Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 10: Fiancée

She was like a delicate white bird. Small and fragile in a way that stirred protective instincts... And her skin was impossibly fair, whiter even than her pure white dress and hair.

Yet rather than sickly, her complexion gave an impression of pure innocence. Her clear blue eyes seemed to shimmer, as if a gentle touch might cause droplets to fall. She was, ironically, captivating in her harmlessness and vulnerability.

Quietly I gazed into her wavering eyes as she whispered a question.

“Don’t you recognize me?”

I felt a strong urge to comfort her, to caress her innocent face. Part of me even longed to thoroughly make her mine. My heart dared, yes, dared to covet her.

But I restrained myself, knowing such desires were not permitted. This girl was beyond my reach. I could only yearn from afar... craving her affection and interest.

***Now, I’m nothing like a fungi controlling Risir. I’m simply a kind of mutant born through a fantasy world character becoming aware of their past life. While my personality and values might’ve shifted suddenly, my memories remained intact.

...So I have to ask—who in the dickens are you?

“Sir Risir, I’ve missed you terribly. It’s me, Fienne. I have been counting the days until we could meet again.”

She hugged me even harder, whispering determinedly.

“I’ll never part with you again.”

Though well, for all her determination, the girl’s voice was like a delicate chirp, while her embrace was gentle. Adorable was the word.

Looking down, I saw her tiny head pressed against my chest, her hair soft as fresh snow. She truly was like a fragile bird. Ironically, her faint presence and fragile air made her all the more memorable.

Which brings me to the point: a bastard can’t survive with poor memory on top of every other downside to his life. And my memory isn’t poor enough to forget meeting such a distinctive girl.

I wanted to ask cautiously if she’d undergone some drastic change in diet, did some plastic surgery, and a bit of bleaching.

“Sir Risir...”

Seeing me unresponsive, Fienne burrowed closer. I guessed she wanted me to hug her back.

“...”

But then I sense a sharp glare from behind Fienne.

It was a middle-aged man. His attitude suggested he was the knight of another noble family. Seeing as he had been sitting at the same table as Fienne earlier, he was likely her guard.

When our eyes met, his gaze grew even fiercer. Probably wanted me to hug her back too.

Oh whatever then.

I wrapped my arms around the girl to complete the interaction.

“Ah... Sir Risir...”

She sighed happily, melting into the hug.

“...!!!”

The guard’s eyes bulged as he clenched his fists, gnashing his teeth.

Uh excuse me, isn’t this what we agreed on?

“Sir Risir... Are you not very happy to see me?”

Fienne suddenly looked up and met my eyes, sounding anxious.

Now some might get mad at me for this, but I couldn’t help wondering if this was how it’d feel to have an actual younger sister.

***Risir organized his thoughts, getting a feel for how to treat this little girl. She seemed to like him, for some reason, so as the elder, there was only one way for him to respond.

“What? Of course I’m happy to see you.”

“...”

Fienne doubted her ears for a moment; it sounded as if he were speaking to a child. Surely she was imagining it?

“Then will you hug me tighter? So I can feel you better...”

“Shall I?”

At her request, Risir pulled her even closer. But as the pure white girl secretly donned a peculiar smile...

“Heave-ho!”

“?”

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

Fienne’s face froze, her legs flailing in midair.

What are you even?

He lifted her up all of a sudden. And he didn’t stop there—he started spinning on the spot.

The world went round and round as the two gazed at one another, lost in a realm all their own. Some might even call it romantic, at first glance.

Seriously, what are you doing?

But the speed... Oh, it was too furious for the feeble sentimentalities of romance to endure.

The girl’s gaze was chilly, demanding an explanation for his behavior, yet Risir merely grinned triumphantly.

Ahh, yes. Now this is what you call centrifugal force. Fun right?

What the heck?

After a few rotations of ‘fun’, Risir set her down. Bending down to her eye level,  he patted her head.

“Satisfied?”

Fienne blinked dumbly.

With what?

