“Kill you? If I killed you, how could I still use you?”
Allen flashed his signature villainous smile, tinged with a hint of wickedness, but deep in his eyes lay a barely perceptible calculation.
“Letting you live is the real punishment, Marianne.”
He stepped closer, his bloodied fingers carrying an irresistible force as they lightly brushed across Marianne’s pale, delicate cheek, leaving behind a glaring streak of blood—
There was no particular meaning in doing so; Allen simply found it amusing to dirty the face of a pretty girl.
That’s what villains do—they like to do pointless things.
“If I told you that in another timeline, you’ve killed me dozens, even hundreds of times, what would you think?”
Marianne’s breath hitched violently.
She looked into Allen’s eyes, those bottomless black orbs that seemed to hold endless cycles of pain and suffering, making her unable to tell if he was speaking madness or…the truth.
“The past me is already dead.”
Allen’s voice was low and cold, carrying a fatigue and madness that sent chills down the spine.
“The current Allen de Laval is a nightmare crawling out of a terrifying dream. Marianne, you have your way of revenge, and I have mine.”
He threw aside the confiscated noble longsword with a crisp clang, then once again dragged his bloodied hand forcefully over the other clean side of Marianne’s cheek, making that splash of red even more glaring.
Yes, now it’s symmetrical—perfect!
While carelessly smearing the pitiful little maid’s face, Allen spoke with cruel certainty: “I won’t forgive what you’ve done, and you won’t forgive the past me. But at this point, we’re bound by fate.”
“If you leave me, losing the Laval Family’s protective cover, the Inquisition won’t spare you, and The Church will hunt you down. And me? Without your existence as a buffer, I’ll be crushed by some overpowered prodigy.”
Allen’s smile twisted further: “The two of us are destined to be entangled until death. This is my deepest torment for you—I’ll force you to keep ‘serving’ me, to live well right under my nose.”
Marianne’s gaze towards Allen was filled with hatred and unwillingness, yet in her crimson eyes, there also flickered a glimmer of wanting to survive.
That’s right.
You’re a cover character in this game; if you died, players would accuse Starshine Serenade of false advertising and flood it with bad reviews…
Wait, why do I even care about this lousy game’s reputation?
If Allen could travel back, he’d definitely write a 100,000-word scathing review!
This game has way too many villain death endings!
Even villains deserve basic human rights, okay?
Allen grumbled about the developers’ malice against villains while practically demonstrating why villains get what they deserve.
He leaned close to Marianne’s ear, warm breath tinged with the scent of blood brushing past her earlobe, like a devil’s whisper: “Despising me so much, yet you still have to show me your vulnerability…That look of yours delights me immensely!”
Allen’s words were like feathers tickling the little maid’s fragile heart.
Marianne’s body trembled violently.
She stopped looking at Allen, tightly lowering her head, her fragmented black hair hiding her eyes.
Only her tightly clenched fists, knuckles white, betrayed her humiliation and struggle.
Finally, Marianne forced out two trembling words through gritted teeth: “…Scum.”
“Yeah, I’m scum.”
Allen admitted calmly, even with a hint of self-mocking ease.
“We both know that. So, to get revenge on me, the ‘scum,’ you have to live. The longer you live, the better.”
His tone dropped lower, sharper, like a snake flicking its tongue, precisely striking the softest, most cherished part of Marianne’s heart:
“By the way, Marianne. Tomorrow, that ‘fiancée’ of mine, Livia von Stern, the daughter of the Border Count…you know her, right? Very, very well.”
Boom—!
Like thunder exploding in her mind!
Marianne’s entire body shuddered violently as she suddenly raised her head to look at Allen, those deep eyes instantly filled with utmost shock and terror—worse than facing death itself!
“W-why…”
Her voice broke into fragments, as if her soul was trembling.
“I’m the villain! All your secrets are naked before me.”
Allen watched with twisted satisfaction as Marianne’s face drained of color and her eyes betrayed undeniable panic, a perverse joy rising inside him.
To torment this tragic yuri couple of Marianne and Livia is the ultimate pleasure!
