Love Always Returns

The darkness was damp. As soon as I descended the underground stairs, the stench of rotten water flooded my lungs. Old moss, wet stone, dead rats, waste oil. Far better than the rose scent of the palace.

I followed the man in the gray hood without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a word. I couldn't speak. My voice went straight to Ariella. My groans, my breaths, even a single short word. So I kept my mouth shut.

The man ahead raised two fingers. A fork in the path. He pointed right. I nodded and followed silently.

My last Forgetfulness Coin. No more left. I had to escape the capital in these two minutes. After that, all I had was a worn cloak, a dagger, a crossbow, and two smoke bombs. And zero gold coins.

I'd saved the world, kept the heroines alive, seen the ending—and ended up with nothing. It wasn't even funny. I held back a laugh; it might make a sound.

The Gray Hand Guide navigated the underground sewers with familiarity. He never once looked back, never checked if I was following. A good guide. One indifferent to fugitives. Those were the most trustworthy.

"Watch yourself from here on."

His first words. I didn't reply. He ignored my silence.

"Twenty steps to the capital's outer drainage gate. Beyond that's the eastern vineyard. Cut through the vineyard into the forest, and even tracking hounds will struggle."

Twenty steps. I peered into the darkness ahead. A low iron door. Faint moonlight seeped through from beyond.

Moonlight. Outside. Beyond the capital.

I nearly stopped. No. Don't stop. Those who halt right before success always die. I kept walking.

The guide stood before the iron door, pulling an old key from his belt and inserting it into the lock. Click. The sound echoed too loudly. I glanced back. Nothing.

He pushed the door. Creeeak. The rusted iron swung open. Cool air rushed in. Real outside air. Not rotten water, but earth. Grapevine leaves. Night dew. Cold wind from the distant forest.

I stepped forward. Crossed the threshold. Outside the capital. Truly.

Low vineyards stretched before me, black forest beyond. Behind loomed the massive capital walls, torches flickering like stars atop them.

I stared blankly. Cricket chirps drowned out chain rattles. Night air outshone the princess's roses. Moonlight softened the Black Record Plate's glow.

I made it out.

I didn't say it aloud. But inside, I repeated it endlessly. I made it. I made it. I made it. For the first time, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it felt real. I'd truly escaped.

The Gray Hand Guide extended his hand. I'd already paid the balance. Why? I looked at him. Expressionless.

"This is as far as I go."

I nodded. He withdrew his hand, speaking low.

"Run to the forest if you want to live. Don't follow the path."

Solid advice. I turned. Too quiet. Unnaturally so.

Something's off.

The capital was sealed. A fugitive had slipped out. Yet the walls were silent. No imperial knights sprinting, no hounds baying, no alarm spells ringing.

As if they already knew I'd come this way.

A chill ran down my spine. The guide stepped back. I turned to him. He wasn't looking at me. His head was bowed. To someone.

Then, at the vineyard's edge, a torch flared. One. Two. Three. Dozens of imperial torches bloomed in the dark. Armored knights emerged. And in their center.

A blonde woman stood. Ariella von Estria.

The princess watched me under the moonlight. No running. No anger. No tears. She just stood there quietly. As if she'd known I'd come and waited.

I held my breath.

The effect lingered. Yet she saw me. The extra's ragged cloak, the Forgetfulness Coin, the lower district badge, the thieves' guild smuggling route. None fooled Ariella.

"Leon."

Ariella said softly.

"Found you."

I backed away. The iron door still open. Go back in? No. Guide behind. Princess ahead. Knights between walls and vineyard. Left: vineyard. Right: low irrigation ditch. Forest fifty steps away.

Fifty steps—possible? Impossible. Still.

I turned and ran. Couldn't walk this time. Fear response be damned. Capture meant the end.

The Restraint burned hot on my right wrist. I gritted my teeth and plunged into the vineyard rows.

"Don't block him."

Ariella's voice. Surprising. I'd expected knights to charge. They didn't move.

"Don't hurt him. Wait until he stops on his own."

Crazy. I stumbled through vines. Left shoulder throbbed. Black Stigma blazed. Restraint pulsed like a heartbeat. Still I ran. Leaves whipped my face, mud splashed my ankles.

Forest: forty steps. Thirty.

I pulled a smoke bomb. Threw it down. Bang. Gray smoke erupted, clouding the vineyard.

Good. I veered right. Straight to forest? Blocked for sure. Irrigation ditch. Duck low there, follow water to forest's edge.

I ran. Suddenly, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠golden magic circle flared before me.

"......"

No time to speak. Imperial barrier rose from the circle. Transparent wall. I slammed into it.

