CH 49

Yuren-kun and Hisui-san rushed to me, as I stood there bound by chains and unable to move.

Both of them held their swords, catching their breath as they arrived.

Yuren-kun was relieved to find me, while I was relieved that he had come to my rescue.

Amidst this, Laurus appeared, as if to interrupt us.

“I’m so glad to be able to reunite with all of you so soon. It saved me a lot of trouble,” he said with pride.

“So, Laurus, you’re the one who kidnapped her?”

“As you can see, yes. Do you really think anyone besides me could pull off something this spectacular?”

Laurus responded, clearly feeling pleased with himself.

At this point, Laurus didn’t seem to feel any remorse.

He was the same as he was before, unchanged.

“I see. Has it been your influence that led to the formation of the recent band of bandits? That makes sense.”

“That’s right. It was quite a struggle to get them organized, though. After all, they’re a bunch of savages who don’t understand aesthetics.”

“Aesthetics… It’s amazing that you had something like that.”

“I do. My existence represents beauty and the ultimate. Even now, nothing has changed.”

The ultimate narcissism perceived from his remarks.

He seems to think that he is at the center of the world and that everything revolves around him.

No, he must be thinking that.

That’s why even criminal acts are glorified within him.

He could never think that it was wrong.

“Could you at least tell me how you found this place, for reference?”

“Our escort is excellent. Even while injured, he left a clue to find her.”

Saying that, Yuren-kun shows his left wrist.

Laurus tilts her head, unable to understand the meaning of his actions.

But I understood clearly.

The thin thread that Fusaki-kun had wrapped around his wrist, he had wound it around me and showed them the way here.

“Yuren-kun! Is Fusaki-kun okay?”

“He’s fine. He’s getting medical attention in the town right now.”

“Thank goodness…”

I feel relieved from the bottom of my heart.

If he had died, I would have collapsed again.

And even in that situation, Fusaki-kun tried to protect me.

It may be insensitive, but I was glad about it.

“Hmph, I don’t really understand, but they messed up, didn’t they? That’s what I hate about incompetent people.”

“The bandits are being restrained, it’s over, Laurus. Release her.”

“I can’t do that. Didn’t I tell you? It saved me a lot of trouble. We caught her in the first place to bring you out.”

Laurus points to Yuren-kun.

Hisui-san prepares for battle.

Yuren-kun stops him with his hand and asks Laurus.

“Me? For what purpose?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? I’m going to use you as a pawn to make me a prince again!”

“…Have you gone crazy? It’s impossible now.”

“No, it’s possible! All you have to do is confess that everything was your plot! If that’s not enough, I’ll use the medicine or whatever I have to!…Just like you guys did to me.”

Malice, resentment.

The emotions emanating from Laurus’s gaze are directed towards me and Yuren-kun.

“Have you fallen so low…do you think we will cooperate with you?”

“I don’t need Aria, let alone you. I already have a replacement.”

“A replacement?”

“Yes. Celica.”

At Laurus’ command, Celica appeared behind me.

While I was imprisoned here, she had been standing silently behind me the entire time—not responding to anything and seeming to have lost her mind.

In her right hand, she held a vial of poison.

“If you refuse, Aria will drink the poison here.”

“What…!”

“It’s a powerful poison—she’ll die within a minute of drinking it.”

“Laurus!”

Laurus sneers at Yuren’s cries.

Confident in his victory, he laughs smugly and says, “How is it? You don’t have a choice, do you? She’s important to you. After all, you did protect her by framing me.”

“You…!”

“Yuren, calm down. You understand, right? Don’t shake your head recklessly.”

“I understand. I understand, but…”

There is no choice.

He is a prince and has the position of ruling the Salem Kingdom.

There is a duty to prioritize one’s own safety over the sacrifice of one person.

Hisui-san, by virtue of his position, must protect his master at any cost.

That’s why neither of them can move.

“You understand, right? If you try to touch me, it’s the same thing?”

“…”

“Yuren-kun! More than me!”

“Of course I care!”

Yeah, that’s right.

Yuren-kun would say that.

He remembers the people who sacrificed themselves for his sake and grieves and mourns for them.

He can’t possibly accept any more sacrifices right in front of him.

Whether he prioritizes his position or his emotions.

The future he wants cannot be obtained.

“Onee-sama.”

She called my name when I was about to give up.

“Celica?”

“——I’m sorry.”

Tears and apologies.

Immediately after, she drank the poison she had.

“What are you doing?!”

Laurus also did not expect this.

He couldn’t hide his agitation and became erratic.

Seizing that moment, Yuren-kun rushed forward and cut down Laurus.

“Guaah…”

“You will be punished later, Hisui!”

“I’ll hold him!”

“Understood!”

Yuren-kun rushes over to me.

“Yuren-kun!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll free you soon.”

He cuts off the chains that bound me with his sword.

I’m able to move again, so I hold Celica, who has collapsed from drinking poison.

“Celica! Why did you do it…”

“I’m sorry… It’s my fault… So many people died because of me.”

Tears spill from her eyes, mixed with genuine sadness, and run down her cold cheeks into my hand.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”

I can sense her regret.

She probably wasn’t cooperating with Laurus but was being used, just like me.

She may have been threatened like I was.

Banished from the kingdom and left with nothing, perhaps that was the only path she had.

And now, she couldn’t bear the guilt and had tried to take her own life.

To atone for her mistake with her own life.

“No…that’s not enough to make up for it!”

I know.

If you really want to make up for it, what should you do?

She shouldn’t have to die.

If you regret it, you should live and make up for it.

Even I——

“Because of my regrets, I am here now.”