Final Chapter: This Time, I’m Gonna Tell Her How I Feel!

The Flower Knight Oliver left the other Royal Knights to lay in wait in the forest as originally planned. Oliver marched straight through the main gates, taking advantage of the morning rush hour. Even if there were people familiar with the Royal Knights, they wouldn’t notice him entering along with the commoner merchants coming and going.

A pang of nostalgia hit him as his gaze passed over the campus, but was quickly replaced by the feeling that something was amiss. The people milling about were oddly restless.

“Hurry, head to the sports grounds!” one shouted. “The Piggy Duke did something crazy!”

“They say that he caught a spy! Let’s go take a look!”

It was almost as if he had come by in the evening, as nobles and commoners alike spilled out from the school buildings in a large crowd, indistinguishable from each other. Even the maids were gathered in one spot with their brooms in hand, whispering excitedly to each other and abandoning their posts.

“The Piggy Duke’s amazing! Come on, you guys should take a look too! Classes today are all canceled anyways; it’s not like you have anything better to do! I’m not lying! The sports grounds really turned into a swamp!”

“Hey, have you heard the news?!” a maid whisper-shouted. “The little lordling did something amazing! Remember him, the chubby lord who gave us the water elixirs? Yes, him!”

The stampede of students flowed towards the heart of the campus, where important structures such as the cathedral and sports grounds were located, the chants of “Piggy Duke” echoing in all directions.

Oliver once attended Kirsch himself. He could ramble for days about his memories back at the school. For him, this mission was almost a vacation from his usual post guarding the royal family at the palace. Somewhere in his heart, he’d been a little excited at the prospect of coming back.

His every waking hour saw him dealing with wolves in sheep’s clothing trying to outwit each other day in and day out. The school was a much noisier place compared to the palace, but he rather thought it was more relaxing for him personally.

He couldn’t forgive the intruder who’d dared to sneak into this school he loved. Oliver’s righteous anger and justice smoldered within him, and he was ready to bring that fury to bear upon them at a moment’s notice, but...

What in the world is this uproar about? he thought, puzzled.

Now that he had a good look around, the professors who used to teach him also stood in the crowd, talking amongst themselves. Taking off the hat he had put on for disguise, Oliver decided to ask someone about what was going on. Before he could so much as flag anyone down, however, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Originally, he was supposed to hear the details about the intrusion from the informant who requested for aid. However, instead of waiting for him in his office at the top of the staff building, the headmaster was talking to a student at the edge of the sports grounds. Oliver would ordinarily never break protocol, but the unusual circumstances forced him to change plans. He turned on his heel, making a beeline towards the headmaster.

“Headmaster Morozov, what is the meaning of this commotion?!” Oliver exclaimed as he approached.

“Who might you be...?” The headmaster gave him an appraising look. “Oh, it’s Oliver, the Flower Knight! Your disguise really is quite something. I did not expect for the cardinal to send a famous, honorable knight such as yourself! I owe him one for this! Are you alone on this mission?”

“No, there are others waiting in the forest,” Oliver said. “But tell me, what is going on? I couldn’t help but overhear people saying that No Face was caught!”

“You catch on quickly. I should expect nothing less from a Royal Knight,” the headmaster praised. “Look over there. Do you see that woman next to your former colleague? That is No Face.”

Former colleague? Oliver’s eyes widened, and he did as the headmaster bade him. There stood a man with messy, curly hair which made him look like he had recently been in an explosion. His casual black shirt was more fit for relaxing on vacation rather than restraining a woman with magic binds.

When I heard Loco Moco say that he was quitting the Order to become a teacher, I thought that he had genuinely lost his mind from having one too many drinks. I never understood why he made that choice, Oliver thought.

“You must be joking,” Oliver said. “There isn’t a chance Loco Moco captured No Face. He lacks the finesse to do such a thing. I remember him from back when he was in the Order. I am sure of it.”

