Chapter 36

A large body shielded me completely.

Moments later, the air stirred. I realized that Clifford had deliberately turned around.

"Stop. What do you want?"

A low, intimidating voice, one I had never heard before, was directed toward the door.

The two people who had opened the door seemed to catch their breath.

"This is our fault for interrupting your pleasure. We saw the door was slightly open... but we didn't expect... We apologize. We'll check the other rooms."

One of them turned to leave, but the other asked a question.

"Are you not the knight guarding Princess Octavia?"

"What of it?"

What's it to you, Clifford laughed in his throat.

"N-no... I just..."

"Are you here to spread rumors? Did you come to see us 'up close' because of that?"

"Hey, cut it out. Don't say unnecessary things. Knight, we went too far. This is an inappropriate situation. Such encounters in such places are like a dream for a night. ...We will forget this as well."

The door closed. The footsteps faded away.

In response, Clifford tried to remove his hand from my stomach.

I understood his intention.

It was all an act. To hide my presence and make the witnesses think it was a common tryst. Clifford had drawn attention to himself. To avoid hindering him, I suppressed my sobs and remained quiet.

It was natural for him to let go once the situation was resolved.

—But for some reason, I grabbed his hand, preventing it from leaving.

I held it tightly, as if embracing it from above. My strength was minimal, offering no real restraint. He could have ignored it.

But Clifford didn't.

"......"

"......"

Tears fell onto Clifford's hand, which had silently embraced me again.

I felt like a small child, craving human warmth.

Why did I feel so reassured by the warmth?

Words came naturally. There was no need to hide my tearful voice anymore.

"...You hid me while I was crying."

"As I promised."

A calm response returned, slightly gentler than usual.

"...Yes, that's right."

I hadn't anticipated such a situation, even though I was crying.

"It's also my fault."

"...Your fault?"

"Those people were drawn by my entering the room."

"You were just doing your duty."

It wasn't like when I called Clifford to my room in the royal castle.

However, in a room like this, as long as the door was open, we could claim there was nothing improper, even if we were seen. In reality, when they entered, Clifford and I were just in the same room.

—If I had been my usual self, it would have been a harmless scene.

"Additionally, I hesitated in my judgment."

"...Because I was crying and useless."

Clifford had waited for my command until the last moment.

But I was in such a state.

"Unfit to be a 'Master.'"

"—No. You are the 'Master' I chose."

Silence fell. Clifford broke it.

"Who—what made my 'Master' cry?"

"Will you take care of it if I tell you?"

"With your command, I will gladly do so."

A complex, tearful laugh emerged.

Perhaps because we couldn't see each other's faces, we could talk like this.

"Thank you. It's very kind of you. ...But it's impossible."

"Why?"

"—Because it's an unbeatable opponent."

"Even if you can't win, you can still challenge them."

"Even if you know you'll lose?"

"In war, there are times when you must fight even if you know you'll lose."

"...That's true. Not all battles are winnable."

Even if you know you'll lose, there are things you can't avoid.

—If that's the case, I want to strike back, even in a losing battle.

What can I do to challenge him? To get back at him?

Him... Even calling him that might be wrong. It shows that I'm not being objective.

Clifford's heartbeat resonated through his back.

The sound of life.

He was much calmer than I was.

—Think objectively.

He—That young man only created the world.

In this world, there is a Sky God, the most revered deity.

Even if I wanted to challenge that young man, he himself doesn't interfere with this world...

...Interfere?

Something caught my attention.

Then, why does Rost, who looks exactly like that young man, exist in this world?

It's not just that.

I dug up the most hateful memories from before my rebirth.

The content of the conversation I had with that young man.

—This is the world of 'The Virtuous King.' A BL fantasy world.

I always thought it was normal for a prince to ascend to the throne and marry someone of the same sex.

Since children can't be born between men, the children of sisters or brothers would be the heirs to continue the royal bloodline. It's a history that can only be described as despicable, but that's how it is.

However, two days ago, I heard something important from Father.

There were also queens.

The fourth queen, the sister of King Us, was killed by King Us for angering the Sky God.

"—The Sky God."

