"I am..."
As she parted her lips in a cracking voice, she felt the gazes of the two men fixed on her.
"I want to do as Grand Duke Fenrir says."
Presepe knew it well, too. She wasn't unaware. She knew that this choice to leave the Imperial Palace now could ruin the original storyline even more.
However...
'I don't want to go through those times again.'
The days in the imperial palace were so painful, scary, lonely, and terrifying.
That said, she didn't completely trust Fenrir. Perhaps even more unexpected things could happen.
She will not be able to meet the original male characters, and she will not be able to proceed with the fixed events that took place only within the Imperial Palace. She also won't be able to use the system.
But is it really that important?
The game isn't even following the original storyline anymore.
Although she did not forget her original goal of finding the real male protagonist, her desire to get out of this place where she had constantly met a painful death was also significant.
Just like the title of the game, she hated the idea of being trapped in a cage, struggling to endure while waiting for predetermined choices.
She wanted to regain at least a minimum of freedom, and she didn't want to live in anxiety, wondering when that terrible fixed event would start.
"If, as Grand Duke Fenrir says, someone is targeting me, I have already been in danger several times. Even Ella, who served me closest, was connected to the rebel faction; can I really be safe in the Imperial Palace?"
Presepe pointed at Ella, who was standing behind her like a sinner, and said.
"I will leave the Imperial Palace with Grand Duke Fenrir."
"..."
"Please let me go, Your Majesty. I do not want to die."
I want to live.
She gave an honest answer, but Dietrich showed no reaction for a while.
He simply stared at Presepe with a face etched with countless emotions.
Will you object again with some ridiculous, unreasonable argument? You told me not to even think nonsense, didn't you? Along with that bullshit about how I'm abandoning you again.
'Of course, even if he turns out that way, he is the kind of person who wouldn't be surprising...'
However, surprisingly, Dietrich did not act unreasonably or throw a fit.
"...I want to live.”
"..."
"I don't want to die..."
Countless scenes that had ceaselessly surfaced over the past few days flashed across Dietrich's fading eyes.
They were all images of Presepe dying miserably because of him.
"... Alright."
And after a considerable amount of time had passed, Dietrich pursed his lips in a hoarse voice.
"Grand Duke Fenrir, take Presepe and leave the Imperial Palace."
Presepe widened his eyes in surprise at Dietrich's quieter-than-expected reaction, but Fenrir still wore a composed expression.
"However, you, too, will have to investigate the recent series of events. As you said, you are my only trusted confidant."
“I will.”
"Imprison the handmaiden Ella in the ice prison and interrogate her. Find out all the information about them, including how she has been colluding with them."
At Dietrich's words, Ella looked as if she were about to faint, but that wasn't the important thing right now.
"Let's go, Lady Presepe."
Fenrir, looking at Presepe, had a completely different look in his eyes than when he stared at Dietrich.
So, a look that still felt suspicious, but also had a very subtle warmth to it.
Meanwhile, the waiting guard dragged the screaming Ella out.
Presepe and Fenrir greeted Dietrich together. Then they began to walk.
However, just before Fenrir left and Presepe followed him completely out of the audience chamber...
Dietrich's voice came from behind.
"...Presepe."
Presepe slowly turned around. Then she stared at Dietrich, who was looking at him.
"To me..."
"..."
"Do you happen to have something to say?"
"I don't know what you mean..."
"Anything. Anything at all."
Dietrich continued speaking.
"For instance, something like me misunderstanding you... something like that."
Misunderstanding.
Of course, Dietrich was mistaken. She meant that ridiculous misunderstanding that even Presepe had abandoned him.
When pursuing Dietrich, Presepe begged like a dog several times. She pleaded that it was all a misunderstanding and begged them to please push him away.
'Is there any reason for me to clear up that misunderstanding? Especially now.'
To Presepe, Dietrich was simply the person who had brutally killed her several times. Nothing more, nothing less.
And now, he was also someone not even worth looking into again.
"No."
So Presepe shook her head and answered.
"Nothing."
"..."
“There is nothing.”
"...Yes."
I see.
That was the last thing Dietrich said in a fading voice. Presepe bowed slightly once again in greeting and left the audience chamber without looking back.
***
"...Is this all your luggage?"
Fenrir furrowed his brows slightly as he looked at the bag Presepe had packed.
Well, it was understandable. After all, the luggage she had packed consisted of nothing more than one or two dresses at most.
But it couldn't be helped. Since she had been confined for so long, she couldn't have many dresses. That was the original setting, after all.
Furthermore, to be honest, she didn't want to take anything that would remind her of memories of this place. What was so special about those days?
She packed the dresses because she needed to change clothes, but she didn't really have any intention of packing anything else.
"It looks a bit shabby to call it luggage, doesn't it?"
Presepe said with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Anyway, we can just buy new things for daily life. It doesn't matter."
"That's a relief... Ah, wait a minute. There's something here too. I'm going to take this as well."
What Presepe, who had been staring at Fenrir, hurriedly picked up was a vase lying on the table.
A suspicious vase, impossible to tell if anyone had left it behind.
"Is there a special reason you are taking that vase?"
Fenrir asked.
"There is a vase at the mansion, too."
“Well... just.”
"..."
"I just want to take it with me. Is that not allowed?"
“That can’t be right.”
At Fenrir's words, instead of answering, Presepe quietly looked down at the vase she was holding tightly in her arms.
She still couldn't tell. Who was the person who left this vase, this flower?
However, she could clearly remember one thing. How much comfort that flower someone had left behind brought to jer heart during the early stages of the possession, amidst the ceaselessly desolate situation.
'I couldn't keep the flowers, but the vase remains.'
She wanted to take it with her. Since this was the only item inside this tower that had left even a slightly good memory for Presepe.
"..."
Fenrir just quietly watched Presepe, who was carefully stroking the vase she was holding tightly in her arms, without saying a word.
Could the fact that she kept that vase until the very end be because the memories of that time brought her at least a little comfort? Probably.
As Fenrir thought this, he recalled that time he could still remember vividly.
The moment he snuck into the empty room, placed a vase on the table, and filled it with profusely blooming flowers.
A faint smile played on Fenrir's lips.
"It seems you received this as a gift from heaven. Judging by how preciously you are holding it."
"Rather than that... uh... well. Yes. That is correct."
To be precise, it was an item whose author did not even know, but there was no reason to explain it to Fenrir. Nor was there a way to explain it.
"The person who gave it to you would be delighted if they knew. Very much so."
"..."
"Then I will carry the rest of the luggage, so please take care of that vase yourself, Lady Presepe."
"Ah, yes. I will. Thank you."
"Let's go."
Presepe nodded instead of answering and began to carefully descend the spiral staircase with Fenrir.
As they walked, countless thoughts crossed her mind, and countless worries welled up.
...Will I regret this later? It would have been better to stay inside the Imperial Palace, where at least some information could be accessed
But it was a funny thing.
As she left the tower, and the further she got from the Imperial Palace...
It was because an indescribable pleasure, much stronger and clearer than she had feared, enveloped her entire body.
'Now I don't have to tremble trapped in that cage anymore.'
She did not have to worry like a pig being led to the slaughterhouse; she did not have to be imprisoned, she did not have to be executed, and she did not have to be falsely accused.
'I don't have to be afraid like someone who has already been given a day to die...'
That fact alone made her heart pound.
Facing the refreshing spring breeze, Presepe took a bold step.
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