Side: Amy (6)

“I-impossible...!”

Hey! Karl! What are you doing?! Hurry up, counterattack, and kill him! Kill him already!

“E-enough! Stop relying on the power of those suspicious magic items! Stop being a coward and fight fair and square with sword and magic!”

Exactly! He’s right! This duel should be declared void!

“Pfft. Your Highness, what are you even saying?” Allen asked. “The rules we agreed on at the start were ‘anything goes,’ weren't they? Besides, if I’m a coward, what does that make you and your friends for trying to take down one person with five?”

Shut up! You’re the one who challenged us!

“Furthermore,” Allen continued, “what does it say about your character that you used your authority as the Crown Prince to corner Lady Anastasia with five—no, six people—to force a confession for crimes she didn’t commit? Lady Anastasia is ostensibly Your Highness’s fiancée. Given the difference in your social standing, she couldn't possibly defy you. If you don’t call that ‘cowardly,’ then I don't know what the word means.”

Ugh, shut up, shut up! Who does this guy think he is?!

“That is… because she…” Karl stammered.

Y-yes, exactly! It’s her fault. She’s the Villainess, so it’s already been decided that she’s the bad guy!

Allen kept going after that, prattling on with more unmanly complaints and nasty sarcasm.

Honestly, what is his deal? I hate him!

“Gugh. Shut up! You’re a mere commoner! Shut up!”

That’s right! It’s Lord Karl’s order, so just shut up already!

“Heh. Now that you’ve been out-argued, you’re hiding behind your status to give orders? Do you even remember what you said right before this?”

Oh, for heaven’s sake! Just listen to Lord Karl! He’s the Crown Prince! A commoner like you isn't allowed to talk back to him!

“Look,” Allen said. “If you love commoners so much, why don’t you just elope with Lady Amy? Then you can live as a commoner yourself, right?”

That’s obviously out of the question! What is he talking about?! I’m the Saint. I’m going to become the Queen and live happily with all five of them, just like the Scenario says!

“If you aren’t even prepared to do that, then your proper partner is Lady Anastasia.”

Allen spoke in a tone that sounded almost like he was lecturing a child.

Don’t mess with me! Why should my Lord Karl be stuck with a Villainess like her?!

“S-shut up! Be quiet! I won't lose to someone like you!”

With that shout, Lord Karl began to manifest Grand Flame Magic.

Amazing! He isn't supposed to learn that until the final battle! That’s it! This is the game's forcing power at work! Destiny will always follow the Scenario!

Serves you right, you gloomy loser!

He might have used some cowardly tricks to beat the other four, but in the end, he’s fated to lose to Lord Karl!

“If it means losing Amy, then I… I will…!”

Oh, I’m so happy! Lord Karl really does love me. With the power of that love, he’s going to defeat this mid-boss who wasn’t even supposed to be in the Scenario!

Or so I thought.

That’s how it should have been.

That’s how it had to be.

But Lord Karl’s magic… it went out of control.

A massive pillar of fire erupted, centered right on Lord Karl. Then, the flames began to surge outward, expanding further and further.

Ah… why? My Lord Karl is… how could this…

My mind went completely blank. My vision began to blur with tears.

“Your Highness!”

I heard the Villainess’s voice. I looked up and saw her trying to do something.

That’s right. This country is doomed without Lord Karl. Hurry up and save him with your Ice Magic!

But that gloomy loser stepped in and stopped her.

What is he doing?! He said killing was off the table! Liar!

But then, before I even realized what was happening, the creep used Wind Magic to blow away every last bit of Lord Karl’s flames in an instant.

W-what’s going on? What is he?

Then, Allen pressed his sword against Lord Karl’s throat.

No! Stop it! You’re the one who’s supposed to lose!

Allen ignored everything and simply stared at the referee.

And then…

And then…

“Crown Prince Karlheinz is unable to continue,” the referee announced. “Therefore, the victory goes to Allen.”

No… it’s over.

Why? How did it turn out like this?

As I sank into despair, Allen looked at me and smirked.

Wait… does this guy actually hate me? Even though I’m the Heroine of this world?

Suddenly, the strength left my legs, and I collapsed onto the ground.

Why? Why?

Tell me… where did I pick the wrong option?