Chapter 1885: Chapter 1885

Jenkins was the only man in the elegant study, so Queen Windsor had to be speaking to him. He tilted his head, his gaze falling upon a beautiful little brass statuette on the desk. It was shaped like a throne and served as a pen holder. Bathed in the glow of the gas lamp, held aloft by a cherubic figure, it seemed to gleam. The small ornament was probably quite expensive.

"The train derailment... was that Queen Isabella's doing?"

Though reluctant to get involved in this conversation, Jenkins voiced his suspicion. Magic Miss shook her head as she steadied Miss Windsor; this had been her guess as well.

"You see? That's what I thought too. Even with someone obstructing me, I still managed to uncover the truth afterward. Can you imagine how I felt then, ladies?"

Queen Windsor directed her question to the ashen-faced Miss Windsor.

"The elder I respected murdered my family, and then I killed that respected elder with my own hands. Now I have no ties left. I am the monarch of this nation, and I should be its queen."

She spoke to Miss Windsor, and both women now looked somewhat deranged. The former was lost in her unbearable memories, while the latter was reeling from the truth she had just discovered.

If the Williams family hadn't appeared, the queen she so respected would have slaughtered her entire family just to make her a worthy ruler.

"It's alright, it's alright."

Magic Miss tried to comfort her, but Miss Windsor just bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut. Meanwhile, Jenkins kept his eyes on Queen Windsor, worried she might do something completely unpredictable. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs NoveI-Fire.ɴet

"I know that as someone uninvolved, my words might not mean much. But I want to say, you are a remarkably strong young woman."

He said this to Queen Windsor, whose eyes, rimmed with red, turned to him. After a moment's hesitation, Jenkins let the disguise on his face fade away, revealing the features of Jenkins Williams. He figured this face had a bit more of a gentle appeal.

Evidently, Queen Windsor had no recollection of the wanted criminal Williamette, so she showed no surprise at his appearance. She stared into Jenkins's eyes.

"Sir, what do you mean by this?"

"I've always admired brave people, especially independent women like you. You have the right to see my face. Consider it a token of my admiration and trust."

His words failed to soothe Queen Windsor; she remained visibly agitated. On the other side of the room, Magic Miss's attempts to console Miss Windsor were proving equally fruitless. Miss Windsor clutched her chest with her eyes shut, and although her body had stopped shaking, Jenkins saw a disturbance in the Dark Soul within her spirit.

"It can't be," he thought to himself.

"Now, can you understand my actions?" Queen Windsor, her eyes red, demanded of Miss Windsor. The latter remained silent for a long moment before finally asking:

"How did you feel when you pushed her?"

Jenkins suspected the question was meant as retaliation, because as soon as Miss Windsor asked it, the queen in her magnificent gown seemed to lose control of her emotions once more. To hide her disgraceful state from the others and preserve her image, she grabbed Jenkins and, with a startling lack of decorum, buried her face in his chest.

It was an incredibly impolite gesture, completely at odds with the image of a demure lady. Jenkins's first instinct was to push her away, but when he felt her trembling and heard the faint sound of sobs, he forced himself to stay still.

This world's Windsor, he realized, was just like the Miss Windsor he knew—kind at her core. Her tough exterior was merely a facade, easily shattered when her pain was touched. Jenkins admired such strong, brave women, and so he found himself unable to push her away.

Of course, he was now certain Miss Windsor's question had been a deliberate act of revenge.

"You say I don't know you? No, I know you very well, Jessica Windsor. Ask your heart: did you do all of this truly just for revenge against Her Majesty? Or in that moment you pushed her, did you not feel a sliver of delight at your impending ascension to the throne?"

Miss Windsor, still clutching her chest, pressed on.

Queen Windsor lifted her head, her tear-streaked face now visible to the three of them for the first time. She challenged Miss Windsor.

"Then do you know how many lovers your respected Queen Isabella had?"

Miss Windsor had never considered such a question.

"Do you know that, until the day she died, she was still entangled with two of them?"

Jenkins pretended he hadn't heard a thing. Magic Miss's face was flushed red; she looked like she was trying to stifle a laugh, and Jenkins thought her willpower was quite impressive.

"Do you truly know her? Or was she just a lighthouse in your heart, shining brilliantly from a distance, guiding your way, but crumbling and dilapidated upon closer inspection?"

