The End of the World (For Real) #3
Haha, hoho.
While I was watching the date of two people who looked like they had absolutely no problems on the surface, Lily asked me.
“I understand that Lady Serena is a person of exceptional talent, but what does being competent have to do with introducing her to men?”
She hesitated for a moment before mumbling.
“Is it possible that she is truly His Majesty’s hidden bloodline…?”
This is driving me crazy.
“There is no such thing.”
“I thought the number of people I had to serve was increasing.”
Lily looked relieved.
How should I explain this?
I pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Lily, do you know what it means to be loved by the world?”
“Are you referring to Your Majesty?”
Obviously, that’s not about me.
Isn’t my fate that of a tyrant who was supposed to fall and eventually wither away? Rather than being loved by the world, I should be closer to being hated by it.
“I don’t really know.”
Lily didn’t seem convinced.
“If Your Majesty is not that kind of being, then who on earth is it?”
“Aren’t you looking at her?”
Lily looked at Serena.
Serena Enfield.
The protagonist of this world.
And, the girl who is loved.
“Her power essentially lies in loving and being loved. It’s a common trope in fairy tales. Something like overcoming adversity through love.”
“That’s literally a story from a fairy tale.”
That’s right.
In Theodore’s route, in Siegfried’s route, and in Ian’s route.
Serena would miraculously awaken the power she needed most at the very moment she needed it most.
Sometimes as a saint, sometimes as a spiritist, and sometimes with a special power that was ambiguous even to define.
Intense love can sometimes create miracles.
Of course, the reason I’m going this far is because the world is going to end, regardless of miracles or whatever.
Anyway.
I didn’t tell her everything.
But after hearing a rough explanation, Lily’s expression turned cold.
“If she could be even the slightest hindrance to Your Majesty, I should nip it in the bud right now.”
What are you talking about?
She was radiating killing intent with those savage eyes, and it seemed like she was being completely serious.
“Stop.”
“Ugh.”
I pressed down on the top of her head because she looked like she was about to jump out at any moment.
“But, as Your Majesty said, if Lady Serena possesses such miracle-like power, I don’t know what kind of variable she might become in the future.”
“You worry too much.”
“Ooooh.”
Lily became gloomy.
First of all, you don’t know what will happen if you kill Serena.
If the protagonist dies, it’s an immediate bad ending.
“I was just worried about Your Majesty…”
“Above all, do you think I would be defeated just because she can perform miracles?”
“That is true, I suppose.”
Lily withdrew her killing intent.
Isn’t she accepting that a bit too quickly?
“Since Your Majesty has firmly stopped me, it must mean you have a plan that you’ve kept secret even from me. I only trust Your Majesty.”
Her eyes, full of trust, stared straight at me.
The problem is that I really don’t have any plans regarding Serena.
“I don’t have any secrets.”
A secret plan? What is that?
“I knew you had many plans you kept secret even from me, but I’m a little disappointed that you’re denying it this much.”
Pout, Lily’s cheeks puffed up.
“…”
I really don’t know.
But it didn’t seem like telling her would work, so I just nodded.
“Hehe.”
What did she understand to make her laugh like that?
Anyway, it seems my persuasion worked. Her gaze toward Serena softened.
Lily watched Zeke and Serena’s date and said.
“But Your Majesty.”
“What is it?”
“What if Lady Serena doesn’t end up liking anyone?”
What do you mean, what if?
The world ends.
Still, although it’s just a guess, I have some time.
If I just avoid the bad ending events that occur in between, the time-out will probably be when she graduates from the academy.
There’s nothing certain, so I can’t be sure, but.
“Lily, what happened with what I told you last time?”
“…I’m sorry. There were no traces at all, so I’m having a hard time.”
I had told Lily to look for Hecate, but there was no harvest.
Lily looked at me with a dejected face.
“It’s fine. She was like a ghost, so that’s to be expected.”
“I will definitely find her.”
“Don’t kill her.”
Lily’s expression as she firmly made her resolve was savage.
I’m grateful that she’s determined to find her somehow, but she didn’t get the mission wrong, did she?
This isn’t an assassination mission.
You know that, right?
Even though Hecate is immortal.
She said she hates pain.
“Still, I can’t believe she hasn’t shown her face even once since that day.”
I clicked my tongue.
I thought she was an NPC who appeared often to give advice, but it turns out she was a legendary NPC who appears rarely.
