Translator: Nox

59 - Marquis Maron

Episode 59

Asta's voice trembled fiercely. I snapped my head up, trying to grasp what was happening.

Reikart still stood in front of me, but through his legs, I could see Asta landing a short distance away.

Ventus flapped its wings powerfully, lifting our attackers into the air and then dropping them all at once.

"Kghack!"

"Uwaaaah!"

There were sounds of things breaking and shattering. Oh, how scary. I was newly reminded that the bird was more cruel than I thought, and I clung to Reikart's back like a cicada.

Knights who had arrived late after Asta's appearance raised their lanterns. Dozens of lanterns lit up one by one. The dark surroundings became as bright as day.

I saw Asta, Maris, and Cyril there.

"Asta…?"

Cyril stared at Asta with a distorted face.

He stood there holding a crossbow in both hands. It was the weapon that had attacked Reikart and me. The men Ventus had lifted and dropped seemed to be his subordinates.

Asta asked Cyril.

"Why are you attacking these people?"

"Asta, this has nothing to do with you. I don't know why you came all the way here, but…"

Then Maris answered for Asta.

"Asta wanted to give you a chance to apologize."

"What… are you saying? Apologize? What are you talking about?"

"I believed that if Sorceress Hayley were alive, you would want to apologize to her, ask for forgiveness, and atone for your sins."

Cyril was genuinely confused. He didn't understand why Crown Prince Maris was here and why he was saying such things.

"So, I had you followed. Frankly, Reikart Winter is too conspicuous. It's absurd that the heir of Vandision wouldn't recognize the last survivor of a hostile family."

"……."

"Sure enough, this is what happens."

That was what Maris meant.

Cyril and his men recognized Reikart, who had entered Enif, and secretly followed him, intending to kill him.

I could understand that far.

The problem was that there was no way Reikart didn't know about it.

"You knew and pretended not to?"

I asked.

"Were you planning to kill them all if they followed?"

Reikart silently nodded.

"No wonder you kept insisting I stay inside the carriage…"

"You said we shouldn't fight in Enif."

"So, you were going to come out and fight?"

I sighed.

Yes, it was my fault for underestimating Reikart's desire for revenge against Cyril Vandision. I forgot how arduous a path he walked in the original story, driven by revenge.

It was also my fault for underestimating Cyril's anxiety, who wouldn't be able to sleep comfortably for the rest of his life if he didn't kill Reikart. That bastard is selfish and power-hungry, but his liver is the size of a peanut.

But I never dreamed that Maris would use all of that.

Forcibly creating an opportunity for Cyril to apologize to me for Asta's sake.

A terrifying sister complex.

Maris asked Cyril.

"Can't you recognize that woman?"

"……."

"The woman you used, betrayed, and killed."

Cyril's gaze flew like an arrow and pierced me. He mulled over Maris's words, repeating them several times before finally looking directly at me.

His red eyes were full of disbelief. It was natural, as something that shouldn't have happened had occurred.

"Could it be…."

No way.

I know what he's about to say. I also think this whole situation is absurd. It's already ridiculous that Hayley, who was reported dead, is alive, but for that Hayley to suddenly appear before his eyes… I can't tell if this is a tragedy or a comedy.

Cyril asked in a trembling voice.

"Hayley…?"

Cyril and his men, Prince Maris, Asta, and Reikart all looked at me.

At me, who was clinging to Reikart's back like a cicada, hiding my face with the hood.

This is a bit embarrassing.

I reluctantly pulled down the hood with one hand, revealing my face. I felt several gazes fix on my face as my jet-black hair cascaded down.

Cyril called my name with a sound that was a mix of laughter, sigh, and sob.

"Hayley."

Yes, I'm Hayley.

I felt awkward at the intense emotions he was showing me.

It might have been different if the real Hayley were standing here, but to me, his actions only seemed like he was writhing in guilt and affection towards an innocent me.

Whether Cyril's emotions were affection and resentment, guilt, or even a long-hidden inferiority complex, I couldn't return anything to him.

Not resentment, not hatred, not even forgiveness. Because I'm not the real Hayley.

Cyril smiled with a distorted face.

"What kind of ridiculous trick is this? Your Highness Maris, was this your plan?"

"Half right, half wrong."

"Then…."

"I asked what you would do if you found out Hayley was alive. Asta said you would kneel before her and beg for forgiveness."

"Ah…."

"I said that would never happen."

Maris's calculation was rational.

He believed that if Cyril knelt here and begged for forgiveness, it would be an admission that he was a shameless man who had used Hayley to win the war between the families and blamed her for everything.

If that happened, he would lose not only the heirship he had worked so hard to obtain but also all the reputation he had built up.

Conversely, if he didn't beg for forgiveness, he might be able to firmly maintain his position as heir, but his relationship with Asta would be over.

Maris asked mercilessly.

"What are you going to do?"

Asta looked anxiously back and forth between me and Cyril. Cyril looked at Asta longer than he looked at me.

What will he do?

I was also curious. The Cyril Vandision I know was a man who had developed an excessive sense of pride as a reaction to his inferiority complex due to his background.

Would he really kneel before me and apologize?

"Hayley."

Cyril threw down the crossbow he was holding and walked towards me.

"If I beg for forgiveness, will you accept it?"

He's checking whether I'll accept it before he even begs for forgiveness. That was just like him.

I thought Cyril was like a clown on a tightrope. A precarious clown who would ruin the performance with just one wrong step or one wrong word.

He was the type to hide his true feelings deep inside and put on a more solid mask the more he was cornered. I knew better than anyone what kind of choice such a person would make at the edge of an inescapable cliff.

Cyril would find an extreme solution.

"It's."

His face was right in front of me. It was beautiful. The face of the wounded nobleman that the real Hayley had madly loved.

"It's all your fault."

Cyril whispered.

"You should have died back then…."

An arrow sprang out from his left hand. It was a short, sharp crossbow bolt. The moment I saw the arrow flying accurately towards my solar plexus, Reikart and Asta screamed simultaneously.

There was no choice.

A huge Magical Energy surged. It burst out, expressing fierce anger at anyone who dared to harm my body.

"……!"

I know. Cyril wouldn't have been able to hurt me. Reikart would have protected me in time, and even if Asta had summoned a Spirit, it would have been resolved. I could have just stood there like a frightened victim.

But it's funny.

Who does he think he is?

"Hey."

Even if I'm not the real Hayley, I'm not generous enough to just stand still when a bastard like you goes this far.

"You son of a bitch."

I don't even know if this is a novel anymore.

"Do you want to die?"

The Magical Energy that flowed out like ink ate the night and grew. Cyril stared blankly, speechless, at the wave of Magical Energy that spread like a curtain between him and me.

I moved a little closer to him and whispered softly.

"Cyril Vandision, let's see how far you go."