After hearing such declaration. The count was smiled with a hearty laughed.
"Ah, before you actually go, Corrin."
"?" As I turned around to face the count once more, curious about what he had to say.
A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes as he leaned in slightly. "Never Cheat."
"....."
I paused, really taken aback by his unexpected advice.
Seriously though, is he a psychic or something?
"Hahaha, I know that look." He chuckled.
"But honestly, that's probably one thing you always to remember."
"Seriously father, do you really think that I would cheat?"
With a knowing smile, the count chuckled again, his memory of my fiancée clearly crossed his mind.
"I'm going, father."
"Take care."
Stepping into the prepared carriage waiting outside the Mech hanger, I couldn't shake off the weight of the count's word.
No matter, I shouldn't be thinking too much for now, After all, I had measly two years to prepare myself....
Two years from now, Aria will entered the Academy and set the next stage, by sealing my deathflag.
No matter what, I had to set my route to escape the destiny that the game narrated was awaited me.
(My happy ending.... Don't worry we will meet soon)
"Young master, should we make our way towards the grand duke's castle?" The coachman outside asked, seemingly concerned if I wanted to meet with Aria.
"No. Head straight into the city, please."
"But...." He wanted to say something but soon stopped, understanding the delicate matters when expressing their opinion towards the people of nobility.
Haaah..... he didn't really have to worry. Knowing Aria, she was probably already at the mages' association waiting for me. Going to the grand duchy now would just be waste of time, unless I do want for Aria to locked me away for all eternity for which I don't.
.....
Sure enough, there she was just sitting alone in one of the free chairs.
No one dared to sit beside her; her aura of grace and beauty made people around her in awe like there were in trance.
Crossing her legs while sipping on some tea as she reading through her newspaper at the same time, ignoring everyone around her....
Where did she even get that tea here?
"Aria...."
As I called out to her name, her eyes finally landed upon me. The bored expression she had just a while ago was completely vanished.
"Darling~" Her melodic voice rippled in the empty air, making the all guys around me quickly look at my direction with lightning in their eyes.
Intentional or not, this woman was bound to be death of me. Why need such lengths of two year as they were already raised a deathflag.
While all the guys were shooting glares at me, Aria didn't pay any attention to her surroundings as she glance at me from head to toe, her pale blue eyes widened as it were gleaming brightly in admiration.
"You look handsome, Darling." She purred, circling me with a grace that seemed almost ethereal, her fingertips were playfully brushing against my attire.
"Thank you...." I replied, though to be honest that I was marveling at how even she wear simple clothing, yet she still radiated an aura of undeniable beauty. Aria really effortlessly exemplified the concept of one's saying that a true elegance lay in the way a person carried themselves.
"Darling, you meanie. How come the thought of visiting the grand duke's castle never crossed your mind? I was waiting for you there, you know?" She teased, her playful tone tinged with a hint of reproach.
This cunning..... I just caught her sneaky move because I knew for certain that she wasn't at the grand duchy's from the very beginning as she was probably had been stalking me from a far distance while I was travelling in the carriage.
Having spent enough lifetime with her already, I had grown accustomed to the very depths of her obsession tendencies and the lengths to which she would go just to make me her possession.
Not to mention, with the way the count's words were being so cryptic it already pointed out Aria's scheme in advance. It's commendable for his cleverly assist.
"Never Cheat" is like the short version of hidden message of "Never Steal, God is watching us all".
Looking around, I couldn't see a single intimidating presence of that stoic knight who always accompanied her, nor the maid who attended to her every need.
In the game, those two servants were steadfast in their duty and loyalty for Aria, never leaving her side.
Just from observing Aria's disheveled appearance such as her dress was tousled and slightly messy hair alone, it was evident that she likely went in a hurry on her own without them after noticing me heading straight to the city.
And my basis for this conclusion, just by looking at the sky alone as ever since we been standing for a long time that a certain part of the sky were mismatched the formation of the clouds passing through.
You can even probably tell that she had flown using her household's military airship as her civilian ride and that she was hovering above me from the start.
I could just counter her argument all together by asking why she was here without her servant's company or how she knew that I went straight to the city at the same time.
However, pointing these out to her mistake on the spot would undoubtedly raises my deathflag, especially with all the guys was still glaring at me like daggers.