A whisper escaped. My grip on Clifford's hand unconsciously tightened.

'All I did was fill in the blanks that weren't written. By the time you were born, the world of that novel should be exactly as it is. I guarantee that.'

'Even if the process changes a bit, the result should be the same, right? As long as a country where men can fall in love is acceptable.'

...As long as the result is the same.

To make it the world of 'The Virtuous King' that I know?

The beginning of the first volume. In the royal family of Esfera, there are my brother Serius, me, and Alec—while in the Barcus family, there is Sir Sil. My brother and Sir Sil meet, fall in love, and are blessed despite obstacles.

The passionate love between the next king and someone of the same sex is accepted.

If the queen's ascension to the throne in Esfera was something that should be negated to build that foundation?

The blank history not written in the novel, filled by that young man.

Was he doing something?

After creating this world, he's not the type to watch it closely. He wouldn't intervene for a 'trivial soul' and waste effort. Once created, he leaves it be. ...But.

'I keep my promises.'

But maybe he left some kind of mechanism.

For example, the wrath of the Sky God.

To set the stage. To correct the mistakes from his perspective.

—Even now?

...I don't have proof, but the pieces fit.

The history of Esfera, created by that young man, might have nothing to do with the original 'The Virtuous King.' It might not even be what the original author imagined.

The published parts of 'The Virtuous King' don't mention the marriage situations of past kings. It's just a country where male love is somewhat accepted, despite opposition. King Enoch, my father, is also depicted as being in a same-sex marriage, but that's all.

The main story is about Sir Sil and Serius's romance and the events surrounding them, so as a reader, it wasn't particularly important. As I answered that young man.

If it became reality?

'It would take a lot of effort and sacrifice to create such a history.'

Parts that could be omitted in a story.

Parts that the young man added to make it fit this world.

This is probably different from the original 'The Virtuous King.'

Two things mixed together in this world?

The original Octavia was forced to suggest her child to her brother, not out of necessity.

It wasn't because of the past where princesses were forced to do so.

Why?

The original Octavia and the me here now.

I know the original plot. I'm different from the novel's Octavia.

I thought the difference was just that.

...But maybe not?

In the original, Octavia was a gentle and kind girl who loved the couple of her brother and Sir Sil. While that's the character setting, the past of the royal family, where princesses were taken by their ruling brothers, didn't come through.

If the history of princesses being taken by their ruling brothers—sometimes even taking drugs to bear the burden—wasn't even considered in the original?

If the princess, who lived in such a history, was the original sister, no matter how kind she was, she wouldn't be so fond of her brother. It wouldn't be strange for her to have complex feelings about her brother and Sir Sil. —But that wasn't the case.

The history of the royal family, where the king's same-sex marriage and the continuation of the royal bloodline through the children of sisters.

...This didn't exist in the original.

That's why the novel's Octavia could support Serius and Sir Sil wholeheartedly.

I bit my lip.

Tears of regret welled up.

Again. I missed something I should have noticed, just like in that space.

The price of running away from the hateful memories I didn't want to think about.

—Even after sixteen years.

If I had faced it properly, I could have realized it much earlier.

'Serius will become king and marry only Sil Barcus.'

I think the original sister's proposal about the heir was based on this. But there must have been other ways.

A happy ending world for Sir Sil and my brother, based on 'The Virtuous King.'

A world where the young man imagined and forcibly twisted the original to fit the story.

—Just as I wished.

The happiness of the two main characters was a given for me.

I never imagined I would become Octavia.

Even in a world created because of me, it wouldn't revolve around me. I would just be a minor character.

But I am Octavia.

The happiness of my brother and Sir Sil, as in the original, and my happiness as Makoto, who has Octavia's memories, are inherently in conflict.

'You want Serius to become king and marry only Sil Barcus, right?'

'"The Virtuous King" is their story...'

At that time, I just answered reflexively.

If my guess is correct, am I supposed to marry, have a child, and have that child taken by my brother, the king, as the correct ending?

This is one of the results, even if the process changes a bit, according to that young man.

I am just a pawn.

—No way.

The young man must have deliberately made me Octavia. He doesn't care what happens to me, whether it's the original or not.

