Confusion All that she could feel when she asked that simple question was confusion. She couldn't understand why this was happening, but her speaking partner didn't seem to care much about that.
"Why, you might ask?" Isn't it obvious that you are the people, that you are everything for which I have fought? "
He felt great pain as he spoke these words. If he was another man, he would have probably been unable to speak them, but he wasn't. His authority had turned him into someone who could ignore even the greatest of pain. After all, what is a bullet wound compared to being eaten alive? Unfortunately, his authority hadn't made him immune to mental pain. If anything, it made it worse. His fears, his guilt, and his loneliness all got worse because of it, but it was his guilt that had brought him where he was, lying back to the wall while talking to his, until recently, enemy.
That enemy was still as confused as she was when she asked the question. Here in front of her lay the man who destroyed everything she ever made, the one who crushed her dreams of being a queen, the man who killed or imprisoned all her friends. Her friends, the closest thing she ever had to a family, the dearest things she, born a nameless orphan on the streets, ever had, are all gone now because of him. She should feel hatred, and she did feel it while she was in her cell waiting for her imminent execution, but now as she looked at his form, she could only feel pity for this man. His usually tied hair was now a complete mess, and his pitch-black eyes, once described as piercing and scary, were now dull and lifeless, with noticeable eye bags as a testament to sleepless nights spent lamenting about his decisions. Like his face, the rest of his appearance was equally pathetic. His red carmagnole jacket was now even more striking. After all, it was stained with his blood.
It is quite ironic that, in a different situation, she might have even chuckled. The man would not have gotten this wound if he hadn't invented the weapon that caused it in the first place. Then again, had he not invented it, many things would not have happened; the Revolution, the Fall of the Sage Council, and for the world, most importantly, the Great War. The Rose Revolutionary, once proud and mighty with a voice that had shaken thrones and a mind that created concepts sometimes so great that even the most learned and enlightened scholars couldn't understand them, was now dying because he saved her. But why? Why had he taken her out of her cell? Why did he attack his own men when they tried to stop him? And why did he bring her here? That is what former throne candidate and ex-merchant Anastasia Hoshin thought as she was looking at her, now former, enemy.
"I did it all for the Lagunican people. I wanted them to be able to eat decent food, to be able to read and write, and to live fulfilling lives without needing to be born into the right families. When I first came to this world, I was content with not interfering but simply observing. I just wanted to go back home, but both were impossible. There was no way of going back to my world, and there was no way I could forever ignore all the evil that nobility did. "
Due to his labored breathing, the Revolutionary had to come to an abrupt halt, allowing the ex-merchant to process what he had said. At first, she couldn't understand his words; he was repeating the words "his world" as if he wasn't from the world. But how can it be that the world is the world, there is nothing more, and then it hits here? If she was interpreting his words correctly, it could explain a lot of the mysteries that surrounded the man named Subaru Natsuki, but she needed to be sure.
"Multiple times you mentioned "your world." What does that mean? "
She asked this question with a straight face that didn't betray any emotion, although the same couldn't be said of her voice, which, if one listened carefully, betrayed her excitement at this possible opportunity.
" Another world" means a world that isn't this one. What is there not to be understood? " Subaru was somewhat confused at having to explain basic word meanings to Anastasia until he remembered something. "Ah, yes. You people don't understand the concept of multiple worlds? Well, imagine everything that exists: all land, all lakes, all mountains, all the stars were represented in a single puddle of water. Well, in that case, I came from a different puddle of water nearby."
This wasn't the answer Anastasia expected, not because it disappointed her, but because it confused her. That confusion stems not from her lack of intellect; she was as smart as, if not smarter than, the first rose revolutionary; rather, it stems from medieval societies' lack of knowledge and understanding of the world. To her, the idea presented by the revolutionary is simply too alien to understand. Sensing the confusion in his speaking partner, Subaru said the words that he should have the first time.
"You people mistakingly refer to people like me as coming from beyond the "great waterfall", which if true, would still mean that I came from the same world as you, just a little bit farther."
So she was right Subaru indeed came from beyond the great waterfall, which explains the origin of his ideas and creations. He was just like the great Hoshin; the only difference was that Hoshin created a great nation, whereas Subaru destroyed one. Anastasias was Hoshin of the Wastes and the idol of merchants in general. After all, she did appropriate his name. Because of that, she found this revelation somewhat disappointing. Subaru had the potential to bring great good to this world and improve the lives of everybody. Instead of that, he destroyed two of the world's greatest kingdoms and was planning to destroy the rest.
