The cooling rag on my forehead may indeed reduce the pressing headache, but it doesn't stop any headache gained from contemplating the matter of a game from the future where the people I've known since childhood are charm objectives. Supposing that the game can be started over, then Claire isn't someone meant for any specific one of them. For the ideals of chivalry, this is... quite far from ideal. Still, this is not that game. Things have changed so dramatically that it can hardly be compared. Still, Lionel has yet to have those worries calmed.

"Have you told anyone about the future of the game, with your possible execution?"

Rather than ask on about himself he changes the direction onto my fate.

"As it is I told Magdalin, though phrased as a prophecy. After all, we are not stuck in the script. Things can change."

He watches me quietly and narrows his eyes with hints of suspicion.

"Did you also tell her that you'd still be in danger even if he chose Claire and you accepted that and pulled away?"

Ugh. His eyes are piercing. We did try to make a contract to prevent something like that... but he has a point... the royal family truly has a firm grasp of what house Salender does, and House Listere was a victim of theirs, then I'd still be in danger. For me to die is a cleaner cut... but, I hadn't found a reason for that.

"I did not, I didn't think he would take it that far. Lionel, when she said the royal family was the cause of House Listere you believed her, why?"

I ask a question that had been nagging me since the conversation. Lionel was a lot closer to the royal family, so maybe he knew something I did not because of that. After all, I'd tried to keep my distance from them. Lionel grimaces and covers his mouth for a moment. His nose scrunches up with disgust at my words, but it doesn't take him long to lean back in the chair and cross his arms to clench each arm with a fist.

"You know that House Listere and the royal family are very closely related, right?" He asks carefully and looks at me intensely. I nod and give a small word of approval.

"Before all of that started, children that did not take the throne were also often married back into House Listere... it used to be a much larger house than it is today. Thus, House Listere technically did have a small claim on the throne... but... some of the royal children suffer the same fate. Once they reach about the age of five they die... that said, the royal family has not even once had a child blessed by a light fairy. Not even once, despite marrying light magicians into their family repeatedly. With light magic being the ideal magic... the magic sought after and prayed for and seen as holy... I realized that the royal family may have done it to reduce House Listere's immense popularity since they have claim on the throne. Soleil would be one of the people considered if Alstair dies. If he had light magic, then he'd be chosen without a doubt. it was in case there was no male heir? It was probably done so that people would wait for the eldest girl to give birth, rather than just hand off the throne to House Listere"

I feel nauseous. I understand it, but I feel sick anyway. Did light magic really have such a big effect in politics? No wonder the heroine in the story had practically been allowed to do whatever she wanted... and if she married into the royal family, then that would solidify their position, since House Listere couldn't make them anymore. Though, Lionel wasn't finished.

"She mentioned the north briefly as well, which actually made things worse. The three marquess houses were originally one. It was split into three by royal decree since the marquess had three sons. After that, things worsened dramatically for them, and there has never been peace between them... The north controls the flow of silver to the capital. As it is right now, they try to undercut each other, which lowers the price drastically, but if they worked together, their territories would flourish as much as House Salender's, if not more. Their military is mainly defensive, but they are a nightmare to deal with. If they were self-sufficient, then making them listen and holding their loyalty would be difficult. If the matter with House Listere prompted murder as control, then it wouldn't surprise me if the money and control of the north did too."

He takes a breath and starts removing his gauntlets in a fidgety and thoughtful manner.

"The only reason House Tepet has not been targeted may be because we've been good and foolish lapdogs needed to fight Headal... House Celeste hasn't even been worth bothering... or perhaps your family just kept their heads low to avoid the attention."

He's just guessing about these things, but both Eric and father did use to keep their heads low and try not to stick out. Though, at least Eric had not seemed to know Alstair's personality when we were kids...

Though... was there really a need to create conflict just to keep your spot at the throne? Did they not have other tools? The royal family was seen as kind and friendly and was looked up to. Our country has many resources, and lots of artisans, crafters, scholars and so on. Is there really a need for such dishonorable tactics to ensure the loyalty of your subjects? Usually the people guarding the borders are much more adamant in their loyalty to the country than anyone else, since they have grudges against the enemy. There should be no need to enforce their loyalty in such a way...

"Still, there is no proof of the royal family doing these things," I said softly to defuse the situation.

