Phalang-
“Why are you doing that? Your current condition is...”
“Sylvia, please.”
As the words that sounded like pleading flowed out, Sylvia flinched and stopped moving. Randall finally stood with his back to the palace, which was brightly lit by his own power. Standing with his back to the light, his face was thick with a sense of self-loathing that he could not wash away.
'This is a situation that could have easily been dangerous for Sylvia.'
David was after Randall. He meant that Sylvia might soon be in danger because of Randall. Now that David was approaching Sylvia intending to provoke Randall, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't use Randall as bait to harm Sylvia. But... But...
'A guy worse than an animal.'
Even in such a situation, Randall felt a terrible sense of disgust at himself for feeling 'relief' rather than 'concern' at the fact that Sylvia was not with David. In the end, Randall laughed with a messy face. Tears fell down his eyes, distorted in pain.
"I'm sorry."
“...Randall?”
“I am such a worthless person who would put you, an innocent person, in danger...”
Rationally, he should have distanced himself from Sylvia even now. He should have distanced himself, and even if it meant taking the drastic measure of divorce, he had to protect Sylvia from David’s hands.
Her long white hair fluttered in the night breeze. Sylvia sat on the fountain in the corner of the garden, blankly staring at the brightly lit palace.
‘...Actually, isn’t this all a dream?’
But even so, the warm breath that settled on her knees was clear and warm.
“...”
Sylvia, sitting on the edge of the fountain, looked down at Randall, who was leaning his head on her lap and had his eyes closed, with a complicated gaze. As she looked into his face, the events of a moment ago flooded her mind again.
"...Basis?"
The fact that Crown Prince David was the 41st participant she had encountered at the auction house, and at the same time, that he possessed the memories and power of the 'Demon King Basis' who had cut off his own head with her own hands. She couldn't dare to guess which of the two was more shocking.
‘...Actually, isn’t this all a dream?’
But even so, the warm breath that settled on her knees was clear and warm.
“...”
Sylvia, sitting on the edge of the fountain, looked down at Randall, who was leaning his head on her lap and had his eyes closed, with a complicated gaze. As she looked into his face, the events of a moment ago flooded her mind again.
"...Basis?"
The fact that Crown Prince David was the 41st participant she had encountered at the auction house, and at the same time, that he possessed the memories and power of the 'Demon King Basis' who had cut off his own head with her own hands. She couldn't dare to guess which of the two was more shocking.
David stretched out the corners of his mouth the moment Sylvia called him by the name of 'Basis'.
"It's been a while... Alyssa."
He grabbed Sylvia's hair with a face filled with strange satisfaction and realization and kissed the end of it deeply. Sylvia, who came to her senses belatedly at the call of 'Alyssa' that flowed out as if in response, instinctively hesitated and stepped back. It was only natural that Basis should hate Alyssa for killing him.
"It's been a while... Alyssa."
He grabbed Sylvia's hair with a face filled with strange satisfaction and realization and kissed the end of it deeply. Sylvia, who came to her senses belatedly at the call of 'Alyssa' that flowed out as if in response, instinctively hesitated and stepped back. It was only natural that Basis should hate Alyssa for killing him.
However, the way he coveted her staff as a special person's heirloom, or the way he looked at her like he was looking at a lover now, was by no means normal. When Sylvia stepped back from him, David let her hair flow through his hands and laughed.
"I'm a little disappointed. I guess you're not happy to see me?"
"...There are people you should be happy to see and people you shouldn’t."
The tone of voice of the two people who recognized each other changed. Sylvia took a step further away from him with wary eyes.
"How on earth did you..."
"How did you manage to reincarnate as a human while retaining your memories? Well, I wonder if God made a mistake in that regard... Even I don’t know why."
At the word 'God', Sylvia's shoulders instinctively flinched. David noticed that small movement blinked once, and then smiled bitterly as if he had realized something.
"...Looking at what is in front of me now, are you being punished by God for what happened back then?"
"Shut your mouth."
"I guess that's right."
Sylvia bit her lip in a warning. But David ignored her, closed the distance again, pressed his thumb against her lips, and frowned.
"What if I see blood?"
Sylvia, who was annoyed by his attitude of touching her without hesitation, used magic to wound his hand.
"..."
David stared blankly at his bleeding hand for a moment, then suddenly stuck out his tongue and licked his blood. Even while he was doing that, his earnest purple eyes remained fixed on Sylvia.
"...Crazy guy."
Sylvia glared at him, muttering in annoyance. Then David burst out laughing.
"No matter what, if you look at it that way, it hurts. I'm a pretty fragile and delicate person."
