Iver's Death

"Something like pride..."

Noel instinctively wanted to argue.

But after falling silent for a while, she still took a deep breath, bit her lip, and nodded. "Perhaps you're right..."

At this point, there was no meaning in deceiving herself.

She was merely avoiding the problem—or rather... she was simply looking for death.

After realizing her mistake, Noel did not continue choosing to run away.

"...Perhaps courage isn't all I have left."

Her voice was low, and her words struck at her own vital point like a sharp scalpel. "Rather... the opposite is true. I'm using this method to seek courage. If I can survive even a life-or-death crisis like this, perhaps I can persist through that despair until I see the dawn. After all, being cut with a dull knife is always more painful than being cut with a sharp blade."

"Hmph. Good that you understand."

Looking at Noel, who had regained her spirit, Iver raised the corners of his mouth slightly. "However, this is the New Moon Ritual. Let me make this clear beforehand: I won't hold back for you—when the time comes to kill you, I'll do it."

"That is fine. It should be so. But let me make this clear as well: I will never meekly await death."

Princess Noel raised her head and looked at Iver, speaking with a solemn expression. "When you say, 'I no longer need to cooperate with you,' we will begin fighting.

"But I can swear that I will never ambush you... and I likewise hope you won't do that to me."

"I swear in the name of the Candle Holder."

Iver nodded and answered seriously.

After saying that, he turned to look at the guests.

After Andrea had turned him to stone, the guests had once again returned to their calm