Shion sensed the commotion outside.

The door remained tightly shut, and the worn-down building constantly produced its own ambient noise—creaks, drafts of wind seeping through cracks—but something about the disturbance felt different.

It wasn’t the usual background noise.

It was disorganized. Unsettled.

Another visitor?

The so-called "guests" had been arriving with increasing frequency.

Suspiciously so.

"…Not my concern."

Feeling her body reach its absolute limit, Shion pulled the blanket over her head.

Hunger twisted her stomach, her skin ached from the biting cold, and true sleep had been impossible for days.

She had spent countless hours drifting in and out of shallow rest.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Someone pounded on the door, their voice rising in urgency.

—"Princess! I’m coming in!"

A familiar voice.

Shion’s eyes cracked open.

"Mmm…?"

Clink! Clink!

The door rattled.

That was the sound of multiple locks being undone.

Still groggy, Shion reached for the coat draped over the chair and pulled it on.

She sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for the door to open.

"Have they finally decided to answer my questions?"

So this was how it ended.

A waiting game.

And she had won.

She had expected it to take longer.

But if they were caving this quickly, that was good news.

Trembling hands finished unlocking the last latch.@@novelbin@@

Clatter!

The door swung open.

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