"If you believe every accusation the enemy throws at you, then you'll be made a fool. Catarina knows the situation of the world, so she knows all the things that may seem suspicious and could put the royal family in a bad light. She even said she wants them dead," I add to calm down both myself and Lionel. As true as her words may seem, they may as easily be lies. Just planting an idea in people's head can make them make things up and draw lines where there isn't actually anything. Lionel watches me with a small frown and nods hesitantly.

"But what if it true?" He asks carefully, though he doesn't seem like he wants to know.

"Then it is a matter between the royal family and their subjects. None of them have business on our grounds, and no excuse should allow it," I reply with a bit of sharpness in my voice. We can deal with Alstair on our own time, but other countries shouldn't interfere. Lionel seems to calm down with those words and gives a small nod.

"The risk of letting the enemy harm the country is too big." His eyes light up with determination as he says that, and I can see his conflicted look clear up. I nearly smile. He's found the path he is going to walk... somehow his body language calms down and he stands up with a hand to his chin and lips in thought. His sour and bitter expression fades to the point I'm left wondering how long he has felt conflicted about his loyalty to Alstair. He pauses his thoughts with a quick look to me, walks closer stares at me uncomfortably.

"Did I fall in love with that woman?...with Claire."

Eh? We are going directly back to that after all of this? I admit... I let out a small sigh at having to answer that question.

"I don't know. However, you spent pretty much every meeting being mean to her. The heroine believe that you let her in and sought control after all the sorrow... something like that... but I don't know if you actually loved her or just used her." I give the best answer I can. After all, I personally cannot imagine it to be love, but I do not understand things as that. Who would keep liking someone that hurts them repeatedly? Lionel, however, looks both disturbed... but also satisfied as he goes to the nearby bed stand and puts the gauntlets down.

"To sum up, this world was made by Catarina and some others, and they died and were reincarnated here. Fate does not force the storyline upon us, but Catarina and her companions want to kill Alstair so that they can stay alive. You were reincarnated into Lily's body, and rather than making him fall for you, you chose to avoid him..."

He then stops up and stares directly at me with this suspicion again. Now what?

"Lily... you keep calling the game theirs..."

Right, forgot that part. I close my eyes for a moment and then look up at the ceiling.

"Apparently I am from another world than Helena and Catarina. My guess is that their world is either the same, or at least closer than to mine. They both refer to it as a game, and Catarina did use a really weird word. After all, you do not develop a game, you invent it. If Jesmaine is reincarnated, then she is from the same world as Helena. Helena was incredibly shocked when she found out I was from a different world than her."

I looked back to Lionel who now had this worried expression as he sat back down in the chair next to me.

"Won't Helena tell this to Catarina?"

I let out a small huff at his question and reach for the pendant Lionel gave me.

"I've got a hold of her weakness as well. Besides, she is hopefully to obsessed with getting to Jesmaine to make trouble."

I'm not worried about her. Though, Lionel looks uncomfortable and sinks back into thought for a while.

"Lily, how different are your worlds?"

He's frowning again, though more mildly as watches me with those sharp green eyes.

"Greatly. Helena treated me as some sort of fabled creature like something out of a painting."

Lionel gives a brief nod and then watches me seriously.

"Jacques likely knows this. Those blessed by darkness can both see and communicate with ghosts, but they can also see the shape of your soul. The shape of your soul usually takes the shape of an idealized version of yourself, or how you truly see yourself. This is likely just my assumption, but you seem to prefer seeing yourself as the person you used to be. If that is the case, then Jacques would know. It would explain why he looked at you so intensely at the beginning as well."

...though, he didn't tell Catarina, nor did he stop Catarina from talking. Was it a sign that their alliance was shaky?

"It is fine. He would not find out anything of importance. Even if Catarina knows I am from a different world than her she will still be unable to do anything to sway me."

Lionel just watches me calmly and then sighs softly.

"Knowing how stubborn you are, I've no doubt about that," he says in a soft and light voice.

A small smile crawls onto his lips, and I cannot tell if he's praising me or teasing me about the illness as a playful insult.

"Now, sleep, Lily. When you wake up I'll check on you again."

He refreshes the rag, but this time brushes back my hair wish a large rough hand before he puts the rag back on. He looks calmed and determined as he stands up and takes his gauntlets. I let him leave while following him with my eyes... Somehow, it feels like he grew up a bit...

I barely close my eyes before my mind goes blank and I drift to sleep.