“See that glacio in the ground? That mage surely ran this way! Let’s go!” Said the traders we heard from the corner. Percival lifted his index finger to his lips to tell me to be quiet before stepping out of the dark holding his claymore.

“She certainly did, but you’re not passing this alley without facing me.” The threatening tone in his voice sent shivers down my spine. He just sounded exactly like he was in the game my tears have magically stopped from admiration. 

“W-Who are you?”

Percival tilted his head to the side. “Let’s say I’m the big boss around the area. Now, tell me who allowed you here? I’d love to teach each of you a lesson or two.”

“S-Stop with the chit-chat, moron! Let’s finish him!”

Percival’s forearms clenched as he gripped his claymore tightly, the blade slowly lightning up from mana. He positioned his legs firmly on the ground before sprinting towards the oncoming slave traders. By using the power of terra, Percival expertly swung his claymore against the enemies without breaking a sweat.

I watched as he took his time walking towards the last slave trader backed into a pile of trash, begging to be spared.

“P-Please, we were just following orders! D-Don’t kill me!"

“Who ordered you?”

“My lady? My lady!”

Elise’s trembling voice came from behind me. There she was on the side of the street with Sir Sebastian, Alasdair and a few paladins. Everyone had a look of worry on their faces. Fresh tears pooled my eyes again in an instant. I ran to hug my maid.

“I’m sorry, my lady! It was my fault—“

“No, Elise. Don’t blame yourself. You too, Sir Sebastian. None of it was your fault—“

“Lili, who did this to you?” The amount of anger written on Alasdair’s face was indescribable, full of bloodthirst and ready to kill. 

“Don’t worry, I-I was saved by—“ A loud agonizing scream was heard from the dark alleyway. The paladins clutched their weapons in reflex.

“What was that?” Asked Alisdair.

“Sir Percival. He’s the one who saved me.”

“Alasdair,” Percival stepped out of the alley tainted with blood all over his face and body. Everyone was taken aback.

Percival Colt, the ruthless mercenary king of Remembering World, has once again taken human lives outside the dungeons to bring peace in this small area of Regalopolis.

“What happened to you?”

“A group of slave traders were running after your sister, so I took care of it. These criminals work in this large slave trading company in the slums outside the capital. We have to raid the place or else,” he gave me a deadpan look. “…it can happen again. Much worse than this.”

“What?! Lili, are you okay? Are you hurt?” Alasdair attended to me to check if I had any wounds and bruises. I gently shove him away.

“Yes, I’m okay.” I turned my head to Percival, who was watching us with a smug. “Thank you for saving me, Sir.”

“Don’t worry about it. You did amazing too.” His lips curved to a smirk. “I didn’t know your sister had a talent for magic, Al. Go and take her home, I think she lost a huge amount of mana.”

Oh no! He just busted me!

“Magic?” Alasdair could not believe what he heard. He looked at us back and forth.

“She formed some pretty glacial grounds over there. Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”

Alasdair glared at me and sighed. “She didn’t. Lilivienne, I thought we talked about this.”

“But I-I just want to defend myself! Why can’t you and Father believe in me? See what happened? W-What if I didn’t know anything? I’d be probably getting shipped to Monmo by now.”

There was protest in his eyes but they eventually softened, followed by a sigh of defeat. “You’re right. Fine. I’d take that rather than losing you too.” He looked back at Percival and the paladins. “We shouldn't waste more time. We’ll attack by dawn. But first, I want to make sure that my sister is to be brought home safely.” He assisted me in my carriage himself.

“Wait—“ I stopped him before he could take another step. “The women. They’re still in the traders’ carriage. Please rescue them.”

“You heard the lady. Search for the victims!” He commanded the paladins.

“Yes, sir!”

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

It was almost dawn when I reached the mansion. Alasdair and I departed separately at the capital. Father stayed up late worried about me. He was mad and upset about what happened.

“From now on, you’re not leaving this manor without a set of knights.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little too much, Father? I’m already eighteen—“

“Lilivienne, please. Let’s not start. I’m doing this to protect you.” He firmly said. “You’re my only daughter and the heiress of D’aureville. I cannot lose you just like your…”

‘Your’ what?

“When I fell into a coma, my mind has been clouded since…” I started off, lying. “But Father, what happened to… mom?”

I’ve always been curious as to why I haven’t seen the Duchess of Van der Horst ever since coming to this world. 

He was startled by my sudden question. “Did you seriously…?” I nodded desperately. He looked at me with pain in his eyes, the way Alasdair did a while ago. “She… She died from a disease, more than a year ago. It was the reason why you… fell into depression, my dear daughter.”

“Really…”

Lilivienne was depressed? Was this mentioned in the game? I don’t think so.

Come to think of it, her getting poisoned wasn’t stated either.

What really happened to the real her?

With each passing day, this world and the game continue to prove their difference and similarities from one another.