"You are a failure. You could have saved so many lives. I have seen your inventions. They are brilliant. If only you had not used that brilliance to make weapons, to create ideas that resulted in this war... " Somewhat agitated at being called a failure, Subaru cut in, temporarily stopping Anastasia's speech.
"It was inevitable; this revolution was inevitable; I just accelerated it. You seem to forget that I am merely a man. If it weren't for the oppression that the people suffered, my calls for revolution would have been answered with mockery, but oppression was there and people were tired of it. Inhaling again, the revolution continued. You can't separate the mind from the material. All inventions, just like ideas, first come from the human mind. It is simply impossible to advance one without the other. "
" Even if that is true," Anastasia said, somewhat dishearteningly continuing. " You still destroyed the lives of most people living now. Had you not done what you have done, the revolution might have happened centuries from now. Instead, you accelerated it, and as a result, people are now more fearful than ever before. This Republic of yours is more tyrannical than any kingdom ever was." You made a mistake.
For a split second, Subaru grimaced. That grimace was soon followed by an expression that can be best described as melancholic. This let Anastasia know that she had hit the mark with her words. She was able to cause him discomfort, which was in a way the closest thing she could get to revenge for all the pain this man had caused her, and that made this maid somewhat happy. But on the other hand, she also felt pity. His words were sincere, his goals noble, and his logic impeccable. Well, his logic was alien. It was advanced, so advanced that she could barely comprehend it, but the more she listened to it, the more she understood it, the more she wanted to follow it. That is how he acquired all of his followers, after all, and for some reason, Anastasia didn't seem to dislike this effect. While her mind was contemplating the newfound knowledge, Subaru decided to answer.
"I was arrogant, I guess. I thought I was better than they were. I thought I could avoid their mistakes." Melancholically, the revolutionary had spoken these words, but that melancholy was quickly replaced with newfound vigor. "But now I see, it doesn't matter how hard you try to change, it always ends the same, and that is because that mistake is not a mistake, but a crucial part of the change." Subaru's "enlightened" words did little to make her sympathetic to his cause, but they did make her angry.
"What is the crucial part of the change? Murder, terror, what... what is it? How many more people must die for equality, how many more thrones must fall before people stop starving, and how much more blood must be shed in the name of revolution before your ideal world can be realized?" Anastasia was angry. This man in front of her was wrong. His use of terror was wrong, and nothing would stop her from proving it.
This answer of hers greatly pleased Subaru, so he finished his statement. "I see you don't understand what I am saying. Don't worry, you will understand in due time. You will understand. " Somewhat cheerfully, or as cheerfully as a dying man can be, Subaru stated this fact.
"There isn't much to understand. You are a brilliant man who became a lunatic. A lunatic who is trying to conquer the world." Her judgment was met with a simple but ludicrous question.
"If you don't like it, why don't you change it?"
"And how would I do that?"
"Simple really. Actually, it is far from simple but easy to understand, that is, when you understand it. " After these contradictory words, Subaru made a quick pause and then continued speaking. " You know, there is a reason I brought you here." This place is where the Revolution first started.
That wasn't hard for Anastasia to believe. After all, they were in the ruins of a burned-down village. All that was left of the once humble settlement was chared stone walls that belonged to comparatively better houses and a dried vell.
"This is the place where, for the first time, I stood against the injustice that prevails in this world." He proclaimed before continuing. " The peasants that lived here were having most of their crops taken from them by the local lord. Naturally, after some time, their situation became critical. They were producing so much food, and yet they couldn't feed their families. It was all because of the Lord. So they decided they would no longer hand their crops over, and to prove their resolve, they blocked the main road used by merchants in this region. "
Anastasia had heard of this before. As a merchant dealing in pretty much anything and as an owner of one of the best information networks in the world, she was informed that goods couldn't travel the road. Although she knew the exact reason, until now, she didn't know But she knew that the road would be usable soon after, and seeing the destruction around here, she was fearfully concerned about how the situation would be handled.
"The local lord, feeling pressured by the merchants and the Sage council, decided to punish them as he saw them as "Puni peasants". He sent a few of his knights, and they did the rest. It took two weeks for the knights to clear the road. Because of this, they felt humiliated, and they decided to restore their "honor", and this is the result." Subaru chuckled and said humorously. " Somewhat fitting for a knight's honor to be represented with burned-down ruins, don't you think?"
