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Spoiler Death Is The Only Ending For The Villain

Discussion in 'Spoilers' started by LockedPuppet, Dec 20, 2019.

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Shirayuki.. 〖13th Princess Of Chaos♡〗〖Your Oneesan :3〗

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Upsadaisy said: ↑

Thanks for compiling them @Spade_Ladyz! I've quoted a few of the scenes I skipped in the summaries as they were elaborated in other comments!

Eclise discussion/ the prison scene
Click to expand...

Shooo many sad events T^T

Shirayuki.., Jul 8, 2020

#1301

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Spade_Ladyz said: ↑

11.

Penelope answered in a sullen voice.

“It sounds like you’re sorry for my success.”

“Well, it’s not like that…”

“Unfortunately, it’s been a while since I’ve killed Yvonne, which means that it’s been awhile since the magic circle, which was holding you back, stopped working.”

Penelope didn’t know it, but she was asking him if he was sleeping. However, when she saw that Vinter didn’t understand and was staring blankly, she was filled with anger.

“Why don’t you get up? Do you know how hard it was to find the Marquis?” Penelope yelled. Only then did Vinter rise completely. He still had a puzzled look on his face. Having thought about the situation for quite a long time, he finally opened his mouth and spoke.

"...I thought it would fail. So I gave up everything and waited for the end.”

Penelope was speechless. The eyes of the sorcerer, wandering beyond the distant air, slowly moved to Yvonne, who was standing next to Penelope.

“From some point on, this kid’s eyes are numb…”

“...”

“I thought it was a past illusion of guilt So I thought that time was up…” So Vinter had laid in the magic circle, giving up everything, not knowing if it had stopped. Penelope was angry, but it wasn’t like she didn’t understand. She decided to let it go. The fact that he was alive anyway was of paramount importance, because it was the first step in the real future that had nothing to do with the game.

“...She’s the real Yvonne.”

“Ah.”

“I think she was locked in space in the timeline soon after she was taken away by Leila.” Penelope first explained Yvonne’s identity to Vinter. It suddenly occurred to her that perhaps the ancient wizards under the guise of the system held up the young Yvonne’s soul. It was as if they had brought her to another dimension to collect the broken Penelope’s soul.

‘So that’s why you’re only returning to Leila without Yvonne.’

On one hand, it was fortunate. Little Yvonne would have been unable to bear the destruction of her soul at every moment by Leila.

“...I see.” Vinter nodded heavily as if he understood.

“Now how do we get out?”

“Well, I think...that Mirror of Truth seems to be a passageway connected to the outside.” Vinter pointed behind Penelope. Penelope nodded lightly. She had been working through the mirror that was being restored, so she thought it would be. The only thing left was Yvonne.

Penelope looked at Yvonne and said, “Then before you go out, think about what to do with her.” Now that the system is gone, there must be a solution. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to have a happy ending?

Penelope wanted to take Yvonne out of there and, if possible, send her back to her original family. But as Vinter stared at Yvonne, he shook his head with a dark face.

“Unfortunately...there is no way.”

“Why?”

“You succeeded in stopping Leila. But because of that, there is no body for the soul to return to.”

“That’s…” Penelope was speechless. She knew what would happen by magic, but had never thought about such a realistic problem.

“What are you talking about?” As Penelope and Vinter looked at each other with serious faces, Yvonne jumped in to ask. Penelope was afraid of saying something she couldn't do in front of the child, so she quickly reached out and blocked Yvonne’s ears.

“You don’t need to know.”

“What can’t I know? Let go!”

“Oh, I’m in trouble,” Penelope said to Vinter as she stopped Yvonne from struggling to get her hands off of her.

“...I didn’t look for it, but the remains must have been picked up.”

“...”

“Can’t you do anything about it?”

“...My Lady.”

“I can’t let you stay stuck here like this. You’ve only seen the moment you died…” When you see it, how do you leave it? Penelope whispered as her face was distorted, and Vinter also hardened his complexion.

“Fool, there's no way a ghost(?) won’t shut up your ears.” Suddenly, a loud voice came from a distance. Penelope could see a pink-haired head stick its tongue out at her from the back.

“Why are you making fun of an adult?”

“I know how to get out of here.” Yvonne’s words made Penelope hesitate.

“What…? How?”

“Sometimes a strange square window pops up and asks. If you accept, you can go to a better place and be reborn.”

“Accept…?” Penelope stared blankly at Yvonne. It was curious to her that someone besides her could see the system window. At the same time, what she had just guessed became true.

‘As expected...the ancient wizards did a trick.’

If Yvonne was born again, would she be born in a different dimension like Penelope? Gazing at Yvonne with a complicated look, Penelope opened her mouth heavily.

“...But why didn’t you accept it?” The child’s face snapped.

“I didn’t want to go.”

“...”

“If I go, I can’t see my dad or brothers again…”

Penelope managed to swallow her sigh. Even with the suggestion of the ancient wizards, Penelope could see why Yvonne was left alone in that dark space. It was to see the face of the family that appeared in the repeated death of one’s own. Penelope didn’t have enough affection to bear such pain, so she couldn’t understand that Yvonne.

“...Do I have to go?”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“My Lady.” Vinter called Penelope in amazement at her hard answer. Instead of trying to make him understand, Penelope took something out and gave it to Yvonne.

“Now, your mirror.” It was Penelope’s mirror rod, or Yvonne’s hand mirror that she had gotten as a present from Derrick.

“I picked it up. Don’t lose it now.”

The child only looked at the mirror with a surprised look. Soon after, her blue eyes filled with tears. Yvonne looked up at Penelope with wide eyes.

“Your father and brothers care.” Penelope didn’t want to tell her how they were looking for their own daughter. Yvonne had a miserable death, but so did Penelope. Penelope had lived in anxiety all the time and feared being kicked out once the real Eckart daughter was found.

‘But, what’s so pretty about it?’

But Penelope had grown up too much to put such meaning in things. Now she had the confidence to be happy without them. Now matter what she did, she made a slow move, thinking desperately about the person she loved.

“...Every year when they lose you, they have a hard time missing you. Just in case you find out, you’ll be sad.”

“...”

“Especially your father...the Duke, wherever you are, always prays for happiness and comfort everyday.”

“Hng, haha…” Unlike Penelope, who had no expression on her face, Yvonne’s soft cheeks dripped with thick tears. Penelope uttered the last word of silence to persuade the child.

“...By the way, if you’re still here, I can’t tell you my news.”

“You…” Yvonne gasped back her watery breath. “...You don’t hate me?”

"Why would I hate you?”

“My family...I told you I killed you.”

“You weren’t even there. You, you were irrelevant.” Penelope answered rather cynically. She added shortly thereafter,

“No matter how much time has passed, they had a lovely little sister like you…”

“...”

“How could they forget?” On the last day of the festival, Rennald had criticized Penelope for going up to the attic to see the fireworks. She couldn’t forgive Derrick, who had always been silent and watched over Penelope for everything she did as he did not want her to take Yvonne’s place. But Penelope could understand why they did it. If she had lost such a kind and lovely sister, Penelope would hate those who were trying to take her place. She would have gone crazy, too.

“Ah...” Yvonne, who was wiping her cheeks with her small, soft hands, suddenly looked up into the air. Penelope could see nothing, but she had a hunch.

The system window came up.

“Whether you stay or not, it’s up to you to choose.”

Yvonne’s eyes looked at Penelope. After a long silence, she managed to open her mouth.

“To my dad and my brothers…”

“...”

“I’m fine...can you tell them that I love them a lot?”

Penelope nodded slowly. She couldn’t help but tell Yvonne what they’ve been up to.

“And...tell Brother Derrick thank you for buying me a hand mirror, and I’m sorry that I lost it.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Then...I’ll go.” Yvonne finally said goodbye, never taking the hand mirror Penelope had given her. The awkward waving of hands as her lovely pink hair fluttered. Soon after, her small body began to be enveloped in a bright light.

Penelope silently waved until Yvonne was completely gone.

“...Are you alright?” Penelope stopped waving as Vinter approached and spoke to her. She stared at the empty spot and turned her head to him.

“There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“I always see the Lady’s smiling face and her sweet tearful face.” At his words, Penelope raised her hand belatedly and swept her face. When did it happen? There was a lot of water on her fingers. Penelope stared at it with a look of dismay.

“I’d like to give you a handkerchief, but I don’t have one.”

“It’s alright,” Penelope said as she gave a light smile to Vinter, who looked very sorry.

“I can wipe it with my hands.” Penelope was going to pretend that nothing happened, but she was embarrassed because she was caught. Vinter, who had been silent for a while due to Penelope’s actions, suddenly froze as if he were talking to himself.

“...Now I know how to wipe away tears.”

“...”

“I won’t have the same kind of consolation I used to have.”

12.

“...The Marquis.” Penelope looked back at him with a little dazed look at the words that came in suddenly. Vinter calmly faced her and opened his mouth.

“Even when you didn’t cry, you always had a sad face.”

“...”

“So, from the very first time I saw her, even when I suspected that she might have been associated with Leila, I couldn’t bear to look at you.” A pathetic glow came over his thin face.

“But...you don’t look like that anymore.” Penelope’s eyes widened at his words before she asked back,

“Now...how do I look?”

“You look relieved.” Vinter answered without hesitation. Was it that obvious? Penelope was inwardly surprised. Perhaps noticing how she felt, Vinter laughed bitterly.

“While I was stuck here, a lot of things have changed.”

“...” Come to think of it, Penelope had forgotten that Vinter had been locked up there all along because of Yvonne. He was right. So much had changed. Put unlike Penelope, who moved forward little by little, Vinter was stopped at that time.

“I know I have to be forever sorry and grateful to the Lady for killing Leila and freeing the soul of the real Yvonne. By the way…”

“...”

“Most of all, it must have been hard for you to come here to save me from being locked up.”

“...”

“I’m so happy.” There was a tingling pain that passed through his blue eyes when he said so.

“If I say that I want this time to last forever, you’d think that it's ludicrous.” Only then did Penelope realize that he still harbored feelings for her. Even after the game was over, it was surreal to find out that one of the capture targets still liked her.

‘...Now it’s really real.’

With belated enlightenment, it occurred to Penelope that it had been quite harsh for Vinter. She was always too busy taking care of herself every time, and so she didn’t think deeply about what he had been through. And Vinter was dragged here without a moment’s delay. Now it was time for him to break the lingering affection for her and move on.

“The Marquis.” Penelope managed to open her mouth.

“Well, I like the Crown Prince.”

“...”

“More than I thought. Even enough to give up trying to run away from Leila.”

“...”

“...I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

Vinter’s eyes shook faintly. Not confident of facing his slowly blurring face, Penelope looked at him. Suddenly she had regrets. If she had refused more so clearly then, could he have brushed her off more easily?

—...Didn’t you just say you were interested?

—I’m sorry, but I can’t take it.

At that time, Penelope had honestly wanted to hurt Vinter more. It was hard to suspect that Leila was a villain who had tried to kill Yvonne because she was not enough. It was ridiculous to say that Penelope liked him and that she had betrayed her faith that she had kept for her whole life. But now he was neither ugly(?) nor funny. She said she was sorry she couldn’t tell him in advance, but Penelope wasn’t really sorry to refuse. Just, Vinter also needed to be released from everything now.

“...I see.” After looking at Penelope a long time at her words, he finally sweetened(?) his lips.

“I wasn’t expecting it. You said you were going to the north, where you(?) were. And…”

“...”

“When the Lady made her debut, the Crown Prince visited my mansion three times.”

“...What? Why your mansion…?” It was the moment.

—When I heard that you had disappeared from the Duke’s, I cut off the Imperial Palace wizard and ran like a madman to the capital.

When they had reunited on a ship to the Archina Islands. The voice of the Prince, who was shouting with an angry face, vividly played.

‘Crazy, then…’

Penelope looked back at Vinter with a grim face. It was dizzying to imagine how badly Callisto, who had wrapped up his visit in a good way as a ‘visit’ but stormed into his home looking for her, would have done.

“...I’m sorry to trouble you, Marquis. That crazy...no, I apologize on his behalf.” Penelope apologized to Vinter in a hurry. It was then.

“...I’m glad to hear that.” There was a low laugh at her side.

“Now, His Highness is by your side to make the Lady laugh.” Penelope slowly raised her head. Whether he meant it or now, Vinter was smiling at her with warm eyes. Penelope stood dazed for a moment, and his gaze swept down to the ground. She thought he must have been frowning at Callisto’s atrocities, but she could feel his loose facial muscles. After avoiding his gaze for a moment in a sense of embarrassment, Penelope soon moved to face Vinter.

“I trust you now. So…”

“...”

“Don’t feel guilty about me anymore.” Penelope waited for him, trying not to see his teary dark blue eyes, and tried to soothe his feelings. After a long time,

“...If we get out of here, the contract will be thoroughly fulfilled without any changes.” Suddenly, a big hand came out in front of Penelope.

“I’m confident that I’ll be able to carve and distribute the purest jewelry.”

“...”

“You trusted our top(?).” Penelope realized that he was asking for a handshake as the master at the top.

“That’s obvious.” Only then did Penelope smile and clasp their hands together.

“You owe me your life. You know I’m thorough with my calculations, right?”

“Oh, dear.” Vinter groaned with a look of dismay.

“You’ll have to be ready to pay off that debt,” Penelope said solemnly, glancing at him. She shook his hand vigorously. In her head, as well as the Baien Kingdom, her emeralds and diamonds stretching out into three dimensions were painted brilliantly.

“Okay,” Vinter replied, as if he had lost to Penelope’s words.

“Then let’s go now.” Penelope turned around without hesitation. She could feel Vinter staring at her hand, but Penelope approached with Mirror of Truth. When she stood in front of the fine mirror, unlike the broken one on the other side of time and space, Penelope realized the end. She had a hunch that she wouldn’t have to face the fucking mirror.

‘...It was dirty to meet you, so let’s never see each other again.’

Penelope muttered to the spirits of ancient sorcerers who might be somewhere in a restless mood.

“We can be caught between different time and space as we go out. It’s a hassle, but please hold my hand tight.” At that time, Vinter suddenly came up to her side and reached out his hand once again. Penelope held his hand without hesitation. They both jumped into the mirror at the same time. The white light flashed before their eyes. When Penelope opened her eyes again, she saw a new scene.

“Uh…”

The worksite was filled with knights.

“...Your Highness?”

In the middle of it all was the figure of the Crown Prince standing tall with a distorted face. The man who was holding the sword Penelope had hidden in the bedroom slowly lowered it. A cold sweat dripped down on his forehead.

‘Are you sick?’

At that moment, Penelope was about to approach him with a sudden worry. His gaze glanced down somewhere.