Allen was naturally a villainous noble, and playing an evil blond role was easy for him.
Destroying a yuri relationship was also part of the yuri experience—must savor every bit of it!
“You and her made a promise, didn’t you?”
Allen’s low whisper slowly corroded Marianne’s defenses, “On some sunny afternoon? In a meadow full of wildflowers? Such a beautiful, pure promise…”
His smile was cruel and teasing: “But now, she’s going to be my ‘fiancée,’ and you? You’re just my little maid. Your statuses couldn’t be more different. Your beautiful promise was doomed to be a castle in the air from the start!!”
Marianne swayed, her face as pale as paper, staggering.
Allen pressed the knife further, aiming exactly at her deepest insecurities and despair: “You joined The Church, endured the agony of implanting a Fake Crest, and gained that twisted power—all just to get closer to her, hoping one day to stand proudly by her side, right?”
“Stop indulging in unrealistic fantasies!”
Allen’s voice suddenly rose, icy with brutal reality.
“I’ll tell you, Livia’s emblem talent is unprecedented! She’s born a star, destined to soar in the heavens! And you, even with that twisted power, even at the cost of your life, you’ll never touch the threshold under her feet! You and I, Marianne, we’re both mere mortals! Face reality!”
“No…no…I…I only want to…”
Marianne’s resolve shattered completely.
Every word from Allen struck her softest, most treasured part like a hammer, leaving her broken and incoherent.
The pillar that sustained her will to live seemed to crumble piece by piece under Allen’s words.
“Only want to be with her? Impossible.”
Allen ruthlessly crushed her last hope.
“Even I know that our so-called engagement is purely her political tool to prop up my bankrupt noble family! She’s long ceased to be that pure girl you remember.”
“The capital’s cesspool, noble rules, have already turned her into a calculating monster as ugly as me!”
“No—!!!”
Marianne’s tears broke loose like a dam bursting.
“She’s not like you! She’s my hero! She…she promised…she would come to save me…look…didn’t she really come…”
She sobbed uncontrollably, utterly drained, sinking softly to the ground, like a lily battered by wind and rain under the moonlight.
Hero?
Your hero is my nightmare!
I’m not a little monster; why should I be killed by a righteous Ultraman?
Just because I’m set as the villain?
Thinking of Livia, Allen’s anger surged uncontrollably.
“When you were at your lowest, battered by the past me, manipulated by The Church, corrupted by the Fake Crest, struggling in pain and darkness, where was your ‘hero’ then? Maybe she didn’t completely forget you, but…”
Allen deliberately paused, looking down at the shattered girl on the ground, sneering: “To her, Marianne, you aren’t as important as you think!”
“Nobles are ugly like that. I’m the best example right in front of you.”
“Enough…stop…please…”
Marianne curled up, burying her face in her knees, shoulders trembling violently.
Seeing the little maid’s mental collapse, Allen suddenly became nervous.
Completely breaking Marianne’s psychological defense would be counterproductive to his plan.
Damn it, it’s all your fault! Livia!
It’s because of you that I dragged personal grudges into this!
In Starshine Serenade, neither Allen nor Marianne have happy endings.
They could start a “Protagonist-Abused Victims Association.”
Sharing the same misery, Allen’s remaining hatred toward Marianne turned into pity.
Allen crouched down and, unexpectedly, reached out to gently pull the trembling, tear-streaked Marianne into his embrace.
Marianne’s body stiffened but didn’t resist, silently crying in his arms, as if releasing all her grievances, pain, and despair through her tears.
“I can help you, Marianne.”
Allen’s voice was like a demon tempting mortals into damnation, full of seduction.
“And only I can help you. I can make you be with her.”
Marianne’s sobbing abruptly ceased.
She looked up in disbelief, her tear-filled eyes fragile yet carrying a faint, hazy hope.
“But the condition is, you have to obey me.”
Allen held up three bloodied fingers, his tone absolute.
“First, you can’t die. Only by living is there a future.”
