The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

147 – 147. Death and the Villainess (3)

As the ashes of death resurrected, the end of the world decided to be postponed.

If the ashes of death, awakened from eternal rest, were to be sealed once more, the end of the world would reverse its postponement and threaten the present realm.

I must save Beatrice.

But to do so, I first had to liberate the ashes of death that were gnawing at the saint’s noble soul.

How could I extract the ashes?

I already knew the answer.

“Are you alright? You don’t look well…”

“I’m fine.”

I happened to run into Ludmila, who had just returned from the celestial realm.

Eda-nant, encountering the second princess with her luscious golden hair flowing, displayed a look of bewilderment.

“…….”

What should I say first?

I don’t know.

To free Beatrice from the clutches of the ashes, Elizabeth must become the vessel of the divine that takes on the ashes of death in her stead.

Knowing that Ludmila genuinely cherished her younger sister Elizabeth, I found it hard to speak up. Thus, Eda-nant hesitated, gazing at Ludmila for a long while.

“Ahem! Why are you staring at me so intently? You see me every morning…”

“No, I just lost my train of thought for a moment.”

“So I’m beautiful enough to make you lose your thoughts. I can understand that feeling well.”

“…….”

Isn’t that a bit self-conscious?

In response to Ludmila’s jest, Eda-nant offered a faint smile.

“Could it be that my participation still weighs on your mind?”

“…Yes, that too.”

“My husband worries too much. That must mean he loves me dearly. But don’t worry too much. Together, my husband and I can achieve the impossible in this world.”

“Indeed.”

Did she sense the anxiety stirring within my heart?

As always, the beautiful princess replied in a dignified voice.

Noble courage.

Lofty honor and pride.

Gaining confidence while gazing at Ludmila, who boasted an unchanging brilliance like a gem, Eda-nant drew closer, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, causing Ludmila to blush as she stepped forward.

“Also… I would like to make a request regarding Her Highness Elizabeta.”

“Are you talking about Liza?”

The deathly miasma that had possessed Beatrice was able to seize Elizabeta due to the war’s miasma drawing it in.

The deathly miasma began to keep a watchful eye on Elizabeta.

The abyss of cold.

The pinnacle of evil that swallowed the world.

The miasma that sought to usurp the throne of the One True God by mobilizing the Demon Lord’s army and the cultist forces.

Death is the enemy of all living beings on the continent. If Elizabeta were to accept the deathly miasma, her life as a princess would be irrevocably altered.

It’s my fault.

The responsibility that the war’s miasma could not prevent weighed heavily.

Thus, Edanant spoke with a voice full of guilt.

“You’re not asking for a joint wedding with Liza next spring, are you?!”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, no! I can’t agree to that…! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding! So the bride for next spring can only be me! This is an absolute condition! Even if Liza earnestly requests it, I cannot give it up!”

“…….”

What kind of misunderstanding is this?

A joint wedding?

I couldn’t make sense of it.

Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

It took quite some time to grasp the desperate meaning behind Ludmila’s words.

“This is a serious matter.”

“I’m serious too! There’s nothing more serious for a woman than marriage!”

How could one take marriage so seriously that they remain unmarried at twenty-seven? The urge to voice this insult surged within me, but I suppressed it with superhuman patience.

Where should I even begin to explain?

Edanant gently patted the rigid shoulders of Ludmila to calm her down.

The deathly miasma.

And Elizabeta.

He began to explain the ominous culprit that had flown into the Hohenberg family.

* * *

I left a word of caution for Ludmila.

And I decided to reveal the truth to the person involved, Elizabeta.

What kind of reaction will she have?

No matter how composed a villainess may be, she would surely be unable to contain her shock.

Perhaps she would let out a sharp scream, denying reality. She might pour out her grievances, feeling wronged for being suddenly targeted by such a monster.

Despite swearing to protect her until the end, I ultimately put her in danger.

Bracing myself for the hatred and lamentation that would come, I informed Elizabeta of the truth. Upon receiving the news and arriving in the garden, Elizabeta displayed a significant reaction.

“Is the wretched creature that haunted my nightmares the harbinger of death?”

A hell of blood and skulls, a scene of utter chaos.

The foreign entity I encountered in that horrific place.

The harbinger of death.

At last, Elizabeta came to understand the identity of the grotesque being that had invited her into a nightmare.