“...Penelope Eckart.” Suddenly he called her with a very low voice. Red eyes glistened.

When Penelope realized that his gaze was nailed onto her hands, which was holding Vinter’s hand, Penelope felt a chill.

“Oh, Your Highness, this is, you know, when you’re asleep…” Penelope tried to explain to him.

“Collapse.” A low voice was heard. The royal guards moved without delay at the crown prince’s orders. They immediately surrounded Vinter and tied his arms with a thin rope.

“The, the Marquis!” Vinter was taken away without any particular defiance. Penelope was dumbfounded and stammered, looking at the scene. She turned around.

“What are you doing now? What’s wrong with the guy who just escaped?!”

“What are you doing, Lady Eckart?” The Crown Prince cut her off coldly.

“...Your Highness.”

‘What about me?’

The guards moved toward Penelope. Penelope stared down at the rope tied to her hands, blinking blankly.

“I will personally escort her.” Callisto, who took over the end of the rope, spoke in a rather muted voice. Penelope was bound and personally taken to the palace by the Crown Prince

13.

When I arrived at the Imperial Palace, the dawn was already rising. 'You've been in the damn mirror for a long time... ‘

It was about time to think blankly as I watched the faint dawn reflected out of the hallway window.

Suddenly, he came to his senses, and the Crown Prince was already dragging him to his bedroom, tired of my visit (?)

The Prince's Palace at dawn was still as if it were empty.

But Callisto threw me into my bedroom as if someone was chasing him, and then walked to the door and locked it.

"Your Majesty."

"Stretch out your hand."

He, who walked straight to me, said suddenly. His expression was still not very good.

Even if I didn't ask, it was clear that he had been looking for me all night.

When I saw it from a bright place, his hair was so messy that I could see his hair covered with dust and his eyes were clearly covered with tiredness.

Just by looking at it, I could see how desperately Calisto had been looking for me.

My heart sank heavily.

'That's why I was brought in without any rebellion. ...'

Of course, without any hesitation, there was no time to rebel, shocked by his words.

"What are you doing, you're not going to hold out your hand, and you're going to be tied up like a dog?"

As soon as he stood still without moving, he urged me to do so.

‘I'm not sure if I'm talking to you....’

Anyways, I'll let you go(?). I wanted to wash up quickly and get some sleep.

(not sure what exactly is going on here)

Callisto memorized the starter(?) straight away and unwrapped the magic tools that tied my (?) hands and neck.

I didn't think much about getting angry because I was tired.

He muttered as he stared at me, releasing the ropes tied together.

"I'm tired, but I want to go to my room."

"Don't tell me anything."

He stopped moving at my words, and he quickly began to loosen the ropes.

"Because you are now a sinner."

"Why am I?"

"Why am I ....?"

Callisto's eyebrows shook fiercely, as if my question (?) had offended him.

At last, he released all the ropes and soon spat out my sins like a muck.

"You will soon be on the throne of the empress. For forgetting your situation and acting your way, the baby flower in the middle of the night (?) is guilty of causing damage to the members of the imperial family, so be gentle and pay for your sins."

"I said I wouldn't marry your Majesty, so I didn't sin."

"Stop the bullshit."

"Stop it yourself. Who's been talking nonsense since before?"

"... ...what?"

The Crown Prince opened his mouth when he was hit by a calm voice.

“… huh! Are you just going to go out now? "

"...Huh! You're just about to leave now? "

"You just left first, didn't you

?"

"What did I do?"

"Didn't you tie Lady's arms in a row (?) and drag her like a dog, whether people see it or not? "

"When did I ever..."! "

When he answered in a nonchalant manner, Callisto shouted with a very unfair face and suddenly closed his mouth.

And then.

"... Are you sick? Are you hurt? "Look. "

I was very careful with the hands that changed my day and watch my wrist(?).

"I told him to try to tie up gently, and how safe are these dog-like guys?"

"I'm not hurt."

He replied in a sullen manner, who murmured relentlessly as if he were going to jump out with a knife.

'Well, Why do you tie it when you're going to do this? ‘

Even though I was not hurt, Calisto kept gently touching the tied spot.

"Stop it. It's okay."

"I think it's a little red. I'm calling a member (?) right now."

"It's because you keep rubbing it. "

I was adamant to say so.

I thought it was too much, but Callisto didn't let go of his hand holding my wrist.

I sighed as I looked at the dusty golden hair that had fallen under my eyes.

“…..It wasn't a big deal. I happened to go there while I was taking a walk, and I was just standing in the mirror and looking at it. "

“…..”

"Today or later,it would have happened once at least once anyway."

"You should have at least told the servant you were going for a walk."

As he quietly listened to me, he shook his head and quietly shook his head.

"When it comes to you, you're the Crown Prince, and you're acting like a madman to me...…"

"...."

“You should have been talking, Penelope Eckart.”

The red eyes looking at me shook after losing blood to go (?).

Only then could I feel his hands still holding me trembling intermittently.

I told you to go when you let me go.

When I was a man (?), he said he didn't know what to do with anxiety every time.

As I retreated, I had no choice but to apologize this time.

“I'm sorry about that…. "

"You look very sorry."

He snorted if it sounded sincere.

And added sullenly.

"Tomorrow I'm going to smash that thing."

"What… ..”

I didn't know what he was talking about, but I quickly asked.

"Dark vision (?) , are you talking about the mirror of truth?"

"Yes "

“Why? .. Why do you ruin the hard-to-do restoration?"

I've had a hard time restoring it with Marienne!

I spoke with a grimace.

"Leave it alone so you can use it as research material."

"You lost it twice because of it, but let it go. You have to cut the shoots and avoid it."

"Your Majesty."

I was a little embarrassed when he came back to me as if he was going to do so from the beginning (?).

"Leave it alone so you can use it as research material."

"You lost it twice because of it, but let it go. You have to cut the shoots and avoid it."

"Your Majesty."

I was a little embarrassed when he came back to me as if he was going to do so from the beginning (?).

'...... was he this obsessed?'

However, on the other hand, I felt that I couldn't give Callisto that much faith.

But on the other hand, I thought I didn't give Calisto that much faith.

I shared some secrets with him about Leila, but I couldn't tell him everything about my present life and the game system.

It was not within his grasp that confiding was not enough for him to understand, because he judged that there was no need to redo what had already been done.

I hurriedly opened my mouth and dissuaded Calisto from treating the "mirror of truth" as the enemy of the world.

"That won't happen anymore.. It's all over. I can't go back even if I want to go back now."

“So it doesn't matter if it breaks? And, you said you didn't know it was going to work today?”

"that's …. "

That's right.

It was a moment when I was overwhelmed by strange logic and I was stunned.

"I've made sure he's still alive, whether he's the Marquis or evil spirits, so there's nothing else to do."(I think he is referring to Vinter)

“.......”

"I'm getting stuck here until the coronation day. I'm ready to get married. I'll give you a teacher,and you'll learn a little bit about palace manners.”

He brought back the restraint and marriage stories he had put off for a while. It was a starting point after all. (?)

I responded coldly right away.

"I do not like it."

"If you hate it, I can't help it. Who can refuse the Crown Prince's orders?"

"I'm just confined. I'm going to run away with magic."

"Wear it. (?) But unfortunately, the Imperial Palace is enchanted with magic to neutralize unidentified magic, what will you do?"

He laughed at me and shrugged.

I said with a laugh at him.

"Why would you reveal all that? They'll break it down and run away. She's the Duke's oldest daughter. Can't you do that?"(????)

"... Damn it. "

Realizing that he had done something stupid, the Crown Prince rolled his foot once, saying, "Boom!" because he couldn't beat me.

Then, he stared at me and shouted.

"What's the problem? Is it the proposal or something, because of that?

Of course, it also played a part.

But when I said yes, I felt a little sad.

Ultimately, it's not the reason, and it's more difficult if you ask me out and then beg me.

“......”

As he stared at each other with his arms folded without saying anything, the crown prince slipped away from his gaze.

Then looked back at my arms with a calm expression.

"....The ring is still not finished"

Something came out in front of me.

A ring with a large turquoise bead on the large palm of a calluse was held without a case.

Callisto said, pointing to the ring with the other hand.

"I'll cover this side with all the diamonds."

What he points to is the ring portion of the ring.

Unlike the turquoise beads, which are decorated like a flower bud, wrapped around in a golden leaf shape, the ring part was empty without any decoration.

'Are you saying this is a proposal?'

I didn't know what to do, so I stared at the ring, and when Callisto answered, I opened my mouth again.

"This is the tears of a mermaid ,which is a legend in the West Sea of Gaspar. Doesn't it look just like the color of your eyes?

“......”

"It brings eternal wealth and honor to the owner."

"Really?"

'Oh, that's a little harsh.'

The prince's face became brighter, as to whether his eyes were clearly different from the sound of wealth and honor.

"It was hidden in the treasure chest of the palace of Gaspard, but the offense(?) was a little late because only the royal family could solve the curse. "

During the conquest wars, I was a bit murdered and struggled to find a bloody man.

Somehow he added in a slightly excited voice.

But I was more concerned with other words than his excuse.

"That main? What..."

"It is said that the companion of the person who possesses it is bound to the other forever."

Before complaining whether he was going to give him something like that, he replied first.

"You can't even escape death. So when I cut off King Gaspar, the queen died with me."

A strange glow of joy rose in his silent eyes.

I looked at him like that, then lowered my head and looked at the ring again.

"So, this is the wedding ring, and I couldn't propose to you because it was too late.'

When I roughly sorted out his babbling.

It felt strange to see the ring again after knowing the background. 'When you die, you die together at one o'clock every day, what's that?'(?)

I was a little chilled by Callisto's obsession with feeling again and again.

Whether or not you know me, Callisto opened his mouth again.

“….. There is a ring that descends from the empire, but I didn't want to give it to you. "

"...."

"It's bad luck because it was worn by the Queen, and it's tacky because the golden dragon is heavily engraved. … . Shit. "

He himself, who was well off to himself, sweared abusively without hesitation.

I took my eyes off the ring in amazement and looked up at him.

"...'I didn't mean to say that in the garden. Because that fucking rumor seems to be what you care about it.…."

The prince, who had been sweeping up my bangs with a confused face, suddenly fluttered.

My knees boiled in front of me.

Not one knee, both knees.

He literally knelt down like a sinner.

"Penelope Eckart,"

“.......”

"Please marry me."

14.

The Crown Prince held onto my skirt and recited as if begging. It was more of emptiness than a proposal. Even though it was an unfinished ring, it wasn't even given out like a marriage proposal.

”....Your Majesty. "

I looked at him kneeling in front of me with a bit of amazement. He was an indomitable crown prince who led the conquest war to victory and proudly returned to the capital. It was so strange to see a man who would become an emperor with absolute power, without any interference, desperately begging me to marry him....

"You didn’t have to kneel on both knees"

"It’s a question, answer me quickly. Will you marry me? Huh?"

Let's just look down at him. Callisto spit out as if chewing.

The face that seemed impatient came unfamiliar.

'I’m so embarrassed' (?)

Suddenly his words gave me a smirk and a smile. I was so angry when he pushed for marriage. Seeing you looking up at me pitifully, it's a little...

'It’s kind of cute.'

“...You know I’m teasing you, right?"

I shook my head and said, "I'm finally tired."

“I will reach Cedric(?) "

"It doesn't matter."

I knew Callisto was going to fly up in a fit of rage. But he still muttered with a stiff face without getting up. "If I could catch you, what's the big deal with such teasing?"

“And what do we do to cut off those who are fidgeting?”(?)

'Yes, of course.'

My heart, which had been pounding for a moment, quickly returned to its original state. I looked at him with a cold face, sighed and slowly sat down in front of him.

"Your Majesty. "

The prince's face was white because of what he imagined when he saw me making eye contact without giving answers.

I stretched out my hand and brought it to the trembling red eyes, and swept it gently.

Then, with a quiet voice, I confessed what I had never said before.

"Well, I want to study."

"..... is it archeology, are you saying that?"

"Yes. I told you, I was the chief in the place where I lived."

Callisto wriggled his eyebrows if he didn't like what I said.

But he managed to listen quietly without stopping me.

"I want to do what I've been doing here. There are many relics and civilizations that have not been discovered yet, right? Maybe there's a place that needs my help."

“.....”

"You've already forgotten? I told you to stay because I'll do whatever you want."

After I stopped talking, I stared into Callisto's eyes.

"You said it, but you won't say it in one bite(?)."

The crown prince's lips opened long after.

"I'm not telling you not to."

"Then?"

"They're all things you can do after you get married."

"As you already know, I'm also interested in entering the academy."...

"You can do that after the wedding."

I shouted dumbfounded at him who was being unreasonable.

"Does it make sense for the Empress to attend the academy?"

"Why not? We can make sense. If it bothers the eyes of the beholder, you can bring all the professors to the palace."

“…..”

I never thought of that.

Embarrassed by Callisto's appearance of a scale beyond my imagination, I managed to answer. "I don't want to be such a nuisance. And that's not the only problem."

"So there's something else."

"I want to go to the remote areas and explore the ruins! I want to learn how to excavate human bones!" "

I will move it into the whole palace."

"Ha."

His words did not make sense at all. I raised my eyes and growled. "

You didn't intend to let me out of the palace in the first place, did you?"

“....”

Calisto had no answer as if I had hit the nail on the head.

I glared at him with a persistent glare, asking why there was no answer. Soon he held his hand together on my hand, which was touching the corner of his hand in hand.

And then slowly rubbed his cheek against my palm and said,

"It's all your fault."

"What is?"

"I tried to let you go. But you didn't choose me after all."

“....”

“So I have to bear my anxiety.”

"That's not...."

It was a moment when I was angry about whether it was sophistry.

Callisto looked up at me with a strange languid look on his face, and suddenly--

He turned my head and kissed my palm.

"Don't."

I opened my eyes when I noticed that he was trying to get away with it.

But instead of stopping, he started to kiss my wrists and arms inside my hands and arms.

"Well, it's not just magic that can make you sleep in the bedroom."

*mwah* *mwah* (onomatopoeia)

Because of the tickling and creepy feeling, I managed to press the trembling body barely.

"Oh, I don't feel like it. I told you not to. If you keep doing this, I will go to my room and sleep."

*tak*

I shook off my caught hand and warned, and Callisto stepped back with both hands raised.

"Okay, let's just hold hands and sleep."

“....”

"Because of you, I've been searching the palace all night. You can do that."

As he glared without saying anything, he begged with a desperate look on his face.

"...please stay by my side."

I conceded, and eventually nodded slowly.

"......okay."

***

When I opened my eyes, it was noon, when bright sunlight was pouring through the curtains.

In the end, I couldn't sleep holding hands.

