Viola's power shines blindingly as she uses it on the afflicted woman. Luckily, she no longer coughs when talks, her complexion is turning less sickly and she could tell that her organs are recovering. But her physical appearance hasn't changed as it is irreversible. She is well enough to work but has Viola almost at her side constantly for a purifying session.
"Your Highness, it is time for your medicine." The maid, whose name is Julia by the way, says.
"Hm" The woman leaves her desk and Viola follows her, still using her ability on her, towards a nearby table where the meal is. Even though the curse is disappearing, it is still not fully gone as it can relapse if not fully treated. Viola stopped as she watches her consume her medicine. After this, she will have a healing session and consultation from a doctor, hoping to regain her old appearance again.
"You are dismissed now. Please return in the next two hours after your break."
Viola nodded and quickly walk to her room without stopping and collapse on her bed where Lisa was waiting for her with a tray of food at the table.
"Rough session?"
"Yes, it was tough especially since she wants it multiple times a day but at least she is not in pain anymore."
Lisa scoffed as Viola began walking up to the table, massaging her arm. "Well, I could see that no amount of magic is gonna bring her nose back." she says mockingly, "The Crown Princess couldn't leave the court for too long without anyone worrying where she could have gone. The rumors must be quite interesting."
"The walls have ears, you know." Viola warns her while cutting up a steak, "You could be detained for that. You know that the Princess is sensitive."
"Well, I still find it hard to believe that woman is the Princess Georgina. There are a lot of speculation and rumors of why she hasn't appeared in court, but this is something else. Amaryllis told me you're sharp but not this sharp. I still don't understand how your powers work."
Viola could guess that her abductor's identity was Princess Georgina because of the state of this place. Nobles who wish to hide could hide in their own homes, but in a place this far from any settlement could mean that she also wishes to hide from her own family. And a building like this is big enough to be a castle especially in a place remote like this and close to the border, which is more habitable and easier to live in this cold hellscape. Also, this woman gives off the same vibe as the deceased prince Alphonso. She cannot explain it, but she could tell they are related somewhat.
Luckily the princess is quite accommodating towards her and Lisa. Instead of a cold cell, she gets a room fitting for a noble guest. After arranging her room to resemble her old room, she began feeling a bit more comfortable. She and Lisa are also given certain privileges like sending letters with the condition of not sharing any confidential, exploitive information or any hints and traces of her condition. The reason? The princess knew that she would be discovered for kidnapping the saintess whether she puts in the effort to hide it or not. The least she could do is to minimalize the potential damage, to make herself more appealing and hospitable and become less of a villainess. She cannot understand her thoughts no matter how much she tried. Perhaps a life growing up entirely tied to politics have them acting different than others. Lisa sent a letter to Amy telling her what had happened, but she wrote it in a way that is clever enough to actually pass the inspection and now once Amy gets it, she could send help. Lisa insists her method is a mercenary secret and refuses to elaborate further.
The truth is that she bears no grudge against her. Sure, she was kidnapped but at least the reason wasn't malicious and she didn't threaten her with death or an ultimatum. She could understand her situation as she has duties and obligation as a princess who probably has a lot of enemies in court. Hekaton is known for its messy politics after all. Not to mention, she did promise that she will return her back home and Viola could tell that she is honest.
But she did hide one thing; she held back her power. She has been trying to buy time for her own rescue due to the uncertainty of her fate if she were to fully cure the princess and also from sensing everyone around her who are unsure what to do with her. Viola tried to follow her sister's example but rather than being difficult because of her inability to, it is because she is almost constantly watched, leaving her almost incapable of trying.
She spent her time in the Iron Villa studying and removing the curse which may be slow acting but awfully hardy. She had to explain, also lie, many times that while the purification dance is powerful, it is only because of its ability to increase its range equally, not just necessarily the power so she has to continually purify her body every hour because this curse isn't easy to purify. Once a day isn't enough. She has to constantly put her power into this until the curse is completely eradicated.
According to Julia, the curse was a product of forbidden blood magic that is difficult to detect because it is easily diagnosed as syphilis. The method of getting the curse is the same method that anyone could get syphilis and the method of casting it is of inappropriate nature. The first step requires the sacrifice of at least two people who slept with the same person. It would not work on someone who is chaste or if they only slept with one partner. Next their mixed blood is used as an ingredient for the ritual. A magic circle is drawn on the lower stomach and with an incantation cast on the blood, it will basically turn the person into a catalyst targeting only the person that the sacrifices have slept with. That person would then sleep with the target and pass on the curse to them. As for the caster themselves, they would be unaffected, and it would not pass on to someone who is not the target.
But because syphilis now has a cure, it became much easier to narrow down whether it is a disease or a curse. The reason why she knew it isn't syphilis is because she has been careful. She may be unmarried, but she isn't chaste and has admitted that she had liaisons with multiple men yet she nor her partners didn't contract the disease. As her condition deteriorates to the point of being critical, she must have grown desperate to see her only cure be a purification user. Everyone who knew about it has died as she kept this a secret. The Princess has been suffering from this for years which would explain why they brought a purification user to Hekaton.
Viola finished her food quickly and looked out the snowy bright window with astonishment, sensing a familiar presence. "It looks like they are coming." she murmured in a daze.
Lisa's eyes perked up as she stared out the window, expecting to see something though look back at her in disappointment. "What do you mean they're coming? Who's coming?"
Her gaze is fixated out the window, unseeing but all knowing.
*
In the far distance, a large group of people are traveling together in this icy terrain with Rufus.
Rufus looks at his companions and took off his goggles.
"Are we there yet?" Sabina complained behind him followed by many other traveling companions including other friends and soldiers.
"We're almost there." Rufus replied with a smile as he lifts his hand up, summoning a portal, "Let's rest for tonight."