“Second, you can’t reveal your past identity to anyone. To Livia, to anyone. Marianne, Chief Maid of the Laval Family, that is all you are now.”
“Third,” Allen gazed at the fragile girl in his arms, fragile yet ignited by the flicker his words brought—a wicked plan with a hint of salvation forming in his mind—“you must fulfill your promise.”
“Eh?” Marianne was utterly confused, looking at Allen through tear-blurred eyes, completely unable to comprehend his meaning.
“I won’t bully you anymore. From now on, our relationship is just a normal, decent master and servant.” Allen’s tone carried a strange calmness as he gently wiped away the tears on Marianne’s face. “Please, during the time when Livia is still my ‘fiancée,’ rebuild your bond with her. Then, have her take you away from the Laval Family to live the life you once promised.”
Marianne stared blankly, as if hearing a fairy tale.
“As the payment for this deal,” Allen looked into her eyes, “you must have her protect me, protect the Laval Family, and keep me alive. It’s fair, Marianne. We each get what we need.”
Settings!
At that moment, Allen’s suspicious nature sparked an epiphany.
He hadn’t seriously considered his engagement to Livia before, but now thinking carefully, there was something odd about the marriage.
Livia becoming his fiancée might not be a result of the world line shift.
He finally recalled that the political marriage between the Stern House and the Laval Family existed in every cycle!
Livia von Stern was Allen de Laval’s fiancée—this was never mentioned in the original Starshine Serenade but was a real setting!
Very interesting—why did the developers deliberately hide this setting?
Allen de Laval is clearly a minor villain, yet the creators gave him a thousand ways to die.
Why does a simple plot device get so much screen time?
Something’s off.
Very off!
The original work never explained why Allen has such an obsessive fixation on Livia, to the point of filling himself with death flags.
What if Allen wasn’t originally a villain tool but an important character related to Livia?
Then his obsession makes sense.
Could there be internal resentment among the developers?
Someone particularly disliked Allen de Laval so much they deleted his scenes and gave him a thousand death endings?
If Allen’s guess is true, then Allen de Laval really is the most tragic character in the entire game, bar none.
Putting aside outside speculation, in all these cycles, Allen’s engagement always ended in failure.
But this time, Livia plans to visit him actively.
Why?
Allen has interacted with Livia many times and knows her character well.
She’s more of a battle-crazed warrior who wandered into an otome game than a typical heroine.
Her obsession with justice is nearly fanatic, and her desire to fight monsters, level up, and seize treasures rivals any male protagonist in a shounen story.
Livia lacks the common romantic obsession of otome heroines; she’s even cold in personality.
If the player doesn’t pursue romance, Livia spends the academy arc alone and directly enters the single route.
The single route is the essence of Starshine Serenade!
This route’s plot can be summarized in three words: battle,爽!
Of course, this route has a Bad End. If Livia keeps betraying her sense of justice with wrong choices, she eventually becomes the Demon King.
The romance route’s Livia is far weaker than the single route’s.
Livia’s willingness to have an ordinary romance shows that her maiden personality hasn’t yet been replaced by her power-hungry mad self.
For this reason, Allen plans to matchmake Livia and Marianne.
Facing normal Livia’s difficulty is already high; if she turns into the single route’s mad battle-crazed warrior, Allen’s many lives wouldn’t be enough.
Livia actively coming to visit Allen—does this mean she’s still an ordinary girl with feelings?
A naive noble daughter interested in her fiancé isn’t unusual.
If that’s true, it’s a huge advantage for Allen!
Allen sneered inwardly.
Advantage?
That damned woman would never be interested in the weak!
Naive? She’s a violent character who can smile while strangling cultists! She’s utterly disqualified as an otome heroine!
Allen recalled Livia’s interrogation last cycle—
“Allen de Laval! What did you mean just now…about the Cursed Crest Bloodline…?”
She was shaken, even killing him in a fit of emotion.
Something strange.
Could Livia, like him, retain memories of the cycles?
Otherwise, how would she know the emblem bloodline was problematic?
If so…her visit to Allen is a test?
