then coerced into fighting demons. But now, your nightmare is finally over." "Lady Elisabeth..." "You too, Hina. Shed no tears for me. A smile suits your face far better." "Lady Elisabeth, I... I..." "Live strong. And for the rest of your days, may you spend them in happiness." Elisabeth gazed at Hina as though she were a beloved younger sister. Then she looked back toward Kaito. They silently locked eyes with each other. Faltering for a moment, Elisabeth shook her head. But then she spoke quietly, the words seeming to fall out of her mouth on their own. "I quite enjoyed our date." "Yeah...me too." Those weren't the words of the Torture Princess nor of his master. They were the honest words of Elisabeth Le Fanu. On that final note, Kaito snapped his fingers. Azure flower petals and black feathers danced down through the air. He and Hina disappeared. Elisabeth was the only one remaining. Eventually, she let out a short, deep breath. She looked up at the sky with serene eyes. Dazzling sunlight was streaming down from the cracks between the thick gray clouds. She could hear the footsteps of paladins off in the distance. With the noise at her back, she scrunched her face up as though she were about to cry. But then she broke out into a calm smile as she whispered: "And my nightmare is finally over as well." And then, with the time she had left to her, the Torture Princess wove a gentle lullaby. 8 Destiny's End The cell had no windows, causing it to be steeped in constant gloom. Its chilly air called to mind a seabed and carried the scent of mold. If anyone spent too long confined there, the damp and the cold were liable to cause their body to ache and then to vomit up blood. Centipedes crawled along the ceiling. Rats scurried in and out of holes in the walls. And within that nasty, isolated cell, a single woman lay horizontal on the floor. Her face in profile was so beautiful she barely seemed human. Her hair spread on the floor was lustrous and black, her skin was as white as snow, and her lips were so red they seemed to be practically oozing with blood. But due to whatever horrendous crime it was she'd committed, her ravishing limbs were bound in a straitjacket. Lying down on the chilly stone floor, she sat motionless. She was silent, and her eyes were closed. Due to the silence of its sole inhabitant, a deep stillness permeated the cell. But the quiet, which seemed as though it would be endless, was suddenly shattered. The door opened. In an instant, the room was flooded with light. But a creaking noise rang out, and the room fell into darkness once more. The paladin had closed the door behind her. The woman's silver armor paired well with her fine silvery hair and mismatched blue and purple eyes. However, a number of unseemly scars decorated her face, as though it had split from within. In spite of that, though, her gallant, beautiful nature was as refined as could be. The paladin looked down at the bound woman. Although she'd no doubt taken notice of her visitor, she remained motionless. After waiting a moment, the paladin, Izabella, suddenly spoke. "Elisabeth Le Fanu." "Izabella, eh...? I see you survived." "Somehow, yes. Unable to withstand the force of the mana, my whole body tore from within, yet here I stand." "Hmph, so you bear scars... What a fool you are." "I'm much obliged for your concern. But I wear these scars proudly. I have no regrets." "Concern? Hardly... Now, what business do you have?" "I came here to meet with you." Izabella gave her answer. When she did, Elisabeth's mouth snapped shut. It was as though Elisabeth didn't take a shred of interest in matters regarding herself. After wavering for a moment upon seeing Elisabeth's reaction, Izabella continued in a calm tone. "I have something I wish to inform you of." "...What might that be?" "Your servant, Kaito Sena, has yet to be located. Your castle was empty before the Church even began their search. He seems to have absconded with a number of your riches and automatons and gone into hiding." "...Have you set pursuers on him?" "We have. However, he is contracted to the Kaiser. If he focuses his power solely on escaping, finding him is likely to be difficult." "Mm, I don't doubt it." Elisabeth's response was concise. Izabella dutifully responded with a nod. Having finished saying what she'd come to say, Izabella peered around the room restlessly. As soon as she did, though, she suddenly launched into some meaningless small talk. "This room is frigid, not to mention dark. Hardly what I'd call pleasant conditions." "Given my sins, the fact I was exempted from interrogation and torture alone would easily qualify as special treatment." "Perhaps... Oh, are your restraints getting loose over there?" Izabella leaned in. Her tone was clearly forced, almost as though she was trying to get whoever was standing on the other side of the door to hear her. She ran her fingers over the leather belts, none of which were loose in the slightest. Then she drew her face close to Elisabeth's ear. "Please stay quiet and listen to me, Elisabeth." *** "Only a handful of people within the Church are responsible for this decision. But I was fortunate enough to be granted an audience with Godot Deus before his disposal, and both of us wish for your continued survival. The fourteen demons may be dead, but mankind's avarice has no limits. We have no guarantee that another contractor won't arise. I won't deny that you have a duty to pay for your sins and that mankind needs a common enemy. But we can't afford to lose your strength." "...Hmm." "The state is unlikely to overturn their decision saying the Torture Princess being burned at the stake is a necessary symbol. Treason though it may