“But... is it really okay to just leave like this?”
Amy kept glancing back, clearly worried about Eileens.
“Weren’t we going to save her?”
“Only she can save herself.”
Eileens had the power. But choosing to discard her name—she did that because she feared the inevitable sacrifices that would follow.
Even if we forced her to come, it wouldn’t work if she had no will to fight.
“I told you we don’t have to save her. Didn’t you hear me earlier?”
Penny, who had been listening nearby, frowned deeply.
“Stop bothering her, and if you want to go, then go alone!”
“Hey, how old are you, kid?”
“Old enough to know when someone’s being annoying.”
As Amy and Penny bickered, I quietly slipped away, drained from the confrontation. The boy next to me, who seemed to share my thoughts, wore a similarly weary expression.
Maybe it was our silence that made things awkward. He watched me closely, then asked:
“Sister, do you not plan on helping Lady Eileens?”
Those eyes—deep and familiar.
No, it can’t be…
Still, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Do you want me to save her?”
“Yeah.”
“Come to think of it, you said she would save you. What do you want her to save you from?”
He paused, then gave an answer that didn’t quite match the question.
“That little girl said… this place is someone’s memory.”
Hmm. For him, this must be reality.
Would it be okay to tell him the truth?
“That helped me understand completely.”
“Understand what?”
He hesitated before clinging lightly to my sleeve.
“Why I keep dying.”
A chill ran down my spine.
“It’s already the twentieth time. I die, then wake up again—always at Lady Eileens’ return ceremony.”
“…”
“I went to her, hoping to find a way out of this nightmare. And that’s where you saved me.”
That meant… he’d been here before we arrived.
The familiarity I’d felt earlier now surged like a tidal wave.
Too strong to ignore anymore.
I stopped and grabbed his shoulders.
“Is your name... Peril?”
“No. I’m Edwin.”
A sigh escaped my lips.
Edwin was Peril’s surname.
He, the man who lived eternally, had gone by countless names and appearances.
But Peril shouldn’t be here. Eileens lost her name before, and Peril gained his immortality after.
So maybe… he’s trapped in this memory, too.
“Were the causes of death always different?”
“No. They’re pretty similar. I’m always murdered. Then I wake up again at the return ceremony.”
“By whom?”
“That, I don’t know. I don’t even remember when this all started.”
Edwin shook off my hands with a grimace.
“I don’t even remember who I was anymore. Maybe I did something terrible and this is my punishment.”
For a brief moment, despair clouded his detached gaze. Without realizing it, I spoke firmly:
“That’s not it.”
“How would you know?”
“Because I know you. Really well.”
“What…?”
“Even the fact that you feel like you owe me something.”
Suspicion filled his eyes. I shrugged casually like it was no big deal, but that only deepened his doubt.
If his despair grew here, there’d be no fixing it.
But I wasn’t Idette—calm, wise, and full of empathy.
And I wasn’t the heroine of this story either.
So…
“You can’t die yet. You still owe me a debt. Pay that back first, then die.”
What an outrageous thing to say.
Edwin’s furious gaze turned to me instantly.
Sometimes the best way to erase despair is to just make someone mad.
“After everything I just told you, that’s your response?”
“What else?”
He looked at me blankly, lips parted in disbelief.
But the hopeless look he wore earlier? It had faded, even if just a little.
Then, a sigh came from the side.
“Still… I’m glad.”
“Glad about what?”
“If I really do owe you, you wouldn’t let me die so easily, right?”
“…”
“Guess I’ll count on you, then.”
His tone held a hint of arrogance.
Just like when he was a child.
The future version of him overlapped with this boy.
“Huh? Princess?”
As we arrived at a village, Amy spotted someone and called out.
Following her gaze, I saw Hestia standing there.
I gave a small nod in greeting. She let out a dry chuckle.
“Princess! I’ve found a way!”
Amy ran over and told her everything Penny had shared.
“…That’s it? Can we trust this info?”
“Yup.”
Amy looked to me, urging me with her eyes. I sighed and spoke up.
“Of course. Why would I lie to the princess?”
Reluctantly, I backed her up.
Hestia pressed her hand to her forehead, clearly exasperated.
I wasn’t thrilled to see the impulsive princess, but at least Amy had reunited with her group. That was good enough.
“Then take care, Lady Rowain.”
“W-Wait, you’re just leaving like that?”
I tried to break away quickly, but Amy called out in alarm.
“Our agreement was only until we found the princess.”
I could tolerate Amy, but not Hestia.
I’d suffocate.
“Amy, you…”
“Don’t misunderstand. We just happened to take the same path, that’s all.”
Amy cut in before Hestia could say anything.
Really? Are we seriously doing this territorial face-off here?
“Y-Yeah! We only traveled together for a short while! I’m the princess’s maid, after all…”
Amy trailed off and lowered her head. Hestia glanced at her.
“Penny, Edwin, let’s go.”
“Finally, some peace and quiet!”
Penny sighed in relief and picked up her pace.
I could feel Amy’s gaze lingering on the back of my head, but I ignored it.
“So we’re going to that man you mentioned?”
Penny asked. I shook my head.
“No. There's someone else I need to find first.”
“Who?”
She looked around, then clapped her hands as if recalling something.
“Oh! The one who sat beside you? The guy who spent all that money?”
“…Yeah.”
Her eyes sparkled with interest.
I hoped she wasn’t really falling for Ricardo.
“How are you going to find him in this mess?”
Edwin asked.
“Easily.”
Ricardo always left traces.
Annoying as he was, he wasn’t the type to abandon civilians in chaos.
And his walk—so arrogantly noble—made him stand out.
He had this habit of resting his hand on his sword, even when calm.
And when thinking deeply, he tapped objects with his fingers—especially where a watch used to be.
Thanks to that, I developed a bad habit of drumming my fingers on the desk when lost in thought.
* * *
[Are you heading to the shelter?]
Arkan, quick to guess where I was going, began leading the way.
The dry wind ruffled my hair.
Then, after a gust, I saw a man standing in the sunlight.
His porcelain-like cheeks were stained with streaks of blood—like a painting.
No trace of emotion. Just staring up at the sun as if it were the only thing worth seeing.
“…”
Suddenly, his eyes turned to me.
The boredom in them melted away, and his blue eyes—clear like a summer sky—gleamed brightly.
No longer the Ricardo trapped in text.
This was the man I’d watched all along.
“…Found you.”
Even in the noise around us, only his voice rang out clearly.