23 – Breakup Ceremony 2

Syren’s gesture instantly obscured my vision, and the stray thoughts that had begun to surface vanished just as quickly.

Feeling the warmth of Syren’s hand, a warmth peculiar to her, I calmed my mind and spoke to her.

“…Thank you.”

“Mhm.”

Syren nodded, as if she had accomplished something, and went back to her seat, triumphant.

Seeing Lorraine next to me bury her face in her hands, I chuckled, suspecting some connection between romance novels and Siren’s antics.

‘Well, at least I feel a bit better.’

It felt as if the chains that had been binding a corner of my heart so tightly had finally snapped.

Lighter than usual, I packed my things and climbed down from the train (a mobile golem).

“Demian.”

Elicia called out to me as I descended.

I stared at her blankly. She addressed me with a carefully constructed façade, one I hadn’t witnessed a single time during my stay in the North.

“There’s something I need to say…”

Her natural beauty, coupled with the flawless presentation, made her undeniably alluring, at least from an outsider’s perspective.

But having already endured too much, and having exhausted every emotion within me, I felt nothing in particular.

Only annoyance.

“As you might have gathered from the annulment papers I sent, I’ve been filled with regret since you disappeared.”

She stared at me intently, her dark circles and pale skin starkly emphasized.

Anyone else witnessing this scene would assume she was a woman heartbroken by love, having spent days without food or rest.

However, knowing that her condition stemmed not from me but from hallucinations, I let out a faint, cynical laugh.

‘No need to hear any more.’

Worthless and meaningless.

As I listened to her words, I repeated the very words I had first spoken to Elicia upon meeting her.

[You seem to have a lot of free time. How enviable.]

“You seem to have a lot of free time.”

At my words, Elicia froze, a somewhat dumbfounded expression on her face, before uttering.

“… Excuse me?”

Feeling no further need to respond, I tried to ignore her and move on.

But Elicia, in a hurried voice, took a step closer, pleading.

“… That’s not it. I squeezed every moment I could to come and see you.”

Her expression and voice were filled with a desperate urgency.

Yet, listening closely, I could discern that she had come not for my sake, but for her own.

‘Just as I remember.’

Realizing this, I completely turned away and began to walk on.

Elysia, grasping at my clothes, pleaded with me.

“Just a moment. Just a little more talk…!”

My patience frayed, I was about to pull the hammer from inside my coat.

But Sieren, stepping in, pushed Elysia away, saying,

“Go away. Damian doesn’t like it.”

Elysia’s expression darkened at Sieren’s appearance, a thoughtful look clouding her face for a moment.

Then, she stepped back, a few paces, and offered a look of apology.

“…I’m sorry. I was being too intrusive.”

She smoothed her clothing, composing herself as she spoke.

“We’ll have this conversation properly, another time.”

Then, with a bow of her head, she left.

Seeing Sieren and suddenly changing her attitude like that, some shift in thought, perhaps… I don’t care.

Whatever she does, it’s all meaningless to me anyway.

Releasing the hammer, I was about to head to my quarters when,

Sieren cautiously took my hand, following me like a little shadow.

A rather endearing gesture, it made me chuckle, and I continued toward my quarters.

* * *

Worrying over the meaningless only leads to the conclusion that it *is* meaningless. I knew this.

Still, my head felt a bit clouded.

So it was, I lay on the extravagant bed in my quarters, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Then, a gentle knock at the door.

“Come in.”

I had assumed it was Lorein at first, but to my surprise, it was Sieren.

Dressed unlike usual, a bit hesitant, Sieren stepped inside and spoke to me calmly.

“I have something I want to ask you.”

Sieren acting like this was unusual, and I tilted my head, curious.

She only behaved this way when she had something of great importance to say.

I nodded, resolving to answer as thoroughly and sincerely as possible, whatever the question might be.

“What is it?”

With my permission, Sieren looked at me seriously, his gaze steady. And then he asked a question I never could have anticipated.

