Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 96



Only Krnovel

＃Returner’s Notepad Episode 96

Theater (6)

Elise left the stage. This was the end of the script for her play that she had read.

The remaining scene is the ending, which shows the Bard, who has completed his revenge, living as a Bard again.

─… … It reminds me of old times.

However, there was still Duke on stage.

“?”

Elise looked up at him from below the stage.

Voices from the past flowed from the silver screen.

─Can I ask you a favor?

Bard’s mother, Isabelle.

What she says to Duke.

─If I were alive, my daughter would always be chased. She will be caught and killed at any moment.

Isabelle already knew.

As long as he lives, his daughter, the king’s illegitimate daughter, will always be chased by the kingdom. That her life would be threatened for the rest of her life.

That one day, I will be killed.

That’s why she asked the Duke.

─I will give my head to you, Duke. I don’t know how much a mere person’s head is worth… … If you get what you want with that, please spare my daughter.

Duke answered, recalling the past.

─The promise was kept.

A monologue that Sion Askal hid, calling it a ‘spoiler’.

Elise looked at the final stage that she had not been told about.

─You may not know my efforts, Isabelle.

Numerous scenes flash across the silver screen like flashes of light.

When a young bard begs for money on the street, the Duke’s gloved hand personally approaches him and gives him a silver coin.

─At first, it was because of a promise. If the little guy who willingly saved his life dies, he will not be able to keep his promise.

Watching Bard in danger of death after meeting a robber, a knight is dispatched to save him.

─After that, it was just pity and pity.

When she was freezing to death on the street, Duke personally picked her up and took her to the hospital.

─However, as the days go by.

The Duke watched Bard the whole time.

At first it was out of promise, then out of pity and pity, but ten years had changed the Duke’s heart in a strange way.

─The reason became ambiguous.

In the end, it wasn’t a virgin. It was no longer pity. It was no longer a promise.

The Duke just looked at her from afar.

Without knowing the true nature of the emotions that are entrenched in one’s heart.

Until your 13-year-old child turns 24, and your 23-year-old self turns 34.

─But… … She became a woman when she met the child again.

On the lawn of the royal palace, when facing Bard.

─I understand. As we look into each other’s eyes for the first time.

The Duke was sure of his feelings.

─… … The human mind is very strange. I didn’t know it until now, Isabelle.

Duke, who grew up without knowing the human heart, killed his daughter for some reason that is still unknown.

─Your daughter I killed… … It seems like I’ve become obsessed with it.

I fell in love with you.

The Duke laughed at himself and lit a fire in his hand. He transferred it to the corpses in the palace.

Grumbling——!

The corpses burned like firewood.

Now his fire will burn the palace and destroy all evidence.

-I must become a traitor.

In that fire, the Duke’s monologue moves towards its end.

─King… … Prince… … Queen… … A traitor who killed everyone in the palace and dared to usurp it.

He didn’t want Bard to die.

I hoped Bard didn’t kill himself.

I prayed to live as a bard again.

─It is my place.

It was something I thought about from the beginning to the end.

─Your revenge will be completed because of me… … .

Duke saw the sword stuck in his chest. A pale smile spread across his lips.

The weapon that almost killed Bard.

Since this is on her, she cannot kill herself.

─… … You have to live.

Soaring fire, collapsing royal palace. In the middle of it all, Duke closed his eyes. He died reclining on his throne.

At the end, the stage was immersed in darkness.

His act ended, and the theater became quiet.

“Elise. preparation. “The scene will change soon!”

The main staff member in the role of director pushed Elise with a happy face.

Anyway, was this staff member informed of Duke’s secret in advance?

She took a deep breath. It was a bit of a burden.

Because Duke just turned the play into a one-man show.

“Go up!”

Elise went to the stage again.

I faced the audience who were all focused, without leaving a single person out.

For those who are filled with some sadness or lingering feelings, this play must now end.

“My story is… … “That’s it.”

Elise thought, acting as a bard, shedding a tear.

The original version of “The Bard” chosen by Zion was a simple romance.

I thought he had removed the romance and added mystery and murder.

It wasn’t.

“Am I crying?”

His “The Bard” was both a mystery and a romance.

“Why is Bard crying? Bard doesn’t cry even if he cries. Don’t be fooled.

There was only one romance: the Duke’s love for the Bard.

“… … Everyone, please go in. “This is the end of my story.”

* * *

After the play ends. I remain in the waiting room alone. Elise is looking at the mirror.

The self reflected within is beautiful.

The skin is clean and white without any blemishes, acne, blackheads, or common wrinkles. A sharp nose is neither too much nor too little, and it goes without saying that the eyes have the greatest impact on a person’s impression.

