Fenrir urged her to make sure she finished her meal, even if she had to eat alone, but no way would happen.
Presepe returned to her bedroom without having eaten even half of her food.
...If she had any regrets about Ivan's death, that would be a lie.
All the characters in *Presepe in a Cage* were not normal and were all insane, but the one in the most serious condition was Ivan.
Even after the bug appeared and he regained his self, he was no different. No, if anything, he was even more vicious.
Even now, she felt a burning sensation in her cheeks when she recalled Ivan's actions of grabbing her hair and trying to burn her face completely with the flames.
So, even if someone like Ivan had met a violent death, it wouldn't have mattered.
The question was why and how he died.
Kevin did not elaborate on the story of Ivan's death in front of Presepe and Hannah. He simply conveyed the news that he had died. She knew he was being careful out of consideration for them, but it left her feeling stifled.
"If he was murdered..."
Could the murderer who killed Attar and Noah be the same person?
But was there anyone who could kill Ivan?
Amusingly, only one thing came to mind.
...She couldn't recall it clearly because her mind had been manipulated so much in the Ivan route, but she vaguely remembered hearing him babble on at some point.
The most important thing for a wizard is their latent magical power.
The outcome of the battle depends on the amount of magical power.
He said that if you attack someone with stronger magical power than yourself, nothing will happen. You will simply be absorbed.
As he said this, Ivan chattered excitedly, claiming that he had never once been attacked and had always won.
"Magic power stronger than Ivan's..."
There probably isn't a wizard with such abilities. After all, they said Ivan was a wizard who appears perhaps once in a hundred years.
The next thing that comes to mind is the Church. Ateloia has a structure where the Church and the Magic Tower are in conflict, and the place where the supposedly great Ivan was imprisoned was also a church prison. Therefore, the Church was the only force in this empire capable of controlling him.
"But the Archbishop is dead."
And the priests of the church would not have wanted Ivan to die like that. They would have wanted him dragged in as a criminal, executed in front of the people, and properly paid for his crimes.
Then only one thing remained.
"Demon King..."
Presepe grimaced and muttered.
After all, the wizards' power is on par with the Demon King's, so couldn't the Demon King have easily killed Ivan?
But it was strange.
A being that hasn't even properly appeared until now is going around committing murders?
"You were mine from the start. That bastard... If it weren't for Fenrir, you would still be by my side right now."
What suddenly flashed through her mind were the words Ivan had babbled on the day she was kidnapped.
When she heard stories that didn't quite add up but that Ivan could never have figured out on his own, Presepe thought.
...Could it be that someone gave Ivan the information?
So, a being who knows the truth of this world, just like her.
If it was the Demon King who used and killed Ivan.
Why did you do that?
No, if her reasoning is correct.
How could the Demon King, who is just another character in a game, know the truth in the first place?
So you're saying they intentionally hid their appearance?
For what on earth?
"..."
Presepe, who had been biting at her lip while lost in thought, stopped abruptly.
[You can't go anywhere.]
It was because something she had forgotten came to mind.
[...I'm never going to let you go.]
This episode.
The day she fell asleep as if collapsing, shocked by Attar's death.
The voice she heard in the dream she had back then.
It felt so unfamiliar.
...Then, did they say that because they knew a way to avoid sending me out? In that moment, it felt as if a fear of a completely different nature from anything felt until now was suddenly rearing its head.
And it was that moment.
"Lady Presepe."
Along with a polite knock, Fenrir's voice was heard from beyond the door.
“Can I come in?”
“Ah. Yes.”
No sooner had he answered than the closed door opened. Presepe sprang to her feet and watched Fenrir enter the room.
"I figured you might be worried.'
"Please sit down."
Fenrir carefully pulled Presepe back onto the bed.
"First, I checked the body, and it was indeed Ivan."
"...What is the cause of death?”
Presepe asked nervously.
"Why did he die? Because he was injured back then? Or for some other reason...?"
