The Moon Illuminating the Stars
"Gugu!!"
"...I get it, I said I get it?"
Right now, I was being dragged somewhere with an owl clamped onto my arm. It could just let go and fly ahead, and I'd follow just fine, but it wouldn't release me, and my arm was starting to ache.
"I'll follow on my own, so go on ahead!"
"Gugu!!"
Frustrated, I swung my arm sharply, and the owl tightened its beak even more, flapping its wings furiously. It was smart enough to understand human speech, just like its master, but it had inherited that stubborn personality too.
"...You little..."
"Gu, gugu!"
But if this kept up, my arm really might come off, so I started tickling under its feathers wildly.
"Gu... guh...!"
The owl twisted its body, released my arm, and glared at me. As expected, tickling was still its weakness, from kittenhood to now.
"...I said I'll go on my own?"
As I glared back, it gave me a distrustful look, then hopped onto my shoulder. It was clearly planning to keep an eye on me.
"...Want a snack?"
"Gugu."
I rotated my freed arm once, grabbed a snack from the nearby table, and offered it to the owl. It turned its head away with a sulky expression, but when I pushed it toward its beak, it gave in with a resigned look and started munching.
Its cuteness made me stroke its head gently as I sank into thought.
'...Should I raise an owl too?'
I loved animals. Cats were my favorite, but I liked pretty much all of them. Because with animals, good deeds were always fine.
In previous loops, the villainous acts I had to commit to overload the Hero's Armament didn't apply to 'animals.' So when the evil deeds wore me down, I'd pet kittens or heal injured wild beasts to soothe my heart.
That's why I had a strong desire for pets. Once everything ended, I planned to raise a black cat just like the doll Kania gave me...
"Guguuu!!"
"...Ow."
Lost in thought, the owl pecked my finger irritably. I glared at it briefly, but when it shook its head and opened its beak wide, I hurriedly clasped my hands behind my back and quickened my pace.
"...Oh, Frey? Fancy meeting you here."
As I passed through the central hall, someone grabbed my arm.
"Ow!"
"Eek?"
It was the spot the owl had bitten. Annoyed, I turned, and there was Isabel beaming at me.
"So, what's with the owl?"
In an overly flashy dress, she tilted her head and reached out to it. The owl scowled and jumped to my other shoulder. True to form, it was picky about people.
"...Sorry, I'm a bit busy right now."
If I lingered, the owl might really tear my arm off, so I tried to hurry on, but Isabel blocked my path with a smile.
"I never knew the silver-haired young master was such a romantic."
"What?"
"To have been pining for her all this time... With that face saying such romantic things—who could resist?"
"What are you even..."
"It was like a knight on a white horse rescuing a damsel princess. So cool, Frey."
I looked at her pityingly as she gazed dreamily, then turned to walk away, but...
"Did you see the young ladies blushing earlier? Oh, they're still blushing. Look over there."
She blocked me again and pointed to whispering noble ladies in the distance.
"See? Does it feel real now?"
"Whatever. Move."
The owl on my shoulder was starting to glare, so sweat trickled down my back as I tried to leave, but Isabel flashed a cold smile.
"But why the princess, of all people?"
"...?"
"Why ignore me and propose to a princess with nothing but her filthy personality and looks?"
"...Sigh."
Her endless nagging pushed my patience to the limit, and I snapped.
"Like I said last time, tastes can be unique. Oh, right—you asked to dance before? If you're free now..."
"You're worse than the princess in personality and looks?"
"...Pardon?"
I said coldly, and shock spread across her face.
"No need to compare to the princess. You're filthy, ugly, and lack even chastity. Think someone like me would pair with that?"
"Wh-what... My looks are... spoken of as crown princess material..."
"...Ha."
As she stammered, I added,
"...Can't even beat my butler in looks."
I turned away, and she exploded.
"I knew it...! You're messing with that slut, aren't you? And proposing to the princess? I'll spread this to the family informants—everyone in the empire will know...!"
"...Come with us, please."
"Wh-what?"
Imperial knights appeared, grabbing her arms. Panicked, she looked around.
"Wh-who are you? Let go!"
"...By order of the First Prince. Resist, and we'll use force."
She struggled, but they gripped tighter and mentioned the prince, turning her face pale—clearly guilty.
"W-wait! There's a misunderstanding... Eek!"
