The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 161: Three Young Ladies in the Royal Palace

Vol 2 Chapter 161 Three Young Ladies in the Royal Palace

In the quiet cell, Carkis leaned against the foot of the wall, replaying the turbulent life he had led.

“I was born into a declining family in Ante. That sounds better than being common, but truthfully it might have been worse,” he said, pressing his hand to his forehead and closing his eyes as he recalled, seeming almost ashamed to speak of the past, though this deathbed confession also carried a certain relief.

“My childhood memories are basically curses and beatings, because my ancestors had once held glory. The family all believed they deserved a dignified life, but life was anything but dignified.”

“I desperately climbed upward just to escape that environment, yet I found I rather enjoyed tormenting others. You could vent at will, do as you pleased—what a delight.” As he said this, a chilling curl tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Of course I couldn’t fail. Failure would mean falling into an abyss. To secure my position, I naturally needed more cards up my sleeve, more things to drag others down with. I became very good at collecting these shameful bits of information, then finding the leverage I wanted.”

“With those strengths, I quickly drew the attention of King Attire and did many things that could not see the light of day. My position rose steadily.”

“As you can see, in the end I restored my family to the baronial title and even became a general.”

He must have omitted many details too painful to dwell on, but asking about them now seemed pointless.

“How did you come across the Twin-Snake Cult’s ritual object and secret methods?” Sylutia wanted to know.“That item came about by coincidence. When I caught a smuggler, I rifled through his collection and found it,” Carkis recalled.

“That fellow was greasy with ill-gotten gain. To save his skin he told me everything. From him I learned that it was likely dug up by a tomb raider from an ancient ruin and sold as an antique to a merchant.”

“I had studied a fair amount of Secret History Knowledge and could recognize the notorious Twin-Snake Cult emblem. Once it fell into my hands, I had no intention of handing it over for nothing.”

“I found people to help me search the secret records on the subject, and over time I learned its uses. They had once tried to use it to fuse lower-tier creatures.”

“As for the Hellhound, a historically famous monster, I had certainly heard of it. In fact, my ancestors even used it as a house emblem.”

“I took it as fate’s gift or destiny’s hint, implying that one day I might restore my family’s glory.”

“So I kept that dagger on me at all times.”

“Outsiders might call it a cult relic, but power is practical. If it works, who cares whether it’s evil or not?”

After hearing his account, Sylutia gained no more concrete leads—just what sounded like one of Carkis’s chance encounters that yielded a prize.

“Did you ever investigate the current situation of the Twin-Snake Cult?”

“I did. At that time His Majesty had me in charge of rooting out spies and enemy informants in the country, and I used that opportunity to sift through sealed documents and historical records and to ask those who skirt the edges of society.”

“The Twin-Snake Cult can’t be found on the continent anymore. They either became an extremely secretive closed organization or they went into the depths of the Twilight Sea.”

“The depths of the Twilight Sea?” Sylutia was surprised.

“That place should be heavily affected by Distortion; normal people can’t live there.”

“You’re right—normal people can’t survive, but the Twin-Snake Cult members aren’t normal people.”

“In their late stages they invented a method to fuse normal humans with monsters, granting them the ability to live in the depths of the Twilight Sea.”

“That kind of ritual would corrupt consciousness and pollute the soul, driving one mad,” Sylutia analyzed calmly.

“They don’t care. Do you think people who worship evil remain rational and sane?” Carkis sneered.

“They sought power and immortality. Becoming monsters, in some sense, achieved their goals.”

After Carkis finished, Sylutia nodded slightly, then instructed a scholar who had accompanied them.

“Record what Carkis has recalled about the Twin-Snake Cult.”

“If the useful information you provide is sufficient, I will petition Queen Mursa to postpone your execution for a year.” With that, Sylutia rose.

“Thank you for your mercy.” Carkis, seated in the cell, breathed easier.

One year. In the past he would have considered that brief, but now it seemed a lavish gift.

After staying in White Cliff City for two more weeks, Sylutia waited and eventually met Sophitina. Compared to two years ago, the intellectual young lady had matured noticeably.

“Hi—Ya, long time no see.” She wore a wide black sun hat and a black ruffled summer dress, her figure a little more pronounced now, almost comparable to Queen Mursa’s.

“After I received your letter, my father and I discussed it for a long time. He agreed to let me leave the Hidden Grove and come to Regas to undergo practical trials,” Sophitina said, blinking.

“Yet I’m surprised you’re known in this country as a knight.” She came up beside Sylutia and, as the girl grew a little bashful, appraised her from every angle.

“You haven’t changed much from two years ago, neither in height nor in figure.” Sophitina hugged Sylutia to feel it.

“Don’t tease me.” Sylutia shook her head and replied with some helplessness.

Her body seemed frozen at seventeen; she didn’t know why, and could only guess it had something to do with family bloodline or the fairy blessing she received as a child.

“I’m glad you came, Sophitina. My time returning to the Hidden Grove is drawing near. Many things in Regas will fall to you to assist Queen Mursa with.”

“I already knew from your letter, but I don’t have much confidence in this matter.” Sophitina loosened her hold and smoothed Sylutia’s pristine dress.

“No matter what, if you have to get along with a queen, what if she doesn’t like my type?” Sophitina teased.

“Mursa isn’t the type to be picky about that,” Sylutia shook her adorable little head.

“I’ll take you to meet her later. I’m sure you’ll warm up to each other.”

For the next week, Sylutia handed over many Regas affairs to Sophitina, with Queen Mursa present to participate throughout.

One day the three of them sat together on the palace viewing balcony having afternoon tea and exchanged amusing stories about themselves.

“So Ti Ya tended a farm back in the Hidden Grove? No wonder she’s so familiar with agricultural matters.” Mursa asked with curiosity.

“If that’s the case, Ti Ya must be younger than me.” She had always assumed Sylutia’s actual age was far older, since Sylutia was a Transcendent and could remain youthful.

“Of course. Calculating precisely, Ti Ya is younger than us; she’s like a little sister.” Sophitina covered her mouth and laughed softly.

“But her talent surpasses mine by far. A few years ago we were both Second Tier, and in the blink of an eye she left me behind.”

“This...” Sylutia opened her mouth, wanting to object, but found any defense sounded like boasting.

“Giggling, actually a few months ago she was much like Tina,” Mursa recalled those days on the run.

“The world is unpredictable.”

With Sylutia as the bridge, the two women’s relationship gradually warmed.

Soon Sylutia began to wrap up her duties in White Cliff City. Although she felt reluctant, she had been away from the Hidden Grove too long on this leave. Even with the indulgence of several Hidden Grove elders, she could not stay forever. It was time to return to the Hidden Grove.