Side Story ─ What Could Have Been (Part 1)
Someone told me to add a warning for dark content (though I've seen worse—looking at you, Salò the movie). So consider this your warning: take a deep breath before reading.
Don't hate the author. Hate the characters written to be evil so the protagonist's justice feels justified.
With this chapter, I'd say this work is now on par with my other otome novel, don't you think?
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What would have happened if Alex had never reincarnated and the game's plot had unfolded as originally intended?
This is how it would have gone.
"Please, Jason… don't do this…"
Queen Angelica cradled her husband in her arms—stabbed mercilessly by the knight Jason.
They were returning from a failed peace negotiation with the Kingdom. The rain fell lightly, nothing severe.
But then Jason stopped and began slaughtering everyone, even their own coachman, his supposed ally.
"It's nothing personal. Just part of my revenge."
"NO!!!!!!"
The queen screamed and begged for her life, but he didn't care.
His sword came down, severing her head.
Just like in the game, the "Kingdom" was blamed for killing the king and queen. But in truth, Jason was the one responsible.
◇◇◇
After returning to the palace and delivering the "truth" to Princesses Annerose and Rosemary, who wept for their dead parents,
Jason headed to Count Harry Arlen Belkman—who, thanks to this tragedy, would secure the ministers' support and become Prime Minister.
"Well done, Leone. What did you do with the bodies?"
"Fed them to starving wolves."
"How does it feel to betray the king you swore to protect and orphan their Highnesses?"
"You want to be next?"
"Of course not…"
After a murderous glare, Jason returned home, tended to by his servants, and drank himself to sleep.
Guilt for what he had done began eating him alive.
◇◇◇
Years passed, and finally, the long-awaited war arrived.
"After years of suffering and chaos inflicted by the Kingdom, we can no longer stand idle!"
"We must strike now and reclaim what is ours!"
Crown Princess Annerose stood in the palace, rallying the soldiers before their march to attack the Kingdom.
Jason stood beside her.
Once her speech ended, they approached Rosemary, who was with the now-Prime Minister Belkman.
"Mary, I'm leaving. When I return, we'll celebrate a new era."
"I understand, Onee-chan. Please take care of her, Commander Leone."
Having grown up isolated, trusting only each other, the sisters had become twisted.
They trusted no one else, hated being separated—but war demanded one lead the front while the other stayed behind.
Jason had never truly been part of their lives, despite watching over them.
"Prime Minister Belkman, I entrust the palace and my sister's safety to you while I'm gone."
"Rest assured, Her Highness Rosemary will be safe, Your Majesty Queen Annerose."
"Good. Let's go, Leone."
"As you command."
As Annerose and Jason departed for war, Belkman smirked.
His eyes lingered on Rosemary—more specifically, her well-proportioned cleavage.
◇◇◇
That night, as Rosemary prepared for bed, screams erupted outside her room.
She thought they were assassins from the Kingdom—until the door burst open, revealing Prime Minister Belkman and armed knights.
"Good evening, Your Highness Rosemary."
"What is the meaning of this, Prime Minister? Barging into my chambers at this hour with armed guards?"
"Are you trying to seize the principality!?"
Her hatred for those she had foolishly trusted turned to terror as Belkman grinned.
"Not quite. The palace doesn't interest me. The pro-war faction is already dead or imprisoned."
"For years, I've planned this. The war? Just a means to let the Kingdom annex this wretched land."
"That's why I slowly sowed conflict—right up to your parents' assassination."
"…What did you say?"
"Mom and Dad… it was YOU!?"
Rosemary trembled in a way she never had before.
Belkman licked his cracked lips.
"I considered ransoming or selling you, but someone insisted the royal bloodline must be erased."
"So, for the next two weeks—until the Kingdom arrives to humiliate your defeated sister—"
The knights began stripping.
"We'll enjoy that splendid, well-developed body of yours."
"I'd have preferred both sisters, but you can't have everything."