"Don't talk nonsense. How can I describe your attitude right now other than crazy?"
"Yeah, that's true. Even I don't know whether I want to kill you or not..."
At those words, Sylvia instinctively tensed her shoulders. But David immediately smiled brightly as if he had never said such harsh words.
"But I'm really glad to see you. I think our intentions will work well together."
"What do you mean?"
Sylvia's eyebrows furrowed at the incomprehensible words. David asked her in a very gentle voice.
"I'm a little disappointed. I guess you're not happy to see me?"
"...There are people you should be happy to see and people you shouldn’t."
The tone of voice of the two people who recognized each other changed. Sylvia took a step further away from him with wary eyes.
"How on earth did you..."
"How did you manage to reincarnate as a human while retaining your memories? Well, I wonder if God made a mistake in that regard... Even I don’t know why."
At the word 'God', Sylvia's shoulders instinctively flinched. David noticed that small movement blinked once, and then smiled bitterly as if he had realized something.
"...Looking at what is in front of me now, are you being punished by God for what happened back then?"
"Shut your mouth."
"I guess that's right."
Sylvia bit her lip in a warning. But David ignored her, closed the distance again, pressed his thumb against her lips, and frowned.
"What if I see blood?"
Sylvia, who was annoyed by his attitude of touching her without hesitation, used magic to wound his hand.
"..."
David stared blankly at his bleeding hand for a moment, then suddenly stuck out his tongue and licked his blood. Even while he was doing that, his earnest purple eyes remained fixed on Sylvia.
"...Crazy guy."
Sylvia glared at him, muttering in annoyance. Then David burst out laughing.
"No matter what, if you look at it that way, it hurts. I'm a pretty fragile and delicate person."
"Don't talk nonsense. How can I describe your attitude right now other than crazy?"
"Yeah, that's true. Even I don't know whether I want to kill you or not..."
At those words, Sylvia instinctively tensed her shoulders. But David immediately smiled brightly as if he had never said such harsh words.
"But I'm really glad to see you. I think our intentions will work well together."
"What do you mean?"
Sylvia's eyebrows furrowed at the incomprehensible words. David asked her in a very gentle voice.
"You."
"..."
"How about holding hands with me?"
Sylvia burst out laughing for a moment, but David continued speaking faster than she could open her mouth to respond.
"I don't know if it's a coincidence or fate... but I was reborn as a human, and I don't like this body very much. Humans are weak and frail."
David looked down at his hand, which had been injured by Sylvia, and his face twisted. Although it wasn't a big wound, the wound was still bleeding. He clicked his tongue once, pressed the wound with darkness as if to stop the bleeding, and declared.
"I will reclaim the Demon King's throne."
"...What?"
"So how about you come with me? We'll kill, destroy, and get drunk on all the humans who made you like this, and take revenge."
David whispered with a seductive smile. His eyes were filled with the conviction that Sylvia would naturally accept his offer. No wonder, 'Basis' was the one who knew the most about why Alyssa had fallen to Calvetia and how she had been ruined. The fact that Alyssa, who had defeated him, had lost her life at the hands of someone he did not know, whether a God or not, was quite unpleasant. Aside from that, it was in many ways pleasant that she was alive in front of him, in the same era as him.
"..."
"How about holding hands with me?"
Sylvia burst out laughing for a moment, but David continued speaking faster than she could open her mouth to respond.
"I don't know if it's a coincidence or fate... but I was reborn as a human, and I don't like this body very much. Humans are weak and frail."
David looked down at his hand, which had been injured by Sylvia, and his face twisted. Although it wasn't a big wound, the wound was still bleeding. He clicked his tongue once, pressed the wound with darkness as if to stop the bleeding, and declared.
"I will reclaim the Demon King's throne."
"...What?"
"So how about you come with me? We'll kill, destroy, and get drunk on all the humans who made you like this, and take revenge."
David whispered with a seductive smile. His eyes were filled with the conviction that Sylvia would naturally accept his offer. No wonder, 'Basis' was the one who knew the most about why Alyssa had fallen to Calvetia and how she had been ruined. The fact that Alyssa, who had defeated him, had lost her life at the hands of someone he did not know, whether a God or not, was quite unpleasant. Aside from that, it was in many ways pleasant that she was alive in front of him, in the same era as him.
A person who had been betrayed by a human who had given everything, and who had been punished by a God on top of that. Wasn't she truly the best fighter and comrade?
"...Ha."
Meanwhile, Sylvia realized too late that her eyes had turned to Randall behind him as soon as she heard David's proposal, and let out a sigh-like laugh. David's proposal was clearly against God. So, just hearing this proposal, she should have worried that she would once again incur God's wrath.
