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Master List of Summaries

When there's enough going on that I should organize it.

Ikemen Prince

Rio Ortiz Master List

Keith Howell Master List

Matias Asbrink Master List

Events

Act 4 Prologue

Gilbert - More Love with the Beast

Gilbert - First Birthday (Emma POV)

Gilbert - Two People on a Mellow Night

Gilbert - Public Persona

Gilbert - Private Persona

Gilbert - Merry Christmas ‘22

Gilbert - Bodyguard Prince

Gilbert - Challenge From the King of Trampling

Gilbert - 2nd Birthday (Emma) - An Unforgettable Day For You)

Gilbert - A Glutinous Devil - Sariel Sequel Release Event

Gilbert - The Boundary of Touch

Nokto - Beyond the Connection Between the Past and the Present

Silvio - Beyond the Connection Between the Past and the Present

Chevalier - Beyond the Connection Between the Past and the Present

Chevalier - I Fell in Love with you that Day - Choose Your True Love

Chevalier - The Beauty Fulfils the Beast's Dream

Chevalier - My Fiance is a Child

Clavis - Rhodolite Horror Night

Clavis - I Fell in Love with you that day - Choose Your True Love

Kagari - The Beast's Love is Unstoppable

Azel - The Beast's Love is Unstoppable

Azel vs Silvio - The Beast Wants to Lure the Rabbit

Alice in the Country of Hearts

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 25 True Love Route - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

Matias “I have no defense.”

Matias “To enter Ultima Thule while a First-Class Suppression Order was in effect was a violation of a royal command.”

Matias “In addition, I acted in defiance of multiple Asbrink family precepts.”

Matias “My actions cannot be justified.”

King Elvin “That is correct.”

The air in the throne room grew even heavier.

The king remained silent for a moment, as though waiting for something more. Then he gave a small sigh.

King Elvin “Then—”

Matias “—Even so.”

Matias “On that basis, as head of the Asbrink family, I request permission to establish a new family precept.”

King Elvin “…A precept?”

(Lord Matias… what are you planning?)

Matias “Asbrink Family Precept, Article Three Hundred—”

Matias “‘Know that the precepts exist for the sake of the justice one believes in.’”

Silence fell.

For the first time, the king’s long-frozen expression shifted.

Matias “If, in obeying the law, we lose sight of what it means to be human, then we have mistaken the purpose.”

Matias “The law is a means by which justice is enacted. It must never become the goal itself.”

Matias “I believe the same is true of our family precepts.”

King Elvin “And what justice do you believe in?”

Matias “The justice I believe in—”

Matias “—is the protection of people’s smiles.”

Matias “That was the original reason I chose to pursue the law.”

Matias “I took a long detour… but I have returned to that answer.”

Matias “There is no single absolute answer to justice.”

Matias “That is precisely why I intend to uphold the justice I believe in.”

(Lord Matias…)

The resolve in his pale, snow-shadowed eyes had not changed since the day we met.

And yet—something undeniably had.

King Elvin “I see.”

After lowering his gaze briefly, the king looked back at him sharply.

King Elvin “I understand your position. I have no objection to the addition of this precept.”

King Elvin “Then I shall pronounce your punishment.”

My throat tightened.

King Elvin “You are ordered to restore domestic order and recover the trust of the people.”

Matias stood still.

(That means—)

King Elvin “The kingdom will remain unstable for some time.”

King Elvin “You must address the uprising at Ultima Thule as well.”

King Elvin “You are not to abandon your responsibilities. This is a royal command.”

(So… effectively… there is no further punishment?)

The tension in my chest slowly eased.

Beside me, Matias placed a hand over his chest and bowed with unwavering composure.

Matias “I accept.”

For a fleeting instant, I thought I saw the king’s expression soften.

But then his gaze turned to me.

King Elvin “Emma. I have questions for you.”

Emma “Yes, Your Majesty.”

King Elvin “You discovered the contract because you found a location that resembled a passage from a book left behind by the late queen.”

King Elvin “That testimony remains correct?”

Emma “Yes. It does.”

King Elvin “You did not know the contract’s location beforehand?”

Emma “No.”

King Elvin “And bringing the same book from Rhodolite was merely coincidence?”

Emma  “…Yes.”

Though I was not lying, the combined gazes of the king and the warden made my body stiffen.

(I never meant for it to happen… but I have become one of the few who now know the Asbrink family’s sin.)

(It is only natural that His Majesty would be wary of me.)

A hand gently touched my back.

Matias “Your Majesty.”

Matias “There is no falsehood in Emma’s words. I personally guarantee it.”

Matias “More importantly—”

Matias “I would ask about the late queen.”

(Queen Matilda…)

Matias “You once told me that you yourself killed her.”

Matias “However, the leader of the Ember Remnants has confessed to orchestrating her murder.”

Matias “He claims to have manipulated a former offender I once arrested and directed him to carry it out.”

Matias “Please tell me. Why did Queen Matilda truly lose her life?”

The king let out a quiet breath.

His gaze remained cold—but deep within it, there was something else.

Regret.

King Elvin “I had never intended to inform the queen of the Asbrink family’s sin.”

Gunnar “Her Majesty instructed me to destroy her letters once I had read them…”

Gunnar “But I could not bring myself to do so. I concealed them within the wall of my chambers.”

Gunnar “I never reread them, and for many years I did not disturb their hiding place… I never imagined they had been stolen.”

Matias “…Frem.”

Gunnar “Most likely.”

(I see… that’s why the Ember Remnants returned to Achroite.)

(They learned from the letters that the contract was hidden in Ultima Thule.)

King Elvin “The queen understood the weight that contract carried.”

King Elvin “She attempted to burn it… but when faced with the sin of concealing the truth, fear must have stayed her hand.”

King Elvin “Even so, to prevent me from finding it, she falsely claimed she had destroyed it.”

King Elvin “…The destruction of that contract would have been an unforgivable crime. It would have required a life to atone.”

King Elvin “I should have punished the queen…”

King Elvin “—But I could not.”

Matias “…”

King Elvin “I confined her to her chambers and continued to avert my eyes from the necessity of punishment.”

(So that was the truth behind the ‘rift’ between the king and Queen Matilda…)

(She had literally been treated as a criminal within the Asbrink household…)

King Elvin “And then, one day, after I had postponed the matter for too long… the queen escaped.”

King Elvin “Whether she could no longer endure confinement, or sought to settle matters herself—I do not know.”

King Elvin “But the result was a fate too cruel.”

King Elvin “For her… and for you, Matias.”

Matias “…”

King Elvin “Even if the one who physically struck the blow was the Ember Remnants, the cause lies with me.”

King Elvin “If you would condemn me, so be it. I leave that judgment to you.”

Lord Matias drew a quiet breath and met the king’s gaze.

Matias “In a court of law, guilt is weighed solely upon fact.”

King Elvin “That is correct.”

Matias “Then by that principle—”

Matias “It was the Ember Remnants who killed Her Majesty. Not you.”

Matias “You did not kill my mother. Father.”

For the first time, the king’s eyes visibly trembled with emotion.

Whether it was regret, repentance, or grief, I could not tell.

But the ice within his heart had cracked, if only slightly.

King Elvin “…Emma.”

King Elvin “You said it was coincidence that you brought that book, the same one the queen left behind.”

Emma “Yes.”

King Elvin “During her confinement, the queen spent her days with that book.”

King Elvin “She must have struggled over whether to leave behind a guide to the hiding place.”

(And in the end, she tore out the guiding page…)

(She chose complete concealment.)

King Elvin “And yet, you brought it.”

King Elvin “Perhaps it was fate that the contract was discovered now.”

King Elvin “Perhaps Matilda believed that, if you were there, it would finally be safe to be found.”

Silence settled over the throne room.

Yet this time, the silence did not feel heavy.

After that, many things unfolded.

Lord Matias, considering the continent’s delicate balance, decided to postpone public disclosure of the contract for the time being.

At the same time, he began investigating the former royal line and confronting the Asbrink family’s past.

Though unrest lingered from the inciting-book incident and the uprising at Ultima Thule, the large-scale chaos once feared never materialized.

The influence of the Ember Remnants still remained in places, and investigations continued.

There was also a significant shift in legal reform.

Lord Matias began reconsidering the long-held belief that “criminals should simply be cast aside,” and discussions began regarding legislation focused on prisoner rehabilitation.

It would not change overnight. Debate continued day and night, but progress was being made.

And as Achroite slowly changed—

So too did our days.

Quietly. Gently. Side by side.

(It’s been a while since we walked together like this…)

We strolled down a quiet path, Lord Matias beside me.

He had a rare opening in his morning schedule, and so we found ourselves enjoying this small pocket of time together.

Emma “Do you remember? The last time we walked here, the road was frozen… and you carried me.”

Matias “I remember. You’ve grown quite accustomed to walking in the snow.”

Choice:

I bought new shoes.

I’ve been in Achroite quite a while now.

We’ve walked a long way together.

Emma “We’ve walked a long way together.”

Matias “…”

Matias “…You’re right.”

Matias “Perhaps we’ve walked farther together than we realized.”

The road was no longer slick with ice.

And yet, I kept my arm looped through his, not from necessity, but because I wanted to feel his warmth.

In air cold enough to freeze one’s breath, the warmth of the one you love feels all the more precious.

(Diamond dust sparkles in the light… it’s so beautiful.)

Even the soft crunch of snow beneath our boots felt dear to me.

Emma “When we walk like this, I remember the nights you used to escort me back to the inn.”

Emma “Even when we had only just met, you always walked me home.”

Matias “Yes.”

Matias “They say Achroite is a country where a woman can walk alone at night without worry…”

Matias “But I could never quite dismiss my concern.”

Matias “That night always lingered in my thoughts.”

(That night… the night Queen Matilda died… isn’t it.)

Matias “I was bound to that night for a long time.”

Matias “…No. Perhaps I still am.”

Matias “The anger and hatred I carry toward ‘evil’ have not faded.”

Matias “And they likely never will.”

He exhales a soft plume of white into the cold air, then turns a faintly lonely gaze toward me.

Matias “Have I ever told you why I joined the military?”

Emma “No… not in detail. Only that His Majesty ordered you to.”

Matias “I see.”

Matias “There was a time when I believed criminals should be guided toward rehabilitation.”

Matias “I believed that goodness exists in every person… that no one should be cast aside as wholly evil.”

Matias “That is why, when a young man attempted theft, I took his circumstances into consideration… and testified that no actual harm had been done.”

Matias “Father accepted my testimony… but to correct what he called my naivety, he sent me to the army.”

(So that was the incident that led to it…)

Matias “The battlefield was hell.”

Matias “And yet, even then, I still believed that goodness lived in all people.”

Matias “That true wickedness did not exist—that if one’s environment were set right, anyone could walk a righteous path.”

Matias “And then my mother died.”

(….)

Matias “In that moment, I thought Father had been right all along.”

Matias “That my thinking had been flawed… and that I must never be wrong again.”

Matias “From then on, I kept walking forward.”

Matias “But before I realized it… I felt as though I had arrived somewhere entirely different from where I had meant to go.”

A memory surfaces, something he once told me.

Matias “You keep walking without realizing you’ve strayed from the right path…”

Matias “And in the end, you collapse alone in the snow, far from where you were meant to arrive.”

Matias “That is the terror of the ‘white darkness.’”

(When he first told me that story, I pictured him.)

(Alone in a white void… collapsing where no one could reach him.)

(But now)

Matias “I am still a guardian of the law.”

Matias “But I do not intend to become ‘the law’ itself.”

Matias “I will remain human… and as a human, I will bring peace to Achroite.”

He tightens his hold on my hand.

Matias “I want you to be a witness to that vow.”

Matias “If I lose my way again… will you pull me back?”

I squeeze his hand in return, as if to tell him he is not alone.

Emma “Yes. …I promise.”

Our eyes meet.

Naturally, our faces draw closer, and just as I think he might kiss me—

Emma “Ah—!”

A clump of snow drops onto my head.

(It’s so cold…!)

When I hurriedly brush it away, some slips down the back of my neck, and I shiver.

Matias “Hold still.”

He gently brushes the snow from my hair.

Matias “May I ask you to lift your face? There’s some caught in your lashes.”

Emma “O-Of course…”

When I close my eyes, his fingertips gently brush over my lashes.

And then—

Emma “…Mm.”

Something warm touches my lips. My eyes fly open, and those snow-in-shadow eyes are right there.

Matias “I’ve imagined countless times brushing snow from my future bride’s hair… and stealing a kiss to surprise her.”

Matias “It seems that fantasy has finally become reality.”

(….)

The sweetness in his smile steals my breath for a moment.

At the same time, a lingering doubt that had long caught in my heart rises to the surface.

Emma “Is this… truly alright?”

Matias “‘Alright’?”

Emma “For the Asbrink family, the future queen carries profound significance.”

Emma “For you as well… she is someone you would stake your entire life upon.”

Emma “And someday, the woman of your destiny would appear—”

Matias “Yes. That’s true.”

Matias “That is precisely why I want you at my side.”

He gently lifts my hand.

A soft kiss brushes the back of it.

Matias “You are that woman of destiny.”

Matias “No one else. You.”

(….)

His quiet words settle gently into the depths of my heart.

Matias “For years, I have carried the image of a ‘future bride’ in my mind.”

Matias “No matter how harsh reality became, within my imagination I could still seek happiness.”

Matias “But now… every happiness I once envisioned has been surpassed by the fact that you stand before me.”

Matias “If this is not destiny, then what is?”

I feel his fingers tighten around mine, as though he needs to confirm that this moment is real.

Matias “I still bear my position, my duties… and the sins of my house.”

Matias “I cannot pause midway down the path I must walk.”

Matias “And yet,”

Matias “Even if it means defying expectations, I cannot stop loving you.”

Matias “In a life bound on all sides by rules and obligations, there is only one thing that remains utterly free.”

Matias “My love for you.”

Matias “So…”

Matias “Will you allow me to devote everything I am to loving you?”

When I place my hand over his chest, I feel the warmth there and beneath it, the steady rhythm of his heart.

(What was I hesitating for?)

(I am loved by this man, so deeply.)

(I love him just as completely.)

(That alone is reason enough.)

Emma “…Of course.”

Emma “I want to pour all that I am into keeping your heart warm.”

Emma “So that you will never freeze again.”

With that vow, we begin walking once more through the silver-white world.

Our steps do not falter. Our joined hands do not part.

The snow catches the morning light, glittering endlessly, as if the world itself were blessing the path we walk together.

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 24 True Love Route - Fan Translation

Sorry - sorry,I'm a monster - I fell behind.

pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

Matias Asbrink

Episode 24 True Love Route

Emma “Matias…!”

The sword came down.

But instead of striking the old man, the blade stopped just beside his face and plunged deep into the floor.

Old Man “W–what…?”

Matias “By the laws of Achroite, I hereby declare.”

Still leaning his full weight onto the sword, Matias spoke in a low, restrained voice.

The hand gripping the hilt trembled violently, it was clear how fiercely he was suppressing his rage.

Matias “From this moment forward, all testimony will be formally recorded. Any falsehoods will constitute an aggravation of guilt.”

Matias “No life will be taken here. Your crime will be adjudicated in a court of law

Matias “You will be granted the opportunity for defense at trial.”

Matias “Under the law, all are equal.”

Silence spread through the vast space.

Even the tolling bells from above felt impossibly distant now.

Old Man “F–fool… Don’t mock me. What equality?”

Old Man “Is this mercy, Asbrink? Do you think yourself some kind of saint?”

Old Man “You criminal. Hypocrite. If you don’t kill me now, you’ll regret it.”

As his curses spilled out, several sets of footsteps echoed down the stairs.

Guard “Lord Matias!”

The guards, and the warden, had arrived. They swiftly restrained the old man and dragged him away.

Meanwhile, Matias lifted his head, sheathed his sword, and turned toward me.

Emma “……”

I swayed as I stood, taking a single step forward.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t take the next one.

(Is it… okay?)

(I’m… a criminal.)

(I don’t deserve to stand before him)

At that moment, Matias closed the distance in long strides.

Emma “—!”

The embrace was so tight it hurt. The moment I felt his hand at my back, I could no longer hold anything in.

Emma “Matias…!”

I clutched the back of his coat desperately.

Don’t let go. Please, don’t leave me again.

But . . .

Matias “…Emma…”

Matias “…”

(Huh…?)

The strength suddenly drained from his body.

I dropped to my knees, unable to support him, and Matias collapsed with his face buried against my shoulder.

(What—what’s happening…?)

Then I felt something wrong beneath my hand.

When I looked down at my palm, it was stained dark red.

(N–no…)

Emma “No, Matias, please, stay with me…!”

Emma “Matias…!”

After some time~

Matias “….”

Matias “…nngh…”

Emma “………”

(Thank goodness, he’s awake…!)

Still unfocused, his snow-shadow–colored eyes slowly scanned the room.

The moment they landed on me, Matias jolted upright.

Matias “Emma!”

Matias “Are you safe? Are you hurt anywhere?”

He pulled me close, gripping my arms tightly, his face just inches from mine.

His hands were trembling, just like they had that night.

Emma “I’m fine.”

Emma “More importantly, please don’t move. Your injuries are severe.”

I gently eased him back onto the bed, but he refused to release my arms.

Matias “This is… the medical wing of Ultima Thule?”

Emma “Yes. Afterward, the warden,”

Flashback~

Emma “Matias, please wake up!”

As I struggled to keep him from collapsing again, the warden lifted Matias into his arms.

Gunnar “We’ll treat him in the infirmary. You’re coming too.”

Emma “…Is that allowed?”

Gunnar “It is.”

Gunnar “Stay with him.”

End Flashback~

Matias “…So my uncle was…”

Matias “…ngh”

Grimacing in pain, Matias slowly sat up again.

He clasped both my hands tightly and met my gaze head-on.

Matias “…Emma.”

Matias “I did something unforgivable.”

Matias “I made you a criminal. I sent you to Ultima Thule. And I exposed you to mortal danger.”

Matias “I won’t ask for forgiveness. Even a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to atone.”

Matias “But still… I am sorry.”

Matias “I should have protected you, even if it meant breaking the law.”

His voice was hoarse, crushed down as if scraped raw. My chest tightened painfully.

Emma “You didn’t do anything wrong. I chose to admit guilt.”

Emma “It was all my decision.”

Matias “No.”

Matias “You didn’t admit guilt. You took it upon yourself.”

Matias “…To protect me.”

Emma “…!”

Those words seeped into my chest like poison, spreading slowly.

(No way…)

Emma “You… found out?”

Matias “……Yes.”

Emma “Why?”

Matias’s gaze wavered for just a moment before he answered.

Matias “The woman who framed you, the inn’s female employee, revealed the hiding place.”

Matias “She laughed as she said there was ‘no longer any need to hide it’… but now, I understand what she meant.”

Matias “You took on the crime so that the truth would never reach me.”

(…)

I wanted to say something, but no words would come.

All I could do was tighten my grip on Matias’s hand and give a small nod.

Matias “Emma… there’s something I want to ask you.”

Matias “In her letter, my mother wrote that she feared my heart would freeze solid.”

Matias “That if I learned the truth, I would become like my father.”

Matias “Did you… fear that as well?”

After a brief pause, I nodded again.

Matias “I still don’t understand.”

Matias “All this time, I believed my father embodied the correct way to be a ‘guardian of the law.’”

Matias “To eliminate personal feelings and judge everything with absolute fairness, that was the proper role of a man born into the Asbrink family.”

Matias “And yet… why is it that you, and my mother…”

Emma “This is only my own speculation, but…”

Emma “I don’t think His Majesty chose to freeze his heart of his own will.”

Emma “Caught between guilt and justice, he had no other choice.”

Emma “And Queen Matilda stayed by his side, witnessing that pain and suffering all along.”

Emma “To keep bleeding inside a frozen heart, bearing that sin endlessly…”

Emma “That’s not justice. It’s an unending punishment.”

Emma “I didn’t want you to make the same choice, Matias.”

Emma “You’re gentle to your core. You truly wish for peace.”

Emma “Thinking of you enduring something like that… I couldn’t bear it.”

Emma “You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Emma “And yet you’ve kept cutting away pieces of yourself, suppressing everything, still moving forward all this time…”

Emma “And to think there would be even more…”

My voice trembled, and I couldn’t continue.

All I could do was squeeze Matias’s hand tighter, wishing desperately to warm his heart even a little.

Matias “So… you sacrificed yourself for that reason.”

Emma “Yes.”

Matias “Knowing you would spend nearly your entire life inside a prison.”

Emma “……Yes.”

Matias “Why?”

