The Bad Ending of an Otome

Even if it was only curiosity about the ‘Ophelia substitute,’ this man should be very interested in the player. It seemed a little different than I had anticipated.

He began by asking me what I thought of her in the first place. Of course, I’d known that there was some unpleasant interest in me – possibly wanting to get rid of me or keep me away – since I’d been hanging out with Ophelia. But would he truly cheat me, selling his family and Ophelia’s letters to throw me down the abyss? I could have been mistaken.

Was he seeing if the text of Ophelia’s letter was something like ‘if you touch Emilia, I will come back from the grave and kill you’? As a result, he’s probing to determine if Elodie is the resurrected Ophelia…

No, that was a ridiculous fantasy. Even if he had devised a plan to ruin me, he could not be free of it. The honor of a debuting partner is almost as valuable as his own.

Even if he were Cassio Brahamdorff, such a loss would be difficult to accept. As our gazes connected, the man smiled. It was completely natural. I frowned purposely and answered the man’s inquiry late.

“…No matter what you do, it just creeps me out, so please stop.”

“That’s quite harsh.”

“Anyway. I’m just informing you ahead of time… Even if it was only a whisper, I may have been a little harsh on Mr. Edmund Gloucester. I suppose there’s a hiccup in my good social debut?”

“You could have thrown a steel spike at that jerk and it wouldn’t have made a difference.”

“Well, that’s at least reassuring.”

“To be honest, it’s a little disheartening. Should I get you a bodyguard?”

“…I politely decline. I don’t want fatigue to mar my debut.”

I gently declined the man’s words, which seemed genuine.

While having a bodyguard was appealing, he appeared to be the type of person who would hand me a weapon and order me to cut off Edmund Gloucester’s head without hesitation. I saw the carriage slowing down around that time. Several times, I heard the sound of a horse whinnying.

The carriage came to a halt, and as the man stepped out first, he offered his hand to me.

“You’ve had a hard day today.”

“You speak as if there won’t be any hard times ahead.”

“I can’t guarantee that, but haven’t you already chosen?” (She chose to accept the risk when she accepted Cassio’s proposal of debutante.)

“I have, indeed. I have no intention of unfairly putting the blame onto you. Assuming you’re not deliberately torturing me.”

“I’m not sure what I need to do to earn Emilia’s trust as a loyal and affectionate partner.”Can’t you see that I raced out to escort you as soon as I received the news, forsaking my work?”

“What exactly were you doing?”

We exited the carriage and entered the mansion.

A butler who had been waiting for Cassio appeared and handed him what appeared to be a document envelope.

“Well. Something akin to a covert assembly of grand nobility concerned about the country’s future?”

“Don’t you think that if you don’t want to talk, just say that you don’t want to talk?”

“As soon as I heard about your predicament, I bravely fled from the worn-out old men. Emilia, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

As he held the document envelope in his arms, the man winked. I didn’t try to hide my surprise.

“…Who are those worn-out old men?”

“Each of them is a grand and old-fashioned man concerned about the future of this country.”

“What a great thing to do… I’m fine now, so go.”

“I hate to leave a wounded lady alone, but…”

“Whether I have you by my side or a scarecrow, my heartache is the same, so wouldn’t it be better to leave, no, hurry?”

If Ophelia had been alive, no, if there had been no one around, I could have told him to leave without hesitation. However, I am a guest, and this man is the lord of this mansion, so speaking severely seemed awkward.

“Lady Emilia doesn’t want me clinging to her, does she?”

“I grew up to be a brave child who can fall asleep alone even after having nightmares.”

“That’s very reassuring.”

So, did he expect me to throw a temper tantrum and say, ‘I had such a horrible day, please stay by my side to comfort me.’? Of course, he must have said it knowing I would not respond obediently, but I couldn’t help but notice that his jokes were growing more and more sleazy by the day. I got a sudden notion as I glanced at the man’s golden head as he kissed my left hand before leaving as if it were a formality.

I’ve only been back with the man for a week, yet I’m already acclimated to the verbal back-and-forth. Just like when we used to trade scathing remarks with Ophelia in the middle.

Now… the man’s attitude is different from before, and instead of insulting me, he speaks in a natural way, as if to tickle me. But I wonder how long this man, who smiles warmly with unreadable eyes, bows and retreats courteously, will remain the same? How long is this relationship going to last? This show appeared to be the most perfect fraud. I don’t believe the man who makes fun of everything in the world is honest when he extends me courtesy.

Whatever it is, if you keep doing it, you will eventually become numb. As if you can’t rely on your memories. Just as I was enraged to see Edmund Gloucester in love with someone other than the dead Ophelia. Is this universe still contained within a game? Is there anything that has altered significantly as a result of my presence? Is that terrible player still destined for failure? How about me?

I’m not sure. I gave up this world once when Ophelia died. I was lured back by Cassio’s hand because of a letter whose contents I didn’t know, but I’m still not sure what it was about. I would have to go through innumerable events like the one I had today. Everyone adores Ophelia, the protagonist adored by all.

At the very least, I’m not delusory. She was the only protagonist I adored. It was as wonderful as being alone in the world to say it. Even though failure is guaranteed, whether I do it or not, the outcome will remain the same.

I left the Marquis’s house on my own before being forced out, and I’ve already given up everything so that I won’t get in the way of the player who would follow Ophelia. From the start, there was no possibility of changing the world. I felt sorry for the sweet young lady’s fate, which could easily become twisted if things went wrong, but there was nothing I could do about it. To be honest, I can’t think of any reason why I should.

‘I should be content.’

‘So, Ophelia, how did you feel? What shall I do now to make you happy?’