Anyway, I woke up at the same time as usual at dawn. We woke up early for our morning training every day, so our bodies seemed to naturally wake up around that time. Ellen changed her clothes in her own room and met me at the dorms front door.

Lets go.

Yes.

We didnt have proper conversations up until then, but Ellen had tried to initiate a conversation with me for the first time the day prior, so things seemed to have worked out somehow.

We didnt really have any feelings for each other, but I felt a strange feeling of relief for some reason.

However, there still wasnt much of a difference from before. We chatted while we jogged.

Did you have any nightmares last night?

No.

Looking at her face, her eyes seem less tired than before.

I had a dream. It wasnt a nightmare.

Ellen didnt tell me what she dreamed of.

You?

Perhaps it was because she had been thinking about the fact that she always gave short answers and never tried to continue our conversations, but Ellen was even able to ask some questions to her conversation partner.

Was she trying to change?

She didnt have to do that.

I didnt have any nightmares either.

Before, I would have tossed and turned multiple times before barely falling asleep. I was so tired I didnt even have any dreams.

Did she think that I could just casually fall asleep with her next to me? It didnt matter how old she was, but wasnt that a bit problematic?

It was more than clear that Ellen Artorius was not feeling flustered in the least.

Anyway, there was a question occupying my mind.

Youre not planning on sleeping in my room today as well, are you?

If you dont like that, you can just come to my room.

Why the hell would I do that?

If youre worried about the teachers, we are having vacations, so we could just sleep somewhere outside. We have a lot of money, after all.

Why is this conversation going in that direction?

Why was she giving suggestions as if it was already a given that we would share the same bed? Did she not know the concept of men and women? Of course, I knew she felt very comfortable around me.

Did I have to get Self-Control as my next talent?

Ellen didnt seem to have any intention of listening to me.

* * *

After our training, we sat down on a bench to rest.

Anyway, lets just do this until the vacations are over.

Yes.

After we returned from the Darklands, Ellen, who obviously suffered much worse from nightmares than me, became stranger and stranger.

Anyway, I wasnt quite sure why, but it seemed like she wouldnt get nightmares when she slept next to me, so I couldnt really refuse when she asked me to stay with her until her nightmares let up. It was also an opportunity to train my mental strength.

And as you should know, Im a very gentlemanly guy. Ya hear?

?

This is

Hey!

Did she not know how great I was? My second life was built on excruciating effort so that I could be considered a member of the general public!

Dont ever do this with anyone else.

Ellen stared at me after I said that.

She seemed a little confused about what I was trying to say. Did I offend her by what I said just now? Was I talking a bit too carelessly? Should I apologize?

Ellen thought for some time and then opened her mouth cautiously.

A while ago, before I went to the Darklands The gray-haired aunty asked me something.

Did she?

Yes.

Loyars nickname was Irenes Wild Dog, and no one knew her name except for me, Eleris, and Sarkegaar.

That was why the gang members called her Big Sis, other people called her Irenes Wild Dog, and Ellen called her gray-haired aunty. Whenever that happened, she would get beaten black and blue. However, it seemed like Ellen was aiming for that.

So Loyar had asked Ellen something?

She asked me if I could die for you.

Why did Loyar ask her something like that? She thought Ellen was incredibly dangerous, so she might have asked her that as a way to realize the instructions of not hurting Ellen I gave her.

I said that I didnt know back then. I wouldnt know something like that unless I was put in an actual situation where I had to.

Ellen fiddled with her water bottle. She seemed like she was pondering something.

Could one die for someone?

One might be willing to protect someone in situations where one wouldnt die.

However, things might be different in an emergency where one might actually die. One had to be put in that kind of situation first before one could know how they might act.

So that was why Ellen said she didnt know. She was never in a situation like that before, after all.

However, the answer I dont know wasnt the same as saying she couldnt die for me.

Ellen and I had been to the Darklands as well. She had also experienced taking someones life at the risk of her own.

Ellen spoke without looking at me, fiddling with her bottle.

I think I can die for you.

Ellen seemed convinced that she could die for me. I didnt know whether she came to that conclusion when fighting with me in the Darklands or after we returned.

After finishing what she had to say, Ellen looked at me.

You You arent just anyone to me.