"Sylvia."
Rather, the face of Randall, who had called her and smiled, came to mind first. Next, the faces of Count Florette and his wife, who were always anxious to do something for her, came to mind. In addition, there were Rubia, Philia, and the servants of Belfort Castle.
"...Ha."
Meanwhile, Sylvia realized too late that her eyes had turned to Randall behind him as soon as she heard David's proposal, and let out a sigh-like laugh. David's proposal was clearly against God. So, just hearing this proposal, she should have worried that she would once again incur God's wrath.
"Sylvia."
Rather, the face of Randall, who had called her and smiled, came to mind first. Next, the faces of Count Florette and his wife, who were always anxious to do something for her, came to mind. In addition, there were Rubia, Philia, and the servants of Belfort Castle.
The choices of people who had surprised her many times with Randall in this life quickly flashed through her mind.
"..."
Her throat felt like it was clogged with something thick. Sylvia didn't know what to say, so she kept her mouth shut. David interpreted that behavior as hesitation and shrugged.
"Well, I guess you need some time to think about it too. I'll hear your answer later."
Then he nodded to Randall over her shoulder.
"That guy will probably wake up soon, so take him. After all, that guy was just a tool needed to confirm your existence."
For a moment, a deep sense of discomfort appeared in his eyes as he glanced at Randall. However, David soon turned to Sylvia and smiled so affectionately that it took her breath away.
"But don't keep me waiting too long, my dear. I'll see you soon."
The memories that followed were patchy. Sylvia couldn't quite remember what she had in mind when she brought Randall out of there. The existence of David, no, Basis, and the suggestion he made. It was all unrealistic, so it was hard to regain her senses.
"..."
Her throat felt like it was clogged with something thick. Sylvia didn't know what to say, so she kept her mouth shut. David interpreted that behavior as hesitation and shrugged.
"Well, I guess you need some time to think about it too. I'll hear your answer later."
Then he nodded to Randall over her shoulder.
"That guy will probably wake up soon, so take him. After all, that guy was just a tool needed to confirm your existence."
For a moment, a deep sense of discomfort appeared in his eyes as he glanced at Randall. However, David soon turned to Sylvia and smiled so affectionately that it took her breath away.
"But don't keep me waiting too long, my dear. I'll see you soon."
The memories that followed were patchy. Sylvia couldn't quite remember what she had in mind when she brought Randall out of there. The existence of David, no, Basis, and the suggestion he made. It was all unrealistic, so it was hard to regain her senses.
At that moment, a small groan pierced her ear.
“Hmm.”
“...Randall? Are you awake?”
Sylvia suddenly came to her senses and looked at Randall, who was lying on her lap. Randall’s closed eyelids fluttered and then his hazy green eyes appeared. He blinked, frowning as if he had a headache, but then he recognized Sylvia and jumped up in surprise.
“Sylvia?”
“Don’t move suddenly. If you do...”
“Ugh...”
Sylvia grabbed Randall in a hurry. At the same time she grabbed Randall, he stumbled violently, holding his forehead with one hand due to extreme dizziness. Randall barely avoided falling thanks to Sylvia and sat down next to him. He shook his head from side to side, confused by the current situation, and asked.
“Why am I here... I’m sure... ”
Randall tried to recall the memories that were not coming back well because of his headache. He clearly saw Sylvia disappearing with David at the ballroom and followed them into the garden...
“...!”
Randall's face turned pale as he remembered what David had done to him. He wondered if David had been targeting him because he had some intention of harming Sylvia. He quickly turned around and examined Sylvia thoroughly.
“Are you okay, Sylvia? Where are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. I couldn’t see you in the ballroom so I came out to look for you... and you were lying down in a corner of the garden. You looked like you were just asleep so I was waiting for you to wake up first.”
“Are you saying I was just... lying there?”
“Yes. Weren’t you overworked?”
Sylvia desperately tried to keep her composure as she continued to say the things she had prepared while Randall was unconscious. She couldn't tell Randall about herself or Basis. So all she ended up saying was these lies again.
'Why did you leave me there? You clearly looked like you were going to do something bad.'
Even using the palace magicians to bind him, and then leaving him behind? It was a strangely contradictory statement, so Randall looked at Sylvia with half-belief and half-doubt.
'Then you went out with David at that time.'
Wasn't it Sylvia?
“Hmm.”
“...Randall? Are you awake?”
Sylvia suddenly came to her senses and looked at Randall, who was lying on her lap. Randall’s closed eyelids fluttered and then his hazy green eyes appeared. He blinked, frowning as if he had a headache, but then he recognized Sylvia and jumped up in surprise.