“Loco Moco wasn’t the one who did the deed. If he had, he would be celebrating with the students right now, but look at his dissatisfied face,” the headmaster pointed out. “He looks like someone snatched his dessert from him just before he could dig in.”

“Then who? No Face evaded capture even by us Royal Knights.” Oliver paused in thought. “Wait, could it be the favored child of Earl Lasbury? The one the rumors say you are planning to recommend to the Order?!”

“Oliver—no, Sir Oliver. While it is true that the Lasbury boy is a talented mage, you should know from your experience on the battlefield that he doesn’t have the ability to capture an outlaw mercenary.”

“Then who do you mean? No Face has caused no small amount of grief to countless nobles. There’s a bounty of five hundred gold coins on her head, for goodness’ sake. She is that slippery. I can’t believe that a person powerful enough to capture her would be in this school.”

“He is the one who captured No Face.” Headmaster Morozov pointed with a shriveled finger. “Over there. The rather round boy.”

The headmaster pointed past Loco Moco at a group of students gathered in the center of the sports grounds. Oliver squinted at the group and noticed a student at the center of the circle. He was a little—no, quite a bit larger than the surrounding students, and he had a cape on, so he was probably a noble. But Oliver did not recognize the boy.

As Oliver watched, an adorable girl with light auburn hair began to yell at the chubby boy.

“Interesting. Even you don’t recognize him, I see,” the headmaster chuckled. “It seems that his diet is quite a success.”

“Master Morozov, ridiculing a Royal Knight is the same as mocking the royal family,” Oliver warned, irritated. “Tell me his name.”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.” Amusement laced the headmaster’s voice. “You have truly become a Royal Knight and a protector of the royal family, inside and out. You certainly take your job to heart.”

“Headmaster Morozov!” Oliver exclaimed in frustration.

“That’s the Denning boy.”

Oliver sharply inhaled with surprise. “You jest. House Denning prizes experience on the battlefield above all else for their training. They would not send a child of theirs to Kirsch.”

“Ah, but there is one exception. One young Denning studying in Kirsch. Perhaps the name ‘the fallen Prodigy of Wind’ might ring a bell or two.”

Oliver peered over at the students once again, his expression drawn into a tense frown. Even among the Royal Knights, the boy exiled from his family had been a topic of interest, so Oliver knew of him. But wait a minute... Oliver thought.

“That child over there is Slowe Denning,” the headmaster declared.

“His black wand has the twin wings of the Denning crest etched into it...” Oliver observed. “Is that really Slowe Denning, the fallen Prodigy of Wind? Rumor has it, he became a gluttonous orc in human skin. Is that really him?”

Headmaster Morozov nodded solemnly. Oliver was at a loss for words, for at that very moment, he had a premonition. A tempest of change was about to rage across Daryth. The return of the Prodigy of Wind would determine this country’s future—of that, he was sure.

●

Phew, I’m so tired. It was nearly sunset. My afternoon had flown by in a blur.

I’d been reciting what happened to everyone until a prideful-looking Royal Knight pulled me aside and forced me to recount every little detail to him. He probably would have kept me there all night if my stomach hadn’t protested with a loud rumble.

Other than that interrogation, everyone showered me with praise, even if Professor Loco Moco made a few lighthearted digs here and there while he did so. I really didn’t know how to react to that; I felt like a boar caught in headlights. Urgh, this isn’t like me at all. I’m much more used to them scolding me and being appalled by me! At least I know how to react to that.

Until recently, I was the blackhearted Piggy Duke, a pig scorned by all. I belonged nowhere. I was like a slug that liked dark, humid, isolated places...and now I’m suddenly a hero. My life is a roller-coaster ride. I really don’t know what might happen next.

I sniffed. “Oink? This smells like...”