The knights ignored her, and with a soulless expression, she was dragged away, screaming,
"F-Frey! This is your doing? My stomach ache last time, and now this—all you!"
I ignored her tantrum and walked on. She glared murderously.
"I'll curse you!! I swear!! I'll make you pay...!"
"...Loud woman."
A knight struck her neck, and she slumped, dragged limply away.
""...........""
Onlookers glanced, then resumed chatting.
'Handy having that image built up over the years.'
Despite the commotion, no one cared much because I was involved. Nobles loved scandals, but my romantic entanglements or noble brawls were daily occurrences. That's why so many villainesses had vanished quietly.
"Guguuu!"
The owl tapped my face with its wing, hooting sternly.
"...Considering my circumstances?"
"Gugu!!"
Surprisingly understanding, I asked, and it widened its eyes, nodding.
"Frey? One moment."
I chuckled, fed it another snack, and moved on—only for someone else to call.
"Ha... Who now...!"
Irritated, I turned—the empire's real power stood before me.
"...Greetings to the empire's other sun."
"Yes, nice to see you."
I composed myself and bowed to the Empress. She smiled sharply, nodded, and beckoned. Attendants approached with something.
"What's this?"
"A small token from my estate."
"...Doesn't seem small."
It was a blank check.
"I heard from the children."
"Yes, I see."
Hiding surprise, I replied calmly. She smiled.
"Shocked at first, but now that you're an ally, I'll help fully."
"...Thank you."
"Anything else you need, just say. I'll provide."
"Yes."
Keeping replies short to end it, she dropped her smile, serious.
"And next time, consult me first?"
"Noted."
Others might quake under her aura, but after mutual destruction with the Demon King, I stayed composed.
"...Farewell."
She eyed me displeased, then left with attendants.
"Exhausting."
Tired of politics and mind games, I sighed, shaking my head. The owl pecked irritably.
"Ow! That hurts!"
"Guguuuuu!!"
Outmatched, I used Star Mana to erase my presence and followed where its wing pointed.
'Hope I don't run into the Emperor too.'
......
"Here?"
"Gugu."
Thankfully, no Emperor. Later, I heard he'd burst laughing at Serena's intrusion during a meeting, exhausting a year's passion into grogginess. The Empress's era for a while.
'Classic Serena positioning.'
Avoiding everyone, I reached the spot. A beautiful lake shimmered under moonlight.
"...Where's Serena?"
"Gugu?"
No Serena. The owl shrugged on my shoulder.
'Did she come looking herself?'
Frowning at a possible miss, something flashed in distant bushes. Tense, I crouched and approached.
It might seem overkill, but meeting Serena now required caution against her family.
"...Meow."
"What? Just a cat?"
A black cat. I relaxed—then presence behind me.
"Guguuu!"
Frozen, the owl flew back joyfully, revealing her.
"Kept you waiting."
"...Serena."
Sweating, I turned. She emanated soft Moon Mana everywhere.
"Meow!"
The cat fled up a tree. Smiling, Serena said,
"...Chased off the stray. Good job, right?"
"Uh-huh..."
Black magic lingered where it fled; I averted my eyes.
"You're such a kid?"
"What?"
"Why act so childish? I know you're not sincere, no matter the scene."
"........."
Her words sparked my unfinished hypothesis.
'...Did she lose her memories?'
Serena was a main heroine—carrying memories via unknown penalty. Normally, she'd plot my death, have killed me, or hate me. Even she, trying to redeem me, hated me at the end, cursing.
Yet she neither hated nor sought redemption like before.
"...Let's walk."
"Yes, let's."
Even under Absolute Obedience Magic, following unquestioningly by the lake.
"...Serena, look at me."
"Yes."
Unable to bear it, I activated Mind Reading.
"...Ah."
Serena Luna Moonlight's current emotions: Love / Worry / Hatred / Anxiety
Her mind went blank white—I got it now.
She'd truly lost her memories. And...
'You really loved me all along.'
"...Frey? Something floating there?"
Grinding teeth against surging emotion, Serena widened her eyes, reaching into empty air.
"Looks like a rectangular panel here to here... Eye twitch suggests opaque with text..."
"...N-no."
Panicked as she deduced my system window, I looked away. She sighed.
"So, what evil spell this time?"
