Chapter 88: The Third Day of the Festival (XVII).
'Sister Olivia…. She's alive?'
She couldn't believe it.
Olivia Charlotte Alarie, it's been… more than five years since her death.
She was a… complicated person to be with if you're not family. But Lady Evelyn's best memories of her were good. She was an older sister that cared for her well being, and protected her when she needed to.
To Evelyn she had been a sister in all but blood: fierce when needed, tender when the world pressed too close. Everyone of the noble circles she's been included has almost forgotten about her- but to her closest friends… and the people she helped it was impossible.
Crown Prince Dereck watched the color drain from her face with a satisfied tilt of his head. He removes the flame from his hand and casts, "[Inventorium]. I know you're not easy to bribe but one thing matters to you."
He held a thick folder before presenting it to the villainess, "Family."
From the shimmer of the conjuring, a thick folder appeared, heavy with secrets.
He held it just out of her reach, dangling it like bait.
"These," he said smoothly, "are records of your cousin's survival- her whereabouts, even her recent allies. Proof she lives. Take them. They are yours… in exchange for one simple thing."
Lady Evelyn eyed the folder and observed him carefully-
"..."
She was seeing if he was lying.
"You will not win the match," (Crown Prince Dereck) cut in, his eyes glinting with cruel certainty. "Ensure my victory, Evelyn. Throw the duel, let the audience see me triumph. Do this, and your cousin's trail is yours to follow. Refuse, and these papers burn before your eyes."
He snapped his fingers, and the corner of the folder smoldered in warning.
The faint scent of charred parchment reached her nose.
She remembered Olivia's laughter, the gentle brush of fingers against her hair when she was young. And she remembered Analissa Blanchet, the heroine who trusted her, who fought at her side, who believed in her.
To yield now would be to betray both of them and her moral standards.
"I still refuse." She said, voice steady despite the thrum of power in the air between them. "I will find her on my own- I don't need your help."
For a heartbeat Crown Prince Dereck's smile faltered.
"...I really thought this would get to you." (Crown Prince Dereck) muttered with a low laugh, the sound bitter rather than amused.
He dragged a hand through his hair, shaking his head as if realizing the futility. Of course she wouldn't bend so easily. This bitch… she was a monster wearing silk and titles.
And yet, to not try- wouldn't that be unfair?
He needed every chance to weaken her, just enough to tip the match in his favor.
"Do you even know what I had to do to get this?" He lifted the folder, snapping it against his palm. His voice sharpened to a blade's edge. "You Alaries- you don't understand the meaning of mercy. I sent guards. Knights. Mercenaries. Dozens of them, scouring the land for Olivia Alarie."
His lips curled into a sneer.
"They're all dead now. Every last one. And do you know who killed them? She did."
The words dripped like poison, meant to pierce her composure.
"One woman. One Alarie, tch, it's clear that she doesn't want to be found- you'll have a hard time… finding her on your own." He hissed, stepping closer. "It doesn't matter that she's your cousin. It doesn't matter that she's been presumed dead. She slaughtered them all without blinking. Your family-every last one of you-are nothing but monsters in disguise."
His laughter returned, darker this time, echoing in the narrow space where he'd cornered her.
He burned the document until there was nothing left.
"I know…" He said at last, the smile fading to something colder, almost intimate in its cruelty. "You've dirtied your hands too. And you tell yourself it was necessary. But guilt festers, doesn't it? You feel it every day. I bet you can't even sleep at night."
For a moment, his words dragged old ghosts to the surface- faces, screams, the warmth of blood on her hands. The people she had struck down for daring to wrong her family. Lady Evelyn's jaw clenched, her chest tight with the weight of memories she refused to relive.
Her glare burned through him.
"Enough."
With a sharp shove she pushed Crown Prince Dereck back, refusing to let him box her in any longer.
"Best if you shut up and leave."
His smirk returned, venom dripping from every word. "You and I are the same. Don't lie- you always got what you wanted, no matter the cost."
Lady Evelyn's voice was steady, steel-wrapped. "And what if I did?"
He leaned in, waiting for her to fold.