So, ignoring the obvious and just mustered myself the best excuse that I could conjure.
"I didn't want to bother you...."
"Since when you were a bother to me, darling?" She countered.
Then, with a tight hug as she enveloped me, all the guys were already drawing their hateful gazes were now intensified directed at me.
"I know that you don't like me, darling.... but shouldn't you at least say your goodbye?"
Her eyes were quivering with emotion, tears glistening in her eyes as she muffledly cried into my chest.
Ugh, I felt like my neck was already on the chopping block. Every eyes within the vicinity was now fixated on me, their pierced glares were penetrate through my very soul.
Making such a beautiful lady cry would perhaps be the man's greatest sin could be committed in their perspective. The moment they knew she was the grand duke's daughter, they would likely strung me up in full display in front of public square.
After all, Aria is essentially the Valhailm City's princess and the grand duke's only precious daughter.
Thanks to her unique skill [ Mystique Eyes ] that would rendered people's perception making it the only reason for they being unable to recognize her true identity as in their perspective of Aria right now was nothing more but a random ordinary girl.
It was a remarkable potent skill that she possesses, highly extensively as she can effortlessly infiltrate deep within the enemy territories without being noticed.
It was so remarkable that is was heavily discussed among both players and the developers of this game as to debate their own theories or what not as behind the lore of Aria's unique skill. And yet, they paying so much attention in elaborating on mere skill instead of delving their efforts for Corrin and Aria's backstory.
It really begged the question: Just how fucking deepest part of dense blackhole for the developers to making their effort in creating Corrin's unique skill [Crazy Heart] and why they chose to neglecting in making a simple backstory behind their relationship?
Right now, she was behaving in a manner so differently from what she was supposedly depicted in her character originally in the game.
Her affectionate gaze towards me, saying some lingering remarks about me, whispering her love upon my ears, and even now her showing genuine sadness for reason of me leaving — I hadn't seen all of this side of Aria when I was playing in the game.
If only that I didn't have the deathflag poking behind my back and not to mention if I didn't know her other side, I might have fallen for her already.
It was baffling to witness a heroine, who is destined is to be with the protagonist in this world or becoming the world's ender was now behaved so nicely and affectionate towards someone like me — whose in the near future, my life was hanging at her mercy.
It this what was really happened when I played this game probably by now, I already hailed this hidden gem as my best game of the generation hall of fame.
Not to mention the developers would probably bawl their eyes out in sheer disbelief if they seeing this very scene.
As I heavily sighed, Instinctively, found myself the courage to just returning her embrace.
"I'm sorry..." I spilled the words from my lips, laden with genuine remorse.
Despite being showered by her deep love for so long, the thought of reciprocating those feelings never resonated in my heart.
I knew that I was selfish, but the fearful feeling of impending doom with her was too overwhelming for me to ignore.
Looking at her smile upon hearing my words, my heart were filled of mix feelings that I also felt the pain. As much as I was afraid of her, the truth was that I didn't hate her at all.
I was just couldn't bring myself to reciprocate the love and the affection that she showered upon me. My feelings right now was still brewed in conflict that hinders any genuine response.
Sure, I could probably pretending to love her and starting to showered with more affection but in the end, that would be nothing more than playing a lies game to Aria and myself.
( I'm sorry, Aria but that future together would only ends in your own happiness with the protagonist. )
The system was still active as it interwined with the main events of the game.
This meant that my inevitable death, along with her future in joining with the main protagonist's party, must come or else my deathflag would upon me.
My future is seemed been set in stone. If I able to deviate the route of my fate as last attempt to have a chance for a future with Aria, the system would ensure my route meets "ultimate end".
And if I also followed the main events till the very end, Aria herself would become the Reaper of "my end".
No matter the route I chose to take, the outcome is predetermined.
DEATH
I will die.
So probably the next time we meet each other in the near future would probably be somewhere in the middle of unknown place in the midst of chaotic battlefield.
As enemies.
And if I die by your hands when that fateful day comes that I wish for that day will not happened but if it does then....
Then, I will be the one to hug you warmly so that I can see you smile before in my eyes instead of the genuinely sadness that you've showed me now.
VOOOOOOMMM!!!!!
Hearing the magical airship that had just arrived outside the tower above us, I reluctantly let go of Aria.
