Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 64: The Antagonist’s Heart

"Hey. Why did you feel like you needed help? It’s precisely because you knew something like this was going to happen, right?"

From this new angle, I was indeed closer, but that didn’t mean I could see her face, still obfuscated by the curtain of long, black hair.

Thankfully, however, whether due to the stabilising effect of my hand or words, her next voice was considerably more composed.

"...Indeed, I was concerned. Yet, part of me believed His Highness would never truly act like such an ignorant--... and yet... it’s just... all such nonsense..."

From behind grit teeth she muttered, choked with emotion in a way that was completely unlike the noble character of hers I had grown accustomed to.

Again, the first sight of her flashed in my mind.

From my observation, Lucretia was a person who generally did a very good job of containing her emotions and maintaining a stable exterior, especially considering her age. Seeing how destabilised her mental state had become just due to the little prince cancelling their joint practice, I instinctively realised that this was not a product of a simple one-time grievance.

She must have been deteriorating internally for quite a while, even before my arrival.

I didn’t know what the right thing to say was in this kind of situation, especially to a complicated overthinker girl like her. I had never been good at that, not at all, and there was all kinds of proof for it.

Never was I talented in consoling someone, nor was I a person with whom such poignant sentiments were communicated effectively.

That’s why, the only thing I could do was express what came to mind.

Whether it was wrong or not, even if that was the case, if it’s the only thing I can do, I’ll do it.

"That’s right. It doesn’t make any sense. But, it’s also not something you need to make sense of. The fact that I’m here also doesn’t make any sense, does it? And yet here I am. You don’t need to make sense of that. You don’t need to make sense of this either."

Removing my hand from her shoulder, I continued.

"I can’t explain why that guy acts like this, that’s not something anyone can know. Because it might or might not be rational. But, likewise, that also isn’t something you need to make sense of. Is it?"

At that moment, she abruptly turned around.

For the first time since before the letter had been opened, I saw her face.

"Enki..."

Her red eyes tearing up at the corners, she shook her head; long, disordered strands of black hair fell over her face chaotically.

"I don’t know what to do..."

Read 𝓁atest chapters at fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm Only.

Being told something like that, I almost sighed.

’Again?’

"You don’t need to do anything. I’ve told you a few times now, haven’t I?"

I don’t know if the overwhelming emotions were getting to her or if she simply forgot, so I reminded her.

"Why am I here?"

This entire headache is all because of the Protagonist. It’s all just a hassle of her origin, like a malignant tumour that spreads over the body. Cancer.

Thankfully, all we need to do to solve such problems is remove the tumour in question.

My job has become to get rid of people like her. Because that’s my job, it’s exactly what I’m going to do. We’ve gone over this, yet the girl in front of me is still worried.

"What would you even need to do?"

Simply put, there’s nothing. I already said it before. I’ll take care of everything regarding the Protagonist. So, all you should do is simple.

Just――

"Just keep studying to be the best empress you can, ’cause I can tell you for a fact she won’t be taking that seat away."

Sit back, relax, and don’t do anything stupid.

"Alright?"

’What need is there for an Antagonist to be so anxiety-ridden anyway? It doesn’t suit you.’

"..."

"Lucretia. Do you understand?"

"...Yes. I apologise, for this unsightly display..."

Watching her awkwardly avert her gaze and wipe the marks of her tears away with one hand and fix her tousled hair with the other, I couldn’t help but feel the corner of my lip rise.

Seeing her like this reminded me of Gil.

’Ah, I wonder how he’s doing...’

With brief, nostalgic thoughts of a distant home flashing in my mind, I reached a hand out and ruffled her hair, causing the young Antagonist to flinch.

"...!"

Before she could chastise me as she liked to do, I hushed her by being the first to speak.

"Don’t worry about it. Remember, I’m not someone who’s supposed to be here, so there’s no need for you to act tough when it’s only me. I’m sure it’s exhausting for you―at least, it is for me, but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Just care about yourself, anyway."

No matter what happened, I wasn’t going to be here forever; what did it matter if Lucretia didn’t put on the facade of a perfect noble around me all the time? It’s not like I gave a shit either way.

Once I leave this place, I’ll never be coming back. There’ll be no need to, after all. Thus, my only duty is to ensure that I do a good job taking care of things while I’m still here. Well, to be honest, I don’t even need to care about doing something like that.

Only, if I’m going to be here for a while, I might as well take care of everything neatly.

I don’t want to leave a bitter taste in my mouth once I leave.

Besides, even if you exclude the fact that seeing a girl cry is never something to be happy about, it can only be good for me if the Antagonist is well taken care of.

It would save any future problems from arising once I leave, I guess.

"I understand... Thank you, Enki."

"That’s it. Good job. You’ve been doing fine so far, just keep it up. Try not to let things get to you too much. Everything’ll work out in the end, so there’s no need to get so worked up over every little thing, especially if it’s about that prince, you can just ignore him if he does something dumb. If you need help with something, I’ll be here for a while, won’t I? If you can’t do it yourself somehow, ask me."

I assumed the crown prince would go back to normal when the Protagonist dies because the mind-altering effects of the Beloved will have dissipated, but there was no way to actually confirm that.

It’s also not like the Librarian would have a clue about something like that, because, not to be rude, but she tends to be useless in those sorts of cases.

So, honestly, even if I said it so confidently, it’s not like I had any way of knowing whether things would actually work out after the Protagonist died, and my way of wording it was so coarse and blunt that I couldn’t blame Lucretia if she refused to believe or trust me when I said it.

Still, I didn’t know what else to say, so even if it was awkward or wrong, that was it.

For now, that――would have to be enough.