She was bewildered. The man was obviously not acting as a subordinate should. He showed no signs of being dominated by false memories.

Could it be? No. That’s impossible.

Her mental manipulation could easily take control of even a knight of the fifth rank. Such an insignificant bastard would hardly be able to resist its effects.

Uncertain, Fienne feigned a look of profound emotion, fiercely hugging the man again.

“I missed you, Sir Risir.”

Risir simply smiled and stroked her head, putting a lame end to her attempt at heating up the mood.

At this point, she was beyond bewildered—utterly incredulous.

What in the world is wrong with him?

The strength of her power tended to be proportional to the target’s disposition. An emotional person would be more strongly affected, while an insensitive one would resist more.

By Fienne’s estimation, she possessed enough power to enslave this man. In fact, she was much more than capable of doing so.

By all rights, she should have long enslaved Risir. Yet look!

“I think that’s enough Fienne. Could you give me some space? Your friend back there is giving me the scary eye.”

That was his response to her intense embrace: a frank whisper that didn’t contain a single Fahrenheit.

This wasn’t the attitude one should show their master. He was treating her like a cute, obedient little girly.

Fienne felt a headache.

Just how is his brain wired for my power to be so...

“I’m so sorry. Galant tends to overreact at times.”

The man was staggeringly dense, that was her conclusion. It had to be why her mental manipulation failed to work properly.

“It is a shame, but I suppose there’s no need to rush. We’re going to be together forever from now on, after all. Right?”

Fienne clicked her tongue inwardly, all while wearing an innocent smile. It appeared her plan would demand more effort than she’d anticipated.

***“Did the Diltans always have a daughter?”

She had appeared suddenly one day, seamlessly integrating into the Diltan family. Her distinctive hair color and appearance clearly set her apart from them, yet no one questioned her presence.

“She’s our youngest daughter. Due to her frail health, she’s been confined to her room since childhood.”

“The priests and doctors claimed she wouldn’t live past ten... We tried not to get too attached... But remarkably, she’s grown up so healthy...”

Who would dare challenge the word of the family’s master and mistress?

“Perhaps it’s her sheltered upbringing, but the young lady is like untouched white silk. I mean her demeanor and personality.”

How could anyone harbor doubts about such a lovely, delicate girl?

She basked in Diltan’s affection.

“Father is unwell? Oh no...”

She basked in Diltan’s affection.

“Mother, please rest. You’ve grown too thin lately.”

She basked in Diltan’s affection.

“Brother? Your complexion is dark. Are you alright?”

She basked in Diltan’s affection.

“Galant. Is it alright for a guard to tire before me? Hehe. I’m only teasing. I was barely managing too. Let’s take a short break here.”

She basked in Diltan’s affection.

...She monopolized Diltan’s love entirely.

“Haah...”

She sighed contentedly, lying in a bathtub.

“Everyone. Thank you so much. You needn’t be this considerate...”

An unsettling scene unfolded.

The bathing girl was surrounded by people, their eyes vacant as they reached towards the tub. Blood trickled from cuts on their fingertips.

Drip. Drop.

The bathwater gradually turned crimson.

“I’ll graciously accept your kindness for now.”

The girl languidly smeared the bloodied water over her body.

“Haah...”

Her touch was unbefittingly sensual.

“It feels so good...”

The pure white girl’s lips curved with innocence.

***“Sir Risir, let’s go for a walk instead! A walk!”

Few men could refuse when a girl like Fienne made such a request.

Out of nowhere, Master’s voice echoed in my mind.

-My disciple. Go home and rest well~ well~ well~... well... (echo)

Dear Master, I’m sorry. I’d like to follow your advice, but I also feel compelled to protect this innocent child’s smile.

And more than anything, her guard Galant is damn scary.

I was about to refuse the walk but then he glared at me with bugging eyes, you know. Though embarrassing to admit, given my current abilities, I’m certain I’d lose in a fight against him.

“Sir Risir, Sir Risir! Look at that!”

