I quickly focused on rummaging through the room.

At that moment, something hefty fell from under the old blanket.

I picked it up. It was a leather-bound diary.

As I turned the first page, a piece of worn leather fell off.

I continued flipping through the pages. My hand stopped at the very last page of the diary.

“Idrysh, there’s a diary here. It contains entries from just before the rebellion started.”

Idrysh and I made eye contact. It felt like anything written here might contain the truth. My heart was heavy.

I slowly read through it.

“The Torion chieftain called us together. Cecilia Erijo has disappeared.”

It felt strange. They were talking about Cecilia Erijo, who wasn’t me, but in a way, it was my age. My voice, quietly filling the room, didn’t sound like my voice.

“We searched in every direction for her, but couldn’t find her. The chieftain fell into deep despair. His sorrow was our sorrow too. I, too, felt as if I had lost my daughter. During that time…”

I paused briefly in my reading. Idrysh didn’t rush me but waited patiently.

“During that time, Ferko Serbyan came with a gloomy face.”

See, it was Ferko’s doing after all.

Idrysh’s face stiffened. This was the first time he had ever faced Ferko’s true nature.

I cautiously continued with the next part of the story.

“Ferko Serbyan seemed very anxious. He hesitated for a long time before he started talking. He said he knows where Cecilia is. He couldn’t pretend not to know any longer and had come to find her, he said. The beginning of his story was shocking.”

I kept reading, and my lips kept drying up, and my voice kept cracking. The scent of tragedy permeated the air. Even though it had happened a long time ago, facing it was still difficult. Especially in front of Idrysh.

“Cecilia was kidnapped by Idrysh Artigrado, in other words, the prince of Derode. He insulted Cecilia and took her life, Ferko said. He was tormented, recalling that time. He said he had never seen such a terrible scene. The only thing left was this ribbon that Ferko Serbyan handed over, which was undoubtedly Cecilia Erijo’s.”

The reason the hedgehog-folk were furious with Idrysh, the reason they suffered from a curse for years, was merely a few lies. Idrysh now understood the starting point of his tragedy.

Idrysh’s face appeared unyielding, almost as if he couldn’t feel any emotions.
If Ferko hadn’t told us the truth, we would have never known. Ferko had witnessed the Artigrado royal family deceiving and ignoring the weak folk all his life, but now he couldn’t bear it anymore. He said that’s why he decided to join the rebellion. Our hedgehog-folk felt the same way. Killing the chieftain’s daughter would turn our folk against him. Without anyone opposing it, we decided to join the rebellion. We will protect the honor of our folk, even if it means sacrificing our lives.

Their determination was evident in the tightly written handwriting. Their pain and determination transcended time and reached me. My voice cracked.

“We will cast a curse that will cost them their lives. If that wicked one happens to survive, they will be tormented for life as long as the dead Cecilia does not return. If it’s not the deceased Cecilia, no one will be able to save them.”

I closed the diary with a thud. Silence followed. I cleared my throat.

“That’s the end of the diary.”

Idrysh couldn’t bring himself to speak.

We continued to search the room, but there was nothing useful. Idrysh and I left the mansion. The cold, dusty scent of rain filled our noses as it wafted in through the open air. It was eerie.

Mogus had been dozing off and quickly ran out to meet us, opening the carriage door.

As we were about to get on the carriage:

“Wait, stay in the carriage for a moment.”

“What about you, Idrysh?”

“I have something to say to the owner of this place. I’ll be back soon, so don’t get out.”

“Okay, hurry back.”

I climbed onto the carriage alone and brushed raindrops off my ankles. I sat quietly, waiting for Idrysh, but something felt eerie.

Mogus sat in the front, and I didn’t know why I was so afraid.

I reassured myself and absentmindedly scanned the dark surroundings with heightened attention.

Something’s not right.

The raindrops grew steadily heavier. I kept wringing my cold, wet hands.

Then, from somewhere, the sound of hoofbeats reached my ears.

Clippity-clop, clippity-clop. The rhythmic sound grew louder and closer.

Why isn’t Idrysh coming out?

Anxiety gnawed at my lips. Even in that moment, the sound of hoofbeats continued to grow, steadily increasing in volume.

“Mogus.”
Mogus didn’t respond. He remained motionless, even when I tapped the front seat. His head was bowed again in deep sleep. I contemplated waking him up with a loud call, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, fearing it would only make matters worse.

Soon, at the end of the alley, the head of a horse appeared.

On top of it sat a man.

Despite the pouring rain and the considerable distance, he was strangely clear. Perhaps the man felt the same way because he looked in my direction and held the reins of his horse.