It would take a long time to explain the harbinger of innocence that exists at the pinnacle of all calamity gods. The horrific deities born from disaster had intervened in human history for over thousands of years.

The explanation grew longer.

I had to vividly imprint the infamy and danger of the harbinger of innocence.

Elizabeta continued to listen in silence, quietly absorbing Edanant’s explanation.

“So… you mean to say that since Beatrice isn’t enough, you intend to use me as a vessel? Quite the discerning calamity god, aren’t you?”

“…….”

How could one interpret such sentiments?

I explained it clearly, yet she understood it as nonsense.

Edanant was left speechless by Elizabeta’s shrug and her haughty demeanor.

I had braced myself to hear her resentment.

But, shattering such concerns, the villainess showed no signs of agitation.

I gazed at Elizabeta, who flaunted her usual arrogant confidence. Like her sister Rudmila, always dignified and bold, Elizabeta displayed a courageous spirit.

“Then you and Edanant are also vessels possessed by the harbinger of innocence. Just like the First Saint.”

“Did you know?”

“A lot has happened until now. How could I not know, unless I were blind? I was merely waiting for you and Edanant to tell me the truth someday.”

“Haah… I really can’t handle this.”

A woman’s intuition is always formidable.

Especially when the opponent is the villainess opposing the protagonist.

Through Elizabeta’s insight, which was almost clairvoyant, I felt the terror of intuition. Surely, no lie would hold sway over Elizabeta, the mistress of the Ruinous.

“Doesn’t it pour forth black flames, and don’t countless weapons suddenly appear in the air…? How many times have I seen you and Edanant rampaging like this?”

“I’m sorry.”

Edanant said, showing discomfort.

At that, Elizabeth let out a small laugh.

“The essence of innocence is an evil that must never be trifled with. You must never be deceived.”

“But you and Edanant are vessels that harbor the essence of innocence, aren’t you?”

“Lady Rudmila and I are exceptions, different from ordinary mortals. If we carelessly accept the essence of innocence, we will lose control of our own bodies.”

“I’m not exactly ordinary either. I easily accepted the foolish goddess of the Ruinous…”

The foolish goddess.

She must be referring to Broyan.

However, the essence of death was a being that the goddess of the Ruinous, the creator of the Ruinous, could not approach. Among the essences of innocence, which are referred to as the pinnacle of evil, the essence of death is a monster that competes for the highest rank.

There was no room for optimism.

Even if Elizabeth, who possessed an almost perfect affinity, was a vessel with boundless talent, there was a significant risk of losing control of her body to the essence of death. Thus, I couldn’t help but feel concern at the sight of Elizabeth, who was exuding confidence.

“You need me to save Beatrice, right? It seems I’m necessary to resolve whatever the end of the world is…”

“It’s too dangerous. I cannot put Your Highness Elizabeth in danger to save Beatrice.”

“You’ve always protected me with you and Edanant. I want to help you and Edanant too.”

“The situation is entirely different from when you accepted the foolish goddess. I sincerely hope you reconsider.”

I want to respect Liza’s decision.

Rudmila, having learned the truth, said so.

Her life might be in jeopardy.

Why on earth hadn’t Rudmila desperately opposed it? As I recalled Rudmila’s unexpectedly calm demeanor, I looked at Elizabeth.

“The moment to repay has finally come. I’ve finally become someone needed by Edanant.”

“It’s an unreasonable task. And it’s an incredibly dangerous one.”

“The answer I want to hear from Edanant isn’t concern. It’s certainly not a lengthy apology.”

“But….”

As Edanant continued to express concern, Elizabeth’s voice grew sharper.

The emotion of anger,

It was neither hatred nor contempt.

It was a desperate yearning for someone to need her.

It was also a poignant plea for someone to keep her by their side until the very end.

“Tell me, Edanant.”

“…….”

“I need you. I need you to say that you absolutely need me. Just that one word is enough. So… Elizabeta, just tell me you need my help.”

“I, I….”

Can I say it?

Is it okay to make such an unreasonable request?

As I looked at Elizabeta, tears streaming down her face, I was engulfed in confusion.

I know all too well.

To save Beatrice and prevent the end of the world, Elizabeta’s presence was essential.

Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

It was the result of conflicting thoughts colliding within me regarding Elizabeta.