episode_0092
by fnovelpiaFaint breaths continued quietly. Rose was deeply asleep, unaware of her surroundings. Leaving the girl to rest, we were lightly sharing tea in the next room.
A platinum-blonde girl was visible in front of the plush sofa where she sat. “…….” Charlotte remained silent. She seemed to be deep in thought. The hot teacup was merely held between her fingers, cooling down without a stir since earlier. Beyond her clear pupils, a complicated mind was evident.
‘She’s still like this.’ I wore a bitter smile. Hope had suddenly arrived. The girl seemed to have something to say, but she hesitated, unable to voice it. Her occasionally meeting gaze held wavering emotions.
‘Is she truly shocked?’ I lightly put down the teacup I was holding. It seemed we would stay up all night at this rate, so I decided to speak first. I asked in a perfectly calm tone. “How was it?”
A lightly tossed phrase. Though short, its meaning clearly referred to Rose. It must have been a long time since Elize looked so comfortable. As I quietly waited for an answer, a subdued voice soon emerged.
Her blue eyes, deep in thought. “…….Can she really be cured?” The question broke off pathetically. Even at a casual listen, it sounded more like a wish than a question. I didn’t nod immediately. I merely smiled, as if deliberately drawing out the suspense.
“Will it be difficult…?” Charlotte’s nervousness increased. As it concerned her beloved younger sister’s lifespan, the girl watched for subtle cues, even at the mere twitch of my lips. Her agitated gaze had forgotten her usual bluntness. Currently, Charlotte was mentally vulnerable. Hope, and despair. Two intense emotions swirled within her. She simultaneously hoped that a way to save her sister had been found, and was tormented by the anxiety that even this might fail. The endlessly mixed ups and downs of her feelings were enough to shake the girl.
“It’s not difficult.” I thought. Now was the time. It was time to tame the young prince. Cracks had appeared in her firm mind, and a brief opening had formed, which I considered an opportunity to slip through. I subtly let my words drift and rose from my seat.
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s perfectly possible.” I was targeting a moment of confusion. Humans are helpless before despair, and in moments of weakness, they unconsciously seek hope to lean on. Even a girl belonging to the ‘4D’ [quirky/eccentric] type would be no different. While portraying myself as a wall to lean on, I also intended to become a deep swamp, swallowing the princesses whole. To do this, I needed to instill trust.
“You must trust me.” Trust that I was someone they could rely on. “Your Highness.” “…….” Her clear pupils stared blankly in my direction. I slowly moved. To the sofa opposite where the princess was sitting. I subtly moved behind it, then placed my hand on the girl’s shoulder. I brought my lips close to her white ear and spoke.
“The treatment won’t be easy.” “…….” “But if Your Highness follows my instructions carefully, it’s not impossible.” “…….What do I do?” “It’s nothing much. Simply follow my directions absolutely when it comes to the treatment.” “If I do that, can Elize be saved?” “I give you my word of honor. If I lie, you may bury my neck in the ground.” “Okay… I’ll trust you. I’ll do anything you tell me to.”
The girl nodded as if possessed. Even as she stepped into the swamp, her blue eyes shone transparently. I smiled faintly, a tender feeling in my heart. “That’s a good attitude.” It was merely the stage of dangling bait, but it wasn’t a bad start. I whispered in a low voice. “Please remember.” In this despair. The only person who can pull you out. “Is me and no one else in this world.” This was the true beginning of the princess gaslighting.
***
Elize Rose von Staufen. She was the Second Princess of the Empire and Charlotte’s younger sister, but her treatment within the imperial family was poor. This was due to the illness she suffered from. Mana Petrification Disease. Despite ‘disease’ being in its name, it was widely perceived as a curse among people. To the extent that a superstition even followed it, claiming it was due to incurring divine displeasure. The problem was that even the academic community accepted this superstition as fact. Medicine, magic, divine power… centuries of repeated research had failed to find even a clue for a cure, meaning even experts had practically given up. Given the situation, Mana Petrification Disease had become a symbol of ill omen.
‘It’s not that I don’t understand.’ I thought it was understandable. It erupted without any warning, its cause unknown, no solution found, and with few cases, there was no information about it whatsoever; ultimately, it led to an unavoidable death. There was simply no other way to explain it than to say it was forsaken by the gods.
‘Moreover.’ Those afflicted found their mana channels hardening. As a result, the flow within the body reversed, and sharp, broken fragments circulated, tearing apart internal organs. Since the process leading to death was so horrific, the perception of it could only be the worst. Indeed, examining cases from past centuries, there were even records of sufferers being burned at the stake for purification, on the grounds that they were cursed by the gods. That curse, remembered like a nightmare. Had afflicted none other than the Imperial Princess of the Empire.
‘Naturally, the imperial family was thrown into chaos.’ The Rose, who had been the flower of the people until the day before, suddenly became a sinner who had incurred divine wrath overnight. This phenomenon had significant potential to be interpreted as an ill omen for the Empire. It was clear that it would stir up not only internal imperial politics but also the imperial citizens. Therefore, the Emperor took swift action. The matter was covered up as an imperial secret. All involved parties were silenced, and no one knew about it except for a minimal number of close associates. Furthermore, Rose was confined to a detached palace to prevent news from leaking out. Outwardly, all social activities were refused, citing the princess’s frail health.