The words struck Miss Windsor's defenses and shattered them completely. Her face turned a purplish hue, as if she couldn't breathe.

"And what about you? You murderer!"

This was probably what one would call self-destruction. In any case, both women were now teetering on the edge of hysteria. Queen Windsor buried her face in Jenkins's chest again, and he felt his shirt grow damp. He was about to make a helpless expression when he saw Miss Windsor rush over and bury her face in the other side of his chest.

Jenkins was now utterly convinced that if it weren't for the gravity of being in a Mysterious Realm, Magic Miss would have collapsed in a fit of laughter.

At the same time, he was very glad Chocolate hadn't come along this time. That highly territorial cat would surely have thrown a tantrum at this scene.

After what felt like an eternity, the two women finally calmed down. Leaning against Jenkins gave them a strange sense of peace and security, and the scent on him was rather pleasant.

Queen Windsor pushed herself away from Jenkins and stumbled over to the chair behind the desk. Miss Windsor, avoiding Jenkins's gaze, returned to her seat beside Magic Miss.

"I think we can go now," Jenkins said. The study door was closed, but its frame was emitting a soft glow. This was their exit from this phantom world of possibility. They had gathered enough differences; it was time to return.

"You're leaving?" Queen Windsor asked.

"Yes, milady," Magic Miss replied, looking at her with the curiosity one might reserve for a rare animal. The red-eyed queen paid no mind to the offensive stare. She looked at Miss Windsor and asked:

"Then, milady, may I know who you are? I don't wish for revenge; I simply want to know."

Miss Windsor, whose complexion was still a little pale, glanced at Jenkins. After he nodded, she took the charm Magic Miss had given her from her pocket and placed it on the table. Instantly, her face reverted to her true appearance.

Queen Windsor looked at her, and Miss Windsor looked back. They held each other's gaze for a full half-minute, neither speaking a word.

"I'm not some illegitimate child, nor am I your sister. I come from another world, a world that's slightly different. In my world, I'm living very well. Her Majesty has found the true heir of Middleton, and I'm helping that person become king. I am free. I've even become an Enchanter, and I can travel the world with my friends. Yes, the heir of Middleton... is him."

Miss Windsor pointed at Jenkins. Seeing all eyes on him, Jenkins gave a very solemn nod, though he wasn't entirely sure what meaning the gesture was supposed to convey at that moment.

"We should go," he said softly to the two women.

After this, the world would disappear. The three-handed, balding old man who guarded the Mysterious Realm had said that the timeline of the material world was immutably stable; there was no possibility of it splitting. Everything here was false, a mere illusion born from possibility. Without an observer, it would naturally collapse.

Miss Windsor started walking toward Jenkins and Magic Miss, who were already at the door. Just as she was about to join them, she heard the person behind the desk speak in a soft, sigh-like voice.

"Are you satisfied with all of this?"

"Then, you must be happy."

Miss Windsor's steps faltered for a second. Without turning her head, she continued forward. After rejoining the others, the three of them pushed the door open and stepped out.

The moment he was out, Jenkins immediately spun around. They were back in the long corridor filled with doors. The one they had just exited swung shut behind them.

But just before the door closed completely, he saw a very faint wisp of light fly from the closing crack and merge directly into Miss Windsor's body. He was about to say something, but Magic Miss spoke faster.

"That was completely outrageous! Why did you turn into... that?" she asked Jenkins, supporting Miss Windsor.

"I'm curious too. Miss Windsor's change was somewhat logical, but mine was quite a leap, wasn't it?" he replied in a joking tone. Magic Miss looked him up and down.

"When you were fighting your other self, that iron-gray book you used was very interesting. Why do I get the feeling that its power is like..."

"Rest assured, I am indeed on the side of justice," he said, cutting her off before she could finish her question. He then turned his attention to Miss Windsor. Her complexion had improved, likely thanks to her final, frank exchange with Queen Windsor.

He was relieved the exit had appeared when it did. It had prevented their conversation from delving any deeper, which could have led to who knows what.

"Does your chest still hurt?" he asked with concern.

"A little, but it's not serious," Miss Windsor said, managing a faint smile. Jenkins knew it would be impolite to stare at her chest for too long, so he met her gaze and said:

"Everything that happened here was fake. If we encounter a similar situation again, talk more with Magic Miss and me. You still have friends here. A little more communication can always help."