Serena and the Mysterious Labyrinth - Chapter 109

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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109. Curses Are Not to Be Cast Carelessly (4)

A curse?

Prince Willow gracefully pointed to himself with his hand rather than just a finger.

“Are you saying that I am under a curse?”

According to Duke Pein, Prince Willow’s maternal grandfather, his only grandson had been restless even in his mother’s womb.

The prince had such a light disposition that he deserved such words, unable to endure serious and heavy atmospheres.

“Of course I’m under a curse. The deadly curse called love.”

Prince Willow tried to change the mood by throwing out a light joke.

But Princess Serena was not an easy opponent.

“Except for love. The deadly curse part is right. You won’t survive today.”

Setting aside her sudden use of informal speech, Princess Serena’s orange eyes swept over the prince like a butcher’s eyes appraising meat quality.

Wherever those orange eyes touched, he felt as if his bones, skin, tendons, and flesh were being dissected.

‘What is this?’

Prince Willow fell into a state of tension he had never experienced before. He hurriedly looked for someone to help him, but that person wasn’t looking at the prince.

“Your Highness the Princess. Did the Labyrinth God truly tell you this?”

“Yes. Prince Willow is under a very dangerous curse that threatens his life.”

Grey asked seriously, neither mocking nor dismissing Princess Serena’s words.

From the prince’s perspective, this was more surprising than the princess suddenly acting strange.

The princess, who overwhelmed the gathering with her strange charisma and stood in the center of the lobby, declared again.

“The prince will die if he leaves the lobby. To survive, he must either stay in the lobby or escape the labyrinth.”

That’s right. The safe zone the Labyrinth God mentioned was precisely the lobby.

‘The hint was big enough to make it quite easy to figure out.’

Without the hint, she would have felt overwhelmed at having to search the entire labyrinth.

But the hint about the darkest place being under the lamp blatantly revealed the answer.

Monsters don’t come to the lobby, and items purchased from the shop can only be installed in the lobby.

This lobby was the safe zone that typically appears in labyrinth or tower climbing stories.

Serena was pleased to have found a way to keep the prince alive, but the prince listening seemed displeased.

Prince Willow hid his bewildered feelings and asked Serena back.

“Are you saying that the Labyrinth God told you I’m under a dangerous curse and shouldn’t leave the lobby, Your Highness?”

“That’s right.”

Serena maintained her informal speech. Come to think of it, she had no need to be polite to the 5th Prince.

‘We were originally of similar status, but I have divinity added to that. I’m higher ranked?’

If he’s displeased, let him take it up with the god. If he has the intelligence to complain to the Labyrinth God while in the labyrinth, then so be it.

“Hmm, Your Highness Serena. While your kind and beautiful heart in worrying about my life is truly admirable, I am not under any curse.”

Prince Willow seemed to think Serena was trying to engage in a power struggle because of yesterday’s events (pretending to visit graves to win hearts, acting as if the engagement was confirmed).

But that was a newcomer’s misjudgment, having not yet completed his initiation.

Grey, who had already finished his initiation, spoke with a half-believing expression.

“Your Highness, there’s a way to check if you’re under a curse.”

“Grey. I carry so many amulets with me, how could I be cursed?”

“Please stay still.”

Grey requested several items.

First, clean water and a bowl to hold it. Lavenda drew water from the fountain into a wooden bowl she had been hastily carving for the prince.

Next, salt. Count Randy ground rock salt and dissolved it in the water.

They needed to burn mana grass, but this was substituted with Lavenda’s aromatic incense.

Finally, a golden needle. Count Randy traded one of his accessories on the scale for this. Olive shed tears of regret even though it wasn’t her item.

Grey sank the aromatic incense containing mana grass components into the salt water, then stood the golden needle on the water’s surface. The needle’s point submerged in the water while the half with the eye floated.

“This can tell us whether there’s a curse or not.”

The knowledgeable child threaded string through the end of the golden needle and tied it to his finger. The water was clean.

“Hmm, this worked well. Your Highness.”

