The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 173

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Forsaken Prince’s Phantom Bride
Special Sidestory Episode 7

Lia and her companions made their way to Luna’s dwelling.
It was the most remote cottage in the Witch’s Forest, yet cozy and adorned with meticulous care.
Lia felt an inexplicable longing and nostalgia washing over her as she took in the scene.
While Lia stood before the cottage and gazed vacantly around, Luna let out a soft chuckle.
“You must remember something, however faintly. I landscaped it just like the village where we grew up together.”
“……Together?”
A flicker of sorrow crossed Luna’s eyes.
“Come inside, all of you. I’ll prepare some tea.”
Luna led them into the warm interior and brought out fragrant tea. Flower petals drifted across its surface—a sight as lovely as its aroma.
“Before we talk, let me examine the child’s condition first.”
Luna took Persio from Lia’s arms.
“He’s quite beautiful.”
Following Luna’s smile, Persio giggled in turn.
Luna placed a hand on his head and closed her eyes, exhaling softly.
“Hmm…… He certainly has abundant innate mana. Among witches, a child like this is rare. I’m asking just to be sure, but…… is he Aria’s daughter?”
“Yes, but he’s a son, not a daughter.”
“A son?”
Luna turned back to Persio with genuine surprise.
“Goodness…… I was so certain he was a girl—he’s far too beautiful. When you grow up, you’ll break hearts across the world.”
Ooh!
Persio, understanding nothing, simply babbled.
“A son, though…… That’s quite unusual.”
“Why? Can you not treat the child?”
At Kaiser’s question, Luna shook her head.
“No, that’s not it. Typically, witches bear daughters to carry on the bloodline. We occasionally give birth to sons, but they usually lack magical talent and remain ordinary humans.”
Thus, children born with mana ailments are almost always daughters.
“However…… I’ve heard that three hundred years ago, sons were sometimes born who inherited a witch’s power in full. In such cases, an unprecedented mage of extraordinary strength would arise.”
That was the Golden Age of witches—before the witch hunts began.
Witches existed everywhere then, wielding influence across the world.
“And the father? Who is he?”
“This is Lucian.”
Lia grasped Lucian’s arm—the magic binding him had been released.
“I see. Born to a remarkable witch and a human blessed by dragons—such a child could not help but be exceptional.”
Luna gazed down at Persio with tender eyes.
“There’s something I’ve wondered about since earlier.”
Lia ventured cautiously.
“Do you…… know me?”
“Know you? Aria—the witch who aided the founding of the Adrian Empire, the traitor who sparked the witch hunts themselves?”
Lia’s hands trembled as dark memories surfaced.
“……But before all that, you were my childhood friend from the same village.”
“Childhood…… friend?”
Luna offered a bitter smile and settled into her seat.
“Perhaps you don’t remember because we were so young? Or perhaps the seal stole those memories from you?”
“You know I was sealed?”
“Of course. The first Black Mage raised hell to break your seal. The Grand Witches of that time came to your aid as well.”
Confronted with a past she knew nothing of, Lia could not hide her turmoil. Luna pulled her close in a tender embrace.
“It wasn’t your fault. Though few witches remain who know the truth, everyone understood it was not your doing.”
Lia knew how cruelly Leon had treated the witches. She carried guilt for all those who had perished because of her.
But hearing that from someone who had endured it alongside her—it felt like a knot in her heart was finally loosening.
As tears fell silently from Lia’s eyes, Luna held her even tighter.

