NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57
Chapter 57: Epilogue
This is the end of Marie’s story.
Of course, since she’s still in the bloom of youth at 18, her story could continue endlessly if it wanted to.
Even as time passes, Eileen, Libian, the Duchess, and the rest of the so-called villains have apologized to her. But Marie hasn’t accepted their apologies, and they remain burdened by guilt.
How long that guilt will last depends on them.
In a setting of aristocratic social gatherings, a society moderately advanced yet still rigidly stratified, and a romance-fantasy world filled with stereotypical male leads, I wanted to write about a protagonist who had no magical powers, no extraordinary strength, and no unique abilities—just a pretty face.
Unlike other protagonists who thrive no matter what they do, Marie faced unreasonable hardships.
Though not entirely her fault, she was surrounded by malice, trapped in circumstances beyond her control.
She succeeded in enduring it all and arriving at the end of her journey, but I wouldn’t call it a happy ending.
For a truly happy life, the story should conclude with a bright future awaiting her—a life with a loved one, raising children, overcoming trials together.
Marie endured horrifying experiences, but she hasn’t truly overcome them yet.
She’s not superhuman, after all.
That’s why she leaned on Raphael, on Alina, even on Olivia, whom she had just met.
In the end, those people came to lean on her instead.
Marie has been through too much to easily live a happy life, but I hope that one day she’ll be able to laugh off the horrors of her past and find genuine happiness.
People do eventually find ways to overcome.
Perhaps I’ll revisit her world someday, to explore the smaller, unfinished threads of her story.