As Priscipi reminisced over the events of last night, a heavy sigh escaped her lips.
“No, well, I already did it, but...”
Is it really acceptable for this to happen?
When did she feel so guilty that the Duke was in this situation because of me? But in the end, didn't I get him into a bigger problem?
Since morning had come some time ago, Dietrich had no doubt heard the news by now. He would be told that he came to get me only to discover that I had completely run away.
Of course, for Priscipe, this was a valuable opportunity. If it wasn't now, I would never have been able to visit the Forbidden Forest.
But, regardless of everything…
While Priscipi was oscillating between thinking: “I have reached this point, what do I do now?” “But how will I deal with the consequences?” she was about to lose focus.
Then, the carriage that was moving quickly stopped smoothly.
“Miss Presby, are you awake?”
There came a soft tap on the window, Fenric's low voice echoing from outside.
"Yes."
“I will open the carriage door.”
He had barely finished speaking when the door opened with a soft sound.
It seemed that he had already dismounted from his horse, as he stood in front of the carriage and extended his hand towards Presibe, motioning for her to get off.
Precipi cautiously took Fenric's hand and got out of the carriage, then looked around for the first time.
“It's a forest?”
“The view here is beautiful.”
Sorry, but is this a good time to talk about the views?
She had that thought, but she couldn't deny that the scene actually looked amazing.
“The journey from the capital to the Forbidden Forest takes more than two days even with continuous travel all day.
To you, it may look longer. So it would be good to get some fresh air every now and then.”
Logically speaking, he was correct.
“My soldiers are traveling separately, except for a few of them guarding the carriage here, so you can relax.”
As was the case in the palace, Fenric was still very quiet.
He smiled at her calmly, then looked at the soldiers surrounding the vehicle, motioning for them to remain in their positions.
“Hold my arm, even if we haven't gone deep into the forest yet, it's still a forest after all, and you might get hurt.”
Precipi cautiously took his arm, and only then did Fenric show a satisfied expression.
Then, walking with calm steps, he began to lead her gently, as if directing her.
Fenric did not hesitate even for a moment. His answer was very clear and quick, as if he was answering an obvious question.
But Presibe couldn't understand it.
“Why?”
So I asked again,
“Why are you doing all this for me?”
A question she had never asked before, nor thought about until now.
But, unlike last time, Fenric's response did not come quickly.
He seemed to be trying to organize his thoughts, or perhaps he was thinking about how to express them in an appropriate way.
Presibe waited silently, not pressing him for an answer.
“…….”
Fenric bit his lip slightly, then looked at her slowly.
How can he start? Which part should be narrated?
From the beginning to the end, everything he went through to get to this moment.
How could he be honest about everything?
Those many actions he took just to get to her.
Fenric knew well, more than anyone else, that the feelings he had for Presibe were not normal.
It wasn't just love, it was much heavier than that, and it wasn't just pity, it had passed that stage a long time ago.
When he realized in this world that his existence meant nothing, he was only angry because of Presibe.
That suffocating rage, stemming from his inability to save her as she suffered repeated and tragic deaths.
She was the one who made him cling to life, gave him a reason to hold on, but in the end she made him realize that he was nothing.
She made him curse himself for his helplessness, and then, in the end, she pushed him to open the door to another world.
How can he define these feelings?
Can he even do that?
“Precipie…”
After a long time, Fenric's lips finally moved.
“You are a precious person to me.”
In a harsh voice that he had never spoken before, and in a tone that was completely inappropriate for him.
“And that fact alone, has never changed for me.”
He hated that noble girl who was easily pitied, and yet, when he roamed the battlefields, there was only her image in his mind.
Fenric always brought back those memories,
When he was pierced by arrows, when he was stabbed by a sword, when he rolled on the filthy ground, soaked in his own blood.
[Then… try to hold on too.]
That moment when he first received a sincere touch of kindness.
Just as things wear down over time, do memories leave traces too?
If so, then the moment he first met Precipe has been completely eroded, until no trace remains of it.
His life was so miserable that he had no other good memories to look back on.
Fenric sometimes wondered, did others live this way too?
Do they have precious moments that they cling to with all they have, as if they were straws in the middle of drowning?
Perhaps, this is what could be called normal life.
...But if that's the case, he's no different from them, right?
