The Missing Variable

"..."

I opened my eyes once more, finding myself back at the moment just before Alice and Karen’s departure. As before, I caught their attention and guided them toward the gazebo for a private discussion. I laid out everything, from my so-called ‘premonition’. This included the hidden machinations of their cruel mother, and the chain of events that had driven Karen to the edge of despair.

The thought sickened Karen. The idea of carrying that pig bastard's child made her recoil, leaving her silent, unable to speak.

I felt a pang of sympathy for her, but the truth had to be said, for their own safety.

"..."

"Are you sure, Elias?" Alice asked, shock in her eyes at my words implicating their mother in the betrayal of their secret. "It’s hard to believe she would even consider such a thing."

I said nothing. There was no time to argue, no use in convincing them beyond planting the possibility in their minds. My silence seemed to have its effect, as Alice remained serious throughout the conversation.

"I see," she finally said, looking away. "We’ll keep it in mind. Thank you, Elias."

The sisters rose, preparing to face the cruel journey ahead.

"Be careful, Alice and Karen," I said, my tone cold, detached. They nodded, their faces still pale and frozen, processing a truth far worse than anything from the previous iteration.

As for me, I felt nothing. My life was expendable. If this iteration failed to change the outcome, I was ready to die once more in Tessa’s hands.

No matter how many times.

"..."

A week later...

A maid burst in, panic written across her face, barely catching her breath. The family and I were quietly eating lunch, but the words that came next made me gag and spit out my food.

“Master! Master! Terrible news!” the maid cried, her face stricken with grief.

“Calm down. What is it? Tell me,” Father said, his voice measured but tense.

“Your… your daughters…” The maid hesitated, swallowing hard before continuing. “They were caught in a massive landslide near the Heathronk Hills while making their way to Thornwick City.”

Father dropped his utensil in shock. His composure snapped, fury overtaking him. “Who told you this!?”

“A… a messenger, Master,” the maid stammered. “He just delivered the news at the door.”

“Take me there,” Father commanded.

“Right away, Master!”

Father adjusted his cape and left the dining hall with the maid.

I wiped the bile from my mouth, forcing myself to follow. Straight into Tessa’s path.

Timothy, seeing my state, sneered. “Disgusting. Where do you think you’re going, peasant?”

I levelled him with a death stare, and he quickly lowered his eyes, silent.

Once again, I assumed the mask of the fake villain in front of Tessa, this time in the corridor lined with knights’ armour and weapons. I issued a threat against Clara, and in response, she swung a heavy mace, striking my head clean.

"..."

Sixth iteration: Alice and Karen were killed by wild creatures. Tessa severed my head with garden scissors outside the garden.

Seventh iteration: Alice and Karen perished when a bridge collapsed amid heavy rain and falling trees. Tessa strangled me with a rope in a storage room.

Eighth iteration: Alice killed the pig bastard but was executed for it. Tessa pushed me from the third-floor balcony behind the mansion. I died painfully and slowly, unseen.

Ninth iteration: Karen returned home alone, but Alice succumbed to a mysterious illness that spread rapidly. The household became stricken with coughs and fevers. Overnight, it felt as though the world itself had vanished.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Fifty-sixth iteration and counting...

No matter what I tried, no matter how many precautions I took, I watched as Alice and Karen drifted beyond the horizon, dying in every imaginable way, from natural disasters to inexplicable misfortunes. Death seemed destined for them, no matter what.

Yet I refused to accept it. I died again and again, iteration after iteration.

How many more… surely I was nearing the end... right...?

My mind had become fractured. Nothing existed except Alice and Karen. Death no longer hurt; I had grown accustomed to it. And this fake persona for Tessa to strike me had become second nature. 

I wanted to give up.

Maybe I should… maybe…

It was Father. He stared at me, eyes hollow, fixed on the untouched food before me. It had also been just a few days since Alice and Karen departed, yet I was already poised to react to every scrap of news that reached the mansion.

"..."

“I’m fine, Father. Thank you for asking.” I forced a faint smile.

But I wasn’t fine.

Nor could I reveal the truth behind my despondency.

If only I could tell Father—

“!”

That was it.

After countless iterations, why had I never considered the missing variable...?

Father.

I had been so consumed with saving Alice and Karen by myself that I forgot, there were others who could tip the scales. Other wills besides mine. Slowly, the grey in my vision gave way to colour.

Alice and Karen may hate me for what comes next.

Sorry.

But I had to do it.

“...”

I had to tell Father the truth.