“...So in the end, I’m not a princess. I’m just a counterfeit—an impostor wearing her name,” Arianora explained as Laplace and Tanya listened quietly. “We are not people; We are merely tools for Maxwell to use. He deemed Us convenient to have, and so We were created. That is the only reason We exist.”
Now that she had said her piece, Tanya timidly spoke up. “Princess...”
“Lady Tanya, I told you, I am no princess. I am merely one of Them.”
I’m not worthy of any special title. But as long as I keep serving my purpose—as long as I help Laplace escape, thereby preventing Our full transformation into weapons—the world will remain at peace.
But before she could put this concept to words, Tanya spoke again.
“But then... how come you’re playing along?”
“Wh... What?” Arianora faltered. “Well... because...”
But before she could find the words, something clattered to the floor. All three turned in the direction of the sound. Arianora gasped.
“Vis...?”
It was Arianora’s attendant. Thus far she had sat there in silence, but now she was aggressively fighting her restraints, trying to break free. Arianora drew in a breath at the sight.
Meanwhile, Laplace put a hand to her chin in contemplation. “Hmm... It appears as though she’d like to say something.”
“...Lady Laplace, if you don’t mind, um, could you...”
“Free her?”
“Yes.”
“Hmmm... Well, I don’t mind, as long as she doesn’t start yelling for help... Plus, this seems important.”
Laplace snapped her fingers. A split-second later, the dam burst and Vis’s voice erupted from her mouth.
“—With all due respect, Her Highness was only doing her duty!” she shouted. “She never asked for this, but nonetheless, she pours her heart and soul into her work, all for the citizens of Pajan! I’ve seen it for myself—I was right there with her every step of the way!”
“Vis...!”
As an attendant, she was always close at hand—and always eager to nag. But truth be told, she cared more than anyone. She knew Arianora was an impostor; she knew the suffering Arianora willingly endured night after night, all so she could faithfully uphold her role as princess. Vis saw it all.
“Our princess is a good person.”
A good, kindhearted, nameless person.
“Please, Lady Laplace. You have to escape from Ode Castle... and never return. If you wish to see Arianora safe, then you must leave this country.”
The look in her eyes was dead serious.
“Hey...!” Tanya objected. She knew they had a point, but she took offense to the idea that fighting wasn’t an option.
But Laplace held out a hand to stop her and turned back to the others.
“Now, now, I’ll thank you not to underestimate me.” She grinned. “Just because she has a role to fill, or because she’s trying her best, you think that’s reason enough not to challenge the status quo? Non, non. That’s unacceptable.”
Slowly, softly, Laplace floated up to the ceiling, her long dark hair billowing around her like she was underwater. Her eyes were shining with determination.
“In case you missed it the first time, allow me to repeat myself. I’m going to punch him in the face, and then I’m going to end his life. Comprenez-vous?”
“B-But...”
“Non, non. No buts about it! You think you’re safe just because you don’t make waves? Playing nice won’t save you. Trust me, I know.”
“But that’s...”
“Are you hearing me? All it did was create the miserable predicament you find yourself in today. Maxwell helped create a world in which young women are forced to give up their dreams and... and do battle in stripper armor, for crying out loud! It’s time he got his just deserts, don’t you think?”
Because I sure do.
“Rest assured, I have absolutely no intention of letting him get away with this.”
“Oh, Laplace,” Tanya sighed as she gazed at the other woman’s beautiful face. Frustratingly beautiful, in fact.
Then she snuck a glance at Arianora and found her staring firmly up at Laplace, refusing to concede. Man, they really are identical.
She took in a deep breath and shouted:
“It’s our job to brave danger! We put the ‘venture’ in ‘adventurer’!”
Naturally, everyone flinched in surprise.
“Aaaah!”
“Whoa!”
“Good gravy! What’s gotten into you, Tanya?!”
But she ignored them. “You’re coming with us, right, Prin—er, Ari?”
“Huh? Where are we going?”
“To beat the crap out of Maxwell, duh!”
The pink-haired Magi-Knight held out her hand. Arianora and Vis stared at it blankly, then looked up at her.
“WHAT?!”
“What on earth are you proposing?!”
They were baffled. What was the significance of this gesture? To them, it was all too foreign.
“Listen up, Ari. We have two options: solve the problem or run away. And neither me nor Laplace is gonna pick the second one.”
After all, how could we?
“Remember when I made that big, self-important speech dedicated to ‘all the little girls out there who dream of adventure’?”
“Yeah...?”
“Well, you’re one of them, right?”
At this, Arianora’s eyes widened. All this time, she’d simply accepted the abuse as the way things were—had simply existed to serve her purpose. But this woman standing before her saw her as... a girl with a dream?
“Oh, okay. Now I get it,” Laplace laughed. “Putting the ‘venture’ in ‘adventurer,’ eh? In that case, that would make Ari an adventurer in her own right, wouldn’t you say?”
“Uh...?”
“Think about it! You brought us into your room, told us your biggest secret, and now you’re trying to aid us in our escape!” Laplace nodded to herself, satisfied. “That’s a pretty big venture, don’t you think? You’re not just dreaming of adventure; you’re living it!”
The next thing she knew, Arianora had taken Tanya’s hand.
“I, um...”
“Will you take us to Maxwell?” Tanya asked. She nodded firmly.
“You most certainly will not!”
“Vis!”
“If Her Highness must go, then as her attendant, it is only proper that I accompany her!” Vis shouted.
Arianora blinked in surprise. “Y-You can’t, Vis! You...!”
“No, Princess... This responsibility is mine to bear.” Her eyes hardened with determination.
“Oho,” Laplace chuckled. “D’accord, d’accord. I get the feeling she won’t take no for an answer, anyway.” She snapped her fingers. “Well, the more the merrier, if you ask me! Are you ready to punch stuff?”
“Darn right!”
“Y-Yeah!”
“Then let’s go.”
In that moment, Laplace grinned like a mischievous little girl... and Arianora found herself entranced.
To her and the rest of the Nameless Girls, Laplace was the Original. And if even she wanted to fix her past mistakes... then perhaps Arianora could forge a new life for herself, too.