The only difference was that the only moment he could relive was that moment.
Therefore, he could only consider it extremely valuable.
Even if the feelings sweeping through him like tangled snakes carry within them the smell of rot.
“…….”
Prisippi's violet eyes, which had been staring calmly at Fenric, were trembling slightly.
If only there was, out of all the characters, someone like him.
No…
If only Duke Fenric was the real hero.
If that were the case, it would be better.
Then Preseppe wasn't in the game, and neither was I, to come to this point of brokenness and pain.
But unfortunately, that was just an impossible wish.
Precipe still remembered it clearly. The moment Fenric first appeared, and the notification that appeared when I searched for his name.
In the game world, Fenric was only a minor NPC, whose name could barely be found.
Although she was well aware of this, her heart was strangely aching.
“As for what happens next with His Majesty, there is no need to worry. The same applies to the Chief Magician.”
Fenric said, looking at Prisippi silently, in a tone that seemed to console her.
“They will both be busy with something so important, they won't even be able to pay attention to this aspect.”
“Critical?”
“If I borrow your expression, Chief Magician Ivan will soon discover that he was not someone who could be trusted, but rather just crazy.”
Additionally, even if Ivan realized that Prisippi had eloped with Fenric, he would not be able to pursue her.
Dietrich had said it himself in front of everyone—since the Palace Knights and Duke Fenric were not there, Chief Mage Ivan would be in charge of protecting the Imperial Palace.
“When we reach our destination, you can stay at the residence. Think of it as just a relaxing trip.”
Dietrich and Ivan were in the capital, while Siegfried was heading to the same destination.
But Fenric was never going to let him meet her, especially when he was by her side.
“Just enjoy this moment.”
said Fenric, as he plucked a richly blooming flower, and placed it in Prisippi's hand.
“Here, there is nothing that can disturb you or put you in an awkward situation.”
Prisippi looked at the flower in her hand calmly.
The constant breeze gently moved its petals, the distinct grassy scent of the forest wafted, and the sounds of distant mountain birds filled the air, making everything seem incredibly peaceful.
Ironically, despite the circumstances, for a moment she felt like she was truly on a journey, just as Fenric had said.
'Okay, I'm already here, so what can I do now? 'I don't think Dietrich will kill me again, not now that I have an independent will.'
The moment she chose “I'm here, what can I do?” Instead of “But how will I deal with the consequences?”, Presippi was gradually getting closer to solving the mystery of the real hero she was searching for.
Even if it wasn't the way she originally wanted.
—
“……And so, Lady Prisippi left for the Forbidden Forest with Duke Fenric.”
“…….”
“I was feeling uncomfortable, so I went earlier than I told you, but... I don't understand why you did that...”
Dietrich's face, as he listened to the accompanying knight's report, clearly reflected his intense anger.
I begged you.
To return to me, to return to the Imperial Palace.
I even promised not to hurt you.
But, in the end, Dietrich realized, with cruel pain, that his pleas meant nothing to Precipe.
Do you hate me that much?
I?
“……Duke Fenric.”
"Yes?"
“The possibility that Duke Fenric took Presipe by force...”
It would have been less infuriating if that were true.
“We have not witnessed the situation clearly, so we cannot be sure.”
Dietrich's teeth gnashed and his lips clenched tightly together.
[Therefore, I wish to stay by Mrs. Priscipe's side.]
Yes, I shouldn't have allowed that in the first place.
[I am loyal to Your Majesty, and I will certainly fulfill my duty to protect Lady Presibe.]
I shouldn't have left him alone.
Dietrich's hand, which was holding the armrest of the chair, trembled violently.
Whether Prisippi leaves with Fenric of her own free will, or he takes her by force, the result is the same.
“A lowly commoner dares to…”
This was clear betrayal.
He should have sent soldiers immediately to arrest Fenric, whatever the cost.
But before Dietrich could issue any order, the accompanying knight spoke again.
“And there is something that the maid Hannah provided.”
"…What?"
“She said that Duke Fenric asked her to hand him over to Your Majesty.”
What the accompanying knight was carrying was a small bundle.
See, what could be inside it?
But, whatever might be inside her, would he really be able to calm this rage, Fenric?
Dietrich gritted his teeth as he took the package.
Then he began to undo it with a trembling hand, as the veins on his hand appeared from the intense pressure.