Thud. Breath cut short. Body bounced back.

"Kuh...!"

A cry escaped.

Ariella heard it. My pain. Her face twisted from afar.

"Leon!"

No. Don't call me. I pushed up from the ground. Knees shook. Had to stand. Crossbow. I drew the small one from my cloak. Hands trembled. Not aiming at Ariella. The barrier stone behind her. One embedded at the vineyard's edge. Shatter it, right wall weakens. Seen it in the game. Ariella route chase. Barrier stones always weak points.

I aimed. Hands shook. Fear. Yes, fear. Fired anyway. Twang. Bolt hit. Crack. Fracture.

Good. Reloaded for second bolt. Then silver chains whipped from the air. Magic chains from the Restraint. Centered on my right hand, they yanked me backward.

"Ah, no...!"

Words slipped.

Stop. Please stop. I clawed the ground with my left hand. Dirt dug under nails. Vineyard mud soiled my clothes.

"Let go."

Couldn't hold it in.

"Let me go!"

The magic chains pulled harder. I drew my dagger, slashed the chain. Clang. Blade bounced. Useless. Imperial Restraint. No way a rusty dagger cuts it. Reached for second smoke bomb. Then someone approached through the smoke.

Ariella. She emerged unscathed, hem spotless. But her face—wrecked. On the verge of tears, laughter, collapse.

"Stop it."

"You'll get hurt."

I looked up at her.

"This is your fault."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Unwarped words. Ariella's eyes wavered.

"Yes."

"That's why I came to get you."

No reasoning with her. I tried to pull back. Chains yanked harder.

"I'm not going back."

Voice cracked.

"Ariella, I'm not going back there."

The princess halted. Because I called her name. No—because the voice was real. Her eyes deepened.

"Are you scared?"

"......"

Can't answer. But my face probably showed it. Ariella slowly knelt. In the mud. The princess. She reached out. I recoiled instinctively. Chains held me. Her hand touched my cheek.

"It's okay."

No. It's not.

"This is an episode."

She spoke as if to me, loud enough for all.

"Severe mental shock."

Suddenly, another voice from beyond the vineyard.

"Your Highness!"

I turned. White saintess robes. Golden holy emblem. Temple priests. And in their midst, a woman. Seraphina el Rosen. The saintess. She'd arrived.

The saintess had never fully seen me before. Or had—in the past, with eyes of hatred. But now, different. Confusion. Shock. Pain sensing the curse burning below my left chest.

Seraphina looked at me. Dragged through mud. Wrist bound by Restraint. Cheek in princess's hand.

My lips moved on their own.

"Help...!"

Voice broke.

"Please."

Seraphina's eyes shook wide. She stepped forward. Imperial knights drew swords in unison. Shing. Night air froze.

Ariella turned her head, still holding me.

"Saintess Seraphina el Rosen."

Her voice was pure princess: cold, perfect, merciless.

"One more step, and we'll deem it an imperial protectee kidnapping attempt."

Seraphina stopped. Her high priest, pale, whispered low.

"Saintess. Not now."

"But that man...!"

Seraphina trailed off. I looked at her. Faint hope sparked. The saintess. Merciful to all, can't pass the wounded. Please.

I reached for her. Right hand bound. Left extended. Muddy. Trembling.

"Get me...!"

Barely a whisper.

"Out."

Seraphina's face crumbled. She moved again. Then Ariella spoke.

"Look at that hand."

All eyes on my left hand. Shaking. Mangled with mud and scratches.

"He's not in a normal state of judgment."

Ariella said calmly.

"Right after the ending, severe mental confusion. Thinks he's dead, obsessed with escaping."

"Lies...!"

I said. But weak. Too weak.

Ariella looked down sadly. Terribly convincing sorrow.

"Leon."

Softly.

"You ate breakfast in front of me this morning."

I froze. Memories blurred. Breakfast? Ate? Did I? Forgetfulness Coin gnawed my recall; scenes unclear.

Ariella glanced back.

"Marie."

A maid stepped forward. One from the princess's secret chamber.

She glanced fearfully between us.

"Speak. What you saw."

Maid Marie trembled.

"Lord Leon... accepted Her Highness's protection this morning."

I gaped.

"No."

Weak voice. Marie, near tears, continued.

"Drank the water she offered, didn't refuse food. Allowed wound check... and said he'd obey her orders."

True. I'd said it—for escape. Comply for now. But not lies. That made it worse.

Ariella called another.

"Ellen."

Second maid emerged.

"Speak."

"Lord Leon called Her Highness by name."

Maid Ellen trembled too.

"Ariella, he said."

