No Matter What, I Need to Speak with Eigar

“Oh, thank heavens you’re alright! Don’t scare me like that again!”

Standing before me was Prince Augusto of Lacorda, the most prosperous and harmonious kingdom in this world. He was the heir to the throne and, also, my future fiancé.

Mai was the daughter of a cleric—a powerful man full of ambitions. Her sole mission was to capture Augusto’s heart. The nobles around looked at her with disdain, as some knew the true nature of her father.

Slowly, I lifted my head to look at the prince standing before me. He had blonde hair that shone like sunlight, one blue eye, and the other mechanical with a reddish hue.

“I need to take my leave,” I said urgently.

“What? You know your life is devoted to serving me. What else could you possibly have to do besides being by my side?”

I sighed deeply. I needed to forge a path different from the game’s storyline, to avoid dying or ending up married to Augusto, whom I did not love.

The next few hours would be a race against time. I had to leave the palace courtyards as soon as possible, or the villainess would attack me with a dagger, leading to a bad ending.

“Answer me! I’ve put aside my duties to spend time with you!”

The prince’s face turned red with anger, while the nobles around us watched with intrigue. I noticed that many of them bore some kind of mechanical apparatus; after all, robots were in vogue at that time. I quickened my pace to get out of his reach.

“Mai, wait, where are you going?”

“Augusto… I almost forgot,” I turned to say, “This time, propose to the one you truly love.”

The words slipped from my lips automatically. This wasn’t written in the Otome game—it was in the novel. In reality, the prince had feelings for the villainess, Alice.

“What?!” he exclaimed, but he was too stunned to keep following me.

I hurried into the palace corridors. I wasn’t allowed access to this part of the castle, but I needed to be here if I wanted to stay alive. It was a race against time until the villainess arrived, looking for me with deadly intent.

A maid bumped into me as I ran through the corridors. She had a sincere and gentle expression, and one of her hands was made of robotic parts.

“Miss… may I help you?”

“Yes,” I replied, out of breath. “I need to speak with Eigar.”

She looked down, embarrassed.

“Miss, Eigar is one of the king’s commanders. I’m afraid you’re not permitted to…”

“I don’t think I’ve introduced myself,” I said with a smile. “I am Mai Hutz, the cleric’s daughter.”

She blushed at my words, as everyone knew Mai was on the verge of becoming engaged to the prince.

“Oh, of course, please follow me.”

We walked through the vast corridors until a reflection in the mirror caught my attention. Was it Alice, the villainess? Hmm, perhaps it was just a trick of the light…

***

I had made mistake. Eigar and Eivor were brothers from a foreign land and servants of the king. Eigar was real and just, while the other was corrupt and treacherous.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Mai Hutz, and I have matters to discuss with you regarding your traitorous brother.”

“And what would the daughter of the cleric involved in massacres have to say about my brother?”

I took a deep breath. At that moment, what was known about Eivor were only rumors, and a mistake on my part could ruin everything.

“I apologize, sir. I think I said too much. I was in a hurry because I know I won’t be the future queen, and the prince’s future bride is on her way.”

“What?” he asked, startled, which gave me a chance to sit at the table across from him. Now he was interested in the matter we would discuss.

“I believe you know Lady Penelope,” I began, and he nodded. “She and your brother are funding a significant revolt brewing in the suburbs.”

“How does the cleric’s daughter know what’s happening on the poor side of the city?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I paused momentarily, considering what to say. Mai had only discovered the precarious situation in the slums after her power as a saint was revealed, and a major revolt claimed her life in one of the bad endings.

While she froze, not knowing how to respond, the door suddenly opened. Augusto entered, shouting, “How dare you leave me in the garden speaking to myself!”

Eigar observed the scene in silence.

“You should know you are my future bride, and you need to be more respectful toward me,” he continued, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.

“Bocchan, please leave. Miss Mai and I are discussing important matters,” the commander said, and when Augusto opened his mouth to complain, he raised his hand. “Remember, until you become king, I follow my leader’s orders.”

“Please, Augusto, just do as I asked,” I said briefly, only making him angrier.

“You… you’re afraid I’ll abandon you, that’s it! That’s why you won’t admit you’re heartbroken to say these words to me.”

I didn’t understand how he reached that conclusion, as in the novel he himself abandoned Mai to marry Alice, but that didn’t matter at the moment.

“Stop saying nonsense. This is no way for a future king to behave,” I said, turning my head away.

“What?!” he shouted, furious. “Repeat what you said!”

“Children, enough of this,” Eigar put his hand to his head. “Augusto, leave.”

“My father will hear about this,” he huffed before leaving.

Eigar assessed me before speaking.

“Now I understand that no lies come from your lips. Alright, we can discuss what you want.”

“I need your help. By fighting the invasion, we can save the king’s life.”

With a handshake, we parted that afternoon. The first stage of my plan was ready; the second was more complicated: exposing Penelope at the royal ball that evening.

Before I could enter the carriage, I heard a voice call out to me:

“Wait, Mai!”