Chapter 35
Chapter 35
AIN’S thoughts were in disarray. What exactly made things turn out this way? What course of events lead to the mess they were in now? It all started when his own master Luca suddenly brought a girl—Yuki—and abruptly forced a contract on her to become his Master.
From there they proceeded to Fol with Yuki. Yuki played an important role in successfully recapturing Fol Castle without casualties. Ain later heard that when he messed up the timing to come to their rescue, Luca was captured by the traitor Isis and was almost locked away in the castle dungeons. Amid the chaos, Yuki pretended to be the Legendary Witch and the source of Isis’ trauma, ending the whole debacle with his cowardly surrender.
Yuki saved Prince Luca, Ain thought.
She even helped Ain when Luca was going to leave him behind before heading to Cele with Nasette.
I was helped by the tiny girl who looks like she would be crushed if someone hugged her. At what point did things go awry? When Prince Luca contracted with her on a whim? When Prince Orga showed an interest in Yuki? When we brought Yuki to Fol? When we went to find Tita and Nasette? Were things already going awry before Yuki appeared?
Ain’s memories spun as he tried to think back as far as possible to find where everything went wrong. He thought back to his childhood when he played with the others without a care in the world. At the time, they played without paying any heed to their statuses as prince, retainer, noble, and orphan.
Ain grew afraid of Luca when he became rough around the edges, so Ain stayed holed up in the Mage Academy’s dormitory. He wished he had been with Luca at his greatest time of need, but it was far too late to regret it now.
Since when? Since when did this country take a turn for the worse? Why does it strive only for war? Why? Why has this world fallen into chaos? Ain shook his head and locked his gaze on what was in front of him.
Almost five days had passed since Ain and Luca went separate ways. Cele was within a stone’s throw. Ain’s thighs and buttocks cramped—he had long since forgotten the aching riding sores. His lower region was numb, removing all sense of feeling.
Please wait for me, Yuki, Prince Luca.
Ain wondered what that small girl—Yuki—was thinking in the days before her execution. I will not let him lose another one.
Ain tightened his grip on his horse’s reins, willing his steed to hurry.
***
THE young man with ultramarine hair came early in the morning with Yuki’s food. A part of her snickered at the thought of princes serving her. How many girls dreamed of being served by handsome princes? Although hers unfortunately all had either cold or irritating personalities—maybe she could ask for another? At least Orga hadn’t chosen to serve her yet…She giggled at what her lot in life had become.
She was tired after staying up into the wee hours of the night, so she was dozing off from lack of sleep when the young man kicked the door open and strolled in.
“Hey! I went outta my way to bring ya food. Don’t sleep through it!” he said haughtily, slamming the surprisingly full tray on the table by her bed. Was he better at carrying food than Padi? She snickered, eliciting a glare from the lazy prince.
He spun around and left the room for a moment, only to come back with a chair. Yuki groggily watched from bed as she picked at her meal.
“Man, you’ve sure got guts to peacefully sleep in when you’re gonna be executed the day after tomorrow.”
He’s noisy too, Yuki thought sleepily. Padimate never spoke when he came, so her room was always filled with a subdued silence. The young man chucked something at Yuki. She lifted her head to see what it was when something cool went splat across her face.
“Wipe your face.”
“Th-Thanks, but next time hand it to me!” she snapped.
It’s a wet towel. He didn’t have to throw it at me. He seemed so disgruntled over the whole thing yesterday too. Now he seems like a different person.
She glared at him.
“Hurry up and eat.”
“Ah.” She put both hands together in prayer saying, “Thanks for the food,” and picked up the spoon on the tray.
The young man sat on the chair with his legs crossed—watching her.
“Ah,” Yuki mumbled noticing something off when she pulled the tray onto her lap as she usually did.
“What? You’d better eat it all even if there’s food you don’t like,” the lazy prince said.
“Hm? Yeah, I will,” she replied, paying little attention to him.
There really is a lot more soup this time.
The soup was cold every other time she had it, but it was hot today. Before she knew it, she burst out laughing.
His actions and his attitude seem like they belong to different people.
Her hand stopped bringing food to her mouth. Once she started laughing she couldn’t stop.
“Pft! Ahahahaha!”
The young man furrowed his brow and glowered at her. “What’s wrong with you now?”
Yuki quickly shook her head. He’s got a foul mouth and a terrible attitude, but he’s not half bad at properly looking after my needs.
“Hey, what’s your name?” The words were out of her mouth before she thought about it.
“Huuh? Are you okay in the head? Eat in silence,” he ordered in response. Yuki reluctantly moved the spoon to her mouth.
