If you think about it, it was a truly absurd promise.
This is a brooch that allows conversation when conflict arises. Isn't this a promise only children can make?
Above all, it is a promise made to the 'former' Frax, not the 'current' Frax. To me there is no reason to keep it.
After all, isn't it obvious that even if she asks to talk, she's going to say that anyway? Please come back to my fishing spot. She wants me to be by her side.
There was no reason for me to do that. You may become mentally weak, but there is no growth without trials. She needed to get out of Frax Lancel's shadow.
Therefore, when she asked me if I remembered the brooch, I had only one answer:
"No. What is that?"
When I asked her sincerely, as if I didn't know, her expression instantly hardened. Aris was probably confident. If she have this brooch, maybe she can change Frax's mind.
If she have the promise she made when she was young, she will definitely be able to return Frax's feelings of lingering affection for her.
It was a truly unfortunate miscalculation. Because I am not the Frax she knew.
The Frax she knew is no more. I am just a person struggling to survive somehow.
"That's a lie."
Her voice is trembling. The voice of a person whose confidence has collapsed is bound to be pathetic.
"What good will I gain by lying to you? I don't know where that old brooch came from, but I'm asking because I really don't know."
"You gave it to me."
"I gave it to you?"
"Did you forget? You gave it to me on my birthday seven years ago!"
"Is that so? My memories are hazy."
We talked while maintaining our composure. Without lying, it's much easier to forget something that happened seven years ago.
"Have you forgotten the promise you made to me?"
"...I don't know what you promised."
"You are clearly lying."
"ha."
I sighed and pretended to be frustrated.
"I don't remember even though I gave it to you. How many birthday presents do you think I gave you? Since I first met you 10 years ago, I have given you 10 gifts. Do you think I remember them all? And what is your purpose in bringing me a gift from my childhood that I don't even remember?"
She looked at me with a noticeably depressed expression. I felt bitter while looking at her trembling fingertips, but I swallowed it with difficulty.
Frax Lancel must oppose Aris Winslet. That's how we can survive together.
Even if that person and I become friends again, that joy won't last more than a few years.
By then it will already be too late. The only way I can help them grow is if they go through trials. It would be great if there was a world where people became strong through virtue alone.
Then I don't have to worry and go through all these difficulties.
But this world I created was not that kind of world, and in order to grow, they had to overcome the trials that came with it. A person's potential is strengthened by overcoming crises.
If there is no crisis, you cannot become strong. So unfortunately I can never be friends with you again, Aris.
"...I wanted to say something."
"I think we've been talking about that since yesterday. I don't want to talk to you."
"Please, Frax."
"I told you over and over again, but I don't understand your attitude. Isn't it time to let go of the person you've been playing with so much? How long are you going to keep me locked up in your enclosure? forever? Are you telling me to follow your shadow all my life and then die?"
"I've never played with you!"
"Don't be funny. So what is the attitude you have shown me so far? If we hadn't played with it, there wouldn't have been any political drama in the world. I have nothing more to say, so I'll just leave. I ask you again. Don't ever talk to me again. If you talk to me one more time, I'll think that means you want to fight me."
With those words, I sent a signal to Asti, who was watching me from somewhere. Now is a good time to open the magic mirror.
I'm tired of talking about this with Aris anymore. It felt like I was repeating an endless story over and over again.
Anyway, Ruslan was here watching what Aris was doing. There's no way they'll just leave me and Aris alone.
They seemed to think I wouldn't notice them, but since I had received some of Asti's power, there was no way I wouldn't notice their presence.
It was inevitable that three more people would flock to this warehouse in the first place.
Anyway, the plan succeeded. The moment I thought about that and was about to take a step.
sigh.
Aris' fingers grabbed the hem of my clothes.
"...Is it because of Asti?"
Why does Asti's name suddenly appear? As I looked at her with a questioning expression, Aris looked at me with a distorted face. It was an expression I had never seen on her before.
What should we call it? Obsession? Possessive? At first glance
If you look at it, it has a face full of ears.
...Isn't this dangerous?
"Asti said something ridiculous, right? She say things like I played with you, etc. I'm sure it will. Otherwise, your attitude would never change like this. That's in just one month. You always gave me a foolish look. Did you really think I wouldn't know?"
"let go."
"At least you don't do this to me, Frax."
"Don't talk nonsense. Why is Asti, who is nothing, here?"
"does not matter. Well, I've never seen you so close to anyone else, like you always keep your distance from any other woman besides me."
"Didn't I tell you? Asti has no place to stay, so she is temporarily staying in Lancel. Above all, this person is such a good person that she deserves to receive sponsorship in my name. I wonder how ridiculous the name Lancel would be if such a talented person were to have bad luck staying at a shabby inn or something like that."
"No. You lied."
"Don't let anyone else get into your paranoia. Aris Winslet. There is a limit to what I can tolerate. What did I just tell you? I thought you said you would take it as a sign that you would fight if you captured me again?"
This is more serious than I thought. In the original work, Aris does not show this attitude towards Frax at all. Where did we go wrong?
Obviously, in the original work, Asti is next to Frax, and Aris, seeing that, does not do anything special. From where...? Will the already twisted narrative become even more twisted here?
shit. It's difficult.
Best of all, a world of magic will soon open up to you. That means it's time to get out of bed.
I sharpened Aris' hand with a truly disgusted expression.
I hit it.
Aris blushed slightly, held my hand, and looked at me with shaking eyes.
The attitude was that I had no idea I would be doing this. Anyway, I didn't say anything to her, just glared at her in disgust and quickly left her warehouse.
It was difficult to blend in there for no reason.
As I come out of the warehouse, I hear Aris sobbing. And then Ruslanne's voice takes over.
The plan was successful, but I was embarrassed and felt dirty in many ways. Aris is more broken than I thought.
What was the trigger? Why is Aris hanging around Asti? In the first place, after the attempted rape incident, Aris should not even have much interest in Frax.
But why?
Could it be that the situation has become so twisted? I don't know. Even when I think back on what I said and did, it was not much different from what Frax said in the original text.
The only difference between the original narrative and the current one is that it is led by Frax Lancel. Originally, everything happened under Asti's leadership. Frax misses Aris and torments her.
... While. No.
Did this distortion occur because I showed Aris that I had no regrets?
It was a good reason, so I looked up into space with a puzzled expression.
If so, this means that it may now become difficult to even move according to the original. I can't believe that the subtle differences created by Frax's emotions can cause such great distortion... Damn.
I had a gut feeling. These changes are not light. Obviously, the resulting distortion will become even greater.
Aris' condition was serious. If this continues, her mentality will completely collapse and she will not be able to grow or function properly. Aris is definitely the most important force.
She is a character who must stay by Ruslan's side until the latter half of the novel. If such a person is already shaken, it will be difficult. Originally, she was the one who should have quit Frax without regrets, but she couldn't quit it.
Where should she start using this?
I felt like my vision was getting dark.
And... now, I sense the movement of strong magical power behind me.
It means that a magical world has opened in the secret garden hidden inside the warehouse.