His words made Anastasia feel guilty. After all, she had played a large role in putting pressure on the lord to clear the road and ensure the trade through it. She was blinded by her greed, and she, along with Aldo, unknowingly, aided in this massacre.
"It just so happened that I had visited this village a few days before its destruction. But that is not important now. The important thing is that this is the perfect place for the revolution to evolve. And the one to do it will be you, the people. "
"You said that before, that I am the person. Why me? Why not somebody else? "
"By now, who else but you, a nameless orphan on the streets, who, by using your intellect and cunning, had risen to be one of the wealthiest people in the world? " At least before the revolution. You see, I encountered a dilemma when I had you arrested. On one hand, I needed to kill you in order to save the people, but on the other hand, had I killed you, I would have, in a way, killed the people. But I was able to find a solution to this problem."
With noticeable curiosity, Anastasia asked the expected question. " And what would that be?"
"All in due time," Subaru answered in a way that almost sounded mischievous.
"Well, I don't think you have much time on your hand." It was almost like she was trying to lighten the mood when Anastasia spoke these words. Instead of a light chuckle or any other form of amusement, Subaru's face showed worry.
" You are right about that, Citizen Anastasia. The revolutionary guard is on its way. At this speed, they'll be here in about three hours. Make it four hours now. " Strangely, Subaru's voice, once labored and weakish, was now the same as it was before being wounded. The same was true for his movement. His hands could once again move at the same speed and with the same precision. But by far the strangest part was the fact that his wounds still remained. It was almost like his body was ignoring their presence and continued functioning like they didn't exist.
"What is happening? You seem to have recovered. And how can you know about the guards' whereabouts?" Anastasia, who was completely bewildered by the sight before her, tried to pry answers from the revolutionary.
"Greed. It's only temporary. Soon enough, I'll once again be on death's doorstep. But I should probably enjoy it while I can. " As he was saying these words, Subaru, effortlessly, rose from the ground and looked around him. After he was satisfied with the state of the village, he once again made eye contact with Anastasia. She was quite short, a consequence of the malnutrition she had suffered for most of her life, with long purple hair and aqua green eyes. Her clothes, although stained and in some places torn, still had the appearance of wealth, or needles opulence, as the revolutionary liked to put it. Truthfully, due to her height, nobody would believe that she was five years older than the Rose Revolutionary. But out of all of her traits, the most recognizable one, and simultaneously the most gratifying, was her greed.
"Now that I think about it, you, citizen Anastasia, are quite greedy yourself. You are probably going to be the next one." Subaru's voice was low, although not low enough for his speaking partner not to hear him. He was processing this newfound revelation, and it seemed that he couldn't decide if it was a good or bad thing.
"Next one?"
"Yes, probably. If I could, I would give you all of them that I have, but unfortunately, I can't control them. "
At this point, Anastasia had gotten somewhat used to Subaru's cryptic language, so instead of prying further, she decided to return the conversation back on track.
" As you had agreed, we don't have much time. We should continue our talk about the solution you found for your dilemma."
"Indeed, now that I can walk again, this should be easier." While he was speaking, he reached for a briefcase that he had carried here when he freed Anastasia. From the briefcase, he took what looked like a regular book, although this book was all but usual. " This is a collection of multiple philosophy books from my world that I have personally translated. Originally, I wanted to publish it, but there is not enough time for that. Plus, it would be better if your opponents were unaware of it and, most importantly, had no knowledge of it. "
Anastasia, with stars in her eyes, accepted the offered book.
" The knowledge inside this book should answer most of your questions, and most importantly, help you lead the Republic and Revolution forward."
She was excited about all the knowledge she could gain from this book, even though she began to understand and respect the man who gave it to her. She found it impossible for herself to continue the very thing that destroyed her life and family.
"I'm thankful for this gift, but I won't lead the revolution. On the contrary, I will use the knowledge contained within this book to destroy the Republic. " These words were spoken with great zeal and truthfully conveyed her feelings on the matter. Even though she was currently more emotional than usual, her intellect was still as good as always. Anastasia was ready to start running as fast as she could at the first sight of aggression from the revolutionary. In fact, she wouldn't have even said these words had Subaru not been heavily wounded and, at least until recently, dying. But the attack never came. Instead of anger or hatred, Subaru's face showed what appeared to be understanding of what she wasn't certain of.
