Adele Side Story 1: And Yet, The Blight Remains.

"Melbert."

Adele sat in the grand study, her eyes darting between the pages of the books she had meticulously studied for the past few days. The weight of the inked words failed to hold her attention.

"Regression."

Her heart pounded.

"T-that's..."

Melbert entered the room, his usual composed expression unreadable.

"Has Peter come around yet?"

"I'm afraid not," he answered.

Adele frowned. That was... odd.

Peter would usually visit her at the same spot in the garden, the place where they had first met. It was a routine neither of them had broken—until now.

She had just returned from one of her usual trips to the Magic Tower, and she had even met a "Friend" on the way.

Meanwhile, the prince had gone to the Konrow Duchy for training. Though she had only entertained his presence for... various reasons (revenge being one of them), she couldn't shake off the unease crawling up her spine.

"Peter hasn't come in three months?"

Impossible.

Something must have happened.

Adele stood up abruptly. "Melbert, did something happen in the capital?"

Melbert hesitated. His gaze flickered toward Mark von Konrow, who nonchalantly flipped over a newspaper.

"The Crown Prince has been missing for six months now," Mark said.

Adele's blood ran cold.

Her breath hitched. "W-what?!"

Mark barely spared her a glance. "We don't know where he is. In fact, none of his whereabouts are known."

Josephine.

Adele's grip tightened on the book she was holding.

Regression.

Had Peter encountered something beyond her reach?

For the first time in her regression, she felt an unfamiliar emotion claw at her chest—worry.

Her hands trembled.

'T-this isn't possible! If Peter disappears now, then my plan will...!'

"Calm down, Adele," Mark tapped the table in front of her.

She barely registered it.

Her breathing grew ragged as unwanted, unnecessary memories clawed their way back.

"What about her?"

Her mind screamed at her to stop.

No. No, I don't want to hear her name. I don't want to face her.

Josephine von Konrow.

The most wicked and heinous person alive.

She—

"She hasn't come out for a few months either," Melbert stated.

Silence.

Adele's lips trembled.

"...No..."

Tears welled up in her eyes before she could stop them.

No... No...!

She clawed at her golden locks, her body shaking uncontrollably.

"NO!"

Books fell from the shelves. The papers she had meticulously arranged scattered across the room.

"This can't be happening! There's no way—"

It was impossible.

Her sister could not make a comeback now.

She tried to steady herself, to suppress the sheer dread flooding through her veins, but she couldn't.

"It's okay, Adele," Mark said. His voice was softer this time. "She has only secluded herself for the past months, like she used to."

His words did little to reassure her.

Adele didn't reply.

Melbert, who had been silent throughout the exchange, remained uncharacteristically quiet.

Adele exhaled sharply. "Mark-nii-sama, can you leave us alone?"

Mark hesitated.

But in the end, he sighed. "...Fine."

The door clicked shut behind him.

The moment they were alone, Melbert's form began to shift.

A familiar light flickered.

Adele's contracted spirit emerged.

Her breath hitched.

"No way..."

Her voice cracked.

She clutched her chest.

Agony.

Josephine von Konrow.

The door burst open.

A flash of light filled the room, and before Adele's eyes, Melbert transformed—his form shifting into a floating figure draped in a regal, iridescent robe. Translucent rainbow wings shimmered behind him, catching the dim glow of candlelight.

Adele scowled. "Oberon, what's the catch?!"

The Fairy King, Oberon.

Adele's familiar. Her contracted spirit. A being of immense power, capable of commanding a million fairies—his might even rivaling the Great Beasts themselves.

Oberon smirked, crossing his arms. "What do you mean what's the catch? It is literally what it is."

"Don't 'it is what it is' me! You know damn well what I'm asking!"

The Fairy King let out a dramatic sigh, waving his hands lazily. "Fine, contractor. But are you willing to pay the price?"

Adele narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Oberon's smirk widened. "The information you're trying to get is so valuable that nothing you currently possess can afford its price."

Adele scoffed. "Why? Is knowing Josephine's activities that important? The last time I asked you about her, you didn't charge me anything!"

"That's because last time, it wasn't classified information."

"Classified information?" She folded her arms. "What the hell does that even mean?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like, dear contractor." Oberon shrugged. "To put it simply, it's knowledge that I cannotgrant you freely."

"But it's just about Josephine! Are you saying—"

"That's your assumption." Oberon's tone turned uncharacteristically serious. "I'm telling you this only because of our contract. The World Tree can reveal anything to me, but when it comes to classified information, there's a price—one that's far beyond anything you can afford." He pressed a finger to his lips.

Adele's stomach twisted. "And what exactly qualifies as classified information?"

Oberon hummed in amusement. "Well, since this is your first time asking about such a thing, I'll give you a discount." He grinned. "Angel's Tears will suffice."

Adele's breath hitched.

The Angel's Tears—a gift Josephine had given her during her debutante. An item she had despised from the moment it landed in her hands.

"Fine."

She strode toward the locked crate in the corner of her room. The box was untouched, sealed away despite numerous magical inspections. She had never dared wear it. She knew better than to trust anything from her sister.

The jewelry had been crafted by the famous Nephi, a designer whose works auctioned for staggering sums. But money was never a problem for the Konrow family.

She tossed the box toward Oberon.

"Very nice." With a flick of his hand, the object vanished into a swirling void.

"Alright, contractor. Listen carefully." Oberon's voice turned solemn.

"Classified information refers to knowledge that the world deems too important or is protected by an entity above. Usually, that means the gods themselves. The World Tree cannot reveal such information freely without a sacrifice."

Adele's fingers dug into her palms. "And my sister... falls into that latter category?"

Oberon tilted his head. "Correct."

Her pulse pounded in her ears. "A god has taken an interest in my sister?"

"Seems that way." Oberon's eyes twinkled with amusement.

Adele bit her lip, frustration mounting. "What about Peter?"

Oberon clasped his hands together. "Ah. That one is also classified information, but he belongs to the former category."

"...So Peter is in a very important location."

"Good thinking, contractor." Oberon gave a slow, approving nod. "Now, what will you do?"

"What do you think?!" Adele's fists clenched. "I'm going to Josephine myself!"

Oberon sighed, massaging his temples. "You know, normally I'd just go with it, but this time—"

"I'm going, and that's final!"

"Adele," Oberon deadpanned.

""What?!""

"Josephine's mansion is an illusion now."

Adele froze.

"...What?"

Oberon dragged a hand down his face. "Why do I have to explain this to you...?"

"What does that mean?!"

"It means," Oberon exhaled, "that your sister's entire estate has become classified information. No matter how much you deny it, the circumstances have changed."

Adele gritted her teeth.

"Fine! I'll go to her place myself!"

Without wasting another second, she stormed toward her wardrobe, throwing on her coat and fastening her boots in record time.

Oberon floated lazily behind her, watching her with an expression that was half-amused, half-exasperated.

As she reached the door, he muttered under his breath, "I just hope she doesn't incur the wrath of the gods..."