Chapter 213 - 3−17
My days at the royal palace ended in a flash, and I returned to my life at the Marquis Marcel estate. My father was overjoyed, but his face soured whenever Louis-sama increased the frequency of his visits to our home.
Her Imperial Highness the Princess continued her childish harassment, but since it was limited to scribbling "Break off the engagement" on my belongings or badmouthing me in front of Louis-sama, it caused almost no damage. Lute-sama continued to warn her about her behavior but showed no sign of actually helping her. He seemed to be purely enjoying his studies at the Magic Academy.
Amidst this daily routine, preparations for my wedding with Louis-sama gradually progressed. I received word that my wedding dress, which had been in the basting stage, was nearly finished. Three months had passed since the new term at the Magic Academy began, and the school had settled down after its new initiatives. The season had quickly turned to summer vacation.
Most international students returned to their home countries for the long break, and many nobles living in townhouses in the royal capital returned to their estates after the social season ended. The once-bustling royal palace became quiet and peaceful once again.
Still, because Lute-sama and the Princess remained in Dutoit due to the distance to the Empire, I couldn't let my guard down. Furthermore, the Princess's recent behavior was a cause for concern. Her cute little pranks had suddenly stopped. She had been cooking regularly with Samuel and Anna-san or going sightseeing in Dutoit, but lately, she had been refusing all invitations.
While everyone had been troubled by her outbursts, they had also been healed by her brightness. I was one of them. It was on a relatively cool and pleasant summer day that I finally managed to coax the Princess, who had been cooped up in her room since the start of summer vacation, to the Detached Palace on the outskirts of the capital.
Gazing blankly out the window as the carriage swayed, the Princess looked troubled. "Her Imperial Highness, are you feeling well? It's quite pleasant today, but it's been very hot lately. I hear many people have been falling ill."
"I'm fine."
"...I see. But please let me know if anything changes. The Detached Palace is on the edge of the capital. Even with a break, it will take two hours to get there."
"...I'll be fine."
She gave basic answers when spoken to, but her silence was a far cry from her usual liveliness, increasing my anxiety. Previously, though she was never friendly toward me, she would boastfully tell me where she went and what she did while throwing insults. She had been full of energy and bright smiles.
I've never seen her so listless.
As I kept trying to talk to her, her responses grew slower, and my own words naturally dwindled. The only sound in the carriage was the heavy silence punctuated by the rhythmic rattling of the wheels.
"Your Highness, it seems we'll reach the palace once we pass through this forest."
"...This forest."
The bustling city had vanished, replaced by a deep, dense forest. The Princess's expression shifted slightly as she stared outside. When I had consulted Anna-san about the Princess's lack of energy, she had recommended this Detached Palace. Apparently, this place was an important location in the game world.
This royal palace, the setting for a major event, was known as the Detached Palace of the Watchtower. It was hidden away, surrounded by forest and river. Enclosed by sturdy stone gates, the grounds contained only a modest, small brick house and the tallest tower in the capital. There were no beautiful gardens, churches, or even fountains.
Why was such a place chosen for an 'event'? I wondered inwardly as the carriage headed straight for the tower from the large gate. Even so, the Princess's eyes sparkled slightly as we drew closer to the tower.
"This is... the real Watchtower," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
As a noble lady born and raised in Dutoit, this place felt very distant to me. Perhaps if I had been born a boy and aimed to be a knight, I would have felt a different kind of emotion. Long ago, during times of war, this place served as a lookout. From here, one could see the entire capital and monitor enemy movements. In a war two hundred years ago, a prince who was also a brave knight had given his life to stop the enemy from entering this forest. Because of that history, this was a place where royal sons and knights strengthened their resolve to protect the country and the capital.
Peeking at the Princess's face, I saw her smiling with her eyes closed. There must have been a wonderful story set here in the game—a tale that made her heart flutter and allowed her to dream. To her, the game world was a vivid and beautiful place.
"Can we climb it?"
"Yes, let's go inside. I've already secured permission."
The knights guarding the tower had already been informed by His Highness. They opened the two-meter wooden door and invited us inside.
"Um, I believe there's a magic tool installed to reach the top floor?" I asked the knight who guided us.
"Yes," he nodded. "Stand inside this railing and channel magic into the navy-blue magic stone attached to it. You'll reach the top floor in an instant."
The knight told us to stand on a small marble platform about one meter wide next to the spiral staircase. Even with the railing, I wondered if this small box would truly take us to the distant top floor.
"I ride it every day to check its operation, and there have been no problems, so please rest assured. Alchemists also inspect the magic tools regularly."
"I see. It's my first time, so I was a bit worried. Thank you for telling me."