And he probably expects me to fulfill Octavia's role as in the original.

The past can't be changed. But.

...I'll show you the possibilities.

If my brother can provide a satisfactory answer to the heir issue, I will wholeheartedly bless his marriage to Sir Sil.

But if not.

I won't hesitate to resist.

My brother might choose a different path from the original, even if he loves Sir Sil. I've been fooling myself, thinking it's not decided yet.

Sure, we don't get along. But he's my brother. That's true.

If possible, I don't want to be enemies. It's more than just a sibling quarrel.

—I have to make up my mind.

I will end this with my generation.

The practice of sisters continuing the royal bloodline for their same-sex married brothers.

...It's not because it's a BL world.

Simply, it's wrong for others to bear the negative consequences of someone else's love.

I couldn't say it in public, even if I thought it in my heart.

If my brother becomes king and marries Sir Sil, he should take a female consort or make new laws. If he can't, he shouldn't ascend to the throne.

Not just my brother. My father and the previous king as well.

If I, as a princess, make such statements, the country might be shaken to its core. But depending on my brother's actions, I will say it. Even if it leads to conflict.

I won't speak in idealistic terms. It's for my own sake, as I've become a party to it.

If my easy answer to that young man started this, the responsibility to end it lies with me.

No matter how things turn out, at least I won't let it continue to the next generation.

I realized it too late... but now.

—The actions are the same. First, find a (fake) lover. That's the first step to finding a way out.

Then—reinvestigate the royal family's history. There might be clues.

Right. What about the childhood memories my brother has forgotten?

Is it because of something the young man left behind?

Is it the Sky God? Or something, someone else?

The first person I think of is Rost Barne, who looks exactly like the young man.

Just thinking of that face still makes me shudder.

But I need to talk to Rost again.

This time, without losing my composure. I need to figure out who Rost is.

Despite my thoughts, my body trembled.

—For that, I need to settle my own heart.

I released Clifford's hand, which I had been holding.

That was the signal. Clifford stepped back.

I removed the golden mask and turned to face him, who was bowing.

"I command you as my 'Master.'"

"—Yes."

"I won't cry anymore. I'm going to cry a lot, so lend me your chest, Clifford."

Clifford looked up.

What was in his deep blue eyes? Confusion? Bewilderment?

I know I've already shown enough embarrassing moments, but I looked up at Clifford with a tear-streaked face.

The time felt long.

"......"

Clifford showed a small smile.

"Of course, Your Highness."

His arms opened toward me.

I threw myself into Clifford's embrace and burst into tears.

If I could wash away everything I had suppressed for sixteen years with tears, I wouldn't run away. But I thought I couldn't do it alone. ...It's a bother for Clifford, but...

Clifford's hand, which had been letting me do as I pleased, gently touched my head.

I reacted to the touch. Maybe because of that, his hand quickly moved away.

—An awkward, inexperienced touch.

In the swaying carriage.

Is this... the dream on the way to the ball?

I looked at Clifford. He was looking at his right hand. His gaze met mine.

"...I'm sorry. I did something unnecessary."

"No, it's not that. I was just a bit surprised."

I lowered my head again.

Was it you, Clifford, back then? I couldn't ask.

After a while, Clifford hesitantly placed his hand on my head, stroking it awkwardly. This time, I didn't react strangely. I didn't want my reaction to make Clifford stop.

How long had it been? My makeup was probably a mess, and my eyes were red. But—there was a moment when I felt I was okay.

—I won't be intimidated by Rost.

I returned to Clifford's chest, which I had been borrowing.

I felt embarrassed, so I put back the golden mask I had taken off to cry.

After sixteen years of pent-up emotions.

I cried my heart out, so I wouldn't pity myself or run away anymore. I had released it.

Not fake cheerfulness, but genuine optimism!

But if I leave an escape route, I might run away like when I sealed away the hateful memories, so I declared to Clifford.

"I won't cry again until I achieve my goal. Clifford, remember that."

Next time, I'll cry tears of joy.

Yeah. It might not be very dignified after a good cry.

"—Yes, my 'Master.' I will remember."

I naturally smiled at Clifford's response, just like always.