Volume 2

1. ≪Cursed Girl≫

　The name of the cursed girl is Altera.

　Her parents had already passed away and she looks up to Jeanne, a paladin, and her sister.

　Altera and her sister, who had come to the court to attend a meeting in the royal capital, stayed in the garden for a little while.

　Altera picks flowers to make a crown while soiling her knees.

"It’s done ...!"

　Pleased with her work, she approached her sister Jeanne.

"Sister!"

"... What is it Altera?"

"Oh, um ...!"

　She hides it behind her and approaches. But she wonders if she’ll say it's dirty? Won't she be told not to make garbage?

　Suddenly such anxiety held Altera.

　Because of that, she couldn't say anything, and her mouth froze up.

"Paladin Jeanne! It's about time for the meeting!"

"Is it time. I'm going, Altera. You should throw away those flowers.”

"Huh ... you knew ... Uh, yeah ... I'll throw it away ..."

　I was told to throw away the crown I made with all my heart, and I suppressed my heart and threw it away on the spot.

　　I walked behind her to arrive in front of the conference room, while looking at it with regret.

　I was held back by the soldiers guarding the entrance.

"From here on, outsiders aren’t allowed to enter."

" I can't take my eyes off my sister."

　Altera had to always act with Jeanne.

　She was allowed to live because her older sister is the wielder of the holy sword "Arondite".

　──── Because "Arondite" is a sword that can kill Altera at any time.

"It’s an order from His Majesty the King to prevent information leaks at the meeting."

　With His Majesty's orders, even Jeanne could not go against it.

　Even if she wants to leave her to someone, she has no subordinate she can trust right now.

　...... Although she was worried, she told Altera to wait by the flowerbed nearby.

"Okay, I'll be back soon, don't talk to anyone."

"Yes, Onee-chan. Please do your best at work."

"Yes, you must stay quiet. And no matter what happens, don’t take off your gloves.

"...... I know that, too.”

"Okay, I'm off."

　The two are supposed to be sisters.

　The sense of distance was so far away that Altera felt unsatisfied with her sister who was always stiff.

As she looked away from Jeanne's back, the soldier guarding the entrance gave her a look of contempt.

"What are you standing around for? Get lost ... you abomination. I wish you died early ... cursed child."

"... !!"

　She grabbed the hem of her skirt and stifled her feelings.

　Don't cry.

　If I do, it will bother my sister.

　She endures with all her might while being exposed to the malice they do not hide.

　The intelligent Altera knew that Jeanne was the one who understood her position and was protecting her.

　　I don't want to cause her trouble. ...... Because of me, sister is already unhappy. I have to endure.

　She walked through the well-kept gardens of the court. Through her gloves, she touched her favorite flower and smiled.

"... I wish I could touch it directly"

　The flowers I touched through the gloves felt rough like a wall.

　Unlike me, the flowers are beautiful.

　It stands up even when stepped on without losing to the rain or wind. Moreover, it blooms beautifully.

　I break easily.

　How could I not admire them?

"Ah, hello"

　I heard a gentle old man's voice.

　The sun is just behind him and I can't see his face well.

"Hello ..."

　Who is this person?

　My sister told me I shouldn't talk to people I don't know, but ... I greeted him.

"Do you like flowers?"

"Yes ..."

"That's a Lobelias flower. I planted it."

"Lobelia ...? Does uncle also like flowers?"

"Well, a little bit."

　Altera, who did not know the name of the purple flower, was fascinated by this old man who had a common hobby.

　The old man, Erad, a great nobleman, twisted his cheeks and plucked a Lobelia flower.

"Do you know the language of flowers?"

"I'm sorry. I'm not very familiar with anything other than the flowers I grow ..."

"I'll tell you. This flower stands for 'humility'."

"Wow! That’s wonderful!"

　Her expression brightened at the word "humility".

　She looked cute, like a maiden.

"... But, you know, I don't like it."

"Eh ...? Isn't it a wonderful meaning?"

"Would you want such a life? Do you want to restrain yourself and live a life where you can't live the way you want?"

"what do you mean?"　

　The wind blew. Altera felt as if her heart had been grabbed.                 

　She had been holding herself back all her life. She longed to live life in the way that she wanted.

　Cursed child.

　Skills that everyone should yearn for are sometimes curses.

"... What do you want? What is your desire? I'll give it to you."

"No, I don't need it ...! Please stay away!"

　I felt a crisis.

　This old man is dangerous.

"Ah ... I should also have said that."

　He reached out to Altera and smiled unpleasantly.

" The other meaning of the Lobelia's flower is ‘malicious’."

　The devil touched the pure girl.

　It happened just tens of minutes away from Jeanne.

The skill she, Altera, possesses is "Primordial Collapse".

　Born and raised as a cursed child, the girl who was destined to die wanted to live.

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