At some point, Erika’s thoughts had come this far.
If this world really was like a novel, then she absolutely could not allow herself to be ruled by the story’s plot.
I, Erika Angelina, am ultimately a Grey List character facing execution, and so is Evelyn.
If I just remembered the plot and foolishly followed along, in the end I would be dragged toward Fate, unable to escape, and meet the End of Louis’ Happy Platform.
So, to avoid that, what should I do? It’s simple: just do what the treacherous minister ‘Erika Angelina’ in the novel would never do—case closed.
Let go of some of what I once had, such as what the ‘old me’ valued most—power and influence. If I were the greedy witch Erika, I would never do something like this.
“…What did you say?”
The clever Evelyn seemed unable to understand her words at that moment. Her arm stiffened slightly as she sat up, still holding Erika close. “Erika, what did you just… say?”
Facing her pressing question, Erika stated her determination even more firmly this time. “I, Erika Angelina, hereby resign from my post as Royal Gardener.”
Evelyn suddenly pushed her away. The two girls now sat facing each other on the bed, gazing into each other’s faces. Evelyn’s expression was calm, her dark pupils swirling with the endless night. Her brows and lips revealed nothing of her true feelings.
“Erika, you say you want to resign from the royal post—do you know what that means?”
“I’m well aware.”
“After resigning from your royal duties, what do you plan to do?”
“Well…”
Just as Erika was about to explain her plans, Evelyn cut her off.
“Don’t tell me you want to return to that Emil? The Leonis family! I know you sometimes meet and talk with Emil in secret.”
“Ugh!”
Evelyn’s fist clenched tightly, and at the same time, everything in the house began to shake violently. Books fell from the neatly arranged shelves, teacups and plates rolled and shattered on the floor with a piercing crash.
“It was him who egged you on, wasn’t it? He incited this betrayal, didn’t he? The Leonis family has always harbored resentment.”
“Yes, maybe. Maybe it was those despicable scoundrels from the Leonis family who murdered my brothers and sisters, too.”
If Evelyn became enemies with the Leonis family, her strongest support, even she herself would suffer a fatal blow. Even if Evelyn was a powerful mage, Emil was a knight who matched her strength.
If they clashed, Evelyn would inevitably suffer heavy damage, and the hyenas lurking in the shadows would never let such a golden opportunity slip by.
But Erika had long anticipated Evelyn’s reaction.
“This has nothing to do with Emil Leonis. I swear by Her Majesty the Queen, this is a decision I made alone.”
“By yourself? Erika, Erika Angelina! Fine, even if you made this decision alone—without me, what can you do?”
“Well…”
“Without me, what can you do?!”
No, at least let me say something.
“You’re an orphaned slave. Without me, you’re nothing. Don’t you understand? You’re still thinking of leaving me, distancing yourself from me…”
Evelyn was half on the verge of madness. Born the youngest daughter of the royal family, she had enjoyed a life of luxury and eventually ascended the throne. For her, everything in the world was within arm’s reach, like trinkets on display.
Whatever she wanted, she had to grasp with her own hands to be satisfied. But the experience of watching things she wanted slip away from her was perhaps foreign—no, after losing her dearest family one after another, maybe that feeling wasn’t so unfamiliar after all…
“Erika…”
Evelyn’s pupils dulled, like dead black buttons, as her lips, sharp as thorns, spat out her words. “I cherished you so much, yet you dare betray me like this? Without me, you’re nothing… nothing at all!”
Even someone like Erika, who had seen all sorts of wretched scenes, couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity and sorrow for this fragile Evelyn.
“I am the Queen! The supreme existence! Without my permission, no one can leave my side! Not even Anise, not even you!”
In the end, she was Evelyn’s slave, after all. Of course, Erika preferred to believe these weren’t her true feelings. If you keep a dog for a year, you’d have grown attached; how could she not be attached to an intelligent fairy like Erika who could bathe and chat?
She probably didn’t even know what she was saying now.
“Crack!” “Crash!”
Evelyn’s piercing roar finally shattered the window glass. The barrier-enchanted high-grade glass—so tough even an elephant couldn’t break it—was destroyed by sheer force of voice.
Once again, Erika realized just what kind of existence she was facing—the strongest Villainess, Demon Queen Evelyn.
Erika had to go it alone, destined to walk alone. She couldn’t rely on the hero’s strength, nor could she depend on her companions. She had to defeat her all by herself.
I can do it. I’ve managed so far.
After hearing her words, Evelyn hadn’t immediately twisted Erika’s head from her neck—that alone was half a success. Next, Erika decided to slowly reveal the wager she’d placed before.
“Even if I resign from the palace, I only need a year to come back.”
“…What?”
“Just give me a year. Only one year. I don’t even know who I am, and there’s so much I want to learn.”
“……”
“For Lady Evelyn, I need to hone myself and become more useful. After all, as you said, I’m just a worthless slave.”
Whether she sensed Erika’s sincerity or not, Evelyn’s hair—raised like Medusa’s—slowly drooped, gently falling onto her snowy shoulders. “…You don’t need to do this, Erika. I never thought you were useless… you’ve always been my support.”
See? Just now she was still scolding me as a slave. What a contradictory woman.
Still, it was understandable. Evelyn wasn’t in her right mind.
The only one she could depend on in the palace was now about to leave her arms. Of course she wanted to stop it, at any cost—even by speaking words she didn’t truly mean, clumsily.
It was precisely because Evelyn was still so clumsy that Erika couldn’t just leave her alone.
“So—”
She’s just a clumsy, broken girl after all.
So Erika decided not to speak as the Erika who had guarded her for a year, but for the first time, to voice her thoughts as someone else.
“Let’s do it together.”
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