My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! — Requiem of the Starry Night
In the world of *FORTUNE LOVER*, Katarina Claes has spent her second life dodging every doom flag the game could throw at her—and against all odds, she's succeeded. Graduated, employed at the Ministry of Magic, and surrounded by the people she loves, her future finally looks bright. But when a routine night patrol leads her to a forbidden star-viewing platform and a silver-haired stargazer named Celes Valmont, her hard-won peace begins to crack. "Soon, you will be forced to make a very great cho
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! — Requiem of the Starry Night - Rumors of the Inspector — The Oblivious Young Lady and the Trust That Is Torn Apart —
The third-floor corridor of the Ministry of Magic was dim despite the morning hour. The star-vein crystal lamps embedded in the stone walls cast thin, pale blue light. Katarina Claes walked with her usual armful of documents. Her footsteps were swallowed by the cold stone floor.
(Yesterday's ultimatum from Geordo... banishing Celes from the royal palace.)
Katarina bit her lip. Deep in her chest, something heavy sat like a sunken stone.
"Lady Katarina Claes."
A hard voice came from behind her. She turned to find a palace chamberlain standing at rigid attention, the collar of his black uniform immaculately straight.
"His Highness Crown Prince Geordo awaits you in the Ministry's special chamber. He requests your presence immediately."
Katarina's fingers tightened on the edges of the documents she carried.
(About Celes again?)
Or perhaps a continuation of yesterday's ultimatum.
"...Understood. I'll be right there."
Katarina followed behind the chamberlain. Through the corridor windows, the sky over the royal capital of Arcadias was visible. Thick clouds blanketed it. The star-vein currents felt heavier than usual. Among the mages, there had been whispers these past few days that the star-veins were restless.
The special chamber was on the fifth floor, the topmost level of the Ministry—a heavy, imposing room reserved for senior officials. The chamberlain quietly opened the thick wooden door.
Inside, the fireplace blazed red. Heavy curtains were drawn, shutting out all outside light. Beyond the long table stood Geordo Stuart. His blond hair caught the firelight, gleaming dully. His blue eyes were fixed straight on Katarina.
"You've come, Katarina."
Geordo's voice was low and quiet. There was none of his usual breezy smile. In its place was a taut, coiled air, as though he were holding something down.
"Yes. I heard you called for me."
Katarina walked to the center of the room. Five steps remained between her and Geordo.
"Come closer."
After a moment's hesitation, she closed three more steps. Seen up close, Geordo's blue eyes were a darker shade than usual.
"There's something I have to tell you."
Geordo paused to draw a breath. A log in the fireplace popped with a sharp crack.
"Katarina. I don't care who you choose."
Katarina's breath stopped for an instant.
"But if you won't choose yourself, then I will never let you go."
Geordo's voice was quiet. Almost too quiet. Behind that stillness, something hot churned. Deep in Katarina's chest, something began to pound violently.
(Geordo looking at me like this...)
Katarina tried to say something. But no words came.
Geordo took a step toward her. The engagement ring on his left ring finger glinted.
"That man... Celes Valmont. Stay away from him."
Geordo's tone sharpened, just slightly.
"I'm not asking you as a prince. I'm asking you as one man."
Katarina stared into Geordo's blue eyes. Deep within them was an emotion she had never seen before. Jealousy. And fear. Beneath the mask of the perfect prince, raw feeling showed plainly on his face.
"Geordo... I don't think Celes is a bad person. He's just been telling me about the future..."
"The future, is it."
Geordo's voice went cold.
"Do you honestly believe what that man tells you?"
"It's not so much believing... Celes is only forcing me to make a choice..."
"That's exactly what I'm saying is dangerous!"
Geordo's voice rose for the first time. Katarina's shoulders jerked.
He seemed to catch himself at once and exhaled deeply.
"...Forgive me. I raised my voice."
Geordo covered his face with his right hand. His fingertips trembled faintly.
"I'm afraid of losing you."
Katarina was at a loss for words. Geordo Stuart—the crown prince of the kingdom, the man who did everything perfectly. And here he stood, showing her his weakness.
(I'm the one making Geordo like this.)
Katarina's chest ached.
"Geordo... I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be your fiancée."
Katarina mustered the brightest smile she could.
Geordo gazed at her face. His blue eyes wavered.
"That way you smile... it cuts the deepest."
Geordo reached gently toward her cheek. His fingertips stopped just short—barely touching her skin, or perhaps not at all.
"Katarina. I'm waiting for the day you're honest with your own heart."
With that, he withdrew his hand.
"You may go. You have work, don't you."
Katarina tried to speak. But Geordo had already turned his back. The firelight dyed his blond hair red.
Katarina bowed silently and left the special chamber.
The moment she stepped into the corridor, the strength drained from her legs. She braced a hand against the wall and exhaled deeply.
(Geordo's true feelings...)
(Am I really facing them?)
Katarina looked at her own palms. The calluses from farm work had grown hard. Could these hands really hold a future that hurt someone?
That was when it happened.
"Hey, did you hear? About the star record-keeper."
From around the corner of the corridor came the voice of a young female clerk. Katarina stopped in her tracks.
"That silver-haired beauty? The one at the star observatory?"
"Yes, yes. Apparently he's not really a record-keeper at all—he's a Time Auditor."
Katarina's heart leaped.
"A Time Auditor? You mean from the Bureau of Temporal Audit?"
"That's the one. The Stargazer's royal agency that monitors future alterations. A copy of the Bureau's internal circular was passed around inside the Ministry, they say."
"What? Really?"
"Really. 'Star record-keeper' is just his public title—his real duty is watching the future. He might be monitoring everything we do."
