Moonlight Ball - Chapter 175

The trial had truly turned into a spectacle by the next scheduled date.

Hail the Queen! Hail the Queen of Madness, dressed in traditional Korean attire. As the Queen appeared in the courtroom, people from all walks of life gathered, seeking her blessings. A woman who had defied death, a woman possessing the soul of a grand sorceress within her noble form, a Queen like no other. Many still hoped for miracles from her, despite the miracles she had already performed, saving them all.

The Queen’s messengers, clad in crimson, formed an unwavering barrier. They kept anyone who seemed even remotely threatening at bay. Even burly men couldn’t come close to the Queen. Only children, the elderly, and women were allowed near her, and even among women, only those accompanying children or elderly were granted access, standing behind them.

“Our mother is passing. Please bless her, Your Majesty.”

“My child’s legs are ailing. Heal them, please.”

People began to pray to the Queen instead of the gods. Madness swirled to an eerie and dangerous level. The Queen’s messengers were prepared to turn these people into enemies if necessary to protect her. The level of desire people had for the Queen was peculiar; they wished for salvation while loving her. It was something even the divine couldn’t offer. They knew that, yet they casually made wishes to the most powerful sorceress in history, expecting her to fulfill them.

Isn’t this a bit dangerous?

Ruth walked a little apart from the Queen, furrowing her brow. The Queen was greeting the people.

“Hello. May you prosper. I’m not a healer, but I’ll sincerely bless you. I’m not a priestess, but I hope the prayers reach Ruthna.”

The Queen responded in a subdued voice. She wished to reciprocate the intensity of their desires with her own kindness, but the problem was that there was no guarantee the madness of this crowd would always flow in a benevolent direction.

Even the favor of the King…

Ruth was of noble blood, a part of the Letaire aristocracy, so she had seen many queens and ministers fall from favor with the King. Those who relied on the King’s favor saw their lives crumble when it was withdrawn. Even the servants were no different. The moment they fell out of the King’s favor, they were distanced from power. Ruth’s father was a diplomat, and though he had never fallen out of the King’s favor, he still had to work to remain there. Growing up witnessing such behavior, Ruth became a lawyer with a firm resolve never to entrust her fate to anyone, be it a man or a woman. She had accomplished that, but perhaps as a result, she harbored a certain disdain for humanity, especially towards men.

Why is the Queen tolerating all of this?

Wouldn’t it be better to become Iris Elaine, as Martop had suggested? That would grant her more freedom. Why entrust her destiny to someone, even if that someone was the King? The King’s favor? She knew he loved her dearly, but the problem lay in the duration of that love. How long did she think that love would remain valid? When the verdict came out this time, she would become Iris Rosemary En Letaire. She would have no escape.

It seemed like an amusing event, but it would leave a bitter aftertaste.

Ruth furrowed her brow just as she was thinking this.

“Ruth.”

The Queen called her name. An elderly man stood before the Queen. He looked like he must have been quite the beauty when he was young, with a dignified appearance.

“It seems you want to give me a temple talisman.”

Even the lawyers get a gift; these commoners are quite resourceful.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ruth sighed with a smile. Watching her walk towards them, Iris turned her head. In the brief moment she turned away, someone handed her a flower. Everyone was offering Iris gifts like flowers, snacks, talismans, and dolls, hoping for her well-being. These were small and humble items, but together they overwhelmed Iris as if they would bury her in presents. Even if the attendants received them on her behalf, there seemed to be no end. She was greeting people while trying to hold as many hands as possible when it happened.

“Jongnyeon.”

It was a very low voice. It shouldn’t have been audible, but for some reason, that voice stuck in Iris’s ear.

Jongnyeon. Jongnyeon..

-ah. It was what her family used to call her. She saw her grandmother’s face, who had always addressed her like that, filled with unmistakable rage, as if cursed. Iris halted, and her grandmother spoke.

“You are an eternal jongnyeon.”

A strange sound rang from her stomach. Oddly enough.

Iris involuntarily lowered her head. A thin dagger was embedded in her side, causing not so much pain as bewilderment. Why was there a dagger in my body…?

“Hail the Queen!!”

The first to scream were the maids.

Then chaos ensued. Wendy, who had been on the opposite side, leaped into the air and restrained Margaret, now turned into a grandmother. Margaret, who had fallen roughly to the ground, laughed with madness in her eyes. Ahaha, ahahahaha. As people screamed and rushed towards her, Iris looked straight at the grandmother. She realized that the grandmother, who had been smiling just moments ago, was her adversary, the one who had cast the curse.

“You shall forever remain a servant! You’re no queen! You’re no sorceress!” Margaret’s hushed voice poured curses, causing Iris to widen her eyes.

The boundless malevolence instinctively made her clutch her stomach. “My child,” Iris blinked back tears. “My child, Sid… My child.” She tried to speak, but her voice failed her. Gradually, all sounds from the world faded into silence. All she could hear was the relentless pounding of her heart. Iris’s body slowly gave way.

“…Sid…”

“Vision! Her Majesty the Queen! Majesty!” A scream reverberated through the courtroom.