“I learned a lot from being with you. I learned to love the world, and I learned to live with others. In the end, I even learned how to love someone.”
‘It was truly a miracle. Because I met you, I became a person rather than a mere tool. I became a woman, and in the end, I was able to become someone’s lover.’
“…But that woman is someone who might destroy everything we will create in the future. She is an existence that could ruin the very world in which we have to live—an existence that might take your life. So I…”
Such an existence was simply unacceptable.
“…Aria is just Aria. She hasn’t done anything wrong. Bianca, do you want her to bear the blame for something that hasn’t even happened yet?”
At Cain’s words, Bianca smiled forlornly. For her, being the villain was a familiar role.
“You’re right, Cain. There’s nothing more meaningless than arguing about good and evil or debating the seriousness of sin for something that hasn’t yet occurred. But there is one immutable law in this world: as for the future, no one can be certain. So, if—just maybe…”
Ten years from now, there was still a possibility that Aria could become the Witch of Winter and reign over the world as a disaster. The probability might not be zero.
“And yes, Cain. I’ve already resolved myself about k!lling that woman.”
A woman named Bianca del Castana viewed every life in this world as a flower, independent of her worldview. She believed that the value of life should never be carelessly debated and that meaningless killing should never occur.
…Because Bianca understood the weight and fragility of life better than anyone else in the world.
The first thing she saw upon being born into this world was the sight of her “brothers and sisters,” test subjects, dying casually and then being replaced as if their deaths meant nothing.
There was no respect for life, no weight to it—just fleeting existence.
As a newborn, there was nothing she could do to stop the countless deaths. Ignoring the pleas and screams of the test subjects, she escaped the laboratory, took the surname Castana, and became “human.”
Bianca had vowed never to forget.
At the time, she had been powerless. She couldn’t save anyone. For her survival, she had looked forward and escaped alone. She resolved to remember their deaths and bear the weight of them. That was her only form of atonement.
Thus, Bianca believed she should never lightly speak of k!lling someone. If she ever uttered the word, it would mean she was resolute in her decision to kill, without fail.
For Bianca del Castana, this was an oath rooted deep in her heart—one she would never betray.
“I’m sorry, Cain. I can’t waver now. I can’t change the way I’ve lived my life. So—”
With firm eyes, Bianca declared her unwillingness to step back from her position.
“…Yes, I respect your will, Bianca.”
At Bianca’s words, Cain nodded solemnly.
He understood. He could fully comprehend why Bianca acted the way she did. Her reasoning wasn’t wrong. It was simply that his path diverged from hers.
In truth, he didn’t know if he was right or if he was merely being selfish. Maybe he was wrong, and Bianca’s perspective was entirely correct.
But even so, there was one thing he believed: the current Aria was innocent.
Aria hadn’t done anything wrong. Judging someone based solely on the possibility they might sin in the future was unjust. If Bianca saw Aria as a sinner, Cain would prove her innocence. Having faith in Aria, he had made her his maid and decided to trust her until the end.
The answer was simple. If Bianca wanted to kill Aria, Cain would stop her with everything he had.
Crack!
Using Flowing Star, he controlled the flow of his immobilized left arm, forcing it to move. Although it moved stiffly, like a wooden doll, it was better than being completely motionless.
“Cain, are you really planning to fight me?”
Bianca looked at him with sorrowful eyes.
“I know you are strong. Winning against someone at the level of a master not long ago proved your strength. However—”
Bianca was qualitatively different from Lucian von Tournigen’s “level.” She was undeniably one of humanity’s strongest and a mage at the pinnacle of her time.
Even though she had sustained internal injuries from her battle with Aria and had little magic power remaining, the difference in power between her and Cain was vast.
To make matters worse, Cain couldn’t fully move one of his arms. There was no chance of victory for Cain von Estel.
Even so, knowing this better than anyone, Cain nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, I will fight you, Bianca.”
The foolishness of challenging someone he could never defeat reminded Bianca of the man she had once loved. His strong resolve left her no choice but to steel her own heart.
“…If you get hurt or die, I will die as well, so…”
Facing her plea, Cain silently nodded.
“It’s okay. Bianca, do what you must. From now on, I’ll stop you with everything I have.”
This fight wasn’t just for Aria’s sake—it was also to convince Bianca and atone for his neglect of her until now.
This was also a fight for her.
“Bianca, this time, I’ll accept all of your feelings for me.”
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Check out my other projects: Rehabilitating the Villainess, Pushover Extra Trains the Villainesses, My Wife is the Devil, Transmigrated as the Butler of a Defeated Heroine, My Summons Are Special