Chapter 53 – Conclusion (Touko’s POV)
“…Now then. I’m sorry to leave this conversation, Lady Touko, but it looks like it’s time to say goodbye.”
“W-What? Haha, are you afraid that Yuzuriha and the others will come to rescue me by any chance?”
It was an obvious provocation from Touko, but if the other person were to fall for it, they wouldn’t be fit for the position of prime minister, no matter how corrupt the aristocrats of this country may be over the years.
“I’m not boasting, but it was within our expectations that the Sakuragi Duke’s knight would come to rescue Lady Touko. However, considering the situation, storming the royal castle under high alert is like going to one’s death. Despite that, I didn’t really think they would actually come…”
“Yuzuriha would! She’s the kind of girl who would push herself to the limit for someone she truly trusts, even if the odds are against her!”
“That’s reckless. Or maybe that’s just youth.”
Hearing the Prime Minister’s muttering words, Touko felt a chill.
Even though Touko thought of that possibility, she put a strong lid on her thoughts and tried not to think about it.
—Perhaps Yuzuriha is willing to die for the sake of her comrades.
As a result of constantly witnessing the corpses of both enemies and allies on the battlefield to the point of being sickened, her best friend, who had won alone and earned the nickname “Killing Goddess of War,” has in fact long since broken down.
Is it possible that she wishes to die, being watched over by the very comrades they recognized, for the sake of those same comrades they recognized—?
“Well, it’s useless anyway.”
“I doubt it! I think Yuzuriha would be able to fight back a bunch of traitorous knights!”
“Even if she’s the Sakuragi Princess, it’ll be an even match at best. Besides…”
The Prime Minister looked at Touko with triumphant eyes,
“In addition to the defenders, we have set traps in the secret passages for the royal family in case of an attack.”
“……!”
“She is a Duchess, after all, and there’s a good chance she knows about the secret passages that only the royal family should know about. After all, I know of it myself. So when they come at us, we’ll wait for the right moment, and then… Boom! A huge explosion will occur, and the soldiers there will be buried alive.”
“…Isn’t that an exaggeration to set up such a grand scheme just for a single Yuzuriha…?”
“I have witnessed the complete annihilation of enemy forces who underestimated us time and time again. It teaches you the importance of being cautious.”
Touko bit her lip.
At this rate, no matter if Yuzuriha, and even Suzuha and Suzuha’s older brother, come to rescue her, it will be impossible.
In any case, the Prime Minister has read the backdoor plan to use the royal family’s secret passageway, and is ready to blow up the royal castle and bury the Yuzuriha alive in order to destroy them.
In addition to herself, Yuzuriha and the Suzuha’s siblings, who should be coming to save her, are in a big pinch.
“I understand that the destruction of the royal castle would certainly cause confusion. In that moment of chaos, it would be a problem if Lady Touko managed to escape by any chance. Therefore, before that happens, I’ll kill Lady Touko and…engage in necrophilia.”
“N-No, d-don’t do it! D-Don’t—!”
“Goodbye, Princess.”
The Prime Minister took a large knife out of his pocket and thrust it into Touko’s chest.
“────!!!”
Usually, it would be an instant death blow.
But Touko, who has an extremely high concentration of magic circulating in her body, will not die immediately.
However, that only means that the time to death has been extended by a small amount.
“You’re not dead yet, are you? As expected of the Princess—”
When the prime minister said so, the door of the room behind him exploded.
And what was reflected in Touko’s eyes as she was stabbed in the chest?
The image of Suzuha’s older brother, completely covered in sewage, running towards them with a demonic expression.
The Prime Minister tried to check what was going on.
And—
Before The Prime Minister could even look back halfway, he was seriously beaten up by Suzuha’s older brother, and as a result…
It was the end of the Prime Minister, whose body was obliterated without a trace as if his whole body had exploded.