Fienne and I left the manor to stroll through Hayeren’s streets. She clung to my arm excitedly, tugging me this way and that.

Her wide-eyed wonder at every mundane sight was enough to make even passersby smile fondly. Some even shot me looks of envy—those who eyed Fienne not with adoration, but a creepy intensity.

Oh they’re looking for big trouble alright. She’s what, the age of a middle schooler? Creeps. Ya’ll better thank the era you live in.

Anyway. For a while, I indulged Fienne’s sightseeing, finding her enthusiasm quite enjoyable. Though it did go on for so long that I wondered if she’d ever tire.

However, our little outing ended unexpectedly. Her grip on my arm had been weakening, making me wonder if she was starting to grow tired. And I wasn’t wrong.

Fienne stopped abruptly in a secluded alley, struggling to catch her breath. Her complexion had paled considerably.

“Sir Risir... I’m sorry... Just a moment...”

“My lady!”

“Galant... I’m fine, so please don’t fuss. And if possible, could you leave us alone for a moment?”

“...Understood.”

“Fienne, are you alright?”

“I’m sorry. May we...rest briefly?”

I could only nod in response to that fragile smile.

Fienne positively hung on my arm as she focused on recovering. After some time, her breathing eased.

“Thank you, Sir Risir.”

I examined the girl and saw the color had returned to her face somewhat.

“Feeling a bit better?”

“I’m sorry for worrying you. It’s embarrassing, but I’ve always been rather weak.”

Upon mentioning the past, Fienne’s gaze turned distant, looking slightly beyond the end of the street.

“Sir Risir. Do you remember?”

“Hm?”

“I was walking along the streets of Hayeren like today when I lost my way. Back then, you helped me.”

“...Ah, that.”

I nodded, following her gaze.

Sorry, but I haven’t the foggiest clue of what you’re on. And I’m not exaggerating. I can swear to Christ no such event occurred.

My sense of unease about Fienne began to take shape. Something really was off about our supposed relationship—or more precisely, about Fienne herself.

From the start, I’d felt an odd sensation around her. It was a... what’s the word? A vague discomfort I couldn’t quite place.

“Sir Risir.”

Fienne faced me, taking my right hand in both of hers.

“What do you think of your upcoming marriage, Sir Risir?”

“Marriage? Ah. Are you the lady of Diltan I’m to marry?”

Fienne smiled wryly.

“Actually, this marriage was entirely my idea. I earnestly begged my mother.”

She laughed playfully.

“I don’t usually ask her for things, you know? So just this one time, she granted my selfish request.”

Fienne brought my hand near her heart.

“I could no longer suppress my feelings for you, Sir Risir. Can you feel it? The beat of my heart?”

“...”

In that moment, my unease crystallized.

I couldn’t help frowning, feeling perplexed.

“Unbelievable...”

Seeing my reaction, Fienne muttered under her breath in dismay.

“Sir Risir? Do you feel... nothing right now? Don’t you feel anything looking at me?”

Fienne’s demeanor shifted dramatically. The fragile girl was replaced by an unsettling woman who couldn’t keep still.

“Sir Risir...”

“Uhhh—”

Fienne pressed against me, her slender fingers creeping up my thigh. There was an unnatural sultriness to her touch

I hesitated to push her away, fearing I might hurt the small thing.

“...Risir? You should feel honored. You’re the first I’ve gone this far with.”

“I do think this honor is a bit premature?!”

Following her sudden transformation, Fienne stood on tip-toes and kissed me.

In that instant...

“...!!!”

Her eyes snapped wide in shock. She stumbled back, touching her lips.

“You, what did you...!!!”

“?”

“What did you do to me?!”

“???”

I was confused.

Aren’t you the one who started it?

Where’s my shy emote!

“My power...my power...”

Fienne collapsed, hands trembling.

“...Why am I here?”

Galant’s confused voice came from outside the alley.

***

[You have resisted]

[Resisted effect: True Word]

***