The Imperial Confession and My Three Dilemmas
One by one, I didn't understand any of it. Stunned into a long silence by the utterly shocking truth, I finally managed to regain my composure with a deep breath. I glanced once more at the countless royals and the king and queen embedded alive in the walls, then met the emperor's eyes and asked.
"Is there sufficient evidence that they truly worshiped demons and colluded with Harennes?"
"Of course. If you wish, I can hand over all the information gathered by Failer's shadows to you, Hero. Since we'll soon be family, I can even provide details on every demon worshiper within the empire."
"I see... But why would I become family with Your Majesty?"
His natural treatment of me as if I were already his son-in-law left me utterly bewildered. It wasn't the emperor who answered my bemused expression, but Crown Princess Heria Isis Failer.
"Great Hero Kail, the Failer Empire needs you to completely eradicate the continent's evil and bring about the downfall of Harennes Holy Kingdom."
"......"
Her response sent me into thought once more. Right—I had already grasped the general situation through my conversation with Adelin in the Einiss Magic Kingdom. Why the empire had been waiting for me, and how the continental situation was unfolding.
"...In truth, to secure the allegiance of the remaining forces and solidify the empire's justification for conquest, they need the fake hero Kail... I've already figured that much out, Your Highness."
I continued, locking eyes with Heria, who stared down at me intently from the dais.
"However, even so, is there really a need to go as far as marriage?"
"......"
Perhaps confirming from my response that I had no intention of rejecting or strongly opposing the empire's overall strategy or justifications,
Heria, who had been silently gazing at me, curved her lips into the faintest smile.
"I'll speak frankly."
She stepped forward from beside the throne, continuing in a calm voice.
"It's also to atone for our empire's failure to aid you readily when you were unjustly shunned by all."
Heria paused briefly, her cheeks tinting ever so slightly like cherry blossoms.
"And personally... it's true that I've held a deep interest in you since the moment we first met."
"......"
"Above all, there's no justification or reason as perfect for unifying and stabilizing the continent as the union of its sun and savior. I wish to marry you."
A confession blending slight shyness and hesitation with unwavering boldness. Even the aged nobles and generals standing by coughed awkwardly and averted their eyes at the crown princess's fervent declaration of love.
"Ahem, hmm."
"Y-Yeah, youth really does have its charms."
"To think Her Highness the Crown Princess had such a surprising allure... ahem."
And the one most flustered by her excessive candor was me. I managed an awkward smile, very much at a loss, and replied.
"I harbored no resentment or hard feelings toward the Failer Empire to begin with... No, before that—Your Highness, can you truly spend your life with a man you barely know, just for the empire's gain and some fleeting youthful emotion?"
A sharp question I barely forced out.
Yet as if she had anticipated even this retort, Heria smiled all the more beautifully and serenely, without a hint of faltering.
A pure, steadfast expression that mysteriously soothed the heart just by looking at it.
"That will be something we can slowly discover and resolve over a lifetime together... if you'll only allow me by your side, Hero."
"......"
Her flawless response left me speechless once again.
I instinctively realized this was no longer a situation I could push back with shallow logic or excuses. She was thoroughly rational, yet unflinchingly sincere in her feelings toward me.
In the end, I let out a small sigh and retreated a step.
"...For now, let me bring in my companions waiting outside, think it over, and give you my answer."
My choice was to escape for the moment. I offered a light nod to Emperor Harndeia Isis Failer on the throne, concluding my greeting.
And as I turned, awkwardly heading for the audience chamber doors—
"Wait a moment, Hero."
Heria's clear, bright voice caught me from behind once more.
"The war will end once we conquer Harennes and the three Ahenko nations anyway. With victory already in sight, there's no need for me, as supreme commander, to keep directing the front lines myself."
"...?"
I half-turned to look at her.
Heria stood with her hands neatly clasped, gazing at me with far more serious eyes than before.
"If it's alright with you... may I join your new journey as well, Hero?"
"......"
Another straight pitch from the crown princess, leaving no room to breathe.
No justification for refusal came to mind, nor any reason to accept outright. Above all, I just wanted to escape this suffocating pressure.
So I said the only thing I could for now.
"...I'll think about that too."
Mumbling a hasty reply, I slipped out through the audience chamber doors—barely pried open by two straining knights—before she could grab me again. The faint laughter from behind must have been my imagination.