“Does Damian… does Damian like women who are gentle and affable?”

“… What?”

The question caught me so off guard that my mind blanked for a moment.

If Lorraine, absorbed in her romance novels, had asked something like that, I might have understood, but for Siren to ask… I fell silent.

Siren, her face impassive, continued,

“The woman we met in the flower garden, and the woman we saw earlier. They both seemed very… affable.”

Liana and Elyssia, affable?

Knowing their personalities were the complete opposite of affable, I gave a dry chuckle.

Siren nervously fidgeted with her fingers and said,

“If Damian likes that type of woman, I’ll try my best to be one.”

I shook my head. “He doesn’t particularly like that type.”

“Really?”

I nodded, and Siren seemed relieved, nodding in return.

I was still chuckling softly at how absurd Siren’s earlier question was when she revealed the real reason she came.

“Oh, and he wanted me to tell you that the first interview is tomorrow.”

The first interview…

Which meant I’d have to meet Elyssia, whether I wanted to or not.

It wasn’t exactly an appealing prospect,

but to bring things to a definitive end, I had no choice. I simply said, “Understood,” and sighed.

* * * * *

At the train platform (a mobile golem), now deserted since everyone had departed to their duties,

Elyssia lingered, replaying the scene from earlier.

‘…To think he would find a new woman in such a short time.’

She’d accounted for it, to some extent, but the timing was faster than expected.

It meant a slight deviation from her plan, but it was within manageable limits. Still…

‘The problem is that Damian’s new woman is incredibly beautiful.’

If he went so far as to bring her to the annulment ceremony, it was likely she was someone he valued greatly.

She bit her lip, thinking she finally understood why he’d been so indifferent to her apologies.

“So, what must be done?”

The basic course was already set, and would not be changed.

But these details needed altering, so countless scenarios were conjured, then discarded.

The persistent phantom sounds often interrupted the flow.

Still, by squeezing the mind dry and pushing onward, a conclusion of sorts could be reached.

“The board itself must be overturned.”

Going on like this, his plan was certain to fail completely.

Better to overturn the board entirely and create a new game, rather than stick to the destined path.

The only problem was, the fallout from failing to overturn the board would be devastating…

“Either way, if Damian can’t be brought to the North, everything will collapse just the same.”

No matter the repercussions, there was no choice but to try.

Therefore, Dale would be used as the key piece to shake the board.

* * * * *

The first interview began the next day.

Truthfully, he hadn’t wanted to come.

But Damian’s mother had said this process was mandatory, so he sat in the interview room chair with no other choice.

‘I want to finish this quickly and get back to training.’

Wishing he could take on missions, he stared blankly at the white ceiling when.

Elysia, wearing a face as weary as always, spoke to him.

“…Damian, have you been well?”

A voice so gentle, it was almost as if Elysia wasn’t talking to him at all.

Hearing such a voice, the words Siren had told him yesterday resurfaced, and he couldn’t help but let out a faint chuckle.

She stared at him, then slowly continued.

“I regret my actions towards you so deeply, I haven’t been able to sleep a moment.”

Elysia looked at him with an expression of profound regret, eliciting a hollow laugh.

To anyone else, it would seem as if she was truly sorry.

But to him, it was just a pathetic begging, fueled by the warmth he had created.

Giving no reaction, he simply stared blankly at her.

Elysia continued in a drooping voice.

“I am truly sorry. If there’s anything you want, Damian, I’ll do it… Please, just give me one more chance.”

“…”

Listening to this, memories of all I did to win Elysia’s heart flooded back.

The daily greetings to earn her trust, of course, but also brewing her tea, running errands, and even taking on chores like cleaning.

Remembering how I received not even a single word of thanks, not even a glance, despite all my efforts, I felt my heart sink further.

Elysia, watching me, seemed to contemplate something for a moment before opening her mouth calmly.

“…Dale is trying to kill you.”