When I opened my eyes to the strange feeling of sleep, my eyes met with a pair of eyes staring at me.

And … ..

"Ugh..."

I grabbed my screaming body and managed to get up and sit.

Suddenly, the sheet flowed down and found the exposed skin, and it was a big surprise.

"Crazy golden-headed bastard! Are you a dog?!"

Tears ran across the red traces that were so dense that bare skin was barely visible.

'Isn't this one day that I look like me and disappear?

"It was when I was pounding on my stiff back, shivering with a chilling imagination.

Knock knock- "Lady, did you cough? May I come in? "

Someone knocked on the crown prince's bedroom door.

"Come on, wait! "

I panicked and looked for my clothes. But I couldn't see the clothes anywhere near the bed.

'I don't think it was ripped.'

There was a memory of desperately defending it as a precious garment.

Biting my lips, I was forced to cover myself with the sheet

"... ...come in. "

The door opened and a heap of maids came in. They were bitten (?) because they threatened me not to come to my room if I was going to do this every morning.

I came by the city (?) like a ghost because my room has changed.

"Did you have a good dream last night? I've prepared some bath water. Crown Prince ......No, Lady."

That's why I don't like it! ‘

The baroness, the nanny of Calisto and the head maid (?) of the Crown Prince's palace, has already treated me as if I were the master of the palace. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about it.

"Do you want to sleep more? If you don't mind, go into the bathroom."

The baroness handed me a gown and said to me, "Don't walk around in a sheet (?)"

Instead of answering, I asked back and forth.

"Where are my clothes?"

"If you are taking a bath, I will prepare clothes for you to wear."

"I want to go to my room to wash."

"I'm sorry, but the clothes you wore yesterday were already in the wash.... "

The baroness replied with a sorry smile all over her face.

'Then why don't you bring me some clothes to wear?'

A question mark came up in my head, but I was soon handed a gown.

Having endured the prince's dog-like temper for many years, she was a formidable opponent.

It was definitely different from the dumb maid of the peasant (?) who protected Leyla.

'Let's wash up quickly and go back, rather than make a fuss.'

With such determination, I got up from my seat and said.

"It's done."

".....Okay. I'll be waiting outside, so call as much as you need. "

The baroness left with a strangely sad face.

Fortunately, the clothes I wore on my bed were neatly laid out after washing.

It was a light yellow light dress.

It was also time for the maids to come and hang around.

Maybe it's different,*knock knock*, and a knock sounded like a ghost.

"Lady, if the bath is over, may I come in to wait on you?"

My hair was a little less dry, but I didn't want to look at it roughly because I was in a hurry.

"Come in."

It's not even my room anyway, so I readily allowed it.

When I saw the baroness, who again dragged in a flock of maids, I opened my eyes slightly.

"The Crown Prince. No, lady. how would you like your meal?"

'I'm not sure what you noticed.'’

At times like this, it was best to bounce. (lmao)

"No thanks. I'll go to my room and eat."

I shouted that and ran straight across the bedroom.

"Well, now, wait! Princess...!"

The baroness, who had not predicted my unexpected behavior, tried to stop me in a hurry, but it was too late.

I quickly arrived at the door and turned the door knob without hesitation.

"What is this?"

Big bars crossed in front of me.

"Go in. Lady, it's dangerous outside, so you can't come out for a while."

Five generals surrounded the door, blocking the entrance with windows. It was the crown prince's personal guard.

"Now..."

It was a time when I couldn't even speak because I was absurd and couldn't speak like a guppy.

The maid who had been chasing behind, shook her head.

"Lady, I... I'm sorry, but His Majesty the Crown Prince ordered you to stay here until the coronation ceremony for your safety."

"What?"

Real confinement?

15.

"Get out of my way. I'm going to see the crown prince right now."

But the knight in front of me didn't budge.

"His Royal Highness said, 'If she said so, tell that I'll be back as soon as I'm done, so I hope you stay calm.'

"Ha."

'You fucked-up bastard. So this is how it is, huh?'

I wiped my laughter and clenched my teeth.

"Then do you deliver my message?"

What was left of it was war.

"Wha, what?..."

"Go to the Crown Prince and tell him clearly."

"... ...yeah?"

"I definitely warned you yesterday, so don't regret it."

It was a very rude remark to the Crown Prince's direct subject. But I also shut the door hard

'Gwang -!'

in the face of the bewildered knights.

"P-princess..."

The maid-in-law, who came after me late, called me carefully with a white face.

"Woman, take the paper and the pen with you right now. Because I have something to do."

After a moment's thoughtfulness, I was soon struck coldly.

"Eh, just fix it, princess! Decide later, and eat your meal first.."

"I feel like having a light meal right now. Get me a pen and back off."

"Well, then how about having refreshments with Lady Therosy?"

"No need-····."

While trying to reflectively say no, I suddenly looked back at the woman-in-law's with the mention of the familiar name.

"......Marieenne?"

"Yes, She's been waiting for a meeting with the princess in the drawing room for hours."

The maid-in-law quickly added with a small voice, looking at me.

"Fortunately, the ban on outsiders of the palace has been lifted."

It wasn't a good thing at all. You'll only let those who have been thoroughly censored out.

In other words, dangerous figures such as the duke will still be off limits.

I frowned and asked back with a disapproving voice.

"How many hours has she been waiting for? Why say that now?"

"His highness ordered not to wake you up until you wake up yourself."

"Your master is so generous that he gives me the sickness and then the medicine."

"Haha..."

The maid smiled awkwardly at my snorting and muttering.

I thought for a moment.

I was going to write to the duke right now. But soon I changed my mind. The letter was more likely to be caught by Callisto.

'If you're letting Marienne in, you'd be happy to have her flirtight?' (?)

It was the prince's shallow water to know that I had gotton quite close to Marieenne recently because of our common interests. (?)

I stared sharply into the air and laughed.

"Please bring me some refreshments to the drawing room."

****

The prince's bedroom was equipped with a small drawing room where only close-knit people could enter and exit.

It was total confinement.

"Marieenne."

When she opened the door and entered, Marieenne greeted me with pleasure.

"Princess!"

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long. I slept late.…"

"It's all right. I've been waiting......Uh, far away!"

When she apologized with an apologetic face, she suddenly blushed with a burning voice.

"Why....."

Sitting across the table, I just tilted my head because I didn't know the reason.

Then Marienne coughed in vain with a flushed face.

"A lot, hmm. Yeah, you deserve to oversleep. I understand. We're adults."

"What..."

I was shocked when I inadvertently lowered my head along Marienne's line of poetry staring at me. (?)

I couldn't properly check the clothes that the maid-in-law brought me because I was busy wearing them quickly.

My skin, which was revealed by the open shoulder type dress, was red and blue as if I had chickenpox.

"Crazy..." (She loves this word)

The clear lines of interest whitened my eyes.

'Don't leave any marks, you bastard! If you come back later, you'll die!'

Marienne smiled strangely at me as I was dead.

"You must have had a great night." (Indeed)

My face was swarming with heat, as before it was about to burst. I shouted hurriedly, raising the hem of the fabric by my shoulder.

"Eh, this is....! Err, It's a giant bug bite!"

"It must have been a huge, fierce golden bee." (omg lmfao)

"Marienne!"

"Ho ho ho. I'm kidding, princess."

"Hey, is the car still far away? Bring me a shawl when you come. Quickly!"

Dangling, dangling.

Marienne's pleasant laughter spread through my voice calling for the maid. After a while, the maid brought refreshments and shawls.

"What brings you here?"

Drinking warm chamomile tea and trying to calm my excitement, I asked Marienne why she came to see me the day before yesterday.

Then she replied in a flurry.

"What a surprise! What happened at the workshop last night?"

""Oh, that's..."

"I went to finish the restoration this morning and, well, wouldn't the building itself be off-limits? How fiercely the guards stood in the way."

She looked at me with curious eyes as if she wanted to know what was going on right now. Recalling what happened last night, I roughly picked out the details and said only the key.

"I'm sorry, but it's a bit complicated to explain. Just the mirror of the truth suddenly triggered and rescued the Marquis of Verdandi for his original purpose." (?)

"Oh, my God, the princess herself?"

Surprised by what I said, Marienne immediately looked at me with admiration. As if saying 'As expected..'

"Yes, well... it just happened."

I said with an awkward smile.

"And I don't think I can do the restoration anymore."

"Gasp, why?"

I couldn't say with my own mouth that it was because of the prince's obsession.

I skipped my reason and froze it moderately.

"......Even if I finish, I probably won't be able to step in any more."

"I see...."

Fortunately, Marienne seemed to accept it easily.

Anyway, since the main purpose, Vinter bereudandi, has been rescued, it's meaningless to belong to the restoration system.

"I'm sorry, Marienne, you must have expected a lot."

I'm wasn't showing my feelings, but I gave her a boring apology.

"No, Princess. Rather, It's better now."

Fortunately, Marienne smiled and shook her dog.

"In fact, the reason I'm here today is to tell you that we can no longer work together after the coronation of the Crown Prince."

"What? Why..."

"I'm on my way back from the academy.

"What?! You, all of a sudden?"

Marienne's successive bombshells opened my eyes wide.

'I'm sure you've been asking me to enter the archaeology department until yesterday.'

It was time to look at Marienne, who became unemployed after a day, with a grim face.

She suddenly dropped her eyes shyly and let out her innermost thoughts.

"In fact, I kept feeling ashamed of myself ever since I met you."

"You mean... me?"

No, what the hell do you mean? I couldn't quite understand. Fortunately, Marienne immediately released my bewilderment.

"Yes. The appearance of a princess who was purely happy while putting her hands on the work."

"...Marienne."

"It was obviously a good start, but from a certain moment onwards, I found myself only pursuing achievements. I lost my original feelings with some deceiving words."

She mumbled with a bitter smile.

"However, it's such a sudden decision. How did you get in there?"

I spoke to her carefully.

I did it because I liked it, but wasn't it too important to decide on my own side?

However, Marienne smiled broadly in response to my worried eyes.

"Anyway, there was no hope because there were only rotten guys, but I'm going to hit this and start a new one!" (?)

"New start?"

"Yes! There's a So-so-im (?) studying archaeology. So far, it has been scattered all over the country, so it has not been active, but this time, we have set up an ancient historical research team."

"Ah..."

"I'm going there as an advisory professor. Of course it's a small salary, but I'm not completely unemployed. Ho Ho Ho!"

Maybe because she is also a positive person, Marienne quickly shook off the shade and said cheerfully.

I was a little envious of her like that.

She boldly gives up what she wants to achieve what she wants to do, without regreting her decision. (?)

It was quite different from me, who was just hesitating without being able to do so.

They were envious of each other. It was when I was staring at Marienne with a strange feeling that I didn't know why.

"You don't want to get married yet. Would you like to come with me, Princess?"

Suddenly, Marienne made an unexpected suggestion.

I opened my eyes wide.

"I..."

Leaving the capital where the duke is, and doing what the I originally wanted to do.

That was my original purpose.

It was something I could do without having to leave the capital. Rather, it would've been wiser to use the duke's full support.

But...

I didn't want to live in that house anymore or face those people.

'Now that the game is over, my part is over.'

Of course, until then, I didn't even think of being married to Callisto and living in the Imperial Palace. (??)

And now,

"I can't leave the capital for long."

"How come?"

I struggled and shared some of my worries with Marien.

"His Majesty... does not sleep well at night."

"Becauee the princess might not be there?!"

Despite my unkind words, Marienne understood perfectly. (?)

I nodded faintly.

Since when did it start? It became apparent that Callisto was not sleeping well.

A man who came at dusk with a hurried knock on the door.

— I can't sleep.

一 I'm afraid you'll disappear while I'm sleeping.

At first I thought he was trying to crawl into my room.

But at some point, when I opened my eyes with a feeling of something cold in my sleep, I often saw red eyes shining brightly in the dark.

— What is it... What are you doing still awake?

— ......Just. Never mind, go back to sleep.

His insomnia has been getting worse ever since I started the restoration work to confirm the fate of the vacant lot.

The reason why I kept pretending that I couldn't win over and over again, was because I wanted him to sleep with less anxiety.

16.

“Even in the world, there was such a situation.”

When she was contemplated with a serious face, Marienne nodded as if she understood it. Then she spit out with a disgruntled face,

“Yes, it’s so unfair to forcibly give up what you want to do!”

"Well......... it is." Penelope agreed with a helpless voice.

Anyway, Penelope had to find a way and make a decision in the near future. No matter which direction it is in to give up.

“Don't be too burdened to go with me, My Lady.”

Did Marienne read Penelope’s complicated feelings? Marienne relieved her burden with a warm voice.

"You don't have to be locked up like an academy for three years, you know, it can be like an exploratory meeting? We’ll get together, we’ll study together, do some research, and when the time comes, we'll go our own ways."

It was a light consolation, but surprisingly, it was a lot of comfort.

Penelope smiled and nodded her head.

“Thank you for the suggestion, Marienne. I'll seriously think about it.”

“I would appreciate it if you would! Anyway, I can’t leave until after the coronation anyway, so think about it.”

Penelope was puzzled by the words of her which had been thrown out when she had acted as if she would leave right away.

“Why after the coronation?”

I wondered if the prince's crazy plans to go to the wedding ceremony at the coronation were already widespread.

“I’m now unemployed and going home, aren’t I? My father said that he would set fire to my research materials if I didn’t attend the coronation. Hohohoho!"

But fortunately it didn't seem like that.

“I'm the only single daughter of Countess Terocchi. But give me a signal and I’ll run when you feel safe.”.

"Hha..."

Penelope had no idea that Marienne was a countess, so she just smiled awkwardly.

‘I haven't seen it, but Count Terocchi must be pretty upset…’

If he knew that his only daughter, who finally returned home, was planning to go away again, wouldn’t he collapse?

At the same time as that thought, the face of the work came to mind for some reason.

The reason was unknown.

“So think about it and tell me, My Lady.”

Marienne, whose business was finished, stood up.

“Oh, Marienne.”

Penelope was about to see her off, but rushed to catch her when she remembered what she was forgetting.

"I'm sorry, but I have a request."

"Yeah, what request?"

“Wait a minute.” I whispered little, conscious of the prince's guards, who might’ve been listening secretly.

“By now, it is time for the inquiry to be over. Go to the conference hall and to the Duke of Eckart.”

Fortunately, Marienne understood Penelope’s intentions at once with sparkling eyes.

“...Can you do that?”

“Yes, that’s it. Trust me, My Lady!”

With a trustworthy commitment, Marienne left the Prince's Palace.

Penelope was upset by being incarcerated by Callisto, but she was hungry.

'You must eat well to escape.'

