

"Meanwhile, the daughter… After successfully chasing the man she adored, all her feelings disappeared. She returned and found her father dead. Again, she felt nothing, including when another man confessed his love to her.

"That's where the questions started. But the daughter felt that she didn't need to bother, until a woman came claiming to be her father's other wife and said… said that the daughter had another sibling from the same father, but with a different mother. A twin."

Elroy paused, looking unsure whether to continue. Mariette began to read the summary that had been distributed earlier. She read slowly, trying to figure out where Elroy had just gone. So did the other audience members. They began to read their summary as if they understood why Elroy was silent.

In summary, it is written:

[As the name implies, Le Malheur de Solutide promises solitude. So the curse can be broken by solitude as well. Those who have been born and cherish each other must be killed by casting a counter spell to return (give) all the soul and life that it had before.]

The first to make a sound was Anatole.

He stood up so quickly that he knocked over his chair, then stopped King Vallotton from drawing his sword. Count Lavaud helps Anatole by holding the other King Vallotton's hand. Elroy immediately knelt before King Vallotton. Duke Valent approached Elroy and Emmanuele immediately stood up to protect Mariette.

And Mariette…

Mariette froze in her place. She didn't know what to do with it.

"You told me to kill my children to release the curse?!"

"With all due respect, Your Majesty. I am simply presenting a report from the book. There was no intention—"

"No way! Is this the reason you approached my children?!"

"Your Majesty! Prince Louie himself invited Sir Elroy here. So there's no way—"

"What?! Now you're on his side, Count Lavaud?!"

"I didn't say that, Your Majesty. Please calm down."

Mariette could only see the fight—the chaos. King Vallotton continues to rebel and his people try to calm him down. While the firelighter was still kneeling in front of the king, as if he was begging for something.

No, don't, Mariette thought.

The sound of a sword drawing was loud. Everyone in the room screamed at once, except for Mariette. It wasn't that she didn't scream, she just didn't have time to.

Because before everyone knew it, Mariette had been impaled by King Vallotton's sword.