.
.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have many memories from childhood. I apologize for not remembering…”
“No, I’m the strange one for remembering events from three hundred years ago.”
Luna recounted stories of childhood adventures—playing in the village with Lia and other friends.
The memories felt distant and wistful, hazy as mist, yet somehow incompletely recalled.
“But…… living for over three hundred years…… I had no idea witches were so long-lived.”
“Well, the stronger you are, the longer you live. Of course, not as long as dragons. And if you wish otherwise, you can live and die like any human.”
“Are you the oldest among the witches?”
At Age’s question, Luna nodded.
“They all perished in the witch hunts. I’m the only one who survived from the hunts’ earliest days. The next oldest is barely one hundred fifty.”
Luna suddenly lifted her gaze back to Lia.
“Now that Aria is here, we have two longest-lived witches.”
“No, I can’t be counted among you. Because of me…… so many witches died.”
“……I won’t deny I harbored resentment once. But now, with witches so precious and rare, your very existence becomes hope for the others. And you seem quite powerful?”
“Beats up dragons and all.”
“Gets beaten up by dragons, she means.”
Kaiser shook his head from the side, prompting Age to click his tongue.
“The witch hunts certainly did terrible damage. Witches today are far weaker than those of old.”
At Age’s words, Luna wore a bitter smile.
“True. The hunts robbed us not only of our kind, but they plundered or burned nearly all of our ancestral magical texts. I’ve passed on what knowledge I could, but I myself was only a young witch during the Golden Age—I lack the depth to fully preserve the essence of the Grand Witches.”
Luna spoke wistfully of how fortunate it would be to find any magical texts. Kaiser stroked his jaw thoughtfully.
“Magical texts…… Aren’t there plenty of them in the Mansion?”
“Pardon?”
“The Mansion holds stacks of not just magical texts, but ancient ones too. And I heard Habier possesses all the items he confiscated from the witches?”
“That’s right! Of course!”
Lia sprang up with a brilliant smile, leaving Luna momentarily bewildered.
Lia quickly made a request to Kaiser. Kaiser nodded, then asked Luna if teleportation could be used here.
“……Yes, since the barrier is currently down, it should be possible.”
“Then wait here without restoring the barrier. I’ll be back in no time.”
Kaiser vanished before their eyes. Yet less than ten minutes later, he reappeared.
And he poured forth volumes from a subspace. They were all books.
“This…… what is this…!”
Luna picked up the nearest book with trembling hands. Shortly after, she drew a sharp breath.
“The…… the magical texts of the most legendary Black Witch! Oh! This is from the Grand Witch…!”
She had gone pale upon seeing the author’s name.
They were all names of witches who had lived during the Golden Age.
Luna looked up, as if asking where on earth these came from. Lia explained:
“These are the magical texts that were in the Mansion where I was sealed for three hundred years. They must be what the first emperor confiscated from the witches.”
Once she had despised Leon’s twisted affection so deeply. But now, she felt grateful that she could preserve their legacy.
“And we brought back everything the Temple confiscated from you witches. You know we eliminated the Black Mages at the Temple, don’t you?”
Luna nodded slowly at Kaiser’s words.
“The remaining priests want to apologize to you. They’ll work to correct the distorted history and false knowledge.”
“I appreciate your return of these.”
Luna had witnessed much over the past three hundred years, lived hunted and in pain throughout her life.
She had wondered if, before her death, there would come a day when she and the witches would be compensated for their suffering…
“……As a member of the royal family, I sincerely apologize. We will record this in the Imperial history so such a tragedy never occurs again.”
Even Lucian, bearer of the imperial bloodline, bowed his head. Luna’s eyes filled with tears.
“……Thank you. Thank you so much for returning these.”
“Not at all. We’re the ones who should apologize for coming so late…… and for having to return for this. Thank you for enduring all this time.”
Moved by Lia’s warmth, Luna smiled through her tears.
“Let’s not dwell on this—we should resolve Persio’s mana ailment first. That’s what we came here for, isn’t it?”
Luna retrieved a necklace embedded with a mana stone, placed it upon Persio’s chest, and began to chant.
The spell Age had placed shattered, and a tremendous mana storm swirled around Persio.
But the mana storm soon converged toward the mana stone necklace.
The brilliantly blue-glowing necklace gradually dimmed.
And Persio’s bright laughter rang out.
“I’ve temporarily transferred Persio’s mana into this necklace. As long as he wears it until he’s ten, there should be no major problems.”
“……Is that all? Persio won’t fall ill again or…?”
“Just be careful the necklace doesn’t break or go unworn for long. The mana ailment arises when a child holds more mana than their body can bear. Remove that excess temporarily, and the problem is solved.”
Luna fastened the necklace around Persio’s neck and handed him to Lia. Lia felt his breathing stabilize at once.
“I truly…… cannot thank you enough. I will never forget this kindness.”
“Consider us even with these texts. And this is your first child, yes?”
“Yes, he is.”
“If you have more children later, they may develop the ailment too. When that happens, come back here. I’ll bless them so they can grow safely.”
“Will you really allow me to visit again?”
Luna smiled warmly, took Lia’s hand, and pressed her forehead against hers.
“Of course. You’re my friend. And stop with that formal speech—it makes me uncomfortable.”
“Yes…… I mean, okay. I will.”
Persio gazed at the two witches before him, both smiling with golden eyes bright.

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Time flowed like running water. When Persio, once a newborn, reached the age of five.
Persio walked holding Lucian’s hand, wearing the blue mana stone necklace.
“Dad, where are we going?”
“Today we’re blessing our youngest. Don’t you remember when we blessed Frigia three years ago?”
“Frigia got blessed too?!”
A dark-haired girl with violet eyes in Lucian’s arms sparkled with curiosity.
“That’s right. Both Frigia and Persio received blessings. See? Those necklaces you both wear are proof.”
The children touched the necklaces they had worn since childhood like second skin.
Then they looked toward their mother, Lia, cradling another child.
Their youngest, born just days before—Perna.
A boy who had inherited Lucian’s white hair and Lia’s violet eyes in full.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the scenery around them suddenly transformed.
Persio and Frigia opened their mouths wide, gazing around in wonder.
“Welcome, my friend!”
“It’s been so long, Luna. Thank you again for your help today.”
A middle-aged woman with crimson hair greeted them warmly.
Persio felt inexplicably glad and broke into a bright smile.

-The End-

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