Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 79: Farewell

It was a feeling my body had forgotten, the sort you might experience when gathering by the hearth in the heart of winter.

That bizarre sensation, alongside the erasure of shivers throughout my bones and the soothing of goosebumps across my skin, was what followed Lucretia's overly cryptic words.

And in fact, peculiar warmth seeping into my body―was not what it was.

Rather, I could feel it clearly. As the ice-encased, or perhaps infected heart that I now bore, was not thawed.

This was not a heating of my chilled body.

But instead, an external sapping of that pervasive frigidity.

"Does this feel at all preferable?"

"...It's strange. My hand isn't numb anymore."

Feeling something comparable to warmth for the first time in months, I could only demonstrate my speechlessness.

"The Winter Mother is capricious in such a manner. Resembling the wailing winds of the north, She is fond of harsh balances; fierce gales to power windmills, to push sailing boats, and to foster the production of protective shelters, and simultaneously, sharp, overpowering blizzards that obscure vision, ruin agriculture, and blanket our fields with far too many veneers of dense snow."

Though artistic in the way she expressed it, I more or less understood what Lucretia was saying.

Basically, the way the Winter Mother did things was in a balance, was that it?

So, even though she gave me her Blessing, that didn't necessarily mean only positive things would come of it... well, I had already experienced nearly three whole months of the negative side-effect, so I was plenty aware of that.

Rather, the upside was exactly what I had yet to uncover.

I guess, as Lucretia had just now demonstrated, there appeared to be an ability akin to absorbing the cold of others, or something? Or maybe that originated from something else.

In any case, I'm sure I would find out when checking the description, so there wasn't a great need to think too deeply about it right now.

As I was thinking this, I found Lucretia staring intently at me from the side.

"What is it?"

"No... merely a wonderance. So? You have disguised one thing, what is next? Will you tell me now that your name isn't truly 'Enki', perhaps?"

Giving her a puzzled look, I shook my head.

"What? No, that is my name. Enki Valentine."

"...'Valentine'?"

"?"

Apparently, I had never told her that I also had a surname.

I wasn't a noble, though―after clarifying that the vast majority of people in the world I came from had family names, the two of us continued to converse lightly for a while, sharing some light banter and watching as the Winter Mother gradually washed Herself of blood, returning the Winter Full Moon to its usual cleansed state of pristine whiteness.

Throughout this time, so as to savour the scarce feeling of warmth I had lost the ability to feel, she remained lightly grasping my hand, continuously sapping that coldness away.

Eventually, after such a while of tranquility, I turned to her.

"Lucretia. Happy Birthday."

"You told me that this very morning."

"Well, yeah, but I didn't have a present ready this morning."

"Oh...? You're saying you have a present now?"

"No, but it'll be ready for you by morning."

"What? So why don't you simply gift it to me at that time--"

She cut herself off in the middle of her sentence, seemingly coming to the belated realisation once again that I wouldn't be here to experience the 'tomorrow' of this world.

"I can tell you what it is if you want. It's not really a huge spoiler, but you'll need to hear me out first."

"Don't bother. I will not hear the mocking words of a man who faces no consequences."

"That's alright then. You'll find out tomorrow."

"..."

Again, a brief period of silence passed.

"Lucretia."

"Hh, what is it this time?"

"Don't focus too much on unnecessary stuff."

"...I wonder just what nonsense it is you're going on about now."

"Then, will you say goodbye?"

"..."

"I know you'll do well, so I'm not worried, but do you really think I'm that incapable? To be distressed so much."

"I never said that. In fact, more than anyone else, you Enki are--"

"Then, what's the problem?"

"...Don't you dare pretend as if you are unaware..."

Seeing Lucretia avert her gaze in an abashed, uncharacteristic manner I had never seen before, I was unable to suppress a smile from forming, slowly tearing away my hand from her subtly tightening grasp.

Placing that hand on her lowered head, I ruffled her hair lightly.

Needless to say, it was an action that let the ruinous chill of my body take control once more, but since I'd already had my fill, I didn't want to drag it out any more than necessary.

This cold... was simply something to acclimate to, after all.

