ㅤChapter 33
ㅤTheodore opens the door. He seems to have already finished his bath and is wearing comfortable loungewear. Ruby, learning from her previous experience, is properly dressed in casual clothes.
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ㅤ”Sorry to bother you when you’re tired.”
ㅤ”No. After returning from Karin’s house, I was able to spend my time leisurely, so I’m fine.”
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ㅤTheodore offers Ruby a chair and takes a seat himself.
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ㅤ”Do you have something to discuss with me?”
ㅤ”Yes. To be frank, I want to organize our understanding of your abilities.”
ㅤ”Ah…… Right. There are a few things we learned after coming to Cyril.”
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ㅤRuby was also relieved, as she had been feeling uncertain about her newfound powers.
ㅤThe fact that she was able to purify the vast fields of Cyril. The incident where the poison was detoxified by her homemade sweets. The two exchanged their opinions and aligned their understanding.
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ㅤ”—So, as a conclusion, is it okay to understand it like this? Your 『Poison User』 ability is the power to neutralize miasma and poison in a target. It can also be rephrased as detoxification. And it seems that this power is also partially transferred to the food you make.”
ㅤ”I think that’s right. Regarding the food, since the only example is Karin’s case, it’s a bit hard to believe……”
ㅤ”No, I think that’s correct.”
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ㅤTheodore asserted firmly.
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ㅤ”Remember when I caught a cold and you made me a meal? At that time, I probably had the same experience as Karin’s mother. As soon as I ate the food, my condition clearly improved. Thinking about it now, I might have been suffering from food poisoning…… I don’t want to think about it, but there’s also the possibility that someone poisoned me with a strong poison. And that was detoxified by your cooking.”
ㅤ”Po, Poisoned……!?”
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ㅤShe asks back as if in shock, but Theodore’s expression doesn’t change.
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ㅤ”It’s a common occurrence, so don’t worry about it. I have a resistance to most poisons, so I won’t die.”
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ㅤAs he is the only son of the former Emperor, if he were to die, the throne would be passed on to a relative or a high-ranking official. There have been more than a few clear assassination attempts. Therefore, since he was a child, he has built up resistance to various poisons and learned how to protect himself.
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ㅤ”—Getting back to the topic, the residents who came to the food distribution were also saying that their 『bodies felt lighter』. This is a hypothesis, but the people of Langley are constantly exposed to mild miasma. It makes sense if you think that this was detoxified.”
ㅤ”I, I see……? Like a chronic stiff shoulder being cured?”
ㅤ”……That might be a rough analogy.”
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ㅤWith that anticlimactic statement, the discussion about Ruby’s 『Poison User』 ability concluded.
ㅤThat she can detoxify miasma and poison. That the power is also transferred to the food Ruby makes. They agreed that these two points are her main abilities at this point.
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ㅤReturning to her room, Ruby slowly opens the window. The beautiful night sky spreads out, like a painting framed by the window.
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ㅤ（My stay in Cyril ends tonight…… I was able to visit various places, but I couldn’t possibly visit every town.）
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ㅤThe fields and the city, the park where the food distribution took place, and the nearby river. The village where Karin lives. She went to unfamiliar lands, talked to many people. She engraved each and every scene she saw for the first time into her heart.
ㅤShe purified the soil and air as much as possible wherever she went, but there are still many villages in Cyril. Thinking about the people living there, she felt reluctant to leave.
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ㅤ（……I don’t know how much I can do, but if my power is useful, I want everyone to be equally prosperous.）
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ㅤShe ruminates on the purpose of her journey in her mind.
ㅤRuby kneels and clasps her hands in front of her chest. The moonlight streaming in from the window creates a halo of light on her hair.
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ㅤ”By the name of Ruby・Rose・Delphire, I command: Protect the land of Cyril with my deadly poison. All for my beloved people.”
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ㅤWith a roaring sound, a black wind swirls up from Ruby’s body. It rushes out of the window, and black clouds quickly gather in the sky. A torrential downpour like a squall begins, and dazzling lightning streaks across the sky.
ㅤThe tranquil night sky suddenly turns stormy, and the residents of Cyril look up at the window with worried expressions, wondering “What’s going on?”
ㅤThe terrible storm continues all night long and finally subsides as if being erased by the morning sun.
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ㅤ◇
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ㅤThe next day. Under the clear blue sky after the storm, Ruby and Theodore are being seen off.
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ㅤ”It’s the first time in my life that I’ve seen such a clear sky. Perhaps the heavens are blessing the virtue of you two. Both I and the residents have renewed our determination to follow Your Majesty.”
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ㅤWhen Molly, with a beaming smile, says this, Theodore also looks up at the sky in wonder.
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ㅤ”Our country is usually overcast due to the influence of miasma…… This is certainly unusual.”
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ㅤAfter greeting Theodore, Molly moves in front of Ruby.
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ㅤ”Your Imperial Highness. Thank you very much for your dedication to Cyril with your saintly power. I believe the future of Langley is secure.”
ㅤ”Thank you for taking care of me during my stay. I will also work hard so that this country can become even more prosperous!”
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ㅤWhen Ruby smiles, the residents gathered behind Molly to see them off all shout at once.
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ㅤ””Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Saintess!!””
ㅤ”Oh my! Thank you very much!”
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ㅤTaking the surprised Ruby’s hand, Theodore escorts her to the carriage.
ㅤThe residents’ voices of gratitude continue to echo until the carriage can no longer see the town.
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ㅤ”I’m not a Saintess, so I feel a little sorry.”
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ㅤWhen Ruby, who had been waving back from the window, turns around, she mutters this. Theodore glances at her sideways and says, “That’s not true.”
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ㅤ”It’s just a figure of speech, so don’t worry about it too much. More importantly, Princess. Did you not sleep well last night?”
ㅤ”Huh? How did you know?”
ㅤ”Well…… You have dark circles under your eyes.”
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ㅤWhen Theodore points it out hesitantly, she understands. She rubs under her eyes, her face filled with embarrassment.
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ㅤ”Did I have dark circles? ……I’m sorry. It’s unsightly for an Empress.”
ㅤ”It was a terrible storm last night, so it’s not surprising you couldn’t sleep. Besides, I’m not trying to comment on your appearance…… You’re perfect the way you are……”
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ㅤRuby looks at Theodore, who is stammering, with a puzzled expression.
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ㅤ”Your Majesty? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you well because of the sound of the wheels……”
ㅤ”～～～～っ. It will be a while until we reach the next town. Get some rest.”
ㅤ”Whoa!”
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ㅤHe pulls Ruby, who is sitting next to him, towards him and places her upper body on his lap. Averting his eyes from the surprised Ruby, he says bluntly.
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ㅤ”I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”
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ㅤRuby looks up at Theodore’s reddened ears and gradually grasps the situation. While feeling ticklish, she appreciates his clumsy kindness.
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ㅤ”Thank you, Your Majesty. —Then, I’ll gladly take you up on your offer.”
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ㅤCompletely relaxed, Ruby quickly falls asleep.