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223. Childhood Friend – Lies

“I don’t know why, but it was possible to connect. It went well. Your younger sister has become a princess, and you’ve become a prince. You also cleared it.”

“You cleared it?”

The man in the mirror shifted his position. Leah stared, her mouth agape, at the absurd scene unfolding before her.

He moved as if crawling on the floor. Eventually, as he stood up, she caught a glimpse of shabby planks covered in rags from over his shoulder; it looked like a miserable nest.

It resembled a beggar’s home… Leah recognized that the man in the mirror was the prince Reb had mentioned. He was supposed to be incredibly handsome but utterly clumsy.

“Yeah. But first, greet her. Leah is here too.”

“…Oh, you’re not Minseo. Hello! Nice to meet you, I’m Lean.”

“Ah, hello?”

Minseo?

Leah didn’t quite understand what he meant, but she received his greeting. After a brief exchange of names, Reb spoke again.

“You met Sister Katrina and Sister Ksenia, right?”

“I met them all yesterday. Why?”

“Is Sister Katrina the same as before?”

“…I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

“Oh, right… Sorry. Sister Katrina was released from her restraint. I was wondering if there was anything different.”

“She said she would serve me as a master. Is that the change?”

“…No, that was the same in the last iteration. Um… then teach Sister Katrina for a while. I’m not quitting the Knights Order, so just let it be.”

“What? You’re not quitting the Knights Order? But you promised yesterday!”

“That’s a lie. Just pretend you don’t know. Anyway, her restraint is lifted now. Thinking back, it seems Sister Kasia also needed a round to change. And Sister Ksenia…”

Reb fell silent. After a painfully awkward pause, Lean asked.

“What about Ksenia?”

“…You married her.”

– “Don’t you have anything more to say? I really hate lies. Leo, I mean, Prince, why did you confess to me? Did I… need you for something?”

Reb swallowed Ksenia’s identity, which hung in his throat. It seemed better not to disclose that.

Lean laughed lightly as if it were nothing.

“That’s a relief. But why the pause? Did Ksenia do something wrong?”

“……She couldn’t have children.”

“…What does that matter? Reb, speak clearly. Are you hiding something from me?”

“No. It’s just how it is. And Count Gustave Peter has a complex about his birth…”

You lied to me too.

Reb resolved to keep his mouth shut. He only mentioned Ksenia’s role in the last beggar siblings iteration and informed him that they had succeeded in defeating Oriax. The story ended with Lean and his younger sister experiencing the Archery Quiz together.

What happened after the ending was left unsaid.

There was no need to disclose it, just as you had done to me. In the meantime, Leah was pinching her cheek, wondering if it was a dream or reality.

“Then what should I do from now on? You’re going to start a rebellion, right?”

“That’s the plan. Oh, I almost forgot, a new debuff has been applied. When I enter the Conrad Kingdom, Oriax will react. I’m sorry, but I can’t go.”

[Debuff: Oriax’s Footsteps – Provocation, cannot escape. Fixed for 11 years, 11 months, 11 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds.]

This debuff was marked on Minseo.

Last time, there was a mark on Lean, the ‘player’ of the beggar siblings scenario, but now it was more apparent on Reb’s palm.

That means this time, Reb could not be by Lean’s side, and Lean had to reclaim his {bloodline} alone.

The difference between having Reb and not was significant.

However, the beggar siblings scenario was cleared. Even if the ending from the last iteration has changed, the rewards received would not change, so Reb concluded.

“I’m sorry. So, this time you should live quietly in Oberg with your sister and Ksenia. You don’t have to do anything. Just take good care of your sister. I’m sure you’ll manage… Oh, right, Reriana likes Santian Rauno. You knew that…”

“Hey.”

Lean interrupted Reb.

“…What?”

“Was the cleared ending result from last time not good?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“What is there to be sorry for between us? The results have been less than ideal more than once.”

Suddenly, Reb burst into tears.

That Lean in the mirror was the Lean from the day after the beggar siblings scenario began. Sharing memories, Reb knew how much that friend resented him and how he had suppressed those feelings.

I killed that friend’s younger sister.

It was out of fear that Reriana would suffer a terrible fate, but it didn’t change the fact that he had died by my hand. That last moment, when his sister’s bare chest touched him… left a dreadful feeling of guilt.

Yet, that friend welcomed him with a smiling face, hiding that truth.

Reb mumbled through tears.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

Lean paused for a moment, not saying anything, and then—

– Hoo…

He exhaled a long sigh through his nose.

“Stop crying. It was unavoidable. I said stop! Leah is here, you know? Are you going to keep doing that?”

“Oh, no. Ahem!”

“Right. What’s past is past, and the future is more important, so let’s focus. For now… I have to go reclaim my bloodline. You know why.”

To help me. Reb knew the purpose behind reclaiming the bloodline.

If Lean didn’t take control of the Conrad Kingdom, then the Orun Kingdom might ally with the Conrad Kingdom.

The rebellion that occurred in the last childhood friend iteration had failed, and perhaps having Lean take control of the Conrad Kingdom could aid the rebellion in the Orun Kingdom.

