Chapter 4

Robért suddenly collapsed on top of the bed, facedown on the covers.

“Are you... asleep?” I tentatively asked.

“...”

What a dick.

I forced myself to smile benevolently, forcing down my frustration. But at that moment...

“Your Highness! There is urgent news.”

Hearing the hurried footsteps and loud knocking on the door, I called for my visitor to enter.

“Something terrible has happened, Your Highness!”

More terrible than your princess’s soul being switched?

“Get to the point,” I said sharply.

The soldier who was ushered in by the lady-in-waiting got down on his knees before me and spoke, “Your Highness! The prince of Velode has just been caught escaping with one of the palace servants!”

What...?

I groaned and covered my eyes.

Ding!

[Robért’s Doubts - 1] is an automatic failure.

Ding!

An unknown bug has been detected.

New penalty.

Ding!

Penalty: Robért Juran’s affection levels have been reset. The Robért Juran route is temporarily suspended. (*Suspended routes can be reopened if you complete a hidden quest activated in specific scenarios.)

Ding!

Hidden quest activated!

Ding!

[The Crossroads of Life and Death]

You have attempted to run away at night with Etsen, the man known to be residing in the palace as the wicked princess’s man! Now the whole world knows that you are his secret lover, and both of your lives are at risk. Save yourself and Etsen from the wrath of Princess Elvia.

[Current Progress]

Time left: 01:59:09

Etsen Velode’s Life 0/1

Arielle Dravie Cecilia’s Life 0/1

There was just no end to this day.

* * *

The two were brought to their knees in front of me.

“Why did you do it?” I asked, sitting cross-legged in front of them and shaking my head exasperatedly. “Are you asking to be killed?”

“You said it yourself, that you would let me go—” Etsen started.

“Yes, I did. But I never said you could run away like this.”

I glanced at the woman next to him. She was looking straight at me, her bright red eyes filled with tears. One thing was for sure—I did not sense any fear from her. She was either unafraid of death or firmly believed that she could never die at the hands of a mere game villain.

Etsen let out a roar of desperation. “I hate you! I despise you! I! Loathe! You!”

“I know,” I answered.

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt to hear that. With a sigh, I continued, “You know I’m not stupid. So stop repeating what I already know. It’s tiring.”

“...”

“I asked why you did it.”

“I wanted to take her away from you as soon as possible,” Etsen responded. “Who knows what you might suddenly decide to do?”

“I told you I wouldn’t do anything.”

“Would you believe that if you were me?”

I guess not, I thought with a frustrated laugh.

“Kill me,” Etsen said, his expression hardening.

“Is your life that meaningless, to throw it away just like that?” I asked.

“...”

“Or, if that’s not the case, does this girl mean that much to you?”

Etsen’s face grew calm. He spoke confidently, “Yes.”

Ding!

The notification screen popped up between me and the woman.

Princess Elvia knows that you’ve been fooling around with her concubine. Her patience is stretching thin. You must find a way to quell her rage. (Warning! Choose carefully. Etsen Velode’s life depends on your decision.)

A. Deny your relationship with Etsen.

B. Beg for forgiveness.

C. Ask that you be killed as well.

D. Ask Robért for help.

As I met the woman’s gaze through the screen, a strange feeling came over me. She seemed familiar, like we had met somewhere before... No. That was not important right now.

Arielle bit her lip.

“It will be alright, Arielle,” Etsen said, squeezing her hand with his head held upright. Just then, Arielle made her decision.

“A. Deny your relationship with Etsen.”

Arielle gently pushed his hand away, but Etsen didn’t seem surprised. Keeping his eyes fixed on me, he said, “My life alone is enough for you to take out your anger, don’t you think?”

“...”

When I didn’t answer, he continued, “You said it yourself. You told me you only speak the truth, or things that will become the truth. Then keep your word. You said you wouldn’t touch her if that’s what I wanted. You promised that.”

“I said I wouldn’t do anything to you, too,” I said.

“You can take that back. Then your actions will be simple.”

“You always want everything your own way, don’t you, last prince of Velode?” I asked.

When Etsen’s eyes met mine, I could see he was finally acknowledging his defeat. His elongated pupils and blood-red irises, once full of hair-raising, murderous loathing, were now submissive and obedient.

After taking a few moments to read the room, Arielle cried out, “Your Highness! I was being dragged away by force! I truly was!”

Was this what the princess had to witness all the time? The faces of absolute scum on their knees, hurling themselves at her in an attempt to save themselves first?

“Your Highness! I promise, I don’t know any—”

“Stop,” I cut her off. She was making me feel nauseated. “You say you don't know anything?”