Matias “Why would you go that far for me?”

I didn’t want to look away.

Not now.

Even as tears spilled with each blink, I kept my eyes fixed on those snow-shadowed irises.

Matias “…………”

A shaken breath slipped from his slightly parted lips.

Then, as if something finally fell into place, his eyes widened—before slowly closing again.

Matias “I see.”

Matias “…I see.”

Matias “After all this time…”

Matias “I was the one who lost sight of what mattered most.”

Some time later~

I stood once more at the defendant’s podium in the courtroom.

But the man standing before me was not Matias.

It was Lars.

Jin / Yves “……”

Akatsuki / the Old Innkeeper “……”

The gallery was filled with the same familiar faces as before, all watching with quiet tension.

Lars “I will now deliver the verdict.”

Lars “Following the retrial, the court finds the defendant, Emma . . .”

Lars “not guilty.”

For a heartbeat, silence reigned.

Then the courtroom erupted into cheers.

(…Thank goodness.)

I let out a small, trembling breath of relief.

Lars “Order, order… though I suppose that may be asking a bit much right now.”

Even as he struck the gavel, the joyful voices refused to subside.

That night, I visited Matias’s room.

We sat side by side on the sofa near the fireplace.

Spread across the table before us was the contract, recovered from Ultima Thule.

Matias “I’m glad the retrial concluded without incident.”

Matias “Under normal circumstances, I should have been the one to declare your innocence, but as you can see…”

Matias had violated a royal order by going to Ultima Thule.

By command of the king, he was currently under house arrest.

(It’s probably for the best.)

(He hasn’t fully recovered yet… and if he weren’t confined, he’d surely be working himself into the ground again.)

Choices:

Please rest completely.

You’re not allowed to work, you know.

At least you can take things slowly now.

Emma “You’re not allowed to work, you know.”

Matias “……I know.”

Matias “But being told that so directly somehow makes it harder to ignore.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Matias “Still… spending time like this, just the two of us, without thinking about work…”

Matias “If this is punishment, it’s far too lenient.”

Matias “Even so… I regret that I couldn’t stand beside you during the retrial.”

Matias “I made you face the defendant’s stand alone again.”

Emma “Please don’t worry about that.”

Emma “Lars delivered a proper verdict.”

Matias “…Hearing that from you makes my feelings rather complicated.”

Matias “And I suspect I’ve relied on Lars far too much simply because he’s my friend.”

Matias “It seems I should properly thank him.”

He lets out a small, wry smile, then lowers his gaze to the contract spread out on the table.

Because I gripped it so tightly, creases remain, but its contents are unchanged.

Should a legitimate heir to the throne appear, the Asbrink family shall return the crown.

That much is clearly written.

Emma “…You’ll be the one managing this contract from now on, won’t you, Matias?”

Matias “Yes. It’s a contract the Asbrink family entered into.”

Matias “That means it will be managed by me, the head of the house, not by His Majesty.”

Matias “And eventually, we’ll have to explain the truth of this contract to the people.”

Matias “The mistakes of the past must be corrected.”

(Mistakes…)

This contract may be the Asbrink family’s sin, but it is not Matias’s sin.

Even so, the burden of that guilt and responsibility will fall on his shoulders.

Emma “…Doesn’t it hurt?”

Matias thinks for a moment, then releases a quiet sigh.

Matias “If I said it didn’t, I’d be lying.”

Matias “And to think that this sin was even an indirect cause of my mother’s death…”

His voice roughens, and pain tightens my chest. I gently touch his hand.

(I already told him that it was the Ember Remnants who ultimately took Queen Matilda’s life.)

(But that doesn’t change the fact that the root of it all lies in this contract…)

Matias “You said that my father didn’t choose to freeze his heart.”

Matias “And I believe you were right.”

Matias “If one is to carry sin and still enact justice…”

Matias “From childhood, he was drilled relentlessly in the family precepts, taught that absolute obedience to the law was paramount.”

Matias “He was taught that being the foundation of peace was the duty of a man born into the Asbrink family.”

Matias “When he learned of this contract, of the sin the Asbrink family bore…”

Matias “It felt as though everything he had walked toward until then was denied, as if the ground had crumbled beneath his feet.”

Matias “And to learn that this sin was even an indirect cause of my mother’s death…”

Matias “If one is to carry sin and still enact justice…”

Matias “Then the only path left is to freeze one’s heart, contradiction and all.”

Matias “By abandoning his humanity and becoming ‘the law’ itself, my father tried to embody justice.”

Matias “If I were who I used to be, I would have chosen the same path.”

Matias “But…”

Matias “You reminded me.”

Matias “That I don’t seek justice because I was taught to.”

Matias “I seek it to protect people’s lives, to protect a world where those dear to me can live smiling.”

Matias “And because humans are human, mistakes are inevitable.”

Matias “Accepting all of that—and still moving forward, that is what ‘responsibility’ truly is.”

Emma “…!”

Pain and sorrow still linger in his pale, snow-colored eyes.

Yet there is no hesitation in the way he looks at me.

That gentle gaze belongs to the man I wished to protect.

To Matias himself.

Matias “Emma.”

He suddenly turns fully toward me and gently takes my hand.

Matias “There is something I must tell you.”

Normal Story

“A Vow That Does Not Melt in the Snowlit Silence”

Matias “There is something I must tell you.”

The seriousness in his eyes makes my breath catch.

Matias “I may not have the right to say this.”

Matias “But I still want to tell you, even if I don’t.”

I feel his fingers tighten around mine.

Matias “I love you.”

(…)

Matias “…I love you.”

In a world where time seems to have stopped, only his snow-colored eyes remain vivid—

I can’t look away.

Matias “I know. It’s an unbearably selfish confession.”

Matias “I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me. I’ve done enough to deserve that.”

Matias “I—”

Emma “Matias.”

I turn our joined hands over and squeeze back.

Emma “Do you remember when the prison warden asked me whether I had the right to stay by your side?”

Matias “Yes. I remember.”

Emma “I’ve always thought he was right.”

Emma “No, honestly, I still do.”

Emma “I’m not a woman worthy of walking beside you.”

Emma “I’m not strong enough to support you as you keep moving forward.”

Emma “I can’t become your ‘future queen.’”

Matias “Emma, that’s-”

Emma “Even so, I wanted you to keep smiling.”

Emma “I wanted to protect your heart.”

Emma “I… I—”

(Ah… I really am hopeless.)

(I didn’t want Matias to see me cry.)

Once the first tear falls, the rest won’t stop.

Matias cups my cheeks in both hands, gently wiping away the tears with his thumbs.

Emma “I love you… so much it hurts.”

I know this feeling is unforgivable.

But even so-

Emma “I want to stay by your side. I don’t want to leave you.”

Emma “I—”

At that moment, our lips meet.

It’s a gentle kiss, one that melts our feelings together, or perhaps forgives them.

From where we touch, I can feel his heartbeat.

(…So warm.)

As that thought crosses my mind, our lips part, leaving behind a single quiet breath.

Two days later~

Jin and Yves came to visit us to say their goodbyes before returning home.

When we told them that we had decided to live together, both of them looked genuinely surprised.

Yves “So that means… an engagement?”

Matias “No. That’s not quite right.”

Matias “For the Asbrink family, an engagement is a contract with legal force. It’s not something that can be entered into lightly.”

Matias “Of course, it’s something I intend to do someday… but for now, this is a relationship contract.”

Yves “But you’re life partners, right?”

Matias “That’s correct.”

Yves “So… not engaged?”

(This exchange feels familiar somehow.)

(Including the part where Jin is laughing his head off.)

Jin “Call it dating, call it whatever, if you two are that into each other, that’s plenty good enough.”

Jin “My proud junior ending up with Emma… makes me happy to see.”

Jin “Seems like a good excuse to go grab some celebratory drinks somewhere, huh?”

Yves “No way. We’ve already overstayed our welcome in Achroite, I got a message telling me to hurry back.”

Yves “Licht might be feeling lonely without me.”

Jin “Eh, I wouldn’t worry too much about that.”

Jin “So, about the three-nation alliance. You’re okay with me handling the report on my end, right?”

Matias “That’s fine.”

Yves “Hey, when did you tell Emma about the three-nation alliance anyway?”

Yves “We agreed to keep it quiet so it wouldn’t interfere with the investigation.”

Jin “Maybe it’s the influence of her partner, but Emma’s gotten real sharp.”

Jin “She saw right through it. Sorry about that.”

Yves “You could’ve warned me… I was being careful not to let it slip…”

(So Yves was looking out for me too.)

Emma “Thank you, Yves.”

Emma “I’m able to be here now because you signed as my guarantor back then.”

Yves “That’s true! You should be grateful.”

Yves “Speaking of guarantors… is Akatsuki still in Achroite?”

Emma “He’s planning to do a bit more buying before heading back to Rhodolite.”

Emma “I want to go back once to pick up a few things too, so I might travel with him.”

Yves “He really let you move to Achroite, huh? That’s great.”

Emma “He said, ‘It’s your life. Live it how you want.’”

Emma “But…”

I glanced to my side.

Matias looked just a little uncomfortable.

Matias “He also said that if I ever make you cry again, he’ll forcibly take you back to Rhodolite.”

Matias “I had no choice but to agree to that.”

Matias “However, I will never repeat the same mistake.”

Matias “Which is why I intend for us to become the most openly affectionate couple in all of Achroite.”

Yves “Openly affec— wait, what?”

Yves stared, eyes wide.

Beside him, Jin was shaking with laughter.

Jin “I’m looking forward to the day rumors about you two make it all the way to Rhodolite.”

Jin “Achroite’s gonna be busy for a while… but you two’ll be just fine.”

Matias “Yes. As long as Emma is by my side, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Later — after we had officially become a couple~

Matias “I’ve been thinking…”

Matias “Even though we’re lovers now, calling you Miss Emma still feels a bit distant.”

Matias “May I call you Emma?”

Emma “Of course. Please call me Emma.”

Matias “…Emma.”

Emma “Yes.”

Matias “Emma… yes. That feels right.”

(He looks so happy.)

Matias “Then won’t you call me Matias as well?”

Emma “Huh?”

Matias “Everyone close to me does. You don’t need to treat me differently just because I’m a prince.”

(Even if you say that…)

Emma “Lord Matias…”

Emma “…Matias—”

Emma “…-Lord.”

(I really can’t bring myself to call him by his name alone.)

Emma “I’m sorry… I don’t think I can change right away.”

Matias “I see. Then I’ll wait patiently.”

Matias “We have as much time as we need.”

(I’m still not used to being called that, and my heart skips every time—but still…)

(It makes me happy.)

(If I’m with Lord Matias, there’s nothing to be afraid of.)

(…Or at least, that’s what I want to say.)

(But honestly, I’m still nervous.)

A short while after parting ways with Jin and Yves—

We were summoned for an audience with His Majesty, to hear the ruling regarding Lord Matias’s “punishment.”

(It feels even more oppressive than the last time I stood before him.)

(And the fact that His Majesty specifically ordered me to attend as well means—)

The prison warden was also present at the audience.

It was obvious that the events at Ultima Thule would be brought up.

Unable to settle my nerves, my gaze wandered, until the king finally spoke.

Erwin “Regarding the punishment for your recent violation of royal command.”

Erwin “I will first allow you to speak in your defense. If you have anything to say, state it now.”

His heavy voice sank into the quiet chamber. Lord Matias let out a small breath, then lifted his gaze to meet the king’s directly.

Matias “—I have no defense.”

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 23 True Love Route - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

It was from back when I was still his investigation partner, one evening when he was walking me back to the inn.

Emma “Ah… look, Lord Matias. A snowman.”

Matias “You’re right. The children must have made it. It’s well done.”

Emma “Hehe, it even has a hat. It’s cute.”

Emma “And this tall one over here… I see, it’s four tiers.”

Matias “This was made by someone quite skilled. They’ve perfectly captured the proportions of a four-tier snowman.”

Emma “Proportions?”

Matias “There is a golden ratio to snowman construction, you see…”

Matias “And achieving the golden ratio of a four-tier snowman is incomparably more difficult than that of a three-tier.”

Matias “I have a fair amount of confidence in three tiers, but four is still something I’m working toward.”

Which option will you choose?

It’s deeper than I thought…

Are you perfect at three tiers?

By the way, what about five tiers…?

Emma “By the way… what about five tiers?”

Matias “Five tiers is no longer a realm ordinary people should tread.”

Matias “It is the final frontier reached only by those who have been consumed by snowman construction.”

(T-That much…?)

Matias “Incidentally, in Achroite, two-tier snowmen aren’t made very often…”

Matias “But my future wife says, ‘Two tiers are cute too,’ and always makes small snowmen.”

Matias “It’s heretical, admittedly, but her smile is so charming that I have no choice but to accept it…”

Matias “And in the end, a three-tier one and a two-tier one end up standing side by side.”

Emma “Hehe… that’s lovely.”

Matias “…It is.”

Emma “The people of Achroite really are passionate about snowmen…”

Emma “I’ve made them in Rhodolite too, but even three tiers is a struggle.”

Matias “There is a trick to shaping snowballs… no, a guiding principle.”

Matias “‘If you think it’s wrong, start over from the beginning.’”

Emma “Is that… a house precept?”

Matias “No. That’s one I arrived at on my own.”

Matias “When making snowballs, distortions inevitably catch your eye.”

Matias “And when you try to fix them by adding snow, they only become more misshapen.”

Matias “If you repeat that long enough, you lose sight of what ‘correct’ even is.”

Matias “In those moments, it’s better to remake the snowball from scratch.”

Matias “Often, that’s the faster way to reach the right answer.”

***

With the cold tip of a blade pressed against my back, we descended further and further down the stairs.

The closer we came to the lowest level, the heavier the air became, and even the central watchtower had fallen silent.

Emma “…Why did you bring me to Ultima Thule?”

I asked firmly, careful not to show fear.

Most of the prisoners we passed gazed at the old man with eyes full of devotion.

Even with the blade hidden in his cane aimed at my back, no one reacted.

Old Man “There are several reasons.”

Old Man “For years, I’ve been winning over the people in this prison, preparing for this uprising.”

Old Man “But for some, especially the guards, I still needed one final push.”

Emma “The guards…?”

Old Man “Yes.”

Old Man “In a closed space, hearing prisoners’ laments and resentment every single day… day after day…”

Old Man “Unless one possesses exceptional mental fortitude, the heart gradually wears away.”

Old Man “Once shaken just a little, bringing them to heel was not difficult.”

Voices I had heard before echoed in my mind.

Man “I have a young son… and a wife pregnant with our second child.”

Man “I’ll atone. I’ll pay any fine. So please…”

Man “W-Wait, banishment? That’s the same as a death sentence! If Obsidian finds me, I’ll be killed!”

(If I had to hear that every day… I don’t think I could endure it either.)

Old Man “Since Matias became Chief Justice, the number of prisoners has only increased.”

Old Man “And still, the guards continued to believe in the Asbrink family.”

Old Man “That this was necessary to maintain peace. That it was justice.”

Old Man “That beyond these walls, people lived free and happy lives.”

Old Man “That if this dark prison served as the foundation for that, they didn’t mind spending their lives here.”

Old Man “And then you fell into this place.”

Old Man “So they thought this: ‘Matias is a heartless beast who would cast even the woman he loves into prison.’”

Emma “That’s—”

(That’s not true… Lord Matias isn’t a beast…)

Old Man “Truth is irrelevant. In a sealed place like this, it became ‘truth.’”

Old Man “They realized they weren’t grinding themselves down to support the rule of a frozen-hearted beast.”

Old Man “That conclusion is only natural, even if I hadn’t guided them there.”

I wanted to argue back, but no words came.

(Maybe I’d always thought of Ultima Thule as something distant… unrelated to me.)

(But this place truly is—)

Old Man “My dear, this place is a kind of nation.”

Old Man “A small country built from what Achroite discarded.”

Old Man “Our anger, our hatred, everything was born here.”

Old Man “And now, at last, we can avenge that accumulated resentment.”

Old Man “We will burn Achroite as it is today and build a new nation.”

Old Man “A truly ‘just’ country.”

***

Matias “Lars.”

Matias called out to Lars as he walked down the corridor.

His expression was unchanged, but the frost had melted from his snow-in-shadow eyes.

Matias “There is something I need to ask of you.”

Lars “I don’t mind. What is it?”

Matias “Earlier, a man who was inciting unrest among the citizens was imprisoned.”

Matias “I want you to oversee the interrogation and direct the surrounding investigation.”

Lars “Wow… that’s a bigger job than I expected.”

Lars “But sure. It’s rare for you to come asking me with that kind of look on your face.”

Matias “‘That kind of look’?”

Lars “How should I put it… you look clear-headed.”

Matias “I see… that may be true.”

Lars “By the way, who was the man they arrested?”

Matias “His identity is still unclear, but it seems he was acting on someone else’s orders to stir up unrest.”

Matias “The person who apprehended him didn’t give a name, but,”

Matias “Apparently he said just one thing: You can buy me something sweet next time.”

Lars blinked in surprise, then let out a small, wry smile.

Lars “Sounds like a good senior.”

Matias “Yes. I’ve been fortunate, both in friends and in mentors.”

Matias “………………Right now, unrest is building across the country.”

Matias “Alongside the uprising at Ultima Thule, someone is clearly issuing orders to fan the flames.”

Matias “There must be other instigators. Investigate them, and if necessary, dispatch troops.”

Lars “And what will you do?”

Matias “I will—”

Matias swallowed his words once, then quietly steadied his breathing.

Matias “I’m going to Ultima Thule.”

Lars “………………You do realize a First-Class Suppression Order is in effect, right?”

Matias “I do.”

Lars “If you go, that’s defying a royal command.”

Matias “And violating the house precepts.”

Lars “……Even so?”

Matias “Yes. Even so.”

Matias “I don’t want to lose someone important ever again.”

Matias “I don’t want to live with the regret of thinking, ‘If only I’d been one step sooner.’”

As if trying to seize the distance he once failed to reach, he clenched his fist tightly.

Matias “……I’ve always wanted to uphold justice to protect people’s smiles.”

Matias “There is no justice worth upholding if it demands the sacrifice of a loved one’s smile.”

Lars “So that’s… your ‘position’?”

Matias “Yes.”

Matias “This is my will, the will of Matias Asbrink, as an individual.”

***

Emma “Burn Achroite… to the ground…?”

A chill ran through me at the old man’s words.

There was weight in his tone beyond madness alone, and that was what made it terrifying.

Old Man “You think it’s strange too, don’t you?”

Old Man “A royal family that declares itself justice, creates laws, and forces them upon the people.”

Old Man “When there is no guarantee that royal family is truly just.”

Old Man “That is an unhealthy peace, worse than outright tyranny.”

Old Man “A nation should be freer… and truly just.”

(The mastermind behind the seditious book incident, the man with the scarred hand, said the same thing.)

(At the core of the Ember Remnants is rebellion against oppression… and revenge.)

(They truly believe they have the right to strike back for what the nation did to them.)

(That they are justice…)

Emma “……It’s true that freedom should be protected.”

Emma “But a state where everyone does whatever they want, with no order at all, that isn’t freedom.”

Emma “What you seek isn’t freedom. It’s nothing more than chaos.”

The blade pressed harder against my back, sharp enough to tear skin.

Old Man “It’s unfortunate you can’t understand… but that’s fine.”

Old Man “We don’t force our beliefs onto others.”

Dragging my trembling legs, I was forced further inside.

At the deepest part of the lowest level was a desolate passageway, filled with air so cold it bit into the skin.

(This place feels different… like it’s rarely used.)

Emma “You said there were several reasons you brought me here…what else?”

Old Man “I intended to have you help search for the contract.”

Old Man “You think like that woman. So you might choose a similar hiding place.”

(That woman… Queen Matilda?)

Old Man “Imagine it. Where would you hide the contract?”

Old Man “Even if you wanted to discard proof of your sin, you couldn’t.”

Old Man “So you hide it quietly, somewhere no one will ever find it.”

Old Man “The place is a prison your family has managed for generations.”

Old Man “Where no one, not your husband, not your brother, not your son, can ever know.”

At that moment, a passage I’d seen before flashed through my mind.

—This is my sin, and the feeling I cannot abandon. —If it is to be taken from me, then at least I will hide it where no one will ever find it.

As if guided by those words, a small room in the darkness caught my eye.

(That’s… the counseling room?)

The little chamber, tucked away behind a pillar, carried a different air than the cells.

Old Man “That room?”

Emma “—!”

My arm was seized, and I was roughly shoved inside the dark room.

I fell to the floor, and when I looked up, I saw a carving of a rose.

