When the plot-skips players into the game world

Aiwass certainly didn't keep a diary.

It gave him a sense of insecurity, as if someone was peering into his innermost thoughts. Just the act of writing it down evoked this feeling, even if, in theory, no one else would see his diary.

In such a case, if Aiwass were to write a diary, he couldn't possibly write the truth.

It was like sharing one's daily life on social media platforms—the content shared was of course edited, refined to emphasize the interesting parts, artificially stripped of the boring elements, concealing anything that might cause embarrassment. It might even involve laying down lies convincing enough for himself to believe, repeating them over and over in an attempt to alter his own memory.

—But conversely, reading someone else's diary ignited a sense of invasion in Aiwass.

Snooping was a covert form of aggression; however, with the other party's consent and under their scrutiny, it was different—there was a feeling of stripping away the layers of their soul right before their eyes. This feeling was even more thrilling for Aiwass than peeling off clothes.

Even if the diary didn't contain all truths, at least it offered a taste of the writer's state of mind during its creation... much like how folk tales usually had some connection to an actual event that occurred at that time.

After all, a lie was like a dream, a hallucinatory concoction that required the truth as its lees in order to ferment.

Isabel said "that part needn't be viewed," but she didn't explicitly refuse. That meant she wanted it to be seen.

From that perspective, perhaps it was Isabel herself, not Aiwass, who sought to peel back the first layer...

Aiwass faintly felt that Isabel herself might have been alone too long; she was desperate for someone to free her from the fears of the past, and this change had to be strong enough.

Because if it were too gentle, she might just want to remain there, to stay frozen in place... Her heart was strong. Because the solace brought by a mere touch of tenderness was enough to heal the wounds caused by lingering in the shadows.

But it was always a temporary fix, not a cure.

If you're going to buy, buy permanent fashion; if you're leading someone, take them all the way to the conclusion!

What sense does doing something halfway make?

Unless it's deliberate teasing...

And this made Aiwass feel an excitement he hadn't in a long time.

But he still suppressed his eagerness and started reading from the opening passage—if he flipped straight to the end, his motives would be too obvious. Besides, without the foreshadowing from earlier parts, he wouldn't be able to empathize with Isabel, and it would make her feel disrespected and uncomfortable.

However, Aiwass got quickly engrossed as he seriously read this "Royal Diary."

Because it indeed contained many things he didn't know...

"1887, July 3rd, clear."

"If you are reading these words, it means I am already dead."

Copied in elegant, clean script, was a diary—or perhaps a will—of a person who seemed very composed: "Whether it be through poisoning, disease, or curse, eight people in our family have perished in these last seven years. This cannot possibly be a coincidence.

"In other words, we must be prepared to die at any time. We must live each day as if it were our last, and also be ready for the day when all of us might die at once.

"At that time, no one will speak for us, nor can we speak any longer. For the dead do not speak. Before that time comes, we must leave some evidence... proof that we were here, proof that we lived."

"My brothers and sisters, my elders, my children. I hope when you read these words, do not be too sad, nor too late... not so late that you have lost your reason and dignity. In this regard, I actually wish I could die earlier.

"I will continue to write in my diary until I die. After my death, this diary will be passed through the entire Du Lac family.

"I hope you will remember—Lancelot's descendants are no cowards; they do not fear death."

This was the first entry in this book, and it was clearly the reason they kept diaries.

...Leaving a record and proof, huh?

Aiwass pondered.

Though he didn't know who this person was, he truly admired their composure.

The next entry was still in the same tone, except many details had been skipped. Clearly, Isabel only copied the most crucial parts.

"1887, September 1st, clear."

"I might be dying, but I hope you can live well."

And following that, the tone shifted to a second person.

He appeared somewhat anxious.

"September 4th, heavy rain"

"Big brother also passed away, it seems he died from curse poison. Mother is very sad... It's been raining for three days, is it mourning his departure?"

"I saw your diary, I understand what you mean. A knight must uphold his dignity... but..."

"Crown Lord... my sovereign. What are you thinking? Why are you making us suffer this hardship?"

And then it jumped directly to several months later.

"January 3rd, rainy"

"My Annie has finally gone... She was only eight years old! Damn curse had tormented her so long!"

"If one must die, I'd rather die in her stead! If I could catch the curser, I would skin them harshly and roast them over the fire!"

"Crown Lord, what are your thoughts? Is this your punishment for us?"

Seeing those words brimming with despair, Aiwass's fingers twitched slightly.

He pursed his lips, which had become somewhat dry.

This must have been the child of the prince or princess who wrote in the diary.

His excitement slowly turned heavy, his brows furrowing slightly.

Just from two people's diaries, he could feel the resentment and obsession that shrouded this book.

