Chapter 4: The Witch’s Feast
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Faust immediately realized what had happened.
At once, he steadied his breathing and asked cautiously, “You are…?”
This is not another hallucination too, is it? I am genuinely a little afraid now.
【Child of Man, still the doubts in your heart. I am no false illusion, but the very Fae with whom you have formed a contract…】
As though to prove the truth of those words, Faust felt the skin where the sigil lay grow hotter and hotter. A wave of warmth swept across the surface of his body, and he gradually calmed down.
The prince let out a long breath. “Your Grace… I have made a fool of myself before you.”
Though he had inherited the sigil from his exceedingly valuable adoptive father, Faust had never placed much hope in it. More than anything, he had regarded it as a symbol of royal authority.
After all, the old king had received only a handful of revelations over the course of decades.
Such a frequency could scarcely be called useful.
Even if he supposedly possessed the “talent to be favored by the Fae,” deep down Faust had still never expected too much from them. It was best not to place too much hope in power that could not be firmly grasped by one’s own hands.
Yet he had not expected to establish contact with the Fae so quickly. It seemed this “talent” of his was not false after all.
Once he had calmed himself, Faust brought up what had just happened. “What did you mean earlier by bewitchment? Did she hypnotize me?”
His condition earlier had obviously not been right. If the girl had some sort of hypnosis app in hand, then everything would make sense.
Good. She actually dared to use hypnosis on me!
Anger rose at once in the prince’s heart. Though he had no way to deal with it himself, he was now connected to one of the Fae. No matter how strange and sinister the spell, could a Fae truly not resolve it?
Faust immediately appealed for help. “Your Grace! Please help me. To be targeted by such an evil spell truly leaves me unable to sit or stand in peace!”
Yet the answer the Fae gave left Faust dumbfounded.
【A spell? Child of Man, you should know that it was no spell at all, but the work of fate…】
“Fate?”
Faust froze. “What do you mean?”
He had already more or less guessed that the Fae would not agree to his request so readily.
But he had not expected such a baffling word in reply.
【In principle, I should not speak of such things to a Child of Man, but you have already awakened, and so…】
After a brief silence, the Fae spoke softly beside Faust’s ear.
【Do you believe in fate?】
Fate. There was nothing strange about that word…
Everyone used it all the time. In Faust’s view, it was little more than an excuse people used to complain or absolve themselves.
But now that the Fae had mentioned it, he vaguely sensed something and drew his brows together.
Without waiting for the prince to answer, the Fae continued:
【The Wheel of Fate does exist. It is the ultimate truth that governs all things, the underlying logic by which the world itself operates…】
“The Wheel of Fate?”
【To put it in terms a Child of Man can understand, the Wheel of Fate is a 「script」. Only by passing through hardship, trial, adventure, and twists of fortune within it can one receive its gifts…】
Faust said at once, “That much I do know. In the legends, the Fae set down trials of fate for mortals, preparing all manner of challenges and ordeals for them.”
That was common knowledge known in every household. The legendary tales created by those who underwent such trials were known as 「Heroic Tales」, and in any kingdom, they were an indispensable part of life.
Even Faust’s exceedingly valuable adoptive father, the founding monarch of the Kingdom of Cleartide, had once been the protagonist of a 「Heroic Tale」.
It was precisely because the Fae stood in such a posture, as though they judged and ordained all things, that mortals regarded those ancient beings with such profound awe.
Yet from the Fae’s own mouth, the truth was entirely different:
【Child of Man, you always regard us Fae as lofty beings above all others, believing us to be gods who manipulate fate itself. But that is not the truth. Between us and you, there is neither superiority nor inferiority, only different roles performed upon the stage of fate. Our duty is merely to offer guidance and blessings to those who walk their destined path…】
【Whether Child of Man or Fae, beneath the tides of fate that surge like the sea, all are no more than humble servants…】
Hearing this, Faust fell silent, rubbing at his chin as he sank into thought. Only after a moment did sudden understanding dawn on him.
“I understand now. That is why I was drawn to that girl and came to feel such fervent love for her, is it not?”
【You accept it quickly. Most awakened Children of Man find it very difficult at first to truly believe in the Wheel of Fate. They would rather conclude that their abnormal state was caused by some spell…】
If this had happened before, Faust would certainly have remained half-convinced at best, unwilling to accept something as vague and intangible as “fate.”
But… damn it, Cinderella herself had shown up. He had no choice but to believe it. In a fairy-tale world, destiny was far too central!
A prince had to fall in love with Cinderella at first sight. Otherwise, the “story” could never continue!
Faust drew in a deep breath. “So the reason you chose me is that I am the protagonist of the next stage upon fate’s stage?”
【The protagonist…?】
The Fae’s tone turned slightly strange as they answered:
【I regret to say that in the script of fate now being performed, the true protagonists are the witches…】
“The witches?”
Faust froze. His first thought was of a “female mage,” but he immediately rejected the idea. A concept singled out so pointedly by the Fae could not possibly be something so shallow.
Fortunately, this Fae did not seem to be the sort who delighted in being mysterious merely for the sake of it. In a voice like a whispered song beside the prince’s ear, they said:
【Beloved of the witches, these words I speak to you alone…】
【Witches are destined to attain happiness. In accordance with their own hearts, they twist the boundary between reality and illusion, all to fulfill a burning love…】
【They will not allow their innocence and passion to end in vain, and for that sake, they will overturn all things if they must…】
【Even among the scripts of fate, there are distinctions of precedence and rank. Most scripts of fate require the guidance and direction of us Fae. But when it comes to any fate connected to witches, no Fae can interfere, no Fae can comprehend it. We may only follow and observe…】
【Borrowing the words of you Children of Man, such a destiny ought to be called a 「Witch’s Feast」.】
Faust blinked. “So the reason you chose to contract with me…”
【Though you are merely a supporting figure upon the stage of fate, I thought that if I stayed by your side, I might witness something interesting. That is all.】
The Fae’s blunt words wounded Faust deeply. The proud prince was truly unwilling to admit that he counted as nothing more than a supporting character, and that even the reason the Fae had taken an interest in him was simply because he might provide some amusement.
But on second thought… a prince really was the purest sort of supporting character in a fairy tale.
He did not need a name. He did not need characterization. The prince existed only to become the perfect partner of the heroine, the ultimate reward bestowed upon her.
Good heavens, I have truly been looked down upon.
Worse still, he could not even refute it!
Clutching at his chest, Faust sighed in frustration and shook his head again and again.
【Why be so sorrowful, Child of Man? To awaken within the fate of a witch is a miracle without precedent since time immemorial. You may take pride in that.】
Faust gave a bitter smile. “I merely find it troublesome. Learning such secrets all at once has made the difficulty of realizing my ideals increase by more than tenfold.”
The Fae asked curiously:
【And what ideals do you possess?】
At the mention of that, the prince answered without the slightest hesitation, “Need you even ask? Naturally, I intend to conquer the world and rule all beneath heaven!”