The Rose Of The South
Chapter 34: Tour de La Sorciere

As night fell, they began to leave Bloody Rose for the tower.

"just simple. We'll all go in and free the kids in the Tower. And you can do whatever you want. You can destroy the tower if you want. You can punish the witches too. I'd be very grateful if you were willing to do it." Obviously Anna when Eleanor asked about the details of their plan.

"Sounds easy." Constanza commented, nodding in understanding.

"But I'm sure it'll be hard to do." Typhoon Eleanor. He was already back in incognito mode, hiding the blond hair and icy blue eyes that the tower witches could instantly recognize when they saw him.

"Red Queen has freed those poor kids before." Anna told him, which immediately made Eleanor turn to Constanza with a look of disbelief.

"We release those who have not yet entered the tower. While they were still on the train on the way to the tower. It's not hard at all."

"You and your friends defeated the witches? Without magic?" Eleanor asked Constanza, making sure.

A slanted smile adorned Constanza's face, even her tone was much more conceited now, "Fooling more precisely. There is no fight. They all fainted before they could see us. With poison and arrows everything can be overcome."

"alright. Let's just say that we made it in by tricking the tower witches." Eleanor. This time, he turned to Anna, "What's after that? Do you know where they're keeping those kids? How many guards? And other things like when will they change the guard schedule? I even wondered if we could actually get into the tower."

"can't. Of course, all of us will never be able to get into the tower. But Prince Ludwig might." Answer Anna.

Eleanor frowned. He looked at Anna in confusion. But when she saw Anna turning her head towards Constanza, Eleanor immediately understood the meaning. Eyes widened. The mouth forms a large o.

"The magic of transformation." Anna smiled after knowing Eleanor was beginning to understand her plan. "really. That's why I need your help."

"You want me to turn you into Prince Ludwig? Even if I can change your voice, you can't mimic the northern accent properly."

"Oh, not me. I mean, Lady Constanza Smirnoff will be Prince Ludwig." Anna then turned to Constanza. "I believe you can imitate her."

"Easy. I memorized almost all of his habits. The way he walks, the way he talks, and his drinking every time he has a problem. Everything." Constanza said confidently. Although it was beyond Anna's knowledge that Constanza and Ludwig were so close that Constanza could know everything about her fiance. Constanza then turned to Eleanor, who seemed hesitant. "Please do it, Witch Queen."

Eleanor eventually changed Constanza's form to be very similar to that of Prince Ludwig. With her magic, even though she currently only had half of her usual magic power, Eleanor was able to make Constanza a flawless replica of the Vlad King's second son. It did not take long, now in front of Anna, stood the figure of the Prince of the Ice Country. Handsome, cunning and cold. Just like the last time Anna saw her that night when Ludwig helped her take Queen Isabella away from the Queen's Palace. Anna hasn't told Constanza about it yet because it looks like Constanza doesn't want to talk about her ex-fiance.

The Schere Tower is located in the middle of the downtown forest. Eleanor tells her that the witch gets her powers from the elements of nature. While the Grimoire Clan gained strength from the cold air and ice, some other witches actually gained strength from the trees and plants in the forest. That is why the Grimoire Clan used to live in the northernmost region of Nordhalbinsel— in the coldest place—and founded the Northern Palace that still exists today. As with other witches, Empress Selena gained power from moonlight. Meanwhile, in contrast to his mother, Prince Ludwig who is known to be the only descendant of the king who became a witch got power from natural heat such as fire and sunlight. Eleanor explained it all like a teacher to her students who were on tour looking at the tower.

The tower was a very tall ancient castle-like building. Made of black rocks, the tower was taller than any castle Anna had ever seen. It may even be higher because the tower is still not finished in the build. The upper part is still in the working stage, and Anna is sure, half the work is done by magic. When Anna asked Eleanor about it, the Queen told her that the tower at Nordhalbinsel was not as tall as the Schere Tower and that it took years to create because the construction magic was not as perfect as it is now. So Eleanor was convinced the tower was indeed almost completely made with magic.

