12 O’Clock Marionette

Chapter 13

“Who is Mamic?”

“The last legitimate heir of the Recanon Church. She was recruited by the temple to integrate heretics. They praise her as a saint, but she has no real power.”

No wonder the holy water was practically diluted to nothing—she was just a symbolic figure, used by all sides.

It made my stomach turn.

I knew that ancient god worshippers were treated as heretics, but this was my first time seeing it firsthand.

And I was supposed to save the world while being treated like this?

Ugh, disgusting. I let the tension in my body ease slightly.

“Where to next?”

We headed to the square.

Despite it being autumn, the afternoon sun burned fiercely at three o’clock. A band was playing on one side, and crowds had gathered all around.

Strangely enough, everyone was wearing masks.

“A masquerade?”

“Something like that. If you don’t wear one, you get side-eyed.”

“I’ve noticed… why do you know so much about the Harvest Festival?”

“I’ve had reasons to visit often. But this is my first time actually enjoying it.”

“Then why didn’t you come sooner?”

“I didn’t want to come alone.”

"When we grow up, let’s go to the Harvest Festival together, Amy."

The words surfaced in my mind instinctively.

But… that couldn't be the reason.

Amy had died years ago—there was no way.

The band began to play.

It wasn’t as grand as a court orchestra, but the fairytale-like melody carried a dreamy quality.

Now that I thought about it, this was my first time properly listening to a folk song.

The bard’s voice rang out.

[I am a marionette.]

And then—

Cruello extended his hand toward me.

Sunlight caught in his eyes behind the mask, making them gleam like jewels.

“Would you care for a dance, my lady?”

“Uh… I don’t know how to dance folk-style.”

I had no idea what I was getting into when I followed him here.

Even though I had recently brushed up on ballroom dancing, folk dance was an entirely different matter.

“It’s not difficult, and it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes.”

“Hmm.”

“That’s why we’re wearing masks.”

“Well, in that case…”

Trailing off, I hesitantly took Cruello’s hand.

Honestly, it seemed fun.

I generally enjoyed moving my body, and I liked ballroom dancing too.

Besides, this was a great opportunity to step all over Cruello’s feet.

[I am a marionette. I can become anything.]

Just as the song picked up, I followed Cruello’s lead, sneaking glances at the other dancers and mimicking their movements.

I must have looked ridiculous, like a real marionette stumbling on its strings.

[A princess in glass slippers, a hero slaying dragons, an emperor ruling the continent.]

[At the puppeteer’s command, at the audience’s expectation, I become whatever they wish.]

“Oh, sorry.”

I stepped on his foot, then—pretending it was an accident—did it again.

Cruello’s eyes narrowed, but I feigned ignorance.

[Joy, sorrow, love, hatred—I can become anything.]

[I thrill an eager child and humble the scoffing adult.]

The upbeat rhythm was unexpectedly fun.

“I thought our first dance would be in a ballroom, but this isn’t so bad.”

“This seems more entertaining.”

“You haven’t even tried ballroom dancing yet.”

“That’s true, but—pfft!”

“Why are you laughing?”

I had glanced over Cruello’s shoulder and quickly turned away.

A lion and a boar were dancing.

They were wearing those same masks from earlier.

Maybe it was just the atmosphere, but for some reason, I found it hilarious.

[I bring happiness to all, for I am a marionette.]

[But.]

[Ding, ding, ding. The bells have tolled once more. Midnight has come.]

[The princess’s shoes, the hero’s sword, the emperor’s crown—all must melt away.]

[The children and adults alike return home. And I, too, return to my dark box.]

I had been casually humming along, but now I frowned.

“These lyrics are oddly grim.”

“Are they?”

[Mmm, mmm, mmm. Trapped in darkness, I can become nothing.]

“Listen, that part—”

Suddenly, Cruello pulled me close.

It was part of the dance, yet the movement was abrupt.

If we weren’t wearing masks, our skin might have brushed.

In the shadows cast by our masks, Cruello’s eyes gleamed vividly.

“I like it.”

“…Out of nowhere?”

[Bound by strings, I cannot move.]

Cruello hummed along playfully.

His voice overlapped with the bard’s singing.

“It fits, don’t you think?”

“……”

“What about you, darling?”

[A poor wooden puppet, unable to be anything. A shadow without a role, unable to even twitch a finger.]

His words carried weight.

Does he know something?

The warmth of the moment drained away, leaving my chest cold.

The White Desert Elders had brainwashed Cruello to ensure he would serve their purpose.

In my past life, I had broken that conditioning—but I had never fully explained it to him.

I had never told him about the brainwashing, about Morion, about how the White Desert family had truly come to exist.

If the Elders caught wind of my interference, things would escalate beyond my control.

