54 - Overture to Revenge
I hated the word fate. But I have experienced many events that I feel were undoubtedly guided by fate. And I learned. That fate is something that can be changed as much as one wants, through one's own choices and resolve. The reason I am here now is because, at that time, I made a choice and steeled my resolve. Because I can believe that, I can remain myself. I believe that I have not been swept away by fate, but have carved my own path through it.
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An atmosphere of war drifted through the royal capital. It was not that the royal capital was actually under attack. Rather, the Hero, having finished demon subjugation within the country, was finally setting off to fight the Demon King's Army, and preparations for the departure were proceeding hurriedly. Knights and soldiers in armor were seen more frequently within the royal capital, and even though they knew it was safe, the residents' hearts remained unsettled. Even knowing that this departure was to subjugate the Demon King, the act of war itself caused people to feel anxiety. In the midst of the royal capital's atmosphere, the slums were the only place showing no change from the usual. Soldiers never showed their faces this far. The residents of the slums, unaware of the Hero's departure, spent their days as always. However, today alone, things were different. A soup kitchen was being run in an open lot, and many residents were forming a line to share in the meal. This was a sight that had occasionally been seen for nearly two years now. Children happily stuffing their mouths with the distributed food. Seeing the smiles of those children, Princess Ekaterina felt her heart soften.
"Princess, it is a great success again this time."
Seeing the smile on Princess Ekaterina's face, Miria also looked happy.
"...But this is nothing more than a temporary comfort. They cannot escape poverty with this alone."
"That may be true, but it is better than doing nothing."
Princess Ekaterina had continued these activities in the slums, such as soup kitchens and street cleaning, for nearly two years. While she certainly felt a sense of atonement for the people who had been killed, the time spent leaving the castle and interacting with the residents was currently the time when Princess Ekaterina felt most at peace. That was how painful the interior of the castle had become. Since the Heroes brought back the Holy Sword, Prince Neil, who had been lying low until then, had suddenly gone on the offensive. As for what he did, it was slander against Princess Ekaterina. Of course, he would not act openly, and naturally, unpleasant rumors about Princess Ekaterina began to spread within the castle. Most of the content concerned Ray. That she had entered into a loose relationship with a slave. That the slave was a henchman of the Demon Race, and that she had brought disadvantage to the kingdom through her lust—rumors of a scandalous nature. Because of the extremity of the content, not a few people reacted against the fact that such things were spreading in the castle, but since the crucial Princess Ekaterina remained silent without denying any of it, the rumors did not stop, and her reputation worsened steadily. Because Princess Ekaterina took no action at all, the King and the Prime Minister even rushed to extinguish the rumors, fearing they would spread throughout the country as a royal scandal. Receiving cold stares from those around her, Princess Ekaterina was quite hurt internally. The reason she remained silent despite being hurt was out of a feeling of atonement, knowing that Ray, whom she had made a slave, had also been looked upon with the same eyes of contempt by those around him. Since being told of Ray's death, Princess Ekaterina had come to think in various self-deprecating ways. Even so, continuing to be exposed to cold stares was still painful. When she avoided people and stayed alone in her room, the sadness of losing Ray would well up. Because of that, remembering that there were other people she had to atone to besides Ray, Princess Ekaterina visited the slums. And the gazes directed at her in the slums were... warm eyes praising her as a Saint. For the wounded Princess Ekaterina, that was the greatest salvation for her heart. From that day on, the slums became a place of refreshment for Princess Ekaterina, and deciding that if she was going to visit she might as well provide food, she began running soup kitchens, and since the terrible filth of the town sometimes increased discomfort rather than refreshing her mood, she carried out large-scale cleaning. Because of this, bad rumors spread again, saying it was blatant popularity-seeking or a waste of taxes, but she no longer cared about that level of talk. No matter what was said, she exercised her authority as a princess without hesitation and spent money on the slums. Thinking about the slums became Princess Ekaterina's only pleasure. Right now, this is all she can do. But she doesn't want it to end with this. She wants to help them in the true sense. That is how Princess Ekaterina had come to think.
"...Princess."
Miria spoke hesitantly to Princess Ekaterina, who had been lost in thought.
"What is it?"
"One of the residents wishes to speak with you."
Behind Miria, a man stood with his waist bent. Since she started visiting the slums, Princess Ekaterina had met him several times, he was one of the residents' organizers.
"What business do you have today?"
"Yes. Actually, for the Princess who provides various considerations for us like this, we have prepared a rest area."
"A rest area? What kind of thing is that?"
"It is a place for the Princess to use when you come to the slums like this."
"Such a thing is unnecessary."
