Hortus Arcanus planēta

ACT 2

The Midnight Bell’s Curse

※There are depictions with a higher risk of being psychologically distressing. Please be advised.

and small children are encouraged to enjoy this novel together with their families.

“Yes… judging from your reaction, it seems you know nothing at all. So I suppose I’ll have to teach you everything from the beginning. Now then… where shall I start?”

With that, El began to speak.

“First of all, the personality known as ‘me’ was formed before coming to this mansion. Back then, Ella was unable to recover from the grief of losing her mother. And then, her father decided to remarry. At that time… those wretched women were still kind to Ella.

But as time passed, Ella lost her beloved father as well. Overwhelmed by the sorrow of losing both parents, little by little… I began to take shape within her.

And ever since her father died, those wretched women started treating Ella cruelly. It was during the second telling of this story that I, El, truly awakened in this world.”

“Wait… the second telling of this story? You mean you know this is a story? Then how many times has this Cinderella story happened? There shouldn’t be multiple versions like that… not in the story I know.”

“Sigh… Lumía, you truly know nothing, do you? Very well, I’ll tell you.

This… is the fourth Cinderella story.

And yes, I know this is a story. I even know, more or less, how it ends… though not every detail. I also know a little about your world—but we can leave that for later.

Now then… I awakened during the second telling of this story. To escape from her endless sorrow, Ella brought me into existence.

In that previous life—the second story—Ella herself… or rather, her pure and innocent self… and I, El—the part born from hatred, from the loss of both parents and the torment inflicted by those wretched women—became completely separated.

Even in the first story, Ella was subjected to their cruelty. The roles changed—sometimes they were servants, sometimes sisters—but the suffering remained.

And after coming to this mansion, their abuse only worsened.

At the same time, I began to take her place… enduring their harassment and violence for her.

However… I can only exist as myself for two hours—between midnight, when the clock strikes twelve, and two in the morning. That was when I first awakened… and it is the only time I can truly be me.”

“So… you only exist when you’re being abused, or during those two hours after midnight? That… that can’t be…”

“It’s true. I’m not lying.”

“Then… can’t you live freely as El, by your own will?”

“No… it seems that’s impossible unless Ella herself accepts it. This body, this mind… they both belong to her. After all, Ella is the protagonist of this story.

And I must be her greatest understanding… because I am, in the end, a part of her.

Even so… I can never forgive those wretched women. Day after day, they hurled such cruel words at her… there were times I felt I would lose my mind.”

El paused for a moment.

Then, with eyes burning a deep crimson—as if bloodshot—she smiled faintly and spoke in a quiet voice.

“That’s why… I will take revenge on them.

Did you really think this story would end as something beautiful?

No… I will never allow it to end that way.

I… I… will make them understand… what it truly means to live as Ella has lived.”

At that moment, I witnessed the dark emotions hidden deep within her.

And in the depths of her eyes—contrasting with El’s crimson glow—

it felt as though a quiet blue flame flickered, gently… endlessly.