"How long has she been like this?"

Anne stood in the hallway worriedly listening to the sounds of crashing furniture.

"I came up with my sword in hand when a mahogany desk nearly flattened me. She could have killed me."

The sound of more breaking glass echoed from behind the closed doors. They had been firmly shut after a wild rapier was flung through the gap. It still twanged there in the hallway, stuck in the stonework.

"But how long? She surely has to tire."

"I can tell that you're sisters-OW! What was that for?"

Prince Tristran rubbed his arm. Pouting but not daring to retaliate. Instead, he took his anger out on the guard.

"You. You're her personal guard are you not? Get in there and control her."

Young Rain shook his shoes. Shell-shocked, he didn't seem to register the Prince's words or the fact all the royal heirs were present. He held a far-off gaze and mumbled a single haunted word.

"Lemons."

The chainmail under his shirt rattled once.

"Lemons?"

The royal trio echoed. Did they want to know? Should they ask? The guard looked suitably not suitable.

"What about you? I recognize you. You were talking with the King the other day. You're her maid. What is wrong with her?"

Tristan pointed an accusatory finger at the maid standing adjacent to Rain. Contrary to Tristan's preconception, Irene did not answer his question immediately. Over the next few seconds, her downcast face morphed sullenly into a quivering lip and sniffling nose before breaking out into a full-blown breakdown as she wailed openly and collapsed to her knees. Tristan took a step back at the intensity of it, trying to make sense of the indecipherable gibberish the girl was spouting as she attempted to wipe the gushing tears away.

No one knew what to do. No one moved to help her and the sounds inside the room hadn't ceased or slowed. The rest of the gathered servants were all looking to the royalty for guidance.

Prince Kly, who had stayed introspective throughout the encounter, frowned with clear concern. He inched past his siblings and moved for the curved door handle.

"Wait!"

Everyone jumped at Anne's shout. She looked around briefly and pulled out a silver candelabra from somewhere.

"You may need this."

She held out the impromptu... weapon? Shield? Deterrent?

Anne extended the miscellaneous clutter for Kly to wield.

"Where did you get that thing?"

Anne shrugged, answering Tristan's question by waving a hand to the floor.

"Take your pick. I thought it looked sturdy. She'll probably want it back. Maybe it'll calm her long enough for someone to talk to her."

"She's just as likely to throw it right back at us."

"You're not going in there, Kly is. He can't use his sword, it's our sister in there, and is better than going in empty-handed. Are you volunteering to go in yourself? Have you suddenly grown some courage?"

Tristan bristled. Then he cooled as the door shuddered with a heavy impact.

"Kly's got this."

Kly snatched the candelabra with growing impatience. Hand on the door handle, he felt the vibrations from the other side. They were distinct enough that he could almost make out the individual words his sister was yelling. Not one to hesitate twice, he pushed the door open, ducking a flying amphora. The glazed pot soared over his head and caught nicely on the handle of the still protruding rapier, like a horseshoe on a post.

Casting his gaze back inside he took gentle steps, avoiding the attention of the still rampaging beast. He stepped around the clutter strewn about the floor like a tiger avoiding a hunter's traps.

His sister was trying to lift an entire recliner but only managed to scoot it a few inches with every exhalation.

"Traitorous scum... pretending... scheming... argh!"

Kly froze stiff as he witnessed his sister lift the recliner. She grasped it like a bear would a tree and waddled like a crab over to the open veranda.

"Shitty game."

The watchers peeked in to watch the plush chair go sailing off the balcony.

Lecil huffed, heaving laboriously as she propped herself up on the banister. She punched the stonework.

"Kuso gēmu."

She punched again and again.

"Cheat. Tabarakasu."

Again and again.

"Damasu. Taburakasu. Liars and cheaters!"

The foreign words continued. Nonsense. The same meaning, just different ways to say it. She'd been fooled. Bamboozled. Deceived. Backstabbed. Hoodwinked and outmaneuvered. Each word and she collapsed further in on herself. Knees giving way to gravity.

