The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Triang Village (7)

***

Things progressed smoothly in Triang Village.

Upon arrival, we presented the academy's authorization, and,

The villagers, all of them, were summoned to the village chief's house, which we used as an interrogation room.

The villagers, having suffered from the heresy problem, readily cooperated. Objecting would have been tantamount to admitting their involvement.

"Grace."

The first person we interrogated was a 68-year-old man named Jess.

I had a specific reason for choosing him first.

"He's telling the truth."

This old man?

I glanced at Grace, who avoided my gaze, her lips pressed firmly together.

"I'll ask again. Because of your choices, even innocent people might die. If I decide to take matters into my own hands."

"…He's… lying."

I knew it.

It was fortunate that the only heretic whose appearance was described in the original story was this old man. I had chosen him as the first target for Grace's interrogation.

Grace had initially tried to protect the heretics, just like in the original story.

But when I drew my sword, conveying my intention to kill this man if I later discovered he was a heretic, she finally relented.

I didn't have time for these heretics. Dealing with Lili was already a headache.

"Grace?"

Anna's voice was filled with surprise. She couldn't believe that Grace, known for her unwavering sincerity, would lie to protect a heretic.

"…."

Lili, too, was surprised, although she didn't say anything.

Grace's unexpected lie seemed to bother her. She kept glancing at Grace.

Her gaze briefly met mine, but neither of us reacted.

I was too preoccupied with figuring out how to deal with Lili.

And Lili… was probably trying to avoid me.

***

Chirp, chirp.

I sighed, listening to the crickets chirping under the starry night sky.

"Sigh…"

I didn't know what to do.

She was my reason for living, my purpose in this world.

If I had to give her up, what would I live for?

Could I even give her up?

I knew I couldn't. My first love was too powerful, too intoxicating.

I knew my actions were foolish, pathetic.

I had read countless stories about such frustrating characters.

I knew I was no different from them, but that realization didn't change anything.

I was ignorant, inexperienced. Everything was new to me.

Even the protagonists in romance fantasy novels knew their rivals, the obstacles in their path to love. But I didn't even know who my rival was.

And I couldn't afford to waste time searching for him, leaving Lili vulnerable.

She had deviated from her predetermined path, yet she was still connected to the characters from the original story.

Which meant I didn't know if, or how much, the author could influence her.

Would she revert back to the original storyline if I cut ties with her?

Nothing was certain.

Anything was possible.

As soon as I distanced myself from her, she had gone to the academy, just like in the original story.

Despite having a fiancé she supposedly cherished.

Why? The only explanation I could think of was,

That she reverted back to the original storyline the moment I left.

The author couldn't influence her while I was around, because of my presence as an anomaly.

But as my influence waned, the author regained control, like with the Lycansthrope incident.

Perhaps.

There was only one reason for my uncertainty, my inability to reach a definitive conclusion.

Her fiancé.

That unknown entity shattered all my theories, all my logic, all my predictions.

He was the single exception that ruined everything.

It was possible that the author could now freely manipulate her, since she had deviated from the original story.

And while she was still a character from the story, she wasn't bound by the same limitations as those who were explicitly described, like the Eastern Mountain Range, where the author could conjure a landslide out of thin air.

She was a heroine, and by deviating from the original story, she had escaped the predetermined tragic route.

I could come up with countless explanations, countless theories, but none of them were definitive.

So, my worries grew, and my sighs deepened, filled with bitterness.

"Sigh…"

"Is it because of Her Highness?"

Startled by the voice, I turned to see Grace.

I recognized her voice, but I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't noticed her approach.

She met my gaze and took a step closer.

"May I… sit next to you?"

"…As long as you keep a certain distance."

I had caused a misunderstanding by being too close to her last night. I didn't want to repeat the same mistake, so I gestured for her to sit a bit further away.

"Thank you."

She sat down on the grass.

Then, she repeated her earlier question.

"Are you worried about your relationship with Her Highness?"

It was a blunt question, but it was typical of Grace. She could see through lies, so there was no point in being indirect.

Indirectness was a tool for deception, for probing someone's true intentions, or for concealing your own.

"Yes. I'm curious about the man who captured Her Highness's heart."

So, I spoke honestly. I knew who she was, so there was no point in lying.

My gaze, filled with longing and regret, met hers.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I had made the wrong choices, that there was a better way.

But I didn't know what it was, so I looked at this kind, meddling girl, destined to become a Saintess.

Perhaps she, who could distinguish truth from lies, could see the root of my problem.

And my hopes, my worries, were answered in an unexpected way.

Grace, after a moment of hesitation, said,

"Her Highness is mourning her deceased fiancé."

"……What?"

My eyes widened, and she nodded, confirming her words.

"That's the conclusion I reached, based on what she said last night, and what I saw."

A clue to Lili's sudden change in behavior.

A clue to why she came to the academy, despite her deep love for her fiancé.

A clue to what I should do next.

"Are you serious?"

I wasn't doubting Grace.

Considering her abilities, and the fact that she said she "saw" it, her words were most likely true.

But this was a sensitive topic, so I had to be sure.

She nodded.

"I can't reveal all the details, as it would involve Her Highness's personal matters… but I can say with certainty that this is the only possibility, as far as I can tell."

The only possibility, she said, the one who could see through lies.

I could almost hear the sound of my carefully crafted plans being tossed into the trash.

And I finally understood.

Why Grace had looked at me with such pity this morning.

She probably felt sorry for me, being rejected by a woman who was already heartbroken.

It was a valid assumption, coming from Grace.

Normally, I would have snapped at her, but I didn't. I was actually grateful that I had brought her along.

I could forgive her for any future blunders.

Because knowing that Lili had been abandoned by her fiancé changed everything.

It explained why she still seemed emotionally fragile, despite regaining her physical health.

She…

Lili was still trapped in a cycle of despair. In fact, she was just at the beginning of her tragic arc.

Even if she chose a different man, her fate would be the same.

Abandoned, heartbroken, and ultimately, dead.

The same tragic ending awaited her, as long as she was involved with a character the author could manipulate.

I sighed in relief.

"Ha…"

It didn't matter who her fiancé was anymore.

My biggest concern had been that my love for her might be harmful, might push her further into despair.

But Grace's words confirmed that Lili was already suffering, and that my actions so far hadn't been a mistake.

So, there was only one thing I had to do.

Ask Lili for help.

***

As dawn broke, we returned to the academy.

Unlike in the original story, the heresy investigation hadn't even taken a full day.

And I didn't forget to pick up the bandit leader, who was now safely secured with a beast repellent charm, thanks to Anna.

It was a minimal safety measure.

My steps were lighter than before, but,

The omens weren't good.

Because I had exposed all the heretics.

Because my party had completed the mission so quickly, swiftly dealing with anyone who resisted.

The demons realized their plans had been disrupted.

And the story was now progressing at a different pace.

"What did they say?"

A demon, sitting on an ornate chair, asked, looking down at his subordinate.

The subordinate, kneeling before him, reported his findings.

"They said to target the commoner swordsman, Berry, and the Imperial Princess, Lilisiana."

"When? Where?"

Tsk. The higher-ranking demon clicked his tongue. The subordinate flinched, realizing his mistake.

"D-During the tournament! They'll be exhausted, and they won't be able to use their own weapons, so it'll be easier…"

"Is that how the academy tournament works?"

"That's what they said!"

The higher-ranking demon stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Perhaps humans, with their cunning and cruelty, were closer to demons than they realized.

"Prepare yourselves. I'll be participating this time."

He stood up, determined to ensure a decisive outcome.

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