“Yes, that’s right. The two manage to obtain some evidence and escape home safely together. They report the circumstances to the king, and it’s a happy ending… but in the end, they fought a war to avenge you, Lord Cecil.”
“… Is that really a happy ending?”
“They overcame the dangers and were in love, so romantically, it was a happy ending. But I can’t see it that way.”
“I agree,” I responded, unable to suppress a wry smile.
When I think about how many lives are lost in war, it doesn’t seem like a happy ending. If I were there, I could probably find a better solution… but I’m destined to be the first one killed.
“So, in Charles’s route, I disappear, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Once the diplomatic negotiations conclude, Lord Cecil, you disappear in the neighboring country. You notice a suspicious person, follow them alone, and then… just vanish,” Bertia nodded, beginning to outline the Charles route.
“During that time, our relationship with the neighboring country became strained. If we tried to deploy troops for a search, they would likely see it as a pretext for invasion, resulting in unfavorable outcomes. In this situation, Lord Charles takes on the role of negotiator and travels to the neighboring country, accompanied by the heroine.”
“Delays in the initial investigation are costly. I think the current version of myself wouldn’t be so easily defeated… But then again, I probably wouldn’t have taken this on alone in the first place,” I mused, reflecting on what I would do differently now.
Now that I had reliable aides and confidence with Bertia by my side, I would prioritize my safety and avoid unnecessary risks. Unlike my character in the game, who acted recklessly on their own, I recognize that I lacked the instinct to depend on others. This was true for me during my childhood.
I could handle most things by myself and often found it quicker and more reliable than asking for help. As a result, relying on others felt more like a burden than a benefit.
“Lord Cecil, you astutely infiltrated the enemy’s hideout, which was situated within the royal palace of the neighboring country. It appears there was a traitor in our nation who had been collaborating with that country. They were preparing to invade us and viewed your disappearance as an opportunity to launch their attack,” Bertia explained.
I understand. Acting as if you are vanishing in order to blend in.
That might truly be a smart strategy to take advantage of an opponent’s weakness.
“Lord Cecil, you were able to reach out to Lord Charles, who was visiting the neighboring country, and you provided him with various pieces of evidence along with a letter for our king. When Lord Charles encouraged you to come home, you reassured him by saying, ‘Even if something happens to me, Shaun is still there, so it’ll be fine.’ In the end you decided not to leave with him.”
Well, once you’ve infiltrated deep into enemy territory, it’s understandable you’d want to see everything you could.
“With some hesitation, Lord Charles gave up his attempts to persuade you. However, considering his role in organizing your search and rescue, he understood that returning home too early could raise suspicions. Thus, he pretended to negotiate for a while before eventually returning, where he presented his findings and the letter to His Majesty. Meanwhile, as you stayed undercover, a coordinated attack was launched from both within and outside against the neighboring country. Concurrently, an agent who looked like Lady Anne tried to charm Lord Charles to gather intelligence, adding a romantic element to the situation. Despite these obstacles, their love flourished, leading them to a happy conclusion,” Bertia explained.
“… But a war was still ongoing.”
“… Yes, that’s true,” she acknowledged, her eyes glistening as she looked down, feeling disheartened.
Seeing her sorrowful demeanor, I gently ran my fingertips along her hand, offering reassurance with the words, “It’s going to be okay.”
“So then… in Nert’s route, he becomes reclusive, right?”
“Yes. In Lord Nert’s route, Lord Cecil, with too much free time on his hands, swiftly finished the research that Lord Nert had been pursuing, while the heroine worked to uplift a downcast Lord Nert.”
I think I just became intrigued and couldn’t resist. In the past, I would have reacted without thinking about Nert’s feelings.
“Then, Lord Cecil becomes absorbed in creating gunpowder and studying new minerals, ultimately isolating himself in his own laboratory,” Bertia continued.
Indeed, it was fun creating the “fireworks.” For the “Cultural Festival,” based on Bertia’s knowledge, Nert and I collaborated on the gunpowder mixture. However, since Bertia was frantically shouted next to me, “You mustn’t get hooked on gunpowder!” and “Long live peace!” I chose not to explore this further.
Bertia, in her own way, was probably worried that I might isolate myself too much.
“Once Lord Cecil isolated himself, the neighboring country saw it as an opportunity to launch an attack. During this time, Lord Nert used the gunpowder you created to craft powerful weapons, leading our country to victory. Lord Nert, celebrated as a hero, and the heroine who supported him, shared a deep love and achieved their happy ending.”
“It seems our country has developed significant military capabilities, but the consequences of the war may escalate,” I remarked.
“I’m really worried about that too,” Bertia said, her eyes growing even darker.
To be honest, I believed the “scenarios” of the “otome game” weren’t worth worrying about. However, these discussions clearly distressed Bertia and weighed heavily on her.
Considering her kind nature, I think she was worried about my possible disappointment in my future or in myself after hearing these stories.
I apologize, Bertia. I was so focused on your innocent perspective that I overlooked your concerns.
“Ultimately, I become a war maniac.”
“Yes, that’s Lord Bard’s route. When Lord Cecil became weary of his peaceful reign, the neighboring country launched attacks… prompting him to enter the battlefield,” Bertia continued, her expression darkening further.
“With the noble goal of serving his homeland and seeking adventure, Lord Cecil embarked on a quest to conquer neighboring nations one after another. Lord Bard, who stood beside Lord Cecil, exhausted himself on the battlefield, while the heroine provided him unwavering support. In the end, Lord Cecil united the surrounding countries, creating a peaceful world where they both could live happily,” she explained.
“That means significant harm happened while pursuing happiness, and once peace was reached, I’m likely to find it dull and create something new.”