Okay.

I then knew what she thought of me.

However, it was then that what Eleris had told me came to my mind. No, I was already aware of it, even if Eleris hadnt told me.

The truth would much too easily destroy our relationship, and I never thought that my lie would last forever.

We werent in danger anymore. No, we had always been in grave danger already.

Ellen Artorius and I.

We might end up in a much worse state than anyone else.

Someday. That could be the case.

Im sorry.

Im sorry.

I apologized for speaking such reckless words, but that wasnt the only thing I felt sorry for.

And

Yes?

-Pak!

!

I flicked Ellens forehead.

Dya really want to die so unluckily?

???

Ellens eyes widened as she couldnt understand why I had flicked her.

Just shut up, and lets go eat.

Ellen ignored me as if she had nothing to do with me, pouting all day.

* * *

The Imperial Palace, Emperatos, located in the Imperial Capital, Gradium.

Inside the Palace.

Originally, it was the Empresss residence, but after her death, the place naturally became the living space of the Imperial Princess.

It was in the exact opposite area where the Imperial Prince resided, so the Prince and Princess rarely met each other unless it was for an official agenda in a common area in the Imperial Castle.

There was no threat of assassination, as multiple safety measures had been implemented, including tight security and protection. Even if such measures werent in place, the Prince and Princess had never made any attempts to assassinate each other like that before.

Anyway, everyone inside the Palace was under the control of the Princess.

No one would dare to leak any secrets discussed there.

And inside the bedroom of said Imperial Palace, where the Imperial Princess resided

There, Charlotte sat on a rocking chair, not in a dress but in her casual clothes. Almost no light came into the room because of the blackout curtains she had placed in her rather dark room.

The room looked as if it was night, even though it was midday.

Someone was kneeling in front of Charlotte.

Your Highness. You You have to accept it.

We decided not to talk about this anymore, didnt we?

The man bowed his head even further at the sound of the Princess quiet voice.

Your Highness, I have put all the information I could find together. I searched all over the continent for personal accounts and information. Ive been double-checking, triple-checking, quadruple-checking. Ive looked over your command over and over in case I might have missed something, but the results were always the same.

The man was close to banging his head on the ground.

The total number of people kidnapped was seven. There was no boy who was even close to his appearance and age group among them. Thats a fact.

Dyrus.

The boy wasnt kidnapped! You already know as much!

Dyrus.

He was much too healthy to be someone who got kidnapped and held captive for such a long time! He didnt show any signs of starvation. The chances of him being someone who got kidnapped recently, as Your Highness said, are very slim!

Dyrus.

After making some brilliant contributions along with the unidentified boy in the Princess escape from the Demon Kings Castle, he had become Charlottes escort knight.

After organizing his thoughts, it became obvious to him that it was just too suspicious.

Unlike Charlotte, who was just skin and bones when he saw her, the boy had looked far from that. He had found the magic scrolls straight away. The demons had even moved to help that boy.

And he had purposely ran away

He had already obtained the complete list of kidnapped people, but none of the people described were in any way similar to that boy.

However, no matter how often he explained that, it was no use. He told Charlotte countless times that the boy was strange and that he should be properly investigated, but she never gave him the order.

Dyrus. Are you done talking?

Yes, Your Highness.

Dyrus raised his head quietly and looked at Charlotte.

What difference does it make?

What?

What difference does it make if hes suspicious?

Charlotte spoke in a quiet, powerless voice while still looking at Dyrus.

He could have escaped on his own as soon as he found the teleport scroll. However, he came back to the garrison to save me, and he somehow managed to do it.

Dyrus, no matter how often you tell me such things, it wont change anything. Even if the boy is suspicious and we arent able to identify him. Its all useless. It doesnt make the slightest difference.

It would never change the fact that he risked his life to save me. It also doesnt change the fact that he didnt even ask for anything in return for saving me.

There were so many suspicious circumstances surrounding him, but it wouldnt change anything.

The boy had risked his own life to save hers. Although he was surrounded by various lies, that fact was the truth. Charlotte leaned her body against the backrest of the rocking chair, slightly making it rock.

My order will stay the same.

A ray of light entered the room, flashing across Charlottes face.

Dont investigate the boy anymore.