When I thanked the knight, his eyes widened in surprise. "N-no... well then, I shall wait outside," he said, bowing deeply before hurrying out of the tower.
"Your Highness, shall we go?"
"U-huh."
The Princess stepped into the railing, looking around nervously. Once she was inside, I channeled magic into the stone as instructed. The marble beneath our feet changed from black to white and began to move slowly.
"My, this is amazing! We're rising right through the center of the spiral staircase!"
The stone tower was hollow, with stone stairs running along the walls to the top. Along the way, there were small windows, lamps, and numbers like 7 or 9 written on the walls. The numbers likely indicated the floors.
"It looks like the top floor is the twentieth."
It might not compare to the Magic Tower in Orta, but this was certainly the tallest building in this country.
"We've arrived. Shall we step out?"
"...This view."
"Oh, we can go outside from here! Let's take a look."
The top floor of the stone tower felt close to the sky, and the sunset seemed unusually near. This floor was narrower than the others, but it had a single exit leading to a balcony that circled the entire tower. Leaning against the stone railing, the height made me shiver. The soldiers waiting at the base of the tower looked as small as thumbprints.
The Princess, seemingly captivated by the deepening blue of the sunset, rested her hands on the stone railing, her eyes moist.
"This is my first time at this palace as well. Normally, I wouldn't be allowed here since I'm not yet a member of the royal family, but Louis-sama made a special exception. I'm glad I came here today."
"...I see."
"This place is also related to an 'event,' isn't it? If you don't mind, would you tell me about it? Though, since it's royal property, it must involve Louis-sama."
If that were the case, it would mean Louis-sama had brought Anna-san to this place in the game's story. Even if it was just a fictional tale, the thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
However, the Princess let out a deep sigh and shook her head. "...This is Alberic's event."
"Prince Alberic?"
I tilted my head at the sudden mention of Prince Alberic's name. Did Louis-sama's younger brother also have a role in the romance events?
"Alberic, who was suffering from an inferiority complex toward his brother, was saved by Anna. Realizing his feelings for her... he makes a knight's vow to Anna here."
"Prince Alberic... a knight's vow?"
It was true that Prince Alberic hadn't been on good terms with Louis-sama before. I had heard that while he loved plants, he never missed his sword training out of a sense of rivalry. Even so, the idea of him making a knight's vow was shocking.
Louis-sama and Prince Alberic would be incredibly surprised if they heard this.
Furthermore, I had another question. Why was she suddenly talking about Prince Alberic?
"Um... isn't that story about a romance with Louis-sama?"
"Louis is the main hero, but you can choose from several capture targets and enjoy their stories. ...Didn't you hear this from Anna?"
"No, not in such detail. ...Then, are there other villainesses besides me?"
"No. In every route, the only one who gets in the way is you."
"What...? I seem to have been given quite a busy role."
I see; the game's story changed based on the protagonist's choices, like parallel worlds. Still, I couldn't quite accept being the only obstacle.
"I understand interfering with a romance with Louis-sama, but to show up in every other route as well... the 'me' in that story must be described quite horribly."
I frowned, but the Princess looked at me sideways with an exasperated expression. "Is that the problem?"
"...You're strange. I wonder how someone like you can even be a villainess."
"You should tell that to the person who wrote the story. Besides, I've grown through various experiences, so I am a completely different person from the one in that story."
"A completely different person, huh. Anna, you, Louis... everyone keeps complaining and telling me to face reality."
The Princess knit her brows and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"It's not exactly complaining. I can tell how much you cherish those stories."
"But even you think I'm crazy, don't you? A person who mistakes stories for reality, a dreamer living in a fantasy world."
The Princess's face contorted as if she were about to cry, and she bit her lip so hard I thought it might bleed.
"I don't think you're crazy... not at all."
"Yes, you do!"
My denial didn't reach her. She frowned in pain, her voice a raspy, irritated strain from the back of her throat. When I reached out to soothe her, she slapped my hand away with a loud crack.
"From my perspective, you're the crazy ones!"
"Your Highness..."
"Because not a single person acts the way they're supposed to! Why, why is everything so different! Where is my world?"
Her face twisted in agony, and tears welled in her large eyes.
"I understand that the stories you love are very similar to this world. But we, and you as well, are living in this world right now."
"So you're telling me to let go of the game. ...I know. Everyone has come to me again and again, trying to persuade me."
"...Could you not look at us? Not the stories, but the 'us' who are here now?"
At my words, the Princess looked at me with stunned, vacant eyes. "Because if I admit that... if I admit that you're living a different future..."
She looked down, hugging her arms as if terrified of something.
"Could you tell me what you're afraid of? Let's find a different path together. A path where everyone, including you, can be happy."
"...Happy?"