A delicious smell welcomed me as I opened the door to my room on the fourth-floor dorms. My stomach rumbled in awe as I caught sight of a feast that was spread out on the table of my living room. A feast made up of all my favorites, no less! Who would do something this considerate? Haha, just joking. There’s only one possible candidate. I looked over to the culprit.

Charlotte sat on a chair in front of the big window overlooking the campus. She must’ve moved the chair there to enjoy the view. Same, Charlotte. Same. The view from my room is breathtaking.

I stood there for a while, looking at her in silence.

Charlotte was fast asleep, her head bobbing on occasion. While she lingered in the world of dreams, her black pet cat lay curled up on her knees.

All of today’s afternoon classes were canceled. The students rejoiced, some of them mucking around in the muddy sports grounds, others shooting off spells in a poor imitation of my battle with No Face.

Charlotte, however, retreated to my room and slept, her innocent face undisturbed by all the commotion outside.

On the windowsill sat a bit of parchment paper, rolled up and fastened with string. Several pieces of parchment littered the ground around her feet. She must’ve written draft after draft before she decided on a final one.

Oh yeah, she said she would write in detail about my accomplishments and send it to my family, didn’t she? I see. While I was summoned by that Royal Knight and was interrogated all evening, Charlotte was writing that epic... I sighed in my mind. I wonder if she’s done yet.

Charlotte mumbled in her sleep before she peeled her eyes open. “Ah, Master Slowe...”

The setting sun poured in from the window and gently lit her face. She was a breathtaking sight, as if she were lifted straight from a painting. Aw, it’s a shame she woke up. I wanted to look at her for just a little longer...

“Sorry, did I wake you?”

Charlotte took a moment to get her bearings. “You should have woken me up sooner, Master Slowe... Ah, but guess what? I finished writing the letter! I asked the bystanders about exactly which spells you used.”

My dear Charlotte was elated and proud of me for the battle with No Face. “We’re having a feast today,” she declared with a brilliant smile. “Honestly, I wanted to make it myself, but, well, you know... I’m bad at cooking.” Charlotte rubbed at her eyes, still a little sleepy. Seeing her adorable, slightly sheepish smile, all my exhaustion immediately vanished.

“I think that on occasions like this, you can eat to your heart’s content without worrying about your diet,” Charlotte continued. “I worked in the kitchen for a long time, so I’m friends with the head chef. They accepted my request pretty quickly.”

Ah, I see, I thought. That explains why all this food looks so professional.

Charlotte stood up with a determined huff. “All right, I will prepare your food right away! Just because it’s a celebration, it d— Wha—!” The moment she stood up, she tripped and fell. Chuckling sheepishly, Charlotte clambered to her feet with an “oops,” sticking out her tongue.

“Ha ha, I’m so clumsy... It’s a celebration for you today, so I really wanted to do this right.” Charlotte smiled wryly and started taking out a plate from the cupboard.

However—

“Ow!”

—the plate slipped from her hand and crashed on the ground.

Charlotte bowed in apology at me, but her gaze was fixated on the shards scattered on the ground. “I-I’m so sorry, Master Slowe. I’ll clean that up right away!”

“No, don’t worry about it,” I said as Charlotte rushed to clean up the mess...and noticed that something wasn’t quite right. Charlotte was fidgeting and restless. She blinked too often for it to be normal, and she wouldn’t meet my eyes.

I’d been with Charlotte for a long time, and I knew very well what that meant. We’d been together for nearly ten years, and I’d watched her all this time. There was no way I wouldn’t recognize her tells. Charlotte only ever acted this way whenever she wanted to hide what she was thinking.

“Charlotte.”

“Wh-What is it, Master Slowe?”

Her fat black cat stared at me intensely from the chair next to the window, where Charlotte had been sitting moments ago.

“They say that an infamous outlaw infiltrated the school, but honestly? They were just like any old pickpocket on the streets. It might take a while for everything to calm down, but give it a few days and it’ll all go back to normal.”

