It was a coincidence.
At the same moment, the same question was spoken by two people.
That single question, which split into two directions, took on slightly different forms and reached two different recipients.
One person let out a sigh, and the other held a faint smile.
—What kind of person was he?
"He was complacent, lazy. A pathetic bastard who caused trouble every day."
"Confident and composed. He had talent with the sword, but he never fully devoted himself to it."
—Why was that?
"Because he was lazy, plain and simple. That guy just avoided the responsibilities given to him. He was trash who shoved his burdens onto his brother."
"He didn't want to hurt others. And though he'd never admit it, it was also because of his brother."
—His brother?
"His older brother was exceptional in every way. So he just leaned on him. He threw away even the duties that were his to bear, wasting his life."
"He really loved his brother. Even though he had greater talent with the sword, he didn't want to surpass him, so he stopped pushing himself."
—How do you think others saw him?
"A good-for-nothing who didn't know how to do anything properly and only caused trouble. A sinner who ruined everything because he fell for a petty trick. There's no excuse. He was selfish to the very end."
"Everyone liked him. He pulled a lot of pranks, but never out of malice. He treated everyone the same, regardless of status or position. Everyone followed him to the end, and he led them all."
—The end?
"Yes. That bastard's crime caused a nation to fall. Yet instead of taking responsibility, he begged for his life and fled. Everyone else died, and he alone survived miserably. Truly, a garbage ending."
"My mistake brought down his nation. Even so, he never blamed me. He just fought with everything he had. He never once surrendered. Everyone who faced him was left speechless."
—This is hard to understand. You said a nation fell?
"Oh, maybe I've gone too deep. Something like that happened. Well, his crime was heavy. It's an old story, so you probably wouldn't know, Sir."
"I don't remember it clearly either. Just the moment I was blaming myself, and the sight of his nation burning. I couldn't even say I was sorry. Back then…"
—Well, all right. It's just a story in the end. So, what happened to him?
"He got a second chance. One final chance to correct his mistake. And so, he tried his best to set everything right."
"If my guess is right, he returned to the past. You can tell how desperately he's trying."
—Has he changed a lot from before?
"Of course."
"Not at all."
—Really?
"He's changed a lot. He doesn't repeat the same mistakes, and he's trying to make things right."
"He's exactly as I remember. Not a single thing has changed. Then or now."
—I see. So, what are you trying to say through his story?
"Well, that is…"
"Well, you see…"
***
Yuri set down the Hellgray and brought the story to a close.
"That's the end of the story."
"Thank you for sharing."
Yuri looked at Graham's wrinkled face.
The story he had just shared wasn't something that could save him. No, perhaps it was more like pushing Graham forward.
But he didn't want to lie.
Graham Hartfall was not the kind of knight who would change his mind based on a single piece of advice. No matter what he heard, he would follow the path he had chosen.
And so, this wasn't persuasion—it was a gesture of respect.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Sir Graham. I hope I was of help."
"You were a great help."
Graham gazed at the third prince of Briol with a faint smile.
Coming here had been a decision even he couldn't fully accept.
He had met countless people in his life. But when he hit a dead end, it was the third prince of Briol—whom he hadn't even known that long—that came to mind.
He wondered what kind of answer that man would give.
And he didn't disappoint.
"I'm glad I came to see you, Your Highness."
"If you say so, I'm glad."
Graham recalled the first time he met the third prince.
He had a youthful face that lingered somewhere between boy and young man, but his demeanor was like that of a seasoned veteran who had mastered war.
He had bluntly suggested Graham come to Briol.
It was unexpected.
Though he was praised with the excessive title of "model knight," it was all just an empty reputation. Monarchs didn't welcome knights like him. All they wanted were obedient hunting dogs.
But this prince had genuinely wanted him.
That's when he started to take notice.
And it didn't stop there. The more he got to know the third prince of Briol, the more new sides were revealed.
His prowess in the Allied Army was so overwhelming it reminded Graham of the prince's father. His mindset, evident through his actions, was knightly enough to stir reverence even in Graham.
He had never seen a royal eat the same food as common soldiers or play cards with them.
Sometimes he wondered.
If that man had been born in the Empire…
Or if Graham himself had been born in Briol…
Would things have turned out differently?
Futile thoughts.
"This is a world where knights like me have no place. And yet, the ground beneath my feet keeps getting smaller."
"That's why I told you to come to Briol."
"Hahaha…"
Graham shook his head.
It was time to leave. He couldn't afford to linger any longer. Graham looked quietly at the third prince, then suddenly reached out his hand.
"Let's shake hands, Your Highness."
He had seen the prince do this from time to time.
So just once, he wanted to be the one to offer his hand first.
The third prince looked slightly surprised, then soon took his hand.
"Sir Graham, let's not part so wistfully. You make it sound like we'll never meet again."
"Perhaps we won't. Who knows what tomorrow holds?"
"Well, that's true."
As they shook hands, Graham recalled the story the third prince had told him.
He'd spoken as if it were about someone else, but in the end, the story pointed back to himself.
It was rather impressive. So much so that Graham had almost believed it was his own experience.
But Graham knew it couldn't be the truth.
People don't change.
Not even death could do that.
Even if, by some miracle, the man in the story did return from death, he wouldn't become someone like the third prince. He would simply return to being that pathetic man from the tale.
And so, Graham thought, a story is just a story.
"Your Highness."
"Hmm?"
"If you ever go back to the past, please tell me first."
Graham cracked a joke.
Yuri laughed.
"I never said that was about me."