At Grey’s request, Prince Willow extended his hand with a resigned expression.

The child’s small hands moved busily as he tied the string to the prince’s finger.

Then something amazing happened. The golden needle thrashed up and down like a fishing hook that had caught a large fish, and the water in the bowl began to rot like the sewage water from the 6th floor!

Instantly, the fishy smell of rotting water rose up and the golden needle turned black.

When Grey touched the needle, it crumbled apart. The corroded remains of the golden needle floated on the rotting water.

“The water has rotted! What on earth!”

“Wow, anyone can see this is cursed, right? Even a blind person could tell from the smell.”

“I’ll need to make a new bowl.”

Lavenda, unable to bear the frozen atmosphere, fled to a corner under the excuse of needing to work.

Then Grey cried out.

“Who is it! Who dared to cast such a vicious curse on His Highness! This is!”

Grey writhed his small body in anguish.

“This is a divine punishment-level curse!”

“Could it actually be divine punishment?”

When Olive asked if it might be actual divine punishment rather than divine punishment-level, Grey twisted his whole body in denial.

“No! With divine punishment, the water would boil! This is a curse cast by a person!”

“Oh, really? Well~ for someone at the level of an imperial prince, one or two curses are nothing~”

“This goes beyond that level! It contains personal malice!”

Grey’s hand moved toward Prince Willow’s ear.

“May I whisper in your ear for a moment, Your Highness?”

“Grey, let’s talk, let’s talk. Let’s use words!”

Prince Willow was dragged to a corner of the lobby in an awkward position with Grey grabbing his ear.

‘Does he intend to hide his identity or not?’

What could he be interrogating the prince about? When Serena looked over curiously, Olive gestured and moved her lips.

‘I told you not to flirt with just anyone! How do your eyes roll the moment you see a skirt?’

Whether she was really saying that or Olive was just making up random words, Serena focused on the guide’s lips since it was entertaining anyway.

‘It wasn’t just anyone! I truly loved them!’

‘You loved all the women you met? Why is your love so light! If you treat love so lightly, this is what happens!’

‘They cursed me? That can’t be! We all parted on good terms!’

‘Then when a prince you’re dating says let’s break up, would you say no? You’d curse behind his back!’

‘You can scold me, but those people are truly innocent! They’re all good people who don’t know how to cast curses!’

‘Then who is it!’

‘I don’t know!’

‘Tell me honestly! Did you do something seriously wrong?’

‘I’m really wronged! We only danced! I didn’t even kiss them!’

Getting kicked in the shins and mercilessly pinched in the sides.

It was hard to find any trace of the wonderful leader the party had witnessed yesterday in Prince Willow’s appearance, cornered in the lobby.

‘He’s hitting him where it can’t be seen. Poor thing.’

Everyone thought this and pitied the prince, but soon realized they couldn’t.

Since Serena’s words about the prince being cursed were true, her words about dying if he left the lobby were also real.

Why would Grey be beating the prince in a corner of the lobby instead of taking him to the cave or labyrinth? It was all because of love(?) and loyalty(?).

“Whew.”

When Grey turned around, everyone pretended not to have seen, turning their bodies, gazes, and heads as if focusing on other things.

Only Olive covered her mouth with her hand and tried not to laugh.

“Pfft! Snicker!”

Correction. She pretended to try while mocking the prince. Prince Willow’s face reddened.

“Your Highness the Princess. I apologize for not believing Your Highness and the god’s words and asking repeatedly.”

Grey politely bowed his head to Serena with proper etiquette. Prince Willow followed suit.

“Could you please tell us more details about the curse our Prince Willow has received?”

“Hmm. Actually, I only know that the prince is under a deadly curse and won’t last a day if left alone.”

“What exactly do you mean when you say leaving the lobby right now would mean death?”

Serena turned around in place, looking around the lobby.

“This lobby is a sacred space protected by the Labyrinth God. Within the lobby, the curse placed on the prince won’t activate.”

“Then. Does that mean His Highness Willow can never leave this lobby for the rest of his life?”

