episode_0081

A week has passed since Tirissia Brood murdered Kelg Durakal.

An unprecedented incident within the Academy, where the only daughter of a prestigious noble family publicly murders a member of the bloodline that rules the Academy.

The news shook the city overnight, leaving unimaginable repercussions.

Tyrisia surrendered herself to the knights who arrived after Kelg’s death and was brought to justice.

During the few days of detention, many disputes among the aristocratic society centered around the court,

As a result, her sentence was handed down as a penalty of 10 years.

The truth she and Perzena revealed in front of the Academy crowd.

The fact that the Durakal family was a coup force that attempted to overthrow the country and that Tirissia had executed their greatest force was fully taken into consideration in the trial, but

The form of crime that involved cutting off human limbs and torturing them in front of numerous people, and ultimately leading to death―

The fact that she had wiped out the leader of the rebellion was not enough to cover up her crimes, as she had caused great fear and trauma to the students who witnessed that horrific sight.

He was a man who deserved to die, but the way he did it was shocking, and in the end, murder was murder.

The price for a single individual killing a person through private means had to be paid in some way.

Thus, Tirissia Brouard was sentenced to a heavy sentence of ten years in prison, with the possibility of pardon remaining open.

―And now, a week has passed.

After all the trials and detentions were over and she was in prison, Tirisia was facing the visitor who had come to see her through the transparent window.

“I didn’t know you’d be the first. Except for my parents.”

An unexpected joy appeared in the jade colored eyes that looked at the person in front of them.

The girl sitting across from her also snorted as she looked at Tirisia in her prison uniform.

“Huh, well, he was your best friend.”

A girl with cherry-colored twintails, with her arms crossed and a displeased expression on her face.

Lucica Lapisle spoke to Tirisia Bruard.

“She looks so good. You little bitch.”

*

“… Did you come here because you had something to say to me?”

In a conversation that began with Lucica’s mockery, Tirisia, sitting on a chair in prison attire, lowered her gaze to her knees and cautiously asked a question.

“… I have something to say.”

Lucica tilted her head, staring at Tirisia through the transparent window.

“Well, there are many things… but I’m just curious?”

“What is it?”

Tyrisia asked back without meeting the gaze of her friend in front of her.

“I want to know what made you kill that man.”

“My… heart… ”

When Tirisia was unable to answer readily, Lucica continued speaking.

“Of course, if you look at that act alone, it’s praiseworthy even if you put aside your relationship with me. Because you took down a bad guy who was trying to destroy our daily lives… our lives… and the peace of this country.”

“That’s… ”

“And I understand how you feel. You were trapped without knowing it, you were manipulated, and you ruined all your relationships, including Erto. I can never forgive you, and I honestly understand why you even committed murder for revenge.”

“Lucica… ”

“As I said last time, I believe that if there were no compulsory forces like the Curse of Attraction or anything like that, you would never have loved anyone other than Erto. And it’s the same now.”

“That… Thank you.”

When Tirisia raised her head and looked at her, Lucica frowned and showed a look of displeasure.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not defending you. If there had been no such curse in the first place, there wouldn’t have been any problems, but your actions after the curse were applied are separate from that. It’s an inexcusable mistake that you betrayed Erto like that for someone else of your own free will. Right?”

Then Tyrisia turned her gaze and nodded to her words.

“Yeah… I guess so.”

“Well, let’s skip this since it’s something we’ve already talked about.”

“Whew,” Lucica exhaled and asked the original question again.

“What I want to ask is this. It’s a good thing that you, Tirissia, killed that man, and you were able to eliminate a great threat to the country and relieve your desire for revenge. But,”

“… ”

The emerald eyes turned back to her friend’s face.

Lucica asked her with a more serious expression.

“I wonder if you really committed murder for that reason alone.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Were you expecting something, Tirisia?”

“Expectation… ”

At those two words Lucica spat out, Tirisia felt her heart sink heavily.

At that reaction of her complexion darkening, Lucica leaned forward to examine Tirisia’s face more closely.

“Did you think that if you killed that man, you would be able to get some forgiveness from Erto?”

“That’s… ”

“I was wondering. Whether you were motivated by revenge or a sense of justice, or whether you killed that man just to change Erto’s mind.”

“Lucica… I… ”

“Of course, both sides are included. You must have some personal vengeance. So, which is the bigger heart? Anger or hatred? Or atonement for Erto?”

Tirisia opened her mouth with a sad look at Lucica, who was asking with shining pink eyes.