This was a lie, of course. No Face had been a tough opponent. It was honestly a miracle that nobody was seriously injured. If Professor Loco Moco hadn’t shown up when he did, and if Alicia didn’t choose to confide in me or have the forethought to speak in code... I shivered internally at the implications of those what-ifs. But I shoved them aside, because I had something more important to do at the moment.

“Everything’s all right, Charlotte,” I assured her.

“Wh-What are you talking about?”

I know that my consolation was just that; it didn’t change reality, but... “There’s no need to be afraid,” I said gently. “Kirsch is safe like it always is, and tomorrow will be just another normal day.”

My words were empty consolation. I knew that, but I had to say them anyway. Charlotte listened, tensing up for a moment before relaxing and smiling weakly. Charlotte then gave a nervous chuckle, but she didn’t deny her fear. She slowly sank to the floor and hugged her knees to her chest, heaving a small sigh. She looked up at me. “...How did you realize?”

“Don’t underestimate how long we’ve been together. I’ve known that you’re a scaredy-cat since we were kids. Of course I’d notice.”

Charlotte was quiet for a moment. “Yes. Quite a long time has passed since you saved me and made me your personal retainer under House Denning. I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“Exactly.” I nodded. “It might feel as if it was all a blur, but a very long time has passed.”

Charlotte’s eyes watered slightly. The sun nearly set below the faraway mountains, and the last of its warm glow caressed Charlotte’s snow-white cheeks.

“That’s how I could tell you’re scared, Charlotte,” I continued. “I can see right through you.”

“Ha ha, I’m that obvious, huh...?” Once again, Charlotte gave a halfhearted laugh. “I don’t know why, but I’m really scared. You did a fantastic job, and I should be celebrating that, but...I’m scared,” she admitted in a small voice. There was no elation in Charlotte’s eyes; only fear and dread. It was almost as if time had rewound. She looked exactly like the day when I first met her.

“I thought this school was safe... I’m not a student, and I don’t have many friends, but I still had a great time here.”

When she was young, Charlotte was plagued by night terrors even after House Denning formally adopted her. Every night, I heard her whisper things that were too tragic for a young girl to be saying. “Monsters... They’re coming... Papa, run with me!”

Charlotte had wounds bleeding fresh in her heart at the time, and I set out to help her heal. I worked hard for that, and finally, we arrived here at this academy and found the freedom it valued so highly. I wasn’t the only one who felt safe at Kirsch; Charlotte found solace here too.

“But...when I heard that someone scary snuck in, and that Lady Alicia was taken as a hostage...” Charlotte swallowed. “I realized that there was no safe haven. Ah ha ha, I know that it’s pointless to ask you this, Master Slowe, but...why am I acting like this? It’s not like me at all, is it...?”

“That’s not true.”

I couldn’t answer her last question. I couldn’t. Charlotte’s kingdom was destroyed. To her, happiness was fleeting, a fragile concept bound to shatter eventually. I knew her reaction to the day’s events stemmed from this insecurity, but I couldn’t just tell her that. How could I possibly fess up that I’d known her history all along?

“Hey, Master Slowe...” Charlotte trailed off. “If I were taken hostage like Lady Alicia—” Her eyes wavered with fear and distress. Huzak was overrun with monsters, the land claimed by them as their paradise. Charlotte was Huzak’s princess, and if someone found out that she yet lived, she would be a huge target. She’d already decided to leave behind her past as a princess, but she couldn’t throw away her identity that easily.

“—would you save me?” Charlotte finished, looking up at me, voice quivering.

My beloved Charlotte was drowning in an ocean of fear.

Realizing that I’d left her alone until she got to this point, deep shame rose in my throat. I’d been on cloud nine.

I caught the mole and was praised by the headmaster and the professors and even the students who usually joked that I was cursing them. With all that going on around me, I didn’t have anything but myself on my mind. I had forgotten about the person most precious to me. I sighed inwardly. I’m so dumb. I’m still a good-for-nothing idiot pig. I haven’t changed a bit.

