The memory of torture felt like a dream, or perhaps this very moment was the dream.
But Marin knew clearly.
That all of it was reality.
And how she had to burn the life she miraculously saved.
Marin immediately got up.
The room she was lying in was not a maid's room.
It was much larger and more luxurious. She would have admired it before, but now she didn't notice it at all.
She approached the maid's uniform hanging on the wall as if telling her her mission without hesitation.
After changing into the maid's uniform, she looked in the mirror for a moment.
Other figures flashed over her reflection in the mirror.
A young beggar begging for food.
A criminal who made a living as a petty thief.
A discarded item who even ended the breath of a colleague who ate with her to survive, but still couldn't survive to the end.
And a traitor.
Her appearance with countless labels flashed by.
And the last thing left was...
Marin's eyes widened.
After putting a hood on her head, she left the room.
Now the only role left in her life was one.
Lucia's maid.
No other labels are needed anymore.
The room Marin woke up in was right next to Lucia's room.
That's why it was strangely luxurious.
Standing in front of Lucia's room, Marin took a deep breath in and out.
And.
Knock knock.
"Lady, it's Marin. I'm coming in."
The ritual site was away from the white building.
It wasn't too far, so it took 10 minutes by carriage.
I admired as I entered the building called 'Ritual Place'.
'It's a strange structure.'
It had a wide and low semi-circular structure, and what was special was that the ceiling was blocked with glass.
So even though it was inside a building, the sky was clearly visible, so I felt like I was outdoors.
'It's like an arena.'
I was reminded of the old arena I saw in a book.
That arena also had such an open ceiling.
An arena...
Pfft.
A chuckle escaped.
'It suits me well.'
Because struggling to survive is the same.
Of course, it's limited to me only.
Everyone was already gathered at the ritual site.
The audience was seated on chairs installed in a circle along the wall, watching this place.
Banshees and Miracle, who came first, were waiting at the entrance.
When they found me, Banshees seemed quite happy for some reason, and Miracle was...
"Welcome, Lucia. Did you sleep well?"
She smiled brightly and held out her hand.
I couldn't find any signs of tension in that appearance.
I looked at the outstretched hand and grabbed it.
"So so."
I immediately took my hand away.
And I moved my gaze to the other side.
'Duke Ego Rodbel.'
The Duke was sitting on the platform on the other side.
Sitting in the highest place and looking down was like an emperor or a god.
As he stood up, the surroundings that had been whispering became quiet in an instant.
Under the heavy silence, his voice echoed.
"I will start the Rodbel's direct line ritual."
His gaze turned this way.
Even though it was a long distance, I could feel his eyes scanning us.
Soon the event announcing the start of the ritual proceeded.
The selected Rodbel knights gathered and showed off their sword dance.
When this event was over, the next was the recitation of the declaration, which was the core of the ritual.
I quietly watched the event proceed.
By the way...
"Huff, huff. D-don't be nervous. This is nothing! Huh? I said don't be nervous."
Banshees, who shouted that, seemed the most nervous.
Well, it can't be helped.
'Because it's the first order.'
The ritual proceeds in order of age.
That's why Banshees looked unusually anxious.
He bit his nails and didn't know what to do, which was unlike the usual arrogant Banshees.
Is there any reason to be so nervous?
Of course, I'm also nervous, but what should I say?
'Compared to what I've experienced so far, this is nothing.'
To put it bluntly, I even threatened the Duke, so would it be a big deal to perform a ritual in front of people.
However, Banshees was different.
"D-don't be nervous. It's a proud moment! Cough, cough!"
He coughed, perhaps because he suddenly got choked while talking alone about things no one asked.
He... is very nervous?
Even Miracle is indifferent, but he's the only one making a fuss.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Brother, are you okay? Have some water."
Miracle worriedly handed over a water bottle when Banshees' cough didn't subside easily.
Banshees looked at the bottle with widened eyes.
Then he shook his head.
"No, it's okay now - cough."
He didn't look okay at all, but for some reason, Banshees refused Miracle's water.
Why is he doing that?
His appearance, which was different from usual, was strange.
"I'm really okay, cough! Cough!"
He even covered his mouth with both hands to stop the cough.
It seems like it would be better to drink water to calm it down to that extent.
"Cough! Cough!"
"......"
"Keuheo..."
Oh, it's noisy.
I tried to ignore it, but Banshees' cough showed no signs of stopping, so I was out of my mind.
I had no choice but to hand Banshees my water bottle.
"Drink this."
"......"
Banshees stared silently at the water bottle I handed him.
I thought he would refuse as he did to Miracle.
"Th-thank you..."
Unexpectedly, he accepted it willingly.
Gulp gulp!
He drank the entire bottle of water in an instant.
"Keuheuh..."
I looked at Banshees, who was wiping the water from his mouth refreshingly, with an absurd look.
Judging from his appearance, he must have been quite thirsty.
'Then why did you refuse the water Miracle gave you?'
"What, why are you looking at me like that?"
"......It's nothing."
It seemed pointless to argue, so I casually brushed it off.
"Ahem."
Banshees also knew he was embarrassed, so he coughed dryly and turned his gaze away.
In the meantime, the sword dance was over.
The knights who performed the sword dance went inside.
As soon as the sword dance ended, silence fell.
Knowing what the next order was, people held their breath and looked at the Duke.
Eventually, the Duke's voice echoed widely.
"Banshees Rodbel, come up to the platform and declare."
Finally, the ritual began in earnest.
Banshees, stiff with tension, stepped forward.
He crossed the floor covered with silver marble and ascended the platform.
Then, he picked up the hilt placed in the center, placed it in front of his chest, and said the declaration he had memorized in advance.
"I, Banshees Rodbel, under the glorious name..."
The contents of the declaration were not very long, so it ended quickly.
After putting down the hilt, Banshees turned to the Duke.
"I recognize the second son, Banshees Rodbel, as a true Rodbel."
The words of recognition came from his mouth, and Banshees bowed deeply and came down from the platform back to where we were.
As if doing a baton touch, it was Miracle's turn right away.
"Miracle Rodbel, come up to the platform and declare."
"I'll be back!"
"Uh..."
Banshees answered absentmindedly.
Miracle headed to the platform with vigor.
It was a much more stable appearance than Banshees.
Miracle also went through the same procedure as Banshees.
Ascend the platform, pick up the hilt of the founding head, and recite the declaration that represents the spirit of Rodbel.
Since the next turn was mine, I watched Miracle's appearance even more intently.
But...
'Why is she doing that?'
The moment she grabbed the hilt, Miracle's body froze.
Not only her body.
'Her complexion is very pale.'
Her already white face was even paler and her shoulders were trembling.
Because she was bowing her head, Miracle's face was not visible to others except for me in front.
However, when Miracle suddenly stopped the declaration, the surroundings began to stir.
"Why is she suddenly like that?"
Banshees also felt something strange and muttered.
I quietly watched Miracle.
Miracle looked down at the hilt with her eyes shaking for a long time, then raised her head.
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