Alistair's brow furrowed as he listened to Elise, her words calculated and assertive in a way he hadn't expected. He crossed his arms, giving her argument careful thought. For the first time, he acknowledged her intelligence, though he remained visibly displeased.
Alistair:
[You make a compelling argument, Elise. (he said slowly, his tone heavy with disappointment) But loyalty and respect are earned through obedience, and your defiance has not gone unnoticed.]
Elise tensed as Alistair continued, his eyes narrowing.
Alistair:
[Your actions, however justified in your eyes, cannot go unpunished. You have forgotten your place, disregarding the family's reputation, and associating with someone… unsuitable.]
He cast a severe glance at Rou, who was watching the exchange in tense silence.
Alistair:
[As such, you will be exiled from the Vandorea household for a year, effective immediately. I will arrange for you to be sent to live with a branch family, away from the influence of this… commoner.]
Elise's heart sank, and her mind raced, but she held her ground, determined not to appear shaken.
Alistair gestured to the guards at Rou's side.
Alistair:
[As for him—he will be detained until we can arrange a suitable punishment.]
The guards seized Rou's arms and began to escort him away. Elise took a step forward, but Alistair held up a hand, stopping her.
Alistair:
[Enough, Elise. This is the consequence of your choices.]
She clenched her fists, but she knew she couldn't challenge him further—not here, not now.
As night settled over the cold stone walls of the dungeon, Rou lay quietly on the narrow, uncomfortable bed, staring at the ceiling. The guards whispered to each other nearby, stealing glances at him, seemingly intrigued by his unusual draconic features and quiet demeanor. He ignored them, his thoughts spiraling elsewhere.
In the dim, flickering torchlight, Rou wrestled with a growing sense of dread. He knew that his presence in Elise's story had already disrupted the familiar chain of events he had once scoffed at in the game. And now, with Elise being exiled and him imprisoned, he couldn't predict what might happen next. He thought of Elise—her fierce resolve, her determination to stand up for him—and wondered what awaited her beyond the Vandorea household.
Rou sighed, letting his mind drift from the weighty thoughts circling him. He muttered under his breath, barely audible in the silent cell.
Rou:
(Once this imprisonment is over... I'll finally get back to my peaceful second life.)
It was a comforting thought, even if he didn't entirely believe it. He imagined a simple life, away from the intrigues of noble courts and troublesome adventuring. Perhaps he'd find some remote village, far removed from the chaotic world he'd stumbled into. No schemes, no battles—just quiet days, something he'd never truly had in his previous life.
With a small, resigned smile, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to think, for now, of only the calm.
Weeks passed, and finally, Rou was brought from his cell to stand before Alistair once more. Rou held a serious expression, his eyes steady as he awaited his fate.
Alistair regarded him coolly for a moment before speaking.
Alistair:
[Your punishment, is that you are to work under the Vandorea household.]
Rou's fists clenched, and a quiet fury began to emanate from him, filling the room with an intensity that made even the guards shift uneasily. His rage was unmistakable, the thought of servitude feeling like an insult to everything he valued.
Alistair, however, remained composed, his voice unwavering.
Alistair:
[If you truly want to protect Elise… if you mean to act as her knight, then prove it. Work under this household and earn that title by staying at her side.]
Rou's anger flickered at the unexpected words, his focus shifting from his fury to the man in front of him.
Rou's gaze dropped, a wry smirk forming as he muttered-
Rou:
[You really piss me off] but he still gave a curt nod, accepting the terms.
Alistair stepped forward, extending his hand with an air of formality. Rou hesitated, his jaw clenched, but then clasped Alistair's hand firmly. Without fully understanding why, he found himself bending down, kneeling before the man, one of the characters that he absolutely despises.
Rou:
(What am I doing!?)
This whole setup felt like a cruel joke. But then, he remembered having resolved himself into taking responsibility about his actions in changing one of the crucial events of the story. The Villainess's arc, Elise—the fierce determination in her eyes, her resolve to change her own path.
Alistair's expression remained stern as he delivered Rou's first order.
Alistair:
[You'll be enrolled at the Silver Phoenix Academy. There, you will train and earn the title of a full-fledged knight. Only then will you be worthy of serving as Elise's protector.]
Rou:
(Huh!? Did I heard that right!? Silver Phoenix Academy!?)