"No, please do not say that, and please accept our goodwill. Even if you say it is unnecessary, we have already prepared it."
"But..."
"To be honest, there is also an ulterior motive in that we want the Princess to continue visiting."
"My, so that's how it is?"
She had placed a burden on the residents. Princess Ekaterina's feelings, which had been depressed by that thought, were cleared by the man's words.
"Yes. We have cleaned the building quite thoroughly, so I do not think you will feel any discomfort. Would you be willing to take a look?"
"I see. Very well."
She could not brush aside the goodwill of the residents. Even the fact that he said there was an ulterior motive led to the happiness of feeling that she was wanted by the residents. Following the man's guidance obediently, Princess Ekaterina stepped inside a building located near the open lot.
"...The inside really has been cleaned."
The exterior was only slightly better than the surrounding buildings, but once inside, it was clear at a glance that it had been cleaned thoroughly to every corner. The furniture placed there was, as expected, incomparable to that within the castle, but it was decent quality, unthinkable for something in the slums.
"Did I make you overexert yourselves?"
"No. If many people do the cleaning, it is not much trouble. As for the furniture, we just used leftover pieces."
"This furniture is leftover?"
Princess Ekaterina knew that the residents of the slums lived using furniture far inferior to this, things that had practically become trash. She could not take it literally when told it was leftover furniture.
"In the slums, though it is a very small part, there are those who earn a decent living. Since that person no longer needed these, they were brought here. Please do not ask who that is. They are a person the Princess does not need to know."
"I see... I understand."
If it was a person who earned a decent living in the slums, they must be doing work that cannot be easily told to others. Princess Ekaterina possessed this much common sense. Most of this kind of common sense was something she had acquired since she started visiting the slums.
"There are three rooms. One room on the second floor. This one is for the Princess. And two waiting rooms for the attendants."
"There is a room for me as well?"
"It is not exactly exclusively yours, but for now, yes. Well, please take a look. The Princess, the room on the second floor."
"Yes, I understand."
"Please call me if there is anything. And as for the knight-san, this way."
"Eh?"
"I will guide you to the waiting room."
"No, if you are guiding, then the Princess—"
"That would be far too presumptuous. Being in the same building is the best I can do. Now, this way."
"A-ah."
Forced along by the man, Miria followed behind him and entered the waiting room. Left behind, Princess Ekaterina headed toward the second-floor room that had been prepared for her. The stairs had also been reinforced in places. Princess Ekaterina was happy with the residents' thoughtfulness. Opening the door and peering inside, the room was also neatly arranged. Placed in the spacious room were one dresser, a small table with two chairs, and a bed. Approaching it, the futon and sheets were pure white and clean. It seemed they had prepared new ones. The goodwill of others, which she had previously taken for granted, now made her chest hot. While she was enduring tears that seemed ready to spill, she heard the sound of the door closing behind her. Thinking that Miria had come, Princess Ekaterina turned around, and seeing a person who should not be there, she froze.
"It's been a long time, Princess. Just kidding."
"...Kamui."
"That is not my name right now."
"Ray, it was, right?"
"Huh? I'm exposed. Did Cecil-san perhaps tell you?"
"Yes, I heard it from her mouth."
"Loose lips. Well, it's fine. There's no need to hide it anymore."
"Is that so?"
"Well. Though there's no need to go out of my way to use my real name."
"I see..."
Princess Ekaterina was slightly bewildered that the current Ray's atmosphere was quite different from the Ray she knew.
"...You were alive?"
"Too bad for you."
"Eh?"
Ray's reply was something Princess Ekaterina had not expected.
"I'm returning this. I don't want my location searched for."
What Ray held out was the sword Princess Ekaterina had given to Ray. At that action, Princess Ekaterina's bewilderment deepened further.
"This was something I gave to you."
"As if I could keep a sword like that."
"What do you mean?"
"It's useless to play dumb. I know that magic for transmitting location is installed in that sword."
"...I don't know about that."
"That's why I said it's useless to play dumb. It seems you teamed up with the Hero to try and kill me, but as you can see, I am alive. And I will never trust you again."
"...No, I didn't do such a thing."
"It's useless no matter what you say. I've decided not to trust not only you, but all other people. I've decided I will no longer hesitate."
Ray's expression, which had been wearing a sarcastic smile the whole time, changed to one filled with sorrow. Princess Ekaterina did not understand why it had come to this, but she could feel only the strength of Ray's resolve in these words.
"...Then, why are you here?"
"I thought I'd return to the starting point and begin my revenge."
"I see... Is that why you appeared before me?"
"That's right."