But her eyes blazed as she cut him down with words sharper than any blade. "That doesn't make us the same. I am from House Alarie. We earn what we want- we don't steal it like cowards. Yes, I dirtied my hands. Yes, I took lives. But I only did what was necessary. That is the difference between you and me."
Two sides of the same coin.
The crown prince knew even if she dares deny it, there is evil in both of them.
"Still…" His eyes flicked over her face with a strange, bitter amusement. "I can't imagine what Lady Analissa Blanchet sees in you."
"I have a feeling and it's not a good one." His voice grew quieter, sharper. He stepped closer, magic still sparking faintly at his fingertips. "Every time I see you and her in the same room, I feel nothing but anger. You… stay away from what's mine."
He sneered. "I don't care that you're both women. Even if you managed to seal that kiss through some pathetic little play and call it friendship-" his lips curled into a cruel half-smile.
"With your family's record of mental illness," The record of mental illness that he was telling about is Olivia's display of homosexuality for her 'friend' in the academy. "...I won't take my chances."
"She's mine." The words came out like a growl, low and possessive. His eyes gleamed with that feverish spark Evelyn had seen in men who thought crowns made them gods.
"Analissa Blanchet is mine," He said, each syllable deliberate. "Once everything is settled- once I've crushed every problem… she will be the one walking down the altar to me. I won't need you. I won't need your family's influence."
"That girl…" Crown Prince Dereck's smile curved, cold and triumphant, "…she'll be my wife soon enough."
The word wife made the villainess' breath hitch.
Her mind flashed unbidden to that day- their day.
The heroine and the villainess, standing before a fake priest, a commoner's classroom turned into a humble makeshift church and barely a few people attended the fake wedding booth.
Spoke of fake vows, promising to keep each other safe and happy. Analissa told the villainess that this was nothing more but a fun practice for her.
But for Lady Evelyn, none of it had been false. Each word she spoke, each vow she whispered, had been as real as the ring she still wore. She wanted to be with the blonde girl more than anything in the world.
Her fingers twitched, eyes falling to the simple band circling her hand- their exchanged promise. Her chest burned. No matter how ridiculous, how fake the ceremony had been, to her it was a bond stronger than any crown could grant.
"...!"
And hearing Crown Prince Dereck claim Analissa as his made bile rise in her throat. Rage boiled through her veins, pressing against the cage of the pact that bound her.
The fourth-years' spell pact that she made with them kept her silent, choking the words she longed to scream, 'I love her. Stay away from her!'
The magic tightened its noose, but she forced out the one truth it could not smother. Her eyes blazed as she glared up at him. "There is no way in hell you're going to marry her- she deserves to be happy and it won't be with you!"
"Hmph. You'll learn soon enough," (Crown Prince Dereck) said, lips curled. He took a slow, deliberate step back, placing distance between Lady Evelyn and the threat in his voice. "You don't cross the royal family. Even if you're my- fickle fiancée now, I only need time to untangle our engagement. Wouldn't that be convenient?"
He looked at her like a verdict.
"I've wasted my time trying to bribe the great Evelyn Alarie. I was foolish to think you'd bend. I hope your cousin drops dead in the south." The cruelty in the sentence sat in the air like a bad perfume.
The villainess says nothing, knowing her cousin she won't drop dead so easily but still… she wished she could just punch that annoying face maybe ten or more times.
"Charles." He snapped his fingers.
The butler appeared at the doorway, lowering his head. "Yes, Your Highness?"
The crown prince turns his attention into something more important,
"Is it done?" (Crown Prince Dereck) asked, looking hopeful.
Charles inclined his head and gave him good news- ever the loyal dog. "Yes, Your Highness. Lady Mirelle Avalon and Mr. Xi Yuan have accepted your offer. Be rest assured they will do their best to appease his highness."
A satisfied smirk curved across the crown prince's face. "Excellent. Prepare for the next round."
As he was about to leave he faced his fiance one last time, "Make no mistake, Evelyn. You will not stand in my way for long. And I'll make sure that Analissa is mine for the taking."
The doors shut behind him, leaving the room colder than before.
