ELLIS

Just like how the first snow fell from the skies, the memories of my past life resurfaced on my mind one by one. As to why they chose to return my memories at this point of time, I'm not sure.

It has only been half a day since I parted ways with Her Highness, who should be leading her army while I was heading north with a horse.

"Sorry for bringing you out in this cold, buddy." I stated apologetically. My hands were tightly gripped on the reins of my trotting companion.

Soon enough, I saw a hint of snow-filled ground. It was the sign that I'm about to reach the land of Chioni, where the only constant thing is winter.

The cold and barren territory of the Averill duchy, where the northerners live to fight in the borders.

Despite my intimate past with the grand duke, I've never been to Chioni before. It was the place that I once dreamed of going to, but ended up resenting.

I need to hurry, I thought with a sense of urgency.

It was too quiet, and the silence was dreadful.

The previous arc ended when the executioner, Kallen, was beheaded by the grand duke and the princess arrived on the palace with her forces.

By now, the last arc should be starting in Chioni.

The devil's host, Ingrid Nala Marchetti, has been cooped up in the north in the guise of recuperating. In fact, the devil is in slumber.

However, the final arc is set to begin with Ingrid regaining the full extent of her powers. Once she awakens, the devil will wreak havoc in the north.

And that's what makes my heart so uneasy.

Because Haniel is alone in the north right now.

I know that he's an omnipotent mage, and that he's the main character now. Haniel might even have the so-called plot armor. Still, this story includes a tragedy tag. What if he dies then?

That's why I can't stop. I don't have time.

My face was starting to feel numb due to the winter, and the ironclad body of Ellis wasn't totally safe from the cold. I was freezing.

"You there!" A voice shouted at me. "Halt!"

I pulled the reins of my horse and looked back over my shoulder. My brows furrowed upon seeing three knights donning the same badge.

A crimson shield with a red butterfly.

The Lohefalter knights.

Good timing. They're under the direct command of Grand Duke Averill. I need their cooperation.

I unmounted from my horse. "Greetings."

"Identify yourself!" One of them ordered hoarsely, glaring at me. "What's your business in Chioni?!"

This dude needs to chill. Seriously.

"I am the princess's personal knight, and I was sent by His Grace, the grand duke." I asserted calmly. "Who's in charge of the north now?"

The three knights exchanged doubtful glances.

"We never received word about the princess's knight coming over!" One of the men stepped forward in an attempt to intimidate me. "Scram!"

I sighed. "Listen, we don't have time..."

The knight didn't even let me finish. "I said, scram! We have no business with the royal knights! Tch!"

It felt like all my blood rose up to my head and my fist moved on its own. The next thing I knew, I had already punched the knight straight on the cheek.

One of his teeth flew out of his mouth, and he slumped on the ground dumbfounded. The three knights gawked at me like I was a rare specimen.

"I told you, I was sent by His Grace due to the urgency of the situation." I said through gritted teeth. "If Chioni fails to defend itself from the imminent threat, will you take responsibility?"

The knights panicked, and their faces blanched.

"I'll ask you one more time." I took a step forward, my figure towering over the knight slumped on the ground. "Who is in charge of the north now?"

Just when he was about to speak, a voice spoke.

"I am."

The truth is, I wasn't prepared to meet her yet.

After regaining my memories, I thought of what to say in case I met her again. Should I introduce myself to her? Should I apologize for everything?

When I transmigrated in this novel, I only knew her as the villainess. Despite her repugnant role, Ruth Alessia di Camellia was my first friend here.

But now, as we stand face to face with each other, I finally know who she really was, long before the novel was even created. She wasn't just anyone.

She was Runa.

My one and only sister, whom I loved dearly.

The knights flocked around her. "Your Grace!"

"Settle down," Her cerulean eyes looked like the sea swallowing me whole. "I told you to fend off anyone who tries to enter the duchy. What's this?"

I used to serve the villainess as her personal maid, and her beauty still marvels me. Her bluish white hair was tied up neatly, and she was wearing a black dress adorned with a thick fur coat.

The north suits her well. She looks good here.

"But Your Grace, she introduced herself as the princess's knight." One of the knights reasoned timidly. "She said that the grand duke sent her."