Every time light shone on Charlottes face, her eyes lit up for but a moment.

Charlottes eyes, which became visible for a moment, didnt shine with their usual golden luster, but were dyed in black darkness, seeming like an endless void.

It was such a deep and dark color that they felt like they led to a limitless abyss.

Your Highness. He might be the only one who knows how to cure Your Highness condition, even if the chance is low.

I said it before

Charlottes black eyes gleamed grimly.

I dont want to put his life in danger after he has given me the chance to live just a bit longer.

A glimmer of hope.

That was why Dyrus had tried to find the boy so desperately, however the Princess refused that. She felt no need to bring him out into the world as long as she knew that he was in a safe place.

A certain wizards Scroll Shop.

Charlotte and Reinhardt were the only ones in the world who knew that the place was connected to that boy.

Charlotte didnt tell that information to any of her people.

Im tired. Leave.

Yes, Your Highness.

After Dyrus left, Charlotte stared blankly at the ceiling.

Just who are you?

There were a lot of things she didnt want to accept. However, with each passing day, she grew warier, so she gradually came to accept some of the facts.

Are you really my enemy?

Charlotte took several deep breaths, covering her eyes with her right hand.

Haaaaaah

When she removed her hand, Charlottes eyes were back to her usual golden color.

Is this cruel?

Wh-why are Why are you doing this to me? Why me? What are you trying to do to me?

Do you think this is cruel?

Dont! Dont do this! Stop!

This is a war between species. Its a fight that started with the annihilation of the other as a goal.

Dont touch me! Leave! Leave me alone!

So theres no reason for us not to have some insurance just in case.

Uuhurk! Urg! Hurrrg! Kyaaaaaark!

Charlottes body trembled slightly as she closed her eyesit almost seemed as if she was convulsing.

She remembered absolutely terrible memories.

-Gorge! Bite!

U-u-uwa Uwaaaaaaark!

U-uhuurk! Uwaark! Uwaaaaaaarg!

When she had seen humans eating each other, her bonds of reason had been broken.

Seeing those who had forsaken their dignity, those whose dignity had been forever lost

Watching people ripping off the flesh of corpses and even trying to eat the living with no rhyme or reason.

And seeing her mother, who had fed on someone elses flesh like a hungry ghost.

All of it had made Charlotte lose all reason.

She knew

She already knew

She already knew all those things, even if Dyrus didnt say anything.

She just didnt want to accept it. That kids presence was the only form of hope she had. So all those words were just unacceptable to her.

Sob, hurk Sob

C-calm down

She just wanted to believe that the boy who had been kidnapped like her had somehow survived.

She knew in her head that it was unlikely, but her heart just couldnt accept that.

However, she had to accept it. There was so much evidence, so many truths she had no other choice but to accept.

Hu-urg! Wh-wh Who. Who are you How?

N-no! I mean, I was trapped in here as well!

But how could there have been any survivors?

She had been startled by the boys presence. With that, she seemed to have confirmed that she hadnt lost all her reason and killed everyone.

She even felt a certain sense of joy.

So she didnt doubt anything.

However, she had to accept the simple truth that no one could have survived in that situation.

That boy wasnt a survivor.

She already knew that there were several suspicious points about him in the countless moments that passed by in the blink of an eye.

The boy he didnt know she was locked up there.

He was completely unaware of the gruesome and horrific massacre that left that scene.

That was why she tried to only focus on the most important facts.

He had saved her life while risking his own.

She just wanted to remember that one absolute truth.

Tears slipped through Charlottes closed eyelids.

* * *

Nothing had changed since then. We still had few conversations, but we did both exercise and spar together.

The only thing unusual was that Ellen started sleeping in my room, completely abandoning her own room. However, humans were very adaptive animals.

After a few days of doing that, I didnt really mind it anymore.

Ellen told me she would leave Temple to go visit Loyar, she she came back in the middle of the night that day after she had obviously gotten beaten up by Loyar.

Time passed, and our vacations were coming to an end.

Ellen, Adelia, and I packed our bags and left Temple.

Liana de Grantz, wearing casual clothes, was waiting for us at the entrance.

Youre just in time.

We were going to her villa on the Edina islands to play before our summer vacations would finally come to an end.