“Of course I’d save you,” I declared. “If I knew that someone evil had you in their clutches, Charlotte, I’d go and save you no matter the cost.”

The great noble House Denning had power over the Daryth military and was often called the Sword of Daryth. Rising through the ranks meant being constantly on the battlefield. Of course, magic talent was more important than any other skill for a retainer of Denning. Thus, the higher my position, the more was expected of my retainer. If I used my powers to their full extent, I couldn’t be with Charlotte. Though she was assigned to me, she wasn’t very good at magic. I had something more important to care about right now than worries about such things. I needed to make it up to Charlotte, to chase those fears of hers away.

“Even if it means losing a mountain of delicious food?” Charlotte asked. “Even if you were offered food made by the best chef in the world?”

Her example was a little peculiar, but Charlotte was probably trying to lighten the mood. Looking at her made my heart swell. My feelings for her surged to the forefront of my mind. Oh, princess of a destroyed kingdom. My precious retainer, who is quite a klutz and a very kind girl.

I love you, Charlotte Lily Huzak.

“I promise. Even if my enemy is all the food in the world, I wouldn’t back down so long as you were in danger.”

In my heart I held a vow, one etched deep upon my very soul so that I would never forget it.

“You’ve followed me all this way as my retainer, despite everything I did. You were by my side without fail,” I began.

My knowledge of Shuya Marionette told me the future. Only I knew that this world would be thrown into chaos from here on out. Dustour Empire in the north. The Great Spirit of Darkness looking for a magic artifact that didn’t even exist. Monsters roaming the land, ever seeking new territory. Daryth, the leader of the Great Southern Alliance. Shuya Newkern, who had a deep scar from his past. I knew how these different players would shape the stage that was the future. In that future, there would never come the day when the scaredy-cat Charlotte would feel truly safe.

“I’ve been thankful for that this whole time, and I want you by my side forever.”

After the fight with No Face, I was sure of one thing. I had power. I was a lot more powerful than back when I wielded my power as the Prodigy of Wind. So I should be able to do this, at least. I should be able to carry out this vow to the very end.

“I know that people weren’t kind with their words towards you back in House Denning, saying that they didn’t need retainers who were awful at magic, but I really don’t care about that.”

Charlotte blinked her eyes a few times. A single teardrop slid down her cheek and splashed to the ground. I didn’t want my precious retainer to become more anguished than this, so... Let me start by telling her how I feel. The anime Piggy Duke never professed his love for her in his lifetime, but that wasn’t the future for me. I didn’t want it.

“To me, Charlotte, more than any food in this world, more than anyone else in this world...” I paused. “You are the most precious person to me.”

By my own choice, I ended the story where my confession never happened. From now on, I would no longer hesitate.

The anime Piggy Duke locked away his feelings for Charlotte and her true identity deep within himself to the very end. Shuya Marionette was Shuya Newkern’s story, a tale of his conquest to save the world together with the Great Spirit of Fire. At the same time, it was the tragedy of Slowe Denning, the Piggy Duke who fought on and on, all alone.

The blackhearted Piggy Duke must have had many, many chances to confess his love. However, he decided that he would reveal the hidden feelings he had for Charlotte after he had finished everything he needed to do. To his regret, that day never came.

I will leave that future behind, never to come to pass. I wanted to pave a new future for myself right here, right now.

So, I will tell you that I love you.

“So...please don’t worry,” I continued. “No matter what happens, I will protect you, and I will always be by your side from now on so that you are never in danger again. I swear that with this scrumptious food as my witness.” This was what I wanted her to remember—my genuine emotions, my whole heart. Even if she never returned my love, it didn’t change a thing.

“...H-Huh?” After that heartfelt declaration, all Charlotte could manage was a dumbfounded croak. It reminded me of the snorts that usually escaped me.

“What do you mean, ‘huh’?”

