「No, I didn't mean to… I didn't do it on purpose…!」
Elise's fall.
Seeing Elise fall into the river, Rina, who panicked, found herself back home when she came to her senses.
She returned to the mansion as if fleeing, without even confirming Elise's life or death, or thinking that she should call someone for help.
And locking herself in her room, she trembled at the accidental event.
「An accident… right, that was an accident.」
『But you didn't call people to ask for help.』
「That was, just because I was so panicked….」
『Actually, didn't you think it turned out well? You erased the stain on your life and removed the obstacle blocking your son's path.』
「That's not true! I just──!」
Rina going crazy amidst agony.
It would have been better if everything was revealed clearly and she faced appropriate consequences.
But it wasn't so.
No one came to arrest Rina as if nothing had happened.
In the end, Rina carefully looked into the situation to see what happened, and,
「Amnesia?」
She learned that Elise, who fell into the river that day, survived but fell into amnesia.
Naturally, the reason she left the house alone without anyone knowing at such an hour, the reason she fell into the river, and what happened to her—nothing became known.
In this situation, Rina thought it turned out well instead.
Although she got amnesia, she didn't die.
And now she surely wouldn't get involved with her son anymore.
This was enough.
With this, everything will work out well.
Rina thought so, but,
「Madam, the Young Master is…!」
The problem wasn't over yet.
Leon was subdued while trying to sneak out of the mansion.
It couldn't go on like this.
Unless her son gave up, a fundamental solution was far away.
Realizing that, Rina hardened her resolve and decided to tell her son the truth.
She decided to confess the relationship with Elise, which she intended not to tell because she wanted to hide her shameful past and didn't want to shock her son.
「You and that woman are… strictly speaking, siblings.」
「W-What…? Lie… Mother is lying right now! You're lying to make me give up…!」
At the shocking truth, Leon screamed.
But that didn't change the truth.
He had no choice but to accept it.
Because if he didn't accept it here, nothing would progress.
「…It doesn't matter.」
「Leon! Please…!」
They weren't real siblings anyway, and not many people knew this fact.
Even if the world knew this, it might be a moral issue, but not a legal one.
Leon couldn't fold his feelings for Elise and tried to go find her.
Towards such a son, Rina eventually accepted that blocking him further was useless.
Because anyway… it was already all over.
Elise, who got amnesia, had forgotten her past and welcomed a new life under the devoted care of her family, acquaintances, and fiancé.
Why did a grown woman leave the house alone at such a late hour without anyone knowing?
Regardless of such voices of suspicion, the fiancé embraced Elise.
The fiancé, who had turned over a new leaf, was sincere to Elise, and at such a fiancé's devotion, Elise, who forgot her past, fell in love with her fiancé.
Now only the official wedding ceremony remained.
Leon, who learned this fact belatedly, despaired.
And….
「You have to be happy.」
Seeing Elise, whose body had recovered to some extent, walking while holding her fiancé's hand, he wished her happiness and turned away.
Two men and a woman passing each other on the bridge as if crossing paths.
Amidst that, Elise, who was thought to have forgotten everything including Leon and the past events,
「Goodbye….」
Muttered while looking faintly at Leon's retreating figure.
Leaving such intense lingering feelings and questions, the bitter love came to an end.
An ending that felt like waking up from a dream and returning to reality.
Did Elise really have amnesia?
Did Elise perhaps know the relationship between herself and Leon?
Why did Elise make such a choice?
The novel, the story ended, but an ending full of things to think about at the level of anguish.
Sophie Ember, who read the last page, shuddered and agonized in the aftermath.
It felt unresolved.
Instead of a clear and refreshing conclusion, 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 presented a complex ending.
Was it really amnesia?
If so, did she recall her memories the moment she saw Leon?
If not?
In a way, it was an ending that could be called stressful, but it matched the atmosphere of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 too well.
The story ending without everything concluding neatly was further heightening the ripple effect of the muddy Makjang story.
The lingering feeling was strong, too strong.
Sophie couldn't help but groan at the intense aftertaste that made her wonder if this was allowed.
At the very least, she wanted to know if the heroine Elise feigned amnesia, and if she did, what the reason was.
"I can't take it anymore."
Sophie, who sprang up from her seat with a stiff face, went to find Noel with the manuscript in hand.
She intended to resolve her doubts while giving the review and feedback Noel requested directly.
They say there are cases of intentionally ending with such an open ending to give readers various things to think about, but this was too much.
