19.
“There’s no place for me in this crumbling Empire. I’m just a pitiful outcast.”
The Empire’s impending collapse was no recent revelation.
In his past life, Lancel had witnessed this process countless times, even dedicating his greatest efforts to preventing it.
But for someone of the Third Princess’s status to flee in the dead of night out of fear of the Empire’s demise—and to attempt a perfect crime using the flower of the soul—was a novel spectacle.
“My eldest sister and brother… they both changed after father died. A war is coming.”
‘Is she referring to the First Princess and First Prince?’
Claria burrowed deeper into Marigold’s embrace, her face pale with fear.
‘The Third Princess… she’s behaving much like a bird.’
During her days as the red coral parrot, Marigold had diligently tamed and handled her, as if imprinting some primal instinct onto the woman.
Marigold stroked Claria’s hair silently.
Lancel, sweating profusely, stared at the Third Princess.
“Um… Your Highness the Third Princess?”
“Why are you calling me, Lancel?”
Her tone had shifted when addressing him. Even this was a monumental change compared to the Third Princess Lancel remembered.
“No matter what, where else could you find a place safer, warmer, and more comfortable than the Imperial Palace? Why did you run away?”
“…Lancel knows nothing.”
The Third Princes shot him a haughty glare.
“By the time the atmosphere changed and things started turning strange in the Imperial Palace, everyone around me had already abandoned me. I was practically imprisoned there.”
“Even so, wouldn’t imprisonment be better than becoming a bird? I heard you spent a whole year in a birdcage.”
“Hmph.”
Frankly, Lancel had never paid much attention to the Third Princess in the past.
To begin with, she wasn’t a member of the Imperial Family who participated in wars. She was just a woman who would either fade into obscurity, die, or live a normal life, flitting from one social gathering to another.
Looking back, it was the same in the game. She was a woman destined for a tragic and lonely end, befitting a villainous princess.
“Lancel doesn’t even know the Emperor is dead, does he?”
‘All of a sudden?’
Of course he knew.
Yet he feigned ignorance.
“And what about the Emperor’s dying words? You don’t know those either, do you?”
‘The Emperor’s last will and testament…!’
That was something Lancel truly didn’t know.
“How would I know something like that?”
“See? You know nothing!”
“No, that’s something most people wouldn’t know.”
“Still, you don’t know it!”
The Emperor’s last will and testament.
Even in his previous life, Lancel had never managed to uncover this top-secret information of the Imperial Family.
The Emperor’s dying words were only secretly revealed to those who would inherit the Empire.
The true heirs, as declared by the Emperor himself.
Lancel didn’t know exactly who was included, only that the First Princess was among them.
But one thing was certain…
‘The Third Princess definitely isn’t one of them, right?’
Even if he were the Emperor, he wouldn’t want to bequeath a share of the Empire to this woman. Naturally, she shouldn’t know anything about the will.
“The Emperor…” Third Princess Claria began, her lips parting.
“…instructed that the Empire be divided equally among all members of the Imperial Family. I learned of this exactly one month before I fled.”
“Equally…?”
For reference, the Imperial Family consisted of eleven members: seven princes and four princesses.
‘Shared equally among at least eleven people? The entire Empire?’
This wasn’t some trivial matter like dividing up the winnings of a lottery, which was already being split into ten shares every week.
The power of the Empire was the most unique and valuable thing on this continent.
To suggest dividing it into at least eleven shares?
It was never going to work.
“Before the world learns of his death, he left instructions for my eldest sister and brother to divide it equally… He died leaving such absurd words. Do you understand now?”
‘The Emperor left instructions for the First Princess and First Prince to divide it as they see fit? Could this be true?’
As far as Lancel remembered, the First Princess had no intention of doing so.
‘The First Princess was the kind of woman who believed that inheriting the throne was the only way to preserve the Empire’s peace. That was only natural.’
In all honesty, even Lancel thought that was the most ideal solution.
Though she had her eccentricities, the First Princess was undeniably the most intelligent and rational member of the Imperial Family.
This was precisely why she was likely the most powerful figure in the Empire by now.
It was also why Lancel had devoted his life to her three times over, exhausting his entire “total effort” in service to her.
Born into a knightly family, he had always believed his sole mission was to safeguard the Empire’s peace. The First Princess was essential to achieving that goal.
“Then why didn’t you simply ask Her Highness the First Princess for help?”
“Lancel…!”
Third Princess Claria’s eyes widened in shock.
“How can you sound just like the rest of the Imperial Family? I’m astonished…!”
Of course, Lancel was once the First Princess’s closest confidant.
Since he couldn’t say that, Lancel remained silent.
“They all act like they know everything… Entrusting themselves to someone who wants to wipe out the entire Imperial Family? That’s no different from walking straight into hell!”
“…?”
“Do they even realize how terrifying she is? She started building her own Knight Order and army before the Emperor died. She did all that in secret!”
“I beg you, Lancel.”
“She’s been living with the intention of erasing us all from the world since then! A woman who’s gone completely mad! And they want me to… entrust my life to her? Isn’t that just a fancy way of telling me to die quietly?”
“This Empire needs you.”
“Do you understand? Starting the war, killing my brothers—it’s all her doing.”
“Will you stand by my side?”
“She’s the one who will ignite the war in this Empire! A demon, a tyrant, a warmonger, a murderer, just a madwoman…!”