But even if I didn’t tell him…

Would he never find out?

A child grows.

A boy thinks.

A young man acts.

I couldn’t judge Cruello solely based on the story in The Book of Fate.

[But don’t worry. Midnight comes every day. The time to collapse arrives every day.]

[When the sun rises, I open my eyes once more and become anything again.]

[I am a marionette. I can become anything.]

At some point, my fingertips had stiffened.

I exhaled a long breath, forcing myself to relax.

“Is the weight too heavy for you?”

“You could say that.”

“Is that why you placed those conditions on your marriage?”

“Something like that. I’ve been told my family was created for a specific purpose.”

So he really knows.

My head started to ache.

[A terrifying yet beloved marionette, revived only when given a role.]

[A pitiful and obedient marionette, dancing upon its strings.]

[I exist for the happiness of all.]

“I thought it would be more amusing to hand that purpose to someone entirely unrelated rather than destroy it outright.”

“……”

“Aren’t you going to ask what that purpose is?”

“What else could it be? Money, power, authority—the usual things.”

[Today, tomorrow, every day it comes again.]

I answered smoothly, grateful for the mask concealing my face.

The song ended.

The band concluded their performance, preparing for the next song, while the dancers exchanged excited chatter.

In the cheerful hum of voices, I turned to the tall masked man beside me.

Cruello observed me for a moment before speaking lightly.

“You’re wise, darling.”

Of course.

***

The sun had set, and the sky was now packed with stars.

The festival was winding down, with only the fireworks left to conclude the night.

And then—

“Well, let’s head back now.”

Cruello said it so neatly.

What?!

“What about the fireworks?”

Damn, that wasn’t how I meant to react.

Had I gotten too caught up in enjoying the festival? Feeling awkward, I pursed my lips.

Still, wasn’t watching the fireworks the natural way to end the Harvest Festival?

“Did you want to see them?”

“Hmm.”

The fireworks from the White Desert’s mansion had been beautiful, but seeing them up close would be a different experience.

If I didn’t see them today, I would never get another chance.

Once I stopped the world’s destruction, I would return to the temple where I was born and raised.

That realization made me hesitate, glancing sideways at Cruello.

He blinked in mild surprise.

“Sorry, but not tonight. I have personal busine—”

“That doesn’t make any sense!”

An irritated voice interrupted Cruello’s words.

Instinctively, I turned toward the sound.

A somewhat secluded alleyway, where a woman with ash-brown hair and a large man stood faintly visible.

“Do you even know how much it’s worth? Are you insane? I told you to double the sleeping dose!”

“I tripled it. Why are you blaming me? That thing already had a high drug resistance. What was I supposed to do?”

“Damn it. You think the higher-ups will care about your excuses?”

The woman spat on the ground.

“If we get caught, we’re both dead. Just find it already.”

“I am, so shut up. It’s just an undergrown winter lynx—it can’t have gone far.”

Winter lynx?

I had never heard that name before.

Thunk.

A strange sound came from near my feet.

Looking down, I saw a small, round kitten crawling onto the top of my foot.

Its fur was a pale sky blue, with squirrel-like stripes on its forehead.

“…Winter lynx?”

“We’re late.”

Cruello muttered under his breath.

At that moment, the two arguing figures emerged from the alley.

Just as I was wondering what to do with the kitten—the supposed winter lynx—it suddenly leaped into my arms.

Oh? Is this… selection?

The man and woman clicked their tongues in frustration and disappeared.

We stood in silence, watching their shadows fade into the distance, before quietly walking in the opposite direction.

I felt the tiny heartbeat trembling in my arms.

The kitten was still frightened.

Keeping my gaze forward, I rolled my eyes sideways toward Cruello.

“Just now, you said, ‘We’re late.’ This was your personal business, wasn’t it?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I denied it. But why did you pick that up?”

“Are your night vision skills that bad? I didn’t pick it up—it jumped into my arms. So, what is it?”

“No idea.”

We had distanced ourselves enough from the alley, so I stopped walking.

Taking the kitten out of my coat, I watched as it rubbed its cheek against my palm.

Its fur wasn’t entirely soft—it had an icy, brittle texture, like finely carved frost.

The name winter lynx suited it perfectly.

But if it was real…

Wait a second.

“Don’t tell me it’s a monster?”

“What? Of course not—it’s a divine beast!”

I whispered sharply.

I had never seen a divine beast before, but if this creature emitted holy energy, what else could it be?

That made this situation even stranger.

Not all divine beasts were taken in by the temple, but harming them was strictly forbidden.

What had happened to this one?

Something about this reeked of illegality.

“How do you know that, darling?”

I had asked a question Cruello couldn’t answer.