Chapter 14

This is from Vyl's perspective.

Overall, it's quite gloomy, so please be cautious if you're not comfortable with that.

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I felt as if everything about me had been negated in a single night.

The witch hunts and coup d'état triggered by the Immortality Orb, the truth behind my parents' deaths, the contract that cost the prince's life, Emerda's lifespan... The truths hidden in the shadows of the world are all ugly and terrifying.

What was the point of my twenty years?

The nights I fell asleep hungry and feeling inferior, the blood and sweat I spent to become a knight, the days I endured and persevered for the prince and Emerda's happiness—all of it was trampled to pieces.

I feel more drained than angry.

It's ridiculous.

My parents, betrayed and killed by the crown prince of my homeland, would surely be disappointed to see me now. What a terrible act of filial impiety. I should have never been born.

Prince Rain. My poor master, who was unaware of the king's plot and was made to shoulder the secret contract.

What will his face be like when he learns the truth?

He called my father a noble knight, but it was your father who drove that knight to his death.

What will happen when I tell him that?

...We certainly won't be able to trust each other as we did before.

No, perhaps the prince never really trusted me much.

If he knew about Emerda's lifespan, why didn't he tell me? Was it better for me not to know?

If I had known about her lifespan, I would have advised her to rest. That would have been troublesome, so he kept it a secret, right?

He didn't want to lose the ability to use her precognitive powers.

That must be it. Prince Rain is tainted by the dirty blood of the Mistria royal family.

No, that's not right. It can't be.

...I know the truth. It's wrong to blame the prince.

He is royalty. I was born into a lower status. It's impossible to build an equal relationship of trust. What was I deluding myself about?

He bears the heavy responsibility of being the next king.

The life of one person versus the peace of all the people of Mistria. The choice is obvious. He had to make a decision, even if it meant hiding his true feelings.

I couldn't see things as clearly and rationally as he did, which is why the prince couldn't tell me about Emerda.

I can't blame the prince.

Ah, the most pitiful one is Emerda.

She must still be unaware, dreaming of a happy future with the prince.

She must believe that she will eventually be freed from her confinement and wait for the premonitions that will save her from dire situations.

...But there is no happiness for her in that room anymore.

If I truly care about Emerda, I should go and save her.

I can't leave her in that despicable king's castle. I must reveal the truth, take her away from the castle by force, and escape to a distant place. No matter what, I will protect her with my own body, and I will do everything to make her as happy as possible in the short time she has left. That's what a true knight should do...

But I can't move.

I don't have the courage to ask her to choose me over the prince, the confidence to give her a better life, or the resolve to reveal everything and make her despair. I'm the worst.

I don't deserve to call myself a knight. I can't even say I love her.

'Knowing the truth won't change anything.'

That's right.

What can I do now?

What should I live for from now on—?

"………………"

I woke up to the sound of children laughing. They must be playing tag. The cheerful atmosphere outside the window is evident, but the curtains prevent me from seeing clearly.

I looked around the room blankly.

It's unfamiliar. Apart from the bed I'm lying on, I can only see a desk, a chair, and a closet. There's nothing that suggests a lived-in space.

A red ribbon was tied around my right index finger. Someone must have played a prank. I silently untied it and dropped it on the pillow.

My head felt heavy, and my body was sluggish.

I don't seem to have a fever, and there's no particular pain. It's probably anemia or dehydration. I haven't eaten much since last night, though I'm not sure how much time has passed.

My last memory was just before entering the forest.

The woman told me to get off the horse, and as soon as my feet touched the ground, my vision spun.

"You're awake, Vyl. How do you feel?"

"…Not good."

Sonia entered the room. She had taken off her travel clothes and was wearing a loose dress. She was holding a tray. Her face seemed unusually bright. Why?

"I was on edge for five days. Both my mind and body were at their limits."

It seems I've only been out for a few hours since I collapsed.

Sonia sat down on the bed, so I sat up. The medicine she offered looked suspicious, but I drank it obediently. If she wanted to do something, she could have done it while I was sleeping. At this point, I don't care what happens to me.

I've fallen into a state of self-destructive despair.

"Where is this…?"

"My home. This is your room from now on. Make yourself at home. If you need anything, we can go shopping next time. ...Welcome to Kukuruj."

The witch village, Kukuruj.

The prince told me about it.

Originally, witches lived deep in the mountains, devoted to the study of magic, and rarely interacted with their peers or the outside world. They often became villains in fairy tales because of their mysterious and eerie nature.

However, as time passed, some witches began to marry human men and integrate into society.

At first, they were shunned, but their extensive knowledge of medicine and magical beasts was welcomed, and witches gradually became accepted.

However, the witch hunts twenty years ago created a rift between the witches and the people of Mistria.

The previous king ordered the people to hand over the witches. Those who protected them would be punished as accomplices and crucified. In some areas, the people took the law into their own hands and executed the witches.

Witches who were betrayed by their neighbors and barely escaped with their lives gathered at the feet of the savior, Aronia.

They couldn't return to the people of Mistria. However, they were too accustomed to town life to survive in the mountains. So, they decided to create a village near human settlements, where they could protect each other and defend themselves.