"No…"
Their dead-fish eyes locked onto her like she was an object.
"Restrain her."
"NO!!!!!"
She tried to run, but a lone girl stood no chance against brutes.
They threw her onto the bed, tore her clothes, licked every inch of her skin—
Even the purity of her lips was stolen by filthy men.
Belkman unbuckled his pants, predatorily eyeing his trapped prey—
"This is your punishment for being born into royalty."
Rosemary sobbed, begging for her parents or sister to save her.
If only someone had been there for them from the start…
If only someone had guided them down a different path…
Things wouldn't have ended like this.
For days, Rosemary was violated nonstop by Belkman and his men.
They did unspeakable things—acts so vile, no sane person would believe humans could enjoy them.
Over breakfast, a knight approached Belkman.
"Boss, the girl's not responding. Is she dead?"
"No pulse? …No, she's just broken. They should be arriving soon—"
A knock at the door. Men in black stood outside.
"Ah, them. Let them in."
The leader approached Belkman.
"Marquis Kirchner sent us for a job."
"Right, right. My bags are already packed."
"Bags?"
"Huh?"
Confusion flashed—before the hooded men drew dagers and slaughtered everyone.
The leader pinned Belkman to a table, sword raised.
"Wait! This wasn't part of the deal!"
"The Marquis said negotiating with a non-existent country doesn't require honoring promises."
The blade fell—Belkman's head rolled like a ball.
The men scoured the estate, killing survivors. One reported:
"Commander Glen—"
"Don't use my name here."
"Sorry, sir. We found a woman in the basement—likely the second princess."
"Alive?"
"Barely. Her condition is… grotesque."
"Burn this place—basement included."
"Yes, sir!"
Flames consumed everything.
◇◇◇
Annerose returned with Jason and the defeated soldiers.
"The Kingdom crushed us. No reinforcements came—just that girl and her magic-wielding friends."
"Our country is finished. The Kingdom will come for us next."
"We can surrender… or die."
"I'll NEVER surrender my parents' kingdom!"
Bruised and bleeding, Annerose growled:
"Once home, I'll devise a new plan. First, I'll strip Belkman of his title, then have him—"
Her words died as she saw the capital in flames.
The palace—the heart of their nation—was spewing black smoke.
"FASTER!!"
They arrived to ashes.
Annerose collapsed.
"No… my country, the palace… MARY—"
Jason stood frozen in disbelief.
Annerose wept—then laughed.
Hysterical, empty laughter, her eyes bloodshot.
"Leone… I've lost everything. Nothing left to fight for."
"So what do we give the Kingdom?"
"Our lives."
"Right."
She stood, marching to the carriage.
"If those Kingdom bastards want us dead, I'll take as many with me as I can!!"
Jason felt it too—all-consuming vengeance.
"I'll follow you to the end."
Annerose, Jason, and the remaining soldiers—broken, wounded—charged the Kingdom's forces.
They were crushed instantly.
Jason died to arrows. Annerose was stabbed by the heroine after a failed assassination attempt.
Gazing at the blue sky, she smiled bitterly.
(Why did we have to suffer like this…?)
(I hate it all.)
(Mother… Father… Mary… I'm coming.)
She died in agony—as if death was the only mercy she deserved.
This was the destined end for the principality's villainous twins.
The fate the game demanded.
But now—
"REX!!! Stop staring at Mary's chest! And YOU—stop bouncing them!"
"Onee-chan, you're so mean~ I'm just rewarding him for working hard!"
"Get your boobs away from his face!"
"You can do it too if you want~"
"Ufufu, my girls are so lively. A-kun is quite popular~"
"Mom, stop laughing and scold this idiot! Jason, you too!"
"I'd prefer to avoid unnecessary harm."
In this room, filled with people destined to die as villains,
stood the one who changed everything.
But was this truly what the game's future desired?
Or was it the personal wish to save others that mattered?