Ultimately, Gretel couldn’t send Elise back home. And the price was steep. She met her end in a horrifying state, her whole body crushed beyond recognition. To be honest, Elise wanted to stop herself from killing Gretel.
Still, getting your hands bloody by killing a human isn’t exactly pleasant. But then again, letting her live could mean terrible things from that cannibal witch later. Most importantly, I didn’t feel like I had the right to tell the extremely enraged Elise to calm down.
Elise stood silently over Gretel’s corpse, her unfocused eyes staring off into space.
When the witch Gretel died, the forest scenery subtly changed. The birdsong that had been nowhere to be found suddenly began chirping, signaling that all of Gretel’s magic had dissipated.
“Ugh… dizziness. Everything felt so happy but it was all just a dream? What a shock!”
Naturally awakened from the dream, Ariel also appeared. She lazily yawned as she approached us. What kind of dream did Ariel have? Was it about going home with me and Elise? Or maybe breaking the curse and regaining her voice?
“Kyaa! What is this corpse?! It’s absolutely grotesque! There was another one lying on the ground earlier too! What on earth happened!?”
Ariel freaked out upon seeing Gretel’s corpse. I explained everything that had happened while she was gone.
“Huh?! So these two corpses are Hansel and Gretel!? Such a horrific tale! Prince, you’ve suffered so much while I was gone!”
Ariel clung to my arm worriedly. Though her gaze was filled with concern for me, my mind lingered on one word she had said—“horrific story.”
A horrific story.
Yeah. The tale of Hansel and Gretel became a horrific story. It wasn’t the happy ending I swore to deliver in front of Rapunzel. We succeeded in saving Adel, but Hansel… we couldn’t save him. Of course, there could be arguments.
Hansel was brainwashed by Gretel and forced to commit cannibalism, recklessly murdering without hesitation. He had committed m*rder. However, since he was manipulated against his will, I still consider him a victim.
That’s why this ending isn’t a happy one.
He should’ve lived. He should’ve escaped the wretched hell and started anew, reflecting on his sins—even though they weren’t entirely his fault—and worked hard to make amends.
But that didn’t happen.
Because I was weak. What good is having a scythe that can cut through magic if I’m too pathetic to use it properly?
If Elise wielded my scythe, no one could stop her. The Grim Reaper who ends stories? I don’t even know if I deserve to do that. Why did the black rabbit choose me? Why did I follow it here?
I just think I’m pathetic.
“Siyoo.”
Elise calling my name. She walked over, shaking the bl**d off her hands. I can now somewhat read her expressions. She’s mad at me too.
I responded calmly.
“Yeah.”
“How many times does this make?”
[What nonsense are you spouting with that ominous look!? The prince needs rest!]
Ariel stepped between us when she sensed something was off, but Elise glared daggers at her.
“Get out of the way, little princess.”
Elise easily shoved Ariel aside like a paper doll. Grabbing my collar, she pulled me close until her harsh breath tickled my nose.
“This is already the third time. Since meeting you, this is the third time someone else’s story has ended instead of mine. Do you understand?”
“…Yeah.”
“I thought being with you would bring me closer to meeting that damned white rabbit again. But why? Even though I’ve been sticking with you…”
She hugged me tightly, squeezing the air out of me. If she wanted to, she could crush every bone in my body right now.
“Why isn’t my story progressing anymore? Huh?”
The pressure increased. Yet despite the pain in my body, my heart hurt even more.
She desperately wants her happy ending.
Just like me, an ending where she returns home.
So she’s probably been following me around endlessly, waiting patiently for her turn. No matter how many other stories end first, she waits.
But after that dream Gretel showed us, Elise has reached a point where waiting for her homecoming ending seems impossible. Yeah, she’s hit her limit.
She’s very similar to me. Dragged into this world unwillingly, enduring hardships, longing to return home.
The only difference is that Elise has spent over twenty years trapped here, drowning in despair.
Could I endure if I were her? Or maybe this is my future too. The black rabbit told me to finish all the stories in this world. I don’t know how many stories remain, but I might end up stuck like Elise.
“Huh? How long do I have to wait? Tell me something, Mr. Grim Reaper. How long do I have to wait before I can go home!?”
Zzzzsh!
Cold water splashed onto my face. Elise’s golden hair drooped wetly, water dripping from its tips.
[What are you doing?! Thinking of harming our prince? Next time, I’ll chop off your head!]
Elise smirked, releasing me to glare at the furious Ariel.
“Hmph, don’t act like you don’t know why I’m doing this. Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to speed up your story.”
[Huh? What nonsense is this?!]
“Kekeke, what nonsense? I’m just asking you to spill your guts, little princess. You’re in the same boat as me, aren’t you? Both of us stuck with the Grim Reaper to finish our own stories, yet you’re putting on such an act.”
Ariel frowned deeply. Her jewel-like eyes stared unwaveringly at Elise.
[Hypocrite! I’m with the prince because I love him!]
“Kya-ha! That’s just what you want, isn’t it! Your story will only end once Siyoo becomes your prince, right? Hmm? Isn’t your real goal to break the curse?”
Elise’s words made Ariel’s face flush red. She glanced at me nervously, grinding her teeth.
[Shut up, crazy woman! I simply love the prince!]
“Love? Sure, you love him so you can break the curse, right? Kehehe, but how long can you keep waiting? Do you really believe our stories will ever end?”
Elise exaggeratedly shrugged.
[I trust and love Siyu. Whenever the story ends, I’ll be fine!]
Elise stiffened at Ariel’s response.
“Fine?”
[Yep! I knew you were crazy, but I didn’t expect this level of insanity! Let me cool that stupid head of yours!]
“Tsk… Bold-faced lies coming right out of your mouth.”
Elise raised her hand. Waterdrops gathered around Ariel. And then I did the only thing I could.
“What, wha- let me go!”
[Panicking! Flustered!]
Elise struggled to shake me off while Ariel awkwardly smiled and stayed put.
Every time Elise’s elbow struck my ribs, I feared they might crack, but I gritted my teeth. Despite being tossed around like a ragdoll, I managed to cling onto her.
That’s right. I’m hugging both of them tightly. It’s more like shoulder-holding given how much Elise is thrashing around, making my body sway like a balloon.
I can’t possibly understand Elise’s feelings right now. Empathy? Not even close. How could I empathize without truly experiencing her situation? Surviving in a strange world, yearning desperately to return home, losing sanity over endless despair—I can barely imagine any of it.
Ariel must secretly wish to achieve her desires quickly too.
“Elise, Ariel.”
Therefore, there’s only one thing I can do.
“I know I’m useless. Honestly, you probably don’t find me reliable. I can’t even promise when I’ll finish your stories.”
“So true, I’m fully aware!”
“Then I’ll make a promise.”
Elise stopped struggling at the word ‘promise.’ She reacted to it.
“It might not happen immediately, but I swear I’ll ensure both of your stories end happily. I’ll stake everything I have on this promise. Until then, can you bear with me a little longer?”
[Of course! Our prince is always thoughtful!]
Ariel grinned happily beside me. Then… huh?
“Oof!”
My body floated briefly before abruptly flipping upside down, leaving me staring at the ground.
Thud!
Dull pain spread across my back.
A shadow blocked the warm sunlight. Elise knelt down, looking down at me with a smirk.
“Ke-hehehe, look who’s being all serious now, Mr. Loser? Fine, I’ll play along since you’re trying to look dependable~”
Elise tapped my nose gently with a soft smile.
“I’ll stick with you till the happy ending.”
Though the sunlight disappeared behind her, her radiant smile shone brighter than any sun.
