(TW: death)

The next morning goes a lot like Tristian's route, but Anna is giddy instead of being dead inside from the trauma. Silas also stays until I wake up and his smiling face is the first thing I see. "Good morning, dear. You look like you've slept well." He kisses my forehead which makes me giggle. "Yeah... I did. I slept like a rock." I hug him and relax. Silas chuckles. "I did tire you out huh?" His words make me blush.

"We should get up through. We have the morning reception to get through. Then we can stay in bed all we want." My face turns a bright red and that makes Silas laugh. "Come on, dear. I'll go and get ready. You do the same." With that, he put last night's clothes on the walks out.

Riley comes in to help me clean up and get dressed. Because it wasn't a terrible experience, my conversations with Phoenix and Riley that night didn't happen. Instead, we gossip about things and giggle about how nice and gentlemanly Silas is. She seems to trust and like him too.

"I'm glad that he treated you right! You're a beautiful young lady after all." Riley says cheerfully. The pride on her face makes me smile. "Thank you, Riley. You're also so sweet." I'm happy that she's back to her old self. I never want her to go through what she did in Tristian's route. So far so good... I don't want to let my guard down even if I can't control anything but a few choices.

I hear a knock on my door when I finish getting ready and Riley opens it to see Silas at the door dressed in a handsome suit and tie. He isn't dressing as a king yet but I'm sure he will in the future. "Ready to go?" Silas asks and I smile. "Of course." I take his hand and walk out. "And who might this be? He escorted you down the aisle too." He says seeing Phoenix waiting for us.

"Oh, this is Phoenix. He's my personal guard... I trust him with my life completely." I say and smile at Phoenix who just stares quietly. "He made a blood vow when he came to my guard... and he's the only person besides the demon king that can beat General Salazar in a battle of strength." Silas whistles and looks Phoenix over. "Then he must be good."

Phoenix dips his head. "I will do anything to protect Queen Anna." Yes, he would... he acts all emotionless but I know the truth. He cares about Anna so much... he would do anything for her. Too bad he has to stay as a side character. "Lead the way and I'll follow." He says. "I'll be a perfect shadow." Silas nods and starts to lead me away.

We go to the morning breakfast together with Phoenix shadowing us. "Now entering King Silas and Queen Anna!" We enter and everyone at the table stands. I look over the guests and spot Angelica. What is she still doing here?

Silas leads me to our seats. "Thank you everyone for celebrating this joyous moment for us all. Please everyone enjoy your meals." He then sits down. Phoenix pulls out my chair for me and then stands off like before being a good shadow for me. His constant presence calms me and soon we all start to eat.

Silas is a very charming gentleman and after Tristian's bullshit, it's a breath of fresh air. I can tell Anna is more at ease too and even happy. Everything seems to be right in place many of the same scenes and conversations from easy mode. Maybe this is supposed to be the true ending? Being paired with Silas and living happily ever after?

I don't want to get my hopes up but I do hope it turns out well. After our breakfast, Silas helps me stand up. "I have to go and talk to some officials. Why don't you go out to the garden and relax?" He suggests. I smile and nod. "Sure that sounds lovely. Come join me when you get the chance?" Silas nods before walking off. I go towards the garden with Phoenix following me.

"Oh! Hi there, my queen." I blink and watch as Angelica curtsies to me. She seems to be heading to the gardens as well. "Could I join you?" I tilt my head. She seems rather suspicious to me, but Anna seems to want her as a friend. "Sure! My husband will be joining me later on but if you don't mind that then yes! Let's go together." Anna's voice sounds so giddy. She reminds me of how she is during easy mode.

Angelica watches me. Did her left eye just twitch? "Sure let's do that." She eyes Phoenix for a moment. It's almost like she's sizing him up but that can't be the case. She's taller than me but there's no way she could do anything to move the brick wall that is Phoenix. "He does have any emotions going on huh?" She mutters and frowns. "He's making me uncomfortable with that stare." She complains and uses her fan to hide the bottom half of her face.

"Can't we just go together by ourselves? I don't like the idea of having a strange man follow us when I can't read his emotions." With that time stops and a blue screen appears in front of me.

Angelica has asked if the player wants to walk out into the garden. What will you choose?

I blink as two options come up. Either I go with her alone and leave Phoenix behind or insist Phoenix come with us. I hesitate a bit. It's just the gardens, right? This is the royal palace so what could possibly go wrong? I make my section and time starts again.

"... Ok. Phoenix please stay at the entrance. If anything happens, I'll scream." I say. Phoenix stares down at me and his eyes flicker. Why... does he look like he's trying to fight something? I see his fists clench for a moment and then turn to normal. "Yes, my queen." He dips his head. I've never seen something like this happen before. However, I turn and smile at Angelica. "Let's go?"

Her eyes are bright. "Of course!" She puts her fan away and walks with me out to the garden. "It's beautiful out here." She says sounding like she's in awe. I giggle softly. "Of course! It used to be in bad shape but once I got some funding, I was able to make it beautiful." I hum softly. "It was neglected for a long time... I wanted to make it beautiful... in memory of my first best friend."

In memory? I guess that friend died? Her tone is sad and distant. "Oh? Did you lose a good friend then?" Angelica asks and I nod. "Yes... my silly boy. I miss him every day... we met when we were young children." I murmur and hold myself. "You sound like you loved him." She points out with a strange tone. She is trying to accuse Anna of something?

"Oh... maybe I did. I haven't seen him in so long... I lost track of him when I was twelve. Since he never came back... and he was being heavily abused... he has to be dead." I smile sadly the raw pain in my tone. "Oh... well maybe you should go and find him then," Angelica suggests. I look up and open my mouth... then my face pales. Many masked men are all around us the murderous intent in their eyes obvious. How did they get into the palace? Is this a trap?

I back away which puzzles Angelica. She turns to look and gasps. "N-no! Get away! Don't kill me!!" She spins around and runs off pushing me aside so I'm not in the way. This makes me fall to the ground and just like that, they move. Some chase after Angelica probably to kill the witness but most of them are after me. Is this an assassination attempt?

I let out a scream before they're all on me. As they stab me, pain blinds me making me cry out and scream more. "ANNA!" I hear a familiar voice and the sound of swords clashing. Is that Phoenix...? I don't look back as I need to get away before they get to me again.

I try to crawl away but then cry out as I'm stabbed in the back. The pain is horrible for a moment then I feel nothing past the stab. I can't move my legs now but I try to get away. The chaos starts to fade into the background as my vision blurs. Am I... dying? I lay my head on the grass no longer having any strength. Why is this happening...? This route was going so well.

"... ty..." I watch a pair of dark bottoms stop in front of me. I'm moved into someone's lap and can barely make out his handsome face. "... Nix..." my voice is so weak. I can't make out his expression but I'm sure he's in tears again. I reach out and touch his cheek... before it falls back down. I see a blue screen pop up.

A minor bad end one has been found! Would you like to continue this route or go back to the starting choice?

A bad end huh...? When I got them on Tristian's route, I was just a prisoner trapped in a tower after making a wrong choice. I guess in this one bad ends mean death. I weakly reach out and choose to continue. Just like that the world melts away and I find myself in front of Angelica. I'm no longer in pain and I can see again. However, the memory and trauma remain. How many times will I have to die until I find the true ending...?

Angelica has asked if the player wants to walk out into the garden. What will you choose?

With the first option blacked out, I had no choice. I tap my choice... onto the next scene.