The man Aizel had brought studied Mina with large, double-lidded eyes. Then he stepped before the Queen with a warm smile.

  “Your Majesty… Rimel, at your service.”

  Lilisia nodded broadly.

  “Ah, Rimel. Thank you for coming so quickly. I’m sorry to rush you, but would you examine the ring around Mina’s neck?”

  Rimel nodded and approached Mina.

  “Then, Lady Mina… if you’ll allow me.”

  “Y-yes, please.”

  Mina bowed her head, and Rimel gave a small nod. He leaned forward slightly and began examining her neck. Before long, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

  Lilisia watched him with growing concern.

  “What is it, Rimel?”

  He straightened up and turned to face her.

  “I’m sorry to say this, but a powerful curse has been placed on her.”

  “What kind of curse?”

  “It is called a Black Binding—also known as the Executioner’s Collar. It drains the victim’s magical power, and once a certain threshold is reached, it strangles them.”

  The color drained from Lilisia’s face.

  “Mina tells me she was told the curse would activate in one month.”

  Rimel turned to Mina.

  “By adjusting the rate at which it drains magical power, the deadline can be controlled. Lady Mina—have you been having your magic drained every day?”

  Mina nodded.

  “Every day at the same time, the ring tightens around my neck, and the scale-like pattern on it changes color.”

  Rimel gave a small nod. Lilisia covered her face with both hands.

  “Oh, Mina… you’ve been suffering through that every single day?”

  She walked over to Mina and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  “So, Rimel—can you remove it?”

  “I can’t say without examining it further. Lady Mina, may I proceed with a closer examination?”

  Mina nodded and walked over to Rimel. He pulled a nearby chair forward.

  “Please, sit here… that’s it. Now relax your shoulders. It will feel hot, but please bear with it.”

  Rimel studied the collar carefully, searching for the right point. He placed his fingers against it and began channeling magical energy.

  “Yes—here!”

  “Aah! It’s hot!”

  Smoke rose from the collar. A searing, stinging pain shot around her neck. Mina grimaced and clenched her teeth.

  “Mina!”

  Lilisia rushed to her side. Rimel looked at the Queen.

  “Your Majesty—please hold Lady Mina’s hand!”

  “Of course!”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Lilisia clasped Mina’s hand tightly in both of hers.

  The treatment was over within minutes. The collar was still radiating heat, so Rimel applied a light cooling spell before releasing his grip.

  “Lady Mina… you did very well.”

  Her grandmother hugged Mina tight and nuzzled her cheek.

  “So, Rimel—what’s the verdict?”

  “It was a partial success. I’ve destroyed the internal curse mechanism, so the daily constrictions and the one-month deadline are no longer a threat. However, the black ring has fused completely with her neck, and I was unable to remove it.”

  Lilisia’s brow furrowed deeply.

  “That’s still dangerous. If Seraphim were to channel magic into it, it could strangle her again, couldn’t it? Is there no way to remove it entirely?”

  “I believe the answer lies in the ruins sealed by Lucariel.”

  Mina tilted her head.

  “Ruins…?”

  Rimel nodded.

  “The angel Lucariel devised the original spell formula. There should be clues for dispelling the curse within his sealed ruins.”

  Lilisia folded her arms and groaned.

  “But you need a key to enter those ruins, don’t you? It’s impossible to get in without one.”

  “True, but leaving the collar as it is poses too great a risk.”

  Arc raised his hand.

  “Your Majesty… Mina has the key.”

  Everyone stared at Arc in surprise.

  “Is that true? Mina, show me.”

  Seeing how serious everyone looked, Mina pulled the tarot cards from her pocket.

  “…Is this the key you’re talking about?”

  Lilisia’s eyes went wide.

  “You had it all along!”

  Mina smiled at her astonished grandmother.

  “Well, I suppose it’s only right that you would have it. Lilia must have given it to you.”

  Mina nodded.

  “Then, Mina—you must go to Lucariel’s ruins at once. You have every right to enter.”