(A rose carving…? Roses don’t bloom in Achroite.)

Beneath the rose-carved wall was a small bookshelf, and the floor, perhaps mixed with white stone, looked as if it were frozen solid.

Emma “Ah…”

In that instant, the rest of the words flooded back—

—My castle, a prison of words, a cage of prayers, deep beneath its cold stone floor. —Withered roses will cover it, and unmeltable frost will seal it away. —Please, let no one ever find it.

Emma “…N-No way…”

***

Matias dismounted, and in the blizzard, he walked forward along the only path that led to Ultima Thule.

Waiting to meet him was one of the guards—Frem.

Frem “Lord Matias.”

Frem “A First-Class Suppression Order is currently in effect.”

Frem “Unless troops have been dispatched here by royal command, no one is permitted to enter Ultima Thule.”

Frem “Entering would be defiance of the king’s orders. Even you would not be spared severe punishment, Lord Matias.”

Matias “I understand.”

Matias “If the price of defying it is my life, then I’ll gladly offer it later.”

Matias “Step aside, Frem.”

Matias lightly pressed a hand to Frem’s shoulder and headed for the massive doors.

Watching his back as he went, Frem quietly moved his hand behind him.

Matias “……Come to think of it, there’s something I forgot to ask.”

Frem “What is it?”

Matias “When you requested the First-Class Suppression Order from His Majesty…why did you file a false report?”

Frem “A false report?”

Matias “The warden had sworn, firmly, that he would never issue a First-Class Suppression Order in his tenure.”

Matias “It’s hard to believe he would make that call immediately after the uprising began.”

Frem “It truly was that urgent. It had grown beyond what we could handle,”

Matias “There’s more.”

Matias “In the city, a man incited a riot after receiving instructions from a certain person.”

Matias “Paired with the uprising at Ultima Thule, it appears to have been a diversionary operation.”

Matias “The moment that man began stirring up the crowd was…right after you ‘came to report to the castle.’”

Frem “……”

Matias “If the ‘chieftain’ is inside Ultima Thule, then someone is needed to act as a liaison to the outside.”

Matias “A prisoner couldn’t do it. Someone who can freely come and go from Ultima Thule, and also move through the city. . .”

Matias “A guard is the most likely possibility.”

In the next instant, Frem drew his sword. Sensing the razor-sharp killing intent, Matias slowly turned.

Frem “My apologies, Lord Matias. Under the First-Class Suppression Order,”

Frem “All guards are authorized to use force without warning.”

Frem “Even if you were to ‘be caught in the uprising and lose your life’ here…”

Frem “Under the law, you would be processed as one casualty among those lost in the suppression.”

Matias “I have every statute of Achroite law memorized. Of course I understand that as well.”

Matias drew his own sword, and in the blizzard the blade gave off a cold, keen light.

Matias “Come, Ember Remnant.”

***

Old Man “Is it there?”

A blade was pressed to my throat.

Emma “……No. I don’t think it’s here.”

Emma “Let’s go a little farther in.”

I slowly lifted my hand away from the stone paving, but the old man didn’t miss it.

Old Man “Dig it up.”

(…..)

Emma “Don’t tell me you’re going to dig up every room. That’s a waste of time.”

Old Man “True. Arguing like this is a waste of time.”

Old Man “I’m sorry, but could you go make one person a ‘victim of the riot’ at random?”

He called out into the darkness behind him.

Old Man “A child might be best. That would probably have the most effect.”

Emma “……………!”

As if answering him, the shadows flickered faintly.

Emma “Wait!”

Emma “I’ll search here. That’s fine, isn’t it?”

With an unhurried gesture of his hand, go ahead, the old man signaled permission.

(……It has to be my imagination.)

With trembling fingers, I lifted the stone slab.

It wasn’t firmly fixed; even with my strength, it came away easily.

(It can’t be here. I’m just mistaken.)

(Please… don’t let it be here.)

(Please… don’t be found.)

Praying as I dug into the cold earth, my fingertips touched something hard.

Carefully, I unearthed it.

What emerged from the soil was, a flat wooden box.

Old Man “Hand it over.”

He snatched the box roughly from me, opened the lid, and tossed it down onto the floor.

Old Man “This is—”

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

Old Man “Hah, hah, at last. I’ve finally found it.”

Old Man “Now I can drag the House of Asbrink down…!”

His laughter echoed through the dark room.

My hands, smeared with dirt, trembled with the mistake I’d just made.

(I can’t let him have that. Not these people, never them.)

(There’s no way it can be allowed… for Lord Matias’s entire path to be denied like this…!)

Emma “—!”

Before I even realized it, I’d sprung up as if launched, and snatched the contract from him.

(Anywhere is fine. Somewhere, anywhere but here.)

(Somewhere it won’t fall into the Ember Remnants’ hands.)

Emma “G—ah…!”

A sharp pain tore through my calf, and I collapsed to the ground.

Even so, I crawled forward, forward, and from behind me came a deep, tired sigh.

Old Man “As I thought. You really are the same.”

Old Man “Do all women who involve themselves with the House of Asbrink end up like this?”

I forced my trembling body to turn back toward him. In the next instant, a sharp blade was thrust to my nose.

Old Man “That woman too, without even understanding the contract’s importance, she tried to burn it, of all things.”

Old Man “That is a grave sin. A sin so great, even a life wouldn’t be enough to atone for it…”

Old Man “So I decided to give her a ‘punishment worthy of the weight of her crime.’”

Old Man “If Matias Asbrink hadn’t been there that day, I could have carved the weight of that sin into her far more deeply.”

(What… what is he saying?)

Emma “The Queen wasn’t punished by the House of Asbrink—”

Old Man “We punished her in their stead.”

Old Man “In place of that incompetent king who could do nothing more than lock her in a room without ever passing judgment.”

(No…)

(So it really was all of it was them.)

(Because of these people…!)

Old Man “Perhaps because her punishment was so half-hearted, we failed to break the son as well.”

Old Man “Matias Asbrink… that man relentlessly pursued us, tried to crush us.”

Old Man “But that ends now.”

Old Man “The moment I heard he’d fallen in love, I began waiting for this day.”

Old Man “The final reason I brought you to Ultima Thule, was as a gift.”

Old Man “If the woman he loved became a criminal by his own hand… and then met a miserable death in prison—”

Old Man “Even that man wouldn’t be able to remain sane.”

Fear surged through me, followed by a fierce, burning rage.

My grip tightened, and the contract crumpled with a harsh sound.

Emma “Don’t… mock him.”

Emma “Do you have any idea how much Matias suffered after the Queen died?”

Emma “He’s done nothing wrong. Not a single thing.”

Emma “And yet, this is all because of you…!”

Old Man “There is a sin.”

Old Man “Being born into the House of Asbrink is the sin.”

The cane was raised high.

(…..)

A sharp sound tore through the air. But instead of pain, what struck my ears was the clash of metal.

Emma “…Huh?”

When I opened my eyes, it wasn’t a cold blade before me. Even in the dim light, hair like gathered twilight swayed gently—

Matias “……”

Emma “L-Lord Matias…?”

(Why…? You shouldn’t be here.)

(You couldn’t possibly be here—)

Old Man “I never imagined you’d actually come.”

Old Man “The prisoners’ welcome must have been quite enthusiastic.”

Matias “They are people I imprisoned myself. I’ll accept their hatred.”

Up close, I could see he was wounded in several places, proof of the fierce battles he’d fought to get here.

Matias “But I will not allow you to harm Emma.”

Matias “Not under any circumstances.”

Footsteps closed in as prisoners armed with blades surrounded us.

Matias “It’s all right, Emma.”

Matias “I will protect you, even if it costs me my life.”

The moment those words left him, metal rang out, sparks flew.

Shadows tangled and fell faster than my eyes could follow. Then, someone struck from behind Matias.

Emma “W-Watch out—!”

Matias “—!”

Matias smashed the pommel of his sword into the attacker’s forehead, knocking him down.

More figures collapsed, but Matias was already wounded.

Matias “—!”

In the briefest opening, a thin blade drove deep into his side.

Matias “Guh—!”

He grabbed the embedded weapon, the blade hidden inside the cane, and tore it free, yanking the old man toward him.

Old Man “—!”

Matias flung the cane aside and struck. The old man fell flat on his back, sliding across the stone corridor.

Around us, prisoners lay scattered across the floor, none left standing with weapons.

Old Man “Ghh…”

Still swaying, Matias stepped toward the old man as he tried to rise.

He gripped his sword with both hands and set the tip squarely between the man’s brows.

Old Man “Kill me.”

Old Man “Kill me, and bury the sin along with everything else.”

Matias “……!”

Matias raised his sword—

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 22 True Love Route - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

(What… is happening?)

It all began far too suddenly.

Prisoner 1 “Keys, get the keys!”

Prisoner 2 “Just open the cells!”

The once-quiet corridor erupted with angry shouts and the thunder of heavy footsteps.

Just moments ago, a guard had been attacked by prisoners who had turned into a mob and shoved down into the atrium below.

(Why all of a sudden…? What started this?)

The trigger had been something trivial.

When it was time to begin labor duties and the guards started unlocking the cells, one prisoner suddenly flew into a rage.

As guards attempted to restrain him, other prisoners pinned them down—and the conflict spread like wildfire.

Now, the prison was consumed by chaos.

Prisoner 1 “Hey, you!”

A male prisoner grabbed the bars and shook them violently.

Prisoner 1 “I’ll get you out. If you want to run, run.”

He rattled the key ring, then unlocked my cell.

Prisoner 1 “You too, old man.”

He opened the neighboring cell as well, then ran off.

A bell rang incessantly, probably from the central watchtower.

(The old man…)

I cautiously opened the cell door, checked my surroundings, then looked into the next cell.

Leaning on a cane, the old man staggered toward the bars, unsteady on his feet.

Emma “Are you all right?!”

I hurried over and supported his frail body.

Old Man “Sorry… how pathetic of me.”

Emma “Please don’t worry. But why is this happening so suddenly—!”

A tremendous crash and muffled shouts echoed from the upper corridor.

(At this rate, even doing nothing could get us hurt.)

(It might actually be safer to stay inside the cell…)

Old Man “Emma, I have a request.”

Old Man “Will you take me to the lowest level?”

Emma “W–what…?”

Old Man “I’ve been searching for something for nearly ten years.”

Old Man “Something more important than my own life. If I can reclaim it, I don’t care if I die.”

Old Man “It may be on the lowest level of Ultima Thule.”

Emma “But in a situation like this—”

(If we move recklessly, they’ll think we’re part of the rebellion…)

Old Man “Please. If I miss this chance, I’ll never find it.”

Old Man “Once we reach the lowest level, you can leave me behind and escape. Please…”

A scream rang out from the opposite corridor beyond the watchtower.

Prisoner “I didn’t do anything, I swear, no, please!”

Violent sounds followed, freezing my blood.

(What should I do…?)

(If I stay here, I may be caught up in violence anyway.)

(But if I leave the cell and go down… there’ll be no excuses left.)

Guard “You there, don’t move!”

Emma “!”

A guard approached, gripping a baton, quiet fury simmering beneath the surface.

But a male prisoner leapt down from above and tackled the guard.

Prisoner “Run—now!”

Prisoner “This floor’s done for! Go down!”

Emma “…!”

Before I realized it, I was out of the cell, supporting the old man as we fled.

The sounds of fighting echoed behind us—but I didn’t look back.

Meanwhile—

Matias “What is the meaning of this… Your Majesty?”

After dismissing all attendants, Matias stood face-to-face with King Erwin in the throne room.

Matias “The contract with the former royal family… about the Queen, was it true?”

Matias “My mother… was she killed by the Asbrink family…?!”

Erwin “Broadly speaking, yes.”

Matias “What…?”

Erwin “As you learned, the Asbrink family was originally a cadet branch of the royal line.”

Erwin “At one time, circumstances forced the main family to entrust the country’s governance to us, until their rightful return.”

Erwin “However, during your great-grandfather’s generation, that contract was broken, and the former royal family was erased.”

Matias “Why…?”

Erwin “You are not permitted to know that reason.”

Erwin “Nor are we permitted to escape this sin. Nor to make it public.”

Erwin “It is a blood-bound law borne by every head of the family.”

Erwin “The Queen defied that law.”

Erwin “And so, as head of the Asbrink family, I passed judgment upon her.”

Matias “…Is it true? Did you truly… kill my mother?”

Matias “……Father!”

His voice echoed through the cathedral-like throne room.

Yet Erwin did not flinch, his gaze fixed upon nothingness.

Matias “Where is the contract now?”

Erwin “Unknown. We have searched for years, but it has never been found.”

Erwin “However… if the Ember Remnants have begun to move, then they must have obtained a lead.”

Erwin “The Queen went so far as to send a letter to Gunnar, instructing him to conceal the contract.”

Erwin “Given that, the possibility that the document lies within Ultima Thule cannot be dismissed.”

Erwin “It must be found before they do.”

Matias “And once you find it… what then?”

Matias “Will you bury it again… clinging to the throne while bearing that sin?”

Matias “Hiding the existence of the former royal family betrays the people’s trust.”

Matias “Even if the Asbrink family must relinquish the crown, the truth must be made public.”

Matias “And… Father, if all of this is true, then I must pass judgment upon you.”

Erwin lowered his eyes, still without revealing a single emotion.

??? “Y–Your Majesty…!”

At that moment, someone came rushing into the throne room, breathless.

Matias “Frem…?”

The one who appeared was Frem, a guard from Ultima Thule.

Frem “It’s an uprising! A full-scale riot has broken out in Ultima Thule!”

Frem “Warden Gunnar is currently directing suppression efforts, but the damage is severe!”

Frem “At this rate, Ultima Thule itself may fall!”

Erwin “What is the prisoners’ objective?”

Frem “Unknown. Most of the prisoners have turned into a mob and are attacking the guards.”

Frem “Even inmates from the lowest level have been released, recapture will be extremely difficult.”

Frem “Therefore, I formally request the issuance of a First-Class Suppression Order!”

Frem “This request comes directly from Warden Gunnar.”

Matias “…!”

Erwin “…So they’ve made the first move.”

Erwin “In accordance with Achroite law, I hereby issue a First-Class Suppression Order.”

Erwin “From this moment onward, Ultima Thule is to be completely sealed, inside and out.”

Erwin “Suppress any prisoners who disobey orders. Methods are unrestricted.”

Erwin “If any attempt is made to seize something, execute them on sight. No warnings are required.”

Both Matias and Frem understood the meaning of those words.

For the sake of suppression, any number of corpses could be piled high, the king had given that order.

Matias “Please wait. A First-Class Suppression Order normally requires parliamentary approval.”

Matias “Depending on how it is carried out, many prisoners may lose their lives.”

Matias “Something like that—”

Erwin “Have you already forgotten, Matias?”

Erwin “The criminal you showed mercy to, the one you pleaded leniency for, was the one who killed your mother.”

Matias “……”

Erwin “Cast aside sentiment. There is no need to show mercy to criminals.”

Erwin “Once confined to Ultima Thule, the lives of prisoners become the property of the nation of Achroite.”

Erwin “In the execution of the law, a certain number of ‘losses’ is unavoidable.”

Erwin “That is what the law is.”

Matias “But—”

Erwin “Asbrink Family Precept, Fourth Rule: ‘One must not act outside the bounds of one’s appointed duty.’”

Erwin “Continue focusing on eliminating the seeds of unrest within the country. This is a royal command.”

Erwin “As for the previous matter… once the uprising at Ultima Thule has been suppressed, we will revisit it.”

Erwin “As a man born into the Asbrink family, consider carefully what you ought to do.”

Meanwhile—

Inside a tavern in the city, angry voices, laced with hatred, drew the attention of those around them.

Man “What was written in that book was the truth.”

Man “The current royal family has been hiding things from us.”

Man “The reason Matias tightened the laws was to conceal it. We’ve been deceived!”

Man “There is no justice in the Asbrink family. Now is the time for us to rise—”

Just as the man grew more impassioned, someone casually draped an arm around his shoulder.

Jin “You’ve got some fire there. Mind if I join in?”

Man “W–who the hell are you…?”

Holding a drink, Jin cut into the conversation with an easy grin, leaving the man momentarily confused.

Jin “Here, this one’s on me.”

Jin “Hey, bartender. One round for everyone here, my treat.”

Patron 1 “You’re generous, friend.”

Patron 2 “Much obliged.”

Jin “Drinking’s more fun when everyone’s enjoying it together, right?”

As drinks were passed around, the crowd’s attention drifted away from the speech.

All the while, Jin kept his arm firmly around the man’s shoulders.

Jin “So, where were we? Ah, Matias, right?”

Jin “I get it. He’s stubborn, inflexible, and can’t resist turning everything into a law lecture.”

Jin “No matter how many times I tell him ‘women are all about the chest,’ he won’t budge.”

Man “…The chest?”

Jin “But there aren’t many men as honest as him.”

Jin pulled the man closer, smiling as he leaned in.

Jin “…That said, you’re awfully practiced at this.”

Man “W–what are you talking about?”

Jin “Relax. I’m complimenting you, smooth talker.”

Jin “So? Who was it?”

Jin “Who told you to stir people up?”

Some Time Ago~

Emma “Um, if I could just hold onto your arm for a moment, ah!”

The cold from the night before had turned the road completely to ice.

(A thin layer of snow over ice makes it even worse…!)

Matias “Are you all right, Emma? You can hold on to me.”

Emma “I’m so sor—whoa!”

(Every step feels like I’m about to fall…)

Emma “Are you all right, Matias?”

Matias “I’m used to it.”

Matias “And it may also be the shoes.”

Emma “My shoes?”

Matias “Achroite footwear has anti-slip soles.”

Matias “Shoes from Rhodolite are probably more prone to slipping.”

Emma “I see… I’ll buy new ones next time.”

(That aside, right now I just need to make it across this road.)

Matias “…Hmm.”

Matias “Emma, could you turn sideways and stand here for a moment?”

Emma “Y–Yes. Like this—ah!”

(He’s carrying me…!)

Matias “Bear with it for a bit. I’ll put you down once we’re past this.”

Emma “That’s not the problem, but… isn’t this a burden for you?”

Matias “This much is nothing.”

Matias “Back when I was enlisted, the wooden crates we dragged through snow were far worse . . .”

Matias “…No. That was an inappropriate comparison. Forget I said it.”

(That doesn’t exactly help me relax…)

(But… he’s warm.)

(And it’s so quiet… I can feel the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat.)

Matias “Is something wrong?”

Which option will you choose?

The scenery is beautiful

It’s so quiet

You’re very warm…

Emma “I was just thinking that the scenery is beautiful.”

Emma “So this is what the world looks like from your eye level, Matias.”

Matias “Does it look any different from what you usually see?”

Emma “It feels like everything is sparkling more than usual.”

Matias “That’s probably the sunlight reflecting off the snow crystals,”

Matias “…No. If that’s how it looks to you, then perhaps it truly is.”

Before long, we reached the edge of the frozen road.

Matias “From here on, you shouldn’t slip anymore.”

Emma “Thank you very m—whoa!”

Matias “……”

(This is embarrassing… slipping again, this time on snow…)

Emma “Um… would it be alright if I held onto your arm just a little longer…?”

Matias “Of course.”

Matias “As long as you wish.”

***

(Why did I remember this now?)

(We’ll probably never meet again…)

As if tearing through that happy memory, the bell began to ring, shrill and relentless.

Blending into the flow of escaping prisoners, the old man and I made our way deeper below.

(It’s awful…)

From above, furious resistance still echoed through the halls.

Below, however, guards lay fallen, drained of all color.

(What’s happening on the lowest level?)

(If it’s this bad here, then below must be even—)

Emma “Sir… are you certain what you’re looking for is on the lowest level?”

Old Man “I’ve searched everywhere else I can. If there’s any chance, it’s down there.”

Old Man “At the very least, I know it’s somewhere within Ultima Thule.”

Emma “Did you… intentionally get yourself sent to Ultima Thule in order to search for it?”

Old Man “No. That was coincidence.”

Old Man “I just happened to already be closest in the end.”

Old Man ‘Hidden in plain sight,’ as they say.”

Old Man “Still… I should have committed a heavier crime than illegal book trading.”

Old Man “If I had, I wouldn’t need your help to reach the lowest level.”

(Illegal books…?)

A fragment of memory surfaced in my mind.

—

Old Woman “Yes. The owner of a small bookstore remembered.”

Old Woman “He was a very gentle man. He always helped whenever someone was in trouble.”

Old Woman “He was arrested a few years ago, and I haven’t seen him since…”

—

Shopkeeper “I often heard about him from the shop’s previous owner.”

