The meal Viol had brought spilled.
Tossing everything aside, she rushed over and snatched the fruit knife from my hand.
“What is this? Where did you get it!"
She snapped the knife in an instant, her voice blazing.
“I'm sure I removed everything dangerous!"
“You left it here yesterday."
"Why did you hide it?"
I didn't hide it. I kept it intending to give it back when you came, but you didn't show up.
I tried to explain, but before I could, she grabbed my hand to check it.
“No injuries yet, I see."
No, I was injured, and it healed.
Viol, unaware of this, looked relieved for a moment before glaring fiercely at me.
“You crazy bastard.”
“Don't tell me you resorted to self-harm just because I starved you a little!”
Huh?
The atmosphere was tense, so I watched her warily, but she was making a strange misunderstanding.
“No."
"What do you mean, no? I saw it clearly with my own two eyes!"
“I was just checking if I could heal myself with my ability."
“So you were going to start by slitting your wrist? Who does such a crazy thing?!"
Even though I told the truth, she didn't believe me at all.
"Was the 'Empire's greatest beauty's' pride hurt that badly? Are you angry, thinking, 'How dare you treat me like this?'"
“That's not it.”
"If you wanted to protest and make me regret it, why didn't you just try stabbing me with it? Instead of self-harming like an idiot where no one can see!"
Dammit! Just think whatever you want.
Since speaking nicely wasn't working, I shouted back.
“Don't pretend to be worried when you're the one who locked me in solitary!"
"What?"
“If you keep someone locked in solitary, even a sane person would go crazy enough to self-harm!”
Truthfully, I'm used to it now since I usually spend so much time lying in bed anyway.
When I pointed out that a normal person could lose their mind, Viol's expression changed.
She flinched, then...
“...Then shall we go out for some fresh air for a bit?”
...she made the suggestion as if she couldn't help it.
“I can't let you go outside, but I can show you around the palace grounds."
“In the middle of the night?”
“It doesn't matter. But it's chilly, so dress warmer.”
Without complaint, I put on more layers over my simple clothes.
Even if it was due to a misunderstanding, there was no harm in getting out for the first time in a while.
And as we went out the door together.
“Did something happen?”
The guard standing outside the door asked, but Viol's gaze towards her was ominous.
“This useless thing. I told you to guard him properly..."
"Let's go!"
She looked like she might beat the innocent guard to death, so I quickly pulled her away.
“You said you'd show me the palace. Don't worry about other things.”
“...Right."
She reluctantly backed down.
With unwilling steps, she led me around the palace.
"That's..."
“Lord Ceres?”
Since we were walking together openly, everyone passing by in the palace recognized me, their eyes widening.
“Why is he out?”
“I heard Her Majesty locked him in solitary.”
Everyone was bound to be surprised seeing her confidently walking around with the person she'd locked in solitary.
“Why is she escorting him so gently?!"
Her attitude was even gentle.
She stuck right beside me, checking my condition so I wouldn't fall.
"Is that really Her Majesty?"
“I heard she even brings his meals herself.”
"What? Then it's as if..."
“Just like Lord Ceres said at the party, Her Majesty is..."
Just as the people were murmuring.
"What are you gawking at? Shut up and get lost immediately, or I'll kill you!”
As Viol snarled, everyone startled, shut their mouths, and disappeared.
“It's too noisy here.”
After chasing everyone away, Viol, still not satisfied, changed our route.
“Follow me."
The new place she brought me to was a certain garden.
"This is the imperial garden, accessible only to royalty. Do you like it?"
“It's pretty."
Looking at the garden full of splendid flowers, I gave an ordinary comment.
Since I'm not particularly fond of flowers, I had nothing else to say.
The real Ceres really liked this place, didn't she?
In the original work, there was also a situation where Viol brought Ceres to this garden.
During her palace confinement, Ceres kept getting depressed, so he brought her here for a change of pace, and it was a good move.
'Wow, this place is really pretty!'
'Do you like it?'
'For the first time among the things you've done.'
'Hmph, even in this situation, that temper of yours is still the same.'
‘...I guess I'll thank you for now.’
Perhaps because she really liked it here.
Ceres, who had always hated him due to being confined by Viol, even offered thanks for the first time.
And now I've come to that place as Ceres. I feel an emotion that's hard to describe.
Did the real Ceres like places like this enough to lift her spirits even during confinement?