This is Kukuruj.

With the presence of the savior witch, Aronia, the people wouldn't just drive them away. They would even treat them better than before. Aronia didn't turn away her fellow witches who sought help and extended a helping hand.

Now, the witches of Kukuruj are on good terms with the people of Mistria and are even on friendly terms with the lord of Azurite.

Some say Kukuruj is a symbol of friendship between witches and the people of Mistria.

But now that I know the truth, I doubt it.

...It doesn't matter, anyway.

"I can't compare it to other places, but life here is good. It's peaceful and surrounded by nature, and you can visit Azurite's capital for a change of scenery. It's a rural life, but it's not boring. I'm sure you'll like it, Vyl."

"…After killing witches and losing my parents to them, you think I'll like living in a witch village?"

"Vyl, you misunderstand witches. Not all of them are evil like your mother or the criminals. And you only killed the bad witches, right?"

That's true. I was a law-abiding knight and only executed witches who committed crimes.

But I'm no longer a knight. My mental state is also unstable.

"Isn't it dangerous to bring me into this village? I might do something unpredictable."

Sonia smiled and poked my cheek with her finger, saying it's fine as long as I'm aware.

"Still, Vyl, you're so sulky. I can't blame you, though. I shouldn't say this, but you were the most miserable man in the continent last night. But there was no other way to tell you the truth."

I understand that.

If I had only heard it from Sonia, I wouldn't have believed it.

The presence of the king's aide, Sednir, made it clear that it wasn't a joke.

There's no way Sonia and the king's side were colluding to deceive me. They wouldn't gain anything by fabricating such a story.

The story from last night was undoubtedly true.

I pushed her hand away and sighed.

"Did you feel sorry for me, serving the royal family without knowing the truth? That's why you didn't kill me last night?"

Sonia knew the truth about my parents' deaths. She must have recognized me at the wedding and deliberately appointed me as a servant.

It must have looked ridiculous from the outside. I was serving the son of my enemy while harboring hatred for the daughter of my enemy.

"Yes, Vyl is pitiful. You worked so hard and didn't get anything in return. It's too cruel. I couldn't just stand by."

Normally, I would have shouted, "I don't need your sympathy," or "Don't act like you understand me," but I didn't have the energy. I covered my face with my hands.

"If you really feel sorry for me, let me go... Don't bring me to Aronia's village."

"Ah, what a bold request. Well, do you have anywhere else to go?"

I couldn't answer.

I can't return to the capital. ...I can't.

Knowing the truth, I'm a liability to the royal family. They won't let me live.

I don't care about my life, but I don't want to fall into their hands. I'd rather take my own life with the witch-hunter's sword. ...Ah, I could even slit my stomach like my parents.

I don't plan to see the prince or Emerda again.

I don't want to destroy Emerda's small happiness. I hope she can live a peaceful life. Even the deceitful and hypocritical love the prince offers is better than nothing.

I have no place to go and no one to rely on.

"Hey, Vyl. What do you think of me now? Do you still want to kill me?"

I couldn't answer her question.

When I woke up and saw Sonia's face, the hatred and disgust had lessened. My hatred for the king and Sednir, who betrayed me, is stronger than my hatred for Sonia. My anger and disappointment with myself are overwhelming, which makes my feelings towards Sonia relatively weaker.

I don't blame Sonia for the attack twenty years ago. She wasn't even born then, and the prince is also the child of my enemy.

I'm starting to think she might be truly uninvolved in the recent strange incidents. She seems capable enough to avoid suspicion.

That doesn't mean I trust her. I don't intend to.

After last night's conversation, I feel an unsettling and eerie presence from Sonia. She's used to dealing with rough situations and seems to be hiding something. I can't help but think she's involved in some other terrible crimes.

I can't underestimate a sixteen-year-old girl. She has too much presence.

In short, I'm scared of Sonia's depth.

But I can't say that to her.

"As you said, Vyl, your mind and head are a mess right now. Don't make any hasty decisions. You can't make a sound judgment. For now, it's best to work as my servant, helping with cleaning, shopping, and managing the fields, as originally planned."

I turned away from her gentle smile.

"...Why do you care so much about me? What do you think of me?"

"Didn't I say? I like your face, voice, and personality. And it feels good to tame a man who despised me."

How serious is she? I don't know. It's scary.

"Well, if you really don't want to work, you can just stay in your room... but then you'd be just a pet."

"Pet...?"

Sonia chuckled at my stunned silence.

"Ah, that might be good too. I'll take good care of you. I'll give you plenty of food and toys, and take you for walks. Then, even if you don't recover—"

"Wait, I get it. I'll work. Give me a job. I don't want to be treated like a pet."

I pleaded without thinking. My pride as a man and a human being was still intact, even though my identity as a knight was dead.

"Is that so? Then I'll see you tomorrow. I'll introduce you to everyone in the village."

She sweetly whispered, "Rest well today," and left the room.

...Damn. I fell right into her trap. I was writhing in silent agony.

I'm completely under Sonia's control. She sees through everything, manipulates my heart, and pushes me to the brink.

I've decided on my course of action.

I will escape from Sonia's clutches. I won't be a kept man.