You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02
༺ Broken Gaslight ༻
"Excuse me? How long do you plan on sleeping?"
"…Hm."
My drowsy consciousness was jolted by a sweet voice.
"Ughh…"
I pulled myself from the bed, shielding my eyes from the blinding light, my heart racing. My current condition felt different from the norm.
Well, the only way to further improve my condition was through the 'Protection of the Stars,' which was influenced by the total amount of life force. In that sense, something like that was naturally bound to happen.
Still, the pain had fortunately lessened since before. Was it just a temporary situation earlier?
"Excuse me."
It hadn't been long since I woke up and I struggled to focus my groggy brain.
But once again, that voice echoed.
"…Huh?"
As I turned towards the source of the voice, a rather familiar face came into view.
'Damn.'
It was the face of the woman I despised as much as the Demon King, a woman whose name I preferred not to utter.
"Are you finally awake?"
"....."
Her appearance here meant that the official manipulation regarding me had begun.
Though I had enjoyed several blissful weeks recently, it appeared those days were now behind me.
I wish I could have enjoyed them a little longer. I didn't expect her to move this quickly.
"Do you remember our promise back then?"
As I sat on the bed with these thoughts, I furrowed my brow, and she whispered with a seductive smile.
"To join hands with me, remember?"
"What?"
"An alliance proposal."
Upon hearing those words, memories resurfaced in my mind.
It was a recollection of my birthday during the first-semester break when she had watched with satisfaction as Clana trembled in fear, admitting defeat under the influence of the Second Ordeal.
She extended her hand towards me while wearing the same seductive smile as before.
"What did I say back then~?"
"You had told me to become yours, to empower you so you could become an empress, and you even mentioned offering the position of the Imperial Consort. I remember you explaining that it would be quite advantageous for me to accept your proposition."
"You have a remarkable memory, don't you?"
She still threw that question despite knowing it all. Her rhetoric was frustrating, so I answered in detail, and she responded as she sharply raised her glance.
"However, Frey."
And from that moment, her reaction changed.
"… If you do it like this, things become a different story, doesn't it?"
She exhibited the same kind smiles and expressions she typically displayed in public, her alluring and beautiful demeanor.
"Don't you agree?"
"Ekeuk…"
Mockery, annoyance, disgust, dominance, superiority.
She wore a twisted smile and conveyed these emotions while gripping my chin.
"If you continue like this… what does that leave me…?"
"...…"
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
With her hand holding my chin, I gazed silently into her golden eyes.
"I'm… sorry…"
I spoke softly.
"Pftt."
Upon that, she suddenly burst into laughter.
"You do possess some common sense, huh? Or maybe you've already figured out the situation?"
She slowly pushed me down while I was sitting on the bed.
"It's the end for you, Frey. Politically and socially."
She whispered in my ear.
"You're no longer the distinguished gentleman you once were. You're just a weak, sickly, fallen noble."
With those words, she yanked open the tightly closed curtains of the room.
"Now, take a look."
"....."
As she unveiled the view, the mansion's exterior was swarmed with protesters. The sight was oddly reminiscent of a bustling colony of ants, and it set my heart racing once more.
"Hmph… I see. Even the mere sight of it makes your heart tremble?"
I stared out of the window with a vacant expression, while she, with her hand resting on my chest, soon revealed a cold smile.
"Well, I suppose, given that you've drawn the curtains tightly and even cast soundproofing magic, you must already be worn out from such disturbances."
Honestly, her appearance was exceptionally beautiful. She bore a striking resemblance to her mother and was considered one of the most beautiful women in the empire.
"…Grind."
But why did I feel overwhelming disgust when such an exquisite face displayed such a beautiful smile?
"…Huh."
Because of that, I unintentionally failed to control my expression, so she strengthened her grip on my chin.
"Frey, stop denying it. You're no longer the great scoundrel you once were at your peak. You've become a feeble recluse rotting away in this back room."
Then, she eased her hold slightly and settled herself on the edge of my bed.
"But, do you still not understand your situation?"
She suddenly reached out her hand toward me.
"…Heugeuk."
In a slow and deliberate motion, she wrapped her fingers around my throat.
To put it bluntly, I could strangle you to death right now."