“He told me that the curse on the prince becomes stronger within the labyrinth. It should be fine once he leaves the labyrinth. However, leaving the labyrinth doesn’t break the curse, so even if he escapes here, he mustn’t enter other labyrinths.”

Grey and Prince Willow’s faces became serious. Count Randy, who was listening from behind, looked the same.

When discussing the Empire, labyrinths are the most essential thing that cannot be overlooked.

That’s why the Empire operates special labyrinth conquest units, and royalty sometimes participates in labyrinth conquests to boost the morale of the conquest teams and encourage the members.

It wasn’t for nothing that Prince Willow immediately stepped forward to pay respects to the deceased upon seeing the tombstone with a name on it. He had done similar things before.

In such an Empire, a prince being unable to enter labyrinths was a serious disqualification for royalty. The Emperor’s favor would disappear with the wind.

“Is there a way to break it? Don’t you know?”

“It’s a curse that becomes practically nonexistent once you leave the labyrinth. I didn’t hear of any way to break it.”

“Grr!”

Grey gritted his teeth in frustration, more upset than Prince Willow who was the one facing death.

“Who on earth! We clearly said this side has no interest in the throne…!”

‘Sorry. It was me.’

That’s why you should have been careful with your conduct in foreign countries.

Not knowing there were watching eyes from foreign countries, making a prince kneel caused strange rumors to spread and led to ridiculous misunderstandings.

The young man’s hand landed on Grey’s small shoulders as he made grinding sounds in anger and distress.

“Don’t worry too much. Fortunately, there’s no threat to life once we leave the labyrinth. Grandfather will surely find a way to weaken or break the curse.”

“Mmm. Right. Maybe we can obtain magical tools or holy water that can break or weaken curses in the labyrinth.”

There’s nothing that can be done right now, even if we get angry while deducing the culprit.

As Grey’s shoulders drooped, Prince Willow gazed at Serena with his mysterious blue-grey eyes.

‘Has he regained some composure?’

Whether he was more bold than expected or still hadn’t fully grasped the situation, his recovery speed was fast.

“Unfortunately, having become unable to leave the lobby, I can no longer help Your Highness Serena conquer the labyrinth.”

“It’s fine.”

I hadn’t expected much anyway since he kept dying.

‘Besides, he’s a magic swordsman but only 3-star. Combining the two doesn’t make him stronger, it just makes both magic and swordsmanship mediocre.’

The prince gave a bitter smile at Serena’s continued informal speech, then spoke with dignity.

“Even if I cannot leave the lobby, I will strive not to become a burden.”

For the prince who said such admirable words, Serena had prepared a gift. It’s definitely not compensation money.

“The Labyrinth God! Seeing the prince’s diligent attitude, gives a gift to encourage him!”

“A tree that bears meat?”

“Is there perhaps a tree that produces clothes too?”

“Me! I want a fountain that produces alcohol! Yes!”

The people gathered in the lobby each shouted what they wanted. Even Grey harbored hope and said this:

“Will he perhaps break the curse?”

Sorry to Grey who had expectations, but the god’s gift is bullshit and it’s actually a product Serena ordered.

“Here! Over here!”

Serena installed the item she purchased from the shop window in a corner of the lobby.

A white and pure body, displaying flexible and elegant curves. A triumph of human civilization.

A flush toilet appeared with a pop.

“The god has bestowed a toilet upon the prince!”

Seeing the toilet that Serena chose as a gift for the prince who was trapped in the lobby and couldn’t even go to the restroom, laughter burst from the prince’s mouth.

“Hahahaha!”

At first it seemed like he was laughing from absurdity, but the laughter grew bigger and became genuine laughter.

Prince Willow held his stomach and laughed with a refreshed face. Even if not by choice, isn’t it true that you feel lighter when you put down the burden you were carrying?

“A god! A toilet! Puhahahaha!”

The prince wiped away the tears that had gathered in his eyes from laughing too much.

“Really! Kheuheu! Thank you! Puhat!”

Serena felt good that the prince liked the gift.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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