Chapter 12: Angel of the Moonlit Night
THE moon was the only source of light in the total darkness of night. Unable to perceive my surroundings, before I knew it, I’d stumbled right off the edge of the steep cliff. Everything shifted into slow motion, and I was able to process that I was only seconds away from death.
But Siraiya ran toward me the moment I slipped. I knew he was trying to save me, but it was too late. Siraiya dove off the cliff to try to reach me.
He plummeted through the air, caught up to me, and wrapped me in his arms as I fell to my death.
Beneath us were inky black waters. There was no surviving an impact with the ocean from such a height.
Siraiya and I were going to die.
Had the game forced this outcome on us? Was I finally paying the price for meddling with the original story? Siraiya was going to sink to the depths of a dark ocean just like he did in the game.
I refuse to accept that ending! I’m not going to let Siraiya die!
I needed to get my peaceful world back. I ripped the cloth cover from the book and threw it into the abyss below. This was the only chance I had left.
As soon as I opened the book, a blinding light stole my vision. I didn’t know what was happening, but with Siraiya tucked firmly in my arms, I desperately struggled to pull us both upwards.
Suddenly, we shot up into the sky together. Or, more accurately, I was the one shooting up… cradling Siraiya in my arms…
“…Cynthia, you have wings.”
“Wings…?”
I hadn’t realized what was happening until Siraiya said it clearly.
I felt a new sensation on my back… Are these wings? I only needed to turn my head slightly to see the giant, white, feathery wings. I was able to suspend us in midair by repeatedly flapping them.
Had I become a bird? Now that I thought about it, I recalled learning that birds could carry prey heavier than themselves. I wasn’t struggling to hold Siraiya’s weight at all.
I could move my wings with ease, even though it was my first time flying. It felt like it would be easy to get back to the top of the cliff… Although, whether or not I wanted to do that was a different story.
Everyone was staring at me and my newfound wings, having completely forgotten about the battle. Prince Adelberd had managed to keep his hood on, but my wings were on full display to the world.
✦ ✦ ✦
“…I might have to leave the country instead,” I mumbled. I broke out in a cold sweat when I pictured that future.
“If it comes to that, the two of us will travel the world together.”
From his place in my arms, Siraiya sounded nonchalant about the prospect.
But he was right. The two of us could abandon this country and travel the world together. Siraiya would never think of leaving me, so I knew our journey would be absolutely splendid, whatever form it took. All I needed was a life with him.
Mother and Father could join us, too, if they couldn’t remain in Elzeria. We had close relationships with traders around the world and could probably survive a life on the road. Maybe it won’t be a big deal after all.
“I’m glad I still have a future with you,” I said.
“Me too, Cynthia.”
We’d made up our minds right there on the spot. So long as I could spend the rest of my life with the man I loved, there was nothing else I needed.
Siraiya and I were smiling at each other when we heard cries from below.
“An angel!”
“They’re real! It’s an angel!”
…What? Are they talking about me?
I looked down at them, startled, and found the enemy men on their knees, looking up at me in prayer. They’d even dropped their weapons. For some reason, even Prince Rutherford was also on his knees.
The men who weren’t kneeling exchanged looks, confused about what their duty was now.
“Now that it’s exposed for all to see, I’m left with no choice!” Prince Adelberd declared in a clear, resounding voice. He moved his body and hands to accentuate his performance. “This angel has been disguising herself as a human to watch over the kingdom of Elzeria. I’ve formed a close relationship with this angel, who has bestowed upon me the role of guiding humanity toward its most righteous path. She spoke to me and said that she wished to remain hidden from the eyes of humans, lest her existence cause chaos in our world, so I’ve been staying with her at this resort to respect her holy wishes.”
He came up with all this on the spot?!
It was hardly the first time I’d felt disgust over Prince Adelberd’s ability to rattle off lies like it was second nature. Then he yanked his hood down.
His ears are gone! The event must be over!
…Or did the event transfer to me instead? Now that I thought back, the book was an item that had to be purchased with real money. But it could only be used once, so if you wanted to see every character’s animal transformation, you needed to purchase enough books for all of them.
It was impossible to stop the limited-time event once it started, but maybe that had changed now that this was the real world instead of a dating sim. Well, it certainly came at the best possible time, at least.
“The firstborn prince isn’t a beast at all!”
“He had ties to an angel, not a demon?!”
Even more enemies dropped their weapons and knelt before Prince Adelberd. Still, some of the men weren’t backing down.
Prince Adelberd let out an overdramatic cry as he knelt before me. Behind him, Lady Estellise mimicked his gesture.
“Forgive me, Angel! I should never have allowed this to happen! I promise to atone! Now, what shall I do about these ruffians?”
Prince Adelberd squinted his blue eyes. He was telling me to play along. I felt like he would tear me a new one if I screwed this up—a fate much more frightening than the prospect of leaving the country.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. It had been a long time, but it was finally time to bring out my villainess’ smile again.
“Kneel before me, humans. Or do you wish to suffer the wrath of God?”
I couldn’t perform like Prince Adelberd, so I kept it brief and used my villainess’ voice to overpower them. The enemies still standing finally tossed their weapons aside and crumpled to the ground. Some of them even begged for mercy.
“Arrest anyone who dared raise their sword against an angel. I shall leave you to try them under human law.”