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The sunset that evening was breathtakingly beautiful. 

…

Head Royal Butler: Sir Victor! 

The head royal butler burst into my office, clutching a single piece of paper. 

His shaken expression told me something was terribly wrong. 

I set down my pen and stood. 

Victor: What happened? 

Head Royal Butler: There is an urgent message for you, Sir… 

He handed me the piece of paper — it was a report from the guards sent to keep a lookout for Kate. 

Victor: Huh…? 

I froze, my words caught in my throat as my eyes trailed across the single sentence written on it. 

“The Fairytale Keeper Kate has died during a mission.”

Victor: … What is this supposed to mean? 

A dry laugh found its way out of my mouth. 

Before I knew, I was out of my office and sprinting down the hallways. 

As the soles of my boots struck the floor, my mind flashed back to just this evening. 

[ Flashback ]

Victor: Be sure to listen to Crown and don’t rush out front on your own, okay? 

Kate: Got it. 

Kate nodded with a smile and turned her back to me, heading towards the carriage. 

But after taking a few steps, she paused, seemingly having thought of something.

She then looked back at me and spoke. 

Kate: Um, I think I’ll only be back in the evening… 

Victor: Hm?

Kate: Can I have some of your homemade scones then? 

That simple line brought a smile to my face .

Victor: That won't be a hassle at all. I’d be more than happy to make you some! 

Victor: I’ll have them ready for you to enjoy the second you come back. Be careful out there. 

Kate’s face lit up.

There it was. That familiar smile of hers that looked like flowers blooming in springtime. 

I waved till she was out of sight. 

[ Flashback End ]

Never in my most horrid dreams would I have thought that would be the last time. 

When I got to the entrance hall, the members of Crown were already gathered. 

William: Vic… 

William stepped towards me, cradling “something” wrapped in white cloth. 

From underneath the cloth, a pale arm hung limply, swaying with his steps. 

William: I’m sorry. 

He placed “it” in my arms and slowly pulled back the cloth. 

Victor: Kate…? 

Under the cloth was Kate’s face, drained of colour, her eyes closed. 

There was no sound of her soft breathing, no pulse, and her heart was completely still. 

It was the undeniable proof that she would never move again. 

What should've been the end of another ordinary day, became the moment of cruel realisation that the woman I loved was no longer of this world. 

…

Kate’s funeral was held in secret, attended only by those close to her. 

She died from a gunshot wound she sustained when she shielded a child who was held captive, and the person who pulled the trigger was immediately executed by Crown. 

In exchange for her life, the child she protected escaped unharmed. 

She was brave to the very end. 

Kate was pure, kind, and righteous — those traits were unfitting for the den of villains she lived in. 

And yet, her life ended not by the hands of a Cursed, but a mere human criminal. 

Victor: The scones you wanted… they’ve grown moldy. 

Alone in the church, I leaned against her casket, clutching her cold hand. 

Victor: There’s been so much going on lately, I only noticed it this morning. It's the fuzzy kind of mold too. 

Laying there surrounded by white lilies, she looked as though she were only sleeping. 

She looked so at peace that for a moment, I almost expected her to open her eyes and laugh at my words. 

Victor: … I told you not to rush out front, didn't I? 

Victor: Maybe this is the ending that suits you best. But… I just can’t accept it… and don't think I ever will. 

Victor: Sometimes I even wonder if it’s my fate that killed you. 

I reached out, brushing my fingers against her cold cheek. 

Victor: If it meant you could live… I wish it were that child who died instead. 

The thought disgusted me as it crossed my mind. I know Kate would've given me an earful for saying something so cruel. 

I’d rather have her be angry at me forever than never hear her voice again. 

I planted a kiss on her forehead — giving my blessings to a woman who could no longer return it. 

I prayed for her eyelids to open.

I pressed my lips to hers, wishing that my breath might move her heart and have it beating again. 

But that miracle never came. 

She was dead, and I was alive. We were so close to each other, yet were now in different worlds. 

No tears were shed.

