“Giraus, what are you doing here?”

I asked the pale-faced priest.

“The same reason as you. A cursed being wandering these dreary halls. Though, you fare better than I as you retained your previous appearance.”

His pale skin did not betray showing his wry smile.

“I suppose so. Then there should be no reason for you to call me ‘Your Highness’ correct?”

I answered back.

Still smiling, he replied.

“True, but I suppose old habits die hard. After all, I’ve been with you for so long. Never would I have dreamed the

Wronged Prince to meet his end here. And after all these long years, for us to cross paths once more…”

I heard a sad tone in his voice.

“Wronged Prince?”

“Indeed, that’s what they call you. A year after you left, the truth came out and the villain was punished.”

Hearing that, I gave a long sigh.

“Merely a year? I thought that man would have hidden the truth forever. But I guess some secrets are meant to be heard.”

Giraus laughed a bit.

That archaic and aged voice is really unnatural.

“That would have been so until a certain knight learned the truth. In the end, I suppose only he was truly loyal to you…”

“Knight? So he really did become a knight… I guess I should be content to know someone was loyal to me up until the

very end. Regardless, that should explain a bit as to why you are here.”

“As expected of you, Your Highness. It appears that your wits have not been dulled the slightest. “

“Enough with that.”

I said dismissively.

“As you concluded, a search was carried out to find you. But as you expect, they all failed. Were you always here?”

He asked me inquiringly.

“Indeed, I arrived here some months after exile. And likewise the same as all who perished here, I was killed by that madman.”

I said with indifference.

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After all the years I’ve spent here, I’ve already accepted my death.

“Is that so… So it was all for naught in the end.”

He muttered.

“That aside, this mansion has become a Cursed Area hasn’t it?”

“It has.”

“Then, is there some method to end it?”

Giraus expressed some surprise over my words.

“You wish to end it? Well it is possible… However, there is a price.”

“A price?”

“Yes, if you end the curse, you will return to being a spirit once more.”

“That’s all? Then tell me how to end it.”

I replied immediately.

“You don’t fear that happening? As cursed beings, our existence here is continued by the Curse that lies in this mansion. If it ends, so too will we. Regardless of where you are, so long as the Cursed Area remains, you can continue to exist. Perhaps eternally.”

Existing eternally? That sounds enticing… However,

“I have no need for that. This cursed existence, it’s worse than dying. Rather, it can’t be called living at all.”

I’ve already accepted my end. I have no desire to continue my existence.

“Are you certain? You can even see your sister and parents.”

He said trying to appeal to me.

“I absolutely refuse. Even if those sent to find me succeed, I refuse to return. I’ve already seen through their true colors. I no longer have any desire to see them.”

I said my words strongly.

“Is that so…”

“Indeed, their worrying is naught more than lies. I have no wish to part of their pathetic games anymore. Regardless of whether I lived or died, I will never return.”

I clearly voice out my honest thoughts.

After all,

They betrayed me.

“Very well… If that is how you feel, I won’t try to convince you.”

He cleared his voice.

“I will tell everything I know about Cursed Areas.”