A Promise in the Dark

Who am I? That was Franche's question. And I had only one answer. "I will always be on your side, My Lady." I couldn't stay by her side forever. After all, I wasn't the real Jin Barenberg. So, rather than a lie, I chose to give her the one absolute truth I could promise.

"...I see. I figured you would say that." Franche offered a faint smile, then raised her head to look up at the night sky. The starlight twinkled. The moonlight reflected in her emerald eyes, making them shimmer like water. Looking at her eyes, that strange, inexplicable sensation I had felt before coiled tightly in my chest once more. It felt as if a tangled ball of yarn had been pulled even tighter.

...What?

Throb! A sudden, piercing headache clamped down on my temples. I grimaced, clutching my head. Seeing my heavily contorted face, Franche asked, "What is wrong? Are you unwell?"

"...No, My Lady. A bug landed on my face."

"A bug...? Well, it is night, after all." Having spared me a brief moment of concern, she turned her gaze back up to the sky. "..."

But what did it mean for synchronization to deepen because the player's immersion had risen? The voice echoing in my head had said I was partially inheriting Jin Barenberg's personality. So the awkward emotions I felt really were because the residual personality left in Jin's body was merging with mine. Yes. I couldn't call these feelings entirely my own. I understood her so deeply that I had even begun to question my own identity.

At first, I had simply planned to use Franche. Intentionally pique her curiosity, earn her absolute trust, and then, when the time was right, unlock my slave collar and escape. That was the original plan. But that goal was slowly shifting. Now, I couldn't just leave her here alone. If even I—the only one who took her side—disappeared, Franche would completely fall apart. I wanted to make sure she could at least survive on her own. Just until she found someone else who would stand by her side even in my absence. I would stay with her until then.

Franche spoke. "I do not know what I should do from now on."

"What do you mean, My Lady?"

Lowering her gaze from the night sky, she met my eyes. "I told you that I thought the Persia Ducal Estate was my only escape. But that escape route is gone now, is it not? That means I must return to the Decartes estate, but I have no idea how I am supposed to live there anymore."

How to live in the Decartes estate, huh?

"To be honest, it feels hopeless. I wanted to survive somehow, believing that even a worthless life is still a life. But it seems God would not grant me even such a small wish." Franche seemed utterly resigned. It was obvious, as the smile she wore held absolutely nothing behind it. "My last hope of survival has vanished. What should I do now? Tell me, Jin. Will I be able to keep living?"

Franche's gaze trembled as she looked at me. What should I say here? Sigh. I took a deep breath.

"You are mistaken about one thing, My Lady."

"...Mistaken? About what?"

"You believe that you are entirely alone in this world."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that as long as I am here, you will never be alone." I walked slowly toward her. "If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you feel pain, I will feel it with you. If you feel joy, I will share it with you. Unlike before, My Lady, you are not alone." I sat down beside her on the terrace railing where she was perched. "Do you wish to live? Then how do you wish to live your life from now on? Tell me anything. I will make it happen."

Fulfilling whatever Franche wanted. That was the first step.

"...You have not forgotten that you are a slave, have you?"

"I have never forgotten it, not even for a single moment." How could I possibly forget? The number of times I'd been pissed off because of this slave status was too high to count.

"Fine, let us hear it then. What could you possibly do for me?"

"Anything you desire."

"Can you kill everyone in the Decartes family who tormented me?"

"If that is what you wish."

Franche let out a hollow laugh. "How ridiculous. Could you even kill the Emperor of the Empire?"

"Of course."

"Are those not just empty words?" She knit her brows. Was she growing uncomfortable with the increasingly extreme turn of our conversation? But I didn't stop there.

"I am the greatest swordsman of the Barenberg Kingdom, a man who has reached the realm of a Sword Master. Nothing is impossible for me."

Ha! She finally couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter. "You really are absurd. Well, I appreciate the sentiment. But please forget what you just said. I have no desire to be executed alongside you." Franche stroked my cheek. "I am truly glad I brought you with me." Her hand slid upward, gently brushing through my hair. "So I was not alone after all."

Drip. Drip. Tiny droplets rolled down her cheeks and fell. Tears. They were not tears of sorrow. They were tears of joy. This was likely the first time she had ever experienced this. Crying not out of sadness or misery, but out of sheer joy. Franche was not someone who deserved to be abandoned. She was not someone who deserved to be persecuted. She was merely a victim of a pre-written story. How tragic it was to live a life hated simply for the crime of being born. Thinking of her, my path became crystal clear. I would elevate Franche to a position where no one could ever look down on her again.

To do that, I'll need to orchestrate a grand performance. I would tear down the Decartes family with my own hands. Then, I would have Franche rebuild it. Once that happened, absolutely no one would ever dare look down on her again.