Meanwhile, as he considered the selection of content, he came to another realization:

If Prince Andrew were the only insider, he shouldn't have targeted the little girl. It rather seemed like a traditional curse... in the case of traditional curses, the curse strikes the weakest within its range. It's under such circumstances that children are more easily afflicted with curses.

That is to say, when Andrew sought to collaborate with the mastermind behind the scenes, the curse had already been prevalent for some time?

He sat in the chair before Isabel's desk, looking at Isabel who stood behind him, also gazing at the diary, "When did you start copying this?"

"This is actually the third one. The first time I copied it, I was nine," Isabel said.

Isabel's hand gently rested on Aiwass's shoulder, just as Aiwass's had on hers earlier.

The princess with golden long hair spoke softly, "Annie was my sister, she was a year younger than me. I remember it clearly since she was the first playmate I lost to the curse.

"Before that, I didn't feel much about the curse. Even though it happened around me, I always felt it was something far away from me.

"—Until my best friend lay in her sickbed, coughing incessantly. The curse she had was chronic, cured over and over by the priests, only to relapse again and again... But she couldn't eat, her body grew weaker and weaker. Finally, she left us in the middle of the night... She didn't call for help, probably because she was tired," Isabel said, her eyes downcast.

Then, Aiwass turned the pages of the diary.

"January 7th, clear."

"Today is a sunny day, a good day to die."

"1889, January 8th, clear."

"Yesterday, Princess Valeria committed suicide. Perhaps due to the grief over the death of little Princess Annie, this was the first member of the Du Lac Family to die by suicide following the unexplained curse."

"Some suggested that we might as well declare war against Star Antimony or the Irisflower People, but Mother rejected the idea. She seemed to have her own plans, and I trust her."

"I don't want to go to war either because we don't even know who our enemy is. The curse might not be permanent, but the harm brought by war to the people is permanent..."

"I am Herak Du Lac. I will document all this, tell the people. I will do my best to record until the end... The Du Lac family will endure until the end, never to fall."

"1889, July 1st, clear. But I wish it were raining."

"Kraya has died. My wife Kraya has died."

"It turns out the curse was not just against the Du Lac family, but against the entire royal family."

"I wavered. I was angry, and I wanted to start a war. I knew that would only destroy myself, destroy Avalon. But I would rather have everything destroyed... but I can't. I can't do that; Kraya said to hold on to my justice."

"...Useless justice."

"All I want now is to protect my Little Phil, hoping he is safe."

Aiwass fell silent.

There was apparently no one called "Philip" among the surviving members of the royal family. To him, who already knew the outcome, this story was too heavy.

So he paused for a while before turning another page.

"1890, January 1st, rainy."

"Father is dead. I am Philip, and now I will continue writing for Dad."

"I want to live, everyone wants to live. I want my own Gryphon, as majestic as Uncle Rekton. To destroy all evil, to save everyone."

"1891, April 2nd. Clear."

"Little Phil has died. Another has died. When will it be my turn? I don't know."

"To live another day is a day, and today's bluebells are also beautiful. Like me."

"Ha-ha, I hope to die beautifully. If possible, I want to wear my prettiest dress and die quietly among the bluebells. It would be best to be painted into a picture."

"Will someone love me after I die? Eternal Self, if I offer myself up to you, will you dance with me under the moon?"

"1891, August 1st, clear."

"Today, Kris has passed away. I suppose it's almost my turn." Continue reading stories on empire

"His Majesty urged us, saying that those who wanted to live could leave the Hall of Silver and Tin and abandon the Du Lac name, possibly surviving. But at this point, is it really useful? The one who truly wants to kill us, even if we leave this place, could we survive?"

"I think, perhaps the only way to survive is to become one of the Star Antimony or Irisflower People. But such an ugly and lowly way to live, I choose to refuse."

"I hope those of you who see this diary will also choose to refuse. But if you decide to accept, I won't blame you."

"Everyone has the right to seek life and avoid death, children. You have the right to live on. But I hope you won't betray honor—betrayal is the most heinous sin, and losing honor is worse than death itself."

"My Lord, I will fight until the end and never submit. I will hold my head high until the end of glory and life."

"My Lord, I am coming to you."

Those were resounding words.

Aiwass took another deep breath, his fingertips trembling slightly.

The diary of the royal family members ended there, the remaining part was Isabel's diary.

The first line that was opened was the diary of 1887.

"I'm so scared..."

"Dad said, I can cry..."

Just two sentences.

This was the first diary entry left by Isabel.

But just by looking at it, Aiwass felt as if he could see that nine-year-old girl.

She was so lonely, so afraid... so vulnerable.

He turned his head to look at Isabel, who shyly diverted her gaze.

Despite that, there was a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her face. It was the expression someone would make when they wanted to smile but deliberately kept a straight face.

—She was no longer afraid.