"Oh?" Lady Camellia, as I used to call her, tilted her head innocently. "What of my husband?"

Instead of answering it, I blurted out her name.

"Runa."

I swallowed the lump on my throat.

"It's not too late to change the story."

Her face hardened in an instant.

To my shock, an ominous matter surrounded me like a fog of smoke. Before I could even react on time, I was pinned down by the intangible force.

It was black magic. How repulsive.

When I glanced over the Lohefalter knights, the villainess had already done the same to them, even worse. She had knocked the three out.

"Who are you?" Lady Camellia stared daggers at me. "If you know about the story, then you must be a transmigrator. We have already met before, haven't we?"

It felt like something was stuck on my throat.

"You exist in every arc. You are my maid Isabelle, aren't you?" Her face distorted in anger. "But I met you as that mute mage. Then I was also told that the executioner had blonde hair and blue eyes."

Her black magic gripped me around my neck.

"And now, you're here again like an annoying bug. What in the world are you? Tell me!" she fumed.

I clenched my jaw. "You wrote me!"

"I'm asking who you really are, not your role!"

"Who did you think of every time you wrote me?" I closed my eyes. "Whoever comes to your mind, that's who I am, Runa!"

After that, there was a moment of silence.

I was helplessly restrained on the ground filled with snow, and the cold was piercing on my skin. Even so, it felt like the winter could melt anytime from the heated exchange between me and Runa.

What happened next caught me off guard.

Because when I opened my eyes, her teardrops were falling uncontrollably over my cheeks.

She was crying. It was the first time I've seen the villainess cry so calmly and so solemnly. She was holding back her sobs instead of throwing a fit.

"You know, when I wrote your roles, I wanted to show them that even an orphan, a maid, a mute, or a mentally deranged person can impact the story and shape the world." Runa spoke softly.

Tears rolled down over her cheeks.

"Because that was your role to me. No matter who you were, regardless of your flaws and shortcomings, you shaped my world, sis."

My heart was torn asunder.

"You were as insignificant as an extra to everyone else, but you were the only family I had, Callista."

My eyes watered with tears. "Runa,"

"But you left me behind. You abandoned me."

She released the black magic restraining. I thought she was finally willing to talk, but the villainess turned her back from me and walked away.

"Runa!" I called out in desperation.

I got up on my feet and chased after my sister.

Just when I was about to grab Runa's arm, she swatted her hand and manifested black magic once more, sending me flying. I almost threw up from the impact of my torso hitting a nearby tree.

"Stop!" I told her with pleading eyes. "It's not too late to change the ending of this novel, Runa!"

"Why should I?" Her eyes were cold. "This damn book ruined our lives. My efforts went to naught, and in the process, I lost the only family I had."

Her hands curled into fists.

I could feel her seething anger.

"Sister, do you know what I did after you killed yourself?" The villainess asked proudly. "In broad daylight, I murdered the one who stole our story."

So what Princess Odette told me was true.

It was Runa, the original author, who killed her.

"Isn't that enough, then?" My voice cracked. "You've already killed her! Why are you so hellbent on ending this story tragically?!"

This time, she looked at me sorrowfully.

"Because I regret writing it. I lost you, dear sister."

I noticed the black magic building up around her spot. Aside from that, the ground started shaking malevolently and the skies were getting darker.

"It's too late. The story cannot be changed anymore." The villainess raised her arms, euphoric. "If you want to change the novel's ending, you will have to kill me, my sister."

A sinister smile formed on her lips.

"That is, if you can."

As soon as Lady Camellia spoke those words, the devil incarnate emerged instantaneously from the ground, almost as if rising from the pits of hell.

I was too late, I grimly thought to myself.

Ingrid Nala Marchetti looked like an entirely different person this time. She was donning a daring black dress with a staff on her hand as she floated midair. Her hair was no longer the innocent shade of pink; they were grey, like the sky brewing a storm. Her pupils are also white.

Ingrid raised her staff, concentrating a purplish shade of black magic on its tip. As she hovered midair, the devil incarnate smiled voraciously upon seeing the entirety of the sunless Chioni.

"Ah."

Ingrid grinned hideously.

"It's good to be back. Now, who should I kill first?"

And so it begins, the final arc of the novel.

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