Penelope fought off a late lunch that was much richer than usual. Then she sat at her desk in front of the prince’s desk on the other side of the bedroom. On the desk, there were piles of unknown documents piled up like a tower.

Penelope was grumpy, so she knocked them down. The documents were scattered and mixed on the desk.

'Let's make some trouble.'

Of course, Cedric would take over the problems. Still, Penelope felt a little satisfied.

"If you are free, My Lady, would you like the book you were reading?" Recognizing Penelope’s discomfort, a maid brought her the book that she had been reading.

Penelope dared to go through the book with a reckless attitude as she put her feet onto the desk. She had enjoyed reading it yesterday, but couldn’t now due to her nervousness.

'Did Marienne deliver it well? The Duke is....’

Penelope thought about it while shaking her legs. Suddenly, the absurd situation made her laugh. It wasn’t scary, it was all about fighting her boyfriend and being able to return home.

‘What a spectacular thing to do...’

Callisto interfered so that they wouldn’t have to meet again, but he had to meet the Duke again anyways. Penelope prayed that Marienne would be able to deliver her message. It was when she was thinking that a maid interrupted her.

“Dear Lady, Marienne told me to return the book she had borrowed last time.”

Whether Marienne delivered it well, the maid handed Penelope a book.

“Really? I was just in time to read it, and that’s great. Go out.” Penelope replied nonchalantly, but opened the book as soon as the maid left. It was about the middle of the book that was handed over. Something fell between the pages of the book. It was a thin token and a note with an unknown pattern and jewel.

“Amulet…?”

After Penelope recognized it, she opened up the folded note.

[The sorcerers who work on the bonds of the Imperial Palace will be replaced at 3 p.m. Hold the amulet and shout Biratio(?) Eckart!]

After looking at the contents of the note, Penelope knew that Marienne had delivered her story well and that the Duke had made a move.

“...But why is it Biratio?” Penelope muttered disgruntledly, staring at the section where the starter words were written. The game was over, but why couldn’t she get away from the crazy spells? But there was no way to get out of there. Time went by as scheduled, and finally the grandfather clock in the prince's bedroom rang at 3 p.m. Penelope wrapped her cardigan tightly around herself and grabbed her things before she immediately grabbed the amulet and shouted,

“Biratio Eckart!” her vision turned white.

When her vision came back, she heard someone cry out to her.

"Penelope!"

The first thing Penelope saw was the face of the Duke. She was in the Duke’s office.

"Father." It was the moment Penelope thought that she must have arrived well.

“Oh my God!” The Duke suddenly hugged her as if he was unbelieving.

"Do you know how surprised this father was? Incarceration! How dare he detain my daughter!"

Penelope was very embarrassed because she never expected to have such a violent reunion.

'I didn't deliberately say that I was incarcerated, but what did Marienne say to him? What the hell!

“No! Tomorrow, we’ll withdraw the support for the Crown Prince and put someone else in his place before the coronation…!”

In the midst of thinking, Penelope was distracted by the Duke’s extremes.

“Father, father! Calm down!" Penelope hurriedly hugged the Duke’s arm to dissuade him.

"I'm fine. I've been doing well in the Imperial Palace.”

"Doing well while you're imprisoned! Are you okay? You aren’t hurt, are you?”

Only then could Penelope face the Duke, who had pulled her off his arm. While she was with the Crown Prince, the Duke’s face seemed to be worried.

“Your face…!”

On the other hand, Penelope’s face reflected in the furious blue eyes was clear.

“Face….”

“...”

“...You've gotten a lot better, hmm!” The Duke must have been ashamed of himself, so he lowered his hands and coughed loudly.

The people of the Imperial Palace were very hospitable. If Penelope had eaten better and had been doing better than she was there, she could not have been worse. She found the Duke’s concern even more strange.

“I'm fine.” After Penelope answered calmly, the Duke offered her a seat, saying that she should sit down for now.

As soon as the maid left, he asked, “Do you know how surprised I was to hear from Lady Marienne?”

“Thank you for your help. I’ve had some trouble.”

“Is it because of the coronation? Every day of my life I oppose him ascending to the throne. Maybe he’s under a lot of pressure, too. Is that why he’s scared?”

When Penelope heard the Duke’s constant stream of words, she suddenly burst into laughter.

-The demons like your father won't let me go.

Penelope thought that she’d call the Duke a demon if she’d been bullied, but now she thought that she shouldn’t have said it..

“It's not like that, Father. Don't do that.”

“Then how on earth will you explain what happened today? And! How can a man who has separated a father and his daughter for weeks be a benevolent monarch!” The Duke had come to the castle and failed to see her due to the prince’s interference.

But it wasn't just Callisto's way. Penelope also didn’t find a reason to meet, so they didn’t have the chance to. Of course, she didn’t expect the Duke to react so violently because of it. By killing Yvonne, no, by killing Leila who had taken over Yvonne’s body, she had thought that their ‘family role play’ was over.

“So tell me the truth. You’ve been locked up in the Crown Prince’s palace, and you haven’t seen your face at home?

“Father, what I inevitably asked for today…” The Duke had asked Penelope if the detention was true, but because it was true she did not answer and turned her back.

“I have something to tell my father.”

Fortunately, she managed to divert the Duke’s attention. When he stopped talking, he looked at Penelope with curious eyes.

'Is this really right?'

Penelope couldn’t get a word out of her mouth when she tried to say it. But she had to say it. Because she already made a promise.

“Well, I met Yvonne.”

“What is that….”

“Not Leila.” Looking at the slowly growing blue eyes, Penelope was calm.

“The real Yvonne my brothers lost when they were kids.”

17.

The blue eyes that looked at Penelope shook.

“That’s…”

“...”

“What are you talking about, Penelope?” The Duke could not speak easily. He struggled to move his lips. He stretched his lips as he struggled to stretch his lips.

“Yvonne...Yvonne must have, then…”

“She’s dead.” Penelope replied calmly on behalf of him, who could not even say the words. Then the Duke’s face turned white.

‘He and I know that I omitted the ‘I killed’ after ‘dead’’

“At that time, do you remember what I said?” Penelope opened her mouth timidly, looking at the confused Duke.

“Something…”

“The real Yvonne would have already died at the time when she was lost, and what I killed was Leila, who had taken over the body.”

“...”

“I met my father's biological daughter.” As soon as Penelope spat out the words, the Duke’s eyes hardened. She felt him stop breathing. After a while, he whispered quietly.

“Is Yvonne still alive?” A voice filled with a faint hope trembled. Penelope lowered her eyes to avoid the desperate gaze, and soon shook her head slowly.

“...No.”

“...”

“As I told you, after losing her, her body was taken over and killed by Leila. I saw the past.”

“...”

“Fortunately, the mirror of Truth held onto Yvonne’s soul, which was about to disappear.”

“...Ha.” A sigh came from the Duke’s lips, as if he were about to cry.

Penelope slowly raised her head and met the eyes of the Duke. He was breathing hard as if he were trying to subdue his feelings. The grief and misery of parents who had lost their children. Penelope looked at him and decided not to say anything. After a long time, the Duke spoke with a hoarse voice.

“I heard that the Marquis of Berdandi...has been rescued as of yesterday.” The Duke couldn’t have known because Callisto had made that mess last night. But Penelope didn’t react and listened quietly to what he was saying.

“I know I have no shame in saying this. But…”

“...”

“But, like the Marquis of Berdandi, maybe…Yvonne might have a way to survive?” There was still hope in the eyes of the Duke, who stuttered out his sentences. Penelope knew what he wanted her to say, but she couldn’t say it. And at the same time, it was amazing to her that it was not as painful to see the Duke as she’d thought.

‘Is it because I expected it to happen…”

Before the coming-of-age ceremony, it was so hard to see the Duke strangely discriminating against Yvonne. Every time she faced him, Penelope had to swallow something like a hot fire that ran up her throat. However, seeing that she was so heartless as to deliver the news from her own mouth, Penelope thought that she had seemed to grow up a bit.

No, maybe...she might be ready to give up the handful of love that she’d been hoping for.

“That's impossible, Father.” Penelope no longer felt any hesitation. The Duke’s face was distorted by Penelope’s resolute answer.

“Well, why…. Is this because the Imperial Palace wizards are useless? If so, I will give all the support I can from the duchy…”

“Because I killed Leila, Yvonne’s body died as well.”

“...”

“So you can resent me.”

The mouth of the Duke, which was spilling words with haste, slowly closed. A huge shadow overtook him as the dark reality hit him. Penelope watched it dryly. It would be no surprise to her if the Duke would suddenly slap her across the face, as she was the person who’d killed his daughter and told the truth. Penelope thought that if it wasn’t that bad, she’d be furious and blame herself.

‘Anyway, when I look at it, I'm no different…’

Penelope hadn’t intended to come without a resolution, so she stayed silent and waited for the Duke to take action. As expected, he closed his trembling eyes to see if he could control his emotions. After a while, Penelope couldn’t find any sign of resentment in the eyes of the Duke, who had finally opened his eyes.

“Yvonne...was she doing well?” Penelope’s eyes curled and became wet.

“Are you crying? Didn't you blame Father...?”

“...”

"To the end...the ugly father who couldn’t find her until the end...an incompetent father who couldn’t even see what his own child went through…”

“Yvonne.” Penelope spoke firmly, blocking the Duke that was about to collapse.

“Yvonne’s doing well, Father.”

Because it was different from what she wanted to convey. Yvonne didn’t want her family to live with guilt all their lives because of her.

“Yvonne, whom I met, was a nice and lovely little girl, probably as her father remembers.”

“...”

“When I was a child, I had hoped for a moment that she wouldn’t come back, and I was ashamed of myself.”

Whether he recalled Yvonne of that time, the Duke embraced his face with his shaking hands.

“She didn’t have any resentment towards her father and brothers. Rather…”

“...”

“She will be fine in the future, and wanted me to tell you that she loves you a lot. And then, she went.”

“Um where, where did she go…?” At the end of Penelope’s words, the Duke asked her urgently, lowering the hand that had covered his face. His hands were wet, but Penelope replied, pretending as if she had never seen them before.

“…Where Father wanted, a place that she could rest in peace.”

“Hup.” Finally, the Duke gave up his pent-up groans and put down the feelings he had endured for years. Penelope’s heart sank at the sight of the Duke, who blocked his eyes so she could avoid seeing him, but couldn’t block the tears flowing down his face.

“…I’ve made a scene in front of you.” After a long time, he pulled his handkerchief out of his arms and shook his emotions. He was still the head of a family, even thought he heard of the complete death of his child.

With a restrained face, he said something Penelope wasn’t expecting.

“Thank you for finding Yvonne...me, Penelope.”

“...”

“Now, I’m ashamed to face you.”

Penelope stared at the Duke with eyes wide open in surprise. The Duke was still in sorrow, but he seemed somewhat relieved.

“Father.”

“...”

“I don’t…you’re not resentful?”

“How can I blame you?” The Duke laughed bitterly at her question.

“I haven't heard of any news over the years. I’ve poured out so much money, but I didn't even know if she was dead or alive...”

“...”

“What can I do when you’re the one who found my peace?” Suddenly, he made eye contact with her and repeated the same words.

“Thank you, Penelope. You are a benefactor to me.” A benefactor. Penelope couldn’t bear to feel weird about that remark. She wished that she had been angry, because Penelope hadn’t come there to hear that. As soon as she saw whether the Duke had all of his emotions in control, Penelope slowly opened her mouth.

“...Unfortunately, this is the end of Yvonne's words, Father.”

“...Alright.” He nodded with a look. There must be a lot more questions, but Penelope had nothing more to say. Yvonne, who longed for her family, was at peace and had left for a new life. And it was also necessary for Penelope to deliver the words.

“Now I have something else to tell you.”

“What…”

“Father. No, Duke.”

The Duke’s eyes grew wide again after hearing the title, which she hadn’t used in a long time.

“All I have to do here and what I can do is done.”

Penelope knew that it wasn’t a good idea to say it, but if she didn’t do it now, she would have no chance later.

“So I want to find my life and leave now.”

18.

Penelope was not asking for permission, she was giving him a notification. She no longer asked for permission from the Duke.

“...Penelope.” The Duke hurriedly asked her with a surprised look.

“Where the hell are you going, to leave the duchy? Huh?”

“Anywhere.” Penelope muttered quietly after some time.

“…You won’t be able to dig up.”

“Penelope!” The Duke’s face turned pale as if he had met Yvonne.

“I didn’t finish the story last time. No matter what anyone says, you’re my daughter. How does it make sense to cut the bond between parents and children!”

“I thought you would say that.” Penelope nodded her head.

“Then now, please do not care what I do.” The game was over, and now Penelope had to go through the unknown future in this world.

"Wherever I go, whatever I do there, even if I marry someone you hate."

“Penelope Eckart!” The Duke opened his eyes and shouted.

“Why is that? To not care…” The Duke, who had been questioning her, suddenly shut his mouth when he saw Penelope’s expressionless face. He seemed to have figured out why. The Duke, who had been silent for a while, soon opened his mouth with a tired look.

“…I admit that I brought you here and have not taken care of you properly.”

“...”

“But...now there is nothing left. I have just lost Yvonne, and now hearing about this? It is like a nail into Father’s heart.” The Duke’s expression, full of grief and sorrow, made Penelope’s heart flutter.

The Duke was a man of great responsibility. Besides, he felt guilt towards her, so it would make sense that he would be more protective of her. Of course, Penelope knew that his words and actions toward her were not simply due to responsibility and guilt. Now that she no longer wanted their affection, maybe they’ve accepted her as real family. But because of that, she had spent hellish days with her heart divided into two. The desire for affection and the desire to be recognized by them. The feeling of them driving her so crazy with hatred that it made her miserable. Her self-esteem that had been broken every time.

Whenever Penelope saw the Duke, she struggled with conflict between the two feelings.

“I asked if you don't blame me for killing Yvonne.”

Nevertheless.

Even when Penelope got there, she was a little afraid that they would blame her.

“I also need time and forgiveness for the Duke not to blame people, Father.” They never once asked her like that. How she felt. The Duke’s eyes widened, as if he had never expected to hear that from her.

The Duke, whose lips were tightly frozen, managed to squeeze out after quite a long time.

“…Penelope, sweetheart...”

“...”

“Do you still resent me?” The Duke’s blue eyes shook in silence..

Penelope looked at him like that, and finally accepted.

“Yes.”

“Ha…” The Duke slowly raised his hands to his face. Perhaps because of the shock, his fingertips were shaking. But smiling as before, Penelope said nothing to reassure him. He was a very affectionate parent to Yvonne, and sometimes he was like that to her. But he was mostly a harsh father to Penelope.

“I cannot forgive you.”

No, to her.

“Everyone in the duchy, including Derrick and Rennald, who have abused me.”

