episode_0048

“Damn it…”

Curses slipped out involuntarily. Even if it was just an illusion, he never expected to curse in front of Rahlte.

But what can he do? If his blood doesn’t boil watching scenes like this up close, that would be strange.

“Geez.”

Fine. Let’s pretend everything is okay.

However, no matter how much he thinks about it, one thing he can’t tolerate torments him.

“You… aren’t wearing a mask, Lianne.”

His face was still blurry, but the presence or absence of a mask could be discerned. Well, considering even in the original work, Rahlte’s appearance descriptions were questionable at best, it was a natural progression.

“Ha…”

I get it. I understand everything.

Unlike Rashera, I was a princess.

A princess of the imperial family couldn’t reveal her face recklessly. Even if I had developed more than a passing fondness for Rashera.

“Why did I forgive this bastard? I should have secretly assassinated Lianne.”

Rahlte’s request was a cheat. Anyway, because someone was kind, they probably decided to spare a wretch like her.

I stared at Rashera’s dancing face. Of course, it was just a futile attempt to grasp the moon reflected in the pond, but it felt like my heart would ease a bit this way.

While I was trying to relieve that awkward feeling, Rashera moved her repulsive lips.

“How does it feel to debut in society, Rahlte?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Are you looking forward to revenge?”

When Rashera asked back, Rahlte slightly shook his head.

“I am looking forward to revenge, but… I am more inflated with expectation at the thought that I can help you.”

He added kindly.

“I appreciate it, Rashera.”

“Fuck this!!!”

I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her. I’ll kill her!!!

I’ll kill Rashera. Save the kingdom and I’ll kill Rashera no matter what.

“Since you say so, I’d like to ask specifically what you are grateful for.”

“I think there’s no other way to express it but ‘everything.’”

Even so, Rahlte earnestly elaborated on his thoughts.

“You gave me a place to go after losing Roderick and Estelle. You gave me purpose and protected me.

Apart from revenge, now Lachelle is my world.

It was a sincere gratitude conveyed by Rahilt. In response, Lachelle drew a delicate curve with her eyes.

“Then should I be grateful for the fate that allowed me to meet Rahilt?”

“Ugh…”

“Damn it, that bastard Rastali.”

If this damn dark sorcerer is trying to corrupt my mind and drive me to madness, it’s a damn effective strategy.

What? Oh, what?

Do I have to watch my man blush in front of that bitch Lachelle?

Are you implying NTR so blatantly? Without even using petrification magic?

Fuck!!!

“Please… Could you please save me, Mother-in-law? How long do I have to endure this? This is a nightmare. If Mother-in-law could somehow take control, couldn’t she get rid of it?”

…

…….

There was no answer.

In the suffocating silence, it felt like my head would split into parallel lines.

Distant, piercing, cutting.

The grinding noise echoed.

As if teeth must dry out and wear down before any intention to stop arises. Even if it stops, stress that lightly surpasses human limits will inevitably manifest in some form of behavior.

“Wait… Wait… It was Rahilt’s debut, right…?”

Rahilt’s debut at the Yellow Palace banquet.

Then there must be one indispensable character.

I urgently turned my gaze to the main seat.”

The eerie sound of familiar footsteps echoed closer and closer towards the throne.

“…I’m going crazy.”

A beautiful dress, a mix of black and navy blue, revealed a white neckline.

Her heavily made-up face was bright and beautiful.

Her jet-black hair and blue eyes were incredibly familiar.

Princess Seriniel Litherion.

It was her descending from the throne.

“Please… please… stop…”

The confrontation between the original protagonist and the villain.

I, with a stern expression, halted in front of Lashera and Rahilt.

The bustling hall fell silent in an instant.

Countless eyes converged, creating a tense atmosphere as the three of us stood, unyielding, staring at each other.

“Long time no see, huh?”

Lashera greeted with a sly smile.

Her words were casual, as if she was talking to a close friend, disregarding formalities.

“Are you crazy, Luarte?”

“Oh, did I seem that way?”

Lashera hooked her arm with her partner Rahilt. Witnessing the scene, both I and my counterpart were taken aback.

