Why is the truth so cruel?

Another emotion was welling up in Olivia's eyes as she held the letter.

As if her determination to accept the farewell was transforming into an emotion of "obsession."

"How can you ask me to give up..."

She couldn't forget.

She came here to forget.

-Crunch.

Even if she wanted to forget after reading such a letter, she couldn't. She didn't want to acknowledge that someone could leave a massive hole in a person's heart and then vanish without a trace.

"How... can I forget you."

So desperately that she wanted to believe someone's hollow lies.

"I can't."

The emotion of 'resignation' was changing into 'obsession.'

"I can't give up."

Just as the color of emotion was about to fill the blank canvas completely.

-Viewing session terminated.

With that cold voice echoing in her ears, Olivia's eyes began to return to their original hue.

"View...ing?"

Because for the first time, she saw a blue window floating in midair.

And then.

-The viewer's memories are returning.

A cold voice echoed in her ears as if telling her it was time to wake from the dream.

"...Huh?"

The memories were coming back.

Memories from before the viewing.

They began to fill her mind gradually, pushing out the falsely created memories.

-It's because of you.

-...Miss!

-My magic was perfect...! It must be because of you...

Recalling unwanted memories.

-Ricardo...! My legs are moving!

-Miss!!!

-Hiiiiieek!!!

Sad memories approaching the worst possible outcome began to writhe and fill her mind.

-Tremble tremble...

The first thought was fear.

Not guilt.

Not even relief that everything she had seen wasn't reality.

"Huff... huff..."

It was the emotion of fear, exhaled as if expelling breath.

"Haa... haa... No."

Olivia clutched her head and thought.

"Kuh... hnnng..!!"

How much time was left until this conclusion would come to pass?

In the flood of memories, she could clearly see Ricardo's sadness. The image of him encouraging her as she grieved over her immobile legs.

-I'm a slug.

-No, you're not.

-I should practice wriggling around from now on. Ricardo, show me how it's done.

-Haha... Should I?

-Yeah.

-...You're not serious, are you?

-...I am.

-You will walk. If you just trust me and follow along, you will definitely walk.

The scene where she thanked a god who had done nothing while witnessing the miracle Ricardo had created.

-Move!!!!

-Congratulations!

-Eeeeeek...! Donation! I need to make a donation.

-How much?

-10 silver.

It was the worst of the worst.

It was even disgusting to see herself chasing after happiness that she knew she couldn't hope for anymore.

The story had ended, but she was running toward that story, and since the conclusion was as good as confirmed, she felt like she was going mad.

"No... no..."

As an indescribable emotion began to weigh down her entire body, Olivia clutched her chest and let out a low moan.

"I have to stop it..."

She was scared.

She didn't have the confidence to accept the farewell.

And she also knew how difficult the emotions I experienced then were.

Because she had lived through that moment.

Because she had experienced that pain firsthand.

So, she had to stop it.

To escape the tragedy that could only be described as bondage.

"...Huk."

So I.

.

.

.

"Why do you think I don't worry about you?!"

Came to you.

Because I wanted to cherish this moment.

Because I didn't want to waste this time, and because I wanted to question you about all of this.

"Whyyy..."

You who don't take farewells lightly.

Why don't you know how precious you are to me?

"WHY!!!"

I wanted to ask.

***

Miss is crying.

"Why so suddenly..."

She was clearly angry until we parted, but suddenly after returning from the capital, I couldn't gather my thoughts at the sight of Miss crying.

'This is troublesome...'

Because I had no idea why she was crying.

"M...Miss."

What could this be about?

Many questions arose in my mind, but seeing Miss unable to speak through her sorrow, I bit my lip with an awkward smile.

"Sniff... haa..."

"..."

"Why are you doing this... why?"

While a butler's duty is to comfort their master, today I felt I couldn't find the right answer.

"Miss, please stop crying first and let's talk..."

"I can't stop..."

"..."

"I can't calm down."

"..."

"You... do you even know how I feel about you?"

"...I do. A capable butler."

"No!!!"

"..."

"That's not it... what exactly do you think of me?"

"..."

"Do you know how much I care about you?"

I felt embarrassed by the sudden compliment.

"Pardon?"

Feeling awkward at the uncomfortable question, I scratched my head and took out a handkerchief from my inner pocket to wipe away the tears streaming down Miss's cheeks, but.

"No!!!"

"..."

"Don't touch me."

I hesitated, losing my bearings at Miss's fierce resistance.

"...Oh."

Because Miss was trembling like a frightened puppy.

"Don't touch me..."

"..."

"Don't touch me."