“Sylvia?”
“Don’t move suddenly. If you do...”
“Ugh...”
Sylvia grabbed Randall in a hurry. At the same time she grabbed Randall, he stumbled violently, holding his forehead with one hand due to extreme dizziness. Randall barely avoided falling thanks to Sylvia and sat down next to him. He shook his head from side to side, confused by the current situation, and asked.
“Why am I here... I’m sure... ”
Randall tried to recall the memories that were not coming back well because of his headache. He clearly saw Sylvia disappearing with David at the ballroom and followed them into the garden...
“...!”
Randall's face turned pale as he remembered what David had done to him. He wondered if David had been targeting him because he had some intention of harming Sylvia. He quickly turned around and examined Sylvia thoroughly.
“Are you okay, Sylvia? Where are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. I couldn’t see you in the ballroom so I came out to look for you... and you were lying down in a corner of the garden. You looked like you were just asleep so I was waiting for you to wake up first.”
“Are you saying I was just... lying there?”
“Yes. Weren’t you overworked?”
Sylvia desperately tried to keep her composure as she continued to say the things she had prepared while Randall was unconscious. She couldn't tell Randall about herself or Basis. So all she ended up saying was these lies again.
'Why did you leave me there? You clearly looked like you were going to do something bad.'
Even using the palace magicians to bind him, and then leaving him behind? It was a strangely contradictory statement, so Randall looked at Sylvia with half-belief and half-doubt.
'Then you went out with David at that time.'
Wasn't it Sylvia?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, he froze in shock as he discovered a strange sense of relief spreading from a corner of his heart.
'I am...'
Randall staggered to his feet, laughing hysterically. Sylvia was taken aback by his sudden move away from her and followed him.
“Randall?”
“Don’t come any closer...”
'I am...'
Randall staggered to his feet, laughing hysterically. Sylvia was taken aback by his sudden move away from her and followed him.
“Randall?”
“Don’t come any closer...”
“Why are you doing that? Your current condition is...”
“Sylvia, please.”
As the words that sounded like pleading flowed out, Sylvia flinched and stopped moving. Randall finally stood with his back to the palace, which was brightly lit by his own power. Standing with his back to the light, his face was thick with a sense of self-loathing that he could not wash away.
'This is a situation that could have easily been dangerous for Sylvia.'
David was after Randall. He meant that Sylvia might soon be in danger because of Randall. Now that David was approaching Sylvia intending to provoke Randall, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't use Randall as bait to harm Sylvia. But... But...
'A guy worse than an animal.'
Even in such a situation, Randall felt a terrible sense of disgust at himself for feeling 'relief' rather than 'concern' at the fact that Sylvia was not with David. In the end, Randall laughed with a messy face. Tears fell down his eyes, distorted in pain.
"I'm sorry."
“...Randall?”
“I am such a worthless person who would put you, an innocent person, in danger...”
Rationally, he should have distanced himself from Sylvia even now. He should have distanced himself, and even if it meant taking the drastic measure of divorce, he had to protect Sylvia from David’s hands.
However, the ugly possessiveness and obsession deep in his heart blocked his rational judgment.
I don’t want to let her go. I don’t want her to be with anyone else but me. I want her to look at me... only me.
Such absurd desires reared his head one after another, and Randall finally confessed his feelings.
“Actually, I feel relieved.”
“...”
“I was relieved that you didn’t follow the Crown Prince to the ballroom.”
It was fortunate that his vision was blurred by tears. Randall cried and laughed, fixing his gaze on the pure white figure beyond his blurred vision.
“...I’m sorry, Sylvia.”
“...”
“I can’t help but love you...”
Bang!
“Actually, I feel relieved.”
“...”
“I was relieved that you didn’t follow the Crown Prince to the ballroom.”
It was fortunate that his vision was blurred by tears. Randall cried and laughed, fixing his gaze on the pure white figure beyond his blurred vision.
“...I’m sorry, Sylvia.”
“...”
“I can’t help but love you...”
Bang!
At that moment, colorful fireworks bloomed like flowers above the brightly lit palace.
The festival lights brightened the dark garden and cast light on Randall's crying face. And Sylvia, who took in the sight and heard the confession, groaned softly as if she heard the hallucination of something collapsing.
'Ah.'
It was the sound of the walls of her heart that she had desperately been building up crumbling to dust.
The festival lights brightened the dark garden and cast light on Randall's crying face. And Sylvia, who took in the sight and heard the confession, groaned softly as if she heard the hallucination of something collapsing.
'Ah.'
It was the sound of the walls of her heart that she had desperately been building up crumbling to dust.
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