“I don’t think what you’re saying makes sense because you don’t understand the meaning.”
Jay, her real name is Arwen Tarsilla.
For her, who is escaping after betraying the Imperial Family, how should the words about killing the Crown Prince be interpreted?
I know the answer to this question. If I were to point out the common ground between her and me, it would be the Crown Prince.
It wasn’t our first encounter, so it was better to be straightforward from the start rather than beat around the bush.
It might be quite surprising for her, but I always found that speaking this way made it a bit easier to get to the point.
Her rabbit-like bright red eyes were shaking uncontrollably.
She probably wanted to test my true intentions, but because of the display I had just shown, it seemed difficult for her to do so.
“…You said you would kill him, right? The Crown Prince.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know how you figured out about me, but I can’t answer you right now. I know who you are, but this is our first encounter.”
Staring intently at me, Arwen nodded once and continued speaking.
It seemed like she needed some time.
It was always a sudden meeting, but this time it was different, so it made sense.
“I need time to think. I appreciate you sparing my life, but I can’t make a judgment easily when it comes to the Crown Prince. Besides, I’m not even sure if your true intentions lie that way.”
“I understand. If your mind changes, you can contact me.”
Glancing sideways, I could feel that Adele had gotten quite close.
I didn’t think this meeting would lead directly to the main point.
Perhaps a deal wouldn’t be established until a few months later, at the earliest a month from now.
Still, it was clear that I had managed to save Arwen this time.
As possibilities opened up, if I acted calmly, the harvest would follow.
Soon, I heard footsteps from below, and Arwen narrowed her eyes as she looked at me.
“Is that your companion?”
“You could say that. I told them to wait, but it seems like too much time has passed.”
Looking around, I noticed the bodies and blood stains had completely disappeared.
There was a scent of blood, but perhaps this could somewhat conceal the aftermath.
When the door swung open and Adele entered, she locked eyes with me and scrutinized my body for a moment.
“You made it. I said to wait.”
“Did I do well? It took too long, so I came up just in case…”
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Arwen.
“Is that the person you tried to save? What, a secret lover?”
“I don’t have that kind of taste.”
“If it were really that way, I would’ve killed him here. People like that are unnecessary in this world.”
Chuckling mischievously, she then stepped closer to me.
Adele stared at me for a moment before reaching out and carefully feeling my body.
As if shaking off raindrops, she checked every corner of my body, then pulled back and added,
“You’re not hurt. With your skills, it’d be strange to get injured anywhere.”
“…Did you just confirm that?”
“Is it?”
“There was a fellow who hid a useless wound and ended up dying because it worsened. If you have a wound, don’t hide it. It’s not something to be ashamed of.”
At those words, I stared blankly, and Adele quickly turned to look at Arwen.
Arwen seemed to have an idea of who Adele was.
Of course, there’s no one who doesn’t know Adele Igrit, but precisely, she knows her ‘past.’
She, the tyrant who brought countless people near to slaughter…
But there was no need to tremble like that.
Seeing her shake so much, it was almost pitiful, and I let out a small sigh.
“It seems we should be leaving soon. She needs to rest, after all.”
“Is it already dawn? Well, it can’t be helped.”
When Adele looked at Lothos, he nodded and then disappeared on his own.
He’s probably planning to leave with his subordinates scattered around.
Adele wouldn’t stay long either, so I doubt I’ll see her again before I head north.
Arwen glanced around, picking up the broken beaker, and I had to return to the Ducal Residence as well.
Arwen’s gaze met mine for a moment before falling away again.
It must be because my earlier self was overlapping with what she saw.
While I had no ill feelings towards her, sensing a threat to her life, I felt she’d likely maintain that attitude for a while.
If both Arwen and Adele won’t be around for a while…
Will I at least run into Yuria and Teresa here and there?
Just thinking about it soured my mood.
As I swiped my thin face, I realized that Adele, who was about to leave the room, suddenly halted.
Then she looked at me and quietly moved her lips.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“I’ll go. Just for a moment, my head hurts.”
I felt relieved. But it was also true that I was feeling complex emotions.
I saved Arwen, but wasn’t this what I always did first when I reincarnated?
I thought quite a bit of time had passed, yet I had merely taken the first step.
If I can’t wrap things up in this round either, I’ll really lose my mind then.
For that reason, I tried to take a completely different route, but would this method even work?
Shaking my head for a moment, I followed Adele, who was walking ahead.
My head hurt. The pain dug into my brain, causing me to frown and then smile bitterly.
If time could just pass quicker, perhaps this pain might disappear.
I honestly wanted the end to show itself before my eyes so I could die sooner, once and for all.
So that I could never think again.
#
After saving Arwen, I always walked this alley on my way back to the Ducal Residence.
I had to hide the exhaustion that was always evident.
Even though I had spare clothes at the ready, this time everything seemed neatly put together.
I never expected Arwen to wake up amidst the commotion;
she had never woken up before… it was probably because I used my magic.
“Your expression doesn’t look good. Did something happen earlier?”
