The Kingdom of the Northern Witch.

  Bureti, although not believed, was an empire in the Northern Continent until the Advent of Angels and was one of the most prosperous nations. It wasn’t easy to find history in Shertogenbosch, but it was easy to find it in Bureti. This city was a living history book.

  Although it had power in the past, most of its territory was lost amid wars. People from the other countries said Bureti would perish in time, but Bureti, which moved to Nantes’s city, rose.

  Since Nantes itself was the first settlement to be established in the country, there were many magic traces within the city, the floating garden with the first queen built with magic, the main buildings built in the shape of a magic circle, and even the wizards.

  However, wizards’ use decreased a lot compared to before, so it was a level where they were being called scholars. What was different from the ordinary scholars was that these would continuously try to create something like inventors.

  In the past, it was given to those who mastered creation magic like wind and fire, but now everyone who created something would be a wizard.

  But right now, no one knew about the magic of the old days, but people who followed it stilled with honor and pride.

  What was it? A strange feeling.

  “It is fine. It is the magic which protects us.”


  My aunt, the queen, took care of me so well that I began to feel like a burden to them. It was a sight to see, and they asked me to come to the palace, but I refused since the information would pass to dad. Although I didn’t have much time and couldn’t see much, I felt sad that I was away from them for so long.

  “Aunt, don’t you have to get going?”


  “No. Not yet!”


  “But……”


  However, the maid at her back was glaring at my aunt and me.

  I was feeling burdened. Sighing, my aunt looked back.

  “I will get going then.”


  “I won’t cause any problems.”


  I felt bad as my aunt left the room after hugging me. My grandfather smiled as he watched us.

  I felt burdened by my aunt’s excessive kindness, but I began to regret the moment she left my sight.

  I was in the city for sightseeing, but I spent more time with my grandfather and aunt, whom I might never meet again. I should say it was all extraordinary, but I liked it. Never did I dream of enjoying life like this.

  “It’s interesting. The fact that the city is a magic circle which protects the place.”


  “We protect not just the city but the surrounding lands too. Farming lands included, so even if the barrier gets activated and the way out is completely blocked, we would be able to live self-sufficiently.”


  Wizards were still told to research and study the perfection of the permanent barrier. Obviously, the barrier was different because the 1st queen created it, but the barrier or the secret behind it couldn’t be solved to date.

  Well, it was all magic.

  “Grandfather, do you know about the curse my mother placed on my father?”


  I didn’t know why I thought about it. I just asked, hoping that grandfather would know something.

  “You don’t know?”


  “Yes, I don’t.”


  I had been around my dad for a long time, and my dad was still quick to move around, and nothing had changed. Ah, even his obsession with me hadn’t changed.

  Well, it wasn’t like my dad’s obsessed with me because of the curse.

  “Magic is a fragile power.”


  Grandfather put down the teacup he was holding.

  “Yet it can accomplish unachievable things, but the fundamentals of it are really weak.”


  “And what is that?”


  “A man’s hope, wish, and will.”


  My grandfather grasped my hand.

  “Those fundamentals, when used, can move the entire world; that’s magic.”


  I wanted to ask what the difference was, and my grandfather showed a severe expression on his face.

  Something that small could move a world?

  It seemed like a baseless story. That was magic?

  “Ezelan had no other choice but to protect you.”


  His face darkened.

  “And since you are alive and well, the curse on your father has been in motion.”


  His gaze softened again.

  He wasn’t serious anymore, but he looked at me as if wondering how I was coping with his words.

  “Your existence is proof that your mother did a good job of protecting you.”


  It was something I never thought of. I never imagined that my father’s curse and I were connected.

  I just kept thinking that it was something between my mom and dad.

  Suddenly, my throat went dry. I only learned about the truth after coming into Bureti. The reason why my mother gave birth to me and why she went that far to protect me. The fact I never learned.

  Bureti had the witch’s lineage.

  My aunt said that she couldn’t have children because of her weak body, so my aunt was the one who decided to travel to Agrient as a concubine.

  However, her body couldn’t handle leaving the house for more than an hour, and in the end, my mother decided to go to Agrient instead.

  As an unrecognized concubine of another country, my mother risked giving birth to me to send me back to her country for my safety.

  She never managed to return.

  “Would my mom protect me even if I was a boy?”


  I knew that was a stupid question, but I had to know.

  After all, the lineage of witches ‘ blood only extended to women. If I was born a boy, would she have thrown me away because I was useless?

  “It didn’t matter if I was a son or daughter. The important thing……”


  My grandfather reached my hand, trying not to make me feel anxious.

  “You really are Ezelan’s daughter.”


  I wanted to cry. I took a deep breath, trying to hold back my tears.

  “I really.”


  Why did I never try to find out the truth?

  “.…… was stupid.”


  I wasn’t the real child. I should have at least tried to find out the truth! She was the one who didn’t hesitate to die for me.

  I was speechless. I decided to stay silent until I could hold back my tears, but all my attempts were futile. I bowed my head and covered my face with both hands.

  “Stupid.”


  Really stupid of me.

  Only to realize then that I was loved. To receive such overflowing love.

  Indeed, I was the stupidest person in the world.