Unable to picture a future without her, I couldn’t bring myself to do a thing. 

Victor: … I wanted to build a country where you could live in bliss. What does that goal mean, now that you’re gone? 

… 

From then on, my heart cracked with every passing day, becoming more ruined than before. 

I couldn't accept reality. I couldn't comprehend having to spend my days without her. 

I didn't sleep, I couldn't do my work, and every single day I’d have conversations with the image of her in my head.

What did you do today? 

What are you doing right now? 

Where will you be going tomorrow?

Watching me talk to myself, the people around me lamented that the Queen’s Aide had gone mad. 

But that didn't bother me in the slightest. 

Eventually, I lost the ability to think rationally.

I feared that even the echo of Kate’s voice playing in my head would disappear, and so I began having some horrifying thoughts. 

If the Cursed, these unreal beings, exist — maybe they can resurrect the dead. 

…

Evil Target of Condemnation: N-No, UWAAGH!! 

I stared at the corpse sprawled at my feet, and muttered under my breath. 

Victor: If I kill enough people, will it bring Kate back to life…? 

I knew that was impossible. It was unrealistic. 

No matter how many lives I took, my beloved would never return to my side. 

A lost life cannot be replaced with another life. 

But I no longer had the ability to make sound decisions. 

Victor: I’ll kill every last criminal in England and pile them all in one place. 

Victor: Then Kate will worry about me… she’ll come back to me… alive… 

I grabbed the corpse by its feet, dragging it and then hauling it into the carriage, with an illusion of hope in my heart. 

…

From that day on, I started gathering criminals from across England into the audience hall. 

There, I’d slaughtered them without mercy. 

All of it for one reason only — to bring Kate back to life and see her again. 

But no matter how tall the pile of corpses in the hall grew, Kate did not return. 

Victor: It's not enough. Maybe it takes many more of them to bring someone as kindhearted as Kate back. 

Sitting on the throne, I thought of what I needed to do next.

“Take more lives, shed more blood.”

And so every night, I went out on my nightly rampage. 

I killed, killed, and killed. 

I sometimes slept, and would dream of Kate. 

≪ Dream ≫

Kate: …—tor, Victor! 

≪ Dream End ≫

Victor: K-Kate…

I reached my hand towards that dazzling smile, but before I could touch her, I woke up in the cruel reality. 

Victor: … More. I need to kill more. 

Days went by with me doing the same thing, until I no longer knew what day it was. 

Before I realized it, I was seated on my throne atop a mountain of corpses. 

I stopped performing my duties as a governor.

I didn't care about the people, nor was I even aware of what had become of the country I once worked so hard to build. 

(Will’s surely coming to execute me soon.) 

Although they were criminals, I had taken far too many lives. 

And my only friend would soon deliver the punishment for my sins. 

(I’ll die before then. I won’t taint my dear friend's hands with my blood.) 

I didn't know for sure if he still considered me a friend, but I still hoped deep down that he did. 

I propped my chin in my hand and stared blankly into space.

There was no one there. 

And yet, somehow, I could see her standing in front of me with her ever so beautiful smile. 

Victor: Because you were here, I wanted to build a country full of joy and protect the peace in this world.

Victor: But without you… this country is worthless. My life, and everything I’ve accomplished, means nothing. 

In that church, I vowed to create a country where she could live happily in, and I surrendered everything to take the throne.

Now, sitting on this blood soaked throne atop the mountain of corpses — only the crown remained shining mercilessly. 

I’d taken countless lives, yet she never returned to my side. 

There was only one thing left for me to do. 

I drew the sword hanging at my waist and pointed its tip at my chest. 

Victor: In exchange for this life… may you return to this world and live a life happier than anyone else’s. 

Without a moment's hesitation, I stabbed the sword straight into my heart, my vision dimming as the throne became soaked in crimson. 

It was then, I thought I heard her voice.

“I’m not coming back to life. I can’t be happy without you, Victor.”

Only then did I finally realise where she’d been waiting for me all along. 

Victor: Sorry for dragging you to hell with me.