“Is that so?”
“You look as if you want to hurl. I suppose something must have happened…”
“It looks like it’s time for you to go. I thought there would be work to do, but…”
As if recalling the secret I mentioned earlier,
Adele swallowed her words and fell silent.
Come to think of it, I wasn’t walking alone right now.
I had bumped into Adele while watching the full moon festival, and we ended up coming this far together just before rescuing Arwen.
Who could have predicted that our last meeting at the ball would lead to this?
I don’t usually like to say “coincidence,” but it didn’t seem like my connection with Adele would easily break in this round.
My heart was in turmoil. I couldn’t figure out what this meeting truly meant.
What I had seen in previous rounds was always the sight of those bound by fate turning their backs on me.
Family, fiancée, even friends.
The lover I sought in place of my fiancée ended up stabbing me in the back, and the friend I believed in was the very one who had sabotaged me the most.
I remember that twisted smile.
The face that laughed at me, saying, “How could you possibly think I genuinely considered you a friend?”
It’s hard not to feel something recalling that. Betrayal is an emotion you can never get used to.
It felt as if my heart was shattering, and all the blood in my body was draining down like a river.
All I could do was exhale an empty breath.
That’s why I hated it. When I walked this distance alone, I would run away because I couldn’t bear those memories haunting me.
“Right now, I’m okay. Far better than usual.”
Thanks to that, I couldn’t bring myself to admit it out loud.
I never knew that just having someone by your side could ease the pain.
Even though I tried to conceal it as a secret, just the fact that those eyes didn’t despise me offered me comfort.
Adele glanced at me for a moment before turning her gaze up toward the sky.
The night sky, devoid of light, always creates awe merely by being there.
I didn’t know how different the sky here was compared to the North,
but in this calm, the starlight had a way of stirring people’s emotions.
After a while of gazing into the sky, Adele finally spoke.
“I’m going to return soon. I probably won’t see you again until you come to the North.”
“I suppose so. Once autumn comes, I’ll drop by.”
“…You should do something about those eyes by then. They always make me uneasy; it feels like you could drop dead at any second.”
“Is that why you’re worried? Afraid I might vanish for good?”
I thought she’d obviously deny it, but surprisingly, Adele said nothing at all.
Her blue eyes felt as if they were searching my inner thoughts.
For a moment, we locked gazes and let time flow by. Adele finally chuckled softly and responded.
“I was just wondering for a moment if you really would disappear.”
“What?”
“So don’t die. Hearing that someone I know has died is the worst for me.”
The cloak fluttered from Adele’s back as she turned,
blending with the darkness, with only her silver hair shining splendidly in the moonlight.
It was a brilliantly shining appearance.
She looks at me.
As if she has something to say, her mouth opened slightly after glancing at me several times.
“…Make sure to come this time, don’t run away.”
“Of course. There’s a debt I need to repay.”
Just brushing aside the secret alone was already a big debt.
If I ponder over my actions, it would seem suspicious from an oblivious standpoint.
Nevertheless, I should repay her for trusting me.
Recalling what she said yesterday, I quoted her in reply.
“If I don’t go, you’ll be disappointed.”
At those words, Adele smiled.
She looked just as I remembered her from earlier episodes.
Isn’t it fortunate that I’m the only one who has changed in this world?
If everything had continued to change, I might not have been able to endure up to now.
Now that she seemed to have said all she needed to, Adele vanished into the shadows of the night.
Left in the empty street was just me. When I realized that, emotions surged once again.
…I walked to forget that.
Walking through the pitch-black alley without a single light, I quickened my pace to shake off my residual thoughts.
I walked forward relying solely on the moonlight in the sky.
I wasn’t even sure if I was heading in the right direction.
I thought to myself, “My body should remember,” and walked on.
As quite some time passed, it felt like my composure was finally returning.
Wiping the cold sweat that had trickled down my forehead, I slowly lifted my head.
What appeared in my eyes was, amusingly, the front gate of the Ducal Residence.
Surely, countless people must have fallen asleep by now.
Beneath the many rooms with extinguished lights, I spotted a singular room that was still lit.
Perhaps it was where Yuria was. She must be busy.
Since this was her first time managing the Full Moon Festival, she would undoubtedly have a lot on her plate.
That was actually better.
It was more comfortable for me if she didn’t bother thinking about me.
‘She won’t notice, right?’
It was rare for Yuria to be awake this late.
I thought we wouldn’t run into each other, but the moment I stepped through the door…
A soft voice pierced my ear.
“You’ve finally come. It’s past 3 AM now; the festival should have ended long ago.”
There stood a woman at the door, looking at me.
With her characteristic cold gaze, her eyes examining my appearance were completely different from Adele’s.
Her eyes filled with disdain and negative emotions.
As I forced a smile, Yuria began to speak again.
“Honestly, what have you been doing until now? Did you not realize I was searching for you for a long time?”
I thought the day’s luck wasn’t too bad.
But perhaps that was just my illusion.
Sighing softly while still feeling Yuria’s icy glare on me.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
