Succession Round 1, Behind the Scenes with Ransel. (7)

17.

The Imperial Family’s Long-Time Enemy.

The Marigold County.

‘How does that even happen?’

Lancel couldn’t shake off the bewilderment.

Traitors?

Those people?

As far as he remembered, the Marigold County wasn’t the kind of place to pull off something so audacious.

He recalled Marigold’s childhood flashbacks in the game. He remembered the Count and his wife, who were endlessly filled with philanthropy. Would that kind-hearted family have the guts to stand up to the Imperial Family?

If you were to picture a typical, harmonious, and affluent noble family, it would probably resemble the Marigold County in most respects.

‘Marigold County. Traitors. Old nemesis.’

Before he knew it, the carriage had arrived in front of the Imperial Palace.

“Then, I’ll see you again at the Imperial Ball tomorrow, Lancel. Don’t be too withdrawn and participate. You’re at an age where you should be getting married.”

“The Marigold County…”

“……?”

“…I heard that they were a family that disappeared during a war. Is there something I don’t know?”

The Second Prince, who was getting out of the carriage, turned his head. A faint smile hung on his lips.

“It’s because of my father’s humanity. He even loved the old empire he trampled on.”

The old empire.

His sister had named it the ‘Elven Empire,’ but for some reason, only the phrase ‘old empire’ remained and circulated on the continent.

“People tend to get more sentimental as they get older. My father must not have wanted to fall into hell as he neared his end. After causing so much bloodshed, how could he not?”

The Second Prince let out a silent laugh.

“But… even so, don’t you think it’s a bit much to pass on the empire’s legacy to them? Don’t you think so too, Lancel?”

“……”

“Whatever it is, don’t be any more curious than this. I’m saying this for your own good. Having lived a little, I’ve found that there’s nothing more comfortable than not knowing, you know?”

The Second Prince patted Lancel’s shoulder and walked away from the carriage.

.

.

.

‘I don’t know.’

His head throbbed, but Lancel decided not to overthink it. In times like these, a simple approach was best.

‘I’ll just take her and run.’

Right. Only the Second Prince knew that ‘Mary’ was ‘Marigold.’

He had to grab her quickly and spirit her away. Then, he’d take her somewhere safe. If they hid well and endured for ten years, they’d be fine.

The continent was vast, there were many places to hide Marigold, and ten years was too short a time for the Imperial Family to track them down.

Lancel immediately turned the carriage towards Mary’s place. The streets were already bustling with a festive atmosphere.

“Pardon? Mary Baronet is at the Eve Party right now?”

“What?”

Lancel heard the news from her maid at the house Mary Baronet had prepared in the Imperial Capital.

‘Where is she wandering around at this hour?’

The maid continued to focus on cleaning as she answered Lancel.

“She hurriedly left, saying she was going to see Lancel… why are you here? Didn’t Lancel call for her?”

“Called for her? Me?”

“She said a high-ranking person called for her…”

Bang-!

“Oh my!”

The maid, startled by Lancel’s sudden exit, cowered. In her vision, she saw his back disappearing into the distance.

18.

“Hoo, hoo…”

“Why do you keep sighing so restlessly?”

Pina’s chattering voice flew into Marigold’s ear as she took deep breaths.

“Ugh, I can’t seem to calm down.”

Marigold clutched her head inside the carriage. She was currently heading to the Eve Party, perfectly dressed in her gown.

“W-what should I say when I see him? What should I do when I get there? Should I ask him to dance first?”

“You see each other all the time, is there still any awkwardness left? Just be comfortable.”

“Parties are different, Pina! Parties are the real deal!”

“Isn’t it just dancing and eating snacks?”

“That’s not it, I’m telling you? Hoo, hoo!”

Her heart was already pounding.

—There is someone waiting for you at the Eve Party. I will escort you, so please come with me.

Ever since the carriage arrived to pick her up, saying that, she had felt like she was floating.

Under the dark sky, she could see the brightly lit ballroom of the Imperial Palace. Marigold felt as if she was facing the most nerve-wracking moment of her life.

“We have arrived, Mary Baronet.”

“Hic!”

Before she could gather her thoughts, she had arrived at the ballroom.

“I will escort you. This way.”

“Y-yes… yes!”

Marigold awkwardly made her way inside the ballroom.

“We have arrived, Sir Lancel.”

“Good work.”

“Sir Lancel?”

Lancel jumped out of the carriage as if he was running away.

The Imperial Palace’s ballroom was crowded with well-dressed nobles from the entrance. Each group blocked his path.

“Excuse me, I’m just passing through.”

Lancel fearlessly pushed his way through them.