“...”

“And the Duke who has neglected and tolerated all that.”

From a point of view, the Duke may not be much at fault. He adopted a poor orphan with a good heart, but it must have been the same that she had been troubled. He is not a man who does not have common sense. In fact, as Penelope behaved differently, the relationship with the Duke quickly improved. The same was true of other humans. Maybe contempt and treatment were what stupid Penelope brought on herself.

'...But Penelope is me afterall.’

The distinction was no longer meaningful. Even Penelope, who had decided to remain in that world, denied it, then her death, which she repeated until her soul was crushed, would be. Unfairness and yearning, sorrow; despondency. Who the hell can recognize them?

“...Penelope.” Her calm words forced the Duke to call her. His white complexion, open eyes.The Duke’s appearance was like that of a dead man’s.

“Why, why now... In the meantime…” He’d been fine, but why was he saying that now? From his point of view, Penelope thought that it might have been quite a sudden notice. Until now, she seemed to have no problem with the Duke, so she had been moderately like a family.

“From the Duke's point of view, I think it's not easy. I haven't expressed much interest in that time, and it's true that I sometimes stupidly pressed against my family.” Penelope shrugged and said lightly. As if there was something to say, the Duke wet his lips. But Penelope resolutely stopped him and continued to speak.

“But you never asked me once.”

“...”

“When Brother Derrick was hostile to me for no apparent reason, when Rennald painted me as a thief, when you found out that your employees were involved in my meals and caused me to starve every time.”

“...”

“You never asked if I was really okay.”

“...Penelope.”

“I didn’t act like I was okay because my wound was healed. I just buried it because there was something bigger than that.” To survive, Penelope had to desperately bow down and pretend nothing was wrong. And it got more and more cumbersome over time.

Because she was expecting more and more from the Duke, Penelope hadn’t wanted to be hurt when the real daughter came back. When Penelope thought about that time, her heart was drenched.

‘It’s alright. It’s over now.’

Penelope took a deep breath and poised herself. Then she poured out the remaining words she had prepared.

“But after meeting Yvonne, I thought I could understand the Duke’s feelings, why the brothers were doing that to me.”

“…”

“I didn’t think that all the attention you gave me replaced Yvonne, so I’m leaving.” The Duke’s expression slowly fell apart at her words. Penelope finally dropped her head when she saw his eyes turn red.

“Do...do you have to leave?” The Duke asked her with a teary voice.

“If I stay by your side...and apologize every time...maybe you can forgive me then.”

“I want to be comfortable... now.” Penelope slowly shook her head at the Duke’s faint hope.

“I hope that the day will come when I will be able to treat my father sincerely, not the pretense I have made out of everything.”

“....”

“So, stop confronting the Crown Prince under the pretext of me. I have no intention of getting married to His Majesty anyway.” The words that stood up for her people jumped out somewhat calmly. The Duke, who had opened his eyes wide open and stiffened at her words, shouted one step late.

“...Penelope, sweetheart. It's not like that. I, I just want to tell him...!” He, who was vehemently denying it, suddenly stopped talking. It seemed bitter.

“…No, no. Maybe this again sounds like an excuse to your ears.”

“...”

“Now I will try to not do that as much as possible.”

It didn't matter whether the Duke really did it for her or not. Callisto was still anxious enough, and Penelope didn't want to add to the anxiety that she was going back to the duke.

“I’m telling you not to do anything for me, Duke, political matters have nothing to do with me.” Penelope soothed the grieving Duke with a muted expression.

Honestly, Callisto's fiery personality could lead to annihilation of the country or the annihilation of nobles, so a proper check of the Duke was necessary. At her words, the Duke nodded faintly with a dark look. Now he seemed to understand everything Penelope had said.

“Then I’ll get going.” Penelope tried to get out of her seat and stand up.

'You should have noticed by now.'

Penelope was jittery at the thought of going back before the palace was overturned again.

“Well, wait a minute.”

It was then. The Duke rushed at her readying to go back. Then he lifted something from under the table.

“Take this, Penelope.”

It was a large wooden case, slightly larger than two palms combined. For some reason, it overlapped with the time he had offered her a crossbow.

“What...is this?” Penelope looked at the Duke curiously. Instead of answering, the Duke advised cautiously.

“Would...you like to open it?” Penelope was just going to carry it, but her heart became weak at the wrinkled face that looked desperate.

'This is the last one.'

Penelope reached out to unlock the wooden case and opened the lid. And when she saw what was in it, her eyes widened.

“This…”

“...It's a kit for excavating artifacts.”

Tweezers, magnifying glass, tape measure, various kinds of brushes, hammers, chisels...

Various tools were neatly placed onto a soft cushion. The Duke quietly added an explanation.

“Because there is light magic, it will be easy to carry. What’s more, each tool has its own conservation magic, so you can dig safely without scratches.”

Penelope stared blankly at them, and slowly raised her head.

“Why is this…” She looked at the Duke with shaking eyes. It was today that he had met Marienne and heard the story. Penelope didn't know how the Duke knew and gave them to her.

“A few days ago, I ran into the Crown Prince in private.” The Duke spoke quietly without properly meeting Penelope’s gaze.

“I’ve only known you as the one locked up in the Imperial Palace because of him, no His Highness. But you haven’t been in touch for weeks, except a letter from the butler.”

“That’s…” Penelope was speechless from the Duke’s tone. After a conversation with Cedric, she had secretly sent it, but she didn’t know the Duke would know that she had sent a letter to the butler.

‘You’re such a tactician…’

She was thinking about the source and made a look of dismay.

“So I asked him to let you return home, and he said...oh no, His Highness was mocking me for not knowing where you’ve gone, and if I was going to look for you, to look for you myself.” The Duke pumped his fist. Perhaps conscious of what Penelope had just said, he bared his anger while treating the Crown Prince with respect. But he didn’t go much either. Suddenly, the Duke smiled dejectedly and translated it into words himself.

“I’ve been your father for six years…”

“...”

“I’ve never noticed that you were interested in archaeology.”

Penelope gave him a look of surprise.

“Duke, that’s…” It wasn’t his fault, whatever else. The old Penelope, no, she wouldn’t have been particularly interested in that sort of thing in her previous life.

“Because…I didn’t mention it.”

“No, it’s all because I was careless.” Despite her sincere denial, the Duke’s face distorted with guilt.

“Maybe, as you said, I don’t deserve to be called your father anymore.”

“...”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. But still…”

“...”

“But will you accept it as the last gift from your father?”

Penelope turned away from him and looked down at the excavation kit.

‘...What happens when I get this?’

To be honest, Penelope was worried. She had come to break off the bad relationships, but if she received it, she didn’t know where it would lead. But in the end, it was useless. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find a reason not to answer.

“...Thank you.”

Locking the lid of the case and standing up, Penelope bowed lightly.

“Be healthy, Duke.”

“Yes, you too, please…” He couldn’t speak and covered his eyes with one hand.

Finally.

It was the real farewell to the Duke, who had not realized it at the coming-of-age ceremony.

19.

After exiting the Duke's office, Penelope walked straight to the hall with the central staircase to climb into her room. It was as soon as she had left the long hallway that she heard something.

“Miss.”

A familiar voice called her. It was the butler. Penelope paused at the scene in front of her. From the entrance of the hallway to the central staircase, all employees of the duchy stood in rows on both sides.

“What are you doing?” Penelope looked around and asked. Everyone was looking at her with strangely tense faces. At that moment, the leading butler suddenly bowed in front of her, shouting loudly.

“You had a hard time coming. Welcome home, young lady.”

“Welcome back, Young Miss!” As soon as the butler’s cry came to an end, all the employees bowed down and shouted loudly. It was a hearty welcome, as if they were welcoming the royal family

‘Did you have any orders from the Duke? You’re all doing things that you haven’t done before.’

Embarrassed, Penelope stared at them blankly. She saw a mix of employees, who had not greeted her each time she passed by or face-to-face, bow down. In the past, this change would not have been too bad. It would have been proof that her fame had risen.

But maybe it's because she had a pretty satisfying life at the Imperial Palace. The sudden change of attitude of the Duke’s people was not very touching.

'Now it's really over.'

At the same time, Penelope felt that all of the lingering feelings from the place were all gone. Rather than regret or anger, she was just relieved.

“Get up and do your jobs. I just stopped by because I had something to do.” Penelope spoke in a cold voice as she walked towards the middle. The butler, who was bending over, hurriedly followed.

“Young Miss,. I prepared a meal when I heard that you were coming...”

Meanwhile, when she arrived at the stairs, Penelope stepped up the stairs and indifferently responded.

“Don’t worry, I’m going back to the Imperial Palace to eat.” As she looked back at the butler, Penelope could see him look at her with a puzzled expression.

It was the same with the butler.

Like people she hadn’t seen in a long time and didn’t know that she’d be so cold-hearted.

‘That's funny. Why did you think I would eat at this corner of the house?’

She had been through some things for dinner. What’s the matter with them? Contrary to what she thought, however, she didn’t actually get a false note. But it wasn’t like a blow that would make her feel better.

Penelope just didn't feel anything.

Like a distant stranger, just like it was originally.

“…Oh, I see, My Lady.” The butler, who had been silent for a long time, answered with a heavy voice. He asked again, trying to hide his sad face.

“Would you like to go up to your room, then?”

“Yes. But where is Emily?”

“It seems like she is still cleaning your room. I have been informed that you were coming all of a sudden...I will tell them that you are going up and to come down now.”

“Okay. Well, I'm going up.” Penelope didn't intend to stay long anyway. She turned around without delay and climbed the remaining stairs.

“Is there anything else I can do?” The butler asked as he annoyingly followed her. Penelope slowed down for a moment, as a thought had struck her.

“The last time I saw you! Did you get the letter? I need you to bring me the mining ledger in a few minutes.”

“Okay.” When she gave him something to do, the butler, who was in a state of anxiety, finally fell off with a slightly brighter face. Penelope quickened her steps up the stairs. She could feel the gazes watching her in the back of her head, but she was indifferent.

As always, it was none of her business.

As the butler said, her maid was cleaning her room. It was already clean, but it seemed to show the enthusiasm in the owner’s visit.

“Emily.” When Penelope called out to Emily, who was frantically arranging the sheets, she jumped into place.

"Oh, Young Miss!" Emily came running to Penelope at once with a bright face. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have been hit hard or become sick from the day’s work.

“Hey, how long has it been? How have you been? Oh my God, look at my mind. I didn't even know that it was time for you to come!”

“How have you been?”

“Yes, of course! Thanks to the young lady, I came back safely to the Duke’s residence…” Emily made a fuss and burst into tears, as if she was moved by a reunion after a few weeks. Still, Penelope was glad to see that she was affectionate.

“Really, Lady. How could there be no connection to me doing well? If you had given me the opportunity to come, I would have been perfectly prepared and understood if you told me you were coming...!”

“Don’t be sad. That’s why I deliberately stopped by to see your face.”

Emily replied to Penelope with a startled look.

“Are you going back to the Imperial Palace? Didn't you come back to me?”

“Yes, I’m just dropping by for work. I snuck out, so I have to go back.”

“I mean, does that mean it’s really true, Young Miss?!”

“What?” There were many false rumors, so Penelope asked.

“Why, that I may defeat the prince and take the throne?”

“No. My lady....maybe our lady might be the Empress...Ooh!”

Penelope was aware that the door was still open, and she quickly closed Emily's mouth.

“Who, who said that? No, that crazy, no, Your Majesty came all the way here last night...?!”

“Oh, uh!” At her sudden act, Emily shook her head with her eyes wide open like a rabbit.

‘Otherwise, how did the rumors spread all the way here in half a day?!’

Penelope fumbled at Emily in confusion.

“So what is it?!”

“Oh, um…” When the maid made a strange sound, Penelope realized that her hand was still blocking her mouth and quickly put her hands away.

“Fooha! No! His Majesty did not come…”

“Then.”

At Penelope’s unfamiliar momentum, Emily seemed hesitant before killing the sound and answering carefully.

“Over the course of several days, the Duke instructed the butler to burn all the letters from the Imperial Palace. Then Lena discovered that she almost picked up a letter to you…”

“...”

“The other dozens were letters of proposal.” Lena is a bit picky. Emily added with a puzzled look. Penelope knew very well that the woman who had helped her with her business whenever she went out was very familiar with the stories she picked up from the other maids.

Sometimes I knew that the maid who helped my service whenever I was out was picking up stories from other house maids.

‘Somehow, why did you leave so much trouble?’

Penelope recalled the previous situation and grabbed her forehead and muttered.

“...It must have spread widely over the mansion.”

Emily, who was looking at Penelope, tried to get up.

“But...how many things from Marquis Ellen are left to deal with?”

It had been a while since the strange battle of nerves between the supporters of Count Ellen and the Duke after the hunt. Penelope had been in a hurry to finish the game so she hadn’t cared about that at all. The masters of the house had put their power together to push them back (this whole section’s translation doesn’t make sense).

“...That's a good thing.”

Emily’s elated expression left Penelope’s bitter face and caused her to smile. In any case, the Crown Prince could not hide the fact that he was a rabid dog forever. So, it wasn't that shocking that everyone knew. Penelope took a step and sat down on the sofa, looking for Emily.

“Rather, are the children doing well? The guardian was rescued alive last night.”

“Of course.” Emily replied quickly, as she knew who Penelope was talking about.

“they’re still staying in the place the Duke gave me. The butler and I take care of them on a daily basis.”

“Really?”

“Raon's condition has also improved, so he plays well with his friends.”

“I'm glad.” Penelope was relieved of her anxiety and smiled for a while. Despite being in the imperial palace, Raon, who had been shocked by the brainwashing, had remained on her mind and was not forgotten.

‘Now that your teacher has come back, everything will be back to normal.’

Penelope was relieved at such thoughts.

“Happy, Young Miss?” Emily suddenly asked.

“...Huh?” As Penelope turned her head at the random question, she saw Emily was looking at her with an unfamiliar look.

“You’ve gotten a lot brighter in the meantime.”

“Really?”

It was similar to what the Duke said.

‘That's the face. What is different?’

Not feeling well at the awkwardness, Penelope swept her face with her hands. Emily hesitated several times and opened her mouth.

“The Imperial Palace is better than here, right?”

“...Well.” Penelope’s voice was awkward, just like how she felt.

“At least, I don’t worry about being stabbed with a needle to wake up.”

“Oh, Young Miss!” Emily turned pale as she answered.

“That, that thing… that thing is mine….”

When Penelope saw Emily crying, she thought that she should stop making fun of her.

“Emily.”

Penelope took her hand off of her cheek and reached out to grasp Emily’s hand.

“In the meantime, you have done well enough as my dedicated maid.”