“Please spare my life, Your Highness!” Arielle crawled forward and grasped my ankles. “I promise, this man and I—”

“You know each other in some way or another,” I interrupted. “Isn’t that so?”

“Y...Your Highness! I just—”

“You’ll live together, and die together... Say it, Arielle,” I demanded, tapping her cheek with my fingertips. “Just like he said.”

“...”

“Go on,” I pressed.

“I, I...”

“You love him, don’t you?”

Say yes, even if it’s a lie. That man is giving up his life for you. You made him like this, so take responsibility for it.

Looking up at me in a daze, Arielle mumbled, “I don’t want to die...”

So that’s how it was. I spoke over her and said, “Well, then I suppose I have no choice. I’ll let you go, both of you.”

“What do you...”

“On the condition that you will never return to this palace again.”

“...”

I crouched down close to Arielle’s bewildered face and whispered, “Do it. Don’t be greedy.”

And don’t try to kill me.

“I’ll cover your travel expenses,” I continued, standing up. “You’ll receive enough to live the rest of your lives comfortably.”

“You’re letting us go? Both of us?” Etsen asked, confused. I didn’t answer. The woman’s decision was more important to me, but Arielle stayed silent.

Etsen wouldn’t dream of revenge for his remaining days, as long as he could keep her by his side. But the woman probably felt differently. She still had a lot to gain from this palace. Maybe it wasn’t even a lie when she said she was dragged away against her own will.

So choose already. Before I decide that I need to kill both of you.

“Arielle.”

But at that moment... A person stepped out of the darkness from behind me.

Robért.

This was an unexpected problem.

Etsen’s gaze landed on Robért. Then he met my gaze before quietly looking down again. He must have realized I had been telling the truth. Hide it all you want, but I’ve already seen it. You’re hurt.

“How... how could you do this to me?” Robért staggered forward and sank in front of Arielle. “Say something, Arielle!”

When Robért tried to grab Arielle by the shoulders, Etsen snatched his arm. The two men glared at each other. I could feel a fight brewing.

“Let go,” Robért said.

“...”

“I said, let go!”

Why, oh why, did I have to sit here and watch this frustrating, melodramatic love triangle in the middle of the night, not able to simply sleep? I wanted to chase them all out and go to bed. Rubbing my forehead with one hand, I raised my head again.

“You kneel too,” I said.

“Huh?”

“...”

When I stared at him pointedly, Robért reluctantly turned and got down on his knees beside Arielle. I looked at them all and exhaled deeply. Living this princess’s life was not easy.

Fine. I guess I have to play matchmaker now.

“I’ll let you go too,” I said.

“Huh?”

“I relieve you of your title as my concubine.”

“...”

Robért looked horrified. I couldn’t understand why when I’d just given him what he wanted.

“Go to whomever you want,” I added. Then I turned to Etsen.

“Any problems?”

“No.”

“Good,” I said.

“Have you no pride?” Robért sneered at Etsen.

“...”

Etsen didn’t seem to think the other man’s taunts were worth responding to.

“I don’t know about this bastard, but I can’t accept this! You, tell me,” Robért said to Arielle. “Tell me what you really want!”

Why is he asking that of her? It feels like a role reversal from how this harem game should go, I thought, confused at his suddenly assertive nature.

“I...” Arielle started.

Ding!

Congratulations! You have obtained a Broken Heart (S)!

*Broken Heart (S): A heart once broken cannot be easily restored. From now on, Etsen will stay loyal to you no matter what you do. (Warning! This item is perishable.)

Arielle hung her head. Though she tried to hide it, I could see the corners of her mouth curling upward.

Oh, please.

Keeping her head bent low, Arielle cried, “I don’t want to leave, Your Highness! I came to this palace so I could serve you. I’m innocent, Your Highness! That man and I are not in any sort of relationship! That’s just absurd!”

Robért gaped at her, speechless.

“Please let me stay here! Let me continue to serve you, Your Highness!” she pleaded.

It was ridiculous how obvious her scheming intentions were. She was desperate to become my lady-in-waiting. She was probably angling for this because she needed to find my weakness to complete her quest. Just how stupid did she think I was? But then again, was that a good thing?

“I never wanted to leave, Your Highness!” Arielle babbled. “But this...this man, he forced me—”

“Stop,” I cut her off.

All eyes were now focused on me, or rather, my next words.

“You don’t want to die, you don’t want to leave, and now you want to serve me... What a difficult girl you are, Arielle. You ask for too much.”

“Your Highness...”

Banishing her would be meaningless because I knew she wouldn’t give up. That’s what she was telling me.

“...”

This was an opportunity to prevent any future problems. It gave me the perfect excuse, too.

I should kill her.

I really should kill her.