“Eek! Why are you being so rude!”

“Hey, watch where you’re going!”

“No! My drink…!”

“Oh dear, are you alright? Hey! If you’re a noble, have some dignity, friend!”

Loud protests flew at him, but he didn’t care. Lancel finally entered the dazzling interior of the ballroom.

Splendid interior decorations, brilliantly sparkling chandeliers, softly playing music, dancing people, and talking people.

Lancel continued to look around amidst the complex scenery. Before long, a maid appeared before him.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Have you seen someone named Mary?”

“Pardon? Mary… what kind of person is she…?”

“Never mind.”

Lancel passed the maid and entered the ballroom.

‘Where on earth did this guy go?’

Before long, he saw a familiar face.

“Oh! Have you arrived, Sir Lancel!”

It was Baron Ibil Shen, already quite drunk. Lancel grabbed his shoulder tightly.

“Mary!”

“Ugh! You’re going to bruise me, you! Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Have you seen Mary Baronet?”

“Mary? The Mary I know?”

“Mary Baronet, I mean.”

“Huh? She wasn’t here? Where are you going, Sir Lancel? Hey! Stay and play for a bit…”

As soon as he heard the answer, Lancel brushed him aside. Baron Ibil Shen sent him a disappointed look, but he didn’t have time to listen to his complaints right now.

==========

—Encounter Event Occurred! ‘First Prince Delphi Aaron Phrygia’ and Marigold have met.

※The fully bloomed courtyard garden makes Marigold look even more beautiful. (Dignity, Charm, Morality UP!!)

==========

‘……!’

With the timely appearance of the system notification, Lancel kicked off the ground.

He pushed through the people blocking his way towards the courtyard garden and ran out in one go. The path he had passed through was a mess for a while.

As soon as he got outside the palace, he ran into the garden.

He crossed countless scattered petals, increasing his speed more and more.

“Please come this way.”

Marigold had felt an unusual atmosphere ever since she arrived at the garden.

Armed knights were sparsely visible around her, one or two at a time. It was as if they were surrounding her. Finally, at the destination she had arrived at, she could only see the back of a man dressed in a neat uniform.

Her sense of unease had already turned into certainty. She recognized at a glance that he was not Lancel.

“The flowers that fall in November.”

A much taller height.

Long hair for a man.

A flawless posture.

The man brought a broken golden hydrangea to his lips, savoring its fragrance.

“The flowers that bloom again in June.”

The man slowly turned around.

Marigold took a step back. She felt an unprecedented fear coming from him.

“So you were alive, Marigold.”

Her name pierced her ears eerily. She hadn’t misheard. It wasn’t ‘Mary,’ but ‘Marigold.’

“……!”

Marigold continued to back away. She hurriedly gathered her Magic Power. She had to get out of here. An urgent sense of alarm awakened her senses.

“……Lady!”

Pina’s protective barrier erupted.

“Mary!”

Marigold turned around at the familiar voice. Lancel, holding a sword, filled her vision. A sense of relief washed over her.

“Lancel…!”

Thwack!

A chilling sensation pierced Marigold’s lungs in an instant.

“Lancel…!”

A silver-white sword pierced through Marigold’s chest.

“……Sir…?”

‘Ah.’

The first playthrough of the returnee Marigold meets a tragic end. That scene slowly entered Lancel’s eyes.

Blood flowed from the corners of Marigold’s mouth. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed. Behind her, a knight in armor was retrieving the blade.

The cold air, the scent of hydrangeas, the subtle smell of blood, the gazes gathering towards Lancel, the First Prince Delphi Aaron Phrygia’s silent expression. Every element that made up this space was engraved on Lancel’s retina, one by one.

‘Marigold.’

Honestly, even now, he didn’t know what Marigold had wanted to do.

What Darkhood’s purpose was, what Lemon Verbena was, Lancel had no idea.

It was Marigold anyway, so it probably wasn’t a big deal. That was all he could sense.

But.

“Lancel Dante. You were unlucky. If you had been just a little later, you would have saved your life.”

At the First Prince’s voice, Lancel quietly looked at the fallen Marigold. She was soaked in flowing blood, repeating painful coughs.

‘How miserable, Marigold.’

Knights slowly approached him.

Lancel clicked his tongue bitterly.

19.

Marigold opened her eyes in the flower garden.

A familiar sensation. She realized that she was lying down, using someone’s legs as a pillow. She slowly raised her gaze to the sky. She met a familiar face and eyes.

Only then did Marigold realize that she was in Lancel’s arms.

“Ehehe.”

“Ha.”

