Chapter 21.2

Elijah did not have to prohibit me from going outside. I didn’t know exactly how much time had passed, but in the meantime, I was stuck in my room, suffering with the pain of something I didn’t know whether it was a cold or just denial of reality.

Celina didn’t talk to me. The number of unopened letters and gifts increased slightly.

“Please eat a little more, okay? You almost starved yesterday too.”

And the finest person in this country was wasting his abilities where they were truly worthless. Mikael raised a spoon with rice gruel and cautiously placed it in front of my lips.

As I kept refusing to eat, Ian eventually took his last resort. That last resort was this guy. Of course, that was the best way.

As I swallowed the rice gruel, unable to refuse, he rejoiced and greeted me with another spoonful. But that was it. Although I was feeling a little better, my physical condition was still at its lowest.

“Enough.”

I pushed him away as I saw him raise the earthenware, unable to eat any more. Then, I covered my mouth and retched. Surprised, Mikael hurriedly gathered his hands under my chin, holding them there.

“… No matter how much I feel like throwing up, I’m never going to do it on your hands.”

I pushed his hands away and spoke bluntly.

“I’m sorry. It’s because I insisted…”

He became sullen. His eyes were gloomy. I looked at the protagonist with dry and sore eyes from having cried so much these days. The fatigue that was visible in every corner of his pretty face made me assume the protagonist’s condition.

But still, I was able to calm down to some extent, maybe because I expressed my emotions as much as I wanted. The unforgiving reality that squeezed my whole body, the consequent resignation and compromise, and a little hope for the future. As if only hope was left at the end of Pandora’s Box.

It was time to organize my thoughts. Whatever it was, I had to take action.

In fact, from the beginning, there was something strange about this place. So, I really had to do what that woman said. I touched my now empty index finger.

‘Don’t you want everyone to be happy?’

That’s not it. I really want you all to be happy. I’m serious about this. Be it in my book, or inside this ridiculous game.

So let’s move forward.

‘Celina.’

I called her, the main culprit of this situation, in my mind.

‘I know you’re listening to me.’

[Go ahead.]

She didn’t even listen to me when I, who had been crying in despair for several days, called her, but she finally responded.

‘If I do as you say, can I leave?’

For some reason, I felt like I was going through the acceptance phase of death. If I have to do it anyway, I should just do it.

[Yes. I promise.]

‘What if I don’t do it right?’

[That’s not going to happen. I will help you with everything.]

‘But what if Mikael doesn’t listen to me?’

Even if I was the one who designed the characters, I was not confident in my ability to grasp their inner thoughts embodied in this form.

[No. He only listens to you. I know that.]

But Celina was strangely determined and certain. Funny enough, it was instantly reassuring.

“… Mikael.”

I called his name powerlessly. My fever didn’t decrease, so I felt dizzy.

“Yes. I’m listening.”

The protagonist made close eye contact with me.

“Is my father in the castle?”

“Not right now.”

“Hm, then, when will he come?”

I was going to tell him to get Mikael out of here right now. He shouldn’t be wasting his time here.

“Master is going to Tyros right now.”

“Tyros?”

I frowned.

“It’s instead of you.”

“You’re wise.”

He smiled brightly.

“That’s right. He went there instead of me.”

“Then, can you tell him something?”

“Shall I tell him right now?”

“No. Hold on.”

How should I put it so that I can convince that impregnable fortress? I turned my gaze as I organized the thoughts in my head.

Over the forest where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, birds flew everywhere. I was looking outside for a moment, and one of the black dots was getting closer.

Suddenly, a large crow landed swiftly on the windowsill. The bird began to tidy up its feathers with its solid beak. There was a strange red luster in the bird’s eyes, which the sun was permeating.

“…”

For some reason, I stared at the familiar beast. Why? Why did it feel like there was some disparity there?

[That’s because that’s Zeno’s crow.]

She wasn’t lying when she said she would help me. Celina gave me the right answer.

“Damn it.”

I was extremely annoyed.

That’s right. Now I remember. That bird was sitting on the perch of the room back then.

He had been spying on Celina’s room like this for a long time. Wow, how stupid is my head that I even forgot that I set that up?

Zeno. I’ll see you later. I’m going to pull your hair out alongside Red Tail.

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