Fenrir kept his mouth shut for a moment.
To be honest, he didn't want to tell her.
Fenrir was just as unable to grasp how the situation was unfolding.
However, he didn't want to lie to Presepe either.
Because he already had something he was hiding from her.
So, Fenrir thought for a moment, then slowly parted his lips.
"It appears to have been murdered."
...Was my guess right after all?
Presepe's eyes trembled violently.
"Ivan has been escorted to the Imperial Palace, but there is unlikely to be any specific information to be gleaned from the body. I have heard that the Church is continuing to examine Ivan's belongings, but there appears to be no progress in that either. His Majesty has not made any specific remarks, either."
At least it was good news.
"I apologize, but I would appreciate it if you, Lady Presepe, would remain at the mansion as much as possible until this incident is thoroughly investigated."
"..."
"I am truly sorry. It seems like I am saying the same thing every time."
"No."
Presepe shook her head and muttered.
"That isn't Grand Duke Fenrir's fault. And I know it more than enough. How much the Grand Duke cares about me."
"I am overwhelmed by your kind words."
Fenrir smiled faintly as he let out a short answer, but it did not last long
"..."
Presepe, reflected in his red eyes, still seemed anxious and also appeared terrified.
I wanted to hug you.
I wanted to hold you tightly in my arms like that, and pat your frail back all night long.
...But then you'll run away.
In that sea, in the bedroom. Just as I did every time I confessed my feelings.
That was not at all what Fenrir wanted.
It would be a lie to say that he had absolutely no desire to unilaterally express his feelings and not stop until they were accepted.
But he didn't want to ruin it. He didn't want to tear it down either.
Presepe's trust, earned with difficulty
"You would do well to get some sleep, Lady Presepe."
So Fenrir slowly rose from his seat and said.
"It seems Lady Presepe should have been the one taking the medicine containing the sleeping ingredients, not me. You look worn out in the past few days."
“Oh. I’m fine..."
"...It doesn't seem like it. Of course, even that is my fault, so if by any chance you happen to fall ill, I will definitely repay your kindness. You may not know this, but I am surprisingly capable, and I can take care of you without any shortcomings."
At Fenrir's nonsense, Presepe smiled faintly with a weak smile.
Eventually, Fenrir slowly turned around, but Presepe's movements were slightly faster.
"But the patient is still the Grand Duke."
Presepe, holding Fenrir, pointed to his chest and said.
"Your wounds haven't even healed, and you only barely regained consciousness last night. On top of that, yoy went all the way to the scene, so you pushed yourself too hard."
Before he knew it, red blood was staining the white bandage visible between the collar of the shirt.
"Please sit down. I’d like to do this for you."
"..."
"That way, I feel at ease."
You're not doing anything right, so shouldn't you at least take care of Fenrir, who got hurt because of you? Have some conscience.
As Presepe held him back like that, Fenrir seemed to hesitate for a moment, but eventually sat back down on the bed.
Presepe, who had brought a new bandage in the meantime, removed the current bandage covered in blood and pus and disinfected the wound.
On the firmly sculpted chest muscles, gazing again and again at the clearly etched tree tattoo.
She thought it was a very strange thing. The deep fear she had felt the moment she retold those incomprehensible words she had heard in her dream gradually faded. Though the anxiety remained.
Presepe felt like she might know the reason. Because she now knew all too well how much he cared for her.
In this game where everyone is hell-bent on killing her, at least one person, Fenrir, has risked his life to save her and has continued to do so.
Right. That tattoo, which he said he had engraved time and time again while strengthening his resolve, was the proof.
...But how many more times do I have to hurt this person?
"..."
She applied medicine to the wound and wrapped a new bandage, but Presepe could not easily take her eyes off his wound.
Before long, a heavy silence settled between the two, and Fenrir quietly looked down at Presepe.
And after a considerable amount of time had passed, it was Fenrir who pulled his eyes away first.
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