“I brought this engagement because I thought he was a decent man, I think I made a mistake. I didn’t think that prim face would be a burdensome for you.”
“No, no. It’s not like that! What would people think if I told them I made a mistake and drop my engagement? Even the mistake … it turned out to be no big deal. I’m not burdened by Aaron.”
“You don’t have to worry about others’ opinion!”
The gibberish words seem to brighten the mines.
Alroy bit her lip, tried to hold back her tears.
There was a cold silence.
The faces of my family, who were happy that I woke up, are now full of anxiety and worry.
Did I take the potion too hastily? I thought I’d fall asleep for hours at best.
If I had not been conscious for nine days, my family’s behavior was understandable.
I would have reacted the same way if someone ate something wrong and didn’t wake up for 9 days.
Frankly, however, I felt it was too late to drink Memoria’s Seal now.
The moment I realized I was born in a book, I wish I had managed to save it.
I wish I knew everything before I got close to Nocton Edgar.
I kept silent because there was nothing I could say with my mouth.
Soon, Alroy sighed.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you, Ruru. And Roa … I’m not forcing you. But seriously, put everything down and think about it again. Are you going to marry Sir Claymore because of your honor as a Valrose, or because you really like him?”
Having said that, Alroy rose from her seat.
***
The consequence of my deed was probation.
I was told not to go out for a month and just stay in my bedroom. I was unconscious and not really sick, but I was forced to rest and I couldn’t leave my bedroom.
If anyone comes, it’ll be a different story.
Yeah, it’s rather good.
I didn’t want to go out because of my headache, and I had to organize my thoughts.
If I use probation as an excuse, I will be able to avoid a troubling call.
I spent a peaceful day drinking the tea Sadie had given me.
First of all, I wrote a reply to a letter from Claymore asking about my well-being, and belatedly checked the calendar when someone said that Edgar had come.
Yesterday was the day of the tea party.
I didn’t write back about I wasn’t going to attend to buy time, but now that I think about it, I did a good job.
Even though I was probated, I got a good excuse for being sick.
Perhaps because the tea party date was yesterday, Alice said she had not yet returned to Limorand.
In the letter from Claymore, there was also a story about the tea party.
He did not attend, but it was too rude to omit the reply when the Duke’s emissary was still there, so he wrote a letter rejecting the invitation.
I expected it because he was such a role model of a knight, but it was fortunate that Nocton didn’t do anything.
And….
Thinking about it again made me shudder.
Aaron Claymore.
Alice Limorand.
Nocton Edgar.
and Roa Valrose.
Looking into the memory properly, I can see how I was mistaken.
It was partly because the original plot of the novel itself was developed by hiding the main character, and I also mistook a volume as the whole book.
It’s been so long since I read it, that’s why my memory was tangled.
Once I knew, it was ironic.
At first, I tried to get close to Nocton in order to avoid being burned, but the person who would drive Roa Valrose to the stake was actually Nocton Edgar.
Of course, the reality that I live in did not flow exactly like the novel.
There was a mention of Nocton Edgar knew Roa Valrose as a child, but there was no mention that she was friends with Alice, and unlike the book, Nocton called me “Valrose”.
Claymore’s proposal to Limorand and Aaron’s refusal didn’t happen, and I’m the one who betrothed to Aaron instead.
It’s a matter of course.
Because Roa Valrose was a different person.
However, the fundamental part has not changed.
Aaron loves Alice, for example, and Nocton Edgar is a villain.
The conclusion was clear. I had to cut off my ties with Nocton.
And I need someone to stand up to get him.
A man’s face came to mind.
Aaron Claymore, my fiance with platinum hair and red eyes.
The real protagonist of < He and Alice >.
I was confident since it was simple.
His love must be Alice Limorand.
Unlike the original heroine, Alice has power that can save her, but Alice’s disguise and wandering outside the castle was something that happened in reality.
I didn’t hear about Ed from her, but I knew Alice had a secret.
I also have no intention of complaining about the original story, as I will keep it as an eternal secret.
But I still don’t know why Aaron is reluctant to tell Alice and doesn’t reveal his identity to her.
Even though I thought it was because of the sacredness of the knight training, I wasn’t sure.
If that’s the only reason why he couldn’t reveal his identity, why did he refuse to even send his marriage proposal to Limorand? And why did he reject the marriage proposal from his family in the original story?
Those who have considered it, it was a problem that could not be known unless it was the person himself.
Actually, it wasn’t an important matter for me right now.
The part I had to worry about was the future action.