Allen’s mind cleared suddenly.
Her approach to the Laval Family, to him, could also be for Marianne—to pull her out of The Church’s abyss?
Getting Marianne completely free from The Church is the key part of his plan, isn’t it?
If he can help Marianne and Livia reach a Happy End, will this world, this “script” revolving around Livia, be more lenient with him?
Considering the possibility that Livia retains her memories, Allen added to Marianne: “By the way, Marianne. While interacting with Livia, you might encounter some strange things. For example, you might find Livia pretending to be clueless about you, acting like she doesn’t recognize you or your past promise.”
He looked at Marianne’s confused eyes again and explained, “If this happens, don’t be surprised or expose her. She has her reasons. Just play along and pretend with her. I like to see her…well, get worked up for no reason.”
“You…”
Marianne looked at Allen, her gaze tangled with countless indescribable emotions.
“How do you even know these things?”
She felt all her thoughts and secrets were completely seen through by Allen.
That feeling of being thoroughly understood terrified her yet bred a sick dependence in despair.
She almost coquettishly lightly pounded Allen’s chest with her weak fist, her voice trembling with tears and a hint of reproach even she hadn’t noticed: “Why…why at a time like this…are you so gentle…when you’re clearly…a scumbag…”
“Wait…”
Allen had no time to savor Marianne’s conflicted, blushing expression showing signs of being conquered.
Suddenly, he felt something was wrong.
So cold…a sluggish chill spreading through his limbs and bones.
And…why did Marianne’s punch to his chest feel like nothing?
No pain, no itch, not even a clear sense of touch?
This can’t be Marianne ‘acting coquettish.’ Her body language was still resistant and struggling!
Could it be?
The Ability of the False Crest Knight isn’t just hiding…but—
Perception Obfuscation?!
Allen belatedly lowered his head and looked at his blood-soaked clothes…
The thick dark red had soaked through the fabric and even pooled on the ground!
The False Crest Knight’s ability suppressed Allen’s sense of pain and blood loss.
Now, as the effect faded, the belated agony and icy weakness crashed over him like a tsunami!
Damn!
I actually…lost control in a place like this?
Bastard!
What a joke!
It’s all your fault, Livia!!!!!
“Marianne…”
Allen was about to say something when the world spun violently, all sounds rapidly receding, and darkness surged like a tide.
He didn’t even manage a full sentence before his body lost control, collapsing limply forward.
“Master Allen!”
Marianne’s terrified scream echoed in his ears.
The expected cold impact of hitting the ground never came—he fell into a soft, warm embrace faintly scented with soap nuts—it was Marianne catching him.
Marianne stared at the instantly unconscious Allen, his face pale as paper, body rapidly cooling, her mind blank.
The young master who just now controlled everything like a demon, speaking cruel yet strangely redemptive words, was now as fragile as a broken doll.
Those words, that deal, the plan involving Livia…how much was sincere?She didn’t know.
But she knew it was this scumbag young master who just spared her life, offering a ridiculous yet hopeful path forward, who was now on the brink of death.
Fear surged through her mind more fiercely than when facing his killing intent before.
“No…don’t…you can’t die…”
Marianne’s voice broke as she frantically tried to stem the bleeding wounds on Allen’s body but didn’t know where to start.
Those fatal injuries masked by Perception Obfuscation were now mercilessly devouring his life.
“You promised…to help me…”
Why…even though she hated him so much just moments ago…was she now so afraid to lose him?
Was it because he promised to fulfill her and Livia’s agreement?
Or…because after seeing all her ugliness and despair, he still offered that twisted olive branch?
She couldn’t tell.
She only knew she had to save him!
For that promise, for the possible future he spoke of, and for…a responsibility newly sprouted in her heart, tangled with guilt and fear, indescribable yet undeniable.
“Someone, please come—!!!!”
Marianne summoned all her strength, clutching Allen’s cold, heavy body as she screamed towards the brightly lit main manor.
Her voice echoed through the silent courtyard, filled with unprecedented panic and despair.
“Master Allen…is dying!!!!”