“Reb, there’s a problem. I need to meet Sir Bart, but it’s getting tight on time to leave now. I can ride alone, but I can’t just have my sister and Ksenia follow along. Should I ask Count Gustave Peter to send a knight to escort me?”

No. In that case, it was highly likely that that knight would recognize Ksenia. Then your relationship with Ksenia may become tangled.

Wiping his tears, Reb said.

“No. Forget about Sir Bart. Leave Hirie Gaidan too. I have a brilliant idea.”

‘…Something did happen, huh?’

Lean felt a hint of suspicion but listened without interjecting.

“Cardinal Berg will help you. Since you don’t have Oriax’s mark, you can take your time. Um… I need Ambergris. A lot of it.”

“Ambergris? The saliva of the baleen whale?”

“Yeah. Wood coated with Ambergris doesn’t dissolve in Oriax’s blood. Go find Marquis Arne. You know who he is?”

Lean de Yeriel nodded. Dawn was breaking.

“I do. He’s the Northern Duke of the Conrad Kingdom. Has an impressive navy.”

“Right. They catch whales in peacetime, so the marquis probably has a lot of Ambergris stocked up. Ask to borrow some. If you share it with the knights and soldiers, it’ll be much easier to deal with Oriax.”

Persuading the marquis would be something his sister would handle. Reb wrapped up his advice, leaving a few minor warnings.

When Lean asked, “Why will Cardinal Berg help me?” he did not divulge the answer. Helping will naturally occur if Ksenia were with him.

Lean felt frustrated.

However, Reb suddenly thought that perhaps the game’s unkindness was for a reason similar to this…

Eventually, Reb and Lean encouraged each other with “Hang in there. Everything will be fine.” and then cut the connection. The moment Lean vanished, the mirror shattered with a crack.

In the village of Demos, where the livestock began to wail from hunger, only Leah with flushed cheeks and Reb with red eyes remained by the window.

“So… do you believe me now?”

Leah neither shook her head nor nodded. She stared blankly at him before standing up and walking away somewhere.

Stumbling, as if she might fall over, Reb rushed to catch up.

“Leah, are you okay?”

“No. Let go of me. I… want to think.”

Leah brushed Reb’s hand aside and disappeared. Ignoring the greetings from the villagers emerging one by one with the dawn, she sunk deep into thought. Reb could only watch.

Since then, Leah hadn’t come to the bakery. She hadn’t come looking for Reb, but he knew what she was doing. In a small village, finding her wasn’t difficult.

Leah had gone to the church.

Whether she was studying or seeking counsel, she frequently visited Priest Leslie’s room. Having stopped helping her parents earn a living every day, she prayed all day in front of the church’s sacred relics, but it had almost been a week since Leah came to find Reb.

“Leah!”

Reb was out hunting, unable to resist his father’s urgings. Arriving at the cabin drenched in sweat, she accepted the water pouch he handed her and immediately asked:

“What am I?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I still don’t understand. You said I should become a princess. What do you mean I should become a princess?”

“…I don’t know either.”

“Then do you… love me?”

Leah stared at him without moving. The prepared question pierced through the friend’s heart, and for the first time, Reb answered without hesitation.

“I love you.”

“Even after marrying twice? Even after struggling because of me?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’d do it a hundred times, a thousand times, again.”

Only then did Leah take a sip of water.

“Then… what should I do now? I’ll do whatever you say. I want to help you too.”

“Do what you want to do.”

“Do you think you know what I want?”

“Anything is fine.”

“Then marry me.”

Silence fell. The boy and girl glared at each other for a long time.

“…Don’t lie.”

When was it that we let go of the hands we had been holding since childhood? Leah wanted to become a priest and knew that priests couldn’t marry.

Though it was a slim difference, she prioritized something other than me. It was heartbreaking, but he understood that.

The only reason he could marry Leah back then was because he had clung to her while looking like he was about to die, and because she had been expelled from the church.

That was… it.

“The priest will come over next week. Go. Go to the monastery and become the priest you’ve always dreamed of.”

“…What about you?”

“I…”

I will become a king.

I will become a king and marry you.

A priest can’t marry?

Then I will destroy the Jerome Holy Kingdom. Even if I have to burn every church in the world, I will marry you.

But Reb spoke gently, suppressing the ruthless tyranny within his heart.

“I… don’t worry. If you’re happy, I’m enough. I’ll definitely come to find you. I will definitely contact you.”

Leah pulled him into a tight hug.

Sniffling, the girl hugged only the front of her friend’s robe, unsure of what to do. She did not possess the boldness to push away her lover like Lena Ainar.

Reb affectionately tousled Leah’s hair, blowing on her smooth forehead to send her hair flying, then pressed his forehead against hers. And he promised:

“Don’t cry. If you cry, I hurt. If you smile, I’ll be happy. So leave with a smile. I’ll definitely be happy.”

And so Leah left.

Next week, amidst the blessings of the entire village, smiling as promised.

Reb also sent her off with a smile.

“Reb! I will definitely become a priest! I’ll ask the saint why you…”

The cart rolled away. Leah’s voice echoed, not heard, but Reb responded with: “Yeah! Thank you!”

As he trudged back to the village after chasing the cart for a while, Hans kicked a stone with a clack.