Chapter 22 – I’m Not Trying to Save Her… Probably

Watching the Future Villain's Tragic Cutscene

I stood in the shadows of the academy gardens, watching the Corrupted Princess Villain and Julius talk.

Her face was calm. Too calm.

Like she had practiced every expression to perfection.

Like she had no choice but to be flawless.

And Julius?

The idiot had no idea what this moment meant to her.

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This is the Moment She Starts Breaking

I knew this scene.

✔ She tries to confess her feelings.

✔ Julius gently turns her down, saying he sees her as "a dear friend."

✔ She smiles, but inside, she realizes she never had a chance.

I could already see it happening.

Her posture stayed perfect.

Her voice didn't waver.

But her eyes—

They dimmed.

Just slightly.

Just enough for someone who was actually paying attention to notice.

And in the game?

No one noticed.

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Not My Problem… Right?

I leaned back against the tree, sighing. "Well, that sucked to watch."

The sword hummed in my mind. "You look weirdly invested in this."

"I'm not."

"Really? Because you're standing here like some tragic side character who sees the truth but can't do anything."

I rolled my eyes. "She's a villain. That's how the story goes."

"Uh-huh. And yet, you haven't left."

I frowned.

I should leave.

I had no reason to care about this.

And yet…

Something about it pissed me off.

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Why Does This Bother Me?

Maybe it was because, unlike Seria, the princess didn't have a fate she could escape.

Seria was supposed to win.

Seria was supposed to get stronger.

But the princess?

Her entire life was pushing her toward one inevitable end.

No one was going to stop it.

No one was going to help her.

Because to everyone else, she was just a future boss fight.

And I hated that.

Not because I was some noble hero.

Not because I had some dumb savior complex.

But because I knew what it felt like to be thrown into a sh*tty fate with no choice.

I exhaled. "This is annoying."

---

What Do I Even Do?

I wasn't going to walk up to her and say, "Hey, I see your suffering. Let's be friends."

That was stupid.

And she'd probably stab me just for assuming she needed pity.

I wasn't going to change her fate overnight.

But for some reason, my feet weren't moving.

I stayed.

Just long enough to see her turn away from Julius, her smile perfectly in place.

Just long enough to see her walk off, alone, like always.

And just long enough to feel a quiet, growing irritation in my chest.

I clicked my tongue. "Tch. Let's go."

The sword hummed. "Oh yeah. You're totally not getting involved."

I ignored it.

For now.

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To Be Continued…