Emma “He… was arrested, wasn’t he?”

Shopkeeper “Yes. He handled books containing expressions that violated the law.”

—

(No… that can’t be…)

Old Man “Is something wrong?”

Emma “No… it’s nothing.”

(The bookstore owner was connected to the Ember Remnants.)

(If the cursed book I saw once belonged to the shop’s former owner, no, the owner from before the arrest…)

(And if this man is that owner…)

(Then he is—)

Emma “Um… sir.”

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

Cold sweat seeped into the hand supporting his body.

Emma “The thing you’re searching for… could it possibly be—”

Emma “—the Contract?”

Old Man “…”

The old man stopped suddenly and turned to look at me. He was no longer leaning on his cane. He was standing firmly on his own two feet.

Old Man “You truly are sharp.”

Old Man “As expected of someone who served as Matias Asbrink’s partner.”

And then—

(That smile… no way…)

It was twisted with a chilling madness.

***

In the empty office, Matias sat alone, one hand pressed to his forehead. His eyes seemed fixed on the desk, yet in truth, they saw nothing.

As though he were wandering endlessly through a maze with no exit.

Soldier “Lord Matias, may I have a moment?”

A knock at the door pulled him back to himself.

Matias “Go ahead. Come in.”

The soldier bowed and hurried inside, lowering his voice as he reported.

Matias “…Are you certain?”

Soldier “Yes. The female inn employee has testified.”

Matias “…I see.”

Matias “No wonder it never surfaced, no matter how long we searched.”

With a heavy sigh, his gaze fell.

Matias “So the ‘leader’ was in Ultima Thule from the very beginning…”

Matias clenched the documents in his hand.

They were papers he had just been reading, a letter from Kagari of the allied nation Kougyoku .

It stated that “there is a high probability that the command center of the Ember Remnants is hiding within Achroite.”

Soldier “What shall we do? If this is true… then Emma—”

Matias “Yes. I know.”

Matias “………………………………I know that.”

Matias “I’m sorry, but… could you leave me alone for a while?”

The soldier bowed and left the office.

When even the sound of his footsteps faded, a suppressed voice slipped into the silence.

Matias “…The law is absolute.”

Matias “I cannot afford to make another mistake.”

Matias “Never again…”

***

Elvin “The law itself is justice. Never forget that.”

Headmaster “Justice exists to protect people. Never forget that, Asbrink.”

Defendant “Thank you for sentencing me to death. Now I can finally go see my father.”

Defendant “Hahaha… ahahahahaha!”

Jin “I think sometimes… ‘emotion’ is necessary too.”

Jin “We’re human, after all.”

Matilda “I’m sorry… this is all my fault…”

Matilda “This must be punishment…”

Female Employee “And once again… you won’t be able to save anyone.”

Emma “——Matias.”

***

Matias “…!”

He looked up in a panic—but there was no one at the conference table.

There was no sound of a pen scratching across paper. No aroma of coffee. No smile.

He could no longer even imagine a happy future, only days spent obeying rules.

And yet—

That voice alone reached him with startling clarity.

Clear enough to crack the frozen chains that had bound him in place.

Matias “…Ah. I see now. So that’s what it was.”

Matias “I was mistaken.”

Matias “There was never a ‘second time.’”

Matias “I have always… been wrong.”

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 21 True Love Route - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

(…I’m here again.)

Before I realized it, I was standing in the middle of a narrow path.

This place, once wrapped in a gentle, cheerful atmosphere, was now filled with biting cold.

Everything around me was coated in frost, as if all warmth had been drained away.

Emma “…It’s cold…”

I wrapped my arms around myself, my body shuddering violently.

As I walked straight ahead, I spotted an oak table—like everything else, completely covered in frost.

Emma “……”

The book resting on top was frozen solid. When I touched it with my fingertips, a pain-like chill shot through me.

Even so, I forced the stiff pages open—and found that only a single page had not frozen.

Written there was a passage I somehow recognized.

—In my castle, my prison of words, my cage of prayers, deep beneath the cold stone floor. —Withered roses shall conceal it, and unmelting frost shall seal it away. —May it never be found by anyone. —I love you. From the bottom of my heart.

(Somewhere… I’ve seen this before…)

I knew these words, yet I couldn’t remember where I’d read them.

Emma “Ah…”

As I hesitated, frost began creeping toward the edge of that page.

Emma “Wait…!”

Without thinking, I tore the page free.

Clutching the icy paper to my chest, I curled in on myself.

Still afraid, I tried to bury it beneath soil that hadn’t yet hardened— praying desperately that this feeling, at least, would not freeze.

***

Soldier “Wake up.”

A cold voice yanked me out of my half-dream.

Turning toward the faint light, I saw a soldier peering in through the open door.

The other prisoners in the transport carriage slowly lifted their heads, exhaustion written across their faces.

Soldier “Disembark in order. We’ve arrived at Ultima Thule.”

(So this is… Ultima Thule.)

After a long journey in the carriage, we arrived at a solitary island crowned by towering spires.

Through the blizzard, a massive stone prison loomed over us like a living shadow.

Soldier “Move.”

A light shove to my back sent me forward, and I stepped into Ultima Thule.

We passed through countless maze-like corridors before reaching a circular hallway.

Soldier “This will be your cell.”

I was led into a small cell, furnished with the bare necessities for daily life.

Soldier “Don’t forget, you’re here to atone for your crime.”

The soldier locked the door and walked away without another word.

(The atmosphere is completely different from the castle dungeon…)

The prison was divided into several levels, each overseen by its own watchtower.

Cells lined the outer edge of the corridor in a ring, allowing the central watchtower to oversee the entire floor.

(…Hm?)

A soft tapping sound came from the wall beside me.

When I looked closer, I saw a thin crack, and beyond it, the silhouette of someone else.

Elderly Man’s Voice “Hello. Nice to meet you.”

(An old man…? His voice sounds very gentle.)

Elderly Man’s Voice “You must be anxious, having ended up in a place like this.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “But there’s no need to worry too much. As long as you behave, you won’t be harmed.”

His warm, kindly voice eased my anxiety, just a little.

(Is it alright to respond…?)

To be safe, I kept my body and face angled toward the central watchtower.

Emma “Um… hello.”

Emma “…Have you been here long?”

Elderly Man’s Voice “About three years, I suppose.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “In prison terms, that still makes me a newcomer.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “There are plenty who’ve been here ten… twenty… even longer.”

The thought that I might spend that much time here made my body feel unbearably heavy.

Emma “What is life like here?”

Elderly Man’s Voice “Not all that different from outside. You work, you eat, you chat with others a bit, then you sleep.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “The differences are that the beds are hard, and conversations have time limits.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “And the food’s a little cold. You get used to it.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “It’s not a good place, but it’s not as terrible as people imagine.”

Emma “I see…”

Elderly Man’s Voice “If you run into trouble, feel free to ask me.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “I may be new, but I know this place fairly well.”

Emma “Thank you.”

(It’s a relief, at least, to have a kind person next door.)

Elderly Man’s Voice “By the way… what crime brought you here?”

Emma “…The charge given at trial was attempted murder.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “That’s surprising, for someone who seems as gentle as you.”

Emma “But I think the real crime that put me here is something else.”

Emma “I… hid the truth.”

Emma “And I fell in love… with someone I shouldn’t have.”

A short breath escaped from the crack in the wall.

Elderly Man’s Voice “Hm…”

Elderly Man’s Voice “Let me ask you one thing.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “What does love mean to you?”

(Love…)

Which option will you choose?

Wishing for that person’s happiness

Wanting to see that person smile

Protecting that person, even at the cost of yourself

Emma “Wanting to see that person smile… That might be what love truly is.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “I see…”

Elderly Man’s Voice “That may well be the essence of love.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “…You seem to carry a very beautiful love within your heart.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “But in this country, at times, even ‘love’ can become a crime.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “And that crime is the gentlest, and the heaviest, of all.”

(…What did he just say?)

The most important part slipped past me, as if it had been carried away by the wind.

Elderly Man’s Voice “I’m glad I was able to meet someone who knows that crime.”

Elderly Man’s Voice “I’m sure the others here feel the same.”

At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor.

I quietly straightened myself and fixed my gaze on the watchtower directly ahead.

Passing beyond the iron bars was the warden I had once seen at the castle—

His eyes were as cold and sharp as they had been then.

***

Two days after Emma was transported to Ultima Thule—

While Matias sat alone at his desk reading a letter, his friend Lars appeared at the doorway.

Lars “How are you holding up, Matias?”

Matias “There’s no problem. It’s a day proceeding exactly as scheduled.”

Lars “Then that’s good.”

Lars placed the documents he was holding onto the conference table and glanced toward the desk beside Matias’s.

The desk meant for the “future queen” was just as it had been before, not a single scrap of paper out of place.

Lars “…That letter?”

Matias “It’s from the warden.”

Matias “Apparently, the prisoners have been unusually quiet lately.”

Matias “Even those who are usually confined to solitary have been remarkably well-behaved.”

Lars “Isn’t that a good thing?”

Matias “In principle, yes. But if even the warden finds it unsettling, then it’s likely not normal.”

Matias “The country remains unstable due to the inciting-book affair.”

Matias “We can’t afford to let our guard down.”

Lars “That’s true.”

Lars “…By the way, did you learn anything about her?”

Matias “What are you referring to?”

Lars “Emma.”

Lars “You’re considering a retrial, aren’t you?”

Without moving a single brow, Matias set the letter down on his desk.

Matias “………………Casting doubt on a verdict once rendered is an unforgivable act for a judge.”

Matias “The family precepts also say, ‘One must not touch the scales twice.’”

Lars “But they don’t forbid picking up the ‘weight’ placed on the scale.”

Lars “Especially if that weight was cleverly concealed.”

There was no reply. Those snow-in-shadow-colored eyes didn’t even turn toward his friend.

They had remained frozen ever since that day, ever since the moment he declared Emma guilty.

Lars “…Don’t push yourself too hard, Matias.”

Lars “I’m sure Emma is worried about you, too.”

Leaving those words behind, Lars handed Matias a single document and exited the office.

Matias “…Worried, huh.”

The document he held was a report from the inciting-book investigation.

The template itself had been drafted by Emma long ago, and the wax seal she had pressed still remained.

When he traced the seal with his thumb, it cracked cleanly in two with a dry sound.

Matias “…You mean she hates me.”

The words vanished into the silence.

Immediately after, a knock sounded at the door.

Matias “You may enter.”

Soldier “Excuse me.”

Soldier “The individual you ordered us to investigate has made a move.”

Soldier “Two soldiers are currently in pursuit.”

Matias “Where are they headed?”

Soldier “They seem to be moving through the city as if trying to shake someone off, but…”

Soldier “We believe they may be returning to the inn.”

Matias “…..”

Matias “I’ll head there myself. Have them accompany me.”

***

(It’s cold…)

In the frigid air, I packed the materials needed for work into a crate.

In the same room, female prisoners worked silently, while guards watched us from a short distance away.

(Just as the man in the neighboring cell said, we’re not subjected to unjust violence.)

(We can speak with other prisoners, and we’re given food.)

(But…)

An air of inescapable despair and resignation hung over the prison.

I’d heard that the atmosphere differed by level, but at least on the floor where I was held, everyone looked utterly exhausted.

Everyone, even the guards.

Female Prisoner 1 “…!”

The woman beside me staggered unsteadily.

Emma “Are you alright?”

When I hurried to support her, she returned a faint smile.

Female Prisoner 1 “Thank you, Emma…”

Emma “…How do you know my name?”

Female Prisoner 1 “It’s a closed place. Rumors spread quickly.”

She glanced toward the guard, then leaned in closer.

Female Prisoner 1 “Hey… is it true that Matias betrayed you?”

(What…?)

Emma “That’s a misunderstanding. If anything, I’m the one who—”

Female Prisoner 1 “But Matias knew it was a false charge, didn’t he? And he still declared you guilty.”

Emma “…!”

I wanted to say no.

But my throat tightened painfully, and no sound came out.

Female Prisoner 1 “So the rumors are true…”

Female Prisoner 1 “Then Achroite really is already-”

Guard “You there. No talking.”

A sharp command rang out, and the woman immediately pulled away.

But as another female prisoner passed by, she whispered softly in my ear.

Female Prisoner 2 “…It’s alright. Just hold on a little longer.”

Not knowing what that voice had meant, its words continued to linger in my ears.

***

Meanwhile~

Yves “If she went out to buy food, then this area seems the most suspicious…”

Yves and Akatsuki were walking through the streets of Achroite, searching for someone.

Yves “…Alright? First, we’re just going to talk. Please don’t draw your sword right away.”

Akatsuki “That depends on the situation.”

Yves “That’s exactly what worries me…”

The person they were searching for was the inn’s female employee.

It had been just a few hours earlier—

Elderly Woman “Yves, dear. May I have a moment?”

Yves “Of course. Is something wrong?”

Elderly Woman “It’s really just a small thing, but…”

Elderly Woman “Today, that girl who works at the inn returned the room keys to their usual place, but…”

Elderly Woman “The nameplate was turned over.”

Elderly Woman “I’m the sort of person who notices things like that, so I always make sure they’re facing the right way.”

Yves “I get it. I’m the same way, those little details really bother me.”

Elderly Woman “Really? I’m glad.”

Elderly Woman “And then I remembered, this had happened before.”

Elderly Woman “When I checked, the key that had been turned over that time was—”

Elderly Woman “The key to the room Emma was staying in.”

Yves “…What?”

Yves “The keys are usually handled only by you, but the staff know where they’re kept.”

Yves “…If someone was secretly using them…”

Akatsuki “Then that employee is the wretch who framed Emma.”

Akatsuki’s hand moved to the sword at his waist.

Yves “Listen, if we find her, we question her properly, with the grandmother present. No sudden violence, alright?”

Yves “…Hm?”

At that moment, several soldiers passed along a distant street.

***

Elderly Woman “Ah—!”

As the elderly woman stumbled backward, one of the chairs in the common room toppled over.

Closing in step by step was the inn’s female employee.

Female Employee “That won’t do, Grandma.”

Female Employee “You shouldn’t be telling guests unnecessary things.”

Elderly Woman “So it really was you…?”

Elderly Woman “Why… why would you do this to Emma?”

Female Employee “Because I was told she was ‘wanted.’”

Female Employee “It was quite a hassle, you know, setting everything up and guiding things just right.”

She pulled a thick rope from inside her clothes and wrapped it tightly around both hands, pulling hard.

Female Employee “I don’t hold a grudge against you, Grandma, but,”

Female Employee “No, maybe I do. Blame yourself for being a peace-addled citizen of Achroite.”

The moment she stepped forward, someone seized her arm with crushing force.

Female Employee “…What—?!”

At the end of the arm being twisted tight were snow-shadow–colored eyes, burning with quiet fury—

Matias “…..”

Female Employee “Lord Matias…!”

She tried to wrench herself free, but remained restrained, forced face-down against the table.

The thick rope slipped from her hands and fell to the floor.

Female Employee “…Since when?”

Matias “Since before Emma’s trial.”

Matias “The only people with access to her room were herself and the person who managed the inn’s keys.”

Matias “If someone planted poison in that room, then an inn employee was the most likely culprit.”

Matias “You were cautious and never let your tail show until now, but…”

Matias “Did you relax once you thought your objective was complete?”

Several soldiers rushed into the inn and took over restraining the woman.

Matias stepped away and extended a hand to the elderly woman, who was still seated on the floor.

Matias “Are you unharmed, madam?”

At that moment, Yves and Akatsuki entered, following the soldiers.

Yves “Lord Matias!?”

Matias “You are… Yves Kloss. And beside you is—”

Akatsuki “Emma’s employer.”

Matias “Then you are a book merchant as well.”

Yves “That aside—”

Before Yves could continue, the elderly woman clutched at Matias.

Elderly Woman “Lord Matias. Emma hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Elderly Woman “She’s such a good girl. She listened so happily to my stories, told me about books…”

Elderly Woman “When I ended up with an inciting book, she even helped me.”

Elderly Woman “There’s no way that child would poison someone. Please, I beg you, Emma—”

Matias “Madam…”

Cutting her off, the female employee let out a dry laugh.

Female Employee “You can’t save her, can you?”

Female Employee “After all, you were the one who sent her to Ultima Thule with your own hands.”

Matias “……”

Female Employee “Poor Emma.”

Female Employee “All because she fell in love with a man without blood or tears, she became a criminal.”

Female Employee “Every woman who gets involved with the Asbrink family is doomed to ruin.”

Female Employee “And you, once again, won’t be able to save anyone.”

Seizing a brief opening, she broke free of her restraints and drew a small blade from within her clothes.

She raised the tip to her own throat—

Female Employee “—!”

A sharp metallic clang rang out against the silent snowfall.

The blade was knocked aside by Matias’s drawn sword, clattering to the floor a heartbeat later.

Female Employee “…Ha… ha.”

The sword’s tip was now leveled at her throat.

Female Employee “Why don’t you kill me?”

Female Employee “You hate me, don’t you?”

As everyone present held their breath—

Matias “It seems you’re mistaken about something.”

Matias “From this moment on, your life is under the jurisdiction of the law.”

Matias “You are not permitted to die of your own accord.”

Female Employee “……”

Matias withdrew the blade from her throat and slid his sword back into its sheath.

Matias “Bind her securely and take her away.”

Matias “There are countless things we need to hear from this woman.”

Several hours later—

Matias stood before the place the female employee had testified about.

The warehouse where Emma had hidden the forbidden book.

Soldier “Lord Matias, there appears to be something over there.”

When the lid of a dust-covered wooden crate was opened, inside lay a book wrapped in cloth, along with several letters.

Matias “Letters…?”

Matias “Whose could these possibly be—”

As his eyes traced the written words, confusion slowly crept into his snow-shadow–colored gaze.

Matias “—I must question His Majesty about this.”

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 20 - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

Matias “……Order. The court is now in session.”

At those words, the courtroom fell silent, as though a stone had been dropped into still water.

When I lifted my gaze, the person I loved was there, and no matter how long I looked, my hand could not reach him.

At this moment, we were no longer friends, but defendant and judge, facing one another across an uncrossable line.

Matias “The defendant stands accused of conspiring to commit murder through the use of poison, and of carrying out that act.”

Matias “In addition, the court will examine the charge that the defendant illegally acquired and possessed books designated as forbidden under the law.”

Matias “Do you dispute these charges?”

Emma “No. I do not.”

A wave of murmuring swept through the gallery.

Yet the sound felt distant, blurred, as though I were hearing it from beneath the surface of water.

At Matias’s glance, the court official standing at his side stepped forward.

Court Official “As a matter of record, the defendant Emma is a book merchant from Rhodolite.”

Court Official “The defendant offered her cooperation in this nation’s book inspection efforts and the investigation into seditious texts, however.”

Court Official “It is believed that these actions were merely a pretext for obtaining forbidden books.”

Court Official “After covertly acquiring said materials, the defendant is suspected of attempting to poison the man who transferred them to her, in order to prevent discovery.”

Court Official “It has been determined that the defendant most likely applied poison to a milk pitcher, thereby contaminating the beverage consumed by the victim.”

Court Official “The poison used in the crime was discovered in the defendant’s lodging. This substance is rare within our borders.”

The official continued.

That unfinished seditious texts had been found in Warehouse No. 45, which the defendant had rented.

That after visiting the old warehouse, the defendant’s behavior had reportedly changed, according to testimony from a female inn employee.

And that while many voices insisted she must have been framed, such claims remained circumstantial.

(…………That part surprised me.)

According to the official, the voices speaking in my defense were not few.

The elderly innkeeper. The café owner I frequented. Even a prominent book merchant . . .

People I had met in Achroite were trying to protect me.

Court Official “That concludes the summary of this case.”

The official bowed deeply and stepped back.

Matias “Defendant, do you dispute this account?”

(If I say I don’t, my guilt will be all but sealed.)

I could feel the eyes of the entire courtroom piercing into me.

And yet, strangely enough, I wasn’t nervous.

Emma “I dispute . . .”

Meanwhile, in Kogyoku—

Man “Gah—!”

The man was flung through the air, skidding across the ground before coming to a stop.

Closing in through the dusk, eyes gleaming like a prowling cat, was a young man known by the epithet Yaksha—Kagari.

Man “H–hii—!”

As the man tried to flee, the tip of a blade touched the bridge of his nose.

Even the slightest movement would have split skin.

Man “I—I work for Kuga. I’m not your enemy!”

Kagari “Whether you’re Kuga-aligned or not is irrelevant.”

