Chapter 58: The Golden Festival That Should Have Been Joyful

On the morning of the Golden Festival’s long-awaited day...

Father and Mother arrived at the Starkburg Ducal Estate, where I’d been staying.

The reason? I’d asked them to bring the dress I would wear for the festival—a request they’d gladly accepted.

"Iris… or rather, Y’lis. We have prepared raiment befitting thy divine presence for this profane revelry. Adorn thyself, and let the masses bear witness to thy magnificence… Fufuhihihi!"

As usual, their laughter carried an eerie edge, but they had gone out of their way to prepare a dress just for me.

"Thank you, Father. Mother."

"Iris… or rather, Y’lis. Might we request the honor of beholding thee in this attire before thy departure?"

"Of course! I’ll go change right away."

I slipped into the dress they’d brought—and it was stunning. Modest yet far from plain, elegant in a way that perfectly satisfied my desire to dress up as the girl I’d worked so hard to become.

"Well? How do I look, Father? Mother?"

I spun lightly before them, letting the fabric sway.

"Oho…! Magnificent! Truly, Iris—nay, Y’lis—thy beauty and grandeur know no bounds. Our joy shall be as endless as the cosmos itself!"

"Lovely, my dear. Simply exquisite. Thy radiance is a delight beyond even our expectations… Fufufu…"

Their satisfied smiles mirrored my own.

"Father, Mother… After today’s festival, I’ll be leaving the capital. We’ll be parted for a time, but someday… let’s live together again, all three of us."

"Indeed. We shall await that day with eternal anticipation, Iris."

Once the festival ended, I’d either seek refuge with the Rosenkreuz Society or carve out a life on my own. That meant leaving Father and Mother behind, too.

"We are family, always. Should hardship find thee, return to us."

"I will."

With those final words, they departed the estate.

"Lady Iris? Are you ready?"

Felix’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as he stepped into view.

"Yes! What do you think of the dress?"

"…You’re beautiful. Truly."

A faint blush colored his cheeks as he nodded.

"Thank you, Lord Felix."

"Shall we head to the academy, then?"

"Mm! I’m all prepared!"

Gifts in hand, heart light—today was the Golden Festival, a day to revel in joy! Nothing could possibly go wrong~!

Karl, patriarch of House Rauchenstein, and his wife Anneliese rode toward their estate in a carriage accompanied by their maid.

"Anneliese... Iris—no, Y’lis—was truly radiant today. Yet further proof of her divine majesty."

"Indeed. The hymns praising her existence shall never cease... Fufufu..."

Though their laughter carried an eerie resonance, their conversation was unmistakably that of doting parents.

"Master. Mistress."

The maid’s sharp interruption cut through the moment.

"...This presence—Claudia."

The air around the carriage grew thick, saturated with the cloying sweetness of rotting fruit—the telltale sign of the high-ranking witch’s proximity.

"What are your orders?"

"I suspected this confrontation would come. Let us settle matters here."

At Anneliese’s question, Karl stepped out of the carriage.

"Karl. So you’ve finally abandoned the pursuit of knowledge, I hear."

Before them stood Claudia, her lips twisted in a sinister smile. An oppressive, otherworldly force radiated from her, yet Karl and Anneliese remained unfazed.

"We are devotees of Iris—no, Y’lis. If our god wills it, we shall set aside our pursuits for a time. But you and your ilk, who recklessly gorge on knowledge without discernment... you are not so inclined, are you, Claudia, leader of the Witch Association?"

"Correct. We of the Witch Association never cease our pursuit. No matter what the gods decree. We will not rest until we unveil the furthest reaches of truth. It seems we are no longer compatible, Karl."

"Then what do you propose?"

"You shall serve as sacrifices to awaken Iris—no, Y’lis. Do not resent this. It is necessary for us to obtain higher knowledge, to grasp the ultimate truth."

As Claudia spoke, magic circles flared to life on the ground. With a sickening, viscous sound, four grotesque summoned creatures emerged.

"Hihahaha! Very well, very well! We shall gladly offer you as a sacrifice to Iris—no, Y’lis! Do not underestimate us, the pure worshippers of our god, witch Claudia!"

Karl, too, summoned his own abominations. The creatures clashed in a frenzy.

The peaceful, joyous year-end that should have been was now on the brink of ruin.

Dressed in my finest gown, I arrived at the academy with Felix by my side.

Today was the Golden Festival—no classes, just a whole day of celebration! Eating delicious food, chatting with friends, dancing to my heart's content~!

"Lord Felix, I'll give you my present later," I said cheerfully.

"Ah. I have a gift for you as well. Look forward to it."

"I will!"

I couldn't wait for the gift exchange. What would everyone give me, I wondered?

Upon arriving at the academy, I headed straight to the classroom.

"Iris! That dress is stunning!" Frieda greeted me.

"Thank you, Frieda! Yours is absolutely lovely too."

"Fufu. Thanks!"

Frieda was dressed to the nines today.

"By the way, you're dancing with Lord Albrecht, right?"

"Of course! I've been looking forward to this day!"

She looked positively radiant now that she and Albrecht were officially together.

"Well then, let me give you your present first—"

"Iris zu Rauchenstein!"

Just as I was about to hand Frieda her gift, Professor Emile burst into the classroom, his voice urgent.

"Wh-what's wrong, Professor?"

"There's an important matter. Come to the faculty office immediately."

"Y-yes..."

What could it be? Did something happen because of me again?

With a growing sense of unease, I followed the professor.

"Miss Iris... I need you to stay calm while you listen. Your parents have been severely injured and taken to Central Capital Hospital. They're in critical condition."

"...What?"

But... I just saw them this morning. They were fine. Everything was fine.

"The hospital requested your presence as family. The academy has prepared a carriage—you must go at once. Understood?"

"...Yes."

What happened? Why...?

My mind swirled with questions as I rushed to the hospital, the carriage rattling beneath me.

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