"Cough."
"No one will grieve and no one will offer comfort. Officially, the public will be told you succumbed to your illness. You know, the newspapers of the empire have long surrendered to the Imperial Family."
As the flow of oxygen to my brain was cut off, my consciousness began to blur. Simultaneously, I felt the sensation of bubbles popping inside my head.
"Ugh…"
An impulse to rise and overpower her surged within me, but I bit my lips tightly to restrain myself.
This was not the moment for things to go awry. Right now, I had to endure.
"See… I'm here to take your life and no one is coming to your aid."
I sensed Lulu's presence just outside the door. Perhaps, having witnessed this situation through her Magic Eyes, she couldn't bear it any longer.
"Cough… Ugh…"
"Are you pathetically struggling? How amusing… You're like a pathetic insect. So pathetic that it would be a shame if only I got to witness this."
Desperately, I communicated with Lulu, who was watching me, by shaking my head. She already had the Demon King as an adversary; she shouldn't make an enemy of the Imperial Family as well.
"Hmm… Should I just kill you? You're starting to annoy me."
"…Heukgeuk."
Finally, after I managed to stop Lulu in front of the door with much difficulty, the Imperial Princess increased the pressure and began choking me with both hands.
"Ah…"
By the time my mind began to fade into blankness.
"…Tsk."
She then suddenly clicked her tongue and released her hands that had been choking me.
"Puha Gasp… Gasp… Gasp…"
In the next moment, fresh air began to flow into my nose and mouth.
"Disgusting. Filthy. I want to strangle you to death. I really hate you…"
As I was on the brink of suffocation, I quickly gasped for air and she cursed at me with a look of disgust.
"…Do you want to live, Frey?"
Then, with my mouth still dripping with saliva, she posed the question while staring at me.
"If you want to live, follow my orders."
She eventually retrieved a handkerchief from her inner chest pocket and meticulously wiped her hands before laying out her intentions.
"Just be my puppet for a while."
Observing her words unfold exactly as I had anticipated, I nearly burst into laughter. Yet, I managed to maintain my composure with a vacant expression.
"The promise we made last time is null and void, Frey. You're worthless now."
"..."
"A consort? Don't even dream about it. Even the thought of mingling my body with yours disgusts me. I hold no interest for men who are politically ruined."
Her dialogue went exactly as expected. I just wanted to finish this quickly as I was in desperate need of rest at this moment.
"Why? Didn't foresee this outcome? Well, I suppose you wouldn't. You always thought you were invincible."
But it seemed things would unlikely turn out just like how I wished it to be. She started muttering to herself, having guessed from my expression.
"Honestly, you were handsome. That's why I kept you around. Princes from neighboring countries are all so unimpressive. Even if it's for a fake marriage, I should still choose someone who complements my appearance, right?"
"....."
"However, you've become too pathetic. Moreover, you had the audacity to challenge me.
You even made advances at me several times. So, I wanted to either strangle you or disgrace you… And now, the perfect opportunity has presented itself."
I kept silent in response to her words.
"The Starlight and Moonlight Family would still follow you and join me, you know? Giving up that merit wasn't easy, but you managed to force me to do that. Congratulations."
She continued her story while crossing her legs.
"…Nevertheless, I want to witness your downfall."
"What does that… Eheuk!"
I accidentally spoke without thinking.
"You're so imprudent. Have some awareness of your situation, will you?"
"I-I'm… I'm so sorry…"
She landed her fist on my stomach, whispering while showing a cold expression.
"I want to see how someone as arrogant as you hits rock bottom, completely crumbles, breaks, and dies."
"Ugh…"
"It is my wish to watch your lifeless eyes, to toy with your hope for a while, and then crush it."
After stating this, she withdrew her fist from my abdomen, her face twisted into a wicked expression.
"Putting that aside, it's time for you to become my puppet, right?"
She took my hand and pulled me up from the bed.
"Announce your loyalty to me to the reporters gathered at the mansion and create a slightly ambiguous atmosphere. We need to stir up some scandal."
"Scandal?"
"There's an incident that needs to be covered up. Once that's done, we'll relocate to the Imperial Palace."
"...."