Kagari “I was promised a reward for capturing you and handing you over to Achroite.”

Kagari “They also said information would suffice. In that case, your body isn’t required.”

Kagari “You may choose.”

Man “……!”

The man swallowed hard and reached into his clothes—

But faster than the motion, a blade flashed, knocking the object from his hand.

Kagari “Poison?”

The small bottle shattered on the ground, scattering a clear liquid.

Kagari “You should hide things like that in your mouth from the start.”

Kagari “If there is a next time.”

The silver blade pressed against the man’s throat.

The man understood what it meant—that the Night Yaksha was choosing not to kill him yet.

Kagari “I don’t like noise.”

Kagari “If you talk now, I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt when I cut you down.”

Kagari “……Where is your leader?”

The man swallowed, his lips trembling.

Man “There, there is no leader.”

Kagari “A factional structure, then.”

Kagari “You’re similar to us. Split into groups, doing as you please.”

Kagari “But even so, there must be a king.”

Man “……There isn’t.”

Kagari “I see. That’s unfortunate.”

With a sharp sound, the blade lifted.

Man “The leader isn’t in Rhodolite!”

The blade stopped with a hair’s breadth of skin torn.

Kagari “Then where?”

Man “In Achroite.”

Man “For several years now.”

Man “In a place where no one can ever arrest him.”

Some time earlier—

It was one of those nights when Matias walked me back to the inn, as usual.

Matias “My family code?”

Emma “Yes. I was wondering why it was created.”

Following the flow of conversation, I asked him about the Asbrink family precepts.

Matias “The Asbrink family code was established at least eight generations ago.”

Matias “What the head of the family at the time was thinking is unknown, but,”

Matias “Under the belief of enforcing justice in Achroite, he likely sought to create a moral standard.”

Matias “The First Precept states: ‘An Asbrink man shall determine his actions under the law.’”

Matias “Men born into the Asbrink family engrave this teaching into their hearts from a young age.”

Matias “It is an absolute rule. One that must never be broken.”

Matias “Should one violate the family code, punishment will follow, but…”

Matias “The penalty for breaking the First Precept would be especially severe.”

Matias “In some cases, one may even pay with their life.”

Emma “Life… you mean?”

Matias “Yes. An iron law.”

(The royal family of Achroite has strictly disciplined itself for generations.)

Emma “Matias… you are the current head of the Asbrink family, aren’t you?”

Matias “That is correct.”

Emma “Then… is it possible for you to establish new house laws?”

Matias “It is possible. But I have no intention of doing so at present.”

Matias “The 299 existing precepts already define the proper way for a person to live.”

Matias “His Majesty also refrained from increasing them unnecessarily.”

Matias “Though I have heard that during my great-grandfather’s era, a considerable number were added.”

(His great-grandfather… Matias’s father’s grandfather.) (That would have been around sixty or seventy years ago.) (The book purge happened seventy years ago, too…)

Matias “Among them, the one I hold closest to my heart is the 259th precept.”

Matias ‘Cast aside personal desire, and faithfully carry out one’s duty.’

Matias “As a judge, earning resentment is unavoidable.”

Matias “There are times when one must make merciless decisions.”

Matias “When that happens, I remind myself of this precept.”

Matias “To reaffirm that I exist for this country from the moment I was born.”

(For Achroite…) (I understand that this severity has preserved the nation’s peace.) (But to me, it almost feels like a curse.) (To belong to the country from birth… to never belong to yourself…)

Matias “Even so, I am still immature.”

Matias “The day I establish new house laws as head of the family is likely far off.”

Emma “What kind of house law would you establish?”

Matias “I haven’t given it much thought, but… it would likely concern my future wife.”

Matias “There are many rules regarding how women are treated, yet surprisingly few regarding the wife herself.”

Matias “I would like to establish laws that ensure my future wife can remain happy.”

Emma “Hehe… that sounds very much like you, Matias.”

Matias “And what about you? What kind of house law would you establish?”

Emma “Me?”

Matias “Yes. I’d like to hear it, just as a reference.”

Emma “Let me think…”

Choice

Which option do you choose?

One must go to bed properly every day

One must take care of oneself

One must take at least thirty minutes of rest per day

Emma “‘One must take at least thirty minutes of rest per day.’”

Emma “…How about that?”

Matias “If it were written into the house laws, I’d have no choice but to take breaks.”

Emma “And if you broke it, you’d be punished.”

Matias “What kind of punishment?”

Emma “Additional rest time.”

Matias “…Ha. That would be quite severe.”

Matias “When the time comes to establish new laws, I’ll consider your proposal.”

Matias “…So that the suffering of future generations may be eased, even slightly.”

(…‘Suffering,’ huh.)

That trivial conversation quietly aches in my chest.

Does Matias still carry the 259th precept in his heart?

Is he still killing parts of himself?

(Please, don’t suffer.) (Please, don’t let your heart freeze.) (Please—forget me.)

***

Emma “There is,”

I look straight up at the man I love, standing on the high dais.

Emma “no discrepancy.”

Yves / Jin “…!”

The courtroom erupts.

Yves “Why…?”

Jin “Emma…”

Matias “Order.”

The sharp crack of the gavel freezes the room instantly.

In the silence, so deep even fabric rustling echoes, the guardian of the law looks down at me with snow-shadow eyes.

Matias “This court finds that the defendant’s actions constitute attempted murder and unlawful possession of prohibited materials.”

Matias “Defendant, do you contest this?”

Emma “…No.”

From behind me, I can feel people rising, murderous intent in the air.

Yves “Akatsuki, I understand how you feel, but stop.”

Yves “If you go to her now, it’ll become irreparable.”

Ignoring the tension, the Chief Justice continues calmly.

Matias “The court will now deliver its verdict.”

Matias “The defendant, Emma, is hereby found guilty and sentenced to eighty years of imprisonment in Ultima Thule.”

Matias “Upon completion of the sentence, the defendant shall be expelled from the country.”

Matias “Take her away.”

Two soldiers flank me and solemnly guide me toward the exit.

As I walk, I keep my eyes fixed on Matias.

But his snow-shadow gaze remains forward—he does not look at me even once.

(Of course.) (I’m a criminal now, someone Matias must despise.) (So,)

Emma “Goodbye, Matias.”

My farewell echoes through the silent courtroom.

Matias “…”

Just before the doors closed, the quiet voice of the man I loved trembled through the freezing air.

Matias “…This court is adjourned.”

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 19 - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

Matias “Is there something you need, Jin?”

Matias paused the documents in his hands and calmly raised his gaze.

Jin “You know damn well why I’m here. It’s about Emma.”

Jin pulled out a chair at the conference table, turned it toward Matias, and sat down.

Jin “……Are you really okay with this?”

Matias “There is no question of ‘okay’ or ‘not okay.’ I am simply fulfilling my duty.”

Matias “She is currently under suspicion for attempted murder.”

Matias “Given the risk of flight, her arrest and detention are legally sound.”

Jin “Yeah. Legally.”

Jin “But if you think about it for even a second, you know she didn’t do it.”

Matias “……”

Matias “If we are speaking in terms of possibility, one could propose any number of scenarios.”

Matias “For example—she previously testified that she witnessed a man silenced with poison.”

Matias “If the same poison was used, the possibility remains that she was the one who carried out the silencing.”

Jin “That didn’t happen, I was there with her.”

At that single statement, the sharpness returned to Matias’s snow-shadowed eyes.

Matias “So it was as I suspected.”

Jin “I figured you’d already put it together.”

Matias “The man who was silenced never gave testimony. Until now, it was no more than conjecture.”

Matias “Why did you remain silent?”

Jin “If only I got suspected as a spy, that’d be one thing.”

Jin “But I wasn’t about to drag Emma into it.”

Jin “If it came out that she was with me, you wouldn’t have had a choice but to suspect her.”

Jin “Even if you didn’t believe it yourself.”

Matias “That is true.”

Matias “……Which is precisely why I don’t understand.”

Matias “You understand this country’s laws better than most. Why cling so stubbornly to my mother’s case?”

Jin leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees.

Jin “I told you before. Ever since that incident, you changed.”

Matias “I have not changed.”

Matias “I devote myself, now as ever, to enforcing justice in Achroite under the laws.”

Matias “That will never change.”

Jin “As an Asbrink man with no freedom to speak of?”

Matias “Yes. That is the duty of those born into the royal family.”

Jin “Don’t give me that crap. That’s not duty, that’s being a sacrifice.”

Matias “A sacrifice is acceptable.”

Matias “If my life alone can preserve peace in Achroite, it is a small price to pay.”

Jin “You really are……”

Jin tried to continue, but his words dissolved into a long, heavy sigh.

Jin “Did you say that to Emma too?”

Matias “Not in those exact words.”

Jin “What did she say?”

Matias “……She scolded me.”

Jin “Thought so.”

Jin “If you’re going to throw away what she said, then I’ve got nothing left to add.”

Jin “But I’ll say this, sometimes ‘emotion’ matters too.”

Jin “We’re human. Not laws written on parchment.”

Matias didn’t respond. His pale eyes were fixed on a point that didn’t exist.

Jin “What happens to Emma now?”

Matias “She will be formally questioned.”

Matias “……If she denies the charges and requests a re-investigation, the situation will change.”

Jin “I see. I’m counting on you.”

Jin stood and headed toward the door.

Matias “Please be careful as well, Jin.”

Jin stopped and twisted back slightly.

Matias “If you continue to dig, this will stop being a joke.”

Matias “You may find yourself under arrest as well.”

Jin “In that case, put me in the cell next to hers.”

Jin “She’ll probably be lonely.”

Matias “……”

Jin “……You okay with those papers?”

Matias “The documents? There shouldn’t be any . . . ”

Only then did Matias realize his fingers were clenched tightly around them.

Matias “……I’ll redo them.”

Jin “Good.”

Jin gave a casual wave and finally left the room.

As Matias watched him go, a deep emptiness bled into his gaze.

***

Yves “To save Emma, we need proof that she was framed.”

Yves “The request for a re-investigation has already been accepted, so there should be a grace period before the trial. During that time-”

At that moment, the inn’s elderly proprietress staggered out from the back room.

With a cardigan draped over her shoulders and a worn, exhausted look on her face, she approached the two of them.

Yves “Grandma, you shouldn’t be up. You need to be resting.”

Elderly Woman “I can’t sleep…”

Elderly Woman “Every time I close my eyes, I see Emma being taken away…”

Her voice was so frail that Yves said nothing more, simply supporting her gently until she was seated.

Elderly Woman “You’re both trying to help Emma, aren’t you?”

Elderly Woman “Please… let me help too.”

Elderly Woman “It all happened here at the inn. There must be something strange—something out of place.”

Yves “I appreciate that, but I’m worried it might be too much for you physically.”

Elderly Woman “I’m fine. I can’t just lie in bed while Emma is suffering.”

Elderly Woman “Please, let me do whatever I can.”

***

Emma remembered of a moment from earlier, when Matias had been escorting her back to the inn after an day spent investigating, as he always did.

Matias “What if I hadn’t been born into the royal family?”

Emma “Yes?”

They had been talking casually about jobs they might have pursued if not for their current paths, and Emma had asked Matias the same question.

Matias “Well… I suppose I would still have gone into law in some capacity. But I could also see myself becoming a teacher.”

Matias “And… perhaps running a café.”

Emma “A café?”

Matias “If another life were permitted to me, I would like to open a small café with the woman I love.”

Matias “A quiet shop with few customers, where I’d spend most of the day talking with my wife.”

Matias “She would bake pastries for the café, but on days with no customers, we’d eat them together.”

Matias “Sometimes we’d close the shop on a whim, take walks, or spend time painting together.”

Matias “Cherishing small happinesses, wrapped in a warm, ordinary life… that kind of life.”

Which option will you choose?

That sounds wonderful

I’d definitely come every day

Let’s open a café!

Emma “I’d come every single day.”

Matias “…Come?”

Emma “Yes… was that strange?”

Emma “Oh, do you mean because I might not be in Achroite?”

Emma “It’s fine. I’ll move here and come every day.”

Matias “That’s not what I meant . . .”

Matias “…!”

Matias “I’m sorry. Forget what I just said.”

(He seems flustered…?)

Matias “If you came every day, I suppose I wouldn’t have to worry about sales.”

Matias “Still, it’s all just a ‘what if.’”

Matias “I was born the eldest son of the Asbrink family. One day, I will be responsible for ruling this country.”

Matias “I have a duty to preserve the justice passed down through generations, and the peace built through tireless effort.”

Matias “To ensure it does not end here, and to pass it on to the next generation.”

Matias “For that reason, I was never allowed other choices to begin with.”

Emma “Prince Matias…”

Matias “But it isn’t painful.”

Matias “If I can become the foundation of peace, as the heads of this family always have, then I am content.”

Matias “It’s no exaggeration to say that I was born and have lived for that purpose.”

Matias “Until now, and from now on—”

Matias “I will continue to live as a man of the Asbrink family.”

***

Emma hugged her knees against the cold wall when she heard quiet footsteps approaching.

They stopped in front of the iron bars, and a shadow stretched into the cell.

When she looked up, Matias was standing there alone.

Matias “I want to talk. Is that acceptable?”

Perhaps because there were no soldiers present, his voice was just slightly gentler.

Emma “Yes. That’s fine.”

She stood and walked over to the bars.

They were close enough that she could reach him, yet he felt impossibly far away.

Matias “First, I will explain the rights you currently possess.”

Matias “Until the trial, you have the right to request a re-investigation.”

Matias “This means an inquiry into evidence that could work in your favor, based on your testimony.”

Matias “However, if false testimony is discovered during the re-investigation…”

Matias “The charges will become extremely severe. Please keep that in mind.”

Emma “…Understood.”

Matias “The verdict at trial will be based on the evidence already presented.”

Matias “You may summon character witnesses, but testimony is weaker than physical evidence.”

Matias “If you wish to prove your innocence, the best course is to speak truthfully and request a re-investigation.”

Matias “If approved, the trial will be postponed.”

(Is it just my imagination…?)

(His voice is still cold, but it feels like he’s trying to help me.)

Matias “Do you have any questions?”

Emma “No.”

(If I don’t claim that I was framed…)

(Then the poison and the forbidden book will remain treated as things I possessed…)

(But if I request a re-investigation, and testify that the inn’s employee set me up,)

(Then that truth will reach Prince Matias.)

Matias “Then first, we will confirm the charges currently brought against you.”

Matias “You acted in order to obtain a prohibited book in the possession of the Ember Remnants, staged your own abduction, and made contact with the man who owned it…”

Matias “You acquired the book, and then attempted to poison him to death so that your objective would not be discovered.”

(That’s not true. I never did anything like that.)

Suddenly, Yves’s words echoed in my mind.

Yves “Whatever you do, don’t admit guilt.”

Emma “……”

I bit down hard on my lip, swallowing my words.

If I nodded, I would become a criminal. If I shook my head, Matias would learn the truth.

Matias “No answer?”

Matias “Then what about the poison that was found in your room at the inn?”

Emma “……”

Matias “And the ‘prohibited book’ you claim to have obtained from the Ember Remnants—where is it now?”

Emma “……”

In the silence, a quiet sigh fell.

Matias “Emma.”

That voice, so similar to the way he used to call my name on snowy streets or in his office, made me look up without thinking.

And then I saw it.

The expression on his face, as if he were enduring pain.

Matias “I asked you this before, but… what is it that you’re hiding?”

Matias “No, let me correct that.”

Matias “Who are you protecting?”

(…!)

My vision swayed.

I grabbed the iron bars to keep myself upright.

(There’s only one person.)

(Ever since I learned the path this man has walked, I wanted to support him.)

(I wanted to stand beside Matias—the man who sacrificed himself for his country.)

(I wanted him to smile.)

(Now I understand how Queen Matilda must have felt.)

(I don’t want to burden him any more.)

(After everything he’s endured, being forced to bear yet another sin without reward, something like that…)

My grip on the bars tightened.

(This is punishment.)

(Punishment for loving him, even though I knew he had one freedom left, his future bride.)

(So . . .)

Emma “I’m not protecting anyone.”

My voice trembled so badly it was almost laughable.

Even so, I met Matias’s gaze head-on.

Emma “The evidence before us is everything.”

Emma “I won’t request a retrial.”

Matias “…What?”

Emma “I—”

Emma “I did it.”

Matias “……”

A breath, edged with shock, escaped him.

The expression that had been frozen on his face twisted, just slightly.

Matias “What did you just say?”

Emma “I said I did it.”

Matias “You’re admitting guilt?”

Emma “Yes.”

Matias “……………!”

Those snow-shadowed eyes wavered.

Matias “…Don’t lie.”

Emma “I’m not lying.”

Matias “Tell me the truth.”

Emma “This is the truth.”

Matias “…Emma!”

I shook my head. I bit my lip hard, forcing back the tears threatening to spill.

Matias “Why…?”

He grabbed my hand through the iron bars.

I tried to pull away instinctively, but his grip was too strong.

Matias “You understand, don’t you? If this continues, you’ll be convicted.”

Matias “With the evidence as it stands, a guilty verdict is inevitable.”

Matias “I—”

Matias “I don’t want you to become a criminal…!”

It felt as though a knife were being driven straight through my chest.

I wanted to tell him it was fine, tell him not to look like that.

But . . .

Emma “I’m a bad woman.”

I gently withdrew my hand from the bars.

Emma “I deceived you and used you. I’m the lowest kind of woman.”

Emma “So please, forget me. The days we spent together, my words, everything.”

Emma “One day, a wise woman who truly embodies justice will appear before you.”

Emma “…Please, find happiness with your future bride.”

Matias “……………!”

Matias “……”

Matias bit his lip, holding back something, and let a long silence pass.

Matias “I…”

Matias “…..”

After a choked breath, a deep sigh fell.

When he finally looked up, his eyes were frozen over with cold.

Matias “…If you admit guilt, the trial will be held in summary form two days from now.”

Emma “That’s fine.”

Matias “If found guilty, you will spend nearly the rest of your life in Ultima Thule.”

Emma “Yes.”

Matias “…Is there anything you wish to say?”

Emma “There’s nothing.”

Matias “……Understood.”

Matias “Then… the trial will be held the day after tomorrow.”

Normal Story

“Sweet Embers Left in the Memory of Daylight”

Time rewinds a little, to two days after the man with the bruised hands was captured.

There was still the task of compiling the interrogation records and handling the aftermath, so I remained in the office, still working as Matias’s investigation partner.

That day, the weather worsened steadily as the sun sank lower, and by nightfall the world beyond the windows had been dyed completely white.

Matias “That’s a terrible snowstorm.”

With a sigh, Matias closed the curtains and took a seat across from me at the conference table.

The coffee he had brewed “until the snow settled down” was already almost gone.

(Maybe I should have gone back when it first started snowing.) (I wanted to stay with Matias just a little longer, so I said something like, ‘I’ll see how it goes’…)

Matias “……At this rate, it doesn’t look like it’ll let up until morning.”

Matias “Emma, you should spend the night at the castle. I’ll have a guest room prepared.”

Emma “Yes, in this weather it wouldn’t be right to have you escort me back, wait… huh?”

Matias “Is something wrong?”

Emma “N-no, it’s nothing.”

(Spending the night at the castle… that means literally staying at the castle, right?)

Emma “…Is that really all right?”

Matias “In weather like this, forcing yourself to go home would be dangerous.”

(That’s true…)

Emma “Then… I’ll accept your offer.”

Matias “Please do. I’ll let the staff know to prepare a guest room.”

As I watched Matias stand and leave, my heart began to beat softly.

(I feel a little nervous.)

(The only times I’ve spent the night at the castle before were when I was drunk, and when a poisoned arrow grazed my shoulder.)

(This is the first time I’m staying here calmly, like this.)

After that, I was shown to the prepared guest room. I changed for bed and sat down on the mattress.

After checking the fire in the fireplace, Matias came over to the side of the bed.

Matias “Are you cold?”

Emma “No. It’s very warm.”

Matias “I see.”

The moment I saw the gentle, relieved expression on his face, warmth bloomed in my chest.

(His smile really is bad for my heart…)

As I pulled the blanket closer, trying to calm myself, the window rattled loudly under a gust of wind.

Matias “It’s getting even worse.”

Matias “In a blizzard like this, it wouldn’t be strange to lose your way on the route back to your inn.”

Emma “Lose my way? In the middle of the city?”

Matias “When everything is swallowed by white, city streets and wilderness become the same.”

Matias “You keep walking without realizing you’re headed the wrong way, and…”

Matias “You end up far from where you meant to go, buried in snow, dying alone.”

Matias “That is the terror of the ‘white darkness.’”