Charlotte gawked up at me, her jaw hanging wide open. I’ve been with her for a decade, and yet it’s the first time I’ve seen that face on her. I was amazed. Even after ten years, Charlotte still had new expressions I had never seen, and I was moved at my discovery.

“Um, um, um, well—” Charlotte stammered, covering her face with her hands. She swiftly stood up and fled, her face glowing crimson between her fingers.

I watched as she slammed open the door and disappeared into the dark corridor. Just had to get away from me so badly she had to leave my room entirely.

“...Oink,” I whispered sadly. Life is hard, huh. However, I was filled with a sense of accomplishment. Ha ha, who would have known that confessing my feelings could make my heart so light?

A quiet descended upon my room in Charlotte’s absence.

“Hey, you,” I whispered out into the silence. “You’ve been listening the whole time, right? You’re not really asleep, are you?”

The black cat meowed in response. Charlotte was probably so distressed after hearing that a mercenary had infiltrated Kirsch that she decided to bring her pet along with her to my room for comfort. With its ears perked up in attention and eyes half-lidded, the cat looked like any old cat. I knew that this wasn’t a normal cat, though. It was far from something domestic like a house pet.

This black cat, which Charlotte pampered and nicknamed “Al” affectionately...was actually the Great Spirit of Wind, the former protector of Charlotte’s destroyed homeland.

“Altanger, you might be mad at me for this decision, but I’m not going to be a pig any longer,” I declared. Any other person might have feared and respected this extraordinary being. But my knowledge of Shuya Marionette showed me a new future I could aim for. Armed with this knowledge, I might just be able to save the world, so I decided that I wanted to choose a different path to protect her.

“It doesn’t mean that I’m breaking my promise to you. Charlotte is someone very precious to me, and—”

“Slowe.” The Great Spirit of Wind cut me off. It had been a long time since I heard the spirit’s voice, and their tone was kinder than I expected. “For the past ten years, I have watched over you, meow. Ten years is a long time for a human. I pitied you at times... You lost everything for Charlotte’s sake: your position as heir, your social standing, your friends, meow...”

Choosing to act the part of a pig, I lost everything and everyone, other than Charlotte; my fiancée Alicia Bulla Dia Cirquista; the trust of my parents; a bright future as Duke Denning; my two personal knights, who were like family to me; the trust of the people in the Denning lands... Like Icarus, I fell hard from the Prodigy of Wind to the blackhearted Piggy Duke.

“However, I couldn’t make the suggestion of my own volition for you to stop being a pig. I myself was reluctant to let go of my comfortable life lazing around and living together with Charlotte, meow.”

I was silent for a moment. “What’s with that? Well, the Great Spirit of Wind did become quite the fat cat. Nobody would’ve guessed that a cat as round as a pig is actually the Great Spirit of Wind.”

“You didn’t have to say that out loud, meow,” the cat complained.

“Sorry, my bad,” I said with a shrug.

Charlotte was overcome with fear when she was a child, but as time passed, she slowly regained her former self. Just like Charlotte, the enraged Great Spirit of Wind slowly calmed down and led a relaxed life as a house cat.

“I am thankful to you. I made the right choice when I told her to flee to the Denning lands back then.”

The much-revered Great Spirit of Wind did not continue speaking on for long. At that moment, we both heard the sound of someone running down the corridor outside my room, drawing closer.

“Slowe, you have proven to me your conviction. You are free to do as you please from now on, meow.”

“Altanger—” I began.

“I will sleep now. A pleasant wind is blowing today, meow.”

With that, the Great Spirit of Wind closed their eyes once again on the chair they curled up on. The great spirit seemed to know the most comfortable spot in the room, I observed. Maybe it’s the instincts of a cat that led them there.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Truth be told, Altanger’s approval lifted a big weight from my shoulders. I reminisced back on when I first met this spirit and couldn’t help but smile wryly. Gone was the spirit who had been so furious that they threatened to destroy the world, their ferocity lost to time as surely as once I lost my ambition as a Denning.

