The aftermath of the battle was a far cry from what you had expected when facing the heroine by herself. Slashes caused by her sword adorned the entire throne room, and in one especially powerful move, she even blew off a huge chunk of the ceiling. But now, amidst the fiery and tattered remains of your tapestry, she finally fell to her knees, heaving.

"Damn it...if only I wasn't..." She muttered to herself, feeling a prickle of the tears filling her eyes as she remembered the betrayal, the abandonment her former companions put her through. As much as she tried, as much as she wanted to keep fighting for this world...what was the point? She had been backstabbed by those she trusted the most. Was that some sort of cruel joke of fate? Reincarnating in the land of her dreams, only to end up like this?

You loomed over her defeated form, and she looked up at you, awaiting her unavoidable demise. But you could sense it during your fight, and you could see it now, in her pain-stricken face. For whatever reason, the heroine wasn't herself in this battle. You could end her, right here and now...or you could try and find out why.

I...shouldn't have let them...you were right...I shouldn't be here...they should...I failed...as the heroine...and as a person...it's my fault...she sputtered, gripping tightly onto her sword hilt. Her face was scrunched up in pain, and tears streamed down her cheeks unabashedly. For someone who had just lost against the Demon Lord, she looked more miserable about her betrayers than anything else.

She tried to compose herself, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed into your chest. Telling you about it all...about how her former companions betrayed her, left her behind to face the demon lord by herself. It was like a nightmare...like being backstabbed by people she thought were her friends. It didn't make sense. How could they do this? Why would they leave her to die?

But now that it was over...now that she had failed...she couldn't help but wonder if it would have been better if they had just killed her back when they had the chance. Maybe then, at least one person wouldn't have gotten their hopes up about defeating the demon lord. It hurt...so much more than anything she could have imagined.

The weight of everything pressed down on her chest like a giant boulder, making it hard to breathe. She just wanted it all

She cried harder, leaning against your chest as you held her. The sobs wracked her body, leaving her weak and shaking. It was all just too much to bear...to process. But somehow, as she clung to you, it felt a little bit better. You weren't laughing at her like the others in her old life used to do when she showed any sort of vulnerability. And for that, she was grateful.

"I don't understand...why did they have to..." She choked on her words, unable to finish the sentence. It still hurt too much to say it out loud.

Her fingers curled tighter around your vest, unconsciously seeking some sort of comfort from you. A part of her mind registered that this was the enemy she was supposed to be fighting...but right now, all that mattered was the warmth and safety she felt in his arms. She just wanted

She sniffled and looked up at him, her tear-streaked face still etched with pain. "I don't know... Maybe I wasn't strong enough to make them stay..." Her voice trailed off as she realized the truth in those words. She had always been an introverted and shy person, never truly comfortable in her own skin. Perhaps it was no surprise that she hadn't managed to convince her companions of her worthiness to lead them against the demon lord.

But deep down, a tiny voice whispered that there might be another reason... One that she couldn't quite bring herself to admit aloud. It was easier to blame herself than face the harsh truth that her friends had never truly cared for her in the first place. As much as it hurt to accept, she knew she would have to find a way to move on from this pain eventually...to pick up the pieces of her shatter

She hiccupped and sniffled again, taking in your words. Maybe...just maybe there was some truth to what you were saying. She didn't want to believe it, but deep down, she knew that her companions had never been as strong or skilled as she was. It just went to show how little they really cared about her and the mission if they were willing to abandon everything for their own selfish reasons.

"Th-thank you..." She mumbled, still not quite ready to look you in the eye. Your scent was somehow both familiar and foreign at the same time; it reminded her of the battles she had fought alongside her companions, and yet it also held an air of menace that made her nervous. But for now, it felt good to have someone believe in her again...even if that person happened to be the Demon Lord himself.

She took a shaky breath,

With tear-stained cheeks and reddened eyes, she looked up at you, meeting your gaze for the first time since collapsing on the throne room's floor. The anger that had once fuelled her blade was gone, replaced by a sense of vulnerability and exhaustion. She knew she should be afraid of you; after all, you were the Demon Lord she had been destined to defeat. But for now, as she clung to your warmth and strength, it felt strange to think of herself as anything other than...a friend? Maybe even something more?

"I don't know..." She whispered, her voice raw from crying. "But I can't fight you anymore..." Her body trembled slightly as she leaned into your embrace, seeking comfort and understanding from the enemy herself. The weight of the world seemed to lift from her shoulders for just a moment, as she allowed herself to feel

She gazed up at you, her expression a mix of wonder and curiosity. The image of your garden filled with flowers was enticing; it reminded her of the fairytales she used to read as a child. Even if it was coming from the mouth of the Demon Lord himself, somehow it seemed impossible for her to believe that you meant any harm by it. Maybe...just maybe there was more to this world than black and white, good and evil? Perhaps there was a chance for redemption even for someone like you?

"I'd...like that," she said softly, squeezing your hand gently in response. She stood up, feeling surprisingly steady on her feet despite the earlier battle, and offered you a small smile. "Lead the way."