Stale looked up, blinking in surprise before his head wilted right back down.
“Okay…” he murmured.
What?! Hold on, I think I’ve seen this before…
My smile withered. I backed away from Stale as realization crept over me. Pride said those exact same lines during this scene in the game. Later, Stale spoke of his past and mentioned how kindly Pride had been when she approached him, acting like a compassionate older sister the very same night she forced him to sign that fealty contract.
I knew it. I’m stuck in the same script from the game, no matter what I do…
I froze, despair welling up inside me, and Father stepped in front of Stale. “You must be exhausted from the day’s events,” he said. “Rest up so you’re prepared for tomorrow.”
Then Father led Stale away toward his new room in the castle. But something about this felt off. In the game, an assistant introduced Pride to Stale.
So are things different because Father’s alive now? Wait, and didn’t something happen with that assistant?
I dug through my memory to dredge up Father’s assistant, but I couldn’t recall the man. Father visited me alone most of the time, meaning I’d probably met this assistant a few brief times at most.
But what about Stale?!
I broke into a run, chasing after Father and Stale. I had to know which room he’d be in, or else my plan would fall through!
As I rushed after them, I realized I was headed right for the room below mine. Father stopped me outside the door.
“Let him rest for today. Understand?” he said. He waved for Lotte and Mary to escort me back to my own room.
But that wasn’t good enough! I had to talk to Stale before he signed the subordination contract tomorrow. It was late in the evening when Pride coerced Stale into falling for her trap, which meant I might get a chance to talk to Stale sometime tonight.
Lotte and Mary got me to my room, but I didn’t stay long, claiming I wanted to see Father. They let me go, but rather than heading directly to him, I veered off toward his study. Just like in the game, I found guards in my path. And just like the Pride in the game, I managed to tiptoe past them and break into the study. I made quick work of rummaging through the room, stashing my prize inside my dress before I snuck back out.
That wouldn’t be the end of my clandestine activities that night. Stale didn’t appear at dinner, eating in his room instead due to fatigue. Later, I would sneak into that room, just as Pride did in the game.
I briefly considered a rope of bedsheets to clamber straight down out of the window, but the maids and guards had already seen me throw myself out of it before. Probably better not to make them think I was leaping out of it all over again. Plus, a princess couldn’t behave in such an undignified manner.
Then what exactly did Pride do? How do I get to Stale like in the game?! I’d have to…
Realization hit me, and a smile spread across my face. It faded just as quickly; I was truly becoming just like Pride, the same devious queen I loathed in the game. However, I couldn’t linger on the thought. Once night fell, I picked a random book from my room and headed to Stale’s room. The two guards stationed outside it raised their eyebrows at me.
“Your Highness.”
I smiled at them sweetly. “Stale doesn’t know how to read,” I said, “so I’d like to read this book to him. Father said that was a nice idea.”
I’d given the guards outside my own room the same story. It was a lie, certainly, but using my father’s name meant that they couldn’t stop me. They hesitated only a moment before stepping aside.
“Stale? I’m coming in.”
The room lay cloaked in pitch-black darkness when I entered. Once the door closed behind me, I strained to make out anything around me. Only the faint moonlight filtering in through the window provided any help.
“Princess Pride?” Stale said. “Is there something you need from me?”
I’d found him. Stale was sitting on his bed, hugging his knees to his chest. When he looked up at me, he seemed even more worn and weary than he had this afternoon when he’d first arrived.
“I’m sorry to bother you so late,” I said. “I simply had to speak with you before you signed the contract tomorrow.”
I took step by careful step toward Stale, slowly, trying not to scare him. It was like approaching a wild animal without them spooking and dashing off.
“The crown princess wants to speak with me?” he said, cocking his head.
“Tell me, Stale. You want to see your mother, don’t you?”
His eyes widened. All the weariness fled, replaced by sharp focus.
Wait, that’s the exact same line from the game! It’s how Pride introduces the contract to Stale. Shoot.
It seemed that any time I followed the plot of the game more closely, I could also remember it more clearly. Like now. I retrieved the item hidden in my dress and showed it to Stale.
“What’s that?” His eyes went even wider.
“It’s the key for those handcuffs. I snuck into Father’s study and borrowed it. Now you’ll be able to run away.”
Without those shackles, Stale could teleport again. In the game, Pride forced him to use that talent for assassinations. He once even used it to transport himself and the heroine outside the palace. Now, hopefully, it would take him to his mother. With the money she’d surely gotten from giving up her son, she and Stale could escape to the countryside.
“I can’t do that.”
I didn’t even breathe for a moment, stunned into silence. “Why not?” I finally asked.
“Mom said I can’t go see her anymore,” he said. “I’m supposed to serve Your Highness, live a happy life here at the castle, and forget all about her. If I run away, my family will face terrible punishment. That’s what the person from the castle told me before I came here. I don’t want Mom to be punished.”
His knuckles turned white as he gripped his pants and stared at the floor. His eyes shone with suppressed tears.