Emma “…White darkness…?”

Matias “That’s what Achroite calls it, when a violent snowstorm covers everything in white.”

Matias “I think it’s an apt name.”

Matias “If darkness is defined as a state where nothing can be seen, then perhaps it doesn’t matter whether it’s black or white.”

Matias “The true nature of darkness may simply be ‘being unable to see anything at all.’”

(Unable to see anything…)

I didn’t know why, but loneliness and sadness surged up all at once.

In my mind, I saw Matias walking alone through that white darkness.

I wanted to wrap my arms around that distant back, right now, more than anything.

Matias “I’ve told you something strange before bed. Please forget it.”

Matias “Good night, Emma. Rest well.”

Without thinking, I grabbed his fingertips.

Emma “Ah… um…”

Emma “Could you… stay with me just a little longer? Just a little is fine.”

Emma “…The sound of the blizzard is frightening.”

Matias “…..”

Matias “…All right. I’ll stay here until you fall asleep.”

Then I slipped under the blankets. And Matias sat on the edge of the bed, holding my hand as if to reassure me.

The way his thumb gently stroked the back of my hand felt so comforting that my head grew light and hazy.

I thought I would simply drift off like that, but . . .

(Huh…?)

What washed over me wasn’t drowsiness, but an intense heat.

(No—why now…?)

The hand he was holding felt hot. Everywhere he touched throbbed unbearably.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his snow-shadowed gaze.

Emma “Um—”

Reflexively, I pulled my hand back under the blanket.

Matias “What is it?”

Emma “I’m fine now. Please don’t worry about me, go back to your room.”

Matias “It doesn’t feel like much time has passed.”

Matias “And you seem a little strange. Did something happen?”

(…!)

Under his steady gaze, my thoughts wobbled and spun.

I knew I shouldn’t look, but I couldn’t avert my eyes, and all I could do was move my lips uselessly.

Emma “…There’s something I’ve been keeping to myself.”

Emma “Sometimes, when I look at you, Matias, I start to feel dizzy.”

Emma “It’s like I stop being myself, an overwhelming feeling I can’t suppress…”

Emma “I can’t think about anything except you……………”

Matias “Is that true right now as well?”

Emma “…Yes.”

Clutching the edge of the blanket with both hands, I nodded in small motions, hiding my mouth.

If I didn’t hide my face, I felt like I wouldn’t even be able to hold a proper conversation—my head was burning that badly.

Matias “I see. If that’s the case . . .”

I thought he was about to say, “I’ll leave.”

But—

(Huh?)

Without saying anything, Matias leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

Emma “Um—w-wait… why…?”

Matias “It’s a charm to help you sleep.”

Emma “Is that… really so…?”

He only returned a faint smile, offering no answer.

That smile looked just like the one from before—

***

Yves “Does that mean… an engagement?”

Emma “No! Of course not!”

Emma “Matias, please stop phrasing things in ways that invite misunderstandings!”

Matias “…”

***

It was uncannily similar to that meaningful smile.

Matias “I had a vague suspicion that I possessed a… disposition that tends to unsettle women.”

Matias “That the maids in the castle and even female magistrates avoid meeting my gaze is likely for the same reason.”

Matias “I’ve never thought particularly fondly of this disposition.”

Matias “Being approached by women with such intense, glittering eyes, even frightened me at times.”

Matias “But… this once, I find myself a little grateful for it.”

Emma “Why…?”

Matias “Knowing that right now, you can’t think about anything but me… it stirs something unbearable inside me.”

Emma “……!”

I pulled the blanket up over my head, as if fleeing.

If I kept looking at Matias, I felt like I truly might lose myself.

Matias “Emma, don’t hide.”

His hand brushed lightly against mine where it clutched the blanket.

Emma “I don’t want you to see me.”

Emma “I’m sure I look disgraceful right now.”

Emma “With the same glittering eyes as those women who press in on you.”

Even as I said that, I clung desperately to the fingers touching mine, squeezing them tight.

Emma “I don’t want you to hate me…”

Matias “There’s no way I ever could.”

(…..)

Before I realized it, our fingers had intertwined. Even with the blanket between us, our hands were joined the way lovers’ hands are.

When I peeked out just enough to see him, his gaze—warm enough to melt snow—was fixed squarely on me.

(…How cruel.)

(I already decided I’d return to Rhodolite as just a “friend,” carrying these feelings with me.)

(If you treat me like this… leaving will hurt unbearably.)

(I won’t be able to truly wish for your happiness—your life with your “future bride.”)

Unable to withstand his gaze, I squeezed my eyes shut. My vision flickered in time with my racing pulse.

Gradually, the excitement ebbed away, and the drowsiness I’d pushed aside returned.

(I don’t want to sleep.) (I wish this moment could last forever.) (I wish tomorrow would never come—)

***

Soldier “—Wake up.”

That single command tore me away from those blissful, sinful memories.

Two soldiers stood on the other side of the iron bars.

(…I have to go.)

I stood, brought my hands forward, and stepped up to the bars.

Soldier “Defendant Emma. You are hereby transferred to the courtroom.”

***

The courtroom was filled with murmurs and noise.

Flanked by soldiers, I was led to the defendant’s stand.

Yves “Emma…!”

Akatsuki “…”

In the gallery sat Yves, his face etched with worry, and the owner, so angry he had gone completely expressionless.

Jin “…Emma.”

Standing against the back wall was Jin.

And directly before the defendant’s stand.

Matias “…..”

Matias “…Order. The court is now in session.”

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 18 - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

A short while before soldiers rushed to the inn where Emma was staying—

Matias “—Is that true?”

Soldier “Yes. It’s a poison rarely seen within the country, so we’re fairly certain.”

Though his expression did not change, the fist Matias had placed on his desk trembled, as if suppressing something.

Beside him, Lars lowered his gaze painfully.

Matias “And her condition?”

Soldier “No change. She doesn’t seem to be aware that the investigation has begun.”

Soldier “If we act now, we can arrest her without giving her a chance to flee.”

Matias “……”

Soldier “May we proceed?”

Under normal circumstances, Matias would have issued his decision without hesitation. Yet this time, he remained silent.

The weight of that silence was heavy—almost painful.

Matias “The requirements for arrest… are met.”

Matias “……”

Matias “In accordance with Achroite law, detain the suspect—Emma.”

Soldier “Yes, sir.”

The soldier bowed and left the office at once.

***

Lars “…Are you sure about this?”

Matias “This matter comes with a direct royal order to be handled swiftly.”

Matias “I cannot defy the king’s command.”

Lars “That may be so, but… I still can’t believe it.”

Lars “That Emma would try to silence someone using poison.”

Matias’s hand tightened on the desk with a sharp grit.

Matias “We’ll hear her account directly at a later date.”

Matias “But as it stands, the evidence and testimonies all align.”

Lars “She cooperated in the investigation to obtain a forbidden book, pretended to be abducted to get close to the Ember Remnants…”

Lars “And the moment she obtained the forbidden book, she poisoned the mastermind to silence him…?”

Lars “If all of that is true, she’d be a remarkably cruel woman.”

Lars “But no matter how I look at her, she doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

Matias “If we consider only the confirmed facts—”

Matias “The same poison the mastermind ingested was found in her room at the inn.”

Lars “Finding poison doesn’t prove she administered it.”

Lars “Her coffee at the estate wasn’t poisoned, was it?”

Lars “If the same milk pitcher was used, isn’t it more likely the mastermind poisoned it himself—?”

Matias “…………She touched it once.”

Lars “What do you mean?”

Matias “When the mastermind reached for the milk pitcher, Emma picked it up and handed it to him.”

Matias “It was only for an instant—but it’s an action that cannot escape scrutiny in court.”

Lars “…That’s true. And if you witnessed it, then even more so.”

Matias “Additionally, incitement books were found in Warehouse No. 45, which she was renting.”

Matias “The forbidden book she allegedly obtained was not found, however…”

Matias “Both the bookstore owner and the innkeeper testified that she went to the out-of-the-way bookstore in search of a forbidden book.”

Lars “…The Cursed Book, right?”

Lars “I looked into it, but all that’s known is that it was among the targets of the book purge seventy years ago.”

Lars “There are no surviving records about its contents.”

Matias “If its contents violate state secrets, espionage charges could be added.”

Matias “That may be why His Majesty was so eager to proceed with the arrest.”

A deep silence settled between them.

Lars glanced toward the desk beside Matias’, a desk that, for now, remained unused.

Lars “Hey, Matias. I’ll ask you bluntly.”

Lars “Do you truly believe Emma did this?”

Matias “……”

Matias remained silent, his brow knit tightly.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, restrained—almost suffocated.

Matias “…There are many points that don’t sit right with me.”

Matias “The possibility that the Ember Remnants framed her cannot be ruled out.”

Matias “But…”

Matias “When weighing guilt, what matters are immutable facts, not possibilities.”

Lars “…That takes me back.”

Lars “I heard that phrase so often while studying law, it rang in my ears.”

Matias “For now, we gather information.”

Matias “As long as this is a royal order, she cannot avoid standing trial.”

Matias “And if things continue as they are, Emma will be at a severe disadvantage in court.”

Matias “I’ll request a retrial investigation and secure as much time as possible before proceedings begin.”

After a long silence, Lars bit his lip before speaking again.

Lars “…If, just hypothetically . . .”

Lars “If Emma really did do it…”

Lars “Would you judge her in court?”

Matias lowered his snow in shadow-colored eyes to the desk.

Matias “No matter who the defendant is, I will judge fairly, in accordance with the law.”

Matias “That is my duty… as a member of the House of Asbrink.”

Lars “…I understand.”

Lars nodded slightly and quietly left the office.

After the sound of the door closing echoed and faded, Matias pressed a hand to his forehead and exhaled deeply.

Matias “Yes… this is my duty.”

Matias “Even if the one standing accused is Emma, I will,”

That voice was trembling, dissolving painfully into the silence of the empty office.

***

Emma “Attempted… murder…?”

The meaning of the words thrust at me refused to settle in my mind.

Before I could react, the soldiers roughly seized my arms.

Innkeeper (Elderly Woman) “Emma…!”

Soldier “Step back!”

As the elderly woman instinctively rushed toward me, a soldier sharply restrained her.

Another soldier wrenched my arms behind my back without hesitation and restrained me—

Soldier “I inform you under the law of Achroite.”

Soldier “From this moment on, all statements will be recorded. Any falsehoods will increase the severity of your sentence.”

Soldier “Your life will not be taken here. Guilt will be determined in a court of law.”

Soldier “You will be granted the opportunity for defense at trial.”

Soldier “Under the law, all are equal.”

(These words…)

The same warning Prince Matias always gave when detaining a suspect—

Hearing them at last made me understand.

—I had been arrested.

Emma “Please, wait. What do you mean by attempted murder?”

Emma “There’s been some kind of mistake. I would never—”

Soldier “Enough. You’re coming with us to the castle.”

Without allowing me another word, they yanked my arm and dragged me out of the inn.

Innkeeper (Elderly Woman) “Please, wait! Emma would never do something like this!”

Innkeeper (Elderly Woman) “I’m begging you—please don’t take her away!”

She clung to the soldiers in front of the inn, her voice on the verge of tears.

Her figure grew smaller and smaller, until she disappeared from view entirely.

***

Yves “There you are…!”

Out on the main street, a breathless Yves rushed up to Jin, who had been walking there.

Jin “What’s got you so worked up? I haven’t even started drinking yet, and it’s still daytime.”

He laughed lightly—but the moment he noticed Yves’s expression, the smile vanished.

Jin “…What happened?”

Yves “She was arrested…”

Jin “Arrested?”

Yves “Emma… Emma was arrested…!”

***

The sound of dripping water echoed.

Down the corridor, groans, pleas for mercy, and the rattling of iron bars resounded without pause.

(What is happening?)

(Why has it come to this?)

(…I want to see Prince Matias.)

(I need to explain that this is all a mistake…)

Then tap, tap, tap footsteps approached.

Emma “…?”

The one who appeared was Prince Matias, accompanied by several soldiers.

But his expression was nothing like before. Prince Matias stepped into view, flanked by soldiers.

And yet, his expression was unmistakably different.

Matias “…I will now inform you of the charges.”

Matias “You are currently suspected of attempted murder, as well as violation of the Prohibited Goods Control Act.”

Emma “What… do you mean…?”

Matias “The same poison ingested by the mastermind of the incitement book case was found in your room at the inn.”

(My room… poison?)

Emma “I—I don’t know anything about that. Poison… I—”

Matias “Additionally, materials designated as forbidden books in this country were found in Warehouse No. 45, which you are renting.”

(……!)

Emma “No, that book—!”

I clapped a hand over my mouth too late.

Prince Matias narrowed his eyes, as though measuring me.

(What if he’s read the history texts… the queen’s letter…)

(If Prince Matias were to read those…)

Matias “You will be put on trial at a later date.”

Matias “At that time, it will be determined whether you committed these crimes, and a verdict will be delivered.”

Matias “As the defendant, you retain the right to legal counsel and the right to request a reinvestigation.”

Matias “Your formal interrogation will be conducted at a later date. If you have anything to say in your defense, prepare it by then.”

I tried to speak, but my throat constricted and no sound came out.

Prince Matias spoke calmly, gripping the edge of his gloves tightly.

Matias “…I trusted you.”

Matias “Thanks to you, the mastermind behind the spread of the incitement books was apprehended. However,”

Matias “Those are my personal feelings, and they must never be brought into a court of law.”

Matias “As a man of House Asbrink… I will judge your actions under the law.”

Emma “Prince Matias… I…”

My trembling hands gripped the iron bars.

Prince Matias glanced at them for a brief moment, furrowed his brow slightly, then looked away.

Matias “You are still a suspect, not a criminal.”

Matias “If you require anything, inform the guards.”

Matias “For today, rest here.”

Matias “You may use this room freely until your condition improves.”

Matias “If there is anything you need, it can be brought to you,”

The phrasing was only slightly different, yet the coldness of his words pierced straight into my chest.

(…I need to answer something.)

Choice: What will you say?

…Thank you for your concern

I don’t need anything

(Shake your head)

Matias “This is not concern. It is an explanation in accordance with regulations.”

Matias “It is unlikely, but…”

Matias “If you receive any improper treatment from the soldiers, you must report it immediately.”

Suddenly, the snow-shadow–colored eyes that had been averted fixed on me through the dimness.

Matias “…Emma, you…”

Matias “……”

As if sealing away the words he had nearly spoken, Prince Matias lightly bit his lip.

Matias “……………………………We will conduct a formal interrogation at a later date.”

Matias “That is all.”

With only that, Prince Matias turned and walked away.

I don’t know how much time passed after that.

As I sat motionless in the cell, multiple sets of footsteps approached once more.

Yves “Emma…!”

Emma “Yves…!?”

Rushing into view were Yves, and one of the inn’s female staff members.

Yves “Are you okay? They haven’t hurt you, have they?”

Emma “I’m okay, but… how did you get here?”

Yves “We managed to get visitation permission somehow.”

Yves “Akatsuki was supposed to come too, but… he didn’t seem very calm about this.”

Female Staff Member “I’m here in place of the old lady. She’s… taken to her bed.”

(…Grandma…)

My chest tightened painfully, and without thinking, I clenched the iron bars.

Yves “…Attempted murder? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Yves “This has to be a false charge. Someone set you up.”

Yves “Do you have any idea who, or anything that felt off? Even something small is fine.”

Emma “I don’t know. I was restrained so suddenly…”

Emma “I didn’t plan to poison anyone. I don’t even have poison.”

Yves “Of course you don’t! You’re not someone who would do that—no, someone who could do that.”

Yves “Even Prince Matias has to know that deep down…”

Emma “Prince Matias is… where now?”

Yves “I think he’s talking with Jin.”

Yves “But… convincing him won’t be easy. If the arrest was carried out according to the law, Prince Matias won’t bend his judgment.”

Yves “Still, don’t worry. Jin, Akatsuki, and I, we will help you.”

Yves “I, Yves Kloss, don’t break promises.”

Emma “Thank you… Yves…”

Yves “From here until the trial, there’ll be interrogations and possibly a reinvestigation.”

Yves “And then, a verdict will be delivered in court.”

Yves “In Achroite, trials are held quickly after an arrest, but even so, you’ll have a few days.”

Yves “And during that time, there’s one thing you absolutely must not do.”

Emma “…Must not do?”

Yves “Yeah.”

Yves “Never, never admit guilt.”

Yves “If you do, the moment you do, any favorable reinvestigation or defense preparation will be cut off.”

Yves “Don’t confess. File a reinvestigation request as a right. That will buy time before the trial.”

Yves “And while that time is bought, we’ll act.”

Emma “…Okay.”

Yves “Hey, don’t look so scared.”

Yves “Can you eat properly? Don’t let despair ruin your health.”

Yves “And don’t let yourself get cold.”

Yves “I think if you ask, they’ll bring you more blankets.”

Yves “No, actually, I’ll tell them to bring ten later. And cushions too…”

Soldier “Time is up.”

Yves “We’ve barely spoken!”

Soldier “Visitation time is strictly regulated.”

Yves “Ah—honestly…!”

Yves “Don’t forget what I said. Promise me. Okay?”

Repeating himself again and again, Yves was led away by the soldiers.

As he left, the female staff member approached, nervously wringing her hands.

Female Staff Member “Emma…”

Female Staff Member “Please don’t worry about the old lady. I’ll keep a close eye on her.”

Emma “Yes… please do.”

Female Staff Member “I’m always on your side, Emma. Everything will be fine.”

She nodded firmly and placed her hand against the iron bars.

But instead of gripping them, she turned her palm toward me.

(…What?)

Small words had been written there.

—Do not request a reinvestigation —I’ll keep that hidden

(What… does this mean?)

(No way… this woman,)

Cold sweat burst from my skin. If I relaxed even for a second, I felt like I would collapse.

Female Staff Member “……”

Seeing me unable to speak, the woman’s eyes curved unnaturally.

That smile was pure malice.

And the suspicion that she was a member of the Ember Remnants hardened into certainty deep in my chest.

(Everything was planned…?)

(My learning the truth about House Asbrink…)

(Me coming into contact with the mastermind…)

(Her guiding me to the old warehouse…)

(The poison… that man drinking it…)

(All of it…)

She lowered her hand and wiped away the message with her thumb.

Neither Yves nor the soldiers behind her seemed to find her behavior suspicious.

(She can enter my room…)

(The warehouse key was there too… which means she could enter the warehouse…)

(The poison. The forbidden books, everything…)

Female Staff Member “If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

Female Staff Member “For example… if there’s something you want to tell someone important.”

Female Staff Member “Or perhaps. something you don’t want them to know.”

Emma “……!”

A cold shiver ran straight up my spine.

(…This is a threat.)

(If I don’t admit guilt, she’ll tell Prince Matias everything…)

(If she’s recovered what I hid and is keeping it herself, then…)

(Prince Matias still hasn’t seen Queen Matilda’s letter, or the history books and documents.)

(…He still doesn’t know the sin of House Asbrink.)

Emma “Ah……”

The strength left my legs, and as my hand slid down the iron bars, I sank to the floor.

In the darkness, I could feel the female staff member’s eyes looking down at me.

(If I tell Prince Matias that she framed me, I might be released.)

(But to do that, I’d have to reveal everything, the Cursed Book, the Queen’s letter, all of it…)

—The children… especially Matias… must never know.

—That sin is far too heavy for Matias to bear.

—If he learns the truth, his heart will freeze, just like Erwin’s.

Emma “……”

I clapped a hand over my mouth.

I didn’t know what to do, I felt like I might scream at any moment.

Female Staff Member “Are you all right, Emma?”

Behind her, I saw Yves try to rush forward, only to be stopped by a soldier.

(This “are you all right” doesn’t mean what it sounds like…)

(She’s asking whether I understand. Whether I’ve accepted it.)

With every beat of my heart, a sickening chill raced through my body.

And in the end, I gave a small nod.

Emma “I’m… all right……”

Female Staff Member “……That’s good to hear.”

Leaving only those words behind, the woman turned and walked away.

Yves “Emma……”

Yves’s footsteps lingered as long as they could, until at last, even they faded from the corridor.

Emma “What am I supposed to do…”

Emma “Prince Matias………………”

Only my unanswered lament echoed inside the cell.

— Meanwhile —

Jin “Yo.”

Raising one hand casually, Jin entered the office as he always did.

But despite that familiar ease, the air between the two men was heavy.

Matias “Do you need something, Jin?”

Jin “You already know, don’t you?”

Jin “It’s about Emma.”