If the story ended neatly, it ended, but── she was so curious she wanted to ask what the truth was.
So, Sophie, who was going to find Noel,
"Princess?!"
Encountered Princess Lydia in the hallway and hurriedly paid her respects.
"Ah, surely… you were Lady Noel's tutor, Miss Sophie, right? Of the Ember Barony."
"To think you remember me, I am awestruck."
Sophie bowed deeply saying it was the highest honor.
Princess Lydia took interest, thinking that her truly upright appearance indeed made her worthy of being hired as a teacher for a noble young lady.
"You look in a hurry, I wonder if I interrupted you."
"No, what are you saying. Not at all."
If she said she was in a hurry, she was, but it wasn't exactly urgent either.
Considering the reason, it wasn't an interruption.
Rather──.
"I was looking for Lady Noel."
Considering why Princess Lydia was staying at the Grace Viscount family, it was perfect timing.
"Actually, I just finished reviewing the second volume of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 that Lady Noel requested."
"What…?"
Princess Lydia's eyes grew as big as lanterns hearing the unexpected story.
And it was no different for Rosalyn who was standing by the Princess's side.
What did that woman just say?
The second volume of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」?
Did she surely say that?
I didn't hear it wrong, right?
Rosalyn and Lydia stared hotly at Sophie, more precisely at the manuscript she held in her hand, with eyes that seemed to say that.
At that gaze, Sophie Ember felt inwardly smug.
She knew very well that the two people in front of her were also fanatic fans of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」.
They fell for 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 recited at the reading session so much that they barged into the Viscountcy.
But bypassing such a Princess, she saw the conclusion of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 first.
Truly… she was aware it was childish if called childish, but she couldn't hide the feeling of becoming smug.
As a fan of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」, the fact that she saw the conclusion before the Princess felt uncontrollably delightful.
Seeing Sophie like that, Princess Lydia's pupils trembled slightly.
"T-Then what you are holding in your hand right now is…?"
"Yes, it is the draft of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 that Lady Noel requested editing for."
"Gulp."
The sound of swallowing dry saliva echoed loudly in the hallway.
Sophie knew what Princess Lydia and the escort knight Rosalyn were thinking and what hearts they had right now.
So,
"If it's alright… would you like to see it?"
Stopping the enjoyment of petty superiority here, she spoke like this exercising the 'comradeship' of liking the same work.
"Yes?! I-Is that really okay?!"
Princess Lydia wanted to answer she would see it right away… but no matter how urgent her heart was, she didn't forget manners.
She had at least enough awareness that viewing an unfinished manuscript at will was committing a great discourtesy to the author.
Therefore, suppressing the heart that wanted to take the manuscript and indulge immediately, she carefully read the room wondering if asking for permission first was right.
To such a Princess, Sophie pondered for a moment and spoke.
"I feel that my opinion alone is lacking somehow. If I could hear the impressions of you two as well, I wonder if I could give better quality feedback to Lady Noel and raise the completeness of the work…."
This was also sincere, but it wasn't the only reason.
Seeing the conclusion of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」, she couldn't endure the impulse to share this maddening passion she felt with others even a little faster.
It is similar to how one's mouth itches after seeing an interesting work.
To circulate a draft that hasn't even been officially revealed to the world yet without the author's permission?
Knowing it was a tremendous rudeness, Sophie Ember, who taught manners as a lady to Noel, not anyone else, was committing such rudeness.
The dopamine provided by the conclusion of 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 was intense enough to shatter the brake called patience and self-control.
It was truly a shock development itself from start to finish.
To have to suffer alone groaning until the book is officially published without being able to share that emotion with others?
Finding it impossible to endure, Sophie closed her eyes tight! and did it.
Like a water ghost, she grabbed Lydia and Rosalyn's ankles and dragged them into the sea of dopamine.
The result was,
"This is… this must be published as is! To take something out from here is no different from an insult to the work!"
"Princess…? B-But the development is too stimulating and the dignity──."
"What is the problem with being stimulating and raw? Nude paintings are art too. Isn't what the creator intends to express and what the receiver feels more important?"
Noel's plan to purify it to be a bit noble-like ended up completely ruined.
Because Princess Lydia opposed it fiercely with a ghastly appearance.
When the top of the top speaks, what can one do?
One has no choice but to follow.
It meant the raw 「The Bridges of Imperium Town」 came to see the light of the world.
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