Attamen iuxta me.

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Princess

—Even so, will you stay by my side?

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Sakiko

(—!)

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Sakiko

(Even so... stay by your side—)

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Sakiko

As long as you can return to normal, I'll do anything, I...
will make sure you...

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Sakiko

It's an important time right now. I'll stay by your side.

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Sakiko

(I...)

Sakiko

(I......)

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Nyamu

(Wait, no way... Sakiko blanked on her lines...!?)

Umiri

(...A rare sight indeed.)

Uika

(Saki-chan...!)

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Princess

...It is all right.

Princess

Whatever answer you choose...
I will be right here.

Sakiko

...

Servant

I...
I......

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Umiri

(So she managed to bridge it, somehow...
A narrow escape, Togawa-san.)

Nyamu

(Well, for Muuko, this much ad-libbing is a given.)

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Princess

...

Servant

...

Servant

*Pant*... *Pant*... *Pant*...

Servant

—Ah...!

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Servant

...Ngh... ugh...

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Servant

—Even so... "Even so, I will stay by your side"...
Should I have answered like that...?

Servant

No, that is not it...
She was no longer the Princess I know—

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Servant

—Ah, my beloved Princess...
So kind... so merciful... so warm...

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Servant

That I would serve her all my life, for her sake...
I had sworn it in my heart, and yet...

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Servant

Now there is only—
I am afraid of her... so afraid I can scarcely bear it...

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Servant

I... I...
I no longer understand... not my own feelings, not anything at all...!

Servant

If I stay beside her like this, even I will be driven mad...!
I will no longer be myself...!

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Servant

—I have no choice but to leave... to leave this country...!

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Servant

*Pant*... *Pant*...
I have crossed the hill as well... Now, at last—

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Servant

...?
—There is a dreadful commotion from the castle...

Servant

Has something happened...?

Servant

—It cannot be... Something has happened to the Princess...

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Servant

—Princess...!!

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Townsperson A

Hurry up and get her on the scaffold!
Kill that witch!

Townsperson B

She'll atone for her sins with death!

Servant

...! The scaffold...!?
Why is the Princess...?

Executioner

Hey, she's bound!
Haul her up!

Servant

W-Wait...!

Servant

What on earth has happened!?
Why is the Princess...!?

Townsperson A

Huh? You didn't know?

Townsperson A

That woman's a witch who seduced and murdered several knights from the neighboring kingdom.
She's to be judged by arrows.

Servant

No... Please wait!
Excuse me, let me through...! Please, let me through!

Servant

Princess...!
Princess...!!

Townsperson C

What's this?
Is this one with the witch too!?

Townsperson D

Why, you...!
Struggle and we'll take you in!

Servant

Let me go...! Let go of me...!!
Princess!! Princess...!!

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Princess

...

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Princess

—Who are you?

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Servant

...!

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Servant

(What...? She does not know me...?)

Servant

(Was that an act?
Or the words I wished for somewhere deep in my heart...)

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Servant

(Or else a kind lie born of your concern for me—)

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Princess

...

Servant

...

Servant

(I no longer... understand...!)

Executioner

Bows ready!

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Executioner

Loose—!!

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Servant

...

Servant

(Her beautiful hair, her lips, her eyes...
Though pierced through by many arrows, nothing about her trembles.)

Servant

(She has nothing left to perform at all now...
Perhaps—)

Servant

(Perhaps she is at peace in this eternal final act.)

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Servant

—O moon! Silver light that rules the hushShijima of night!

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Servant

To this pitiful princess pierced by countless arrows,
grant at least your merciful radiance...!

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Sakiko

(—Now then, this is where we truly shine.
Feast your eyes on the true strength of Ave Mujica...!)