The gentle breeze carried the scent of the night air, cool against their skin as Marianne and Fiona remained seated atop the stone wall, watching the stars.
Neither spoke for a long time.
But for the first time in what felt like forever, the silence wasn't heavy.
Marianne had told her story.
And for once, Fiona hadn't had to put on an act, hadn't had to dance around with words or craft a persona.
She had simply been there and enjoyed the time.
And Marianne somehow began to accepted her and did not force her forward.
That alone made something stir in her chest—something unfamiliar that she wasn't sure she liked.
But she didn't want to think about that,at least not for now.
Eventually, Marianne sighed, stretching her arms before hopping off the wall.
"It's already late."
Fiona blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
"…Huh?"
Marianne gestured vaguely to the sky.
"It seems like it's not only me who enjoy the day. Look! The stars are already high. We should head back before someone gets the wrong idea."
Fiona smirked.
"Oh? What kind of wrong idea?"
Marianne gave her a flat look.
Fiona wiggled her eyebrows.
"…That I'm secretly wooing the beautiful great Marianne?"
Marianne groaned, rubbing her temples.
"I take back everything i've just said earlier! You're unbearable."
Fiona cackled.
But even as she teased, she was stalling.
Because the moment they left this place—this moment would end.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready for what would happened in the future.
She could not do it yet.
As they walked down the stone path back toward the city, Fiona stole a glance at Marianne.
Something about the way the knight carried herself now…
She looked lighter.
Not entirely free from her burdens and overthinking, but as if a weight had been lifted—it was just enough for her to breathe and calmed her a bit.
Fiona felt something strange at the realization.
'I can't believe i have done such a thing.....is this what humans feel after helping a friend?'
She touch her chest with confused and complex emotion.
She had done that. She finaly helped Marianne with her own will.
But why did that matter? Why did she care so much?
'I was not supposed to do this kind of thing....but why am i feeling happy?'
She shouldn't care about any of this. She had a plan since she took this body.
She had a goal to achieved, to avenge, and destroyed the kingdom that Jeannie protected into ruins.
'Am I...still myself? Have I changed so much? I don't know...I don't understand.. I....I confused..'
The more time she spent with Marianne, Lily, and peoples in this kingdom, the harder it was to tell whether she had changed or not.
She really hated this feelings.
She could not accept a fact that how easy it was to fall into this dangerous circle.
How easy it was to smile.
How easy it was to forget that this wasn't supposed to last.
'No! I am a demon.. there's no way i would easily fall to such simple things like this!'
Fiona clenched her fists.
This kind of feelings were dangerous.
She needed to pull away, and remind herself who she really was.
Yet, before she could say anything—
Marianne spoke first.
"…Jeannie...."
Fiona ,awoke from her thoughts, was tensed.
"…Yeah?"
Marianne stopped walking.
Fiona turned to her, confused. The knight's gaze was steady.
"I won't force you again to tell me the truth. In fact, It's because of you that i'm still survive and standing here with you. I owe you a debt. But I just want to know. Did i had special place in your heart? What was i to you, Jeannie?"
Fiona's breath hitched.
She forced a laugh.
"What, you're only just asking that question now?"
Marianne didn't smile, Neither did scowled
She just…watched her with complex expression.
Fiona's smirk faltered in an instant.
"…Why are you asking?"
Marianne exhaled, crossing her arms.
"I don't know. Maybe because the first time I met you back then, I could figure out who you are in just five minutes."
Fiona chuckled, though it was more strained than before.
"Oh? And what did you figure out?"
Marianne's eyes didn't waver.
"That you were the most idiot person, a stubborn girl who kept her ideals and fight for it."
Fiona snorted, and Marianne continued to spoke.
"…But now, I don't think that's true."
Fiona tilted her head.
"What, you're saying I'm not an idiot now?"
"…You could say just like that. But more importantly, I'm just saying I think you're pretending to be one."
Fiona's smile froze.
Marianne watched her reaction closely.
"I don't know why, and I don't know what you're hiding inside your mind But I know you very well, Jeannie. I know when someone is lying—even if they don't realize they're doing it."
Fiona felt something tighten in her chest.
She tried to scoff, to wave it off, but—
For the first time, she couldn't find the words.
Marianne sighed.
"Don't be that nervous. I'm not asking for everything. I'm not asking for the truth either."
She hesitated.
"…But I wish I could figured out who you are in the future, the real you, by your own mouth. And I want to know whether you still recognize me as a friend or not. That's all..."
Fiona's hands clenched at her sides.
She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. Her mind was full of thoughts. Her tongue was not able to spell any words. It was too heavy to spelled out loud.
'A friend, she said? Am I ...deserve to have such a thing, after what i've done so far?'
She hesitated.
For her, this sweetness was nothing but a poison. But hearing Marianne's honest words, she was caught off guard. As a demon, this was new for her. She started to questioned herself about her true intentions right now.
Marianne, looking at her silence, sighed and laughed softly.
"Now look who's the one who keep silence."
She smiled and patted Fiona's shoulder.
"You don't have to think too much about it. The answer will come to you sooner or later. When you wanted to talk about it, i can be your number one listener.... anytime you want..."
She then started to walked first. But after few steps, Marianne stopped, and turned her head to look Fiona.
"...because you, Jeannie Leonhartt, was my closest friend that i've ever had."
She continued to walked, while Fiona Elizabeth, standing there in silence, looking at the girl in front of her with unreadable expression.