Death.

It used to be such a frightening word. An idea that anyone rejects from their cradle up to their grave.

"First and foremost," Princess Odette smiled. "For this arc to end, one of us must die. Who will it be?"

But for someone like me who has been through it many times, my heart neither feels fear nor regret. Death does not terrify me anymore.

Haniel crossed his arms. "Care to elaborate?"

The princess turned to Grand Duke Averill. "Please explain the current situation to them, Your Grace."

My face hardened when Alistair and I made eye contact. He was the first one who looked away, and once again, the guilt was evident on his face.

"Prince Dion has been poisoning the emperor for these past few years." Alistair imparted. "In the process of rendering His Majesty into a vegetative state, the crown prince plans to assassinate Her Highness so he'd be the sole heir to the throne."

Haniel chuckled. "So he's hellbent on taking your head. Your brother loves you very much, huh?"

"It goes to show how men are so simpleminded." Her Highness scoffed. "That fool wants to secure the crown just to please his devil of a woman."

Ingrid Nala Marchetti must be egging the crown prince to seize the throne as soon as possible.

"Anyway, Prince Dion knows that you're preparing your forces, that is why he's hastening his plans." Grand Duke Averill continued. "Regardless if he successfully kills you or not, he will murder the emperor a week from now and seize the throne."

"How did he know about the preparations of Her Highness?" I asked coldly. "Did you tattle on him?"

Only the sound of the ticking clock and the faint voices of the campers outside could be heard.

Alistair and I exchanged glances intensely.

"Relax, Kallen." The princess chuckled nervously. "I'm the one who ordered him to leak our plans."

I scoffed. "Oh, my bad."

"Listen," Ellis, still ironclad despite being indoors, clicked her tongue. "I have no inkling what kind of past you share, but you can't keep acting like that."

"Acting like what?" I feigned ignorance.

"Like the grand duke must be criticized, when he's done nothing but help us." The knight answered sharply. "His Grace serves as our eyes and ears in the palace. On the contrary, you have yet to contribute anything to us. Know your place."

Alistair pursed his lips. "Ellis, it's fine..."

"It isn't. Frankly, it's annoying." I could feel her heated gaze under the helm. "I hate people who act so high and mighty. Get off your high horse."

As I thought, this person only has enmity for me.

"Want me to leave, then?" I tilted my head. "It's not like I'm here because I want to. Your master begged me to join you, that's why I came here."

Ellis instantly slammed her hands on the table.

"A-Alright, young ones." Garet, the acting head of the camp, tried to lighten the atmosphere. "We're supposed to be allies. Don't fight with each other."

Thankfully, both Ellis and I kept silent after that.

"Your Highness," The middle-aged man turned to Princess Odette. "You said one of us has to die in order for this arc to end. Can you explain that?"

So this side character knows about the novel.

"That's because one of us has to take on a very important role." she stated. "That is, infiltrating the palace and protecting my father from harm."

All of us quietly listened in anticipation.

"As long as His Majesty stays alive and sane, my brother won't be able to claim his right to rule." Princess Odette pointed out. "That's why we have to delay the emperor's death until I capture Dion."

"So you need to send one person to the palace, who will protect His Majesty until your forces arrive? Is that right?" Haniel reiterated casually.

It's a dangerous role, indeed. After all, the palace is Prince Dion's domain. Sending one of us there is the same as trapping us within the enemy's range.

"If no else is willing, I can do it." The wizard placidly suggested. "I'll manage by myself."

"I stand corrected," Princess Odette blurted out, her face straight. "One of you, except for Haniel, must go to the palace and protect the emperor."

Haniel frowned. "Why are you excluding me?"

"Because you cannot go," The imperial princess said firmly. "The moment I seize the throne, this arc will conclude and the final one will begin."

Princess Odette stared intently at him.

"In order to unseal her powers completely, Lilith fell into a long and deep slumber as soon as she recovered the devil's heart. That's why her host, Ingrid Nala Marchetti, is currently in the north, under Grand Duchess Averill's strict protection."

My chest heaved upon hearing those names again. I spitefully glanced over Alistair, who had his face lowered from a mixture of guilt and shame. In the end, he never divorced that sordid woman, huh?

Haniel's face crumpled even further, failing to understand. "So what's your point, Princess?"

"My point is that you need to be on standby in the north before the final arc begins, Haniel. As soon as the present arc ends, you must attack the devil before she unleashes the full extent of her power."

Haniel stared at her in disbelief. "So you want me to stay put while all of you are risking your lives out there? Is this some kind of joke, Princess?"

"You're going to face Lilith alone in the final arc." Her Highness sighed. "Think of it as a strategy to conserve your strength for the last battle, Haniel."

"But I never agreed to this!" The mage cried.

"I know, but we both agreed to finish this story." Princess Odette's commanding voice filled the entire house. "As the protagonist of this novel, the responsibility to defeat the devil falls on you."

