Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough

Pain and confusion pierced her mind, leaving her at a loss.

Should I honestly tell Rhodes that she is an enemy?

Or should we continue to keep it a secret?

These two things are just different in that one is "surrender" and the other is "probation," but the essential result is the same: a bad outcome.

Among the memories Cecilia transmitted, Ivina truly found it difficult to imagine the future—

Because the probability that Rhodes would keep her after knowing that she was a "hidden danger" is indeed extremely low.

He wouldn't believe his own words, nor would he accept them...

Fear and panic welled up in her eyes as she involuntarily thought about losing everything again, even being abandoned by hope. She murmured, "..."

"What...what should I do..."

"You're not being arrogant anymore?"

She was terrified after realizing that she was not the princess who was rescued at all, but actually a wicked witch.

"Did you become more honest after finding out you were the one chosen?"

Cecilia laughed sarcastically, but in the end, she became calm again:

"Since it's inevitable, it's better to reveal the truth sooner rather than later. Let's see if Rhodes will still accept your existence after seeing your true identity."

The date was set for the day of her coming-of-age ceremony.

We will continue to act according to our previous plans, and on that day, I will reveal the truth.

If... he no longer accepts you, then you should come back and be my vessel.

If he accepts you, then... I wish you happiness. Although the chance is less than one in ten thousand.

“I…” Ivina clenched her fists. “You just want to use me to hold Rhodes back, so that he can also participate in this grand coming-of-age ceremony you’ve arranged, right?”

"Indeed, after all, if you were won over early on and then really ran away, wouldn't my performance have been pointless?"

Ivina's frustration vanished in an instant, replaced by a flash of anger in her eyes:

"I won't let you hurt him."

"Oh, you're not even friends yet, and you're already protecting her like this?"

"Humph……"

"What are you humming about? Is he the person you love or the person I love? Do you really think I would hurt him?"

Moreover, if you say that you can only leave the Duke's mansion with him after your coming-of-age ceremony, he will use various methods to avoid a crisis.

He's much more cunning than I am.

So, I just wanted to see him make his choice under the glitz and glamour of the banquet, to see your fate.

Don't you think it's interesting? When everything should be at its most beautiful moment, the princess's true identity is revealed during her coming-of-age ceremony. What choice will the knight make then?

“I don’t think so. I just think that would make me suffer even more.” Ivina pursed her lips and shook her head frantically.

"But you have no other choice. After all, knowing the truth, can you still muster the courage to leave the Duke's mansion with him?"

Are you scared?

Even if you take any step, you're afraid he'll shake off your hand and abandon you somewhere.

So... rather than you confessing your sins, I think it's less painful for you to confess yours, isn't it?

"You just need to have fun and wait for the results, isn't that enough?"

Cecilia paused slightly and added:

"The coming-of-age ceremony is an insurmountable hurdle for you. If you can't even properly participate in the coming-of-age ceremony, you won't be able to overcome your inner fears and leave the Duke's mansion."

So ultimately, from the very beginning, you have to wait until the day of your coming-of-age ceremony.

Or, on your coming-of-age ceremony, you could bring your friends, have them hold your hand, and walk up to the altar of blessings... Isn't that your dream too?

Use your coming-of-age ceremony to put an end to the past, to sever ties with me, and to cut ties with the cowardly you of the past.

If, if he truly abandons you, at least until then... I can still make your death have some value.

Cecilia's every word was like a low murmur from hell, using her most familiar identity as the "older sister" to make Ivina's will give up resistance.

She knew Ivina all too well; after all, she was, in the end, her past self.

"me……"

"You have no need to deny it."

After Cecilia finished speaking, everything fell into a deathly silence, shattering all emotions.

Ivina had no choice but to agree.

Or rather, if she didn't agree, she genuinely lacked the courage to admit that she was the "enemy"...

Yes, killing yourself... is still too painful.

Ivina finally gave up resisting, let go of her hand, and closed her eyes unwillingly.

"It seems you agree."

Cecilia smiled slightly. "Alright, so all you have to do now is have fun with this new friend, get to know emotions, and try to step out of this ducal mansion that feels like a cage to you."

Then, on the day of your coming-of-age ceremony, I will help you sort everything out.

In this way... you can avoid pain and avoid making a choice.

I really hope, I really hope that even if he knew the truth, he would still be willing to accept your existence...

Although, that's really unlikely.

After saying that, Cecilia waved her hand, "But anyway... goodbye, dear—sister."

Chapter 42 Is it okay to sneak a kiss?

Cecilia is gone.

After she left, she even closed the window.

Everything seemed as if it had never happened, yet it all felt like a heavy stone had struck Ivina's chest.

She knew that her death countdown had started again.

She really couldn't imagine that future.

That future, in which she entrusted everything to Rhodes, only to be kicked away by Rhodes out of disgust.

If this is the inevitable outcome, if he is destined to kill me, then should I really continue...?

She should have run away, she should have fiercely rejected Rhodes again, she should have acted as if tonight's events never happened, continued to treat Rhodes as a stranger, and made him give up...

But she couldn't bear to give it up, she really couldn't.

She had waited two lifetimes, the entirety of her life, for this path to appear.

She truly longed for the day when, on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, she could rely on Rhodes, on Rhodes's existence, to overcome all difficulties, muster the courage, and stand among the crowd like a normal human being.

She can wear a gown and freely proclaim that she is not a monster, and that she has friends by her side.

Even more, much more... deeper relationships, a better future...

but.

She also imagined the scene where Rhodes would abandon her instantly after learning the truth, leaving her to wander alone among those strange monsters.

All of this was like a thorn hanging over her head.

She realized that she had fallen into a wrong path, a path leading to an abyss.

Why... why is it all such a mess from beginning to end?

Cecilia, why did you have to be a villain? Why did you drag her down with you...?

the first time.

For the first time, she truly felt hatred within herself—hatred for Cecilia.

Even in the past, when Cecilia abandoned her and gained hope on her own, she had no complaints, only jealousy and blessings.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be cowering here alone, afraid to approach Cecilia's lover, because she's afraid of hurting him.

But in that instant, everything changed.

"I don't want... to lose it." Ivina bit her lip hard, her voice choked with sobs, but she quickly reached out and wiped away her tears with her sleeve.

She raised her head, holding back the excess tears in her eyes to prevent them from falling uncontrollably.

“Maybe,” Ivina murmured, staring at the ceiling. “Daffy might be right. It’s definitely better to die sooner…”

But if I really die like this, then...

She lowered her head and looked at the young man who had been seriously injured while saving her.

Then, wouldn't all of Rod's efforts have been in vain?

He could have killed himself and destroyed the symbiote, but he didn't. Instead, he became covered in wounds for his own sake.

Ivina understood that Rhodes might just be a perverted lolicon, which was why he wanted to be a hero and save the damsel in distress.

At least back then, he chose to save her, not abandon her.

What if?

What if he's an extremely twisted lolicon, and he can't help liking her, so even knowing the truth, he still has to save her?

Even if the possibility is very small, even if you know that the knight won't come to rescue the princess after she's no longer a princess,

But I've already waited so long, so long, isn't it only natural to wait for that vague possibility again...?

And what if, when Cecilia actually takes his hand, he pulls it away after she reveals the truth?

So, if I just die quickly, I won't be sad anymore...?

Everything has settled in my heart.

"Yes... all I can do is enjoy the present and wait for judgment."