"Just felt like it was, the more I listened."
"How disrespectful. Do I seem that pitiful to you?"
"You never know with people."
"Hahaha, true. Same goes for you. Hopefully it won't happen, but if you ever go back to the past, make sure you whisper it to me."
"I will."
"Farewell."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Graham followed the third prince's lead out of the palace.
"Heading for the Empire?"
"No."
"Then where?"
"That's a secret."
"I thought I was the only one with secrets. Guess you're no different."
Graham was planning to go straight to the border of Yoheim and join up with Yalta. The Empire's army, prepared in secret, would soon advance on Yoheim's royal palace.
Graham had decided not to turn away from tragedy.
If he didn't go, even more lives would be lost.
At the very least, he intended to stop that much.
His hands would be stained with blood, but that was the burden he had to bear.
"Well then."
Graham took one last look at the third prince of Briol, then turned away.
It was truly a strange thing.
He had come up with several reasons on his own, yet still couldn't understand why he had been so drawn to that man. Their bond wasn't that deep, and yet he had ended up stopping by here.
Suddenly, the third prince followed after him.
"Sir Graham."
"Yes?"
"There's a part of the story I forgot to tell."
The third prince leaned in and whispered something briefly into his ear.
Graham tilted his head, then suddenly burst into laughter.
It was something completely unexpected.
Truly, the third prince seemed to be gifted even as a storyteller.
"So that's how it was."
"I told you."
"I'm glad I did well."
"I appreciated it back then."
With smiling eyes, Graham gave the third prince of Briol a bow he didn't need to.
"A proper farewell, then."
"Take care, Sir Graham."
Graham left Briol.
If the fate of the world was heading where it was meant to go, then he, too, had to go where he was meant to be.
***
Rein sat silently for a while after listening to what Ekaterina had said.
To have returned to the past—it was a story hard to believe. And yet, oddly enough, everything lined up so well that it left an uncomfortable feeling.
Like the sticky sensation of mud stubbornly clinging to the soles of your shoes.
"That was quite an interesting story."
"Right?"
Rein admitted it.
She had been somewhat swayed by Ekaterina's story.
"Very well. Let's say what Your Highness said is true."
"Mm."
"May I ask a personal question?"
"Go ahead."
"I could sense that the two of you were very close…"
"We were."
"So, I'm a little curious about something…"
It wasn't an important question. But Rein couldn't suppress her curiosity.
"Which one of you made the first move…?"
She wanted to know even if it were true, and she wanted to know even if it were a lie. After all, nothing is more entertaining than someone else's love story.
Ekaterina answered right away.
"Me."
"Pardon?"
"I seduced him."
"Why?"
Rein unintentionally raised her voice.
Yuri Briol, her partner, was a decent man, sure, but it was hard to believe that Ekaterina, with her devastating beauty, would be the one to make the first move. She couldn't even imagine what kind of man would be lucky enough for that.
Ekaterina answered with a faint smile.
"I felt like I might lose him."
"Lose him?"
"He was popular. He probably didn't realize it, but there were so many people around him eyeing him…"
"Th-that's…"
"I don't remember everything clearly because the memories are fragmented, but I think I felt a sense of urgency."
"I see. So how did you approach him at first?"
"I just started talking to him."
"Ah, I see. Well, since Your Highness spoke to him first, he must've fallen for you right away."
"Nope."
"Sorry?"
"He wasn't interested in me."
"You've got to be kidding me…"
Rein accidentally let out a curse. For someone to act indifferent when a beauty like her approached—it was beyond comprehension.
Ekaterina burst out laughing.
"Thanks for reacting like that. Guess you believe me now?"
"Uh…"
Rein suddenly snapped back to her senses. She'd been swept away emotionally without realizing it.
"Well, uh… I suppose… hah…"
She couldn't deny that she had been persuaded by Ekaterina.
There were things that matched Rein's own thoughts, and Ekaterina had naturally woven into her story pieces of information that would have been hard for her to know otherwise.
And above all, the more she looked at that unrealistically beautiful face, the more she found herself wanting to believe her words.
Looks truly were a terrifying weapon.
Rein let out a long sigh.
"Very well, Your Highness. Let's proceed under the assumption that your story is true."
"You're stiff again."
Ahem. "Now, what is it that Your Highness desires from me…"
"Oh, I want to look at the catalog first."
"Pardon?"
"The catalog."
"You said earlier that you didn't need it…"
"Well, since I'm here, I might as well shop. I like new things."
"Understood. I have just the item that would suit Your Highness perfectly. If you wear this ornament, you'll look absolutely…"
"It's lovely."
"Right?"
"But isn't it a bit flashy?"
"It's modest compared to Your Highness's beauty."
"Fufu…"
"And also…"
Rein began eagerly picking out items for Ekaterina.
The two of them chatted pleasantly while flipping through the catalog together.
While they were enjoying their cheerful conversation, a signal came from outside.
Rein asked for Ekaterina's understanding and quietly opened the door.
"What is it?"
"Something's happened."
"What is it?"
"Well…"
While they were talking, the sound of the crowd outside leaked through the open gap.
"Go take a look."
Rein looked out the window in the corridor.
An angry mob was marching through the streets of the Imperial Capital.
"What is this?"
She listened carefully, and could make out the chants being shouted by the people.
"Oh no…"
Rein pressed her hand to her forehead.
"What on earth is happening?"
They were shouting for the destruction of Yoheim, the ones who tried to poison the Emperor, and calling to hang every Yoheim citizen within the Imperial Capital. The cries shook the streets.
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