Her shoulders shook with rage and sorrow. Her arms trembled from strain. Her hands quaked with resolution. She screamed silently from her diaphragm, exhaling, forehead eventually scraping against the floor.

"Lecil?"

Kly approached slowly, setting down his impromptu weapon. Lecil straightened, looking over her shoulder. Anger flared in her eyes. As quickly as it came, it subsided.

She leaned against the railing. Her words were quiet, drained.

"Why would anyone play this game?"

His footfalls stopped as he crouched down.

"Sister, what is wrong?"

She laughed once and rolled her head. Kly looked at her curiously as she gazed upwards past his head.

"It's all a game. But I was the one who was played."

Kly looked around for some help but no one else had entered. A few people were peeking in from the doorway but the faces quickly retreated. Looking down at his sister, her reddened eyes, and her defeated demeanor, there was only one thing he could do. He sat down criss-cross apple sauce next to his quiet sister, the one who was supposed to be more mature but was always so vulnerable. When was the last time they sat across from one another like this?

"Talk to me."

=

"Talk to me."

76%

It was a game. Her life had been a game the entire time. But there were no rules. Everything was relative and mismatched. Did 76% mean that Kly would stand by her side even if it was against the King? Could he turn on a dime and wind up killing her somehow? What guarantee did she have for her safety? Or was she completely wrong in the first place?

When everything began, there had been a certain whimsy to it. She would have been excited to get this far. But the win conditions were different all along. Her strongest ally was kept from her. She could have been safely engaged by now and eventually made Bellavarn the new King if only she'd known. Now her entire future was tossed into disarray.

She wasn't stupid. An idiot at times, but not stupid. The fact that Bellavarn Sallow was sent off with Klein Raiden on the expedition anyway means that he'll be assassinated. Klein will return triumphant, the balance of power will shift, and it will be a fight for the throne between the ducal houses. There's no peaceful resolution left. No happy ever after. It was a delusion to think it was possible in the first place.

Lecil was powerless with no way to fight back. The person she thought was her closest ally turned out to be a spy and traitor.

"How can I trust you, Kly?"

Her hand extended to her brother, her fingers rubbing against his cheek. He didn't shy away, he only seemed worried.

"The chains are still there. I can see them."

It happened after Bellavarn's event. It was the reward for getting through the event "successfully". In addition to a percentage number appearing above almost everyone's head, there was also the vague distinction of chains jangling above each person like marionette strings. She nearly had a heart attack the first time she looked around. Then again when she saw the king...

Kly grabbed her hand and held it gently, caressing around the forming bruises.

"How can I help? What is it you want?"

The longer she held his gaze, the more it hurt. She glanced upward, lest she start crying again. It just wasn't fair. There was no way to win without allies she could trust.

"Hm?"

She blinked twice, but it was flashing. A small image in the corner of her vision. She focused on it. A tiny golden exclamation symbol. It startled her when it opened. There was a warm feeling and the sound of party poppers.

[First Major Milestone reached: Survive the prologue]

[Extra Condition Met: Reach 75% or higher reputation with a major character]

[Extra Condition Failed: Participate in all 3 Major Events and 5 Minor Events (1 Major, 3 Minor completed)]

[Extra Condition Failed: Stop the Plot]

[Reward: Event Finder]

[Reward: Cleanse Soul (1)]

That was new.

"Cleanse Soul?"

[Confirmed. Cleansing nearest soul.]

"What? No-no-no, wait-"

Her vision grew blindingly brilliant. Kly sparkled like a white supernova, the chains erupting in silver fire. They seemed to scream as they burned away. The number ticked up to 100% in a second, there were sparkles and streamers but it disappeared all too fast. Blinking away the dots in her vision, all that remained was something new.

It was blue.

Ally

"Oh no."