It was a sad answer for Princess Ekaterina. Even though she knew such an answer would come, in a corner of her heart, she had hoped for a different reply. Suppressing the emotions of sadness welling up in her chest, Princess Ekaterina continued the conversation.
"...What is this revenge?"
"I hadn't thought of it yet. I actually intended to put it off, but you suddenly appeared right in front of me."
"Then, what will you do?"
"What I thought of was making you experience the same thing as Rui."
"...I see."
"I thought about kidnapping you as is and locking you up somewhere, but there's no such place. It's incomparable to a dungeon, but I'll forgive you here."
"...Miria is—"
"Sleeping with a man. Just to be clear, it's in a different sense from what we are about to do."
While continuing the conversation, Ray approached Princess Ekaterina. As the distance closed, Princess Ekaterina's heart beat faster and faster.
"What will it be? Which is better, taking them off yourself quietly, or having your clothes torn apart?"
"...I'll take them off myself."
"Then, I'll tear them."
"Eh?"
"Don't misunderstand. We aren't loving each other. I'm just unilaterally ravishing you."
Just as he said, Ray roughly pushed Princess Ekaterina onto the bed, pressed himself on top of her, and tore the dress from her chest. He then roughly kneaded the exposed breasts with both hands. While knitting her brows in pain, Princess Ekaterina endured it in silence.
"...You won't resist?"
"If I resist, will you stop?"
"No way."
"Then it is useless."
"True."
After that, without exchanging any more words, Ray continued the act. Princess Ekaterina accepted it in silence. Even if Ray intended to ravish her unilaterally, for Princess Ekaterina, it was not so. However, the fact that it was not an act of being loved was still sad. Being treated roughly by Ray hurt her heart more than her body. Eventually, she felt a pain that blew away even such sadness, and a rough time passed where she could think of nothing. Even after that passed, Princess Ekaterina remained unable to move for a while. —Waking from her faint and rushing into the room, Miria stood there stunned upon seeing Princess Ekaterina in that state.
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It wasn't that Princess Ekaterina's room in the castle was wrapped in a mournful atmosphere. Only Princess Ekaterina and Miria were in the room. Miria was exuding a mournful atmosphere, but as for Princess Ekaterina, she remained silent with a vacant expression, it being impossible to tell what she was thinking. She had told no one about what happened in the slums. She had not made up her mind to speak. If the matter came to light, even if Princess Ekaterina were not at fault, it was a scandal severe enough that it would not be strange for her to be stripped of her status as a princess. After somehow preparing a dress and returning to the castle as if nothing had happened, the two had been shut in the room. It was already quite late at night, but Miria felt no sleepiness at all. This was the first time in Miria's life. That was how terribly shaken Miria was by this incident.
"Let us forget it. This time, it was like being bitten by a stray dog."
It was a hollow consolation she had repeated many times, but still, Miria could not help but say it. She could find nothing else to do in this place right now.
"...Miria."
"Y-yes!"
At Princess Ekaterina's finally returned reaction, Miria's voice grew louder. However, the following words were not what Miria had hoped for.
"The sword I gave to Kamui—no, Ray."
"Eh? What about it?"
"Was it your instruction to install tracking magic in that sword?"
"...What do you mean by that?"
There were two meanings to Miria's question. The meaning of the question itself, and why she was asking it now.
"Because of that, it seems Ray was followed by the Hero and others, and was almost killed."
"...You met him? Then, the Princess—I mean, that Kamui fellow did this!?"
"It's Ray."
"The name is not the issue! Why would he do such a thing!?"
This act was unbelievable to Miria, who knew the former Ray.
"It's revenge, apparently."
"But based on what you just said, isn't it a misunderstanding on his part?"
"No. Originally, I was in a position to be revenged upon by Ray. I've simply returned to that position."
"Even so, a woman's chastity... it is not an act that can be forgiven."
"Then, why was the Hero forgiven?"
"What!?"
A voice suddenly sounded. A person who should not be there appeared again. However, this time too, before Miria could confirm the figure, her vision went black. A blow to the back of the head. With that, Miria lost consciousness just as she had during the day.
"...Why?"
"Did you think revenge ends after just once? I said I'd make you experience the same thing as Rui."
"I see. I wonder how you managed to get in this far?"
"Well. People can manage if they try hard enough."
It was not something that could be managed just by trying hard. Even the King's bedroom was nearby. Princess Ekaterina thought it might be a joke in Ray's own way, though she wasn't entirely sure.
"...I thought so when we met during the day, but your atmosphere is somehow different."
"Is it? I think this is the real me. But maybe I've changed a bit. I intended to train my mind as well."
