Case 155: Upon the heroine’s resolve.

Lyra absentmindedly sat before the tear-soaked letter for a long time, unable to sort out her feelings.

Her eyes briefly landed on the stacks of envelopes. Those would be all of Cecilia's longings for her, every little regret, joy, and sadness she intended to share with the heroine. At last, it was Cecilia's true heart, which Lyra had been pursuing for years.

Lyra wanted to tear them open. Like reading a diary, she wanted to witness that person's unadulterated feelings, stage by stage, year after year. What would she say after a year had passed? What sort of person would she expect to answer her questions after a decade? Or even after the letters themselves became relics of a past era, would she expect Lyra to... read them at all?

A sort of morbid curiosity arose. Within the heroine, both the desire to seek the truth and the flimsy aversion to hurting Cecilia's choice tore at one another intensely. Her trembling hand placed on the stack of carefully decorated letters, the first of which stated the date it should be opened. At that moment, Lyra paused.

''...What do you want?'' She said in a low voice.

Without having to turn around, she'd realized that someone was standing in the doorway. Since when did it open? No, perhaps that wasn't so important anymore.

Lyra abruptly rose to her feet and turned to the intruder. With brisk steps, she approached them, grabbing their collar forcefully, ''What do you want?!''

Her momentum faltered significantly once those features entered her vision—sky-blue hair, crimson eyes, and a distinctly beautiful face that seemed to carry a population's worth of feminine charms. Only a stark coldness set her apart from the person Lyra wanted to see the most right now.

The heroine bit her lips, then averted her gaze, ''...Are you here to laugh at me?'' She growled, ''After everything you've done?''

''...''

Lilith couldn't respond right away.

Both of them knew that the heroine was holding herself back from showing hostility toward Lilith. It wasn't hard to trace back the matter regarding Cecilia's constitution. If Lilith hadn't willingly abdicated, Astaroth's curse wouldn't have transferred to the princess. And regardless of whether Lilith was aware of Cecilia's hatred for killing, that she would rather sacrifice herself, it all started with the former demon queen.

Rationally, Lyra also saw why Lilith made her decision. If it were Lyra in the queen's shoe, for the person she loved... it wouldn't have been so hard a choice, too. She had stopped herself from picking a fight with Lilith because she understood this. She understood it, yet...

Lyra eventually loosened her grip, letting Lilith go. She stood with her head hung low, a misty cloud of confusion apparent in her eyes. She hadn't felt like this her entire life. Lost between what was right and what could have been, she couldn't see a way out.

'If she's here... what would she say to me?' The heroine pondered inwardly, 'Right, she would...'

''...!''

Before Lyra knew it, she had been pulled into Lilith's warm embrace. Somewhere, it reminded her of Cecilia's hug, but it was fundamentally different. Without offering a comfort word, the former demon queen said, ''I came here to ask you one thing.''

''...What is it?'' The heroine replied somewhat helplessly.

Patting the girl's back clumsily, Lilith asked, ''Have you given up yet?''

''You mean...?''

A flicker of something was seen in Lyra's eyes as the two faced one another. As much as she didn't show it, the young girl who had barely crossed into adulthood was overwhelmed by everything she had been through until now. She desperately desired and needed to cling to this flimsy hope, yet she didn't dare to.

She was afraid of ruining the sacrifice of the person she loved. But if it meant giving up on her... would she be able to stand it?

Looking at the confused Lyra, Lilith continued, ''The letters.'' She eyed what was on the table. ''That child's lovers also got them. The pink-haired girl got one. I... also got one.''

The heroine laughed dryly. So many heartfelt letters written and delivered... she was preparing all this behind Lyra's back? Even while being shackled in this cold room, that person never held a wisp of resentment. She was ready to throw herself away for everyone else. Always.

That selfless side of hers sometimes irritated Lyra. Why couldn't she care for herself more? Why would she put herself below others? But what frustrated Lyra the most was that... she had chosen to go down that path with so many lingering wishes. If given a chance, Lyra was sure that person would have wanted to get married, have children, and live long into the future together with the ones she loved.

But that future was now gone. For 'everyone's sake.'

Amidst the maze of emotions, a boiling rage emerged. Lyra would rather that 'everyone' suffered than lend Cecilia's hand to the Grim Reaper. How could she accept it?

Seizing the sudden fire in Lyra's heart, Lilith firmly caught her shoulders, ''It's too soon to give up.''

''...!''

''I am... also indebted to that child. Certainly, I think you girls are, too. You love her, don't you?''

''I... I do!''

''Then, isn't the answer obvious? To respect that child's decision or to go against it—it sure is hard to choose. However, I believe you all have reasons to push forward for a better ending than this.''

Lyra's eyes wandered, once again, to that stack of envelopes. Every ounce of Cecilia's honest feelings was contained inside those sheets of paper. Among them, many must have been regret.

Regret.

How could this be the 'best' ending for everyone? How could anyone continue on with their life knowing that the person they loved died with so much regret?

Bit by bit, Lyra became more certain.

No longer clouded by the sudden sadness, by the fear of something she herself hadn't faced, the heroine clenched her fist, ''I... I want to fight until the end.'' She uttered.

What came back was a smile from Lilith, ''The others also responded the same way.''

Turning to the door, the former demon queen's back seemed more relaxed, ''Steady yourself, heroine. The alliance plans to launch the raid before Azrael's ten-day period ends. Well... I'm sure that child was merely giving us some time to prepare.''

''...Understood.''

The room once again fell silent.

Lyra peered beyond the window, facing the clear sky. After steeling her resolve again, she slowly approached the table. Her hand slowly extended toward the stack of sealed envelopes.

She could feel her heart jumping.

Touching this meant breaching the wish Cecilia had wished for so dearly. Yet... she could not falter here. Not before everything was truly over.

She wanted to learn that person's true heart—this time, no deceptions.