The room was filled only with the clatter of Yuki’s spoon against the bowl and the bowl sliding across the tray. She ate in silence while enduring his stare.
I thought there was a chance he might be a good person too. I thought he’s just a bit rude and vulgar, but apparently that’s not the case.
His face was terribly grim when she made eye contact with him. It was as if he were looking at her with eyes filled to the brim with hatred and contempt.
He’s good at taking care of my needs, but he’s scary.
And then she realized it—the reason why he took care of her properly—he wasn’t the type to mix his personal feelings with his work. He despised Yuki. But taking care of her was his job right now and he was called all the way from Rvydom to do it. He would do it without fail. That was the kind of person he was.
“…Thanks for the meal,” Yuki said, breaking the silence. She was depressed and dispirited by the time she finished eating.
“……” The young man sat watching her in silence the whole time she ate. Now he finally opened his mouth, “Do you really understand you’re gonna die?”
“H-Huh?” she stammered over his sudden and unexpected question.
I’m going to die. I’ve thought about it countless times this past week. I’ve countlessly regretted that it came to this.
“I heard you tried to jump from the balcony the other night.”
He knew? Yuki stared at his ultramarine eyes.
“Why did you do it?”
“What…?”
“Why did you think about jumping and killing yourself? Do you hate the idea of dying for your country?”
Dying for my country?
“If you die as the Witch, we’ll lose our reason to attack Adolunde,” he explained.
Yuki was speechless.
What is this guy saying? How does pretending I’m the Legendary Witch and killing me stop the war between Maruk and Adolunde?
“You didn’t realize the reason? The reason you’re gonna be killed as the Witch. You’ve never thought of the significance of being killed as the Witch?”
His sudden barrage of questions confused her.
Huh? What? The war is going on because of the Witch? But how does killing me end the war? They know I’m not the real Witch.
“What do you mean? I don’t get it,” she said, to the young man’s exasperation.
“This is why I hate nobles. You live in luxury under the protection and suffering of others, without knowing a thing about the real world. Sure you don’t know—don’t know a thing about anything and everything. Why don’t you realize not being told anything is a sign of your own misfortune? Why don’t you even try to realize it!” he shouted, bolting from his chair.
Yuki flinched and squeezed her eyes shut on a reflex. She could hear him approaching her. She was too scared to move. His contempt, hatred, disgust, and utter scorn petrified her.
“You don’t know anything. You don’t even know it’s a crime not to know. You must’ve been quite happy in your palace, eh? Little Adolunde Noble.”
He grabbed her hair with one hand. He seized her face with the other and forced her to open her eyes.
Why is he saying all this to me?
The twisted look in his ultramarine gaze reflected in Yuki’s teary eyes.
“…! I never once…thought ignorance was…bliss,” the words rushed from her mouth. Her voice trembled from sadness and anger. Yuki always thought of herself as ignorant, powerless, and pathetic. So why did she have to have someone she didn’t know blame her for it? Especially when this wasn’t even her world. It wasn’t even her country he was telling her to die for.
“Then why did you try to jump to your death? If you’re gonna die anyway, die for your country.”
Why does everyone tell me to die? Orga told me to die. So does this boy whose name I don’t know. And I thought I had finally found the reason for my existence in this world. I even believed it was okay for me to be here.
Something snapped inside of Yuki.
“…I—” Yuki flapped both arms with all her strength. The palm of her right hand made a direct hit to his chin. He let go of her face and hair. “I don’t want to die! I absolutely will not die!”
Perhaps what snapped was the dam blocking her tears—tears poured from her eyes.
Don’t cry.
“…What was that, you stuck up little brat!”
“I won’t deny my ignorance! I don’t know anything! I don’t understand anything! I-If my dying as the so-called Witch really—which I remind you I am not, meaning she still exists out there—really meant peace will come to this world, I’ll die with pleasure! But you know!”
I don’t know if this world is actually at war because of the Witch. Or what they’re telling me is even true.
“Because of my ignorance, the only ones I know who will benefit from my death are the psychopath Orga and you. That’s why I won’t die for you!”
“…Nonsense!” he shouted.
“That’s right. It is utter nonsense. This world is insane! You people keep telling me to die for you, and I refuse! Got a problem with it?”
The tense air between them lingered for several seconds until the young man sighed.
With a spiteful smile he said, “I get it… You’re confident you won’t get executed. Don’t think anyone will come to save you.”
He grabbed the tray and left the room. Yuki sunk into her bed once she confirmed he was gone.
“…What’s his problem?” Yuki sniffled and sobbed, her sleeves growing wet from rubbing away her tears. The sky was spitefully sunny, contrary to the stormy state of her heart.