But more than anything, what Elise is proud of is her platinum-colored hair. Normally, it looks white and yellow, like the flesh of a lemon at first glance, but when the sun shines on it, it shines as vividly as a canary.

The reason why she is often praised for being ‘intelligent’ is because her hair adds to her beautiful exterior.

“… … .”

Elise quietly closed her eyes.

Just now, I was reminded of Sion Askal on the theater stage. When he was gently held in his arms, or rather, lightly draped over him.

The texture, warmth, and smell were the same as ‘someone’ who had saved him on the 4th floor of the Nightmare Hotel.

Even if your emotions try to deny it, your reason is telling you so.

His sixth sense supports that claim.

The person who saved him there was clearly called ‘Shion Askal’.

In this quiet waiting room, the puzzle is slowly put together in Elise’s mind.

A conversation between Yael and Zion Askal one day. Shion’s words about being unhappy because she doesn’t fit her ideal type.

Somehow, his attitude seems to be aware of his claustrophobia. He pretends not to notice even after saving himself on the 4th floor.

She opened her eyes again. There was a mirror in front.

If you look at your appearance after combining all the above circumstances, you have no choice but to admit it.

He, Sion Askal… … .

Suddenly.

The door to the waiting room opened. ‘He’ appeared in the corner of the mirror. Elise let out a small sigh of her own.

“You didn’t go.”

Shion pretended not to notice anything and spoke calmly. Elise bit her lip slightly.

“… … madam. “What is this lens?”

He groped his eyeballs while looking in the mirror. I can’t even remove his lens. Am I stupid, or am I doing this because I’m nervous?

“ah. “My eyes hurt.”

In the end, seeing him remove the lens, Elise shook her head.

Now that you’ve come this far, there’s no way you wouldn’t know.

There’s no way you wouldn’t notice.

“hey. “Do I have something serious to say?”

Coincidentally, Sion Askal also had luck. Elise slowly closed her eyes.

“… … .”

“I told you last time that there was a force trying to kidnap you. That’s real. It sounds like crap-”

“you.”

I cut off what he was trying to say in a polite way. He tilted his head at himself. Watery golden eyes shook quietly.

Elise asked, tilting her chin.

“Do you like me?”

“… … uh?”

He opened his mouth half-open. He craned his neck out. He tilted his ear slightly. He seemed to have no idea what he heard.

“what… … what?”

Elise sighed.

“ha. Take care of your facial expressions. “You look stupid.”

“… … “This is crazy-”

smart.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. The atmosphere was awkward, but it went well. Elise said quickly.

“Come on in.”

The grateful guest was Professor Beace.

“You two! “I also watched the whole play.”

She put her hand on her chest with a very touched face.

“… … “It was a very, very good play.”

Elise glanced at Zion. He was still dazed.

Probably because it hit the nail on the head.

I guess it was because my deepest feelings, my innermost feelings that I never wanted to be revealed, were discovered by me, the person involved.

“Actually, I was embarrassed at first. The murder case was so explicit… … However, it was very suitable for the topic of popularizing Latinelle. “At the end, Duke’s monologue and twist were so beautiful.”

Professor Beace wiped away his tears with his fingers.

“The audience sat for a while, soaked in the lingering emotions. As I barely made it out of the passage, I thought, ‘Should I learn Latinel, too?’ “I don’t know how many hundreds of people I’ve seen muttering.”

The reviews were all positive.

It was nice to hear, but it was also uncomfortable for Elise. She kept twitching her fingers.

Because only one of the two can receive the reward for working so hard on the play.

“so. “I don’t think I can choose just one person.”

Professor Beace took out two invitations made of gold leaf.

“I will give it to you both. “You have to be a member of Sermones Aerteni for 15 years to receive one, and this is my 30th year.”

“ah!”

Elise’s body stood up on its own. It looked like someone had grabbed him by the hair. In fact, the hair on her head stood on end.

“Take it. Both Elise and Shion are fully qualified.”

Elise cautiously stretched out her hands like someone facing treasure. The texture of her invitation touched her fingertips. Professor Beace willingly gave, and Elise accepted it slowly. He placed it on her own chest.

Sion Askal just received it.

“It was really hard. I am truly honored to teach you… … .”

Professor Beace suddenly cupped my face.

“ah. sorry. “Then I’ll go first.”

The sensitive professor couldn’t stop crying. Elise also went outside, pretending to follow her.

Then, he muttered without looking back.

“… … I think my meaning was conveyed well. “Behave yourself.”

Elise left the waiting room with a gun.