"Do what you think you must." He made a short pause to collect his thoughts before continuing. "If you truly want to do that, you should probably know that there are confirmed sightings of counter-revolutionaries, probably the remnants of the royal guards, near Costul. "
"Thank you."
" That information won't help you much, but this thing will." Subaru reached inside of his coat and took a letter from it. "The content of this letter will ensure you Halibel's loyalty."
The weight of these words couldn't possibly be measured. Halibel was well known to Anastasia and the rest of the world. The wolf demihuman is, or more accurately, was, the greatest warrior of her homeland, and one of the four greatest warriors in the world. His skills with curses and his unparalleled ability to remain hidden, even from the greatest of foes, had made him one of the most respected and feared warriors. One important trait that he possesses is his hatred of slavery. It was that hatred that made him support Subaru's struggle to spread the Revolution across the world. Hatred of slavery transformed Halibel from a feared warrior to an even more feared head of the Republic's secret police. Many enemies of the revolution had been killed as a result of Halibel and his network of spies and assassins. Truthfully, throughout their entire conversation, Anastasia half expected Halibel or any of his men to find them and arrest them. After all, they were more than capable of achieving this. But the existence of this letter shows why this hasn't and won't happen.
" While this letter is indeed useful, it won't be enough to get Heinkel on your side." Subaru's face showed disappointment while he was speaking these words.
Anastasia wasn't sure if Subaru was feeling disappointed in himself, for being unable to ensure Heinkel's loyalty, or in the person in question, for not going with his plan, whatever that plan might be. She wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter. After all, Heinkel Astrea's entire life has been a disappointment. A son of two famous war heroes, a former head of one of the graated noble families in Lagunica and a former vice-captain of the royal guard. But he was most famous for being a rather rude alcoholic. This was apparently a coping mechanism for his wife's condition. His wife, Louanna Astrea, has been in a coma-like state for over a decade. Not even the kingdom's greatest heller could cure her. Anastasia doesn't know why a man like this would want, let alone be accepted, to be part of the revolution's leadership. But he was and is now the Republic's minister of war. Subaru also bestowed the title of Field Marshal upon him. She has never heard of this title before, and she hopes that the newly acquired book will give her more information about it.
" I know what you are thinking. Yes, Heinkel's reputation is not the best, before or after the revolution. But he is a competent field marshal, and he also has the army's full loyalty. " Subaru, who, for some reason, was keen on aiding Anastasia in destroying his lifework, continued. " With his aid, you might even be able to enact a bloodless coup." This was probably the reason for his insistence; he was trying to minimize casualties. If he can't stop me from destroying his "project", he might as well ensure that I cause as little collateral damage as possible. At least this was Anastasia's interpretation of his intentions.
"If you can find a way to cure his wife's condition or, at the very least, make him think that you can, he should follow you no matter what you decide to do."
Heinkel's apparent lack of ideological conviction wasn't at all surprising to Anastasia, but she was surprised that Subaru seemed to lack it. After all, he did just tell her how to put an end to everything he created, so why is he betraying his ideals?
"Why are you telling me this? You know I'll destroy your revolution, you know I'll end this insane war, and you know I'll stop your terror from spreading across the world. " Strangely emotional for the circumstances, Anastasia demanded an answer.
"You say you will destroy everything, citizen Anastasia. Does that mean you will reintroduce slavery, or that you will make it possible for the local leaders to repeat massacres like the one that happened here? No, something tells me that somebody like you will not do that. " With a sly smile, Subaru spoke these words, and they were quite effective. They made his speaking partner lose herself in her thoughts for a short amount of time.
He has a point. After all, this revolution is ending slavery. That was a blime on the world that she nearly became a victim as well. It also gave strength and opportunity to once oppressed people to fight their oppression. While all of that was good, it didn't excuse the murders that the revolution committed. Subaru himself probably burned many villages that didn't support his revolution, even if that defiance was passive. In a way, his oppression was worse because, in the past, people were punished for what they had done. But Subaru's revolution punished people not only for their actions but for their thoughts as well. Actually, having wrong thoughts was often considered by the revolutionaries to be worse than directly opposing the Republic. And the scariest part about it is that she thinks she can understand it now. You can do something without knowing the effects it will have. It is possible for somebody to unknowingly hamper the struggle. But if you, in your heart, hate the revolution, you will spread that haterade, like it is a disease, to other people. By doing so, you might be able to, or at least create an opportunity for somebody else to, rally the necessary number of people in order to cause trouble for the government. The Revolution lives within the hearts and minds of the people. It defends itself not with weapons that Subaru and others invented, but with the hearts and bravery of the people who believe in its values. No matter how powerful its adversaries are, the Revolution will live if a single person holds it in their heart and is willing to spread its teachings. It scared Anastasia how easily she started to understand this man's logic, but that logic held some sense, in between its brutality and, at times, lunacy. Yes, she won't destroy it all. Just the bad parts, when she has identified them.