Lady Evelyn exhaled, her composure finally cracking once the weight of his presence was gone. Her gaze drifted to the window, to the restless city beyond, her chest aching with a single thought.
'I should be out there, not trapped here. I should be finding her.' She didn't know how long it had been since Analissa vanished. She only knew that not knowing if she was safe was driving her sanity threadbare.
"Miss Blanchet… my heart hurts. I want to find you… I want to hold you… I need you to be safe." She whispered to herself, trying to comfort and calm her own mind- the villainess' sanity seemed to be slipping.
"Tweet! Tweet!"
A sudden chirp cut through her thoughts. It was Losimer!
Lady Evelyn's head snapped toward the sound, hope sparking in her eyes.
"Losimer!" She cried, rushing forward as her familiar fluttered into view. If anyone could find Analissa, it was him. "Did you find anything? Where is she- tell me she's safe!"
The bird tilted his head, feathers ruffling.
"Chirp…"
Losimer explained in telepathy that he still hasn't found the blonde girl, he had searched everywhere- from the colosseum stands to the festival stalls- but still there was no trace of the heroine.
Lady Evelyn froze.
For a heartbeat her heart stopped with him. Then her hands curled into fists.
"Damn it," She hissed. "Keep looking, Losimer. The sooner I finish this cursed fight, the sooner I'll join you in searching. We'll find her together."
The little bird chirped once, sharp and sure, before darting off again into the sky. Lady Evelyn's eyes lingered on him until he disappeared from view, and she pressed a trembling hand to her chest, where the pain of worry would not fade.
Then memories resurfaced of the heroine's state being locked in the bathroom.
It only made her feel worse.
"Please… be safe."
===
Library
===
Analissa groaned, blinking herself awake from a short, uneasy nap. Her body still ached. Across from her, Lord Ein had also dozed off, his head buried in his folded arms.
She nudged him gently, waking him up from his dream of meeting a mermaid. "I'm… well rested now. Wake up."
He lifted his head with a quiet grunt. "...Ah."
"We should go now." Seeing her wobble as she tried to stand, he immediately offered his shoulder. "Here. Lean on me, you can walk this way."
"T-Thank you," she murmured, steadying herself against him.
"I'll help you back to the colosseum," (Lord Ein) said, matter-of-fact. "Once you're with Lady Evelyn again, I'll leave the two of you alone."
Analissa turned to him, looking confused as to why he's keeping distance even though they talked things out.
"You don't have to be alone you know," She replied quickly. "You can always sit with us."
Lord Ein shook his head, lips twitching looking at the heroine like she STILL doesn't understand why he's going to sit this invitation out. "No thank you, I'm not about to be the third wheel between the two."
Analissa frowned. "You're not wheeling anything-"
"And besides," He interrupted, his tone wry, "Lady Evelyn sat with you in the commoner stands. Did you know her family practically funded half the Academy? She has her own private box."
"She… does?!" Analissa blinked in shock not knowing that fact, it wasn't mentioned in the game… since it was being focused on the other love interests. "Then why would she even sit with me if she has a private box-"
"You're asking me?" (Lord Ein) arched his brow.
Analissa flushed, lowering her gaze- the answer was right in front of her but still, she's in denial. When you're the heroine in this game, you're more used to… men chasing you than women. "I guess… Lady Evelyn really must care. Enough to give up her comfort just to sit with me."
"Exactly. Which means," (Lord Ein) said with a smile, "I'm not sticking myself in the middle. She's already making an effort to spend time with you. Why not take this as a wonderful bonding experience. Goddess knows we deserve it after that whole thing with the archive."
Analissa sighed, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
"…Alright I guess that makes sense. But still- thank you, Lord Ein. Well… for everything, you've been a good help to me. I guess in some way? We can just hang out after."
Lord Ein appreciates her concern of being left out but honestly, he's alright being alone as long as he can see the two girls bonding and getting closer to one another. "Not to worry. I've got my own private box, plenty of food and servants to entertain me-"
"Ah- wait!" she blurted, tugging on his sleeve remembering something important- a promise she's meant to keep to a little bird before going back or else he'll be pouty!
He stopped looking worried. "What is it?"
"Speaking of food… c-can we grab something first?"
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