"..."

"It's not that I dislike it... just don't touch me."

"..."

"I don't hate Ricardo...!!"

For a moment I worried if I had heard something strange, but.

"If you touch me, Ricardo will get hurt...!!"

She was having a different misunderstanding, so I couldn't look up.

"Please..."

My lips went dry.

"..."

She seemed to know everything.

Now I understood why Miss was crying.

I thought she was someone who would never speak of it.

"Did you... hear everything?"

I didn't think anyone would tell on me.

Now I finally understood Miss's sudden trip to the capital. She went there secretly to confirm her suspicions.

"So you're confronting me about it?"

Of course, Miss couldn't answer.

"..."

A secret I didn't want revealed.

My secret that I had politely asked to keep hidden, not wanting to be a hero.

"...Don't. Really."

Instead of answering, Miss wiped her tears and opened her lips, pressing me again with the question "why."

"Why are you doing this?"

"..."

"Why are you doing such a foolish thing?"

"..."

"No one even asked you to...!"

Miss looked at me and said.

"Is it because I asked you to help me walk?"

"..."

"Is that why?"

Miss's expression was full of self-blame as she looked at me with trembling eyes.

"I...I didn't mean it like that."

"..."

"I didn't ask you to do something like that."

"..."

"I... I!!!"

I didn't want to see this.

I had decided to become a liar because I didn't want to see this kind of reaction.

It wasn't something extraordinary, and I didn't want to burden her.

-Crunch.

Looking at Miss who seemed ready to grab even my trouser leg, I clenched my fist and bit my lip.

"I wish you would stop."

"No... no...!!"

"Miss."

For the first time, I spoke seriously.

"Please stop."

Because I didn't want this situation.

"Stop..."

Perhaps my words weren't reaching her, as Miss opened her lips toward me with panic-filled eyes.

"Ri...Ricardo!!"

"..."

"I don't need to walk...!"

"..."

"What's this stupid leg worth...!"

"..."

"I'm happy enough as it is... I don't need it."

-Thud...!

My eyes trembled.

-Thud!

Because Miss was striking her leg with her clenched fist.

"I don't need it...!"

"..."

"I don't need it...!"

Self-harm was not good.

Especially self-harm happening before my eyes.

"MISS!!!!"

It made me angry.

"Huh...?"

Miss, who had been shedding tears from both eyes, looked at me with wide eyes at my loud outburst.

"...Ricardo?"

Because she had never seen me this angry before.

-Thud. Thud. Thud.

Walking toward Miss with heavy steps, I bent down and took her clenched fist in my hand.

"It's precious."

"..."

"It's truly precious to me."

I spoke to Miss with trembling lips. I didn't know how she would take it, but I was angry right now.

"Don't speak so carelessly. Saying 'this stupid leg.'"

"...But!"

"I don't know what you heard, but shouldn't you listen to what I have to say too?"

"..."

"And never. Never do this in front of me again."

Miss was trying to shake off my hand, pushing away my fingers with her trembling ones.

"Don't lie."

"..."

"Don't lie to me."

"..."

"I heard everything. All of it."

"..."

"So don't touch me!!"

"I said it's fine."

"It can't be fine!!"

Miss roughly shook off my hand and continued speaking.

"Then what does that make me?"

"..."

"What does that make me, I'm asking."

"..."

"I couldn't do anything for you... I only received... what am I supposed to do?"

I bit my lip.

"I don't want this."

"..."

"I don't want to be without you."

Miss struck her chest with her fist as if frustrated.

"I... can't bear it."

"..."

"If you're gone, I'll fall apart, how am I supposed to live?"

"..."

"You're precious!!! To me too!!!"

With Miss's voice echoing roughly, silence filled the room.

"You're precious... you are."

"..."

"More precious than anyone."

"..."

"You're not an object that can be replaced."

"..."

"How could you be replaced... who could fill your void?"

"..."

"No one can."

Obsession settled in Olivia's eyes.

"No one."

"..."

"No one in this world."

"..."

"Can fill your place."

Miss looked at me and asked.

"Okay?"

"..."

"So please."

I straightened my bent knees, brushed back my hair, and opened the desk drawer.

"I think there's a misunderstanding, Miss."

I opened an old wooden box.

"First."

-Creeeeak.

"Drink this and listen."

I smiled as I pushed a glass vial containing elixir into the crying Miss's mouth.

"Do you think I'm a fool who would do this for just anyone?"

"..."

"I do it because I like you."

Miss's eyes trembled.

"Mmmphhh?"

As expected.

"Eeeeeek!!"

It seems she didn't hear me.