"Did you live in the Forest of Bewilderment the whole time?"
"There is no other place where I can live in peace. Besides, it's a good place to train the mind and body."
"And food?"
"I acquired enough strength to catch things in the Forest of Bewilderment. Though I say that, half of it is thanks to the miasma's power weakening."
"Hinata's purification."
"No way. That's impossible."
"Is it?"
"It's a miasma vent that the Demon Race have been purifying for hundreds of years. There's no way it would be purified by a single spell."
The miasma had merely been temporarily suppressed after receiving purification magic while it had lost momentum. However, Princess Ekaterina was surprised not by this fact, but by different words.
"You're saying the Demon Race were purifying it?"
"The thing you call the Holy Sword is for suppressing miasma. I think you knew this?"
"Of course, I know that. But I've never heard that the Demon Race were the ones doing it."
"Then, let me ask. Can the Human Race even make a Holy Sword?"
"...I thought it was a lost magic."
In this world, there are things called lost magic, primarily among the Human Race. Most of them are demon magic. Magic handed down from demons back when the Human Race and the Demon Race had a friendly relationship in the distant past. The Human Race had intentionally erased that fact from memory and records.
"Everything good is the credit of the Human Race, and everything bad is the fault of the Demon Race."
"...True. But if that's the case, the Heroes are quite the clowns."
"Yeah. But I'm also quite the clown for being used by them and almost killed."
"Maybe so... I understand now."
"What do you?"
"The you from the trial and the you now have the same atmosphere. The slightly sarcastic way of speaking. This is indeed your true face."
"...Listen, I didn't come here to have a pleasant chat, you know?"
"Ah, right... Hey, I have just one request."
"You think you're in a position to ask that?"
"I am, but I want you to be gentle. It still... a little..."
She could not bring herself to mention the places where pain remained out of embarrassment. Even so, Ray understood what Princess Ekaterina wanted to say.
"Then, say 'Please be gentle, Master'."
"Eh?"
"Ah, just kidding. I got a bit carried away. Forget that. I'm the one who's embarrassed."
"...Please be gentle."
Princess Ekaterina had no knowledge of maid play, she simply obeyed because Ray told her to.
"Damn, this from a tsundere princess has incredible power."
"...Master?"
And since Ray seemed happy for some reason, she tried saying it.
"No, that's why I said I'm embarrassed!?"
The atmosphere from before vanished, and Ray's face turned bright red. Seeing Ray like that, Princess Ekaterina's tension also vanished instantly.
"Fufu."
"...I didn't come here to enjoy a conversation."
"True."
"Well, whatever. I have no intention of being gentle, but for today, it can't be helped."
"Thank you."
Princess Ekaterina uttered words of gratitude, feeling a kindness like before, but Ray's following action was unexpected. It was fine up until he lightly lifted Princess Ekaterina and tossed her onto the bed.
"Eh, ah, n-no."
Princess Ekaterina let out a cry of surprise as Ray flipped up the hem of her dress and put his head between her legs. Ignoring that, Ray held both of Princess Ekaterina's legs and buried his face in her crotch.
"I'm begging you. No, not there... no..."
Naturally, there was no way Ray would stop the act, and Princess Ekaterina continued to writhe in shame, her skin dyed pink—.
◇◇◇
"...Are you leaving?"
Princess Ekaterina asked Ray, who had moved away from her, while remaining on her back.
"I can't stay here forever, obviously."
"True."
"But I'll come again. If you hate being violated, then seek help. Say 'I was violated by a slave. He's coming to violate me again, so please help me'."
"...You know I can't."
"Right. The moment you chose to hide it, this fact became your weakness. That weakness binds you, and you'll be unable to defy me."
"...True."
"But there is one way."
"What is that?"
"Not the princess, but the Royal Guard Knight-sama."
Ray's gaze turned toward Miria, who was lying on the floor. Miria was still in the position she had been in when Ray knocked her unconscious. Miria did not realize that this was actually unnatural.
"Enough with the pretending to be unconscious. Were you aiming for a surprise attack, or are you pretending not to have seen the princess's shameful state?"
"...Both."
Muttering regretfully, Miria stood up from the floor.
"If you don't want the princess to be violated, then you should prevent it. But you can't. You don't have the power to protect the person you should protect."
"............"
This was the revenge against Miria. To strip Miria, who took pride in being the princess's guard, of that pride. This was the same as what he had considered before. However, the method was unbearable for Miria. Because she could not prevent her precious Princess Ekaterina from being violated. Ray's revenge would be carried out in a more merciless manner than before.