Honestly, it was beyond expectations. When she first decided to use Emily as her right hand, Penelope never imagined that Emily would help her even in danger. Thinking of her, who had supported her for a long time, Penelope spoke calmly.

“So I will forgive you now.”

“Oh, My Lady…”

Was it unexpected? Emily just looked at Penelope with a blank expression at her words. But not long after, her brown eyes filled with tears. The back of Emily’s hand, which began to tremble underneath Penelope’s palm, told Penelope the magnitude of Emily’s guilt. After keeping her mouth shut for a while, Emily finally squeezed out a nasal sound.

“When you are married… I can’t even ask you to take me to the Imperial Palace.”

“...”

"But...you'll still come over to the duchy, sometimes? Since the young lady rescued us from the evil monsters...everyone has been deeply reflecting on themselves.”

“…”

“Me too, Young Miss. I always do.” Emily confessed her sins to Penelope, unable to hold back as she shed tears.

“I shouldn’t have done that to you, I should have been nice to you from the beginning, at least I shouldn’t have done that...I’ve always regretted it.”

She grabbed Penelope and cried for a long time, only as a complete acquaintance.

“Wherever you are, you should always be happy.”

Unlike Emily, covered in tears and a runny nose, Penelope answered with a smile.

“...Yes.”

***

Because of the magic that made it so no one but Penelope could open, the last drawer of the desk remained the same. Penelope left the room with everything in it.

The last stop before leaving the duchy was the incinerator behind the mansion. She opened the door of the incinerator and put the items in her arms into the kiln. The scarf and magic bracelet that Derrick gave her, the magic necklace, and the mask that Rennald had bought her.

And the paper that recorded the information and favorability fluctuations of the capture targets. It was all of the miscellaneous items Penelope had from the game. She had put them in a drawer only she could open, but Penelope was still a little nervous about leaving them behind. So before she left, she decided to burn everything.

‘It’s kind of a shame to burn everything…’

After looking at it for a while, Penelope soon closed the door and turned the lever without hesitation.

Fwoosh-!

At the same time, a flame rose over the small side window on the door. Unlike burning a piece of mirror, the fire created by magic ate everything that could be firewood. Listening to the sound of flames burning, Penelope waited for the moment when the last remaining traces of the game to dissipate.

Tak-!

Suddenly, someone called out to Penelope with an overly low voice, making an appearance behind her back.

“...Penelope.”

This had happened before. Penelope’s heart sank with a bad sense of deja vu. As she slowly turned back, she saw a tall figure on the road leading to the incinerator.

Fortunately, it wasn't him.

“...Young Master.”

20.

Penelope stared at Derrick in amazement. She didn’t know why, but he was breathing hard because he had been in a hurry to find her. His pale complexion and the sweat on his forehead were extraordinary.

‘Why is he so sick?’

Unconsciously, she glanced at him and found a bandage rolled around his waist. No, he was sick.

“I think it’s bleeding.”

“Ah.” Pointing at the bandage, which was faintly reddish, Derrick looked down and checked. Then he answered bluntly.

“...It’s nothing.”

It seemed like a big deal, but Penelope said nothing. Whether the wound bursts or the blood leaks or spills, it was irrelevant to her. Due to injuries, Derrick’s face was gaunt.

‘Anyway, it’s strange that he’s okay when his belly is pierced…’

It occurred to Penelope that he had been attacked by Leila and had been in therapy for quite some time.

“…”

A moment of uncomfortable silence fell between them. Penelope was wondering how to get out of the incinerator naturally.

“What...are you doing here?” Derrick opened his mouth first.

At the same time, Penelope suddenly recalled what she had forgotten and answered obediently.

“I was sorting out my luggage.”

“Luggage?”

“Yes, I don’t need to leave anything here.” Penelope’s bright blue eyes glanced behind her. It had been a long time since everything in the kiln was engulfed in a raging fire, but it also included what Derrick had given her, which made her feel sick. It was time to stand in the way of the door with fear of him seeing a part that had not yet been burnt through the side window.

“I was told that you're leaving the duchy…” Derrick suddenly spoke in a cautious tone.

‘Did you get the message already? It's fast.’

However, after Penelope left the office, she wondered if the Duke immediately called Derrick.

-You won't do it.

-I can't forgive you. Everyone in the duchy, including Derrick and Rennald, who have been abusing me.

‘I dropped the bomb that I was leaving, but they wouldn’t have let it go.’

She nodded without an answer. Then, Derrick was hurried.

“...I can't do it.”

Penelope, who didn't expect to hear from Derrick again, looked at him in a daze. He must have felt her gaze, but he continued talking.

“Why don’t you....think twice about leaving the duchy?”

“...”

“The situation in the capital is not yet stable. Especially since it happened, all the attention has been on the Eckarts…”

“Did you follow me up here just to say that?”

“...”

Penelope’s expressionless face and sarcasm caused Derrick’s mouth to suddenly shut. In fact, it wasn't surprising. Wouldn’t it be creepy if his personality had suddenly changed?

‘But you’ve made progress? You didn’t send someone to ask me to come to your office, you came in person.’

It occurred to her that it was not funny. She snorted coldly.

“I told you last time.”

“...”

“It’s no longer a matter of your involvement.”

“...Penelope.”

“I’ve already finished talking to you. Of course, even if you know that…”

“…”

“If I go, I go.”

She never needed his permission.

Even if she wanted to voice her complaints, she swallowed it.Penelope thought that she would leave after pouring out the buckets of abuse she had endured, but he didn’t have the right to do so. When she looked back behind her, she noticed that the flames that had been roaring in the kiln subsided quite a bit.

‘That’s enough.’

Penelope turned to Derrick again and nodded unceremoniously.

“If you’re done talking, bye.”

“Where.”

“...”

“Where are you going?”

Derrick cut her off in a hurry to ask. Penelope frowned at the excessive interference.

“That too.”

“...”

“That’s something you don’t need to know.”

“Is it because of me?”

Heck, he took one step closer to her. His face, which had gotten closer, was still filled with agitation and cold sweat.

“The day of the ceremony… I picked up Yvonne and brought you to death?”

“Well.” While answering like that, Penelope was inwardly surprised.

‘Like it’s not his fault.’

The man who escaped from the brainwashing seemed to be aware of the atrocities he had committed. Maybe it wasn't because of brainwashing, but a change of heart after being pierced by the hands of a monster in his sister’s skin.

“I can't say no, but it doesn’t seem to be just for that reason.” Penelope replied very slowly.

When he brought Yvonne with him, Penelope was really going crazy...

But she wasn't very angry enough to remember. Strangely enough, from one point on, feelings for Derrick had disappeared, as if they were washed away. Expectation, disappointment, anger. Maybe it's because Penelope thought the idea that she might be like that would be overwhelming.

“Don’t worry. It’s just time.”

“Don’t play with words and tell me a reason that makes sense.”

Penelope didn’t want to blush while she was leaving. She didn’t blame him by speaking as lightly as she could, but Derrick rushed again and questioned her.

“Where are you going to go away to, and why are you going back to the palace after you’ve come all this way…?”

“Why am I?” Penelope firmly cut off his tedious tone.

“Why should I convince you?”

“...”

“If I answer to the person who seems to have a contemptuous way of speaking, the attitude of arrogance is terrible enough to be disgusting."

“...”

“Then what’s the difference?” Derrick’s shoulders flinched noticeably at her words. The reddish bloodstains on the bandage around his waist began to deepen.

‘This is killing me.’

Penelope’s words seemed to hit harder than she thought. His pale complexion was like that of a white sheet. She laughed at the desire to pour out more.

“But sadly, I don’t have enough interest in you to feel that way.”

“...Penelope.”

“This.” She took a steps closer to the man who repeatedly called her name. Then she pulled something out of her arms and pushed it out.

“I wasn’t sure how to deliver it, but this is fine.”

“This…” Derrick’s blue eyes, looking down at what Penelope held out to him, began to quake.

It was Yvonne's mirror.

‘I was going to give it to the care of the butler before I left…’

Penelope thought that she’d give it to the Duke, but he wasn’t the one that Yvonne wanted to convey her message to.

-Please tell Derek Brother that I’m thankful to him for buying the hand mirror, and I’m sorry I lost it.

Recalling her crying voice, Penelope translated it in a heartless way.

“As you’ve already heard, I met Yvonne yesterday. It wasn’t Leila, it was your little sister.”

“...”

“It's the thing that she gave me. She said thank you for buying it, and she wanted me to tell you that she was sorry for losing it.”

At the end of the magic wand, the splendid decorations disappeared, and there was only one old, faded hand mirror with cracks. It was just like her relationship with Eckart, irrevocable to anything.

Derrick's face slowly crumbled as he looked at the mirror in her hand.

“Yvonne…” The dilated pupils shook endlessly. He was unlikely to bleed a drop of blood even if stabbed, but he also had a trauma of losing his sister with his own hands. Penelope didn’t want to see his despair, even though he had acted like an idiot to her.

‘Think about it. I have to go, so hurry up and get rid of it.’

Penelope waved the hand holding the mirror in a hurry. However, he just stood there without thinking about accepting it.

‘You’re annoying till the end.’

With a sigh, Penelope reached out and held Derrick’s hand, forcing the mirror into his hand. Perhaps because of the shock, the trembling warmth under her palm was a little disgusting. Of course she didn’t express it.

“Just think it's all my fault, as always. I accidentally killed Yvonne, and that’s not why I’m leaving, but getting kicked out.” If they thought like that, won’t people feel sorry for them?

Derrick was originally a man of narrow-mindedness, and now she wasted time facing him. Unlike the Duke, she had no reason to talk to him. If they passed like distant strangers as they had done so far, it would be fine.

“Then.” Penelope finally grabbed the hand of the man who held the mirror, closed it tightly, and then released it neatly. And it was just a moment when she was just about to walk past him.

The empty hand suddenly clung to her. Penelope raised her head in amazement.

“...If I say I regret all the things I did.”

“…”

“Can you forgive me a little?”

He was holding her with the hand she had just released. Yvonne’s mirror, which she had forced him to hold, lay on the floor.

As he held her hand tight, he said,

“I will kneel at your feet and beg if you wish.”

“…”

“Will you not leave?”

‘Is he crazy?’

That was the first thought Penelope had. She couldn’t hear what he was saying because she was stuck on the mirror on the floor.

“Let it go.”

Penelope tried to shake his hand off and bent to pick up the mirror.

It was that moment.

The tall man's face went blank in an instant.

When Penelope came to her senses, Derrick was kneeling before her.

“What…”

She was dumbfounded by the black-haired head near her waist.

“Don’t go.”

“...”

“I was all wrong.”

Kneeling wasn't enough either, so Derrick began to say things that were unbelievable.

“Wrong…?”

“Yes. You’re right. Maybe I’m the one responsible for all the misfortunes you’ve gone through.”

“...”

"But...I’ll still try. As soon as I recover enough to be able to move, I can change. I promise I will compensate you as much, or more, as you have suffered.”

Penelope had never seen him speak so long and fast. He spoke with a desperate face and without taking time to breathe, as if he thought that she would disappear as soon as he stopped talking.

“I'll put it all back. I'll make you won’t be bothered again.”

“…”

“Don’t marry the Crown Prince.”

21.

I gaped my mouth at the unexpected thing I just heard. Those pair of blue eyes which were staring at me shook lightly in despair.

I did not know what to say but barely ask aloud:

"...Did you hurt your head?"

If you didn't, it would make no sense.

'How come?'

If the game was still in a full swing, this definitely was the situation that I would take note off of to try to raise my predilection.

But then it was all over. Including my relationship with the Eckart, and him.

'What's wrong with this bastard?'

I thought about it and was confused for a moment.

"I..."

Suddenly, Derrick opened his mouth and soothed his voice.

"Despite being the next heir of the Eckart, I was a contemptible man who killed my little sister with my own hands."

"....."

"I admit, everything is my fault."

"....."

"You... when you came to the mansion instead of Yvonne..."

"Stop there."

Derrick's next words were predictable. I could guess it.

I couldn't hear any of his desperate confession since the goosebumps sprang all over my body. I hurriedly told him to stop.

"Please stop. I don't want to hear it."

"I was such a fool, a fool with blind eyes."

"..."

"I can not repeat that twice."

"Ha."

He wasn't talking about Yvonne.

I bursted out a cold laughter just when I understood everything.

"What are you going to do, then?"

"..."

"I hate you, to the point that I am going crazy. What will you do?"

His face got even paler after those words of mine.

As I looked at him, I clenched my teeth and titled my head abruptly.

"What? In order to hide your affection for your step sister in front of people, you make them abused and despited her until she committed suicide, and now all you going to do is confess?"

"... Penelope."

"Or, you keep procrastinating and lock me up like a bird in your room?"

Did you think that I am not aware of the meaning of it?

As his blue eyes wide open, a vivid expression rapidly passed his face.

Whether it was shameful or agonizing, it is not my problem.

"Obviously, you can't do that. But if you do, I will marry the Crown Prince immediately."

Fortunately, or unfortunately.

Not only that I had no sympathy for his feelings, I also knew how to blow his fuse effectively.

"Penelope Eckart!"

As expected, he revealed his true self and completely distorted his face.

Even if I didn't want to marry Callisto, he still hoped to quickly hand the throne to me.

But for him, a man who wished I would not get married, saying this was the most ideal strike.

"I don't need that protection of the 'authoritative Eckart' that you keep talking about. I'm going to climb up to a stronger, higher noble position and hold it."

Derrick's complexion changed as if all the blood was flooding out of his stomach.

I slowly bowed towards him, still frozen like a statue, and whispered at his ears.

"So, before I do that, you should keep the line, young duke."

"..."

"I told you, go and hug your little sister for the rest of your life."

After gently stroking the dark pink hair flowing down due to the bowing behind my ear, I reached out to him.

He might have thought I would hit him, so he stiffened his shoulder.

But I brushed him off and picked up the hand mirror that had fallen near his lap.

"If you understand, take good care of it. It's a relic from your little sister."

However, my hand, which was about to retreat without hesitation, was held back this time.

"...How can I ask for your forgiveness?"

He said, with an expression like when he begged Yvonne to come back. A face blurred in pain as if his stomach just got pierced.

"Please forget it. All I said before... was a slip of tongue."

"..."

"But how can you do that...?"

"..."

"Can you call me 'older brother' like before?"

I stared at Derrick in amazement.

'Whenever I call you older brother, you hate it so much that it drops your favorability every single time...'

How ironic it is, for you begging me to call you by that phrase.

'What would Penelope, who called her older brother till death, say now?'

Would she like it? She had finally been accepted as their 'real' family.

Unfortunately, I would never let those words went through my lips again.

"It seems like the young duke have no idea about this..."