"...What?"
"What villainy are you planning?"
I frowned; she looked worried.
"Share, and I'll cover or scheme for you. Tell me."
"...No need."
I brushed it off, walking slowly. She followed, chattering.
"Frey, you're off. You look decades wearier than last."
"Just your imagination."
"No. Muscle tremors, brow changes, expression shifts, speech..."
"Drop suspicions about that."
She obeyed, walking silently.
"...Look, isn't the moonlight beautiful?"
Stopping mid-lake path, she pointed to the moon.
"...I hate the moon."
"Liar. As a kid, you liked sun, moon, stars—moon best."
Childhood memories hurt now.
"And you hated the sun most."
She sharpened her gaze.
"But this? What was that?"
"That..."
"Proposing publicly to the princess with an oath, among top nobles—way over the line."
"........."
Her anger softened.
"...Moonlight would be doomed without our oath."
"Serena."
"One year, right? Grace period?"
I tried speaking; she cut in sadly.
"I'll devote myself to changing your heart in that year."
"I..."
"I'll strive so before it ends, you see me again... and your true nature returns."
No chance to reply, she approached and...
- Chu.
...kissed me.
"Meaningless to an experienced man like you..."
After a while, she pulled back, smiling softly.
"...But my first—remember forever."
Teeth clenched, eyes shut, I issued the needed command.
"Serena..."
"Yes?"
"...Don't love me."
Heart tearing, her unimaginable reply came.
"No thanks?"
"What?"
Stunned at her seriousness, I commanded desperately.
"Don't love me, I said?"
"How?"
"Then don't worry about me."
"Don't know how."
Sweating at refusals, she squinted.
"Why command such things? Brainwashed? And 'don't love'—reason I shouldn't be loved...?"
"Forget every command I've given."
System window flickered; she nodded blankly.
"...Explain all you know of Absolute Obedience Magic's 'weakness.' I only know vaguely."
She nodded, explaining.
"Can't command harm to the subject. The 1000-year-old Demon King who designed it added that to avoid self-threats... The related formulas..."
"...Stop."
Understanding, I sighed deeply, commanding,
"Never be certain about anything regarding me."
"...Understood."
This prevented system penalties from her—triggered only by certainty.
But after today's spectacle, her family would threaten me soon—not her will, theirs.
If my guess held, the magic considered system and family will.
So, protect myself from Serena while devising ways to shield her from Moonlight persecution and the system's curse on worriers...
"Love letter next time. Crumpled it in anger."
Absorbed, she smiled sheepishly, waving goodbye.
"Take care."
Relaxed, she headed to her waiting carriage. I turned to mine, but...
"Oh, right."
Her voice; I paused, glancing back.
"I love you."
Bathed in moonlight, she beamed her usual words.
I chuckled, turning away—but...
"...Probably?"
Halting at her murmur, I pulled out the letter.
I'll visit soon.
P.S. I love you. (Probably?)
— Serena Luna Moonlight
Reading by moonlight, I muttered incredulously.
"...You calculated even this?"
My fiancée was a genius among geniuses.
......
- Serena. Know what you've done?
"Sorry, but..."
After that long day, at dawn.
- Using Sunrise-Moonlight oath without consult, for Frey...
"But no other way..."
In her carriage, Serena grimaced, using a communication orb.
- Sunrise illuminates empire's dawn like sun, Moonlight its night like moon, Starlight guards the shadowed like stars.
"Yes, I know."
- This balance lasted 1000 years. But Starlight's evil heir threatens it.
Sweating, she pleaded,
"B-but... I made a new vow with him today, Patriarch. Just one year..."
- He proposed to Third Princess, abandoning you. Your chance ended.
"...Ugh."
His cold words; she shut her eyes. He issued cruelest command.
- Kill Frey Raon Starlight swiftly.
"...Yes!?"
- Moonlight leadership unanimously agrees.
"But I...!"
Panicked scream—magic circle glowed on her body. Trembling in terror,
"Gaaahhh!!!"
It shone; horrific scream. Orb: cold voice.
- Don't forget 'Family Subjugation' curse.
Orb died. Trembling, she whispered,
"Still... can't give him up..."
Clinging to fading consciousness, feigning calm, collapsing,
"...Probably."
She fainted; Moonlight carriage headed to Sunrise Academy with her.