Extra in a Romance Fantasy

25 – The End of the Festival (2)

“Sigh…”

“This is unbearable.”

Watching Jack exhale a grand sigh as if the ground would split, I shook my head.

As anticipated, Jack, who had ambitious dreams, had achieved nothing.

I haven’t heard the detailed story yet, but there’s no need to bother.

Meeting Jack was purely coincidental.

After parting ways with Estelle, I was strolling around aimlessly when I noticed Jack walking with a gloomy face. I approached him and said,

“I have to watch fireworks with that common guy….”

Jack grumbled as if complaining.

Any fireworks display was a social obligation when accompanied by some chewing. The booths would soon close, so there was a need to hurry.

I urged the slouching Jack,

“Stop complaining and let’s grab some food before the booths close.”

The sympathy I had somewhat felt for Jack disappeared cleanly.

Jack sighed and, surprisingly calmly, got up and followed me.

“What are you going to buy?”

“I don’t know. Just get something decent.”

As Jack asked about the menu, I felt a slight surprise, as if the previous situation had been a lie.

“What’s up? Can’t see President Lainberg?”

“What? The closing ceremony is about to start in a bit.”

A loud voice echoed in my ears.

Normally, I wouldn’t have cared and wouldn’t have shown any interest, but today was different.

The person involved in their conversation was someone I knew well.

“Ah, forget it. The proxy is here again.”

“Again? This is becoming routine, just another day.”

I paid no attention to their tone of voice.

Anyone would curse in the absence of authority.

What really bothered me was the content.

I didn’t hear the details, but I could guess what was going on.

President Lainberg.

In other words, Estelle. She hadn’t appeared, and the proxy was present as the closing ceremony was about to take place.

It seemed like this wasn’t the first or second time based on their reactions, but I couldn’t just let it go.

“I should go now.”

─ “I have to participate in the closing ceremony.”

That’s what Estelle had said when we parted.

She had planned to attend the closing ceremony.

However, she did not participate in it.

“…”

Of course, considering Estelle’s personality, it could be a simple whim.

No, the possibility of that is quite high.

However,

I felt an unknown unease.

A deep-seated unease that couldn’t be easily ignored.

“…Should I check?”

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, yes?”

I called out to a student wearing the Rainberg Student Council badge, who seemed busy with closing ceremony preparations.

“Do you know where the president is?”

“Oh, well… It’s still unclear. They’re not in the student council room or the dormitory….”

To that response, I swallowed my disappointment inwardly.

“But who are you to ask about that—”

“Thank you. That’s all.”

“Huh? Wait a moment….”

Estelle did not attend the closing ceremony.

And her whereabouts were still unknown.

I had a bad feeling.

***

Estelle was a beloved child.

The youngest daughter of the emperor known as the Holy Emperor.

An appearance that seemed like an angel descended from the sky.

Exceptional intelligence.

A slightly stubborn but cute personality.

There was no way she wouldn’t be loved.

Young Estelle spent a happy childhood surrounded by the love of her father, mother, and those around her.

However, her happiness did not last forever.

One day, her mother suddenly passed away.

Her already frail mother collapsed due to an unknown illness and soon lost her life.

The Emperor, thinking of the immense loss his beloved daughter would feel, showered her with more, pouring forth additional love and attention. Yet, that was not enough to fill the void in the girl’s heart.

Even if it had stopped there, if things had halted at that point, the girl’s life would have been alright.

However, tragedy didn’t end there.

Eventually, even her father, the Emperor, fell.

The fallen Emperor lost consciousness entirely and became bedridden. Not even renowned priests or skilled physicians could rouse him.

Thus, at a young age, Estelle was left alone.

She had siblings.

But they were mere formalities, lacking any semblance of the bond one might expect among siblings.

Most were significantly older, and none shared the connection she had with her mother.

Though she truly became alone, she was not granted the luxury of contemplating that solitude.

The burgeoning unrest within the palace prevented her from dwelling on that loneliness.

As practically the state of the Emperor was akin to his passing away, it was only natural that the scramble for the throne began.

Those who had quietly lived while the Emperor was healthy unveiled their hidden ambitions as soon as he lost consciousness.

Even those who had never been interested in the throne succumbed to the allure of a golden future.

Struggles for power within the palace were not uncommon, but this time, the scale was different.

The problem lay in the fact that the Emperor hadn’t properly designated a successor before losing consciousness.

In situations where the succession was decided, it was evident that disputes arose for the throne. In a scenario where the succession remained undetermined, there was no need to predict the outcome.

Additionally, the fact that the Emperor had many children exacerbated the situation, escalating the conflicts further.

As expected, the nobles’ conflicts did not confine themselves within the palace.

Outside the palace, powerful figures of the empire and nobles rallied behind their chosen factions, engaging in the conflict.

Estelle, unusually astute for her age, discerned the brewing undercurrents and realized that this dispute would pose a significant threat to the empire.

The scale of the dispute was troubling, but the timing was the most unfavorable.

