Nothing Is Impossible
"There is nothing I cannot do."
Franche stared at me with a complicated expression. It was a completely unexpected answer, leaving her looking utterly dazed.
"...A promise? What promise?"
"A promise to grant your every wish. A promise that I will always remain by your side, My Lady."
Franche let out a hollow laugh, as if she found the whole thing absurd.
"You would kick away a golden opportunity for a reason like that? You really are... a ridiculous man, the more I think about it. Even if you have been reduced to a slave, you show no hostility toward the daughter of the very Empire that destroyed your kingdom. In fact, you swear loyalty to her?"
I met Franche's gaze directly.
"So, is there nothing else you desire from me? I can make anything happen for you."
"Is that so? If I had a wish—even if that wish were utterly preposterous—could you truly grant it?"
Of course I can. I can grant absolutely anything.
There was nothing in this world I didn't know—hidden secrets, classified information, the future itself. On top of that, I possessed the body of Jin Barenberg, a legendary Sword Master. Aside from breaking the Slave Brand placed by the Transcendental Mage—which required a significant amount of time and freedom of movement—it would actually be easier to list the things I could not do.
"Did I not tell you? Nothing is impossible."
"Ha, fine. List the things you can do. If there is something among them that I want, I shall choose it."
Franche rested her chin on her hand, her face masked in boredom. She clearly expected nothing from me.
"Do you wish to become the Empress of the Empire? Or perhaps the head of the Decartes family? If not that, do you wish to become the most powerful authority in the land? Just say the word. I will make it a reality."
At my outrageous words, she was left utterly speechless.
"...Are you speaking seriously?"
"Yes."
"Why would you go to such lengths for me?"
"Because I am the one who receives your orders."
"Is that truly the only reason?"
Well, it's also for my own sake.
As the saying goes, even a servant is better off serving a prestigious household. If my master's status pierces the heavens, my own standing rises along with it. But more than anything, it was Franche herself. Her life was incredibly pitiful, but she was also a victim created by the narrative of this trash game. I simply couldn't stand it. Of course, I couldn't give her my honest thoughts.
"There is no other reason."
"......Is that so."
"So, is there nothing you desire?"
"Not from those options. But just in case, I shall save my choice for later."
Franche turned her gaze back to the night sky, her expression returning to its usual listlessness. It seemed quite late.
"Shall we head back to the ducal estate soon?"
"...Yes. I suppose we must return to Decartes."
She let out a heavy sigh. She clearly dreaded going back.
"Tell me. If I were to fall from this terrace right now, would I die?"
"You would not die."
"It is quite a drop, you know. Are you planning to catch me?"
"Yes."
"Why? If I die, your Slave Brand will be broken, and you will be a free man."
That is incredibly naive of you.
"If you pass away, My Lady, I will simply be captured and enslaved again. No matter how powerful a Sword Master is, surviving inside an Empire where everyone is an enemy is impossible. Standing by and watching my master die just to gain immediate freedom would be an act of utter foolishness."
"Oh," Franche murmured, a faint note of admiration in her voice.
"So you do have a brain after all."
She let out a soft chuckle. Honestly, anyone could have figured that out. Does she think I'm some kind of idiot?
"Well, talking to you has made me feel a bit better."
"Were you deeply upset?"
"Yes. That woman, Somire, insulted me grievously."
"May I ask what she said to you?"
"...Later. I will tell you later."
Tsk. Leaving me hanging like this is the ultimate tease. Nothing irritates a person more than someone stopping mid-sentence.
Franche stood up from the terrace railing where she had been perched.
"...It is time to return. I wish time could just stop like this."
"Is something troubling you?"
"As you saw earlier, I was unilaterally jilted by the Persia family. Just thinking about what my family will say about this exhausting ordeal makes me weary."
True, that's a valid concern. I could already imagine how those crazy Decartes brothers would torment her.
They'll probably throw a barrage of vile curses at her.
I spoke up.
"Usually, the greater the worry, the less significant the actual event turns out to be. Do not be afraid, My Lady. Just face them head-on. You have me now."
Franche let out another long sigh.
"Yes, I must. After all, it is something I have to face eventually."
"Face them, and if you truly cannot bear it anymore, just say the word. Whether we run away or smash everything to pieces... I will grant whatever you desire."
A small smile played on her lips.
"Your words are quite terrifying. You seem to have no fear. I wish I could be more like you."
You can be like me. Surviving in this world, under that roof, enduring such constant persecution—there was nothing she couldn't achieve.
Suddenly, a sharp pang struck my chest as I thought of her future. It was devastatingly tragic that there was no hope waiting at the end of a life spent enduring so much pain.
The future I knew. While playing the game, I had killed Franche countless times. So had every other player. Hated by the world, burdened with the fate of a villainess, her only destination was death. A destiny as unchangeable as a mathematical equation.
......It felt as if something were lodged in my throat. Forcing myself to maintain my composure, I spoke.
"At any rate, we should head back now. The party is drawing to a close."
"Yes. Let us do that."
With that, we left the banquet hall. On our way to the carriage, I could feel the surrounding nobles whispering and casting furtive glances in our direction.
"......"
"......"
Pretending as if nothing were amiss, we ignored them and finally reached the carriage.
"We are returning."
The knights didn't even bother to greet Franche or reply to her. They made no effort to hide their utter lack of respect.
Insolent bastards. They were merely here because of the Duke's orders, completely indifferent to Franche. Their sheer arrogance made me click my tongue in annoyance.