[caffedrine]

Thanks for doing the translations:) what are ur opinion on the route and mc Mati dynamic?

I’m glad you’re enjoying Matias’ route. Spoilers below:

I think he learned some smooth skills from big brother Jin. But I’m mostly caught up by a part in his route - where the writers make some odd assumptions about how the public views justice.

Let me ask you this - assume that you live in an authoritarian government that prides itself on strong laws. Then you find out that they let someone get off just because they’re romantically involved with the chief justice. Would you be fine with that? I don’t think I would be.

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 17 - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

Matias “Emma.”

Matias “Do you… have any intention of staying in Achroite long-term?”

The words dissolved softly into the quiet.

For a moment, I couldn’t grasp their meaning at all, my mind went completely blank.

Then, a beat later, like ice slowly melting, my heart began to pound loudly in my ears.

Emma “D-does that mean… you’re suggesting I move to Achroite…?”

Matias “That would be the implication.”

(Leaving Rhodolite behind… and living in this country.)

I had never seriously considered that option before.

And yet, it was an option.

More than that, I couldn’t stop thinking about why Matias had spoken those words.

Why those snow in shadow eyes were looking at me so intently now.

Matias “…I’m sorry. That was a strange thing to say. Please forget it.”

Emma “No, thank you for suggesting it.”

Emma “I think… moving to Achroite is possible. However…”

(This man has a future, with his destined bride. I shouldn’t interfere.)

(And right now, I’m hiding something from Matias… from this country.)

(I still haven’t decided whether to tell him… but once I chose to hide the truth…)

(I don’t think I have the right to live here.)

The words the prison warden once said surfaced again in my mind.

(I’m not a woman fit to stand at Matias’s side.)

(So…)

Emma “I intend to return to Rhodolite someday.”

Something creaked painfully inside my chest. Even so, I forced a smile.

Matias “…I see.”

Matias “Then… until the day you return to Rhodolite, I’ll need to show you many things.”

Matias “At this rate, all of your memories of Achroite will be nothing but an investigation.”

Matias “And that is something I cannot allow.”

Matias “As I said before, I want you to leave thinking, ‘Achroite was a good country.’”

Emma “I already have so many wonderful memories, though.”

Matias “No. You haven’t even seen half of Achroite yet.”

Matias “You haven’t witnessed the dreamlike lights of the Candle Festival, nor felt the warmth of hot wine at the Snow Festival.”

Matias “You’ve never seen the aurora from an unlit snowfield, nor the sun pillars that appear at sunset.”

Matias “The woodworking market held several times a year is worth recommending as well. And you must try semla in early spring—”

Matias “…”

Matias “If I hadn’t involved you… perhaps you would have been able to enjoy this country freely by now.”

He repeated the words, as if weighed down by them.

Emma “That’s not—”

I stopped myself.

When I first arrived in Achroite, if I hadn’t tried to stop that fleeing man . . .

If Matias hadn’t caught me as I stumbled . . .

I wouldn’t be walking beside him now, through the snowy night.

I might not have sold a single book. I might have only come to procure stock.

I would never have known about the Ember Remnants. I would have done a little sightseeing… and gone back to Rhodolite.

But . . .

Emma “When I tried to stop that man who was escaping… you helped me, didn’t you?”

Emma “Honestly, I hesitated in that moment.”

Matias “You hesitated?”

Emma “Yes. Whether I should stay out of it… or stop him.”

Emma “But before I realized it, my body had already moved.”

Emma “Because of that moment, I became your friend.”

Emma “I was able to support you, as your partner.”

Emma “It felt like a crossroads of fate.”

Matias “…”

Emma “I don’t regret choosing to stop him.”

Emma “Even if I could go back, I think I’d make the same choice.”

Emma “I couldn’t just leave you alone, Matias, someone who carries everything by himself.”

The surprise faded from his face, replaced by a quiet, lonely smile.

Matias “…Yes. That is the kind of woman you are.”

Matias “I’ve made it this far because of you. I owe you more than I can count.”

Matias “At the very least, while you’re in Achroite, I want to repay even a fraction of that debt.”

Matias “The Asbrink family creed states that one must repay kindness received.”

Which do you choose?

I’m the one who should be repaying you

I want to help you more

Your feelings alone are enough

Emma “I’m the one who should be repaying you.”

Emma “You’re always helping me… walking me back to the inn…”

Emma “If you even repay me on top of that, I won’t know where to put myself.”

Matias “Walking you to the inn is something I do because I want to.”

Matias “…When I think of you walking alone at night, I can’t focus on anything else from worry.”

Matias “This time is necessary for me to work efficiently.”

(That sounds like . . . no. Don’t think too deeply.)

Emma “Then… will you teach me how to brew coffee?”

Emma “I want to try grinding the beans myself, from the beginning.”

Matias “I intended to teach you anyway. Though I don’t think it qualifies as repayment.”

Emma “I want to learn ways of drinking it with cheese, or cold coffee served in ice glasses…”

Emma “And I want to visit that café rumored to have an enormous fireplace.”

Emma “I want to ride a reindeer sled… and build a snowman too…”

Emma “I’d like to drink coffee inside an ice dome, take a walk through diamond dust, and then . . .”

At that moment, something cold traced a line down my cheek.

At first, I thought it was a drop of water falling from the sky—but it seemed to have spilled from my own eyes instead.

Matias “Emma?”

Emma “It’s nothing, this is just…”

(If only I could say I want to stay with you.)

(If only I could say I want to see this country with you, learn it, experience it, share it all.)

(But I can’t. I shouldn’t.)

(…Don’t cry.)

(Please, don’t let him see you cry.)

Suddenly, my vision darkened.

A hand gently supported the back of my head, and before I realized it, my face was pressed against Matias’s chest.

Emma “Matias…?”

When I looked up, I saw a smile that seemed meant to comfort me, or perhaps one that was holding something back.

Matias “…Once this incident is resolved, I should have a little more time.”

Matias “While you’re still in Achroite, I’ll show you everything you want to see.”

Matias “So that your memories of this country will be happy ones.”

Matias “…So that you won’t forget Achroite.”

(I could never forget.)

(I’ll probably spend the rest of my life thinking about the time I spent here.)

(About the man who was endlessly kind, sincere, and warm, the man I loved, hopelessly.)

Emma “Yes… It’s a promise.”

Her words melted into the sound of his heartbeat and disappeared.

***

After escorting Emma back to her inn, Matias returned to the castle, where his colleague Lars was waiting.

Lars “Welcome back, Matias. …You look a little sad.”

Matias “No. Same as always.”

Lars “Really? I thought maybe you’d had a fight with Emma.”

Matias “It wasn’t a fight.”

Lars “Not a fight, but something definitely happened. Well, I won’t pry.”

Lars “Still… it looks like something’s bothering you.”

His voice was low, this wasn’t idle chatter.

Matias straightened his expression.

Matias “I can’t hide things from you, can I?”

Lars “Not just from me. You’re terrible at keeping secrets.”

Lars “So, what’s troubling you?”

Matias “Emma… is hiding something.”

That single sentence made Lars’s expression stiffen.

Lars “…Something related to the case?”

Matias “I don’t know. But ever since she was abducted, she’s been different.”

Matias “She may have been threatened, or had something planted in her mind…”

Matias “But whatever it is, she’s keeping silent with remarkable resolve.”

Lars “What did the suspects say about Emma again?”

Matias “That they abducted her to recruit her. But there are too many inconsistencies.”

Matias “We’ll have to wait until the ringleader recovers enough to speak.”

Lars “Let’s hope it’s nothing serious…”

Matias “…Yes.”

Normally, there would be some foot traffic in the corridors, but tonight, everything felt frozen in silence.

Meanwhile, in Rhodolite

Clavis “That’s a report from your adorable little brother. You could at least read it more carefully.”

Chevalier “I understand the contents.”

He skimmed it in an instant and returned the document without hesitation.

Clavis “Of course you do. The only thing that matters to you is information on the Three-Nation Alliance.”

Clavis “Meanwhile, I’ve been unbearably lonely, unable to see my siblings, yet you’re utterly heartless.”

Clavis “At this rate, I might feel compelled to activate the welcome-home trap I prepared, just for fun.”

Chevalier didn’t reply, already focused on another document.

Clavis “Don’t ignore me so smoothly. Honestly…”

Clavis “Still, don’t you think the two of them are taking too long to return?”

Clavis “Surely our esteemed eldest brother hasn’t been arrested for charming too many women?”

Chevalier “Why don’t you go to Achroite yourself? It might quiet you down.”

Clavis “Hah! Then I might not come back either.”

Clavis “Though a refined gentleman like me being arrested is impossible, but Jin is another matter.”

Clavis “What he’s investigating isn’t the Three-Nation Alliance.”

Clavis “It’s the murdered queen, isn’t it?”

For the first time, Chevalier’s glacial eyes fixed on Clavis.

Clavis “I get why he’s curious, it’s a case full of mysteries. But what’s the point of digging into it now?”

Chevalier “Because now is precisely the right time.”

Clavis “And what exactly does that mean?”

Chevalier “It means exactly what it sounds like.”

Clavis “Hah. How helpful. You should look up the word ‘conversation’ in a dictionary sometime.”

Clavis laughed irritably, but his expression quickly darkened.

Clavis “…The murder of Achroite’s queen wasn’t Obsidian’s doing, was it?”

Chevalier “……”

Clavis “Then it must have been an internal Achroite matter.”

Clavis “They announced her death as a ‘sudden illness.’”

Clavis “That alone suggests there’s something they desperately don’t want known.”

Clavis “Well, the queen of the most peaceful nation on the continent being stabbed by her own people, that fact alone would be a stain.”

Chevalier scoffed softly.

Clavis “What?”

Chevalier “I was reminded of something the man with the eyepatch once said.”

Chevalier “‘If Achroite is the most peaceful nation on the continent, then Obsidian must be as well.’”

Clavis “…That’s something Matias should never hear.”

Clavis “Still, Lord Gilbert does have a point.”

Clavis “If you define peace as a state where citizens refrain from crime out of fear of punishment, then there isn’t much difference between the two countries.”

Clavis “The only difference is what they fear; ‘purges’ on one side, ‘actual sentences’ on the other.”

Clavis “Achroite views Obsidian as evil and treats it as an enemy, but…”

Clavis “The way the country is governed now may not be so different from that nation after all.”

Chevalier “…It seems the First Prince of Achroite has yet to notice that contradiction.”

Several days passed beneath heavy snowfall—

At last, the interrogation of the man believed to be the ringleader—who had been recovering from poisoning—was able to begin.

Inside the cell sat the man with bruises on his hands, watched over by several soldiers. From outside the bars, Matias observed the scene in silence.

The man slumped against the wall, showing no sign of resistance.

Soldier “Did you drink the poison yourself?”

Thin Man “No… that was most likely a silencing attempt.”

Thin Man “So that that book wouldn’t come to light.”

Soldier “You mean the incitement books?”

Thin Man “No. The Cursed Book.”

Soldier “What?”

Thin Man “The greatest forbidden book in Achroite…”

Thin Man “We continued producing false books in order to spread the truth written in the Cursed Book.”

The interrogating soldier shot an uneasy glance toward Matias.

Matias “If you’re trying to stall with fabrications, stop.”

Matias “There were only unfinished incitement books in the old warehouse.”

Thin Man “Then you must have recovered them.”

Thin Man “Why don’t you ask her where they’re hidden?”

Thin Man “That is—if she’s willing to talk.”

Five days passed after the man believed to be the mastermind was captured.

Those connected to the incitement books were arrested one after another, and the case rapidly moved toward resolution.

The investigation was temporarily concluded, and the joint investigation contract I had with Prince Matias was dissolved.

I returned to being what I was when I first came to Achroite: a book merchant.

(The owner won’t be back from procurement until tomorrow… what should I do today?)

(Maybe I’ll go to the warehouse and organize the books first, and then . . .)

Suddenly, the thing hidden in the warehouse sent a chill through my chest.

The Cursed Book and several documents I had taken from the old warehouse were hidden in Warehouse No. 45.

I couldn’t hand them to Prince Matias, but I couldn’t bring myself to destroy them either.

Like embers that refused to go out, they continued to burn my heart with anxiety and guilt.

(…Huh?)

Hurried footsteps echoed from downstairs.

The door flew open, it was the elderly innkeeper.

Emma “Is something wrong? You look so flustered.”

Elderly Woman “Emma…”

Elderly Woman “Soldiers have just arrived.”

(…Soldiers?)

Unable to suppress the sense of dread rising in my chest, I followed her down to the first floor.

Several soldiers were standing there. They fixed me with sharp gazes.

Soldier “We are placing you under arrest on suspicion of attempted murder and illegal handling of prohibited items.”

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 16 - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

Emma “…What… does this mean…?”

What was written there was an unbearably painful confession—an earnest plea filled with remorse.

My dear brother,

I have committed an unforgivable sin. Lord Ervin… the Asbrink family will never forgive me.

Guards stand watch outside my room, and I am not permitted to leave it. All I can do now is wait quietly for the moment of my condemnation. I believe this letter will be the last I am able to send you.

Please keep the matter of the contract locked away in your heart. The children… especially Matias . . . please make certain they never learn the truth. That sin is far too heavy for Matias to bear. If he were to know, his heart would surely freeze, just as Lord Ervin’s has.

Forgive me for being such a useless sister to the very end.

Please… take care of the children.

(Wasn’t Queen Matilda supposed to have been killed by the Ashen Embers?)

(This reads almost as if. . . )

I wanted to shake my head violently, to reject the possibility that had crossed my mind.

(And what is this “sin” she insists Matias must never know about…?)

(Could the answer be in these history books and documents…?)

With trembling hands, I began to examine the materials.

What I uncovered was staggering.

—

Long ago, the royal family of Acroite was not the Asbrink family.

However, the ruling house at the time was nearly wiped out by a plague, and the throne was temporarily entrusted to the Asbrinks.

It was agreed, by contract, that the crown would be returned if the rightful heir ever appeared.

And then, roughly seventy years ago, someone claiming to be the successor of the former royal family emerged.

The Asbrink family broke the contract, declared the claim false, and imprisoned the individual.

They went further, seizing and destroying every book and document that referenced the former royal family, erasing them from history.

The so-called successor never left prison. Their very existence was buried in darkness.

Only one thing remained.

A single contract, strictly protected by law, to be passed down and safeguarded by the head of the Asbrink family, generation after generation.

Time passed.

And several years ago,

One day, Queen Matilda removed that contract from its place of storage within the castle.

To atone for that crime, the Asbrink family confined her within the castle, and, mercilessly, drove her to her death.

—

(These books… these documents… judging by the condition of the paper alone, they’re decades old at minimum.)

(And Queen Matilda’s letter, her handwriting trembles, the ink blots in places…)

(Nothing about this looks fabricated.)

The more I tried to deny it, the more my eyes picked up undeniable evidence.

As if something were demanding . . .

Don’t look away.

(The story of the “forbidden book purge,” the rift between the King and Queen…)

(Even Queen Matilda’s final words, as Matias told them…)

(It all fits.)

(I don’t want to believe it—but if this is all true…)

(Then the true culprit behind Queen Matilda’s death wasn’t the Ashen Embers…)

(It was the Asbrink family.)

Female Staff Member “Emma? Are you finished in there?”

Emma “…!”

Startled by the voice of the woman who had been waiting outside, I hastily hid the documents in my hands.

Female Staff Member “What’s wrong? You look pale.”

Emma “No… it’s nothing.”

The Next Day

Prince Matias and I returned to the old warehouse, accompanied by several soldiers.

Matias “This is…”

Just as before, stacks of unfinished propaganda books lay on the workbench.

Papers scattered across a large table, plans, routes, lists, everything left behind as if frozen in time.

Distribution paths. Merchant names. The full trace of the crime.

Matias “Could all of these people truly be involved?”

He picked up a single sheet from the table.

Names filled the page, people who had clearly been used by the Ashen Embers.

Emma “It seems certain they were involved in the propaganda book incident.”

Matias “Yes. Some of these individuals have already been arrested and sentenced.”

Matias “Though it appears the upper ranks avoided leaving their names behind…”

He continued reviewing the documents calmly.

Matias “Emma. The bookstore owner, are you certain he said nothing else when he gave you the key?”

Emma “…Yes.”

Emma “He only handed me the key… and then I was taken to the warehouse.”

Matias “I see.”

Matias “What was that man hoping to accomplish by showing you this?”

Matias “Was it guilt? A desire to reveal everything?”

Matias “If so… why maintain silence now…?”

He fell into deep thought, fingers resting at his lips.

Emma “…”

I could only stare at his profile, guilt burning sharply in my chest. Because something was missing from this warehouse.

Yesterday, I had taken everything related to the Asbrink family’s history and hidden it in my room at the inn.

Even knowing it meant becoming complicit in concealing the truth.

(I can’t show him.)

(Not that truth, at least, not yet.)

Now, I understood all too well why Queen Matilda had written that letter.

That sin is too heavy for Matias to bear.

If he learned the truth, his heart would freeze, just like Lord Ervin’s.

(Matias has carried the responsibility of being born into the Asbrink family his entire life.)

(Walking a thorn-covered path most people would have broken under.)

(If he learned that the Asbrink family itself bears such a sin…)

(If a man who believes so deeply in justice were to learn of his own family’s crimes…)

(He would . . .)

Just imagining it made my chest tighten until I could barely breathe.

Matias “…Hm?”

He brushed his finger across one of the documents, rubbing it between his fingertips.

A faint white powder clung to his skin.

Emma “What is that…?”

Matias “Judging by the scent—medicine.”

Matias “If we can identify what kind, we can narrow down the conditions that require it.”

Matias “…It’s worth investigating.”

The Following Day

Servant “My lord will be with you shortly. Please wait.”

The soft-spoken servant set three cups and a sugar bowl on the table.

Servant “Will you be having milk?”

Emma “Um… then… may I have some?”

The servant quietly placed the milk pitcher at the center of the table, pushed the cart away, and left the room.

(Since they went to the trouble of preparing it… maybe I should add a little.)

I poured milk into my cup and stirred carefully, making sure the spoon didn’t clink.

But Prince Matias, seated beside me, showed no sign of reaching for his cup at all. And drawn in by that silence, I ultimately didn’t take a sip either.

After a short while, a sickly-looking, slender man emerged from the inner room.

(This man…)

I recognized him instantly as the man I’d spoken to in the warehouse.

His gaze, his build, even the way he walked, everything was the same.

Unlike before, he wore gloves, and there was no cloth hiding his mouth, but the air he carried hadn’t changed.

Nobleman “Thank you for taking the trouble to come all this way, Prince Matias.”

He took a seat across the table and drew the cup toward himself.

Nobleman “What business could you have with a fallen noble such as myself?”

Matias “We are pursuing a man connected to the propaganda books.”

Matias “He abducted this woman, Emma, and injured her.”

Nobleman “I’m afraid I know nothing of the sort. Why come to me?”

Matias “Powdered medicine was found at the hideout used by the ringleader.”

Matias “Castle apothecaries confirmed it to be a costly medicine used for diseases of the throat.”

Matias “The number of people with both the wealth to obtain it regularly and a throat condition is limited.”

Nobleman “I would hardly be the only one.”

Matias “Correct. If necessary, we will question everyone.”

Nobleman “I see.”

His rough voice weighed down the air even further.

The man lifted his cup with a trembling hand, but hesitated, setting it back down on the saucer.

Instead, he reached for the milk pitcher.

Emma “…Here.”

Seeing that it was just out of reach, I moved it closer. He gave a faint, unsteady nod.

Nobleman “Thank you.”

Matias “…Forgive me, but why are you wearing gloves?”

Nobleman “A skin condition. I would rather not show something unsightly.”

Matias “Would you remove them? The man we are pursuing has distinctive bruises on his hands.”

Nobleman “It seems I am under considerable suspicion.”

With a thin smile, he poured milk into his coffee and stirred. And the moment he raised the cup to his lips . . .

Nobleman “…gh—”

He clutched his chest, collapsing forward.

His body went limp against the table, then began convulsing violently.

(No way—!)

Matias “Emma. Don’t touch anything on the table.”

Stopping me, Prince Matias stepped over the table and supported the man’s upper body.

Matias “Damn it, this is bad. Someone, come quickly! It’s poison!”

A beat later, servants rushed in, faces drained of color.

Milk spilled from the overturned pitcher, spreading across the table in a white pool.

After the man was rushed to a physician and his life was confirmed to be out of danger, we returned to the castle.

He is currently resting in the infirmary under guard.

Recovery will take time, but once his condition stabilizes, he is to be transferred to a cell for questioning.