"What you will do, citizen Anastasia, remains to be seen. But I am confident that your actions will be beneficial for the world, or at very least this country. I wouldn't have saved you if I didn't believe it. " Subaru, disinterested in Anastasia's internal dilemma, stated the goal of his plan, at least in the broadest sense.
"How do you know that, after all, you know who I am and what I was previously?"
" The book I gave you should answer this question, so read it." He was disappointed by the revolutionary answer, but after a short pause, he added, with a marginally softer voice. "If you aren't certain, even after reading it, there is a rather large letter that I wrote which explains my entire plan. The letter is hidden within what was previously used to be the king's office, now the meeting place for the heads of government. So you will be able to read it once you take control of the country."
This answer, although not the most useful, was still satisfactory for Anastasia. After all, it gave her something to think about; a challenge, a mystery, and her mind couldn't get enough of that. In a way, she started to admire the Rose Revolutionary; his logic had sense, and he was able to conceive a plan that turned his enemy into an important part of his struggle. Of course, she won't follow his plans. She ain't a dog. He might fascinate her, but he can't control her. She will use what he gave her to make her own decisions about what is right and wrong. If she does rule, she will rule her way. Anastasia unknowingly, for the time being, played into Subaru's hand. As it turned out, she did it not a second too late.
Subaru looked at her with a pleased expression. It seems that his plan is working. Anastasia's face showed fierce determination, making it evident that she had accepted her new role. That fact relieved him; his goal would be accomplished, and the struggle he began soon after arriving in this world would end in did feel bad for having to hide Anastasia's full purpose, but it was too early to tell her now; she wouldn't understand. However, she is a smart woman. She will figure it out on her own. He has given her everything she needs to do so, and by the time she does, she will see things his way. How unfortunate that she was blinded by opulence all these years. We could have achieved so much. But his musings about a past that had never happened were cut short by a sudden twinge of pain around his legs, seconds after he fell to the ground. His authority's effect had worn off.
" You're in pain again. Stay still. I'll try to help you. " Concerned for her unlikely benefactor, Anastasia tried to help him.
But her attempts were for naught. " I told you that the effect would be temporary." He told her with a voice that was once again labored. " The guardsmen will be here in a couple of hours, so you should go now if you want to achieve your goals." Then, urging her to leave while she still could, the revolutionary started shooing her away with his hands.
But Anastasia was a rather stubborn woman who didn't let misplaced gestures drive her away. " I won't let you die alone."
Subaru delivered these words to her, "Where did this sudden concern come from? I won't go with you, but you will probably know when I die. After all, as I told you, you are the next. " Confused and slightly worried about his plan, Subaru delivered these words to her. If my prediction is correct, then in a way I'll remain with you. "
"How?"
"You will know it when it happens. Now go! "
Once again bewildered, but this time determined. Anastasia started running in the direction of the forest, leaving the revolutionary to die. Going alone in a dense forest is usually a death wish, but this one was an exception for two reasons. First, she knew that this forest had a road that led to a rather big village, at least when it came to the villages in this domain. Secondly, she knew that this forest didn't have any dangerous beasts in it. Simply put, she knew she was safe, but the persuing guards might assume that the forest was dangerous and therefore presume her dead.
Soon enough, her tired and naturally weak body ran out of stamina, forcing her to take a short rest. The scenery was rather pleasant; all around her were large trees, whose sprawling branches and leaves created shade for travelers like her and gave a home to birds and insects. Those same birds could be heard twittering. What were they saying to each other? She didn't know, but she knew that she liked the sound. And to top it all off, a gentle breeze could be felt. For all of this combined, it caused Anastasia to feel, for the first time in a long while, peaceful. She couldn't remember the last time she felt like this, but she knew that it would be a long time before she felt it again. Until this morning, she was expecting her imminent death, and now she is about to take over the country. The man who imprisoned her saved a man who wanted her dead and gave her everything she needed to achieve her goals. The man who took everything away from her gave her an opportunity to get it all back, but this time she will do it the right way.
