Apparently, I was expected to kiss Silvia right then and there.
Right in front of her mother.
Why was I being subjected to this humiliation?
Why was I being subjected to this humiliation?
This was only supposed to be a simple case of coordinating our stories and pretending to be her boyfriend...
No, even that was now in doubt.
If Silvia and her mother were actually in league to force me into this roleplay just to make me her real boyfriend—
If that hypothesis was correct, I had no obligation to go along with this.
Should I just point that out and end this farce right now?
It wasn't impossible, but if Silvia truly wanted to escape her mother's interrogation by "pretending to be lovers," my interference would ruin everything.
I wanted to avoid that if possible.
After all, Silvia’s mother was a fervent nationalist. She believed royalty should be sacrificial lambs for the sake of the country and its people, and that free will was a luxury they weren't permitted.
She was a former secret agent with a will of forged steel.
Even in the original game, there was an event where Silvia was subjected to a harsh "education" from her mother after failing a mission.
The description of that scene was so brutal it was still talked about as a source of trauma among the player base.
To protect Silvia—a vital companion to the Hero—I didn't want to draw her mother's ire.
In that case, I only had one choice.
...I made my decision.
I would play along with the act.
If I could avoid the risk with a single kiss, then that’s what I would do.
I exhaled quietly and placed my hands on Silvia’s shoulders.
Silvia’s eyes widened as she gazed up at me.
Her expression didn't look much like a maiden in love. She looked sad, almost apologetic—
Then, she slowly closed her eyes.
I gradually leaned in.
Silvia’s breath brushed against my face.
The distance between us shrank.
Just a few more centimeters—
I felt her shoulders tremble.
"Thank you, Albert-kun."
At the same time, I felt a sudden impact on my chest. With a soft thud, someone pushed me back.
Who?
Silvia.
She was staring at me, her face looking like she was on the verge of tears.
"I can't... I don't want my relationship with Albert-kun to progress like this."
"—And just what is the meaning of this?"
Her mother’s voice fell like a guillotine blade.
Silvia turned back toward Katerina.
"It was all a lie, Mother... I have not been able to ensnare Albert-kun."
Her voice was quiet, but firm.
A cold light, like a mountain blizzard, flickered in Katerina’s blue eyes.
"I see."
She gave a short response and immediately closed the distance to Silvia.
Slap!
Katerina’s palm cracked across Silvia’s cheek. The force was enough to make Silvia stagger.
The merciless mother was in a cold fury.
—This was the worst-case scenario.
"Hey, stop it!"
It couldn't be helped. Should I use force to remove this woman before she did any more harm?
The game never explicitly mentioned Katerina’s combat prowess, but even if she was stronger than Silvia, there was no way she surpassed Milia. I should be able to handle her as I was now.
Since she wasn't one of the Hero's companions needed to defeat the Demon King, I had no reason to show her mercy—
"Albert-kun, stop. This is my problem."
"But—"
"It’s fine, really. I’ll be okay."
Silvia gave a forced, airy chuckle, likely trying to keep me from worrying.
Katerina spoke.
"You gave a false report claiming you had ensnared Albert-san, and then you requested his cooperation to maintain the ruse. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"I see. In that case, he is also aware of our true identities."
"……Yes."
"Good grief. To even allow your identity to be compromised—you truly are beyond saving."
As she sighed, Katerina’s right hand shot out and grabbed Silvia by the collar.
Before I could even blink, she used a single arm to hurl Silvia behind her. Silvia tumbled across the ground, and the moment she tried to pick herself up—
Katerina’s fist lunged toward her face.
Silvia squeezed her eyes shut, but the fist only whistled through empty air.
"Phew..."
That was because I had snatched Silvia away at the last second. Now, she was tucked against my chest in my arms. God bless 'Frenzy.'
"A-Albert-kun?"
"I don't give a damn about your opinions—or your family traditions! I'm doing this because I want to, so shut up!"
"Y-Yeah... thank you."
Silvia gripped the hem of my shirt tightly.
Katerina had clearly entered 'Sanction Mode.' I judged that letting this continue any further was too dangerous. Getting beaten up was one thing, but if she used the 'Will-Reaping Curse' that appeared in the game to break Silvia's spirit, there would be no coming back from that.
Katerina looked me in the eye.
"……I believe it’s time for you to go home. This is a family matter. You are in the way."
"No, I’m not going anywhere. After all, I’m playing the role of her boyfriend 'today'."
I paused for a beat before continuing.
"It’s true that she and I aren't real lovers yet, but we have the kind of relationship where I'll step up if she asks me to pretend. Can't you be satisfied with the status of her 'currently ensnaring' me?"
"It is a matter of discipline. She requires a sanction."
Man, she was terrifying.
"Silvia, listen to me. Our homeland, Oesterreich, is a small nation—we never know when a neighboring superpower might invade and destroy us. That would mean the end of the peace and the simple happiness of our people. That is why we of the royal blood must discard our own desires to serve the state. Do not tell me you have forgotten that lesson."
"I-I—"
"Don't bother answering!"
With that, I jumped off the overlook while still holding Silvia. I sprinted down the slope, putting distance between us and her mother in an instant.
...Well, I’d acted on impulse, but I wondered what would happen next. Just because we escaped her mother’s lecture today didn't mean the woman was going to give up...
"……Um, Albert-kun?"
"What is it?"
"Thank you. That made me really happy."
"I see."
It seemed my choice hadn't been a complete mistake. I could only pray that things would work out somehow.
Watching Albert’s back as he ran away, Katerina tilted her neck from side to side. The sound of her joints cracking echoed in the quiet evening.
A sadistic smile played across her lips.
"Do you really think you can escape me? Me, the operative known as the 'Panther of the Veil'?"
Katerina opened the bag she was carrying.
She pulled out a dagger and a potion vial. The black, viscous liquid inside was infused with the 'Will-Reaping Curse.'
Once mixed with the blood of the Oesterreich royalty, this substance allowed one to gain absolute control over the victim's will.
She pressed the blade of the dagger against the mouth of the vial.
"We are puppets—puppets with just enough will to follow orders. And if one refuses to follow those orders, then a will is unnecessary. I’ll simply use a puppet wearing your face to serve the state."
The sun dipped below the horizon, and night fell—