  Lilisia came close and stroked Mina’s hair gently.

  “And you have wonderful companions by your side.”

  She gazed at Arc and Nox.

  Arc shouted from below the throne.

  “We’ve got your back, Mina!”

  “We’ll protect you no matter what!”

  Mina turned around.

  “Arc… Nox!”

  The two of them smiled warmly at her.

  “Thank you… both of you.”

  Mina was so happy she nearly cried.

  “You’ve found good friends, Mina.”

  Mina smiled up at Lilisia.

  “The best. They’ve saved my life more times than I can count.”

  Lilisia smiled and nodded.

  “Well then, Mina—be careful out there. Arc knows the way.”

  Mina nodded.

  “By the way—who is Lucariel?”

  Lilisia blinked.

  “You don’t know who Lucariel is?”

  “Um… was I supposed to?”

  Lilisia turned a withering glare on Arc.

  “AAAAARC!”

  “Yes, yes—I’m sorry!”

  “Why haven’t you told Mina?!”

  “Well, there just… wasn’t a good time…”

  “Wasn’t a good time?! Honestly!”

  Mina, startled by the exchange, rushed to Lilisia’s side.

  “W-wait, Grandma! Who is Lucariel? Does he have something to do with me?”

  Lilisia faced Mina squarely and placed both hands on her shoulders.

  “Everything to do with you, Mina. Lucariel is your father.”

  “Huh? My father was Japanese.”

  “Before he became human, his name was Lucariel—and he was an angel.”

  “Hold on—before he became human? What does that mean?”

  “My, my… you really weren’t told anything, were you?”

  Mina shook her head vigorously.

  “Now, don’t be too shocked. Your father was once an angel called Lucariel. He was the guardian of those very ruins.”

  “Wait—Dad was an angel??”

  “That’s right. The angel Lucariel and the Demon Princess Lilia fell deeply in love, defied everyone around them, and married.”

  “WHAAAAT?!”

  Mina was floored.

  “Yes… those two eloped.”

  “Eloped…”

  Of course—if an angel and a demon announced they were getting married, both sides would be furious. Lilisia continued.

  “They sealed away all their powers and chose to be reborn as humans. And then, Mina—they had you.”

  Mina’s head was spinning.

  “And yet here you are, wearing an angel’s halo as a hair ornament. I assumed you already knew.”

  Lilisia shrugged as if to say, What can you do?

  “My father was an angel… and my mother was a demon…”

  Mina couldn’t hide her shock. And she allowed herself one final scream.

  “WHAAAAAAAT?!!”

  ◆

  Two hours later, Mina and the others stood at the gates of Pandemonium Castle. They had gathered their supplies and were about to depart for the ruins. The hasty departure was on Queen Lilisia’s advice—there was no time to waste.

  “Well then, Mina… take care of yourself.”

  Mina nodded and threw her arms around Lilisia.

  “You too, Grandma. Stay healthy.”

  Lilisia hugged her back.

  “Thank you. Grandma will always be watching over you.”

  They gazed at each other reluctantly, then embraced once more, both teary-eyed. Arc couldn’t hold back any longer.

  “Hey, Mina—we need to get going.”

  Mina pulled away from Lilisia. The Queen shot Arc a displeased look. Mina hurried over to Arc and took the pouch containing her belongings.

  “You’re right… it’s time.”

  Lilisia walked over to Arc and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “Arc… take care of Mina for me.”

  Arc smiled.

  “You can count on me.”

  He jogged back to Mina, and the three of them lined up together. They turned and waved.

  “We’re off!”

  Lilisia watched them go through her tears. The people gathered at the castle gate waved until the trio disappeared from sight.

  But in the shadows of that bustling gate, one figure watched without joining the farewell. He confirmed that Mina and her companions had left the castle, then slipped away.

  “So the girl had the key all along… I must report this to Lord Verglies.”

  The man murmured these words and vanished into the darkness.