Tak-

I quietly shook my hand off, as if I had just touched a dirty bug.

"Just pretend that you don't have a damn clue about what you have been doing so far."

"....."

"Please take care of that repulsive feeling by yourself, you know."

“.....”

"My, there are many things that probably are much more important for the young duke. The honour of the Eckart, the reputation, this family, the judgment of others."

I gave back those words that he reminded me all the time, looking at his wilt eyelids, flinched.

I didn't even feel sorry for him, so I shrugged my shoulder whilst slowly tortured him by extinguishing his hope.

"Even when it came to a day you acknowledge my existence, you are not compelled to treat me as a part of the family."

"That day..."

Derrick barely made a stifling sound as if he had been chocked.

"Are you really gonna go?"

"..."

"I want to stay by your side... even as a brother..."

"I have never known that an Eckart could be so shameless."

Just then. Both me and Derrick flinched by a voice, not from us, but from the one who just stepped in the incinerator room.

"...Callisto?"

Step. Step.

That person approached us without any hesitation. His fluttered golden hair shined resplendently in the afternoon sunlight.

It was the crown prince.

"Hey, shouldn't this 'stage of forgiveness' has already ended? Just think about all the shit you have done to princess up untill now."

Callisto came towards me with a gaze of a murderer. He quickly grabbed and hid me behind his back as if Derrick, who was kneeling, was a menace.

"Ah, your Highness."

I panicked and patted him on his back to stop.

The coronation is about to come soon, and it would be a big deal if he stabbed the Eckart young duke.

Nevertheless, Callisto stayed still and sprained his head, acting like he was spitting at the kneeling Derrick.

"Just be thankful that she saved you from the Leila and leave her alone. If I were the princess, I would have sharpened my sword to kill you right from the hunting contest."

"..."

"Stop embarrassing her. You knew that your knees is not valuable enough to get her forgiveness, right?"

Callisto stretched out his and and clutched on Derrick's shoulder.

I could see blue tendon, appeared at the back of his hand, like he would break his neck right away.

"Hey!"

I hastily pulled back his hand and told Derrick:

"Please stand up, young duke."

Fortunately, Derrick was a smart man who knew that he shouldn't act carelessly in front of the crown prince.

He rose from his spot, straightened his legs, which had just knelt down.

His face, as if all those pleadings before were all lies. He erased all his mien, back to the expressionless demeanor as usual.

"This is our family issue. It's not something an outsider could argue about, your Highness."

As expect, he replied without any deference.

In response to Derrick's answer, Callisto suddenly pulled me by my waist.

As he stroked his hair, just like he was looking for something, he muttered with a rude expression :

"Damn it! I left my sword behind!"

'Yes, exactly. I was wondering what you were looking for.'

A chill ran through my back as I thought about stopping Callisto before he lost control and killed Derrick.

"Both of you, please stop. Young duke, I will pretend that i did not hear anything you said today. Take good care of yourself. Then, excuse me."

"...Penelope, I still need to hear from you..."

Even after all of that, he took a step closer and spoke to me in a low tone. I wondered, was there still something left to talk about?

"Get lost."

But before he even reached me, Callisto blocked him and started to warn him with a frown.

"Stop behaving so impulsively and start using that wise head of your, young duke. You only have one life, yet the Eckart still have someone left to enherit the dukedom."

"..."

"Well, you shouldn't leave this world before you had a chance to treat me as your brother-in-law."

"Your Highness!"

I glared him while blocking them since he kept threatening about killing the next heir of the Eckart.

Fortunately, Derrick understood the situation, he turned and left the incinerator room, holding Yvonne's mirror in his hand.

It's seemed like he also couldn't hold it longer, as his pale complexion and the bloodstain on the bandage grew wider.

'I'm glad that he is not the crazy type of guys as Eclise and Reynold...'

As I looked at his forlorn back, I thought silently.

In a way, Derrick lost to the prince, but at least it didn't end up as a conflict like Reynold and Eclise.

"...As expect, I should have put an end to this by using the knife and tear up the other half of his stomach."

Just like me, Callisto, who also looked at Derrick's back, gave a completely different reaction.

I frowned while scolding at him:

"Don't say such terrible thing."

"Because you let him live, he keeps talking about those bullshit."

"Nevermind. Why are you here?"

He closed his mouth abruptly when i stared at his sullen face with my arms crossed.

'How the hell did you come here?'

It was high time he went to the meeting, he should have see those political affairs and officer staffs by now.

I purposefully set to the time that he could not track me right away, but seeing him acting so hastily, I guessed he was quite upset.

In addition, his complexion wasn't better than Derrick at all.

I somewhat felt bad since every male leads look as pale as a ghost whenever they saw me.

"... I came here to pick you up."

I thought that because he felt very uncomfortable.

Unlike to the time when he bluffed at Derrick, he mildly murmured as he glanced at me.

"...When you are done, let's go back to our palace."

"Go back... Is this all you gonna say?!"

I widened my eyes as I looked at him said 'Let's go back, when you are done.'

I thought I was actually going crazy.

As I were suffering from the headache, I gently shook his hand, which held my fingers and corrected his words.

"It's your palace, not 'our'."

"...Princess."

The Prince called me with a morose face.

I thought about it for a while, but it didn't fit me to remind him what was wrong, one by one. I did not want to.

"Is there anything I would need to know?"

In the end, I asked him directly.

"...Yes."

Fortunately, he admitted that his attempt to sneak out was not futile.

"I understand it now."

"So where are you going to lock me up this time? A place that neither birds nor rats know?"

I had time and skill to deal with that, you know?

Even though pretending not to know what had he done, Callisto's face became even paler after those threats of mine.

"No. Damn it, I'm all wrong."

As if I was going to disappear right away, Callisto rushed to me and embraced me with both of his arms.

"I understand. Goddamn it, don't pick more fight, it's driving me insane."

22.

“Ugh!”

Penelope’s back was crushed. Callisto hugged her with a great deal of force, as if he were trying to crush her into him. His breathing next to her ear was very rough.

‘You bastard, are you crying?’

Penelope shoved his shoulders as hard as she could with a feeling of doubt.

“Let go!”

“If I let you go again...”

“Say something instead of locking me away. Next time, I won’t go anywhere as easy to find as the Duke’s.”

Callisto grumbled and reluctantly let her go. Penelope immediately took a few steps back and faced him. Fortunately, he wasn't crying badly. Instead, there was a strangely cold sweat on his forehead. He looked dissatisfied at the distance, but he looked as pale as a sick man.

Just like Derrick, Penelope opened her eyes and asked.

“…Are you hurt?”

Whether it was good or not, Callisto responded with a smile.

“While I was running out of the conference room, I confronted some of the guys who wouldn’t let me go.”

“Cedric must have suffered again.”

“Huh. You’re more worried about him than me? I'm sick, Penelope Eckart, I think the wound is open.”

“That's really a pain.”

Yeah, he should have been treated in time. Penelope turned her head away and answered in a sullen tone.

“Are you...okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

After Callisto opened his eyes, Penelope was always sensitive about his health and treatment. Penelope didn't know she would come out like this, but the prince muttered with a shocked face.

“How...how could you do so much to me?”

Penelope laughed at the slightest provocation.

“I’m still angry. And I’m seriously thinking about it.”

“...What?”

“Shall I break up with you and just go live my life, or shall I come to an agreement and return to the palace today?”

“I'm going to break up with my Majesty like this and just go live my life, or I will agree to go back to the Imperial Palace today.”

“Penelope Eckart! You really…!

At her extreme words, Callisto shouted in speculation.

“I told you I was wrong. While I'm investigating the evil spirit, the crazy man, the Marquis of Berdandi, I can't help but keep you safe...!”

“Keep the distance.”

As Callisto strode towards her, Penelope took a few steps back.

“I said I was still thinking. Don't be excited, let's have a conversation as intelligent people.”

Callisto barely managed to stop coming forward, even as he grumbled roughly at her words. He rubbed his face with both hands as if he were crazy. Then, the red eyes, which had been half turned, became a little clearer.

“Have you had any regrets?” Penelope sincerely asked him out of the blue.

-Go to the Crown Prince and tell him clearly.

-I’m sure I warned you. Don’t do that.

As warned, Penelope escaped from the Prince's bedroom by avoiding the Imperial Palace’s magic. Of course, it would have been impossible without the help of Marienne and the Duke. Anyway, wasn’t it her ability to grill them to help her?

“...”

Understanding what regrets she was talking about, Callisto wriggled his eyebrows and nodded his head. As someone seemed to force him to do so, Penelope raised her eyes and asked back.

“Then tell me what you learned from this situation.”

“...I can't hold you back by forcing you to be locked up.”

“And again.”

“No matter what I do in the future, I can’t stop you from doing what you want to do. Because it’s always been that way.”

Still, he hit half of the mark. Penelope nodded with a slightly muted look to encourage him to keep going.

The weak man, who knew her condition quickly, breathed out a deep breath now that the tension was finally gone.

“…Ha. I don't know what spirit came to the Duke.”

“You must have had a mind big enough to notice that about the Duke.”

“Isn’t it just with her that she was leaving her in moderation? You complained about her being talkative.”

Ignoring her sarcasm, he asked furtively.

It was the story of Marienne.

The day Penelope first met her, she remembered saying that she thought her ears were torn by Marienne’s praise for her and admiration for ancient magic.

Unaware that there was a deep consensus between Marienne and Penelope that both were ‘the scapegoat’, Callisto would simply misunderstand that she would be spared from Marienne.

“I never dreamed you’d be able to bake such a cute act in that short tea time.”

“There’s always a connection between women.”

Penelope laughed at him and folded her arms.

“So, that’s it?”

“...Actually, I still don’t know.”

Penelope realized that when asked about it, Callisto’s face suddenly darkened. After hesitating to speak for a moment, he asked in a subdued voice.

“How can I keep you?”

“Are you still saying that?”

Penelope appealed with a grimace over her frustration.

“What are you holding onto, there’s already some left!”

“I love you, Penelope Eckart.”

At the sudden confession of love, Penelope looked back at him with her eyes wide open.

“I would kneel down to you a thousand times to say thank you, and a hundred times for your choice of me.”

“...”

“But now that you want to leave, I honestly don’t know what to do.”

“...Your Highness.”

“Now, I have reached the point where I can't sleep properly because I'm afraid when you will disappear.”

Finally admitting to his insomnia, he murmured low with a slightly distorted face.

“You don’t like marriage, you don’t like the throne, you don’t like it even if I do whatever you ask.”

“…”

“I have absolute power and military power to wipe out other countries, but I have never felt more helpless than I am today.”

He grinned bitterly, with a fierce look.

The sudden silence of his appearance, which seemed really powerless, sent a sudden surge of anger.

“When did Your Majesty do everything I asked for?”

“I didn’t say I’d move the entire Academy and the ruins to the Imperial Palace.”

“When did I ask you to do that? Your Majesty, you insisted!”

“Penelope Eckart.”

Suddenly, Callisto wiped the smile from his face and stopped Penelope from talking.

“All I want is...it’s just you by my side.”

With a weary voice, Penelope looked at him with a little surprise. The mask, which was always hard and as tempting as steel, disappeared, and he stared at her with a desperate look that seemed to collapse at any moment.

Just like what she saw in the tomb of the ancient Leila.

“...I’ve never had anything certain in my life. I knew it could be taken away by the 2nd Prince, so I never hesitated.”

“...Your Highness.”

“All I had hidden in my palace was a few of my mother’s belongings or things I received in the days when I believed in her financial condition.”

“...”

“But you're different. I can't even compare you to the jewels at the top, so you always shine so brightly. Everyone is trying to take it.”

Penelope was dumbfounded by his self-contradictory remarks.

“What is that…”

“The slave who saved and left you with Vinter Berdandi, just a piece of war.”

“...”

“You thought that I didn’t know. I’ve been holding back what I want to kill because you seem to draw the line on your own.”

Callisto glanced at the direction in which Derrick had disappeared. Penelope kept her mouth shut with a prick inside of her. She thought he’d know something, but she didn’t know that he’d be using it like that.

“I want to keep you hidden so nobody can see you.”

He looked at her with a white face as if he were suffocated, and vented the emotions that had been suppressed.

“If not, I want to announce that you are my lover so that everyone else in the world knows. No one will ever think of taking you away."

“...”

“I'm new to these feelings, so I don't know what to do.”

He again held his face with both hands before speaking again.

“If I've been thinking about this all day long in the conference...would you curse me as pathetic?”

Like a man struggling with answers, Callisto looked really confused. When Penelope heard his childhood stories, she felt really sorry for him. It was the same for her that she was constantly frustrated and confused.

“...What the hell are you trying to hide me from?”

“From everything that tries to take you away from me, including you.”

“Ha…”

When she heard the answer that came without delay, Penelope touched her forehead in frustration. Still, hearing that made her head feel clear. She thought she knew why he was acting like a madman.

‘From those who want to take me, including myself…’

After thinking for a moment, Penelope took her hand off her head and called to him.

“Your Highness.”

“...”

“Come over here for a moment.”

The man, who stood there and looked at her, widened his eyes.

“What…”

“Come over here for a second.”

At her sudden call, he looked confused. Penelope was more dumbfounded by it.

‘You always told me to come back whenever I changed my mind.’

Fortunately, the Crown Prince approached her without hesitation.

“...Here.”

“Please look here.”

A strange strain of tension ran over Callisto’s face as he bowed to Penelope and motioned her to adjust her eye level.

What was he imaging? Callisto faced her and closed his eyes.

‘Crazy, what did you do?!’

Penelope burst out laughing and stretched out her arms as if she was going to kiss him.

Then-

She grasped his golden hair in her hands.

“Hey.”

Callisto's eyelids, which had been tightly closed, flinched and went up again. Red ruby-like pupils were revealed.

“Hey...?”

She didn’t understand what was going on in his head right then, so she was very curious.

“I love you too.”

He was only three years older than her. What did they do to treat him so hard?

Penelope pronounced every word clearly.

“I love you too.”

“...What is this?”

“Are you the only one who’s anxious?”

“...Penelope.”

“I’m anxious to stay here believing you, too. I don’t know what’s going to happen, so I’m going to make a hole in the back.”

“Ah!”

Eventually, Callisto screamed as she pulled out his golden hair.

23.

The Crown Prince hastily cried out, tapped on the back of my hand, which was holding his hair.

"Princess! Le, let me go and we could talk!"

"Let go of what? The only way to get rid of your worthless doubts is to tear off your hair!"

"This, this is royal assault! You think you will get away after all of this?"

If we were in the imperial palace now, someone would have noticed us and would probably tried to pull me away from the prince. But fortunately, we were in the incinerator room of the duke's mansion.

In other word, it was my zone.