But I shouldn't cause too massive an incident right from the start. I could frame them for conspiring to assassinate the imperial family, but that would drag the entire Decartes family down to ruin. If that happened, this whole endeavor would lose its meaning. No, I had to chip away at the Decartes family starting with minor incidents. At the same time, I would build up Franche's power. Anything would do. Running a business to amass wealth, or developing a unique ability. In doing so, I would make Franche the head of the Decartes family. It wasn't an entirely impossible dream. Duke Decartes was a strict meritocrat. If Franche proved her competence, she would be designated as the next successor.

And if Franche's brothers get in the way, I'll just have to kill them too. I didn't care about getting blood on my hands. I already knew for a fact that taking a life wouldn't make me bat an eye. As I was lost in these dark calculations, Franche asked with a worried expression, "Your expression is grim. Are you hurting somewhere?"

"No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠My Lady. I was merely lost in thought for a moment."

"To think of other things right in front of your master... how insolent."

It's all for you and me, you know.

"Let us head back inside. The night air is getting chilly."

"Yes, My Lady."

We re-entered the banquet hall. I moved to where the escort knights were gathered, while Franche wandered around, conversing with various nobles. I focused all my senses on my hearing, eavesdropping on her conversations. Just in case anyone dared to insult her, so I could kill them in secret.

...Wait, what am I thinking? First, deciding to kill Franche's brothers if necessary, and now, planning to murder any noble who spoke ill of her. What was wrong with me? These were thoughts I would never have entertained under normal circumstances...

I don't feel like myself. Was it because my synchronization with Jin Barenberg was deepening? My mind was fluctuating wildly, swinging back and forth. I need to be careful. Not long ago, I had sworn to avoid becoming the final boss who brings ruin to everyone. Yet, the thoughts I was having right now were exactly what a final boss would think. Was it because meeting her had stirred my emotions and changed my heart? If there was anything Franche desired, I wanted to make it happen by any means necessary. I wanted to save her from her tragic fate. It might just be simple pity. But I didn't want to dismiss this feeling as something so cheap. I don't know if this is Jin's will or my own decision... but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for now, I would trust the emotions I felt.

It was then.

"Presenting the Little Sun of the Empire, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince!"

The dog-like scoundrel... no, the Crown Prince had arrived. Crazy bastard. Just looking at his instant-ramen-like blonde hair made my blood boil all over again. Wasn't it because of this motherfucker that I became a slave in the first place? Son of a bitch.

And the woman beside him with silver hair and red eyes... Somire. The protagonist of the romance fantasy game's 'Somire's Route' and the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠player's character. To me, she was a face more familiar than anyone else's. And a user of Holy Magic. Magic was rare in this world. Because of that, mages received special treatment, and in some cases, were held in higher regard than nobles. That was the reason why Somire, despite being a commoner, could stand alongside the Crown Prince. She was highly skilled in Holy Magic, an attribute that was exceptionally rare in this world. Her nickname being the Saintess said it all.

Let's see what Franche is up to. Seeing her chatting with the noble young ladies, it seemed nothing was out of the ordinary. Good, she was doing well. We had to get through this banquet safely to distance ourselves, even if just a little, from the tragic fate of the doomed villainess. Just then, Somire, who had temporarily parted from the Crown Prince, walked toward Franche. Why is that bitch heading toward Franche? It would be one thing if Franche had approached her, but there was no reason for Somire to seek out Franche herself. My brow furrowed deeply. We needed to get through this banquet smoothly, but if Franche and Somire got tangled up... It won't end peacefully.

For some unknown reason, Franche despised Somire. Even as someone who had played the game, I didn't know the exact reason. It was probably jealousy and envy toward Somire, who had everything despite being a commoner. Well, now that I knew of Franche's past, I could understand why she felt that way. I stood up. First, I had to stop Somire and Franche from interacting. If the future I had worked so hard to change reverted to its original course, everything would go down the drain. Utilizing my heightened senses, I listened in on their conversation.

"I greet the Lady of Decartes."

"...What business does the Saintess of the Empire have with me?"

"I simply wished to become close with you, Lady Decartes."

Somire smiled perfectly. Franche's brow furrowed in an instant.

"I doubt becoming close with me would bring any benefit to the Saintess."

"Wishing to become close with someone... is that not my own freedom? I simply wish to form a connection with you, Lady Decartes."

Franche narrowed her eyes, glaring sharply at Somire. Just wait a moment. I'm on my way.

Right then, Somire leaned in and whispered something to Franche. Franche's eyes widened in sheer shock. What? What did she say? It was whispered too softly to hear. Even with the senses of a Sword Master, I couldn't overhear a whisper from that far away. Please, just don't let anything big happen. But contrary to my hopes, Franche couldn't hold back.

Slap!

A sharp, resounding crack echoed through the banquet hall as Somire's head snapped to the side. Somire clutched her left cheek, staring at Franche.

Damn it. Nothing ever goes as planned.