The voices faded down the corridor.
Katarina stood frozen, hand still against the wall.
(The rumor... it's spreading.)
The rumor that Celes was a Time Auditor. It was a fact Celes himself had revealed to Katarina. But for it to be known throughout the Ministry was another matter entirely.
(Who leaked it?)
Katarina bit her lip. A copy of the Bureau's internal circular. Something like that couldn't possibly circulate freely within the Ministry.
(Celes is in danger.)
Katarina hurried down the corridor. Her destination was the third-floor office. But along the way, she caught more conversations among the staff.
"They say a Time Auditor has infiltrated the Ministry."
"He probably plans to use someone to change the future."
"The Stargazer's principle is that stars are meant to be read, not changed. Auditors are the exception who break that rule."
"So that man is trying to change the future on his own terms."
The voices grew louder and louder. An atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia filled the Ministry corridors.
Katarina quickened her pace.
When she returned to the office, Maria Campbell was waiting with a worried expression. Her bright chestnut hair glowed softly in the light from the window.
"Lady Katarina, you look pale... Are you all right?"
Maria's green eyes were full of concern.
"I'm fine... Just thinking about some things."
Katarina sat at her desk. The stack of documents had grown since morning. But she couldn't bring herself to touch them.
"Lady Katarina. I... I overheard. The rumor that Lord Celes is a Time Auditor."
Maria lowered her voice.
"The staff all look at him as though he's terribly dangerous. And many of them don't think kindly of you being so close to him, either..."
Katarina raised her head.
"Maria, does Celes frighten you?"
Maria thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"I want to believe in whomever you believe in, Lady Katarina. But... my light magic has been so unstable near him lately. As if the star-veins are being drawn toward him."
Maria's fingertips flickered gold for just an instant. Her light magic was leaking out against her will.
"Maria..."
"I'm sorry—that was a strange thing to say. I only want to be useful to you, Lady Katarina."
Maria clenched her hands tightly together.
Just then, the office door flew open.
"Big sister!"
Keith Claes stood there, out of breath. His flaxen hair was disheveled, and his blue eyes shone sharper than usual. The star-vein crystal earring on his left ear swayed.
"Keith! What's wrong—why are you in such a rush?"
Katarina rose to her feet.
"Big sister. That man... Celes Valmont. Where is he?"
Keith's voice was hard. There was an edge to it she could never have imagined from the gentlemanly young man.
"Celes? He's probably at the star observatory, I think..."
"I'm going. Stay here, big sister."
With that, Keith turned on his heel.
"Wait, Keith! What are you going to do?"
Katarina grabbed his arm.
Keith stopped. But he didn't turn around.
"I'm going to protect you from that man."
"Protect me...? Celes would never hurt me."
"You can't know that! That man is a Time Auditor. If it serves his goal of changing the future, he might use you without a second thought!"
Keith's voice was shaking. Anger, and fear, and beneath it all, a deep devotion.
"You're too kind, big sister. You believe in everyone. So I have to be the one to doubt for you."
Katarina held his arm and said nothing.
Keith slowly turned around. His blue eyes looked straight into hers.
"Big sister. No matter who you choose, I'm on your side. But that man—him I can't forgive."
Keith gently pried her hand away.
"I'm going."
Keith broke into a run. His footsteps receded down the corridor.
Katarina stood rooted to the spot.
(Even Keith...)
Maria drew close to her side.
"Lady Katarina... Lord Keith truly cares for you so deeply, doesn't he."
Katarina nodded.
"Yes. Keith has always worried about me and only me. He's my younger foster brother, and yet he's so much more grown-up than I am..."
Her voice was barely audible.
"Lady Katarina. Let's go too. If Lord Keith and Lord Celes come to blows..."
"You're right! We have to go!"
Katarina bolted from the office with Maria.
The two of them ran through the Ministry corridors. Clerks they passed turned to look. They raced up the stairs and through the covered walkway connecting to the royal palace.
They climbed the spiral staircase of the palace's north tower, gasping for breath. The star observatory was at the very top.
Katarina stopped before the observatory door. Voices came from the other side.
"Stay away from my sister."
It was Keith's voice.
"I am merely watching over her choices."
Celes's voice. Quiet and without warmth, as always.
"Don't give me that! Ever since you showed up, she's been suffering. Prince Geordo, me, everyone—we're all falling apart because of you!"
Keith's shout echoed through the door.
Katarina pushed it open.
The observatory was dim. Through the skylight, the overcast light seeped in weakly. Celes stood before the star chart. His long silver hair glowed faintly in the pale light. His silver eyes rested calmly on Keith.
Keith stood three paces from him, shoulders trembling, both fists clenched tight.
"Both of you, stop!"
Katarina threw herself between them.
"Big sister, step aside."
"I won't! Keith, please, calm down. Celes is not my enemy."
"Why do you defend him?"
Keith's voice wavered with hurt.
"I'm not defending him. Celes is only asking me to make a choice. He's only trying to change the future."
"Change the future. And he's using you to do it. How is any of that right?"
Keith's blue eyes pierced through her.
Katarina had no answer.
Celes spoke quietly.
"Keith Claes. Your anger is entirely justified. My presence unsettles someone precious to you. That is a fact."
Celes's voice was as detached and cool as ever.
"However, I am not here to wound her. I am here so that she can choose her future in her own words. That is why I read the stars."
"Pretty words!"
Keith stepped closer to Celes.
"Because you're here, she's being forced to choose and it's tearing her apart. If you'd never come, she could have been happy without ever knowing any of this!"
Keith's right hand began to form the sign for earth magic. Star-veins gathered at his fingertips, g
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