The silence that ensued was fragile, and none of us dared to break it for a while. It felt like Haniel was barely holding back from erupting into anger.

"With that being said," The imperial princess eyed me. "I believe Kallen is most suitable for the role to infiltrate the palace. Her skills are proven."

Haniel sprung out of his seat. "I won't permit it."

"And I do not need your approval." For the first time, the princess glared at him. "Only hers."

"Your Highness!" His voice thundered. "We've only reunited with each other, and now you want us to part ways again? Even if it's you, I won't yield!"

Princess Odette ignored his outburst and turned to me instead. "What can you say about this, Kallen?"

So she wants to send me to the capital and protect the emperor, while Haniel must head to the north to remain on standby before the final arc begins.

"If you agree to this plan, you will enter the palace as Grand Duke Averill's new personal maid." Her Highness enunciated. "From there, you must stop the king from consuming poison even further."

My eyebrows wrinkled when the grand duke and I subconsciously met each other's gaze. Flustered, he immediately averted his gaze and shut his eyes.

"And when the time comes that the crown prince finally decides to kill our father, you might have to employ your fighting skills. You must protect the emperor until my forces arrive at the palace."

"What if I refuse?" I asked the princess.

"Well," She shrugged. "I won't force you and I shall send Ellis instead. Unlike you, my knight is loyal to a fault. She would risk her life and limbs for me."

I flinched. If I don't go, Ellis will take my place.

I can't let that happen. I'm supposed to possess that body in the future. If Ellis gets killed before me, I won't be able to take over her anymore.

If my future version is dead and I happen to die as Kallen, does that mean I will never revive again?

Our life and death heavily depend on each other.

Once I die as Kallen, I'll wake up as Ellis. That's the same as killing her, because her soul will no longer exist. If she dies, I won't be able to revive again in the future, and I'll die for real this time.

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I'll do it."

"Oh?" Princess Odette said in amazement.

"I only need to keep His Majesty alive until you come, right?" I clenched my fists. "I can do that."

When I lifted my gaze to Haniel, he looked so hurt and betrayed. I was expecting him to lash out, but he quietly slumped back on his seat, visibly upset.

All of them noticed the tension between us, but they didn't comment on it. The discussion resumed, but Haniel never spoke a word again.

"It's settled, then." Princess Odette concluded, her eyes squinting in satisfaction. "Three days from now, Kallen and His Grace will go to the capital."

Alistair nodded while I only kept a poker face.

"Haniel will head out to the north and prepare for the final arc." Her Highness recited further. "Garet will gather the warriors of the south to assist me, while Ellis and I will lead my army to the capital."

All of us got up and faced one another earnestly.

"I would like to thank all of you for joining me in this decisive battle, which also decides the future of this empire." Princess Odette said with resolve.

I looked at Haniel in the corner of my eye. The mage was sullen and refused to meet my gaze.

"After being enticed by a woman, I've deemed my brother unfit to rule. Thus, in order to save this empire from the devil's devious plans, I shall capture Prince Dion and assist in defeating Lilith.

"After doing so, I shall become the emperor and lead our lands to peace and prosperity." Princess Odette asserted. "I swear on my name, Louisiana Odette von Solaris, that I will protect this empire."

Amidst the heartfelt speech of the imperial princess, I slowly held the wizard's hand.

I thought Haniel was going to swat my hand away, but he tightly held and squeezed it. I gazed at him again, and this time, he was finally looking at me.

I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Still mad?"

"A little," He whispered. "But even if you're infuriating at times, I love you all the same."

His words sent butterflies in my stomach.

After the meeting, all of us went ahead and did our own business. Princess Odette remained in her quarters, while all of us scattered across the campsite. We also had our late dinner together.

It was already nearing midnight when I secretly called Ellis and Haniel in a hidden corner. The knight seemed cautious at my sudden invitation.

"W-What is it?" Ellis questioned while gripping the hilt of her sword. "I assure you, even if you eliminate me secretly now, a lot of people will notice. I'm very much popular in the camp!"

I gave her a bored look. "Calm down."

Even Haniel seemed confused as why I summoned both of them. But if I want him to understand why I agreed to the plan, showing him would be best.

"Ellis," I smiled. "Can you take your helm off?"

She took a step back. "Huh? Why?"

"I want to show Haniel." I said bluntly. "Besides, what's the point of hiding it from the two of us? I've already seen it. One more person won't hurt."

At first, she seemed hesitant, but Ellis gave in when I kept bugging her about it. And so, the knight removed her helm, revealing her face.

I already saw it once, but it still left me speechless.

Blonde hair styled into a wolf cut and ocean blue eyes... The only discerning difference between us is the huge horizontal scar across her cheekbones, which made Ellis look sharper and more fierce.

Haniel blinked many times. "Huh?"

On that day, his heart pounded for another girl who happened to have the same face as mine.

He freaked out, apologized to me all night, and said that I'm the only one he loves, like a guilty husband caught cheating on his wife. So funny.

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