The whispered word was laced with mockery. "Do you even know what my happiness is?"
"Eh...?"
"Ever since I was born, I couldn't even dream. ...To me, a hellish daily life was normal. You don't know how hard it was just to survive a single day."
Flames of anger and hatred seemed to burn in her eyes. "The only happy dream I ever had was one—the world of the game."
Her words struck me. "There was a happiness there that I never knew. Dreaming that dream was my only reason for living. It was my strength. I've lived this long because I believed in it."
My heart ached at her agonizing, strained voice. I remembered what Samuel had told me about her past. The reason she could believe in the future and remain bright even after her nanny—the only person she loved as family—was killed, was likely because she believed the game world existed. To have that belief denied and be told to face reality must have felt like a denial of her past and her very self.
"Aren't you the ones tearing my past to pieces and stealing my... my future!"
"Your Highness, I am truly sorry for hurting you."
But I was stunned by the look she gave me. It was a color of hatred far beyond mere dislike.
"Let go! Don't touch me!"
She pushed me with all her might. I cried out as I fell onto my backside. She didn't even look at me, trembling with rage and breathing heavily.
"Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding. ...We have time, so please calm down... let's talk slowly. It's dangerous there, so come over here."
"Stop it, stop it! Don't say anything more to me! I've had enough of this pain!"
As if she didn't want to hear my voice at all, she covered her ears and shook her head violently, backing away inch by inch. The top of the tower only had a waist-high stone railing to support one's body; any large movement could lead to a catastrophe. I continued to speak in a calm tone to avoid provoking her, but she only wailed with her eyes and ears shut.
"I'm not telling you to die or suffer!"
"I know. Your Highness, please, let's talk."
"No, I don't want to talk anymore! I don't understand why everyone, everyone is trying to stray from their true selves. That's the path to everyone's happiness. Why doesn't anyone understand! Why!"
Her agonizing voice reached me like a scream. She was likely confused, unable to control her own emotions.
I believe she truly thought that was the path to happiness. But now that I know true happiness, no matter how much I sympathize with her, I will never accept that.
When I remained silent, she began to mutter to herself. I looked for a way to get her away from the railing without provoking her further.
"Hey, why haven't you broken off the engagement? Why weren't you targeted by assassins in the forest?"
"...Assassins? Why..."
"Why didn't you flee to the Tratia Empire?"
Her whispers reached my ears, and I gasped. Anna-san had said that at the end of the story, I, the villainess, would have my engagement broken by Louis-sama and be sent to a monastery. That was the same ending as my first life. But how did the Princess know the truth of my end—the fact that those I thought were bandits were actually assassins sent by Queen Minerva, and that they had attacked me?
"...But I didn't survive. I was killed by those men."
I gasped as my inner thoughts leaked out. The Princess, who had been looking down with her ears covered, looked at me with hollow, unfocused eyes.
"Normally, you would have narrowly escaped the attack in the forest. After wandering through war-torn lands, you were supposed to meet the Emperor of Tratia. He would have taken you back to his country."
"...Y-Your Highness. Your eyes..."
"That was the original, correct story. That's how it had to be."
The orange sky was mostly covered in deep blue now. Even so, I could clearly see what color her lightless eyes had become.
"I told you. Your destined partner is someone else."
Her lovely pink eyes had changed into a reddish-purple. She likely didn't realize the change herself. Her anger was unstoppable, shrouded in a terrifyingly aggressive energy.
"You, who are so happy, wouldn't understand! This study abroad has a six-month time limit... and only half is left. You're going to marry Louis, and Lute won't help me with what I want to do. When I first came to this country, I was so happy; I always wanted this kind of peace. And yet, and yet!"
Every time she shouted her anger, a ringing sound echoed in my ears. The sound brought on a sharp headache, and I leaned against the wall to support myself.
The air changed the moment her eye color did. Something malevolent is surrounding her; it makes me dizzy.
"To have to return to that dark, scary place again. To have to spend every day not knowing when I'll die because that demon is there. I... I..."
"Your Highness..."
"You think I'm pathetic, don't you? You think it's a horrible country? Then come with me! Do something about that country! Why won't you do what you can! Is it enough for you as long as you're happy!"
"That's not..."
"I'm scared to die. But living is painful too. Then what am I supposed to do!"
Her scream was wrapped in a massive magical power that seemed ready to swallow her whole. If I drew any closer, I would likely be blown away by that aggressive magic.
What is this magic? What is it? I've never known magic so destructive. Is this the power of Tratia's Dragonewt blood?
Could it be that the 'awakening' Samuel mentioned was the state where the limiter on this magic was removed? If this was the true power of the Dragonewts... how could anyone stand against such people?