6
Emilia was sure that she could feel a strange irregularity in Sylphy's heartbeat. That could only mean one thing - with the help of the Authority, Regulus had connected his heart to the golden-haired girl's heart. However, it was she herself who was most shocked.
- My... heart? - she choked out confused. She turned pale and wobbled until Emilia had to hold her down. - Are you sure? - she whispered with difficulty.
The half elf nodded, feeling that she was taking away her remaining hope.
- The spirits said your heart beats differently than others. I can feel it too. It sounds like an echo...
- How much longer is this sadist going to torment me! - she cried out, clutching her dress to her chest. Her voice trembled with hatred and anger.
Suddenly she moved away from Emilia and with a strange expression on her face she quickly reached for something that was lying on the ground.
- So be it. I could have done it right from the start.
She was holding a piece of glass from a shattered temple window.
- Wait! Wait! What do you want to do!
- What an irony... - Sylphy turned the sharp end towards her neck with a smile. - I always watched him carefully. I hoped that this way I could anticipate his outburst of anger and avoid death. What I wanted most in the world was not for him to kill me, so now I knew very well what he was up to.
- But... what...
- You won't grasp this. This man loved to project his own problems onto his "wives". He loved it when we had no choice. Now he did the same thing. He dumped the responsibility on us," she sneered.
Emilia understood nothing of Sylphy's argument, but she was frightened by the look on her face.
She shouldn't smile like that. Never. It's a bad smile.
- To stop his heart, you have to stop mine too.
- Ah...
- He would say something about how even death will not separate us....
Sylphy had lived with Regulus for many years. She was well aware of the enormity of his cruelty. She knew she would not be able to escape.
- No! Please, stop! Surely there is a way!
- It doesn't. Miracles don't happen, no magic will help. He's already made sure I have no escape route. You have to stop two hearts that have been joined into one.
- How can you say that! I hate this! I can't let you do this! Why do you think I left this forest! - Emilia begged.
Sylphy, however, had already made up her mind. She ignored the half elf's voice like the noise of the street.
Again someone must die because of my helplessness, my ignorance! Again I cannot save someone... Like that time in the forest when Fortune and Juice died... Still someone pays with their life because they have to deal with something instead of me!
- He chose me... He took me away from home... What followed was really, really difficult," Sylphy said again, this time more calmly, as if she were preparing for the coming end. - I did everything I could not to make him angry. I pretended not to see the horrors he was committing... I welcomed more and more brides... ...and wondered how I could protect other girls who found themselves in the same situation. That's what the wives who welcomed me when I joined this nightmare did.
So she hasn't been there forever! There were others before her who took command to protect the others. Sylphy continued their work, she became the authority. I was only able to do all this because of her.
- He mentally abused us but never consummated the marriage.... I thought to myself, at least that's it, because I wouldn't take it anymore. It cost me so much to listen to him talk.... I put up with it every day, every day, every day! - She bit her lip and raised her head. Tears as big as peas were dripping from her eyes. The anger that burned within her was so powerful that even those drops were hot. - And now I found that it had even entered my heart! I thought I had at least protected my body from him! We will always be his slaves! - she screamed, clutching the glass shard until blood trickled down her trembling hands. The girl squirmed with pain, but immediately a smile full of satisfaction appeared on her face. - He believes that even the smallest wound disqualifies a woman. He punished death for a small scratch.... It's proof that I'm free! You're a good girl, Emilia. I am very grateful to you for what you did for us, but this is the only way I can repay him for all those days - she explained, putting her bloody hand on her chest and soiling her white dress.
She turned to the other ex-wives.
- Only Regulus is capable of loving Regulus. He wouldn't single any of us out. I'm sure this heart is in me only by accident. When I die, it will transfer to one of you.
- I'm sure it will... - whispered one of them. It was a girl with wavy, chestnut hair. She stepped forward and, like Sylphy before her, picked up a shard of glass from the floor. - I've thought about suicide so many times... - Suffering was reflected in her eyes. - Could such a life even be called a life? Isn't it better to die and join the family?
- I didn't do it because I didn't want to die," said another. - It would have freed me from suffering, but... I was afraid of nothingness.
- If my death can cause him even a little suffering... it will not have been in vain," said another.
One by one they stepped forward to pick up pieces of glass from the ground. In them they saw hope, a chance to direct their lives.
- He certainly has no other wives than us gathered in this temple. He is not that clever or careful. That I can guarantee. It will end with us," Sylphy announced. She breathed a few times to calm her shaky breath, then bowed her head to Emilia.
- Please punish him in our name. Let him feel our wrath. Only you can do this... He wanted you too, but you managed to reject him.
The half elf felt a pain in her chest. All the ex-wives held sharp shards in their hands, pointing them towards their necks, about to take their own lives. She couldn't let them do that.
- Wait! - she called out powerfully, literally and figuratively. At the same moment, ice hands shot up from the floor and overpowered the girls.
- Please understand! I'm glad you want to save us, but there's no other way! - screamed a clearly desperate Sylphy. They only had their own lives to live.
I understand why they think they have to die. But surely there is another way out... Think, Emilia, think!
- Sorry. It'll be different,
- Hm?
- Subaru would definitely find a better way, but I'm not that smart. I only have one idea," Emilia whispered, and with her words, silver lights began to dance in the air. The spirits were taking physical form thanks to the mana. There were more and more of them, until they filled the entire space of the ruined temple, turning it into a magical land.
The girls watched the magic show with delight.
- I will stop your hearts. I will not allow you to suffer by dying this way," said the half elf, and then raised her hands. The spirits immediately gathered around her, and snow began to fall in the temple.
Emilia reached for the cruel yet gentle magic that only she could use.
- I'm sorry. It's the only way I can do it.
- Don't apologize," Sylphy replied.
She already knew what was about to happen. They all felt the same.
- Thank you," they said in chorus, looking at Emilia.
It was their last word. Everything in the temple was covered by a sparkling layer of white.
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