Chapter 134
“Why does it have to be me?”
And now, at the final moment, Cynthia, having realized all the truths, asked in a pale voice.
“I’m not the only one who played that game. Was I the only one who transmigrated? Even if that’s not the case, there were countless people who were trapped in this mansion and tried to escape. So why me? Why, why does it have to be me!”
“Game, you say. You’re the one perceiving it that way. Think about it carefully.”
A bitter smile formed on Segleninde’s face. Even after repeating it dozens of times, the expression Cynthia made when all the truth was revealed never changed, and at some point, seeing that look began to feel as if it were breaking his heart into pieces every time.
“This isn’t a game. You knew that too, didn’t you?”
It was just as Cynthia had guessed. This world was not a game.
It was a real world, one that Segleninde had taken control of and manipulated as he pleased.
By connecting this place to Earth, Segleninde had opened a passage so that Cynthia could come, and to prevent her from feeling any dissonance immediately after transmigration, he covered everything in an illusion, making her imagine things in the way that would be most comfortable for her to accept.
Because of that, Cynthia misunderstood. She unconsciously accepted the suggestion he placed in a way convenient for herself. As someone who liked games, she regarded this world as the world of the game ‘Coffin of the White Rose’.
“…I thought things would be okay now. I thought everything was finally settled.”
Segleninde approached her. Traces of tears streaked down his cheeks, which were twisted slightly as he tried to force a smile. He carefully took hold of Cynthia’s trembling fingertips, barely able to breathe.
Having taken on a human form, with a human heart, having learned the feelings of a human, the monster who had filled his blank slate with only her name and his feelings for her spoke.
“I thought that if I treated you well, if I loved you, then you would finally stop leaving me.”
“……”
“I’m sorry, truly. Before, I didn’t even know what these feelings were. Of course, that probably just sounds like an excuse. So I’ll apologize. I’m sorry for making you die over and over.”
The monster in human shape knelt before her and pressed his face against the back of her hand.
“It was my fault. Everything was my fault.”
“……”
“So please don’t go. Don’t leave me. Please, don’t abandon me…”
He would never let her die again, never make her sad, never hurt, torment, or leave her lonely. He would keep the woman he loved in his arms forever, making amends for his sins for all eternity.
If only she didn’t leave him, if only she didn’t abandon him, he could do anything.
“Please stay by my side. You always came to me, every time I called you.”
“…It’s not like I wanted to come. You’re the one who brought me here.”
Cynthia wept in fear and confusion. Even though she didn’t want to, tears kept coming.
Only then did he lift his face from her hand and urgently embraced her. With a pained look, he soothed her trembling back and kissed the top of her head.
“Don’t cry. When you cry, it makes me sad too.”
“L-Let go of me…!”
Cynthia tried to push him away. The much larger man’s body was helplessly pushed back. But as soon as she turned to run, two hands swiftly reached out and grabbed her shoulders.
Silvery hair flowed down coolly, and strangely burning red eyes drew close.
Cynthia stiffened for a moment, but he gently kissed her forehead and whispered:
“…Are you scared of me? Then I’ll make it so you’re not scared. I can learn not to scare you. If you just wait a little, I’ll learn quickly. I’ve already learned everything you’ve taught me up to now.”
His voice was gentle, but there was a hint of desperation.
“If you just like me, I can do anything. So stay here. You don’t need to keep any promises, as long as you don’t disappear from me. Just stay by my side. Don’t go anywhere else anymore, Sia. Stay here with me. You’ll be happy too. Stay with your Sellie.”
He would never let her go again. He wouldn’t let her die, wouldn’t frighten her, and would only ever do the things she liked, the things she enjoyed, just as always.
“Please, stay with me…”
If only that one thing could be granted, he didn’t care how much she hated or resented him.
If she wanted to kill him as many times as he had killed her, she could torture him cruelly and kill him. She could play with him, betray him, tear out his heart and throw it away. She could cut off his head and kick it around for fun, or hang him on the wall like a stuffed trophy. Whatever she wished.
As long as she stayed by his side. As long as Cynthia just stayed with him. As long as she didn’t disappear from him. As long as she didn’t abandon him. As long as she promised to be with him forever. If only, if only she did that, nothing else mattered. Anything was fine, truly anything.
“Stay here with me forever, Sia. Please.”
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