‘Poor thing.’ She was not yet ten years old. While the Emperor’s actions were truly wise when considering the subsequent political turmoil and the girl’s safety, Rose ultimately had to stand alone from a young age. Living a life of confinement for nearly ten years. “-For an imperial princess of a nation to reside here, it is excessively modest.” “-…….Yes.” Her dwelling being particularly modest was also for that reason. Entry was extremely restricted. The First Princess was virtually the only one to periodically visit the detached palace. Rose, receiving care from a few maids, spent her days simply waiting for the day of her death. This much was what I learned while playing the original story.
[EP???. For Elize] -Lonely Abode, A Rose Wilting in Winter- This was the backstory revealed as a side story. I had even uploaded a separate video about it, but the ending wasn’t particularly good, leaving a bitter taste. Rose was a character who met her demise in every route.
“It’s truly regrettable.” A murmur, as if in lament. As I brought my hands together, a cold gaze was felt directly in front of me.
“…….” Long, flowing red hair. Lifeless green eyes, devoid of any vitality. A pale complexion that emphasized her frailty. It was Elize. The girl was sitting on the bed, glaring at me. Her fiercely wide eyes seemed to directly ask, ‘Why are you here?’ I smiled calmly.
“Good morning. I am Juda Snakers, who will be taking over as Your Highness’s physician starting today.” “…….” “I apologize for my rudeness yesterday.” “Ha.” Perhaps she recalled the intense memory of yesterday. Rose let out a hollow laugh. Her reaction contained undisguised contempt. The girl clenched her fists tightly, as if ready to lunge at me. A venomous light still lingered in her pupils.
“You… shut up. Because I want to kill you right now.” “Are you still holding a grudge?” “Shut up.” “Didn’t I tell you it was merely part of the treatment? Furthermore, it was Her Highness Charlotte who entrusted me with such a request.” “Your shamelessness pierces the heavens. To dare lay a hand on an imperial body.” “I merely fulfilled my duty as a subject.” “While raping a princess of the nation.” “That is absolutely untrue. I made no contact other than for treatment.” “If it weren’t for the First Princess, you would have been executed on the spot.”
Elize muttered, grinding her teeth. Her pupils were full of murderous intent, but she couldn’t retaliate against me. Getting out of bed was difficult enough for her. “Ugh, haa…” The frail princess gasped for breath just from a brief outburst of anger. It seemed her seizure cycle was returning. I subtly added.
“I came because I believe you’ll need treatment today as well.” “Get lost.” “It is Her Highness Charlotte’s command.” “I don’t need it… just go away. I never asked for a physician in the first place.” “Aren’t you in pain?” “I’ve lived my whole life like this already.”
Rose stubbornly refused treatment. Was she not even afraid of the seizures? It was obvious she would vomit blood and writhe on the floor, so why was she so unyielding? The girl merely fumbled for the desk beside her bed.
Scrape. The drawer opened roughly. Her hand, rummaging inside for a moment, finally succeeded in grasping something. It was a pocket knife, about the size of a palm. The girl unwrapped the numerous bandages around her wrist, then brought the sharply glinting silver blade to her skin. I, who had been watching blankly, belatedly realized her action.
“No.” I grabbed her slender wrist. Inside the bandages, countless straight scars were densely packed. It was clearly the result of her own doing. The girl tensed her grasped hand, as if trying to hide them. “Let go.”
It was a type of folk remedy. A method to calm seizures caused by mana reflux. By making cuts on areas far from the danjeon and bleeding, one forcibly tried to restore balance. While it offered temporary pain relief, it was not a fundamental solution and was self-destructive, making it a deprecated method. Upon closer inspection, both her arms and even her neck area were bandaged. Could it be.
“…….Your condition is more severe than I imagined.” I had thought she was merely uncomfortable, fiddling with the bandages earlier. Was it withdrawal? Once a habit forms, it’s highly addictive. Especially when mana flow is unstable, the sense of stability gained from such acts would be extraordinary. Judging by the scars, it must have been going on for at least three years. The original story hinted at it, but I hadn’t realized it was this severe.
“Are you saying you won’t receive treatment in this state?” “…….” “This won’t do.” I had intended to be as gentle as possible today, thinking I had been too rough yesterday. But seeing this, I couldn’t concede.
Snap! I snapped my fingers without delay. Shadows shot out next. They intertwined like ropes once more, binding the girl’s stiff body to the bed. It was a scene replicating what I had seen yesterday.
“Wait…?!” The red-haired girl stumbled onto the duvet in surprise. I gathered thick lies at my fingertips and lifted Rose’s thinly worn nightgown. Then, I slowly stroked her stomach.
“Today will be rougher than yesterday. Please bear with it for a long time.” I said to the struggling Rose.
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