Her eyes sparkled as she said that.
"I already know that Clana likes you. If I start acting as if I've embraced you, she'll go wild, won't she?"
"..."
"Whenever she's around, show some affection. Cross certain boundaries. It will be quite amusing, don't you think?"
"That's…"
"…You're not going to refuse, are you?"
Of course, I wanted to refuse, but I couldn't avoid this event. I had to endure her torment for the rest of the vacation.
This was the only way for Clana to get an opportunity for her awakening.
Her awakening was indispensable to make her the Empress and to vanquish the Demon King.
"You don't want to do so?"
Of course, I don't. I really hate it.
Despite her beautiful appearance, she wasn't the heroine; she was the villain. So, why would I want to be her puppet, especially when she was the final boss in the third-year scenario, if I follow the normal path?
Granted, I was currently on the Path of False Evil, so I might not even make it to the third-year scenario. However, I still don't like it.
The reason I hadn't informed the heroines from the start was to manage this obligatory event quietly, without their knowledge.
I didn't think she would go as far as coming to my house.
"…I will pledge my loyalty."
"Good."
As I contemplated these thoughts, I tightly shut my eyes and said that. She flashed a bewitching smile and pulled me along.
"…Grind."
Seeing her like this, my heart darkened.
What Rifael was aiming for with me was the "gaslight effect." She intended to slowly chip away at my self-esteem and make me reliant on her.
I knew this all too well, which was why it disgusted me, but there was nothing I could do.
"Aren't you following me?"
For the time being, I had to bite my tongue and endure it.
.
.
.
.
.
"M-Master…"
"...."
Stepping out of Frey's room, Rifael noticed Lulu and Miho standing right outside the door, and she tilted her head.
– Scratch, scratch, scratch…
Tears streamed from Lulu's eyes as she vigorously scratched her own arm, where the faint Stigma of Misfortune remained.
"It's because of me… It's my fault… My…"
"Lulu."
Frey held Lulu's arm and offered a gentle smile.
"I'll be gone for a short while."
"Uh, uh…"
"Take care of the house well."
After saying that, led by Rifael's hand, Frey soon left the corridor.
"No…"
"Pfft, pfft…"
Watching Lulu collapse as if she had lost everything, Rifael stifled a laugh.
'Finally… Finally, I've got Frey in my hands…'
Contrary to the disdain she had shown earlier, she now wore an extremely excited expression and muttered to herself.
'Ever since that day, I've been coveting to have you somehow… I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this.'
"Eugeuk…"
"Sigh. Come on, hurry up and walk. You trash."
"…Yes."
"You are such a useless piece of garbage."
She looked at Frey, who had stopped in place, holding onto his heart, and condemned him while muttering to herself once again.
'Don't make that kind of expression, Frey… I'm saving you, after all.'
In Rifael's heart, she was a hero.
'The world hates you and wants to kill you anyway. So, from now on, just look at me.'
Of course, to anyone else, she appeared to be a rather twisted hero.
'Naturally, to make that happen, I'll need to tame you properly.'
And so, she left the mansion, feeling the greatest happiness in her life.
"…Huh?"
Soon, she furrowed her brow and tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh? What's going on here?"
Her own Imperial Guards were engaged in a tense standoff with the Imperial Palace Guards.
"What are you doing right now…"
Filled with the thought of swiftly taking Frey to her room now that she had him, she was on the verge of losing her temper.
– Kugugugugugu…!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, the sky and the ground quaked violently, creating a massive shockwave that made her involuntarily take a step back.
"Uh, ugh…
And it was the same for the others.
– Gooooo…
It was like standing in front of a tiger or a dragon. The indescribable fear and uncertainty caused by the overwhelming aura swept Rifael and the others away for a moment.
"…Huh?"
Then, she widened her eyes as she saw a figure appearing amidst the Imperial Guards positioned on opposite sides.
"Oh?"
The same reaction occurred with Frey, who had been wearing a vacant expression until then.
"…Clana?"
Emerging from the gap between the Imperial Guards, for some reason, Clana, who had just finished her awakening, blocked their path with a terrifying expression.
– Swish…!
A moment later, Clana's handkerchief flew towards Rifael's face.
You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02