“Master Slowe! I also have something I want to tell you!”

Just as I thought, she was the source of the footsteps. However, her earlier gloomy atmosphere completely vanished, and the cheerful Charlotte I knew her as had returned. My dear Charlotte was right in front of me, and I listened to her with a kaleidoscope of emotions running amok in my heart.

“I will also be by your side forever! And I will be protected by you forever!” Charlotte exclaimed, having made up her mind. “I’m your retainer, after all! I may be terrible at magic, but I will improve. Please teach me like you taught Miss Tina!”

I didn’t know whether she truly understood my confession, or the emotions behind it.

But...I’m satisfied with this, I thought. I was able to convey my love for her, even just a little, once more deciding to fight against the fate where I’d forever hidden it away in my chest. I was over the moon.

“Now, Master Slowe, do you know what this is?”

“It’s...the uniform, right?”

The sun had set outside, and the veil of night had blanketed the horizon. My heart was full of joy. Even if I had no proof, I just knew that tomorrow would be a better day than today.

“It is the uniform, but listen to this! It’s not a custom-made size! It’s the biggest size the store offers, but you don’t have to wear a custom-made size anymore, Master Slowe!” Charlotte said, excited.

I don’t need status or honor. I just want to be by your side. That’s why...I will tell you how important you are to me, bit by bit.

“In other words, you have a normal figure now, Master Slowe! Congratulations!!!”

I will tell you that I don’t just love you as my retainer. You are the girl I fell in love with, Charlotte.

“Aaand, look at this!” Charlotte forced a bottle into my hand. “Ta-da! It’s a new weight loss potion! Please drink it right away! You’ll lose weight and make everyone eat their words, Master Slowe! We’ll force everyone to eat their words; not just the people at school, but House Denning too!”

Blown away by Charlotte’s eagerness, I opened the cap of the bottle as told. A very unpleasant fishy stench quickly filled the room.

“Meooow!!!!!!!!!” In the next moment, the Great Spirit of Wind writhed on the chair and started screeching in protest.

I totally get that, I inwardly nodded in agreement. I’m used to this smell already, but they aren’t. The cat zipped off at lightning speed, meowing hideously all the way. Oh wow, they’re fast. Quite nimble for such a fat cat, huh.

“Al ran off!” Charlotte exclaimed. “I’ll go and catch Al quickly and come back, so please finish off the potion before then! Please tell me what you think of the taste later!”

“W-Wait, Charlotte!” I cried. “We had a moment going on her—”

I protested in vain. My shoulders sagged and I couldn’t help but sigh, “She’s off, I guess.”

I was left behind all alone in the room.

Somewhere down the line, my once-in-a-lifetime confession was left hanging in the air and was swept under the rug. I heaved a heavy sigh. Nothing ever goes as planned, even if I know the future.

But, well...I had no regrets. I couldn’t hold a candle to the suffering of the Piggy Duke of the anime.

“I guess I’d better drink this,” I said, looking down at the bottle I’d sat on the table beside Charlotte’s thoughtful feast. Like any other skill, culinary skills could also improve over time. Surely, she had improved...or at least, I hoped.

All right, I should make use of my regret and reflect back on today so that I can aim for a better tomorrow, I decided. To seal my vow, I downed the weight loss potion in one gulp.

As for the taste, well...for the sake of Charlotte’s honor, I’ll leave it up to the imagination.

Now then.

This world had followed the anime Shuya Marionette, but my actions had changed the future entirely from this point on. The blackhearted Piggy Duke turned over a new leaf, so I had no clue what awaited me in the future. News of No Face’s capture at my hands would probably reach House Denning in the blink of an eye.

Still, no matter what happens, I swear this to you, Charlotte. I will protect you. I will.

I made this solemn vow in my heart.