be, if you have any will to commit a jailbreak, I have trusted men who I can set into motion. Elisabeth, have you no desire to escape? You fought so hard." Then Izabella paused. After running her fingers across the Torture Princess's leather restraints one more time, she went on. Her voice was tinged with sadness. "You killed many, but you saved many, as well. You are the Torture Princess, but you are also a hero." *** "I feel that it is wrong to disregard that fact. If you have the will to break out of here, simply nod." The paladin whose brother was killed by the Torture Princess urged her on. However, Elisabeth refused to nod. Izabella waited. But after a prolonged silence, she shook her head and stood up. "Hmm... It seems it was only my imagination." As she made her announcement for the person beyond the door, Izabella separated from Elisabeth. Then, with the blue and purple eyes resting between her tragic scars, she looked at the sinner who was merely awaiting death. Izabella silently gazed at the capital's savior and at the murderer who'd killed her brother along with countless innocents. But with another shake of her head, she changed her expression. Then, wearing the stern face of a soldier, she spoke again. "Now, as an envoy of the Church, I have one more announcement for you." As commander of the Holy Knights, Izabella made her proclamation to the Torture Princess. "Elisabeth Le Fanu. Your execution is scheduled for dawn on the morrow." No reply came. Elisabeth just gave a slight nod, as though to affirm her destiny. Official notice of the Torture Princess's execution had been posted about two weeks prior to Izabella coming to inform Elisabeth. And as soon as the notice was posted, the news spread throughout the capital like wildfire. After having been trampled over and oppressed by the demons, the people had been filled with a relentless sense of fear, rage, despair, and indignation, and it took little convincing for them to change the target of those emotions. No sooner did information get out about the location where the execution was slated to take place than people begin gathering there. They were so fervent in their desire to stake out spots in the plaza that disputes rose up day after day. And then the morning of the execution arrived. The sun rose, and with it, a black carriage came like a sinister specter. All at once, the people raised vitriolic jeers and threw rocks. As they did, the door of the carriage opened. The Torture Princess made her appearance and basked in the single-minded malice of those present. The scene must have made for a strong example. She'd been made to wear a white dress and had been symbolically bound with thorny briars. As blood dripped down her body, the beautiful woman made her way down the road toward the platform where the stake had been erected. The people lining the street let out hateful shouts. They clenched their fists as they yelled. "Kill her, kill her, kill her, kill her, kill her, kill her! "Loathsome Torture Princess; repulsive Torture Princess; cruel, hideous Elisabeth!" Even upon hearing their voices, her expression didn't waver. A faint smile adorned her lips as Elisabeth looked out into the furious, shouting crowd. But then, all of a sudden, she furrowed her brow in puzzlement. Among the people filled with fear and loathing, there was another group who was focusing another emotion on her altogether. The young girl who'd innocently praised Kaito's arm as "cool" was on the verge of tears. Her mother, too, was casting a heartbroken gaze at Elisabeth. The old woman who'd once knelt and thanked Elisabeth was there, too, clutching at the sleeves of those around her with trembling hands. Unnoticed by the people beside her or perhaps being intentionally ignored, she was frantically trying to convey something. The group was small in comparison to the mob, but they continued to shout, undeterred by the fact that their voices were being drowned out. For an instant, one of their sorrowful calls reached Elisabeth's ear. "Don't kill her." "She's the one who saved my family," it said. "Even though she's a murderer and sinner without peer," it said. "...I truly am surrounded by fools." And with that small whisper, Elisabeth kept walking. Before long, she arrived at the platform. Rejecting the executioner's roughly extended hand, she walked up the wooden steps to the stake herself. A group of men fastened her to the post. A priest approached her. As he made to begin praying, Elisabeth interjected. "'Tis far too late for prayers. Get on with it." "But it is for yourâ€”" "Enough. There shall be no salvation for me. This is my end." "If you are resigned to your fate, then I will respect your wishes. Do you have any last words?" "...........................None." After hesitating for a few moments, Elisabeth gave her answer. She closed her eyes, opened them back up, and slowly shook her head. "I have nothing to say, nor any to say it to." The priest nodded, then stepped off the platform. An executioner wearing a leather bag over his face approached her in his place. He took the torch he was holding and used it to light the kindling at Elisabeth's feet. Cheers rose up from all around. Just like Vlad once had, she began burning in the flames of man. Elisabeth looked through the billowing gray smoke at the elated masses. As the heat lapped at her toes, she gave a reflexive comment. "It...hurts." In contrast with her words, her expression was serene and tranquil. Gazing up at the sky, she thought back on the words she'd just said. I have nothing to say, nor any to say it to. That was what she'd declared. And it was true. There was no other answer she could have given. Everyone she'd held dear had