“I’m just maintaining proper etiquette towards my partner. Please understand.”

“How dare you…!”

“You damn bitch who’s mother is out of town!!!”

Lashera was flirting with some guy, but that’s my place.

Rahilt’s arms belong to me on both sides, you damn woman.

“Aaaahhh!!!”

I relentlessly pounded the ground. Despite the loud noise, no one paid attention. I could only kneel in helplessness, unable to do anything but watch.

“Ah… ugh…”

It was more agonizing than I had imagined.

Reading about my favorite character in a book and witnessing the true nature of my man in reality were two different experiences.

When Rahilt was just a fictional character, I hoped for his happiness with Lashera.

After all, since the female lead was Lashera, there was no other woman who could make Rahilt happy. Therefore, it was only natural for the male and female leads to find happiness with each other through the power of love.

Even if I immersed myself in the novel, I never thought I would feel the sensation of having my lover taken away.

But how about now?

I have become Princess Seriniel and formed a connection with Rahilt as human to human in this reality.

Although I had only encountered Rahilt in the novel, this world was undeniably real.

Furthermore,

19 years. Nearly two decades I had waited here for Rahilt.

I naturally embraced him as if I were prepared for him for those 19 years.

Moreover, I knew the future where Rahilt and Lashera’s relationship would turn sour.

I had no choice. As the odd one out in this world, I was the only one who could change his future.

I believed so.

“Rian…”

Falling into the trap of a dark magician, I had put Rahilt in danger. And by falling for the dark magician’s tricks, I had inadvertently witnessed the first future I wanted to avoid for Rahilt.

Was I arrogant?

Was the price of thinking only I could help Rahilt too high?

“…Ugh.”

I gazed at Rahilt, who was arm in arm with Lashera.

Tears welled up in my eyes and fell onto my trembling knees.

I was taken aback.

I hadn’t even realized I was shedding tears.

Even in my surprise, his name escaped my lips.

“Rian…”

No other words came to mind. But my lips moved instinctively before my thoughts.

“I’m sorry…”

An apology slipped out.

“Why did I get angry thinking I was special… for putting Rian in danger with my reckless actions…”

At least Lashera wouldn’t have put Rahilt in danger.

The danger that was mentioned would have been nothing more than a trivial incident for someone like Rahelte.

The situation at hand was likely different.

“Wow, that’s really pathetic… sigh.”

I offered another apology with a sense of resignation.

“I’m sorry…”

Lian.

I whispered his name with a fading voice.

The moment of change was right then.

“… Don’t cry.”

And then that voice I had been hearing.

“Huh…?”

I raised my puzzled face.

The scene in my sight showed no difference from before.

Rasha was linking arms with Rahelte, and I engaged in a verbal spat with them.

Yet, my gaze still turned towards Rahelte.

“Are you… looking at me…?”

I’m not sure.

His face seems to be facing this way… but still unclear. With all features blurred, it’s unclear where his gaze is fixed.

Ssshh.

The mist creeps over the world.

It was similar to the events right after Rahelte escaped the institution.

Perhaps a prelude hinting at a shift in the scenery of the mental world.

But I felt that this mist was unnatural.

Unlike the mist that slowly seeped into the world, the current mist quickly filled the view as if in a hurry to conceal something.

I instinctively took a defensive stance.

The last depiction of Rahelte’s childhood in the mental world was a battle with the black figure resembling Ruslett. Therefore, it wasn’t difficult to guess that an unidentified black figure would appear now.

Thud. Thud.

The clear sound of footsteps pierced through the mist and reached my ears.

“Oh no…”

This is awkward.

I wipe away tears.

Then I hesitated, taking a step back.

The ominous sound of footsteps approaching me was very familiar to my ears.

“Is anything possible in the mental world?”

Finally, its true form was revealed.

An unstable figure flowing like shadows. Yet, its features were distinct enough to identify without difficulty.

I straightened my posture.

To face that, a taut tension was necessary this time.

“It’s me…”

Princess Seriniel Litherion.

The true identity of the black figure.