The continent and the empire were already in a weakened state due to a prolonged war with the creatures of darkness.

If a large-scale struggle for the throne erupted here…

If the powerbrokers within the empire got entangled in this conflict…

If that fight were to spread throughout the entire empire.

The empire would crumble.

Estelle glimpsed that future.

The empire would crumble.

The empire her father had devoted his lifetime to protect and love.

Innocent lives would shed blood, and many would perish.

Estelle did not want to witness the reality of such a future.

That’s why the girl decided to draw her sword.

To prevent the empire from falling.

To prevent the shedding of innocent blood.

It seemed like an impossible task.

Perhaps everyone thought so.

The girl was too young and seemed to have nothing compared to her enemies.

But that was not the case.

She had talent.

An exceptional talent in the vision magic of Rineberg, called the proof of aristocracy and authenticity, surpassed anyone else.

She had a background.

The emperor, who deeply cared for his youngest daughter, had given her everything he could.

Vast wealth and factions that operated directly under the emperor moved in accordance with her will.

She had abilities.

Sharp and intelligent, she understood politics at a young age and instinctively knew what needed to be done and how.

And she was determined.

She had the resolve to shed countless lives and ruin the lives of many for her cause.

So, young Estelle drew her sword and swung it.

Many aristocrats were driven away.

Many lost their positions and influence.

And many died.

Blood was shed. And more blood was shed.

Estelle did not stop.

Relentlessly swinging her sword, each stroke resulted in another life being extinguished.

And every time, the imperial palace, the empire, began to stabilize gradually.

In return, Estelle became a presence that everyone shunned.

The beloved princess turned into a detested monster.

A monster that would cut down even siblings without hesitation to grasp power.

A savage who valued no human life.

Before she knew it, those around her were looking at her with such eyes.

That she would receive such looks, Estelle had known from before she even started.

And she thought those gazes were something she must endure.

Even though there was intent, it was a fact that many lost their lives because of her.

However, understanding it in her mind and actually accepting it were different issues.

No matter how mature and dignified she tried to be, she was still just a child.

In the pursuit of justice, she found herself in a position where she was hated by everyone, and it was inevitable that she felt no emotions.

She wanted to quit.

She wanted to give up.

Like everyone else, she just wanted to live a normal life.

Such thoughts crossed her mind many times.

But she couldn’t do that.

She had already crossed a river that she couldn’t go back.

A lifetime of loneliness, living without anyone’s understanding, condemned to be hated.

She couldn’t express her worries or complaints.

If she showed such weakness, the lurking wolves would seize the opportunity to tear her apart.

Estelle had to accept that fact.

Then came a day.

“I will be your sword of justice.”

A girl volunteered to become her tool.

She knew that face.

The disciple of a knight belonging to her faction.

Originally someone she wouldn’t bother remembering, Estelle remembered the girl’s face.

A long time ago, when the emperor was still alive, the girl had once become the talk of the imperial knight order.

Originally a commoner from a poor neighborhood, one day she caught the eye of an imperial knight, and with her talent, she became his special disciple.

The commoner, especially a girl, entering the palace in such a manner was quite rare, so rumors had spread at that time, and Estelle had seen her face because of that.

What happened after that was unclear, but surviving in the palace where bloodshed raged incessantly might have truly been a talent after all.

Or perhaps, in reality, she was so insignificant that no one bothered.

Either way, Estelle didn’t care.

She didn’t hold a speck of interest in the girl named René.

There were plenty who approached her with such flattering words, and Estelle knew well not to easily trust people.

This girl was surely no different from them.

Estelle thought so.

Even if, by some chance, what they said was true, it wouldn’t matter much.

In the end, the girl would soon perish.

But Estelle’s expectations were off.

Despite enduring numerous fights and facing assassins, René did not die.

As time passed, as the encounters multiplied, Estelle’s interest towards René began to grow within her.

“You were not mistaken, Your Highness.”

Flattering words, she thought.

“I will protect you, Your Highness.”

Just someone who spoke ahead of themselves, she thought.

“I will become Your Highness’s sword.”

But the girl, René, made those words a grim reality.

The unremarkable girl survived till the end and did not flee even in an environment where her life could escape at any moment. She did not leave Estelle’s side till the very end.

For years.

Estelle made René her personal guard.

And still, Estelle’s battles continued.

A grueling fight where blood splattered and people died, just like before.

But there was one difference now.

Estelle wasn’t alone anymore.

Because there was someone supporting her, staying by her side.

Thanks to that, Estelle could endure, could not break.

And finally, she subdued the palace.

As a result, she became a figure feared by everyone, but Estelle was content.

Because of that, she could protect the empire.

Because of that, she could save many lives.

Even if the world called her mad, labeled her a tyrant, it didn’t matter.

She wasn’t alone.

She had a friend who understood her, who was by her side.

However,

That friend.

Now,

Was pointing a sword at her.

With a chilling, penetrating gaze.