She didn't know what to think of her strange benefactor. At first, she thought that he was an enlightened, although foolish, boy. After some time, this boy started to rally peasants and disillusioned merchants to his side, so her opinion changed and she started seeing him as a threat. But the actions he took when the Royal Capital fell had, until recently, the greatest impact on her. He had the Sage Council, a temporary government that ruled until a new king was found, publicly executed. Soon after, all the Nobels that hadn't fled the country suffered the same fate. After that was done, he proclaimed his Republic. He said that this Republic was a system of rule that made it impossible for one man to acquire too much power. He claimed that it would free the people from the tyranny of kings. He said those things and yet he held more power than any king ever had.
When the other great nations united to stop his revolution, he destroyed their armies with new weapons that he had invented and forced them out of Lagunica. But he wasn't satisfied with that. He wanted to spread the revolution across the world, so he declared war on the neighboring countries. Due to firearms and national conscription, the Republic's armies were even able to conquer the Volachian Empire, their eternal rival, and turn it into what they called a "sister republic." Soon after the war stalemated and the people demanded greater measures against those they saw as their enemies, Subaru declared terror to be the name of the day. All the death and suffering caused by the war and terror changed Anastasia's mind for the third time, and she saw him as a monster.
She held that belief until today, when Subaru was all three of those things at the same time. He was, simply put, a fascinating man. It is somewhat sad that things happened the way that they did because he would have made a great employee. His knowledge could have enriched her even further. But then again, this way of thinking is what destroyed her life. To begin with, had she done things differently, he wouldn't have had a reason to kill her. When she thought about it, she couldn't but feel that Subaru's actions towards her were rather kind.
These quite disturbing thoughts of Anastasia's were stopped by more imminent concerns. " I should probably go. The night will probably fall relatively soon" . The rest of her walk was quite uneventful. She encountered a hunter who, graciously, gave her directions to the nearest settlement. She followed the man's advice, and by twilight, she was near a small village. She could see the small houses that made up the village. They looked quite comfortable to her, but then again, her sense of comfort had dulled due to the time she spent in her cell. Besides the houses, she could also see the farmers who were returning home from the fields that they painstakingly tended. This gave one a feeling of normalcy, something that was extremely rare in these tumultuous times.
In an instant, that feeling was replaced with that of pain. The sensation was so strong that she fell to her knees. It felt like it came from her soul. The pain wasn't normal It was much stronger, but soon it faded and was replaced with a strange, almost eldritch feeling. It was like she could sense a presence within her soul. This entity might not necessarily be evil, but it was definitely dark and cryptic. Just like pain, this other feeling soon left. The entity was still there. Her soul, for better or worse, just got used to its presence. While she was trying to understand what had just happened, Subaru's words came back to her.
"Greed. It's only temporary. Soon enough, I'll once again be on death's doorstep. But I should probably enjoy it while I can. "
"Now that I think about it, you, citizen Anastasia, are quite greedy yourself." You are probably going to be the next one.
From where did this sudden concern come from? I won't go with you, but you will probably know when I die. After all, as I told you, you are the next. "
"You will know it when it happens. Now go! "
"Greed," she said, those words as the realization of what had happened hit her. Subaru had just died and she was now...
"Miss, are you alright?" A concerned villager interrupted her thoughts, and that is when she realized that she was still on the ground.
"I am fine, but I got lost. I've been wandering this forest for three days looking for any people to help me. " While rising from the ground, Anastasia put on the act of a lost and scared young woman. Her ability to fake emotions was legendary amongst merchants, and this poor villager never stood a chance.
"That is terrible. You're free to stay the night or longer with my family. If you want to, " The villager graciously offered, not aware of the actual identity of the person that he had invited to his house.
"Thank you! I'm so grateful to you. The forest was really scary. I thought that at any moment a wild beast would attack me." With fake tears and perfectly staged fright, Anastasia was able to gain sympathy from the man.
"There is no need to be afraid; you're safe now." The man tried desperately to calm Anastasia down, which appeared to work. " Maybe we should go now; the night has already fallen."
"Thank you for allowing me to stay." "Please lead the way." With a purposely weak voice, Anastasia answered his question."
"Sure, this way." The villagers started walking, and Anastasia followed them. These were the first of many steps that Anastasia Hoshin, a former throne candidate, took in order to fulfill her new purpose. This woman was now, for the first time in her life, completely worthy of the name "Greed."
For those who read this, read the Treachery If. It's criminally underrated.