# Chapter 69
Chapter 69
“You're crazy.
Cayena just smiled at Bayel's words.
He wasn't wrong.
If she had been in her right mind, she would never have thought of punishing Rezef's arrogance by taking the throne from him.
But that's what Cayena decided to do.
It didn't matter that she wasn't sane or that her life would be destroyed like she was a mere fly if this failed.
She decided to live with the destiny she was born with.
A villain must act according to her role and disrupt the world.
In any case, if the situation happened as it originally did, she would have died within five years.
If she could do it, she would live longer.
If she failed, she would die sooner.
“So this is a very reasonable deal.”
These were Cayena's true thoughts.
She would die anyway, so she would gain a lot from this investment.
“Don't you also need at least that useful life to revive the garden?
Or is that not enough?
So I can give a little more…
“Stop it!
— His casual dismissal of his life was enough to scare Bayel.
“Half of your life is not just half of your remaining life.
It includes the years you have lived so far and the years you have left.
“I know.
If Cayena lived to be 70, that meant she was trading 35 years.
When she lived to be 20 years old, she would only have 15 years to live.
He was effectively putting a time limit on his life.
“Do you need anything else?
“What do you think you are saying to the master of the Black Garden now?
— Bayel asked, amazed.
He kind of wanted to use mind magic to see what the hell was going on in Cayena's mind.
“I could also make you the imperial son-in-law.
Oh!
But only in name.
I intend to remain chaste,” Cayena said cheerfully.
“… what?
Usually it was Bayel who surprised others, not the other way around.
However, today, he was continually being surprised by one person.
“If it is the imperial son-in-law…”
“Since I am the princess of the Eldaim Empire.
Bayel was completely speechless.
“So this woman is the one…”
Was she the supposed princess?
Bayel will also hear the story of the princess with the beauty that calls to death.
“I don’t know anymore.”
Even if she revealed her identity like this, Bayel understood her even less.
“You may not know it, but there is a horde of men competing for my hand.
Bayel let out a deep sigh.
Somehow, he seemed to be getting caught up in this woman's rhythm.
Even if she was just a human with no powers.
“I can’t figure out whether or not she knows what kind of existence the master of the Black Garden is.”
A person who knew the amount of power that the master of the Black Garden possessed could not act so carelessly.
“What do you want to do?
If you say no to me now, it will be difficult for you to make a contract like this in the future.
She even spoke as if she was doing him a kindness when she was the one coming in search of magic.
Bayel was not human.
He lived for an incredibly long time and it was he who influenced the rise and fall of nations.
He was a being who exercised the supernatural powers of balance between life and death.
But a lot of time has passed and people have long forgotten about magic.
Maybe that's why he didn't have a contractor for a long time.
The magical garden was gradually weakening without the “fertilizer”.
Bayel lightly bit his lips and then pulled his hair back tightly.
He didn't want to do what Cayena said, but he had no choice.
He pointed to a passage with his chin.
“Follow me.
Cayena started walking down the hall, following Bayel.
But although they walked and walked, the path seemed to have no end.
Considering the temple wasn't that big, it was strange.
“Was the temple that big?”
Perhaps it was also the work of magic.
Bayel stopped at a dead end and the door at the end of the hall opened wide.
Cayena's eyes widened when she saw the garden of black flowers.
“It’s beautiful…”
The reason this place was called the Black Garden was that all the flowers within it were black roses bloomed by magic.
Cayena had never seen roses as black as those in her entire life.
The black rose petals were shiny like black velvet, but had a pitch-black hue.
Each petal was as beautiful as obsidian.
Even more surprising than the black roses were the vines and rose-like leaves.ice shards.
“It really is a magical garden.
Cayena openly expressed her admiration.
This scene could never be performed without magic.
“Since you came all this way, you really have to make a contract with me.
Making a contract with Jardim Negro ensured that the secret of this place could not be revealed.
“The process of acquiring magical power will be quite painful.
“This is news to me.
When Olivia acquired Bayel's power, she was already dead from being poisoned.
She probably didn't feel that pain.
The novel also did not provide a particular description.
But it couldn't be avoided.
All this to gain power.
“If you say you don't want to continue now, I'll erase your memory and let you go.
Cayena shook her head.
“I'd come back looking for this place again, anyway.
Having confirmed his determination, Bayel walked to the center of the garden, the only place not covered in black petals.
There was a complex pattern on the floor.
“Come here, kneel and uncover your back.
I have to carve a brand.
She stepped lightly on the rose petals and approached the place Bayel had indicated.
White shoulders were revealed as she took off her robe and pulled up her blouse.
Bayel looked away.
“Magical ability flourishes according to the characteristics of the contractor.
It could be the power of nature or the power of healing.
Cayena frowned.
The healing power wasn't bad, but it didn't seem like it would be of much help to his schemes.
What she wanted was stealth or natural magic.
“Is there no choice?
“No.
But you don't need to worry.
The skill that appears is usually similar to how the contractor lived his life.
You don't seem like the kind of person who's going to heal anyone.
Cayena smiled.
His perception was surprisingly accurate.
His entire existence was used to destroy people – even now, having returned to this life.
“Your discernment is incredible.
Should I give you a position in the imperial palace?
While answering like that, she became quite curious.
The skill would flourish according to the life she lived.
“Now, we will begin the contract, — said Bayel, ending the game.
Cayena neatly swept her hair aside, revealing her back.
She knelt in the center of the magic circle and fixed her gaze in front of her.
Then, Bayel knelt behind her and placed his finger on the back of Cayena's head.
Wow!
An incredible sight unfolded in front of Cayena as she looked at the garden with Bayel behind her back.
The magic circle on the ground flickered and petals fell from the black roses!
“The petals are falling because of the loss of magic.”
At first, one or two flowers lost their petals.
Now, dozens and hundreds of roses have expired.
The black petals filled the ground like a carpet, densely covering the empty spaces.
“I don’t feel pain…”
The speed at which the roses fell gradually accelerated, and soon, there weren't many complete flowers left.
That's when it happened.
Pwaa—!
The frosty rose bushes radiated light.
As if they had been waiting for this moment, black roses began to bloom like ripples on a calm lake.
“…!
— Cayena gasped with the unknown pain.
A terrible pain shook his entire body.
It was incomparable to the pain when she was pierced by the knife.
She couldn't even scream.
She gripped the ground as her entire body collapsed as if torn apart by pain.
What was certain was that his life was mercilessly leaving his body.
The black roses greedily sucked Cayena's vitality and bloomed brightly.
The roses that bloomed like this had a richer color than before.
In the end, there were many more flowers than when Cayena first entered the garden.
Bayel looked around with a shocked expression.
"W-wait.
What's going on?
There shouldn't be so many roses."