“… To be honest, I had a greater desire to atone for Erto. I also found out later that the man was plotting a rebellion after reading Senior Perzena’s memories, and my personal hatred was a big part of it. ”

“Hey.”

“But, above all, the biggest reason is that I wanted to comfort Erto even a little bit for the wounds I had inflicted on him. I couldn’t bear it without atonement in my own way.”

“I see.”

Lucica nodded as if she had heard Tirisia’s answer carefully and turned away.

And she curled the corners of her lips into a mischievous smile.

“Then it was a waste of effort.”

“Huh… ?”

“Because what you did didn’t bring any atonement or comfort to Erto.”

“… ”

At Lucica’s words mixed with a smile, Tirisia lowered her gaze and took on an expression as if she was pondering something.

“Now, as the person closest to Erto, I’ll tell you. Even if you kill that man now, the wounds Erto received won’t go away. They won’t heal at all. Do you know why?”

“… ”

Lucica hummed softly, scolding the silent Tirisia.

“If a woman who cheats and goes to another man dumps him, it will only seem like a trivial love affair to the man she was dating. Isn’t that obvious?”

“That’s… ”

“If that woman gets blood on her hands and becomes a murderer, the person left behind will only end up feeling bad. Because the person they loved has crossed the line of no return. They will feel another kind of loss.”

“But… That was all I could do now… ”

To Tirisia, who bit her lip and appealed, Lucica shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

“I don’t intend to accuse you of doing something wrong. As I said before, someone had to take down that evil, and I respect your personal feelings. If you look at the results, it was a good thing, and you could even say it served justice.”

“Ah… ”

Only then did Tirisia seem to understand what Lucica was trying to say.

And Lucica also made sure to convey that to Tirisia.

“Just that, that action must have been another wound to Erto. You did a great job killing Kelg Durakal, but that’s one thing and this is another. If you thought you could comfort and atone for Erto, I want you to know that you were mistaken and arrogant.”

“That’s right… I see. Yeah… You’re right, Lucica… ”

The hands clenched on Tirisia’s knees clenched into fists.

“My atonement is that in the end… I couldn’t escape self-satisfaction.”

In response, Lucica wiped the smile off her face and spoke in a serious voice.

“… Well, I am grateful for that. Apart from the cause, it is also Lucica Lapisle’s personal opinion.”

“Why…?”

“Well, love’s most dangerous rival has now completely sunk.”

“What…?”

“You never know what will happen to people. You still love Erto, and Erto might miss you after a long time has passed. That is, before you went to prison.”

“Could that really happen?”

“Considering how deep your previous relationship was, it could have been a miracle. Of course, it’s just a possibility. And I quite like the current situation where even that slim possibility has disappeared.”

“Do you like it… ”

“While you’re in prison, that possibility will never even occur. In the meantime, I can take over Erto as I please.”

At those words, Tirisia’s eyes darkened, and a shadow of sadness fell over her face as she spoke quietly to Lucica.

“Lucica… Are you… trying to tease me? Or… ”

Lucica just stared at Tirisia with a serious face.

“Well, I think it’s pointless to simply mock you now. After all, you sacrificed a big part of your life, and… I don’t think it’s right to look down on someone who saved the country from crisis. So this is―”

Lucica rose from her chair and declared to Tirisia with an expression of utter seriousness.

“I’m just trying to reassure you.”

“Are you safe?”

“Don’t worry about Erto.”

At those words, Tirisia looked up at Lucica, who was standing up with a blank expression.

“I will stay by Erto’s side in the place you abandoned, and fill Erto’s empty heart little by little. I will not fail like you. Never.”

“Lucica… ”

“So, pay your price in peace, Tirissia. Leave Erto to me.”

If what I heard when we met the other day was a simple declaration of victory, the current Lucica was showing a heart filled with determination that went beyond that.

Tyrisia slowly lowered her head as she looked at her once best friend.

A voice full of resignation flowed from his dry lips.

“Yeah… Maybe… Maybe it’s lucky that it’s you, Lucica… ”

If it is something that is already beyond your reach, you console yourself by thinking that it would be best to leave it to someone you can trust.

Tirisia simply made a small request to the winner.

“I’ll take good care of Erto. Lucica.”

“Yeah.”

Lucica nodded and slowly turned her back on her, saying her final goodbyes.

“Watch from there, how I make Erto happy.”

Empty-

So Lucica leaves the interview room,

-Click,

After a while, a new person opened the door and came in.

“Excuse me.”

A girl with a body over 180 cm tall and long, black hair that covers her eyes.

Heidiera Isidell greeted Tirisia.