“Even if hell lies before us.”
“I’m scared!”
“My knight, Lancel Dante.”
“Waaah! Mary!”
“Ah, Pia, calm down.”
“I’m scared, I’m scared! Mary, give me a kiss!”
“H-huh?”
Lancel watched Marigold cautiously lean in and press her lips to the Third Princess’s forehead, his mind in turmoil.
20.
“I heard there’s a new boss. What kind of guy is he?”
“They say he took down a hundred men single-handedly. Like the Blackbeard from the sea myths.”
“His beard was definitely black!”
A group of pirates patrolling the coast were buzzing about their new leader.
The position of pirate captain changed frequently due to death or injury, but the arrival of an outsider was a rare occurrence for these men.
“Did he really take down a hundred men all by himself?”
“Some died for being cocky, others were just injured.”
“Damn, that’s terrifying!”
“Didn’t you hear what the guys who faced him said? Dove got completely trashed.”
“This captain’s gonna last a while, right?”
“Heh, as long as he doesn’t get too cozy with the women and fall overboard.”
“They say he’s already having some fun.”
“Damn, I’m jealous. Maybe I should’ve become captain too.”
“You? A captain? Don’t make me laugh!”
The pirate who had been laughing suddenly had his head snapped violently backward.
Crack!
The arrow lodged in his forehead was the culprit. With a sound like a coconut shattering, the
pirate’s skull was pierced, and he collapsed in a heap.
Whiz!
Four more arrows sliced through the air in quick succession.
“Ugh!”
“An ambush! It’s an ambush!”
“Who is it?! Which bastard is attacking us?!”
The pirates drew their swords in unison. Soon, the source of the attack became clear.
Three massive sailing ships emerged through the sea’s shimmering haze. Banners bearing familiar crest snapped in the wind.
“The Navy! It’s the Navy! The Navy bastards are here!”
“Damn it! How did they find us in a place like this?!”
A pirate trying to flee had his head severed from his body by a glinting blade. The severed head spun through the air, arcing high into the sky.
“Aaaagh!”
“Navy!”
Navy soldiers emerged simultaneously, having landed first on the shore from their fast ships.
“So pirates really do lurk in a place like this. I have a good feeling about this already.”
Rox Ruin flicked the blood from his blade, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
“Kill them all. We need a guide, so leave just one alive and slaughter the rest!”
Watching the hundred-odd Navy soldiers swarm down from the sailing ship, Rox Ruin took a deep breath.
The salty scent of seawater, the acrid tang of blood splattering everywhere, and the fresh, verdant aroma drifting from the distant jungle—everything filled him with exhilaration.
“Excellent! The scent of my glory!”
Rox Ruin drew his rapier and swiftly severed the achilles tendon of a fleeing pirate.
“Aaaaargh!”
“Your Highness the Third Princess, I’m coming!”
21.
Lancel didn’t fully trust the Third Princess’s words.
After all, royals were notorious for insisting their own opinions were always correct, making it difficult to single out any one of them as trustworthy.
There had been a time when he genuinely believed in the First Princess, but that trust had been discarded long ago, after he realized that the world didn’t operate according to his carefully planned strategies.
Now, for Lancel, trust was reserved solely for his feelings toward Marigold.
Through countless regressions, she remained his only true companion.
“Your Highness the Third Princess, I came all the way here to return you to the Imperial Family. I believe you already know this.”
“Do… do you intend to send me to my death, Lancel Dante?!”
“They’re even bestowing upon whoever returns you the title of Imperial Hero. With that kind of honor, Your Highness’s personal circumstances can be conveniently ignored.”
“You heartless man! After all the years we’ve spent together… This is too much! It’s too much! Mary, say something! Lancel is trying to kill me!”
The Third Princess’s face was twisted with terror. Whatever had happened at the Empire, she clearly had no desire to return.
Marigold hesitated, glancing at Lancel.
“I… I’ll respect Lancel’s decision—”
“Mary.”
Lancel cut her off. This time, he had no intention of making the choice himself.
“You choose.”
“Huh?”
===============
[Game Guide]
—The list of obtainable endings has been updated!
- Imperial Hero Marigold. – S-Rank –
- Unidentified Ending. – S-Rank –
※ You have reached an S-Rank ending branch.
===============
“I don’t care which path you take. I’ll follow whichever one you want. That is what I desire.”
Marigold’s eyes flickered. She knew Lancel’s words were sincere.
In the past, he had desired nothing.
The peace of the empire, the First Princess’s ambitions, his own desire for advancement, his obsession with strength, his determination to bring honor to the Dante family—all had long since turned to ashes and vanished.
He was just an empty soul.
A wanderer living through endless regressions.
Perhaps he was already a dead husk, long gone.
These were the phrases Lancel used to define himself.
But everything changed when he met Marigold.
Now, he had something to desire.
‘Marigold.’
Lancel wanted to grant her true wish. He wanted to see Marigold rescued from her misery. Only then would he feel satisfied.
“Mary, tell me what you want.”
Yes. Since both paths led to an S-Rank ending anyway, he wanted to choose the path Marigold desired.
“Should I take Her Highness the Third Princess to the Empire and claim the glory? Or should I flee with her to some distant land?”
Marigold’s lips parted.
“…I… I…”
