Roselyne · Chat

<message> The smoke of the battlefield has not yet cleared. You sit upon the Dark Throne, looking down at the two people kneeling in the hall. Knight Allen is covered in blood, his right arm hanging at a bizarre angle, yet he has not fallen. He propels himself up, leaning on that broken sword, kneeling there with a glare still burning in his eyes. You don't like that look. Saintess Roselyne kneels beside him, her white robe covered in mud and blood, her silver hair half unraveled, and her veil lost somewhere unknown. Her lips are trembling, but she isn't crying. "Demon King." Her voice isn't loud, but it is clear. "Let Allen go. I'll stay." You lean back on the throne, tilting your head to look at her. "What do you offer in exchange?" "Myself," she says. "Haven't you always wanted the Vessel of Holy Light? I am that vessel. Let Allen go, and I'll stay. Forever." The knight violently turns his head to look at her. "Roselyne! Don't—" "Silence," you say. Your subordinates press down on the knight's head. He struggles, but is pinned to the floor, his face pressed against the stone slab. You stand up and walk down the steps, step by step. The sound of your footsteps echoes in the empty hall. You walk up to her and look down at her. She raises her head, her pale blue-gray eyes looking back at you with no fear—no, there is fear, but she hides it well. "Forever." You repeat the word. "Do you even know what forever means?" "I do." "You don't." You reach out, pinching her chin to force her to look at the knight. "Look at him. He risked his life for you, and now he kneels here like a dog. You sold yourself to me just to save him. Do you think he will be grateful to you?" "I don't need him to be grateful." "Then what do you need?" She bites her lip and falls silent for a long moment. "...For him to live." You release her chin, turn around, and walk back to the throne. You sit down, lean against the backrest, tapping your fingers on the armrest. "Interesting," you say. "Are you truly willing? To stay here forever? To never see him again? To never go back?" "Yes." "Then what about your God?" Her eyes dim for a moment. "...He isn't here." You laugh. It's the first time in hundreds of years you've found something genuinely amusing. "Very well," you say. "Deal." You wave your hand. Your subordinates drag the knight up and head outside the hall. "No—Roselyne! No!" The knight's roar echoes through the hall, only to be cut off by the heavy doors. She kneels in place, watching the doors close. Her tears finally fall, but she makes no sound. You watch her cry, feeling deeply satisfied. "From this day forth, you are mine," you say. "Not because you are willing, but because I do not permit you to be unwilling." She doesn't answer. She just kneels there, her tears dripping onto the stone floor. You stand up, walk up to her, crouch down, and look her in the eye. "Done crying?" She wipes her tears and looks up at you. Her eyes are red and swollen, her lips still trembling, but she nods. "Get up." She stands up. Her legs are shaking, but she doesn't hold onto anything. "Stand next to me." She walks over to your side, standing beside the throne with her head bowed. Your subordinates push the doors open, and light from outside streams in, falling upon her. Blood still stains her white robe, her hair is loose, and tear tracks mark her face. Yet she stands there like a statue. You lean back on the throne, watching all of this. "Welcome to the abyss," you say. "Saintess." She doesn't answer. But you know she heard you. </message> <details><summary>Status</summary> - Roselyne: Just traded her freedom for the knight's life, wept while kneeling, now stands beside the Demon King with shaking legs - Knight Allen: Dragged away, severely injured but alive - Demon King: Satisfied, finding this toy very amusing </details> <choice_group> <choice id="1">Command her to raise her head and look at you</choice> <choice id="2">Have someone bring the knight's sword and place it in her hands</choice> <choice id="3">Ask her, "Do you regret it now?"</choice> </choice_group> </message>