The gate surrounding the tower is made of concrete and steel—and protective magic, Eleanor tells Anna. Her guards were dressed as Nordhalbinsel warriors complete with uniforms and swords, but Anna believed they were also witches. Even so, they only glanced at a glance, then hurriedly bowed low as the figure of Prince Ludwig passed by them. Not the real Prince Ludwig.

Constanza breezed into the tower. Previously he had already drunk quite a lot of wine in Bloody Rose and deliberately spilled a bit of wine in the clothes he wore as Ludwig. His role tonight is the half-drunk Ice Prince. His steps were quick and orderly with very graceful movements, that was how the nobles of the north walked. Constanza recalled how Ludwig could still walk straight despite being drunk. As he passed by, all the witches in the tower, both male and female, both old and young, bowed respectfully to him. If there was a witch walking in front of him, they would rush aside and let him through. His gaze looked bored, not glancing anywhere, just staring straight ahead.

"Y-Your Majesty. Isn't it too late for a visit?" Said a male witch in front of a door. His nose seemed to wince when he smelled the pungent aroma of alcoholic beverages from the Constanza— outfit Ludwig's clothes. But the old male witch did not dare to rebuke him.

Neither Anna nor Constanza knew the tower's floor plan because it was heavily guarded by witches. Constanza just as long as you walk to one of the rooms until someone asks him to talk. If he made a mistake, anyone would understand on the grounds that the Prince was drunk. Meanwhile, the Red Queen members stand guard not far from the tower, watching if the real Prince Ludwig actually comes.

"Open." It sounded exactly like Prince Ludwig. Even that northern accent sounds very convincing.

"But what do you want to do at this hour in the girls' bedroom?"

Constanza refrained from looking surprised. He had no idea that the disciples were sleeping inside the tower. He maintained that bored expression on his face. Maintain that cold image. And added a hint of arrogance as he said, "You're questioning my purpose?"

Some other witches who had not listened since now stopped and watched from a distance. Some of them whisper. Constanza caught some of their words.

"Ah, he's coming again."

"Didn't this have been the case lately since her fiance dumped her and her mother was given a sentence of exile by Her Majesty?"

Hearing that, Constanza had an idea.

The male witch before him looked terrified. "That's not so, Your Majesty... I just—“

"Then call him for me." He said in a commanding tone.

"D-he? I don't know who you mean, Your Majesty."

Constanza himself did not know. He only guessed from the whispers he heard. "Lately it has always been so since her fiance dumped her.." and "She came again." from those two sentences alone Constanza can conclude that Ludwig did often come to the bedroom of the female disciples in the tower. Ludwig must have met someone, maybe one of the students here. Although thinking about it made him angry, he remained focused on his task. Trying to understand his role as his ex-fiancee.

But before Constanza said anything more, the door behind the male witch, the bedroom door of the female magician disciples opened slightly. A young girl—magic student—whose age must be younger than Constanza, out. Her body was slim and tall, with exotic skin and full lips. She covered her nightgown with a long robe. He looked surprised when he saw the Prince before him. His eyes glittered as if he was happy to see the Prince. The young girl smiled at him. Sensual smile.

Constanza did not know the disciple, but Constanza knew the meaning of the gaze. Stares wants.

"Your Majesty, you came again apparently. I think—“

"Follow me." Constanza said directly, deliberately lowering her tone. He pulled the girl's hand by force even though Constanza knew she would indeed follow him without coercion.

Constanza knew how popular her former fiance was among the magician disciples. But he had no idea that there really was someone Ludwig would meet in the tower at night when he wasn't with her. Even if remembered again, there were not many nights they spent together because of the considerable distance and busyness of each. The disciple's words continued to ring as they walked down the hall of the tower further, 'You come again'. Though determined to forget him, Constanza could not help but think and wonder how often Ludwig would meet the student at night. How far is their relationship. Since when. Was it since the annulment of the engagement unilaterally by her, or even long before that?

