I can’t believe it, Pamela. You were only happy about my marriage because you were excited to get away from me? You didn’t like me? You hated me? Does my position only warrant your jealousy? We used to laugh, cry, bicker, and console each other. Was that all a lie?
Sonia’s thoughts spiraled. They were all questions for Pamela, but, unable to voice them, Sonia simply stared at Pamela in a daze. Large tears dropped one after the next from her eyes.
Not Pamela, too. Even she doesn’t see me for who I am. It really would be for the best if I died. I’m responsible for driving Pamela so mad she wound up like this. If I was never born, Prince Severin probably wouldn’t have tried to become a gold digger. And King Patrice wouldn’t have spent all those years worrying about me…
“Princess, don’t let him deceive you.”
The strength of the arms pulling her into a tight embrace brought Sonia back to her senses.
“Sir Chris...”
The beard she had thought frightening was close—extremely close—so why? She found his smile reassuring, filling her heart with a warmth that seemed to spread throughout her body. Why did his smile give her the confidence, that “it’d be okay” and “they would overcome adversity”?
I’ve always taken courage from his heartening smile. Chris was offering her a faint smile, so Sonia tried to smile back in a desperate attempt to stop crying. Then they turned to face Pamela, their eyes united with determination.
“Despite having said you’d ‘kill’ Her Grace, you aren’t coming after her. Why is that?” Chris asked.
The man possessing Pamela contorted his face in frustration.
“Shall I answer for you, Father Ferns?!” Chris’ voice resembled a roar as it reverberated through the room. “You’re afraid of beards! Since I’m standing at Her Grace’s side, you can’t get near her!”
“Ugh... G-GGH...! NO, you are mistaken...” Father Ferns claimed, but he was grinding Pamela’s teeth loud enough for them to hear.
“Are you yourself aware...why you’re afraid of beards? If you were, you wouldn’t continue to call yourself a messenger of ‘God’!”
“How...How dare you...! I was chosen by God! Chosen to exact punishment in His holy name!”
“Then I dare you to approach me! God has blessed me with protective magic. If you are acting under the word of the Lord in death, then you should be able to approach me!” Chris challenged.
“GRRR...! Damn it! Damn it!”
Pamela’s already warped face contorted further, her body twisting in frustration. The features of a man overlapped with her feminine figure.
Seeing his chance, Chris sprang into action. Like a charging bull, he leapt toward Pamela. “Leave this woman!” he shouted as he wrapped his arms tightly around her—or so he thought. Pamela’s body vanished like a puff of smoke before his eyes.
“…!”
Having slipped through Chris’ arms, Pamela slid toward the balcony.
“AHAHAHAHAHA!” Ferns laughed with Pamela’s mouth opened wide, her head spinning in circles at the neck. Sonia nearly fainted at the ghastly sight. From where she had been watching the scene from a safe distance, Cordelia had already fainted.
The moment the head came to a stop—twisted backwards—the body also stopped moving. Chris raced back to Sonia and held her tight.
Ferns hissed at Sonia, who was trembling in fear, “I will exchange this girl for you, the last of the Clare bloodline. I’ll be waiting for you at the chapel in Clare Castle.” With that, they vanished into the darkness.
Sonia’s head swayed heavily.
“Duchess Sonia!” Chris exclaimed in surprise, propping her head up from behind, which brought her back from the brink of unconsciousness.
“I’m fine...” Sonia said meekly. Slowly raising her head, she looked up at Chris. “...You finally called me by my name...”
“...I’m sorry. I was indulging myself.”
“How so?” Sonia asked a blushing Chris.
He first made sure she was firm on her feet before pulling away. “There are so many misunderstandings between us, I’m not sure where to begin... At any rate, we can discuss it in the carriage. We must hurry after Father Ferns, the priest who stole your friend’s body!”
“Pamela...hates me, doesn’t she...?” Sonia asked, a forlorn expression sunken into her face. “I can’t believe I’m so dense. Not only did I fail to notice her sadness and anguish, I was outright hurting her... I’m the only one who thought we were best friends...” Sonia said softly. She had no idea Pamela held such hatred behind her gentle smile.
“It looks like...I might have hurt a lot of people without realizing it...”
Chris placed a hand on Sonia’s shoulders, which were shrinking in her sadness. She looked up at his serious expression.
“Are you uncertain about rescuing Miss Pamela?” he asked.
“No! Pamela may have had different reasons for being kind to me, but I was able to overcome so many hardships because of her! If she’s like that because she’s suffering, I want to save her this time!”
“You truly are optimistic,” Chris said with a smile for Sonia’s determination.
“...I’m not optimistic. Truth be told, I nearly lost to the temptation of death...”
But then when Sir Chris came next to me...the strength of his arms...
“I remembered what you and King Patrice told me... To ‘Please remember there are those who want to save you.’ I could sense that you truly wanted to save me, Sir Chris...”
Sir Chris is strong in body, mind, spirit, and luck. It isn’t simply because of the “protective magic” bequeathed by God. His very presence fills those around him with light. I’m going to strive to become like him. I will aim to become strong and resilient. His strong arms helped me remember the resolution I had made.
“I will save Pamela. And I will defeat my destiny!” Sonia declared.
Chris cracked a smile at her resolute eyes. “Then let’s go to Clare Castle!”
“But first, we must help Queen Cordelia...”
Chris rushed over to Cordelia and lifted her up before calling for assistance.