"You'll do well, regardless of what happens. Keep believing that, and it'll stay true."

'At least, that's what I do. Things seem to keep working out so far, so... I guess I'll keep doing it?'

Maybe there was a difference for her, but I thought there was no need to worry. She was smarter than me, so she would definitely do a good job.

"Is this the look of the dignified Winter Empress? Once the prince-- or well, isn't it true that you'll gain that title upon the emperor's recognition? Ah, no, I guess you'll be the princess of the empire, but it's the same thing, really."

"..."

Raising her sulking gaze to meet my own, she surprisingly didn't try to swat my hand away from her head, but seemed to quickly concede whatever inner war was being waged and looked away again.

'Honestly... she really is nothing like an Antagonist, this girl.'

For the briefest of moments, I wondered how many other Antagonists were in positions similar to her.

As well as how many would inevitably fall due to not receiving any help, just as what could have happened to her.

A bitter smile painting my face, I tilted my head to peer into her downcast eyes.

"Lucretia."

"...Enki."

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"'Goodbye'."

"..."

"Will you say it?"

"..."

Exhaling a small sigh at her mulish stubbornness, I positioned myself behind her, completely out of sight. Placing my hands on her shoulders, I turned her to fully face the overlooking Winter Full Moon before us.

I'm not sure what feelings coursed through her as she listened to my voice over her back at that moment.

"Come on, let's not be stubborn. Look, even the Winter Mother is waving goodbye, see?"

"..."

"Goodbye, Lucretia."

"...Enki..."

By tilting my head, I could see her lips twitching from over her shoulder. She knew what to say, but couldn't make herself do it for some reason.

Understanding that pushing her wouldn't accomplish anything, I patiently waited.

"F-... farewell..."

I didn't respond to her barely squeaked out voice.

"Enki? I said it... Does that satisfy you...?"

Still not receiving a reply, I'm sure something was bound to feel strange.

At some point, she must have realised that the sensation of my hands on her shoulders, too―was in fact no longer there.

Lucretia's eyes would, perhaps, quiver.

"Enki?"

Spinning around, she turned to face me.

Alas.

"..."

From her sight, I was already gone.

❖─────★★★☆☆─────❖

Sunday was an important day in Drakon-Rasa.

It was on this day, the day that marked both the beginning and end of every week, that the Sun Father's presence was greatest.

Historically, almost every great event in the Drakon-Rasa Empire had occurred on a Sunday.

The Day of the Sun.

That was why, on this particular Sunday, the empire was turned entirely on its head.

"...What did you just say?"

Lucretia cast an incredulous glance at the Imperial Messenger who interrupted her breakfast.

"A-ahem. The Young Sun of the Empire, His Highness Christopher Fuleh de Drakon-Rasa... has been assassinated."

"..."

――It was on this very Sunday, the morning following his engagement, that the empire's one and only crown prince was found dead in his own bed.

"Furthermore, a second victim has been found stashed in the Imperial Gardens, seemingly belonging to the recently-adopted young lady of the Tichá family. According to the autopsy reports, the method of murder is the same for both victims, which is the leading cause for our extreme verdict. It is by no means a coincidence."

"..."

"His Majesty the Emperor plans to release an official statement regarding the perpetrator of this unspeakable incident and is therefore requesting for you to make a public appearance also, Archduchess."

"An appearance, you say..."

As per His Majesty the Emperor's Imperial Decree...

"As a result of there being no other more suitable candidate, it has thusly been decided that the Young Lady Archduchess and fiancé of the late crown prince, Lucretia de Christina-Rasa, is to become the official heir to the Imperial throne."

...The Winter Flower and Princess of the North, the Young Lady Archduchess, Lucretia de Christina-Rasa, is named successor.

"His Majesty declares that this is by the will of the Winter Mother, and raises no complaints."

"..."

"His Majesty has also requested you to make a public statement regarding the culprit's identity, Archduchess."

"..."

The Young Sun has passed, and the Winter Moon will now take its place.

On this Day of the Sun, such an announcement was made.

Consequently, it was doubtless that the meaning of 'Sunday' would be forever altered.

'Enki... Valentine...'

And the catalyst of it all――was to be prosecuted.