Hmm, I don't particularly like it that much, though. I do think it's decorated prettily.
I tried imagining the real Ceres playing here.
Imagining her based on my current appearance, dressed in pretty, feminine clothes, posing in the garden.
It was then.
“...Who were you thinking about just now?”
Viol suddenly said something strange.
“What are you talking about?”
I was about to answer bluntly, but sensing the mood, I asked seriously.
Her expression was stern and unusual.
“Tell me, what woman were you thinking of just now?”
“...I wasn't thinking about a woman.”
I was thinking of Ceres, who is female, but I can't say that.
“I was thinking about myself. Wondering when this would finally end.”
Since I'm also Ceres, it's not entirely wrong.
I essentially told the truth, but Viol's face twisted even more.
“Do you get such affectionate eyes when thinking about yourself?”
“What?”
“Are you pretending not to know? Or do you really not know? Your eyes just now looked like you were thinking of someone beloved. Eyes you've never shown before.”
What misunderstanding is this now!
Left with no choice against Viol's absurd misconception, I told her something close to the truth.
“Actually, I was thinking about a character from a novel I like.”
“Don't joke, it wasn't like that. Was it Alios? Were you thinking about that bitch?!"
She grabbed both my shoulders and shook me, interrogating me.
“I did everything! Just as you wished, I released both your mother and that bitch Alios! So isn't it common courtesy to at least pay attention to me? I even brought you here, but you don't seem to like it much, and you're thinking about some other woman? Do you have no conscience?”
“Stop it.”
Facing this unreasonable interrogation, I couldn't stand it anymore and ground my teeth.
“If you keep this up, I won't stay still either.”
As I brushed her arms off and spoke, Viol scoffed.
“If you don't stay still, what are you going to do?”
“Resist."
As I took a stance, Viol looked blank.
“Are you crazy? You want to fight me?”
“Of course not. There's no way I can beat you. I'm not going to fight. It's just resistance.”
“Do you think your pathetic resistance will make me stop?”
"Maybe not. But I can probably make things difficult for you.”
I pointed out to Viol.
“You've never learned martial arts or combat techniques, have you?”
“Of course not. Why would I learn something like that? I was born strong."
That's what I thought.
After spending time together and observing her, Viol definitely didn't know martial arts.
It was strange.
The original Viol felt similarly, but I know he learned martial arts as a hobby.
He added technique to his powerful body.
I know he was set up as the second strongest among the male leads in terms of physical power, so why is she different?
I don't know why, but thanks to that, I have a small chance.
I quietly loosened up my body. It's weak, but it definitely moves as I intend.
I should be able to anticipate Viol's movements and dodge them.
“Let me warn you in advance. From now on, you won't be able to touch even the hem of my clothes."
“How?”
“I'm actually a martial arts expert. I can easily dodge the clumsy hands of a novice like you."
“How could someone who lived shut up at home claiming to be sick have learned martial arts?”
“Meditation training. I meditated while lying in bed, sensing the world's energy.”
“Is he really crazy?”
Viol let out a hollow laugh as if she'd heard utter nonsense.
Ignoring the warning, she extended her palm towards me.
The moment I tried to react and move in response to her motion to push me lightly...
Strength suddenly drained from my body.
Far from dodging, I was pushed by her gentle touch and fell backward.
"Ugh!"
As I fell back, Viol made a startled sound.
“Uh, don't exaggerate. I didn't push that hard."
'Ceres?'
Viol spoke to me, but I couldn't answer.
"Aah, aaagh!!"
My body, it hurts so much!
To the point where getting used to it before feels meaningless.
The pain I'd experienced until now was nothing compared to this!
It feels like my entire body is being minutely torn apart!
Why, why is this suddenly happening?
In the original work, Ceres was never in this much pain. Not even when she was terminally ill!
Nothing happened that should have worsened my condition.
I was locked in solitary, but I ate well and rested during that time.
If anything, I healed my body enough to walk around?
...Could it be a backlash?
Unlike the original Ceres, I didn't spend months; I hastily healed my body in just a week.
Did doing it too quickly actually strain my body, and is the backlash only appearing now?
Damn it, another unfair twist!
“Uh, ugh...."
I screamed for a while, unable to bear the pain, but even that became difficult, and now I feel like I'm going to pass out.
“Ceres, what's wrong? Snap out of it! Ceres!!!"
The last thing I heard amidst my fading consciousness was Viol's voice calling my name.