This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 1292: Divine Game: Graveyard of Bones 14

A bitter feeling rose in Rita’s chest.

Flower Crown Murder and Variational Quicksand both fell weakly to the ground, like a rain of petals scattered across a black desert.

"You didn’t alter this memory to hide a mistake. You never believed you were wrong."

"And you weren’t pretending to be clueless either."

She looked straight at Byme.

"You were afraid Deceitful Bloom wouldn’t come."

"You sealed your own memories like this because you hoped that one day... she would come see you."

"See this ’innocent’ version of you. This ’ignorant’ version of you."

Rita’s voice grew colder.

"And those excuses... invading Tingo while she was gone, the rule about not starting wars without her..."

"That was her doing."

"She used your altered memory to take all the blame onto herself."

If invading Tingo was the right choice, then everything that prevented it must be wrong.

That was Deceitful Bloom’s logic.

She believed it was all her fault.

She was the one who showed Byme other timelines.

She was the one who entrusted Midsummer to her.

She was the one who trusted too much.

And yet... she couldn’t say any of it.

Because Byme herself had been part of the sacrifice.

So Deceitful Bloom buried her with her own hands.

And never came back.

"She tried to give you a chance to make up for regrets."

"She put all the blame on herself."

But Byme had never felt regret.

Deceive or control?

Who started this endless feast of pain?

Had Deceitful Bloom ever found the answer?

The one most skilled in deception and control... had been deceived at the most critical moment.

Byme had manipulated everything.

Changed the course of her life.

This ending was never what Deceitful Bloom wanted.

It was what Byme wanted.

A memory surfaced in Rita’s mind.

Something from long ago.

And suddenly... she understood.

"...So that’s why," she murmured.

"What are you thinking?" Byme’s eyes sharpened. "You remembered something about her, didn’t you?"

"You look like you just understood one of her choices."

"I did."

Rita exhaled slowly.

"Back then, she used BSCicada’s admiration and attention to guide her into discovering me."

"At the time, BS was on the brink of collapse. Deceitful Bloom pushed me into a gamble with a god. That bought BS time."

"But she didn’t help Beacon."

Byme tilted her head slightly.

"Favoritism like that is the fastest way to provoke anger. And?"

"I never understood it."

Rita’s voice lowered.

"She could have just told BSCicada what she wanted. Told her directly she wanted Dawn to invade BS. Told her she wanted me to serve the Vineborne."

"But instead, she made Cicada notice her ’special treatment’ toward me... and turn that resentment against me."

Byme shook her head.

"You don’t get it. That’s how you grow flowers. You guide them according to their nature."

"Cicada said the same thing when we talked about it again," Rita replied.

A faint smile touched her lips, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"But because of the misunderstanding... she once hated Deceitful Bloom."

"She was furious that Beacon wasn’t saved."

"She even said..."

Rita paused. Then finished quietly.

"That Deceitful Bloom was nothing but trash."

Silence.

Rita watched Byme.

Watched as the smile faded.

Watched as the emotion drained from her face.

Until nothing was left.

Why had Deceitful Bloom done it?

Both of them knew the answer now.

But Rita didn’t stop.

She pressed further.

"She did it on purpose."

"She deliberately favored non-Vineborne to test Cicada."

"It was a test."

Rita’s voice hardened.

"She was afraid."

"Afraid of seeing another Byme."

"She didn’t want any Vineborne to put themselves above their race."

"And Cicada’s reaction..."

"That’s exactly what she wanted."

"A leader who would put the Vineborne and Beacon first."

Fog began to creep in from outside the castle.

Byme leaned back in her chair, eyes lowered to the desk.

For the first time, she looked... worn.

Almost fragile.

Nivalis poked Rita with the tip of her wing and whispered in her mind.

"Ten seventeen. We can leave now."

Rita smiled faintly.

Then she turned, sat casually on the desk, and looked down at Byme.

"Can I leave now?"

The provocation didn’t anger her.

Byme simply looked up.

"You’re certain I’ll let you go."

"You will."

Rita met her gaze without hesitation.

"Because this timeline shines... because of me."

That was her answer.

Byme suddenly smiled.

"Deceitful Bloom would definitely like you."

She gave the conclusion, but no explanation.

Rita ignored it.

"Then send me back to the real study."

"Answer one last question," Byme said calmly. "Then I’ll let you go."

"Ask."

"When Quiet Mountain Deceitful Bloom asked her..."

Byme’s voice slowed.

"’You are the last Vineborne of Starsea. Who are you fighting for?’"

"What did she answer?"

Rita knew the answer.

She had seen it at Dustfire’s old table.

But she didn’t reply.

Instead, she asked,

"Does that answer still matter to you?"

"What do you want to hear?"

Nivalis was practically stomping on her shoulder now.

"Answer already! We’re about to miss the exit window!"

"Of course it matters," Byme said seriously.

"I want to know... when she was the only one left..."

"What kept her going?"

"What her ideals were."

"What she was holding onto."

As she spoke, she noticed something.

The way Rita was looking at her.

Anger.

Far beyond mockery or confusion.

Byme suddenly laughed.

"No wonder those gods said they can never figure out your relationship with her."

"You took her racial talent, yet she still taught you."

"She deceived and controlled you, yet you feel grief and anger for what she went through."

"You even challenged me for her sake."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Even if I had let you go earlier... you wouldn’t have left, would you?"

"You wanted to tear this apart even more than I did."

She smiled.

"Did what I said make you angry?"

Rita ignored everything except the core.

Her voice turned sharp.

"You destroyed everything."

"And now you want to know what kept her going?"

"Yes."

Byme’s tone was steady.

"Tell me."

"I swear in Deceitful Bloom’s name..."

"I will let you leave."

"And I will tell you where the creator of Cat’s Ideal is buried, along with where they usually appear."

Rita let out a cold laugh.

"Deal."

"If you lie..."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Something will happen to Deceitful Bloom tomorrow."

Byme’s expression turned solemn.

"Deal."

Nivalis, who had watched the entire exchange, was completely lost.

"???"