"Is something the matter?"
"It is nothing, My Lady."
I stepped beside the carriage door and offered my hand to help her up. Then, I boarded the carriage as well.
"Departing now!"
The coachman's shout rang out, followed by a slight jolt. The carriage began to move.
On the way back to the estate, I asked her.
"May I hear it now?"
"Hear what?"
"What the Saintess said to you."
"......"
Franche silently stared out the window. The glass that had been shattered by the arrow had already been repaired.
"Must you know?"
"I am incredibly curious. Is it forbidden?"
"It is not forbidden, but..." Her face contorted slightly before she finally spoke. "‘Do not reject my goodwill when even your own family denies your very existence. After all, you have nowhere else to go anyway.’"
Hearing those words, my eyes widened in shock.
"...What?"
"I am simply repeating exactly what I heard."
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't find my voice. Somire said that? She was a complete psychopath.
The very first scene of the game opened with Franche walking up to Somire and slapping her across the face. Up until now, I had assumed Franche was just a crazy villainess. But the reality was the exact opposite. Somire was the real lunatic here...
I asked again.
"...Is that truly what she said?"
"Why? Do you think I would lie about this?"
"No, of course not. I am just questioning whether someone who could say such things so openly actually exists in reality."
"I thought I had misheard her at first, too. Perhaps that is why my hand moved before I could even think."
Good for you. Honestly, if she hadn't slapped her after hearing that, it would have been incredibly frustrating.
"But how did the Saintess know your secret, My Lady?"
"That is what puzzles me as well. No matter how revered she is as the Saintess, she is still a commoner. She shouldn't possess the power to dig into the secrets of the Decartes family."
"Could the Crown Prince be behind it?"
"If he knew, he would have thrown it in my face during our conversation at the party. At the very least, His Highness seemed completely oblivious."
Could Somire be a player too? No, I couldn't jump to conclusions. Franche's backstory was never detailed in the game.
How on earth did she find out? There was still too little information to make an accurate guess. I would have to revisit this later. There was no rush.
By the way, did players actually raise a piece of trash like Somire as the protagonist? Now that I knew Franche's past and the ugly truth, a sudden wave of nausea washed over me. Wasn't Somire the real villain of this story? Approaching a quiet, minding-her-own-business Franche just to spew such venom. What an absolute garbage game. I wanted to hunt down the developers and tear their studio apart right this instant.
"......"
I resolved once more: I would make Franche more powerful and influential than anyone else in this world. I would ensure that no one would ever dare to lay a finger on her again. For my sake, and for hers.
The coachman's voice echoed. "We have arrived!" We had returned to the estate.
I opened the carriage door, stepped down first, and offered my hand to assist Franche.
The Head Butler approached and spoke coldly. "The Duke is waiting for you."
Franche narrowed her eyes as she stared at the Head Butler. Without a word, she walked past him into the mansion.
I looked around. Not a single servant bowed or greeted her.
"......" This was incredibly grating. Even though I already knew she was treated like an outcast by the entire household, witnessing her being blatantly ignored by mere servants and knights made it difficult to keep my expression neutral.
As if reading my mind, Franche spoke in a flat, detached tone. "Do not let it bother you. I am used to it."
The words she always said whenever she was ostracized. How could I possibly ignore it? No one in this grand estate followed her. No one respected her. No one acknowledged her.
It wasn't because Franche caused trouble, nor was she some lunatic who abused the servants. It was simply because the torment inflicted by Eden and Line had trickled down, giving the servants free rein to look down on her as well. Perhaps that was why my eyes closed tightly in silent frustration.
Franche spoke. "We are going to see the Duke. Keep your wits about you."
"Am I entering with you?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't you?"
I nodded. At the same time, Franche knocked on the office door.
"Father. It is Franche Decartes."
"Enter."
The door swung open. Line and Eden were already seated on the opposing sofas, waiting. Both of them glared with hostile eyes. It seemed they had gathered here solely to tear her down.
Click. Clack. Franche stepped into the office, her heels clicking against the floor. I followed closely behind her.
Line sneered. "Bringing a filthy slave into Father's office? What the hell are you thinking?"
"......"
"Not going to answer? You little...!"
"Enough," the Duke cut Line off.
"Now, Franche. Shortly after you left for the banquet, a formal request for the dissolution of your engagement arrived from the Persia family. You will explain this matter thoroughly."
Franche's brow furrowed. Was she at a loss for words? I channeled my Aura to transmit my voice directly into her mind. It was my first time using Sound Transmission, but I had grown accustomed to manipulating my energy, so it was seamless.
Franche's eyes widened slightly at my words. Fortunately, none of the members of this wretched Decartes family noticed my telepathic message. Even if they were skilled knights, detecting Sound Transmission required sensory perception at a far higher realm. Jin's body was truly exceptional.
Franche hesitated. She was likely terrified, wondering if such a bold lie would actually work. Even now, her instinct was probably to fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness.
But after a brief pause, she finally managed to part her lips.
"That is..."
"That is?"
"The young Lord Persia... possesses a secret that he cannot reveal to the public..."
Duke Decartes frowned. "...A secret he cannot reveal?"
As Franche nodded, Line clicked his tongue and interjected. "Secret, my foot. He probably found out you blew five hundred million gold on a slave. Am I wrong?"
Duke Decartes glared at Line, instantly silencing him as he looked away.
"What is this secret you speak of?"
Franche swallowed hard, her throat tightening.
"The young Lord Persia... is attracted to men."