What should I do?
Because Alice loves Aaron and Aaron loves Alice, I should break our engagement and untangle the misunderstanding between the two.
Perhaps it’s right to help them form a bond.
But … I can’t do that.
Even though I felt I was cowardly, I couldn’t help two people with a good solution.
Nocton Edgar, who I was mistaken for the protagonist, was actually a villain, and used Roa Valrose to approach Alice in order to turn the Emperor into his puppet.
But at a time when Nocton was not the main character, it had already been concluded what his plan would be.
His plan will be blocked. Perhaps by Aaron Claymore.
In other words, no one else could stop Nocton unless it was Aaron.
Alice was also the main character, but there was no special ability of her described in the novel, and unlike the book, the real Alice has a special ability in form of precognitive dreams, but she was also helpless.
Aaron’s sword will be the only thing that can stop Nocton’s magic.
I have no regrets about letting Aaron go.
But if I bring two people who love each other together, I’ll be left alone.
Even so, I don’t think Aaron will let go of me if I’m in danger.
However, there must be a difference between the position of a fiancee and the position of a friend.
It was different from the time when they were able to stay close to each other.
Even though I was a coward, I want to live.
I want to increase the probability of my survival even a little bit.
Despite the fact that I spent years of friendship with him, I have no trust to believe that the Nocton in the book is different from the Nocton in the real world.
A few words of Alice shook me quickly, and after checking my memory, I was completely crushed.
The subtle affection and hatred, the hope that it wouldn’t be bad even if it wasn’t precious, perhaps even the heart that believed he was my friend is gone now.
It’s only fear that replacing the empty position of those feelings.
A reasonable fear that Nocton Edgar might one day lead me to the stake.
That’s why I feel guilty and remorse, but I couldn’t help Alice and Aaron.
Only a foreign substance that interferes with the love of the main characters can survive.
It’s not like I’m going to live like that all my life.
I’m not sure, but someday Nocton … will die.
Aaron or anyone else will punish him.
It was strange to think so, but until the day came, I….
What did I do wrong?
Why did I make such a huge mistake that I even worried about someone I believed to be my friend is going to be killed?
I wish I hadn’t approached him in the first place.
I wish I had remembered everything properly.
If that was the case, I would not have been burned for his personal use, which would make me a fool … Hold on.
Why did I go to Nocton?
Because I thought he was the main character.
I thought building friendship with him would help me avoid the fire.
I’ve been fascinated by the perfect Nocton Edgar.
When I realized I couldn’t have him, I overheard Sheryl Bornaine’s story and sympathized with him, feeling guilty.
When I realized that the original story was not forced, I came to see something.
I’m attached.
I felt superior because he considered me special.
I knew he didn’t take any particular interest in me.
Even when I was suspicious that he was treating me like a toy, I wondered why I still went to the Duke’s house.
Because I’m lazy, I’m already used to it and I like a comfortable relationship.
Was that really the only reason?
Was it purely my feeling that I went to the Duke every day and endured being tested and wounded?
In the original story, Roa Valrose was acquainted with Nocton since childhood.
She loves Nocton, so she does something bad to Alice, and later she is brainwashed, tried to assassinate Alice and burned to death.
How different is the original Roa Valrose from the current Roa Valrose?
Have I really never been brainwashed by Nocton Edgar?
A chill ran down my spine.
The hair all over my body bristled up.
Then, someone knocked on the door.
As soon as I thought of something, I happened to hear a knock.
I slowly turned my head towards the door.
‘Hello, Valrose. You don’t hate to see me, do you?’
For no particular reason, I remembered the words I had heard before.
Nocton Edgar, who suddenly appeared and spoke to me in a low, soft voice.
Knock, knock.
When I didn’t answer, it knocked again.
Thump, thump, my heart was beating fast.
I even hold my breath and stared silently at the door.
The moment after any rational thought simply waits.
“Aren’t you in the bedroom, my lady?”
Oh. Fortunately, the familiar voice soothed me.
I slowly let go of my breath.
My skirt was wrinkled because I grabbed the hem without knowing it.
“My lady?”
“Come in, Sadie.”
Only
The door opened.
Not surprisingly, Sadie, the owner of the voice, stood beyond the door.
“You didn’t answer, so I thought you were somewhere else. You have plenty of time to sleep.”
“No, I didn’t hear it because I was thinking about something else.”
“Something else?”
“It’s nothing.”
With a awkward smile, I shook my head.
How many times have my intuition been right, there was no sign of Nocton showing up.
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