Why, why is she like that.
Terrified, I flinched and took a step back. Amy, pale as a sheet and dumbfounded, suddenly walked up to me with a face full of firm resolve.
“You, you know something about this situation.”
“I-I don’t know exactly.”
“Liar.”
Amy, who had suddenly come right up to my face, stopped.
“Then where are you going right now.”
I swallowed dryly at the sight of her no different from the auction house.
Wasn’t she mistaking me for Ricardo.
“Can I come with you? Refusal’s not allowed.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be looking for the princess…….”
“Wh-Who said I’d go all the way with you! I’m just tagging along until we find her.”
With that, she subtly moved closer to me.
She wasn’t exactly a companion I liked, but I couldn’t find a good reason to refuse.
“Fine. Do as you like.”
“I’ll be helpful. I might not look it, but I’m the princess’s favorite maid!”
Amy began rambling on about herself. I half-listened to her as I walked along the arrows.
‘They said it’s a guide, and it’s really leading the way.’
I discovered the only good thing about Arkan.
“Oh, that person……!”
After walking for quite a while, we reached what looked like our destination.
[Had you departed earlier, you could have had considerable time with the person you were looking for. What a shame.]
What was I supposed to do about something that already passed!
“Was it Eileens? That’s her, right?”
I quietly nodded at Amy’s words.
Eileens, no different from a criminal, was trapped in a transport wagon. Around her stood fierce-looking knights, guarding with sharp spears.
The only relief was that it looked like mealtime……?
“……!”
Just then, one of the knights scanning the area suddenly turned his head toward us. The moment our eyes were about to meet, I grabbed Amy’s hand and forced her to sit down.
Falling on her butt, she glared at me resentfully. When I brought my index finger to my lips to tell her to be quiet, Amy widened her eyes and just nodded.
“Well done.”
“……!”
I peeked through the bushes at Eileens. She looked a little older than when I had seen her in Drimokan as a child, but she still looked young.
About my age.
That fact made me feel a little sad.
Amy, who was fidgeting with her fingers, cautiously suggested.
“I don’t know exactly, but she looks pitiful, so how about helping her……?”
It seemed the memory was already starting to blend into her heart.
“She’s staying there by her own will.”
“I-It’s the situation that must’ve made her. How could anyone endure with everyone treating them like that?”
Amy hesitated but continued speaking.
“S-She seems like someone as great as your grandfather……”
After quietly listening to her, I spoke softly.
“Alright then.”
“……You will?”
“Why are you so surprised? You’re the one who suggested it.”
“N-No, I thought you’d ignore me, of course.”
Just what did she think of me?
Meanwhile, the knights around Eileens began to sit down one by one.
“Everyone’s quiet. I thought they’d all be making a fuss about getting the demon back.”
“Most of the people in the streets died, didn’t they. They must be in shock.”
“Haa, I hope they’re not hurt too badly. Honestly, there was no need for all this blood……”
“Tsk, brother! Watch your mouth!”
While listening to their idle chatter, I approached Eileens, who sat in the wagon. Staring blankly at the sky, I wondered what she was thinking.
“Am I wrong? It’s not like we suffered because of the demon.”
“Good grief, brother. You should care about your life! You’ll get in big trouble that way.”
Judging from the lax alertness of the knights, it seemed she had already surrendered to the Emperor and abandoned her name.
I stood just beside her. Only then did Eileens seem to notice me, and her eyes filled with suspicion.
“…….”
There were many differences between the fate I knew from the original story and this twisted reality, but if there was one major deviation, it was Eileens.
I had to know why she had submitted to the Emperor.
‘They said one could change fate with human will.’
“Even though you had power, why did you abandon your name?”
At my words, Eileens furrowed her brow.
Was that too direct?
Just as I tried to rephrase the question, Eileens’s dry lips parted.
“……Because that’s the right thing to do.”
Even though I heard the answer, I couldn’t quite understand it.
“You’re not a demon, are you?”
“Just giving up a name ends it.”
I almost said that it doesn’t end there, but barely managed to change the question.
“Then what about you?”
“I……”
Eileens clenched her fists tightly. But only for a moment—then she looked straight at me.
“You, are you trying to tell me to abandon the Empire?”
Ah, now I understand.
