kscans

Chapter 38 - Impossible

How could you possibly reason with a being that understood nothing about itself? And was it even worth the effort to try? In the first place, Lupia had no interest in the position of Crown Princess. She had only become a candidate and completed one educational course after another because of the royal family's ridiculous justification.

≪My dear sister…≫

The voice of something that looked like Vernella whispered in a cloying tone. Wrong. Vernella would never speak in such a sickeningly sweet manner. She didn't fawn over people. And most importantly of all…

"Have you ever considered how infuriating it is to have the people I cherish imitated by a mere copy that understands nothing of their essence? An entity I'm not even sure is real?"

≪Eh?≫

"Something that only sees the surface and makes no attempt to understand anything has no right to tempt me! What could you possibly know about me!"

≪You…≫

The form of Vernella twisted and warped. No, it was collapsing. It must have lost its ability to maintain the image, but there was no need to pay it any mind.

"You said you wanted me to be the next protagonist, didn't you? I refuse."

≪Why?≫

The 'System' raised its voice. It was a disgusting sound that resembled no one, like a man's voice mixed with a woman's. Lupia hid her disgust and continued to speak.

"If you're so desperate to spin a tale that goes exactly as you wish, why don't you do it yourself? I have no obligation whatsoever to cooperate with you."

≪But you'll be the protagonist of the story! Everything will go your way! Everything!≫

"That's nothing but an illusion. Everything going my way? Don't be ridiculous."

The 'System' choked on its words. And for good reason. Though she didn't know how it worked, it used the power of some inhuman entity to make the people cast in its 'story' act however the protagonist wished. Could that truly be considered something achieved through the protagonist's own charm?

"I don't know why Falty went along with your scheme, but I will not. That is all."

≪How do you know that?≫

"For some reason, I saw you and Falty speaking in a dream… It seems Falty fell for your cowardly, pathetic little plot… but let me tell you one thing."

Lupia took a step closer to the 'System' and smiled.

"You see, I have no attachment, no lingering feelings, nothing at all for the future that girl stole from me."

≪What?≫

"In fact, it's quite the opposite. Thank you for taking it from me. Falty must be having such a difficult time, coaxed by you to stray so far from her true path, now forced to walk the road to becoming queen."

Lupia, who had apparently been quite irritated, continued while looking at the formless 'System'.

"And His Highness the Crown Prince, as well. I never loved him."

She could clearly see the bewilderment in the shadowy, indistinct 'System'. She wished it wouldn't be so rattled by a simple verbal assault. Of course she didn't love Liam, and she never wanted to be the Crown Princess in the first place.

It was simply a matter of being a noble who couldn't refuse a proposal from the royal family. Even though her family was a ducal house, they had no intention of seizing the throne. It was an order from above, so she accepted it. That was all there was to it. And now that Liam had changed his mind and thoroughly disgraced himself, the Calmond family had no obligation to advise for a change in the Crown Prince. Where was the need to look after him to that extent? He wasn't a baby; he had severed his relationship with Lupia by his own will. Even if it was an engagement set up by his own father, the King, he had skipped the proper procedures and forcibly dragged Falty into the place Lupia had occupied. All he had to do was take proper responsibility for his own actions.

"As an ending to a 'game,' I suppose it's quite wonderful, isn't it? A count's daughter who cast down the original fiancée. A love story with the Crown Prince who supports her. It's just like a fairytale."

Lupia laughed cheerfully. Hehehe. With a strange jijiji, zazaza sound, the 'System' changed its form once again. Falty this time, I suppose, Lupia thought, continuing without hesitation.

"But tell me, after the fairytale ends, how can you declare with such certainty that the princess will be happy?"

The 'System', borrowing Falty's form, stared blankly at Lupia. Finally, we've made eye contact, she thought. Lupia placed a hand on her hip, puffed out her chest, and grinned.

"If you want to do it, then by all means, do it yourself."

≪Wha—≫

As expected, even the voice was the same. Just what kind of mechanism allowed it to change its appearance, voice, and even body shape? Otherworldly things are impossible to understand. After a brief moment of thought, Lupia quickly gave up and spoke to the 'System' before her.

"If you want to do something, if you want to grant your own wish, then you should just do it yourself. It's because you rely on others that both you and Falty end up screaming, 'This isn't how it was supposed to be.' ...Am I wrong?"

She had hit the nail on the head. But this 'System' could not exist without its cast of characters. Lupia, Falty, anyone would do. But if it wanted to achieve its goal of completing all the endings, the one chosen as the protagonist had to be a high-spec individual. To do that, however, it needed the consent of the chosen human.

Lupia would not back down from her refusal. No matter what sweet words it whispered, no matter what tempting bait it dangled, it was impossible for any of it to reach her heart.

≪Why… won't you do as I want?≫

"Because something granted by another person isn't a true wish."

≪Even if it is a true wish, isn't it better to have a little help to achieve it easily…?≫

"That may be true for you and Falty."

This was going nowhere. This was pointless. It didn't take long for Lupia to reach that conclusion.

"Would you disappear already? I have no desire to have my precious time with my loved ones stolen by the likes of you."

≪So you're absolutely saying no?≫

"You're persistent."

≪…≫

"Looking like you're about to cry won't work. After all, your face and everything about you is a fake, isn't it? I can vaguely tell that you're a being of a higher order than humans. But even so, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't try to use others to fulfill your own desires."

Lupia glared at the 'System' as it choked on its words, then her expression shifted to one of exasperation. That thing, which had believed without a doubt that she would accept, was now looking frustrated. It had probably underestimated Lupia far too much, especially since Falty had so readily snatched its hand to have her ambitions fulfilled.

"Will you please return things to normal? Even though I'm recuperating, there are many things I want to do… Oh, but I will thank you for one thing."

≪What?≫

"Thank you for taking my future from me."

It might have sounded like scathing sarcasm, but it was Lupia's genuine, heartfelt gratitude. The 'System', its face twisted in frustration again, finally seemed to understand that staying any longer was a waste of time and vanished in an instant.

And with that, the colors and sounds of the world returned.

Lupia hadn't realized how tense her shoulders were. She let out a long, deep breath.

"…So Falty was coaxed by that thing…"

Sweet, sweet words. The blissfully happy princess (Falty), who had accepted them without knowing what awaited her.

"So that's why I was made to think I was friends with her… To make things go its way, to achieve that 'game ending'… it used me…"

Lupia murmured to herself, piece by piece.

"…And the ending it reached was that wedding… Falty will live as the Crown Princess, and when His Majesty abdicates… His Highness will become King, and Falty the Queen…?"

A sudden thought struck her.

"…In this whole affair, no one has called for His Highness to be removed as Crown Prince… Does that mean… oh…"

A terrible premonition washed over her, and Lupia swallowed hard.

"Is it possible that until His Highness ascends the throne, everyone except those who've been 'freed' is still being controlled?"

It had to be her imagination, but the King's bizarre behavior and the silence of the high-ranking nobles who weren't preparing to leave the country made it feel all too real.

"…I'll have to tell Mother and Father… that we must make one 'final visit' after we finish the immigration process…"

Anger kindled in Lupia's eyes. If her prediction was correct, something terrible was about to happen.