Case 135: Upon an unlikely romance.

Cecilia spent a few days resting.

Since there wasn't much to do, she only spent a few hours a day managing Lilith's tasks and learning magic before going back to sleep. Dragging her weary body out of bed itself was a hassle for the girl, who had turned into a complete shut-in.

Still, she made sure to shower once a day to refresh her mood. Besides, she didn't know if any of the girls would come back at any time. She couldn't show them her 'dirty' self, even if such a thing... wasn't really a thing. Her naturally clean constitution repelled most of the filth in daily life.

Meal after meal, day after day, it was only Cecilia in her bedroom. It would be a lie to say that she didn't feel lonely, but for everyone's sake, she could always hold it in. She was used to this.

And when time passed by so quietly and uneventfully like that, a sort of boredom kicked in.

Sure, learning magic had its intrigues, but the act of 'learning' itself often caused fatigue. There were games on her phone, books she could read, but nothing really interested her. She wanted something... more tangible. Perhaps more thrilling and vivid.

''Ah.''

There were TV dramas. Although her bedroom didn't have a TV, if she bowed her head and asked the master of the house—Lyra—she should be able to get one installed.

So, without hesitation, Cecilia dialed Lyra's number.

As the ringtone played, she felt somewhat nervous. She didn't call the heroine often, afraid of interrupting her dangerous work. She would leave messages instead. But texts were inherently less expressive than a voiced conversation, especially for begging.

Soon enough, the call picked up.

''Ah, Lyra?''

[I'm here.]

''Are you busy right now?''

[No. What's going on?]

Taking a deep breath, Cecilia gently continued, ''I want a TV installed in my room. Watching things on my phone puts some strain on my eyes every time, you see...''

[What do you watch?]

''Um... love dramas?'' Cecilia blurted out. ''Whatever is on the air, really... there aren't many of them uploaded on the normal internet.''

After a brief but meaningful silence, Lyra replied knowingly,

[...I see. I'll try to come back more often.]

''W-What? What does that have to do with the TV?''

Even though Cecilia didn't say it directly, she was sure the heroine had pitied her just now. If not, then a mean tease. Did Cecilia sound so desperate for affection that she would seek those cheap love dramas?

Besides, it wasn't Lyra's perverted affection that she wanted!

The two bickered for a few minutes, but there was no winner. Lyra, eager to pamper her little caged princess, said she would call for a TV to be set up in her room immediately, then ended the call to continue her trip.

That evening, several workers arrived. They carried the newest model and swiftly began the installation under Mary's supervision.

To avoid trouble, Cecilia hid in the bathroom the entire time, fiddling with her phone. Sitting close to the door, she could faintly hear the conversation outside.

''What are these chains? They go all the way to the bathroom.''

''Is someone in there?''

'''Someone'? I didn't expect the young matriarch of Orleans to be this wild...''

The gossipy whisperings made Cecilia shudder. It was a clear jab at Lyra. Then, as if feeling she had to intervene, Mary chimed in, ''It's a pet my lady keeps. She's rather... shy, so she'll stay in the bathroom for the moment.''

'Mary...!'

Cecilia's face burned. A pet?! Did it really look like that in her eyes?

Though... it made sense someone would think that way, looking at the chains Cecilia was dragging. In any case, the workers calmed down somewhat at the explanation, and they soon finished their job.

Cecilia couldn't come out until Mary called her.

The two exchanged awkward gazes before the maid humbly excused herself, leaving Cecilia on her own. Remembering the misunderstanding still made her restless.

'...Why do I even bother? I'm going to die anyway. Who cares?'

With her ever-positive(?) mindset, Cecilia instantly recovered and grabbed the brand-new remote. Until deep into the night, she enjoyed the cheap shows on TV, forgetting herself in the jungle of deliberate love dramas. It felt just real enough since she couldn't sense the actors' emotions through the screen, but at the same time, it couldn't escape the many clichés she had seen many times.

'I guess they're fresh concepts in this world, huh.'

If Cecilia ever survived, she would surely exploit this and make herself filthy rich.

''Heheh...''

The girl giggled foolishly at her gloomy joke.

The room still only had her warmth.

Show after show, hour after hour, Cecilia blankly stared at the TV, revering in the brief occasions of freshness. Most of the dramas were about romance between people of different classes. Typically, a heroine coming from a humble background would be paired with a noble—the so-called 'forbidden' romance.

It wasn't really a unique setting even in this world. It was ordinary, just like how she was feeling.

However... Cecilia couldn't help but remember a faint doubt—a small premonition that had been forming in her head after all this time. Romance that transcended status and identities. Forbidden relationships.

''...Wait a minute.''

Cecilia's attention instantly snapped back to the anonymous phone. In particular, one of the lines Lilith had sent her stood out.

[Looking at you, I finally found my strength again.]

It was subtle enough so that Cecilia didn't realize it the first time, but considering the buildup... wasn't Lilith going to do something drastic?

'Lilith? That boring woman? Really?'

Lilith was a minor character in the original game. Not much was known about her—not her past, her present, not her circumstances—except one thing.

''Oh, no...''

Cecilia's mind couldn't help but drift to a terrible possibility.

'I-Is Lilith going to pursue Jeanne?!'

The catalyst of it all—the former demon queen's crush on the former heroine. Who could have thought that at this point, it would be Cecilia's actions that unknowingly derailed this destined-to-fail romance story?

'Is she stupid?! If she approached Jeanne at this sensitive time... the empire would be turned upside down!'

Panic set in instantly. With a singular move, Lilith could ruin everything for everyone. The former demon queen merely expressing her feelings could cause all factions to falter, including the demons.

Firstly, Jeanne herself would be confused. The whole hero party would be, too. If it ever got out, Cecilia would surely be targeted, and all of the girls' efforts to conceal her would end in vain. The humankind's consciousness would be divided, and the demon forces would be in a jumble.

All because a single woman said she fell for another woman at first sight.

'What kind of outrageous plot was this?! They should really make this script into a drama!'

Fumbling, Cecilia quickly contacted Lilith to confirm her suspicion. Her fingers moved at lightning speed despite her tremors. And the answer she got was...

[Yes. I am trying to pursue Jeanne.]

''...''

'It's over.'