Chapter 7

I will also add the ending for Daniel and Adèle.

It might be a bad ending, so please back away if you're not comfortable with it.

Promotion: I've started the serialized version of the Bear Badge (´・(エ)・｀)

"……Hmm"

When Adèle woke up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. It was still dark, as dawn had not yet broken.

(Well… I—I…?)

Her head throbbed.

She couldn't make sense of how she ended up in this situation.

She remembered getting into the carriage and leaving the castle, but somehow, she must have arrived at the palace.

"Hey, is anyone there!? I need to change, and I'm thirsty!"

She raised her voice, sitting up halfway.

But the room remained silent, and no one responded.

"…So, in this dilapidated palace, there's no one to take care of me… How despicable!"

She had always lived a life of luxury.

If she wanted something, it would be given to her, and if she disliked something, it would disappear immediately, whether it was an object or a person.

"…Father… Daniel…"

Even when she shouted, she was alone.

Feeling a sense of emptiness, Adèle hugged her knees and sighed.

The king, who had turned cold to Adèle, didn't even come to see her off.

Daniel was also apparently exiled, but he must be doing well, right?

He might be suffering even more than Adèle. Without her protection, he was just a common merchant.

Adèle sobbed, wetting the sheets.

She had only condemned the nagging fiancé. What was wrong with getting the status of the person she liked?

Scheunheit was barbaric, and that young lady, who was so unpredictable, was ultimately just one of the barbarians who could slay a bear.

"…What is this, what is this…?"

At the ball where she thought she had everything, she ended up losing everything.

How was she supposed to live from now on?

"Come on, just calm down a bit."

"!?"

A light voice fell in the room, which was supposed to be empty.

It was the voice of the person she loved, a voice she couldn't possibly mistake.

"Daniel!?"

She looked up, and the familiar face was looking at Adèle.

"Hi, Adèle. It's been a while."

"You're safe!? I'm glad… Daniel, do something! Get me out of here!"

Adèle pleaded with the beloved person in front of her. He was the one who always granted her whims.

Hope sparkled in Adèle's eyes.

"No can do."

With the same sweet smile as before, Daniel firmly said no.

"Huh…?"

"You can't leave here. You're supposed to be dead, you know."

"What are you talking about…? This is the palace, isn't it…?"

The situation where she was supposed to be dead didn't make sense.

The smile that had once seemed so wonderful now felt dark and even terrifying.

"--- The first princess of this country is dead. You're just Adèle here, and you'll never leave. But don't worry, I'm here for you."

Adèle felt a chill at the flawless smile. Her spine froze.

"Well, I'm exiled too, so I can't move around openly. If I'm found, I'll be executed this time, so unfortunately, Adèle, you're under house arrest from now on."

"Ah…"

Was the person she loved capable of such a terrifying smile?

As her eyes adjusted to the dimness, Adèle noticed something. There were no windows.

The only entrance was the door through which Daniel had just entered, and there was nothing else.

"Why… why is this happening…"

"Huh?"

When she said this in a trembling voice, Daniel showed a look of genuine confusion.

"We promised to be together, didn't we?"

He said he would bring food again and left the room, leaving Adèle in a daze.

Thank you for reading.

Please look forward to the serialized version of the Bear Badge!