I laughed and replied coldly.

"Huh. Then let's cut your neck!"

"Ugh! Penelope Eckart!"

Callisto yelled while struggle to get out of my hands.

But he didn't put in any strength to pull me out.

So i just kept holding his head and shake his hair as soon as it tear off.

'What would you do if i didn't let go?'

Looking at him being beaten like a fool, my mind filled with grief. I pulled it to the point that it feels like I am going to pluck all of his hair.

"Ahhh-!"

I thought about his desperate scream in the background game and suddenly realized that i have never told him that i liked him, nor loved him before.

Even when he nearly died from struggling with a dragon, and I have to chose whether to stay here or go back.

At some point, he would say as if he was the only one who offering all of the affection in this relationship, and if he didn't hold onto me like a madman, i would leave immediately.

I couldn't understand why he being like this.

'I told you that I chose myself, why are you so anxious about that?'

But now I considered that, I think i got just a little bit of it.

- .... I'm scared, what if it's because of me that you have to give up on everything and stay back.

- If you cry later on, and wishes that you should have come back in regret, what should i do?

What did i told him back then?

- I didn't give up. I just selected what's better.

- ...Selected?

- Yes. I chose the advantage of being here, which is better for me.

Compare to my previous life, my fortune is much more plentiful, and so was my goal. But Callisto still concerned about my choice, whether it's right or wrong.

So was myself, I afraid once I go back, I will lose all of the warmth and all the things Callisto shown and made me feel...

- Then how could you say, you left everything for his majesty?

When Cedric said so to me, he was a little irritated. It was unfair.

'Then who am i going to blame for leaving the body which were suffered gastric cancer?'

Now that i looked back, his words are somewhat correct.

Contrary to my inequitable feeling, I excluded Callisto unconsciously when I were planning for my future.

I was nervous. My life here, what will happen, how will it go, I have no idea.

'I don't know what will happen to us. What if we break up later and...'

I planned that if I had to live alone without the Eckart or Callisto's help, i would have to get a job, just in case.

'But if you inherit the throne, money wouldn't be a problem, and achieving my goal would be a piece of cake.'

On the other hand, this Prince always paint his future with me in the center.

I wishes that his affection for me would last forever.

So of course, I'm scared that this tenderness would break one day, yet he never once care about this.

Eventually, in the absence of this primitive faith, we were anxious about the same thing.

And so we blamed each other.

"...Is it over yet?"

At one point, I stopped pulling his hair completely.

The warmth of his hand overlapped on my half-strengthened fingers.

"You can continue."

"..."

"Keep going, until you please. From the moment i ran out of the meeting room, I was prepare for this."

The crown prince, who gave me his own ragged hair with his hands, shook lightly.

'Not to mention he was in the state of being beaten unilaterally...'

It was not pleasing to see at all, to say such a thing while his hair was torn apart.

I could see his gaze staring at me. Two dark rings under his eyes from those sleepless night were quite visible.

It feels like my eyes were blur with hot tears.

I bit my lips hard, hesitantly open my mouth.

"Your Highness."

"Yes."

"Do you remember when i said...I am not Penelope?"

I honestly don't want to talk about my nasty background.

'But what's left isn't important anymore.'

I thought quietly.

The Crown Prince, who was briefly contemplating the reason why I suddenly said this, quickly nodded his head.

"I remember."

"Do you think that's a lie?"

"...No."

This deceitful man replied immediately.

"I could still help you taking lead to destroy this empire if you confessed you are one of the Leila."

"Stop declaring your wish to me."

"Was it that obvious?"

The Prince chuckled with his expressionless face.

"In fact, given those piles of work I've been through lately, I don't know why I killed the Leilas. I'm a bit regret."

"Watch your mouth! Don't talk so seriously like that while we are still in the Duke's mansion."

Still, he pressed my fingers in his hands to pull out his hair one more time, and he groaned while replied as if he was falsely accused.

"Isn't it better for me to shriek than you to hold the crown prince's head in the dukedom?"

"It's fine. Everybody here hates you."

"...It's understandable how you treated a member of the Royal family like this since you learned manners from the Eckart."

He grumbled with a sulky look since he couldn't refute any further.

I ignored him and asked while turned his face towards mine.

"Do you remember why I wanted you to have the Golden Dragon's Fang?"

"So that I could officially take over the emperor's dominion."

"Yes, and because of that, I saved his Majesty who was dying and have to stay here."

"It would be a life ended by suicide anyway once you gone... Ouch!"

Callisto continue to shriek as I pulled his hair out helplessly, he quickly clenched his teeth and corrected his words.

"I am very grateful and deeply indebted to you who saved me. I've been in debt for a lifetime that I can't pay by my whole existence."

'At least you knew that.'

Nodding my head with a satisfied face, I soon erased my expression and calmly told the truth.

"That's right. I'm the only lifesaver who revive your life."

"Yes, ma'am."

I asked the Crown Prince, who nodded quietly as if he agreed.

"Then what do you think about my original body which I used to lived?"

Whether it's hard to understand what were I saying or not, Callisto reacted a bit slow.

"...Huh?"

"I am not the real Penelope, so i must have my own body, too."

"What..."

"Why would I need the Golden Dragon's fang once I gone back to my original world?"

I tried to speak as gravely as possible, but the end of my voice was quavering.

I couldn't help it. Who would take care of my death?

And honestly, I still don't believe it.

I have to die so foolishly in my old body, which had suffered so much.

Just by thinking about it, my mind suddenly filled with grudges.

'I wonder if you realize that you fell in love with a person that you didn't even knew her face.'

I glared sulkily at the Crown Prince.

"That... What are you talking about?"

Calisto, who seemed to have reconsider my words with a confused face, suddenly lowered his hand which was holding mine and wrapped around my cheek.

His red eyes shook outrageously. For a while, he still manage to ask while barely biting his lips.

"Don't tell me..."

"..."

"Were you dead?"

I didn't expect him to be that appalled.

Callisto's response, with a face turned pale, seems a little strange.

I was confused, but this thing* probably had been organized quite a while ago.

[*She meant that her old body probably intended to be out of use soon.]

This obscure feeling inside me settle down faster than I thought.

As soon as I opened my mouth, a dry voice came out. Just like we were talking about other people's affair.

"I saved your life and stayed here, so by now I probably did."

"...Oh my god, Penelope Eckart."

Callisto called me out with a sigh just when I confirmed what he thought was true.

He, who could not continue to speak, let out a small squeal.

"Ah, fuck this... Why don't you tell me sooner?"

"I thought it was not that important."

"How can it's not important, it is a matter of your life!"

"Because I didn't regret saving you."

At the response, he lost his words and stared at me in bewilderment.

The feeling of guilt and regret vividly passed through his magenta red eyes.

"...I don't know what to do with you."

He stretched his hands touching my cheeks as he murmured with a painful expression.

"I'm fine."

I meant it. So I reassured him with an moderate voice.

I told him that so he wouldn't be anxious about my choice, and I won't ever regret choosing it.

But still, Callisto's hand showed no sign of unraveling.

When my eyes met his, it was filled with an unfamiliar sorrow. I adjoined to the end of the reassurance.

"I told you before. Even when I want to go back now, I can't."

"How can that be the same thing...! Ha..."

He suddenly stop talking and take a long, deep sigh.

A short silence fell in the incinerator room.

I still clenched the crown prince's hair, and he graped my cheek in a monstrous posture that would scared anyone.

And we stared at each other for quite a while, like a fool.

"...Did you get it know? I told you didn't give up on anything."

By the time Callisto's concern and thought were sorted out, I silently open my mouth.

"So, stop all the doubt and disbelief in me. I was upset whenever your Highness did that, to the point I want to tear out all of your hair."

"I didn't know. Whether you made such a choice."

At my words, he distorted his face and a moan leaked out of his mouth.

"If I knew all of this... I would never told you something like 'don't stay'."

"It was crazy, and I was going to take care of it by myself, then."

I thought I was talking to myself, but when I came back to my scenes, I have already spitted it out.

But I didn't take it back.

When I hold my head down and stared at him, he seemed to say 'Huh. So you gonna keep it that way.' with a brief grin.

Then he opened his lips as a frown appeared on his face.

"I'm always afraid."

"..."

"I'm afraid you will blame me for just sitting there."

I sighed at his words and finally let go of his hair.

"It's my choice to stay here, your Highness. You are not at fault."

I firmly drew a line and dropped his hand around my cheek, too.

As I spoke, I took a step back from him.

"It's your yesterday behavior that I wanted to blame."

"...Princess."

"I understand. You were anxious. It's partly because I didn't speak probably about it...Your Highness and I, everything is new."

I shrugged my shoulders as I tried to shake off my hair that was tangled between my fingers.

I didn't realize dating was this hard until now. But I forced myself to swallow the lament and continue my words.

"...But I will repeat, if you just keep acting this way, it actually made me resented myself for stayed here."

A relationship that have failed to overcome each other's anxiety will continue like an egg on an awl. And it will become inevitably fragile in the future.

It is time for the Crown Prince to face it.

"Maybe I'll leave you, or I maybe I'll find a way to get back to my original world."

"No!"

Callisto shouted in contemplation at my words.

"I, I am all wrong."

"..."

"Don't say so. I swear I won't do that again, huh? Please forgive me."

In a second, those words of apologize poured out of his mouth rapidly while he narrowed the distant between us.

As he lose his temper easily, the cold sweat dripped down his face, and he looked desperate as if he was dying.

I loved him like that.

You're an arrogant, arrogant man, but you're a fool who's willing to give me the world.

'But you are lovesick, and you just can't let it go.'

That I thought a couple would not fight in the early state of the relationship.

"Only with those words?"

I asked the Crown Prince, who apologized one after another.

"I'm more angry than I thought, ha."

"Then... What should I do so you won't be angry anymore?"

"Well, who know..."

"Penelope Eckart."

At Callisto's impatient voice, I pretended to think and laughed reluctantly.

"You just saw the Duke, didn't you?"

His eyes widened as he glanced down at the door.

"Are you telling me... to kneel down?"

If you wanted more detailed spoiler, please turn back from page 28.
I will update the rest soon.
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CALLISTO!!!!!!!!!! Lmaooooo kneel down you boy!! I swear Callisto is the best man you’ve ever found!! He stayed true with her from beginning to end....he sincerely loves her!!! And the worst guy goes to Derreck and Eclise!! I hate them to death!!!! Thank you @Spade_Ladyz for compiling this!! Now i get the whole picture of this novel!! Thank you very much!

elyacuty, Jul 8, 2020

#1302

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elyacuty Well-Known Member

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The scene when Penelope meet little Yvonne was a tear jerker to me!!! I don’t know it gonna be very sad..i pity her so much (i feel like i wanna blame derreck for not holding her firmly even tho i know he’s still child) haih

elyacuty, Jul 8, 2020

#1303

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Thyy Well-Known Member

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Upsadaisy said: ↑

Once again - if I'm mistaken about anything correct me guys. I believe the cult members we seen during the hunting competition and the kidnapping incident on Soleil island were legitimate followers of Leyla so I don't think they were brainwashed. Personally I think Yvonne's brainwashing ability relies on the strong emotions a person has - I was originally going to say she manipulated "negative emotions" but I don't think that's the case as it wouldn't explain how she brainwashed Vinter. As in his case, she tried brainwashing him into trusting her by having him believe she's the kindest person ever which isn't a negative emotion so I feel describing it as her manipulating people's "strong emotions" may be more apt.

So in the case of Marquis Ellen, the second prince, the queen, and those aristocrats who helped her in the final battle, I believe she manipulated their lust and greed for power to have them follow her. She first tried to brainwash Eclise using his distrust in Penelope but that didn't work. So she instead manipulated his lust for Penelope to have him follow her orders. Similarly, she used Derick's guilt for losing her during the festival and also his distrust/anger towards Penelope to brainwash him. However, he broke free from her manipulating his feelings for Penelope during the interrogation scene following the poisoning incident (She gave him a strange look after he becomes more emotionally erratic once learning Penelope drank the poison to commit suicide; which I take it as her realizing the brainwashing wasn't working) so she instead had to rely on his guilt in losing her to continue brainwashing him. In Reynold's case she also manipulated his distrust in Penelope and tried to heighten this by having him believe she pushed her over in the forest. But following Penelope and Reynold's argument over this, Reynold appears to try to put aside his mistrust in her as he knows he's wrong and Yvonne doesn't seem to be able to brainwash him again after this.
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Thank you for the answer

Thyy, Jul 8, 2020

#1304

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Violet_Ray Active Member

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aww Emily....!!! You are the best!!

Violet_Ray, Jul 9, 2020

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Ilannah Well-Known Member

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Emily

Ilannah, Jul 9, 2020

#1313

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shesanxious Well-Known Member

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Really, thank you guys for the spoilers! I pray for your happiness(*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡

Btw, i wanna ask something... I'm not that good in english, so i had a lil trouble while reading the spoilers. Though im using google chrome i couldnt use the translate feature freely since in my native language, she & he have the same meaning, & GChrome always translates the entire page.

So, callisto gave a 'curse ring' to Penelope as their 'wedding/engagement ring' ? And the curse is "if by any chance Penelope die, so does he"? Don't you guys think it's such a hasty decision?(・.・)

shesanxious, Jul 9, 2020

#1318

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Kat Rina Well-Known Member

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shesanxious said: ↑

Really, thank you guys for the spoilers! I pray for your happiness(*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡

Btw, i wanna ask something... I'm not that good in english, so i had a lil trouble while reading the spoilers. Though im using google chrome i couldnt use the translate feature freely since in my native language, she & he have the same meaning, & GChrome always translates the entire page.

So, callisto gave a 'curse ring' to Penelope as their 'wedding/engagement ring' ? And the curse is "if by any chance Penelope die, so does he"? Don't you guys think it's such a hasty decision?(・.・)
Click to expand...

Callisto said many times he would have killed himself if Penelope died. Like when she was poisoned, he said he had brought with him the sword to stab himself in case she passed away. Same thing if she had gone to her original world (when Penelope reminded him that he saved him by staying there, he said - while kidding, lol, only him could joke about it - "it would have been a life ended with suicide anyway, if you had left". A thing that he said only after she decided to stay, I believe to not make her stay there just for prevent him from suicide). I also think is pretty extreme (I'm not the type who believe in "love is all that matters in life), but if you analyze Callisto's personality it's not so surprising. Penelope is literally the only person Callisto ever loved after his mother's death, for a warrior machine like him she became his entire world and his only peace. It's not like he dependes on her, it's more like he doesn't wants to stay without her, no matter what. It's also important to remember that his thoughts are not born from our modern mentality, but in a historical contest with a completly different idea of love and marriage.

Kat Rina, Jul 9, 2020

#1320

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