Constanza did not answer. His mind was filled with thoughts he did not want to think about. He wanted to cry at once. He knew he had to focus now. They're on an important mission.

But the question from the disciple interrupted his mind. Did what? In an ordinary place?

"You still can't sleep without my help? Hasn't it been more than a month every night that we do this? Although I don't mind if it can help you fall asleep, but surely you know it's draining my energy until I keep waking up the next day. I must graduate from the tower." The student kept talking to him. But the longer he got the less he understood what he meant.

So Constanza stopped stepping. They were standing in a dark hallway. There was no one around them.

Not entirely true. Anna and Eleanor were with him, in an invisible state. The magic antidote Eleanor had installed around them made their existence undetectable even by powerful magic. So they had just been following Constanza in silence while listening to the words of the magic disciple.

The student looked at him seriously. In the darkness, the disciple's eyes lit up a silver-colored light. "You want to do it here? Wouldn't it be better if there was a seat or a bed?"

"Just here." Constanza. Still don't understand where this conversation is headed. What the student meant. His suspicions grew bigger and longer. His hatred for his former fiancee grew more and more unstoppable with each word of the disciple. He regretted only slapping Ludwig once and throwing her with their engagement ring. He should have stabbed him with a knife covered in Morta's poison right then and there.

"Feynah." Said the disciple. Firm, yet gentle. "I've asked you to call me by my name. The name you gave me that means 'free'. Feyna. I've been very grateful since you found me in the border region and freed me from slavery after learning that I had talent. So you should not hesitate to call me. Because of my talent, myself, even my life is yours, My Lord." Feyna, the girl looked down respectfully. Not tempting, Feyna actually looked adoring him as if Ludwig was his god.

Constanza is getting confused. "Talent..." He intentionally hung those words. A request for Feyna to explain further, without actually asking for it.

"The ability to permanently erase the memory of something or someone. A magic talent that not everyone could master even after decades of studying it, except the witches from the Grimoire Clan. It was because of that talent that you freed me from slavery and helped me learn in the tower. What are you so drunk that you look like this kind of confusion?"

"I'm so drunk." Constanza lied, but Feyna seemed to believe. Ludwig would never be 'very drunk' because his alcohol tolerance was so high. And it looks like only Constanza knows about it.

Feyna sighed and shook her head. "Alcohol won't make you forget it. My talent alone does not work for you. Just yesterday you came here to ask me to erase your memory of Lady Smirnoff. But just one day has passed, that memory seems to have returned, huh? Even magic can't erase traces of your former fiancee from your mind. The bad effect, I got a bad reputation and was labeled as a sneaky girl who seduced a prince. They think I slept with you. Although I can easily ignore them but—“

"Feyna..."

"Yes, my lord."

"Try to explain again why I want to erase Constanza from my memory?"

"You were really drunk until you lost your mind. The more your days become increasingly strange, My Lord. You haven't been able to sleep since Lady Smirnoff and her family. You are constantly haunted by guilt and regret. So you came to me and asked me to erase your memory of Lady Smirnoff so you could sleep in peace. But of course my magic talent will not work to erase the person who is in your heart, not just your mind. You should have met her, apologized to her and told her that her sisters you had secured so there was no need to be slaves in the tower."

Constanza. He had difficulty digesting the words that Feyna had thrown out. Words of honesty sound more like a lie. Esperanza, Belleza and Meriza—the third sister—realso far secured by Ludwig. That means his sisters are not in this tower.

Looking at the Prince who was still silent in silence, Feyna continued, "You should have told him that you behaved this way, and stopped trying to meet him was for Lady Smirnoff's own good. So that Lady Smirnoff is not harassed and hurt by your mother nor by your enemies. He will definitely understand and forgive you if you're honest with him."

