I'll Save Both of Them Just the Same

"!!!"

Selena's beautiful eyes widened instantly, seemingly unable to believe what her mother had just said.

"Mother, you said ending the curse... what do you mean by that?"

Lola folded her hands over her flat stomach and said calmly, "It is exactly as you think. Perhaps because you fell in love, or perhaps because the potency of the curse has finally faded. Whatever the reason, only a fraction of the curse the evil dragon cast all those years ago remains. All that is needed now is one final sacrifice... no, one final fusion."

The Queen of Midwinter pointed to the apple and said, "That is why I prepared this, so that I may complete the fusion without pain."

Lola's tone was incredibly serene, as if she were discussing a trivial household matter rather than deciding her own life or death.

Unfortunately, Selena wasn't buying it. The black-haired girl crossed her arms and said, "Fusion... ha, you make it sound so nice. Mother, do you even believe those words yourself? Fusion? That's death—a dead consciousness, a dead body, a dead spirit!"

Snow White pressed a hand to her chest, her voice rising with emotion. "Even if the outside world sees us both as Midwinter princesses, only we know the truth: every individual is independent!"

"Stop calling me 'Mother.' I am not your mother at all!"

A look of grim resolution flashed across Lola's more mature and exquisite face. "We were originally one; we are merely two halves of the same whole. From the beginning, using mortal ethics to construct a mother-daughter relationship was a mistake. Now, we are simply returning things to their proper state."

"We cannot coexist. To end this cycle of suffering, it is either your death or mine. This is an inevitable fate."

The cold, charming, and mature queen closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "If you refuse to accept the term 'fusion,' then think of it as a sacrifice. One last sacrifice to dispel the gloom that has hung over Midwinter for over a thousand years and to embrace eternal happiness. Is that not worth it?"

"It is not!"

Selena replied without a moment's hesitation. "Where are all these 'necessary' sacrifices? They are nothing more than the excuses mediocre people make for their own incompetence!"

"And I am the most perfect existence in this world. A mere curse? It isn't worthy of forcing me to make such a choice!"

Watching Selena's beautiful, indignant face, Lola was momentarily dazed.

She lightly covered her mouth, revealing a motherly smile she hadn't even noticed herself. "What a proud and confident child. Once upon a time, I was exactly like you... but in the end, I recognized reality."

The queen's gentle, loving gaze turned into a bitter mist as she shook her head. "Snow White must commit matricide. This is an irrevocable fate that cannot be disobeyed. It does not shift based on a person's ability or the strength of their will."

'Hmm?'

Faust felt something was off when he heard this.

While the word 'fate' wasn't some forbidden taboo and people mentioned it all the time, Lola's tone and phrasing made it sound as if she knew the development of a script.

'Mephi, what's the situation? Why does it feel like the queen is aware of the 【witches' feast】? Didn't you say witches can never awaken from their fate?'

【Indeed, why is that? I'm quite curious myself!】

Whenever matters regarding witches were involved, the fairy often started playing dumb.

However, for a fairy, making comments or judgments regarding the 【witches' feast】 was essentially a death wish, so Faust didn't bother berating Mephistopheles for being a useless waste.

The two Midwinter princesses stood in opposition, falling into a momentary silence.

Seeing this, Faust coughed twice and interrupted, "Ladies, please allow me to say a word."

As the man spoke, both Selena and Lola turned their gazes toward him.

The Queen of Midwinter scrutinized Faust's face, a bright light flashing in her silver eyes before she quickly suppressed it. She said calmly, "Faust... prince of Qingxi, what do you have to say?"

Faust took a step forward. "Just as Your Majesty said, I also believe the dragon's curse will vanish this time, and that sacrificing the queen would indeed achieve this goal quickly. That point is indisputable."

"Faust, you!"

Hearing Faust actually agree with Lola's hypothesis, Selena's beautiful eyes widened in shock, her cheeks flushing with anger.

Even you, with your honest-looking face, have betrayed me?

"However!"

Then came the turn. Faust patted his chest and said, "The method you spoke of is the most desperate choice—the absolute minimum, so to speak. But I have another way. If it works, no sacrifice will be necessary at all. Both of you will be able to survive."

The prince of Qingxi's words were powerful, and his reddish-brown eyes were filled with an unquestionable determination.

It could be said that Faust rarely had such resolve.

'Gah... such a beauty, how could I let her fade away?'

'I won't accept it!'

'Wait, no! I mean, I'm doing this so Selena won't be sad! As for Queen Lola's beauty, that's not the point. Really.'

Or to put it another way, aside from her beauty, the talent of a high warlock was exactly the kind of pillar Faust's path to hegemony needed. Since she was a character he could win over to his side, Faust naturally wouldn't let her go.

'It's fine. I'll save both of them just the same!'

Meeting the prince's gaze, Lola's clear and sorrowful silver eyes filled with a smile. "That is... a truly touching promise. Perhaps that is why Selena likes you so much."

"But unfortunately, I am no longer young. I know well that one cannot have everything in this world. To gain something, one must give something up. Having the curse end with this generation is already the best possible outcome."

"Foreign prince, there is no need for further words. I have lived long enough. Aside from my other half, I have no one close to me in this life. But Selena... her life has only just begun. With a partner like you, she is standing at the threshold of happiness."

Seeing that the Queen of Midwinter was stubborn and refused to listen, Selena stomped her foot. "Mo—Lola! Since you won't admit to being my mother, fine! I never viewed you as one anyway. Whether we are sisters or halves of a whole, you have no right to decide my life!"

Lola said gloomily, "Indeed, I have no right. Therefore... I shall not beg for your forgiveness."

As if she no longer wished to argue with Snow White, the queen raised a hand and gave a sharp snap of her fingers.

Click.

Ink-colored magic fell like gravity.

"!!!"

Faust instantly felt his body forced to a standstill, unable to move an inch.

He had no room for resistance; such was the power of a high warlock.

But the prince did not feel he was in danger, because at this moment, the one truly in danger was someone else.

The Queen of Midwinter looked at the trembling black-haired girl and commanded, "Selena, give the apple to me."