The night was quiet, with only the occasional crackle of the campfire breaking the stillness.
Fiona sat near the riverbank, staring at her own reflection in the water,still watched Jeannie's reflection.
No matter how many times she looked, the face staring back at her wasn't hers.
She exhaled deeply.
Behind her, Marianne still sat there, watching abouve the night sky.
"…I must say it to you, you have been quiet all this day." Marianne said, started to sitting beside her.
Fiona didn't respond immediately. Her fingers dug slightly into the dirt.
"…I've just been thinking."
Marianne glanced at her. "About what?"
A long silence stretched between them. The words were there—on the edge of her tongue, burning in her throat.
She had almost told Marianne before.
But every time, fear held her back.
She liked how things were now. She had a place. People who cared, and a warmth she had never known before.
But the more she pretended to be Jeannie, the more she felt afraid.
What if telling the truth ruined everything?
"…Jeannie? Are you okay right now? Is something bothered you?"
Marianne's voice was softer now. Concerned.
Fiona closed her eyes.
She had made mistakes before. Holding back and hiding. But Marianne had stayed by her side through all of it,even if she knew something's off with her.
If she was ever going to say it… maybe this is the perfect time to talk, eyes to eyes.
She took a deep breath.
"Marianne…"
Her hands clenched into fists.
"…To be honest, I'm not who you think I am."
Marianne frowned slightly. "And what do you mean by saying that?"
Fiona exhaled, forcing herself to meet Marianne's gaze.
"The person standing in front of you… isn't Jeannie Leonhartt you knew before..I'm not even Jeannie at all...."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Marianne's brows furrowed slightly.
"Okay, Now that's not funny at all."
Fiona shook her head.
"I'm not joking with you right now..."
Marianne's expression darkened.
"Then who are you?"
Fiona hesitated—but there was no turning back now.
"…I was...someone else. Well, you know who was the Archdemon that Jeannie fought that time..."
Marianne's eyes widened slightly. She didn't speak, waiting for Fiona to continue.
Fiona inhaled sharply, her throat dry.
"I was that Demon...Fiona Elizabeth..."
The words left her lips, and the world felt still.
Marianne's face remained unreadable, her hands tightening on her lap.
"…That's impossible,"
she finally said, her voice quieter than before.
"Fiona Elizabeth, that demon, was killed by you."
Fiona let out a bitter chuckle. "Perhaps you were right, but that's not the full truth."
Marianne's expression flickered—between disbelief, suspicion, and something else.
"…You're serious?" she whispered.
Fiona nodded. "When Jeannie and I fought, both of us exshauted and fell. I should've died along with her. But in the last moment… I used everything I had to take over her body."
She looked down, her voice lowering.
"I didn't plan for this. I was just trying to survive. At first, i want the kingdom this girl protected to be destroyed by my own hand to avenge my defeat. But after waking up in the kingdom, pretending to be her all this time..."
Her fingers curled.
"It got harder to figure out what I was supposed to do."
Marianne didn't say anything for a long moment.
Then she let out a slow breath.
"…So, from the very beginning after you awake in that room… the person I've been talking to, fighting beside, protecting me and that wounded knights…" Her gaze was sharp.
"That wasn't Jeannie at all?"
Fiona's chest tightened. "No."
Marianne's jaw clenched. She stood up suddenly, turning away. Her first were clinching, holding her emotions and feelings right now.
Fiona's stomach twisted.
'I guess, this is what should happened to me...'
The moment Marianne walked away, it was over.
But instead of leaving… Marianne took a slow breath.
"…Say something." Fiona's voice was quieter than she intended.
Marianne turned back, her expression unreadable.
"Do you regret it now?"
Fiona blinked. "regret about what?"
Marianne's gaze didn't waver.
"Do you regret taking her body?"
Fiona hesitated. The answer should have been simple.
She had taken everything from Jeannie. Her body, her life, and her future.
But if she had never done it… she never would've met Marianne and Lily.
She never would have known what it was like to be human.
"…I don't know what i'm feeling right now.." she admitted.
Marianne studied her. The silence stretched.
Then, finally, she exhaled.
"…You know what? I should be the one who hate you the most..." she murmured.
Fiona's breath hitched.
"But now, I don't."
Fiona's head snapped up.
Marianne sighed, rubbing her temple. "It's strange. If you had told me this months ago, I probably would've tried to kill you on the spot, even if you're far stronger than me."
Her voice softened.
"But after everything we've been through… I can't see you as an enemy anymore."
Fiona's heart pounded.
"…What do you mean?"
Marianne nodded. "Of course It doesn't erase what you did. But I can't ignore the person standing in front of me right now, a girl who protected me, fight with me, and sometimes taught me a lesson.."
She crossed her arms. "Besides… Jeannie was never that sarcastic."
Fiona let out a choked laugh. "You noticed that, but never questioned it?"
Marianne smirked. "I just thought you hit your head too hard and you turned out to be an idiot."
Fiona groaned, running a hand down her face.
The tension between them finally eased.
Then Marianne's face grew serious again.
"…Does Lily know about this?"
Fiona stiffened. "No."
Marianne watched her for a moment. "…Do you want her to know?"
Fiona's hands clenched. She didn't know. The thought of telling Lily terrified her.
But for now…
"She doesn't need to. I did not want to make her sad."
Marianne nodded slowly. "Alright. That's your choice.."
Fiona exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
"…Thank you," she muttered.
Marianne smiled. "Don't thank me yet, you damned demon. I'm still going to punch you later."
Fiona groaned. "I figured."
They sat in silence again, but this time, it felt lighter.
Fiona had spent so long fearing this moment.
But now that it had happened…
She wasn't alone.
And for the first time, she felt like she truly belonged.
But what she did not know, a small tears coming out from Marianne's eye, hidden in her expression.
'So you already leave me first, Jeannie? You Idiot.....'
She whispered in her broken heart, knowing one of her closest friend was now gone forever,while hiding her sadness from Fiona Elizabeth.