Perhaps her instinctively smiling face was a bit absurd. Lancel couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re the only person I’ve ever seen smiling after getting stabbed.”

“Stabbed… did I get stabbed…?”

“Not only were you stabbed, but it pierced a vital point. You’ll be dead soon.”

“Hmm, but, why don’t I, hurt…?”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Is that, so… fortunate…?”

“It’s better than being in pain.”

“……Ah……”

Marigold’s face was drained of blood, and dark shadows were cast under her eyes, but the smile on her lips still didn’t leave.

In a way, she was an amazing person. Thinking back to his newbie returnee days, Marigold might have been several times stronger in mental fortitude. That’s what Lancel thought.

“Are you laughing?”

“……Anyway… again……”

Marigold smiled weakly and spoke to him.

“……We’ll meet, again.”

It was a voice that was barely audible.

Lancel listened silently.

“Next time, I’ll do better……”

“Do what?”

“……Just… anything……”

Marigold’s eyelids slowly closed.

20.

Marigold’s consciousness completely disappeared. The strength slowly drained from the hand she was holding with Lancel.

‘RIP. 1st playthrough Marigold.’

She never became the Empress.

Perhaps it would be impossible to become the Empress in the future.

What if she proceeded while thoroughly hiding her identity? What if he forced her to become the Empress? Would that have worked? Maybe they could have even gotten married?

Lancel shook his head.

He didn’t think that would be the right answer.

No.

He didn’t feel like feeding Marigold to those trashy bastards anymore. He knew that nothing would be left anyway.

Lancel silently looked down at Marigold, who had closed her eyes peacefully.

“Are you asleep?”

What to say.

It was a strange feeling.

Lancel realized anew how quiet the world was without Marigold. Looking back, it had been a long time since the world was without her. The sight of the dead Marigold felt somehow unfamiliar.

Perhaps it was because he was holding her corpse directly in his arms. Perhaps it was because he was realizing her disappearance through skin-to-skin contact. It felt like she would get up at any moment and start spouting strange nonsense again.

“Hey. Can I pinch your cheeks?”

Until all the warmth had left and she had turned cold. Lancel just held her hand quietly.

Behind-the-Scenes.

Behind the scenes.

The curtain of the story falls.

Only Lancel remains alone on the stage.

It was already October. It was a winter where flowers fall.

“……Honestly, I’m not expecting much from the 2nd playthrough either……”

With a brief chuckle.

That’s how 10 years passed.

.

.

.

[Playtime 3 years 131 days]

—Marigold has died.

—There is no marriage partner.

—There are achievements.

▶Popular in high society +50 points.

▷Wanted by the Imperial Family +50 points.

—Total score: 100 points. (Remaining score for Memory Inheritance 2nd playthrough 300/1500 points)

[Save.01 – Promise]

—The playthrough has been saved to ‘Save.01’.

—View the flashbacks.

.

.

.

‘Sir Lancel.’

‘What.’

‘Is it okay for me to do nothing like this and live off Sir Lancel?’

‘……Sometimes there’s a life like this. Every day is like a vacation, isn’t it nice?’

‘I want to do better next time.’

‘You’re talking like there’s a next life.’

‘What would you do if there was?’

‘It would be amazing, I guess.’

‘Then… please marry me when the next life comes.’

‘What are you saying out of the blue?’

‘If there’s a next life, I mean. You can do that much, right!’

‘……I’ll think about it.’

‘Positively?’

‘Yeah. Positively.’

‘You promised.’

[Promise – Save.01]

—Would you like to restart the game?

.

.

.

‘……?’

Lancel blinked at the screen he was seeing for the first time. An ending that only listed the conversations between a freeloading maid and a good-for-nothing noble… no, is it even an ending?

‘Save?’

He didn’t know.

Lancel just quietly reflected on what had happened in this playthrough.

-Returnee Marigold.

What would happen if she accumulated achievement points again and returned? ‘Returnee Marigold’ would appear before Lancel again. With the memory of dying in his arms intact.

He didn’t know yet whether that would be helpful or a hindrance.

Only one thing was certain.

‘Forget about the princes and everything else, let’s just get a happy ending somehow!’

Yes. A happy ending. Anyway, something that ends brightly and hopefully. Lancel was now only hoping for that.

Believing that Marigold’s ‘true happiness’ was the only way to save him from this endless loop.

.

.

.

And.

“Nice to meet you! I heard you’re the one who will be helping me with my work.”

Lancel reunited with Marigold, who was not a returnee.

“Mary Baronet, a records officer at the Imperial Central Administration.”

[Inheritance 1st Playthrough. Behind-the-Scenes Lancel – END]

[NEXT – Civil Servant Marigold]