After bringing Raysilla, Selina, and Adelin inside the palace,
I immediately told them all about the crown princess's proposal.
"Ah... I-I see... W-Well, whatever it is, it doesn't sound bad at all."
Selina, agreeing to Heria Isis Failer's joining with a slightly deflated voice.
"With the youngest swordmaster candidate in continental history on our side... purifying Dersian will be far easier."
Adelin, as always, weighing only the clear gains.
And Raysilla, nodding vigorously with her pale purple eyes sparkling as if thrilled for some reason.
No one seemed inclined to object. Which meant, once again, the decision fell solely to me.
Even when the crown princess invited us all to a lavish imperial dinner, I sent the three women ahead and stayed alone in my quarters to ponder.
"Adventure... marriage..."
Honestly, marriage? If I could, I'd want to. I'd once even imagined life after marrying Ferne.
Telling tales of my heroics to a child who looked just like us, born of our love... How beautiful. The mere thought brought a smile.
Of course, I couldn't tell the part about my downfall, but anyway.
Yet despite all these overwhelmingly favorable conditions, there were unfortunately three reasons I couldn't immediately choose Heria Isis Failer.
The first was, predictably, my last remaining family—Raysilla.
She had no intention of ever leaving my side, so could I be the one to let go first? Of the most precious family who got me this far.
Could I push her aside just to form some new family structure?
"Sigh, this is tough."
I felt myself sinking deeper into contemplation than usual.
Raysilla had always followed me, even braving the hellish Tarnass Ice Plains to stay by my side. Even now, with the Demon King's fragment in her soul like a ticking time bomb,
she smiled only at me.
If I fully gave my side to Heria in marriage, Raysilla would surely congratulate me with a smile... but that would be it. She'd insist on staying by me to the end.
'I can't just abandon family.'
My thoughts looped endlessly, but no solution emerged no matter how I racked my brain.
After agonizing for a while, I reached a simple conclusion.
'Right... For Raysilla, let's deal with the Demon King's fragment completely first, then continue from there.'
Put out the most urgent fire first. I shoved the first dilemma to a corner of my mind and moved to the second.
The second was whether I could truly love someone with all my heart.
To be frank, my inner self was so rotten and decayed that even I couldn't fully grasp it.
The day my comrades—who I'd risked my life for in the greater cause—betrayed me utterly, and the entire continent mocked me into exile.
I'd clearly felt something inside me crumble.
Since then, except for my sole blood kin Raysilla, I'd become a paranoid wretch who trusted no one completely.
However, Heria Isis Failer. She was the Failer Empire's crown princess and the clearest, strongest person I'd met.
Moreover, she confessed everything openly, approaching me with pure goodwill and affection.
Yes... I was too thoroughly broken to fully embrace such radiant light.
Could a hollow fake hero riddled with suspicion return pure, whole love to her?
The answer was no. My mind had forgotten how to open my heart without strings attached.
Instead, my deep distrust might corrupt even her shining affection—that fear loomed larger.
And the final third reason. This too was a heavy shackle choking my breath.
Like Raysilla, two women who now seemed determined never to leave my side no matter what: Selina and Adelin Aynis.
Adelin's iridescent eyes, brilliant as she prostrated herself in sincere apology on the Einiss palace floor.
And Selina's desperation, enduring every scorn and humiliation to stay as my guide and maid.
I'd clearly told them both: when this final journey ends, I'll give you my answer.
I'd vowed over and over not to dwell on these exhausting emotions until everything was done.
No, truthfully, I'd planned to end it all without forgiveness or anything.
But with the crown princess's massive variables of proposal and joining thrown in, the future felt blocked again.
Even Selina and Adelin's easy approval of Heria's joining nagged at me.
'Sigh... Always agonizing, but nothing ever resolves.'
I stared into the empty room's void, then slowly raised my right hand.
Focusing my will, a flickering white flame danced above my palm.
The White Purification—said to burn demonic energy and cleanse all—rose small at my command.
The pure white aura rippling on my palm was so blindingly bright.
Yet the heart of its wielder was so murky, sight unseen even a step ahead.
I gazed silently at the flickering White Purification for a long while, then extinguished it.
"I don't know."
The silent, empty space echoed.
"One by one... I don't understand any of them."
I buried my face in my hands and slumped forward.