(I had coffee prepared for us… but…)

The familiar aroma that usually calmed me did nothing to ease my fear this time.

Matias “I attended the interrogation of those captured at the warehouses earlier.”

Seated across from me at the conference table, Prince Matias continued.

Matias “It is highly likely that the man we apprehended today was directing the propaganda book operation.”

Matias “The bookstore owner who allegedly gave you the key continues to refuse to speak, but—”

Matias “His involvement in the incident is almost certain.”

Matias “We will question the individuals named in the organizational chart one by one, and make arrests where necessary.”

Emma “It seems the case is finally moving toward resolution.”

Matias “Yes. Thanks to your cooperation.”

Matias “However…”

Matias “We still do not know who poisoned that man.”

Emma “…The poison was mixed into the milk he drank, wasn’t it?”

Matias “Yes.”

Matias “We questioned the servants who prepared the coffee. All denied involvement.”

Matias “Moreover, the same milk pitcher was used for your cup, and no poison was detected there.”

Matias “Given the circumstances, it is most natural to assume the man poisoned himself, but…”

(There’s also the possibility he was silenced by someone else.)

Previously, the man Jin and I cornered at the warehouses had also been silenced, with a poison-coated arrow.

He survived, but I heard the poison left him barely able to speak.

(The Ashen Embers are extremely careful about preventing leaks.)

(Then why did the bookstore owner give me the key and reveal the hideout?)

(To tell me about the ‘cursed book’—no, about the truth of the Asbrink family?)

(Were they hoping that once I learned the truth, I’d lose faith in the Asbrinks and cooperate with them…?)

(No… something feels off.)

(I still don’t understand the Ashen Embers’ true objective.)

(That’s why it’s so unsettling.)

(It feels like I’m slowly being wrapped in a spider’s web…)

Matias “. . . Emma?”

Emma “…!”

Matias “Are you all right? I called to you, but you didn’t respond.”

Which do you choose?

I’m fine

It’s nothing

I was just spacing out…

Emma “I’m fine.”

Emma “I was just lost in thought…”

Matias “What were you thinking about?”

Emma “Well, um…”

Emma “What exactly the Ashen Embers are trying to achieve…”

Matias “You should avoid trying to divine the psychology of criminals.”

Matias “I've seen it many times, people who get dragged along like that, in court.”

Matias “Of course, if you ever look like you're about to be swallowed up, I'll use every means at my disposal to pull you back, but…”

Matias “Anxiety, once it takes root, doesn't disappear so easily.”

Emma "...That's true..."

Matias “…”

Prince Matias held my gaze for a long moment. Then, quietly, he rose from his seat and, without hesitation, sat down beside me.

A hand settled gently on my shoulder, and my body naturally turned toward him.

Matias “Emma.”

Facing me, he enclosed both my hands in his. The places he touched slowly warmed, as if heat were seeing in.

Matias “You . . .”

(….)

Matias “Is there something you can't bring yourself to tell me?”

My fingers twitched despite me.

As if accepting even that small flinch, Prince Matias tightened his grip, holding my hands again, finger by finger.

Matias “Ever since they took you, you haven't been yourself.”

Matias “If you have any misgivings, tell me. Anything at all.”

Matias “As your partner, I have an obligation to listen to your troubles.”

When those unwavering, snow-shadow eyes pinned me in place, the words I'd forced down surged up to the back of my throat.

(Prince Matias has a right to know.)

(But… if it's all true… what will he do?)

(He's carried the Asbrink family's duty all this time, will he have to carry its sin next?)

(Will he keep walking while holding that contradiction inside him—judging criminals while his own bloodline bears guilt?)

(He won't stop. I know he won't. But…)

(Just as Queen Matilda feared… I feel like his heart would be sealed over with ice that never melts again.)

(Because if he doesn't do that, he won't be able to endure the contradictions the Asbrinks carry.)

(And Lord Ervin… he froze his heart, too—surely because he was already bearing that sin…)

Emma “Prince Matias… I…”

My hands were shaking. Even though he was holding them, I felt unbearably cold.

Emma “I… I . . .”

(I can't say it. I can't be the one to tell him.)

(I know. Hiding the truth is a sin. Even so…)

(At least for now, I can't tell Prince Matias what I know.)

(I don't want him to become like Lord Ervin—someone who turns into “the law” itself, a heart frozen solid.)

Emma “I… I just felt a little lonely.”

Matias “Lonely?”

Emma “…Yes. Once this case is resolved, our joint investigation will end.”

Emma “I am glad the case is nearing its end, and that was the goal, after all, but…”

Emma “…It makes me sad, thinking I won't be able to be here with you in your office like this anymore.”

Matias “I see. So that's what you meant.”

Prince Matias released my hands, then lifted his fingers to gently brush my bangs aside.

Matias “Even if the joint investigation ends, it doesn't change the fact that we're friends.”

Matias “If you're ever in trouble, I'll come to you immediately.”

Matias “And in return… I'd be happy if you'd keep me company during my breaks sometimes.”

(…Right. We're friends.)

(Always have been. Always will be.)

Emma “Of course. And I'll come running if you need me, too.”

Emma “When this is over, I want to go café-hopping.”

Emma “I want to find delicious sweets you haven't tried yet…”

The fingertips that had been at my bangs drifted down to my cheek.

His thumb stroked my skin so gently I almost forgot to breathe—but…

This time, that irresistible heat didn't rush through me the way it used to.

Emma “…Prince Matias?”

Matias “…”

He didn't answer. Only his eyes held me, steady, intent.

I couldn't bear the embarrassment and turned away, and the hand on my cheek withdrew.

Matias “My apologies. That was improper of me.”

Matias “…It’s started to snow.”

I followed his gaze to the window. Large flakes were falling in a quiet, steady drift.

Matias “Once we've finished our coffee, I'll escort you back to the inn.”

Emma “Thank you.”

When I finally brought the coffee to my lips, it was hotter than I expected.

(…If only this coffee would never be cool.)

As if swallowing that wish along with it, I took one more sip.

A little later—

We walked side by side over the soft, fluffy snow.

It had become a familiar route, and yet every time, this stretch of time still wrapped me in a warm kind of happiness.

Matias “…Once the investigation is over, will you devote yourself fully to your work as a book merchant?”

Emma “Huh…?”

Matias “Sorry, that out of nowhere. But what you said earlier hasn't left my mind.”

(He means… what I said about feeling lonely once we stop being partners.)

Emma “I think… for a while, I'll keep working as a book merchant.”

Matias “And for how long?”

Emma “I haven't decided on anything definite yet, but… I'll probably stay a little longer…”

Matias “…A little longer.”

Prince Matias brought a hand to his mouth and fell silent in thought.

When he turned back to me, the snow-shadow color of his eyes held a serious, focused light.

Matias “Would you consider… staying in Achroite?”

Matias “…Not just for a little while, but for good?”

(A hastily written note tucked between documents)

Medicine found at the hideout (verification complete) → High-grade medication for throat ailments. Likely used by a noble. → Five individuals match the profile. Interrogations to proceed in order.

Ember Remnants organizational chart → Under investigation.

Bookstore owner → Continued interrogation. → Why was the key given to Emma? → Truly unrelated to the inflammatory book incident? — Former owner imprisoned three years ago for violation of the Prohibited Goods Handling Act.

Emma’s condition → Continue close observation (important). → Behavior has been unusual since abduction by the Ember Remnants. → Possibility that something was planted in her mind? → Speak with her when the opportunity arises. → Concerned.

[caffedrine]

What theme do you think cybirb will chose for a potential upcoming ikeseries game? I will want a game with romancable magic knight/dukes characters but i guess that will be too similar to midcin

Well, I think the medieval setting is popular, so they'll have at least one going with that theme. I don't think the midcin/ikepri setting will ever leave.

Who knows, they might go wild and have strong worldbuilding from route 1 in thier potential new game?

[caffedrine]

Are you going for matias's dramatic or romantic ending? Also thank you for all the work you've been putting in the translations! ❤️

I'm going for the romantic end first, but I hope to finish the dramatic end soon as well

[caffedrine]

Matias Asbrink Episode 15 - Fan Translation

I pretty much have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t either. There is no guarantees that this is in any way accurate.

Please support Cybird when this is released on the English server.

Emma “Huh…? Lord Matias…?”

When I woke up, the person who had been right beside me was nowhere to be seen.

Panicking, I looked around—and then spotted Lord Matias sitting on the sofa, his eyes closed.

Matias “……”

(I was using the bed, so he rested on the sofa.)

After talking about Queen Matilda last night, Lord Matias stayed by my side until I fell asleep.

He’d said he would “take a short rest in the guest room once he felt tired,” but . . .

(Did he… stay awake all night watching over me?)

There were still embers glowing in the fireplace, proof that someone had been feeding it with firewood not long ago.

Emma “….”

I slipped out of bed quietly and sat down beside him.

Remembering how he had held my hand last night, I gently touched his fingertips.

(…He’s not waking up at all.)

Just a little more, I thought—and lightly took his hand.

Warmth slowly seeped into my palm.

(I wish I could stay like this.)

(…Forever.)

But that couldn’t be.

This partnership existed only to resolve the incitement-book incident.

The one who would stand by Lord Matias for the rest of his life was his future bride—not me.

Once the case was over, we would simply be friends.

(That’s fine. I’ll solve this case no matter what.)

(If it means even a little relief for Lord Matias’s heart.)

Matias “…Mm.”

Matias “……………………Emma?”

(I woke him up…!)

Just as I tried to pull my hand away, he tugged it back instead.

The sudden closeness made my heart leap.

Matias “What’s wrong? Is something troubling you? Are you in pain anywhere?”

Emma “Eh—ah, um…”

Matias “If you feel anything off, tell me immediately. Even something minor.”

He placed a hand beneath my chin, and our gazes naturally locked.

I knew he was worried about me, but he was far too close, and my heart wouldn’t calm down.

Emma “I-I’m fine. Really.”

Matias “Then why were you holding my hand?”

Which option will you choose?

“There’s no deep meaning…”

“I thought I’d wake you…”

“So you wouldn’t get cold…”

Emma “So you wouldn’t get cold…”

(…)

Matias “Your hand feels colder than mine.”

His thumb slid lightly over my fingertips, and I couldn’t help but flinch.

Emma I-It’s just your imagination!”

Matias “Is it?”

Emma “Yes……”

(My body temperature definitely shot up just now.)

Apparently satisfied, Lord Matias finally let go of my hand.

(This is terrible for my heart so early in the morning…)

Emma “I’m sorry for taking the bed last night.”

Matias “Don’t worry about it. I wanted to keep you within sight.”

Matias “You may use this room freely until your condition fully recovers.”

Matias “If you need anything, I’ll bring it.”

Emma “No, I was thinking of returning to the inn.”

(After hearing about the ‘cursed book’ and then not coming back, the innkeeper grandmother must be terribly worried.)

Matias “Why?”

Emma “Why…?”

Matias “I’ve been thinking for some time now…”

Matias “Why not stay at the castle instead of the inn? You wouldn’t need to come and go anymore, it would be easier.”

Emma “Th-that wouldn’t be appropriate…”

(It’s far too intimidating, and just imagining living under the same roof as Lord Matias makes me restless…!)

Emma “It would make it harder to stay in contact with the book merchants who came with me from Rhodolite.”

Matias “…I see.”

(He looks obviously disappointed. I feel a little bad…)

Matias “I won’t force you. I’ll respect your wishes.”

Matias “However, if you’re returning to the inn, there is one condition.”

***

After breakfast at the castle, he escorted me back to the inn, but,

Emma “Um, Lord Matias…”

Matias “What is it?”

Emma “This is… um…”

(We’re way too close…!)

He was lightly gripping my arm, and we were walking down the main street practically like lovers.

Matias “We don’t know when or where they might strike again. I need to be able to respond immediately to anything unexpected.”

Matias “And you’re still recovering. If you got dizzy and fell, that would be a problem.”

As he said this, he pulled me even closer.

(It was fine at night when there were fewer people, but if townsfolk see this, they’ll definitely get the wrong idea…!)

Lord Matias didn’t seem to mind at all, responding briefly to greetings from passersby.

Matias “Your face is red. Do you have a fever?”

He removed one glove and,

Emma “H-hya!”

I let out a strange sound when his cold fingers touched my neck.

Emma “A-ah—n-no, it’s not that! Your hand was just cold, so it startled me.”

Matias “My apologies. Then let’s try this instead.”

His fingers moved gently from my neck to my forehead.

Matias “You don’t seem to have a fever… but if you feel anything unusual, tell me immediately.”

Emma “I-I’m fine. Thank you…”

(He’s worried because of what just happened…)

(But being this close, my heart can’t take it.)

Emma “I still feel like we’re a bit too close… It’s daytime, and people are watching.”

Matias “This is a protective escort. There is no issue.”

Emma “I understand that, but…”

Matias “There is one thing I neglected to mention.”

Matias “Your decision to question the bookstore alone yesterday is something I cannot accept.”

(…)

Matias “As a result, the investigation progressed, and several members of the group were arrested.”

Matias “However, had things gone even slightly differently, you might not have escaped with only minor injuries.”

Emma “…………………………I’m sorry.”

Matias “You have no right to refuse. Please submit to being guarded.”

Yves “Emma…!”

When we arrived at the inn, Yves, Jin, and the elderly innkeeper hurried out to greet us, all wearing worried expressions.

Emma “Yves, and Jin, too…? Why are you here?”

Yves “I heard a rumor that you were injured!”

Yves “They said you hadn’t returned to the inn since yesterday, and I . . .”

Yves “I’m relieved you look okay, but what exactly happened . . .”

Yves “……”

Perhaps finally regaining his composure, Yves blinked as he looked back and forth between Prince Matias and me.

Yves “…Since when did you two become that kind of couple?”

Emma “N-no—th-that’s a misunderstanding! Like I told you before, we’re,”

Matias “We are bound by a partner contract.”

Yves “…You mean an engagement?”

Emma “No!? Absolutely not!”

Emma “Prince Matias, please don’t phrase it in a way that invites misunderstanding!”

I could see Jin shaking with laughter, which only made my face burn hotter.

I expected Prince Matias to say something like “That was not my intention,” but—

Matias “……”

He simply smiled.

(Huh…?)

Jin “Matias, when did you pick up such advanced techniques?”

Matias “That is a misunderstanding. I merely stated a factual truth.”

Matias “I am Emma’s partner. This is also a relationship recognized under the law.”

Yves “So… not an engagement…?”

Emma “A research partner! A partner for the investigation!”

Jin “Denying it while turning bright red, pretty cute, don’t you think, Matias?”

Matias “I agree.”

(Ugh… my face is burning…)

By the time Prince Matias escorted me to my room, my heartbeat still hadn’t settled.

Some time after Emma returned to her room—

Two former schoolmates walked along a quiet back street with little foot traffic.

From the main road, children’s cheerful voices drifted over on the wind.

Jin “Well, for now, it looks like she’s going to be fine.”

Matias “Yes. The poison Emma was exposed to was mild, only strong enough to cause unconsciousness.”

Matias “It was likely used to incapacitate her while they attempted to escape.”

Matias “Still… the fact that she was injured remains.”

Jin “Emma may not look it, but she’s got a strong core. I can vouch for that.”

Jin “So don’t shoulder everything yourself. …Though, well, caring about her isn’t a bad thing either.”

Jin “…So. Did you catch the mastermind?”

Matias “We lost the leader. He is currently being searched for.”

Jin “I see.”

Jin “If he made contact with Emma directly, maybe they’re getting desperate.”

Matias “At the very least, we can follow leads from those we arrested.”

Matias “It should not be long before we apprehend the one behind the incitement books.”

Jin noticed that those words carried both expectation, and a faint trace of loneliness.

Jin “…When this case is over, what do you plan to do?”

Matias “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

Jin “So you’ll terminate the partner contract with Emma and return to being—”

Jin “First Prince, Chief Justice, and head of the Asbrink family?”

Matias “That is my intention.”

Jin “…I see.”

Matias “Once Emma finishes what she must do as a book merchant, she will return to Rhodolite.”

Matias “In fact, she should return as soon as possible.”

Matias “Even if the incitement-book case is resolved, the Ember Remnants will not simply disappear.”

Matias “Having drawn their attention, Achroite can no longer be considered safe for her.”

Jin “…They really are a troublesome bunch.”

As Jin glanced toward the main road, a female employee from the inn Emma was staying at hurried past them.

***

Emma “…Haa…”

For some time now, I’d been sitting on the edge of the bed, standing up, then sitting again, unable to calm down.

(This is no good… If I stay still, all I can think about is Prince Matias.)

Even though time had passed since he escorted me back, I still felt warmth lingering on my arm.

(I need to refocus.)

(If we can just capture the man with the bruised hands, the investigation will move forward.)

(I need to sort through everything he told me, and what the bookstore owner said.)

Then, something occurred to me.

(The key…)

I searched for the key the bookstore owner had given me just before I was abducted.

But no matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find it.

(No way… Did I drop it somewhere!?)

Panicking, I rushed out of the room—and nearly collided with a female staff member.

Female Staff Member “Oh, Emma, what’s wrong?”

Emma “I dropped something… a small key…”

Female Staff Member “Is this it?”

What she was holding was the very key I had been searching for.

Emma “Yes! That’s it! Where did you find it…?”

Female Staff Member “I found it while cleaning the stairs. I thought it might belong to you, Emma.”

She dropped the key into the palm of my hand.

Emma “Thank you so much… I’m relieved…”

(Could the place this key opens be where the ‘cursed book’ is…?)

(The prohibited books the royal family thoroughly confiscated seventy years ago…)

Female Staff Member “That’s a key to the old warehouse, isn’t it?”

Emma “The old warehouse?”

Female Staff Member “Yes. It’s an underground warehouse that was used before the current warehouse complex was built. I used it occasionally at my previous job.”

(So it wasn’t a key to the warehouse complex after all.)

(I should report this to Prince Matias and go together)

Flashback~

Bookstore Owner “……It was wise not to come here with Prince Matias.”

Flashback End~

(…………No.)

(If the royal family really carried out a ‘book purge’ seventy years ago…)

(If Prince Matias doesn’t know what actually happened back then…)

(Is it really safe to tell him?)

(And there’s also the possibility that this key itself is a trap. The bookstore owner was connected to the Ember Remnants.)

(But at the same time)

If you looked at another way, that means it could be an extremely important lead.

Female Staff Member “Is something wrong?”

She peered at me curiously, and my shoulders jerked in surprise.

Emma “No, um…”

Female Staff Member “Oh, do you maybe not know where the old warehouse is?”

Female Staff Member “If you’d like, I can show you. I know where it is.”

Emma “…Huh?”

Female Staff Member “I actually have an errand to run that way anyway.”

(What should I do…)

(It would be really reassuring to have someone with me—but I might end up dragging her into something dangerous…)

Female Staff Member “Come on, let’s go.”

Female Staff Member “Oh, and on the way back, would you like to grab some coffee?”

Female Staff Member “If I say I was with you, Emma, I won’t get in trouble for slacking off.”

With a mischievous grin, she tugged my arm and started down the corridor.

(…………I’ll just check the situation. I won’t dig too deep. That’s what I’ll do.)

Emma “All right. Let’s go.”

***

What I found in the old warehouse we went to together was completely unexpected.

(There are so many half-finished incitement books… Could this be a hideout…?)

As I carefully searched the area, I noticed what looked like documents placed near the bookbinding tools.

(These are Achroite history books and records… and these are . . .)

(Letters? And these…)

Looking closer, the letters appeared to be addressed from Queen Matilda to Warden Gunnar.

(Why would something like this be here…?)

(…)

I knew I shouldn’t pry into someone else’s personal correspondence, but I couldn’t help myself.

(This might be a clue. Just a little…)

Suppressing my guilt, I opened the letter.

Emma “……”

Emma “…What… does this mean…?”

[caffedrine]

Matias' bedroom, if anyone wants to see it.

It's like a nice ski lodge room.

What is behind the camera is the full barista coffee bar he also has in his bedroom.

[caffedrine]

which Li(s) of ikeseries games love their respective mcs the most in ur opinion

I haven’t played all the ikeseries games, but also it’s Rio Ortiz.

It’s been to long since I played Ikemen Sengoku, and my favorite, Kenshin, while he definitely depends on MC the most for emotional stability, I’m not sure I can call obsession love.

It’s been way too long since I played IkeRev, and I definitely did not play all the routes. I thought Jonah’s dynamic was the best, but I can’t really rank LI’s that I can’t remember well.

IkeVamp - I played Leonardo’s route.

Sorry - these are not the answers you want 😅