"I'm not—“

Suddenly we heard a howling sound. Similar howls animals night—but not that. That's the sign. The mark they agreed upon if the real Prince Ludwig came.

"Damn..." Constanza accidentally swore. Something that the original Ludwig never did.

"I'm sorry?" Feyna looked at him in disbelief.

"Your Majesty, now!"

Eleanor and Anna, who had been in invisible fashion and just silently watching, appeared. Anna very quickly locked onto Feyna's movements and pointed her knife at the disciple's neck, without actually intending to hurt her. Meanwhile, Eleanor gives him a magic-binding noose that can render Feyna immobile and use her magic.

"Tell us where the slaves are locked up?" Anna's orders. Feyna. Not at all daunted even though the knife almost scratched his neck. He looked calm as if he knew Anna would not really hurt him. "Quick say!"

"Let down your knife, Princess Anastasia." Without even looking, they knew who said it. In an instant, the entire army in Nordhalbinsel uniforms had already surrounded them. Their swords were unsheathed, ready to put an end to their plans and their lives.

"Or do you want your partner to get hurt?" Ludwig was already behind Eleanor with a sword drawn to the Queen's neck in disguise. But his gaze was only fixed on Anna.

Anna looked back at him. The one who helped him free Queen Isabella from the Queen's Palace that night was Ludwig. He also warns Anna that Xavier is up to something. Ludwig was right, Xavier was planning something, but it wasn't the evil plan he thought it was. Xavier just wants someone to help him save his mother. Xavier just wants Leon's help. Anna did not know whether Ludwig said it to incite her and dispel her belief in Xavier, or because he knew nothing of it. Anna also did not know whether Ludwig was sincere in helping her to save Queen Isabella that night, or perhaps she had planned all of that to have Anna and Xavier leave the Palace, to facilitate the murder of both of them.

Ludwig, after all, was the son of Selena. But if you recall Feyna's words... Ludwig did not sound as cruel as he thought. Ludwig freed a slave and was sent to school to maximize his magical talent. Ludwig also secured Constanza's three younger sisters from becoming slaves in the tower.

Anna turned to Eleanor.

Eleanor was still in disguise mode so people didn't recognize her. But when Eleanor tried to move her hand to fight back with her magic, her hand could not be moved. Ludwig's magic holds him back. And that way, her magic holding Feyna was cut off. Feyna was free and calmly stepped away from Anna towards the back of Ludwig. The young girl looked on standby, her hands raised ready to cast magic while looking at the fake Ludwig and his flock—Constanza, Anna and Eleanor. He was ready to strike with his magic whenever Ludwig ordered it.

But Ludwig hinted at him to lower his hand, to immediately leave the place. Feyna obeyed him without a word.

"Feyna..." As Ludwig called out to her, Feyna stopped and turned around obediently. "Make sure this is not known to anyone. Erase the memory of those who saw this fake. No one should know that the Tower has just entered an intruder. It will only show how weak security is here."

Feyna nodded, then left quickly.

The real Ludwig turned towards his clone. He looked surprised for a moment, but hurriedly set his expression back cold as he stared at the perfect replica of himself by Eleanor's magic work. His eyes were as dark as night as if he could see through that magic. "Hello, Constanza." Sweep, while smiling mockingly. As he called out that name, there was no feeling whatsoever from his tone of voice. It was as if the name had no meaning whatsoever to him. It was different from what Feyna had just put forward, that the girl by that name made her unable to sleep until over the past month. "I didn't think you were gonna sneak in here."

The transformation magic would disappear if anyone called him by his real name. So when Ludwig mentioned his name, Constanza immediately changed into himself. But even before he returned to his form, he was ready with his bow and arrow that led right to Ludwig's heart. At once all Louis' guards brought the tip of their swords close to Constanza. It only took one command, or one gesture from Ludwig to end his life.

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