Seraphina's eyes wavered. I clenched teeth. True. Called her name. Knew it'd stop her. But maids told truth. Only truth. Viciously so.

Ariella gazed pityingly.

"Leon won't remember."

"Used a forgetfulness item."

Saintess's face hardened.

"Forgetfulness...?"

"Yes. Couldn't bear mental shock, blurred his own memories."

No. No. Used it to dodge tracking. To escape. But... blanks exist. How Ariella called me. What I begged. What she said. Blurry. Weakened my denial.

"No."

I repeated.

"I was... escaping...!"

"See?"

Ariella to saintess.

"Believes he must escape."

Seraphina paled. Staring at my Restraint wrist. Muddy clothes. Trembling eyes. Blurry memories. Maids' true testimony.

Saintess discerns truth. More confused now. Knows maids don't lie. Princess not wholly lying. I did call Ariella. Drank her water. Promised obey. Have memory gaps.

But not wanting return. Just momentary bow for survival, escape. Those groveling struggles now perfect damning evidence.

No way to prove otherwise here.

Ariella reached for my shoulder. I thrashed.

"Let go!"

First rough.

"Let me go!"

Second desperate.

"I'm not going back!"

Third—mask shattered.

"Please... not there."

Saintess swallowed. Ariella's hand stiffened. Then slowly, deeper embrace. Avoiding injured shoulder. Restraint not digging wrist. No escape gap.

"It's okay."

Whispered near my ear.

"No need to fear."

I looked at saintess. Last time.

"Help."

Almost breath. But she heard. Surely.

She moved. Knights' swords blocked.

Ariella's voice cold.

"Saintess."

Still holding me.

"This child is an imperial protectee."

This child. Gut twisted.

"And."

Her hand settled gently on my hair.

"Mine."

Seraphina's eyes shook. Priests murmured. Knights unmoving. Royal authority bound all.

Saintess saves people. But can't shatter imperial protectee claim outright. Temple vs. palace. War seed.

Seraphina knew. Stopped. Looked at me, tears welling. Lips moved faintly.

"I'm sorry...!"

I saw it. Realized. Can't save me. Not even saintess now.

Hope died. Princess's chains yanked wrist. Knights approached. I thrashed. Ugly. Pitiful. Clawed dirt, braced legs, shook head.

"No."

Slipped out.

"No, no."

Ariella's tear fell.

"Sorry."

"But you have to go back."

"Not going."

"Leon."

"Not going back!"

My voice tore the night. Then system window.

Retrieval. Not a word for people. A knight grabbed my left arm. Avoiding shoulder. Another took legs. Polite. Careful. Like handling fragile cargo. More humiliating.

Dragged away. Before saintess. Priests. Imperial knights, thieves' guide, vineyard moonlight.

I flailed desperately. No one saved me. Seraphina stood reaching. Ariella held me, said:

"Let's go home, Leon."

Home. That chamber. That cage. She called it home.

Return blurred. Forgetfulness Coin? Fear? Or me breaking? In princess's carriage. Right wrist Restraint still glowed. Left shoulder ached. Black Stigma smoldered quietly.

Ariella not opposite. Beside me. Hand on my wrist. Over Restraint.

"That scary?"

No answer. Answers record. She'd interpret silence anyway.

Ariella smiled quietly.

"It's okay."

Her voice steady now.

"Won't let you go that far again."

I looked. Her eyes changed. Last night's Ariella broken. Crying, shaking, guilt-crushed. Now—resolved. Would do anything to not lose me.

"Ariella."

Cracked voice.

"Please."

Her fingers twitched. Still reacted.

"Let me go."

Ariella gazed long. Sad smile.

"No."

"......"

"You can't handle freedom."

I froze.

"Freedom hurts you, makes you run, erase memories, destroy yourself."

No. No. That was survival. Escape.

"So."

Her hand stroked Restraint.

"I'll choose for you now."

Carriage stopped. Door opened. Familiar rose scent. Princess's Annex. And inside.

Red velvet chamber. I stiffened. Knights supported—gripped firm. No resistance left.

Crossed threshold. Again. Into that chamber.

Click. Door shut. Barriers layered. One. Two. Three. Four. More than before.

Ariella stood before me slowly.

"This time."

"I'll make some changes."

I looked up. Bed there. But bedpost chains not single now. Wrists. Ankles. Walls, floor, ceiling etched with imperial barriers.

Red velvet peeled from one wall, revealing silver magic arrays like cage bars glowing.

No iron bars. Yet I knew. Whole room now a cage.

Ariella softly.

"Welcome home."

I stared at the text. For the first time. Truly first. No thoughts came.

Ariella whispered.

"It's okay, Leon."

Silver cage door slowly closed.