She looked very dissapointed as the airship heading straight to the academy was here.
"I see you soon." I said, trying my tone to interject some reassurance before patted her head gently, then planted a kiss on her cheek.
Observing my actions as Aria froze in front of me, her eyes widened as she locked her gaze onto me showing a flushing red cheeks against her pale complexion.
Her expression right now, was so priceless to witness as she looked so adorable and flustered just from my kissing on the cheek alone that it stirred me an impulse within me to try kiss her on the lips but, I change my mind as I went on to just hug her once more.
As I about to enter the mage tower, carrying my determination that filled every fiber of my being as I had made my resolve to secure my route, no matter how many branches that lay ahead towards my happy ending.
With only two whole years that stretches out before me, I had to make the most of every moment that I had left in the Academy.
The system may have force my hand to follow the main events depicted in the game, but I refused to be bound by its constraints in which that the endgame was for me to die.
Instead, I vowed to explore every mission scenario and diverging path the protagonist could chose.
I would manipulate as many variables as possible to defy the looming deathflag that was depicted in the game but, in order to happened then I had to make a one crucial sacrifice for it to succeed....
I couldn't allow myself falling in love to Aria.
In two years, Aria will enter the academy and the envitable event in which her crossing paths with the protagonist of this world
In an instant, she would fell for him ensnaring in a fate in which she could never escape. After all, a saintess's heart could only truly fall in love with their fated soulmate.... and sadly I wasn't the one for her.
That role belonged to the protagonist.
Tragically, that significant event could sparked a conflict between myself and the protagonist in which would seal my own fate of demise, as she would ultimately kill me in pursuit of protecting her newfound love.
I could probably avoid the conflict against the protagonist however there's more than this conflict between them as were certain force at play brewing a larger conflict on top of them and centralized its focus on one place to set the better stage.
Despite the darkness that loomed over our shared future, I will determined to carry the torch of understanding and compassion.
No matter what twisted turns our destinies took us, I vowed ensuring that Aria knew one undeniable truth: I never hate her
In the face of impending tragedy, I would cling onto this shred of humanity as I braced myself like a amidst the storm.
As I take one last look to see that Aria was still in a daze, noticed her wet tears and facial gesture were animated.
Though I couldn't hear what she says as the door quickly close and the magical lift was propel me upwards towards the tower's peak where I was about to board the magical floating ship.
....
"Who's another girl that swept up your feet, lady killer?"
A burly dude was standing in front of the magical lift as if he was waiting for me. His mischievous glint was glimmering as he raises his thumb of approval.
"For the love of...." I heavily sigh.
"HAHAHA. I expected nothing less to my rival."
this spontaneous oaf was making weird remarks again as expected which probably the good thing since I been in a very bad mood.
This burly guy was Daike Cooper, a airhead that tends to fight me in who's get the most ladies. He calling himself "Mr. Wonder Fingers" as he tends to self-proclaimed that the moment he touch a woman will melt under his embrace.
His class is Lancer. Level 4.
"Come on, Daike stop thinking of what's under the belt and more into thickhead skull"
Then, this bluehair guy beside Daike that in which constantly blaring his thoughts towards by scolding was none other than Rein Midritch, a hard-worker that tends his time in the forest to hunt and modest person often underestimate his abilities even though he wasn't.
His class is Shepherd. Level 6.
"Okay, that's enough you guys the floating ship will leave us if you guys keep this up."
Then lastly, there was the bit little guy's name was Bastion, an dwarve that often called "short legs" as he runs slow due to his legs.
Though as he was a dwarve, he can make customize and enhance things in which of course weapons so I mostly visit at his family-run county forged all the time.
His class was inherent as Smith, so he can't class change. Level 5.
These three were Corrin's loyal friends from the county.
In the game, Daike and Rein was debuted later as the midboss though their end was quick.
Though their scene was wholesome and make me almost tear-up as they stay to hold their ground against the protagonist as promised for the deepest friend, Corrin.
But since Corrin was at the time somewhere doing schemes, let's say he seemed not to care his friends.
While Bastion was spared as he was been recruited by the protagonist in the middle of a fight.
Since that I've been thrust into this disposable character, I might as well in finding some ways for them not meet their end.
That's what I hoping as we boarded the floating ship towards the Academy.