Eileens’s will.
“I’m telling you not to abandon yourself. If the Empire would collapse just because you’re gone, then it wouldn’t have lasted this long anyway.”
“Y-Yeah! Even without you, we can…….”
At that moment, Amy, who was beside me, interrupted. But her voice was so loud that the angry shouts of the knights who had been eating in small groups rang out.
“Who’s there!”
“Hic!”
Amy hastily hid behind me. The knights, full of suspicion, approached us and tightened their grips on their spears.
I paused for only a moment before quickly changing my expression.
“This is my sick little sister, and she got really excited because it’s her first time seeing a demon.”
I hurriedly grabbed Amy’s arm, and she shouted in an exaggerated voice.
“I saw it in a fairy tale! A fairy tale with demons and angels!”
The knights exchanged awkward glances. Not missing the opportunity, I pulled out the bread I had received from Charlie earlier and offered it to them.
“You must be exhausted from the escort. It’s modest, but please take this.”
“This is mine! I’m going to feed it to the demon!”
There’s really no need to act this hard…….
I pushed Amy away as she lunged for the bread, and one of the knights scratched his head.
“Ahem, you seem to be having a hard time taking care of your sister, but we’re good.”
Meanwhile, the knight checking on Eileens’s wagon made an X sign with his hands to indicate everything was fine.
“It’s dangerous, so hurry along. We’ll let it slide this once!”
“Thank you.”
Eileens, who had been watching us closely, asked in a self-mocking voice.
“What if I follow your words and mess it up? Just to save myself……”
“Then just live with that.”
“……!”
“Besides, you’re not even the type to run away to save only yourself.”
I couldn’t even imagine how much time Eileens had endured alone until she came to think only of revenge.
“Huh? Why aren’t you two leaving already!”
“Ugh, Amy, I told you we need to go!”
Playing it off, I grabbed Amy’s hand and left the area.
Only when the knights were out of sight did I let go of her. Amy, with a sulky expression, stared at me silently.
“Y-You did great.”
“Forget it, okay? I cleaned up the mess I caused, so I don’t need that kind of talk!”
Then why is she mad…….
“Then I’ll just say thank you. If it weren’t for you, Lady Rowain, we would’ve been caught right away. Thanks to you, we got out of it.”
“Only with words!”
What the—how am I supposed to respond to that!
“Then keep pretending to be my little sister.”
“……Did you actually like playing the role of a dim-witted sibling?”
“Are you crazy?”
Amy looked horrified. After a moment of hesitation, I cautiously opened my mouth.
“Um, if it’s because of Ricardo, I’m not involved with that man……”
At my words, Amy started to explain but then clenched her teeth and lightly punched her own chest.
“Big sis!”
Just then, Penny’s voice rang out.
As I turned around, day and night flipped, and the scenery around us began to change rapidly.
“……!”
[Time seems to be passing! This is why I warned you again and again!]
My head spun like I was seasick. Feeling like my insides were turning, I quickly closed my eyes.
“Big sis, are you okay?”
Penny supported me.
The child I had brought along was also there. Unlike Amy or the child, who were filled with fear, Penny chattered without much change in her expression.
“I found a man wearing the same clothes and mask as you! He even said he was on the same side as us.”
……Ricardo?
“He said he knows how to return to reality. He said we just have to watch these memories without doing anything!”
Penny grabbed my hand and started pulling.
“Let’s go that way. If I don’t get back to Auntie soon, I’ll get in big trouble.”
“Wait. That man—he sent you back alone?”
“Yes!”
That’s not Ricardo.
If it were him, there’s no way he would have sent a child like Penny back without a guardian.
And if it were him, he would’ve joined up with the Penny I know.
‘And yet he said he was on our side…….’
This memory affected the real Eileens, too.
If that man knew this fact, it meant he had no intention of changing Eileens’s decision in reality.
If she were to take revenge on Carpea, the one who would benefit the most would be…….
‘Only the Kingdom of Orphen.’
As my scattered thoughts expanded, Amy cautiously spoke up.
“That kid is suspicious.”
“Big sis, who is that woman?”
Penny pulled me toward her. Not to be outdone, Amy also grabbed me.
A child bribed with money, and a lady who took my side over a guy.
‘What a truly bizarre combination…….’