If I could meet Hecate, I would ask her this and that to verify things, but alas.
Since I have no means to meet her, it’s frustrating in many ways.
“But Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“I just thought of this, but isn’t it a bit impolite to secretly hide and watch a man and woman’s date?”
Now that I think about it, that’s true.
“So, do you want to stop?”
“Would you like a cookie?”
It didn’t seem like she wanted to stop; she just said it because it really crossed her mind.
“If you think about it, isn’t this also an important task? It can’t be helped.”
Lily rationalized it while crunching on a cookie.
Watching others is indeed an entertaining thing to do.
“However, to be honest, I don’t think this date will lead to a successful outcome…”
Just as Lily said.
Even during the date, the color of Serena’s emotions didn’t stray from green.
However.
“Still, she looks quite happy, doesn’t she?”
‘I’m going to be honest with my feelings without worrying about what others see.’
Suddenly, the words Serena said before going on the date with Siegfried came to mind.
Just as she said, even if she didn’t see Zeke as a romantic interest, she seemed to be honestly enjoying this date.
It was a sincere smile, a little different from the one she usually wore while giggling.
“It’s good to see her smiling honestly.”
“…Your Majesty?”
“It’s just a compliment, a compliment.”
While bickering with Lily, we watched the date for a while.
The sun set, and the atmosphere of the date was beginning to ripen.
With the sunset in the background, Siegfried looked at Serena.
“Serena.”
He looked like he was trying to set the mood.
Serena must have felt it too, as she preempted him.
“Zeke!”
“…What is it?”
“Um, I’m sorry!”
Serena bowed her head deeply.
“Ahhh.”
Lily let out a sigh of regret.
With this, has Siegfried achieved zero confessions and one rejection…?
But Siegfried’s expression was calm.
Rather, he spoke without caring.
“I like you.”
Ah.
This crazy bastard.
“Huk.”
Lily covered her mouth.
Siegfried, who had actually gone straight for it, was silently looking only at Serena.
Did he do it with resolve?
“However, I thought that me liking you might be a burden to you.”
“Uh…”
For a moment, Serena’s emotions, which had been full of only green, wavered and shook.
I could clearly feel the emotion of not having expected this.
However.
“Ah.”
Soon, that wavering subsided.
It looked like complex emotions flashed across Serena’s face.
“…I’m sorry, Zeke.”
“…It’s fine.”
“I think I’m just not in a body that can love right now.”
Serena bowed deeply and apologized.
“No. Rather, I feel relieved.”
Siegfried, who had raised his head, smiled faintly.
“Is this what a broken heart feels like?”
Wait.
That’s a bad ending line.
Wait a minute.
Fortunately, the world didn’t suddenly end.
Phew.
Right. I have to wait until she graduates. That’s the polite thing to do.
“Then I’ll be going now. Today was fun. …Please remain my friend in the future.”
“…Of course!”
Lily smiled faintly.
“It’s heartwarming.”
Right.
It ended heartwarmingly.
“…It’s an unexpected turn of events, though.”
But I don’t feel heartwarming at all.
Just because it ends on a heartwarming note doesn’t mean it’s a happy ending.
Siegfried, you crazy bastard.
How could you go straight for it here?
The Northern Duke route is over now…
Just as I was sighing, Serena, who had parted ways with Siegfried, walked straight toward us.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
Then, she bowed deeply to me as well.
“As expected, I don’t think I’m in a body that can like anyone right now.”
“Right. You worked hard.”
Serena did her best.
Instead of blaming her, I patted her shoulder.
“I’m really sorry…”
It can’t be helped.
There is time until graduation, so I have no choice but to meet Hecate before then and find a way to solve this somehow.
“Is there anything I can do for you, Your Majesty?”
Serena mumbled.
Honestly, it was an overstepping remark for the daughter of a nameless family to say to the Emperor.
But I was already used to that, so it didn’t matter.
Besides.
“There is.”
“Really?!”
“I will send you a letter, so come to the Imperial Palace when you are ready.”
“…Eh?”
Even if it’s limited to herself, future sight?
I can’t miss that.
The female lead can’t even play the role of the female lead because she can’t date.
Then I should just work her like a slave, shouldn’t I?
“Eh, eh. Eeh.”
As if she had seen her own future.
Serena’s complexion turned pale.
“Um, is there anything else…?”
“Hmm.”
Instead of answering, I smiled as kindly as I could.
“I’ll work hard…”
Serena teared up.