“Times change, and nations and men change with them,” I continued. “Such is the natural way of the world. If that simple truth eludes you, then perhaps a demonstration is in order... Craig, come here.”
I finally called out to Craig, who was standing stock-still behind me. After a beat or two, he stepped out in front. His red hood was off. His blond hair and his features were plainly visible to Sig.
Sig’s eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open in astonishment. “C-Craig? Craig, is it really you?!”
“Sig, who is this?” asked Natasha.
“I told you about him, didn’t I? He’s the man who helped me escape when my brother was going to kill me—I owe him my life! Oh, Craig, thank goodness you’re all right! I always knew you were still alive out there!”
Sig called out joyfully, completely forgetting where we were, but my guard remained still and silent.
“Craig...?”
Sig finally realized something was off. Concern and confusion spread across his face as he stared at Craig.
I’m really sorry, Sig. Craig can’t go with you right now, and I can’t give him back to you either.
Craig was bound helplessly in place by the hostages, the prisoners, and even his own family. And in order to undo all of those ties, I needed him with me. I felt like a monster—like a demon—but I just focused on remembering and reciting my lines.
“What a touching reunion. Aren’t you glad to see your former master alive and well, Craig? Run to him, embrace him, weep with him if you will. I won’t mind at all.”
Craig stayed silent. He was facing away from me; I couldn’t tell what sort of expression he had on his face. And so, I just kept going.
“However, if you understand who your master is, here and now...”
A brief pause. I gave the order.
“Clean up your mess.”
Craig said nothing for a few moments. Then—
“Your Grace.”
—he drew his sword and charged at Sig.
Sig had left his guard down and lowered his sword, but Natasha leaped in front of him to fend off the blow. The difference in strength between the two was just too great, though; Craig knocked away her sword, and the impact sent her sprawling on the ground.
“Natasha! Stop it, Craig! Why are you—?!”
Sig frantically brandished his sword, but Craig kept pressing the offensive. The screeching clash of metal rang out again and again.
“Because, just as His Grace said, I am the one who failed to dispose of you—Your Former Highness,” Craig said dispassionately as they fought. He was even worse of an actor than me, but without any emotion behind his words, his voice sounded cold and heartless as it echoed over the river. “You...are no longer my master.”
Sig hissed with frustration.
“Sig, look out!”
As Sig faltered, Craig’s sword closed in on him.
“Gah!”
“Sig!”
Fresh blood sprayed through the air. As they’d fought, Sig had ended up backed right against the river’s edge. Now, he fell straight into the Pieira with a splash, staining the water red as the currents swiftly carried him away. He’d been shielding Natasha, but she screamed in anguish and jumped into the river after him without a moment’s hesitation.
“Gh... Ngh...” It had all happened in an instant. One of my hands flew up to cover my mouth. I felt like my stomach was about to empty itself, but I desperately kept it down.
The... The blood.
I’d given the order to Craig, and he’d wounded Sig, and the boy and girl I’d been talking to moments ago had been swallowed up by the rapids, all because of me. That was exactly how it had gone in the novel—but it was also reality, and it had just happened right before my eyes.
My heart was racing frantically. It was sickening, disgusting, awful...
That was how I should have felt.
My gaze was fixed on Craig. He’d just pushed Sig into the river. As he slowly turned around, tightly gripping his sword, old memories of Heinreid’s came rushing back.
“Was that...to your satisfaction, Your Grace?” he gritted out.
Ohhh... Ohhh! That color tinged with hatred and shame! That beautiful, beautiful green!
My spirit was in turmoil, but my memories and my body were rejoicing. Sweet shivers raced through me, prickling up from the tips of my toes all the way to my brain. I felt unsteady on my feet, like I might collapse at any moment. As I forced myself to keep standing, a fevered sigh spilled from my lips, and I realized that I hadn’t been breathing.
“I’m... I’m going back to the estate,” I said.
“Your Grace?”
“Throw the survivors in the dungeon— No, I mean... Not... Not the dungeon... Just...? Attend to the injured, and then— Nnh!”
I was all mixed up. I couldn’t figure out what orders I was supposed to give. Craig was still staring right at me with those eyes. The villain inside my head laughed and laughed.
Still shaky, I scrambled and crawled my way onto my horse, then called out to nobody in particular.
“You can handle the cleanup. I’m going back alone. I...don’t need an escort...”
Alone. Right now, I just needed to be alone.