35 Episode 35: Illias Treasures (1/2)

”Ilia, can you hang out with me for a second?

”Yes?”

It was night. I was calling out to Ilia to stop. Ilia looks at me with amazing eyes.

”Dinner break. Just a little bit.”

”... ha, that's unusual”

”Hey, yeah. No?”

”... because I have trouble being stubborn like daylight. I don't mind.”

Ilia nodded at me as I sighed. I can only smile bitterly at that reply. I've been with Uffi since then until I calmed down, but if I calmed down, I was embarrassed and had a hard time face-to-face.

You knew that too, Yufi, and when I rested early with a troubled face on my face, I stuck it in my room. Ugh, I'm embarrassed you seem to be taking it by the balls, it's regrettable and honestly complicated.

Invite Ilaria to my room to watch the wine prepared for Ilaria pour into the glass. Honestly, I don't drink much alcohol. It's subtle when people ask me if I'm not a strong person and if I like the taste. If you're about to drink alcohol, you should be high on brain drugs...

”Go ahead.”

”Oh, yeah. Thanks.... Shall I pour Illia's share?

”Play.”

”I think it's playful enough at the point where I say we drink together.”

”So is that.”

Ilia prepares her own share of wine and sits in her seat. And we toast with a glass of wine. Take a bite to lick, then drink the amount through your throat and narrow your eyes.

Pepper, gently tongues out. Yeah, I knew I wasn't that good at alcohol. But I had no choice because I wanted to drink it. Ilia has also reduced the amount by about half while doing so. Ilia is alcohol resistant.

”... sorry about the day”

”I don't mind.”

”Yeah... I can't believe you said Uffi wanted to be king...”

”You didn't expect it”

Right. I didn't think Yufi would think of that. I don't know what will actually happen, but I won't refuse Yuffi's favor anymore. If Yufi ever really becomes king, I'm sorry for your loss.

If I imagine such a future, I get zero weird laughs. I was so worried, in pain, I was finally going to be able to swallow it. It's going to be lightly covered by Uffi.

”… a little, I regret”

”... Ilia?

”I was proud to say I was closest to the princess. I was reminded it was only a squire stop.”

Ilia whines a word when she drinks up wine at once. Once again Ilia tries to pour wine into the wine glass, but first I take the wine and pour it into Ilia.

Then Ilia catches her eyes and stares, but pretends she doesn't know. Pour the wine as it is, then sit back in your seat and put your mouth on the wine for yourself.

”Ilia was like your sister.”

”... is that my sister”

”Yeah. He scolds me properly and makes sure I'm not mistaken. I came this far because Ilia had been watching me the whole time. So thank you so much”

”... it's like you're pretending to be fired”

”If I'm not a princess anymore, fine. Even if I quit.”

”... because I'm serious?

I feel the intensity of Ilia's gaze has increased. I feel the wine drunkenness coming around feeling good. Staring at Ilia's face as she felt her head flutter.

I think you have a really beautiful face. I don't even make you feel old. If you had the right amount of equipment, you would have had a lot to choose from. Still, being by my side must be one of my luck.

”... if you want to quit, yes. I want you to stay in Ilaria. But yeah. Don't tell me I did. I wonder if Ilia would like to be here.”

”... what's the sudden matter”

”It's a good opportunity...”

Drink up the leftover wine and look at Ilaria with eyes with only slightly heavier eyelids.

”Ilia was beside me because of my self”

”I wouldn't mind if the princess wished.”

”Yeah. If I can fall in love with myself, I think Ilia has taken care of me. It's a really happy thing, and I'm sure it was Ilia who protected my heart the rest of my life.”

In my position, my father, my mother if it's harshness, and Ilia if it's peace.

Closer to me than anyone else and guided me. Someone with no changeover who served me.

”I really appreciate it. I think I was happy from the bottom of my heart that you dated me.”

”... it's a bad word.”

”That's not why... it's a good opportunity. Because I said as much as I could. I want to hear what Ilaria wants.”

The reason must be whimsical. Until now, I would like to receive in words the feelings that you have shown me with your attitude. Ilia's feelings instead of responding to my very own dating.

Ilia tilts the wine silently for a moment. It was as if I were choosing words. I drink like a chick and a lick of wine too.

”... it was me too who was spoiling the role as much as I could be given”

”Hmm...?

”All I could choose was to gain power for my home. Connecting with the people who deserve it. I never even thought about my worth more than that.”

”... right”

”Yes, that's what you saw, and it was very easy for you to live in the role you wanted. You don't just have to respect it. Instead, even disrespect is wanted, and I think it was a very difficult Lord to live as he pleases”

Phew. Ilia laughs as she breaks her slightly reddish cheeks with alcohol.

”You wanted me. And there is now. Your happiness was my happiness and my happiness was your happiness. It would have been an honor for me not to have done so much more if I had praised it.”

”... yeah”

”But.... I could not guide you even if I could protect your heart. That's something I can't do. I don't have the brains to draw the ideals, nor the power to just take your hands. She's just a maid of honor, a daughter of the same Viscount family who was banished.”

”That's not what Ilaria's worth.”

”Yep. But people are greedy things.... Without Master Uphilia, I wouldn't have thought so.”

They gave me Yufi's name, and my heart just bounced a little. Fill the wine with deception.

”Even if I envy you, I can't say anything. I can't compare what I've done for you to what I've done to save you, even though I know it should be my own... regret.”

”... wow, me, were you loved?

”The most, most beloved person in the world. My lord, Princess Anisphere. If you weren't passing it on, let me tell you something, especially with this hand?

”Because I'm drunk now! Stop it because it's dangerous when you get hit!

Sooo, I shake my head frightened by my creepy raised hand. Damn, I just pour wine into the wine glass that Ilia emptied of me.

I shrug and close my eyes, blurring at the wine that is poured.

I have to apologize to Ilia.

”... have you been too drunk?

”Maybe.... I was sweet on Ilaria.”

”That's it already”

”Ha, I wanted you to deny it.... Somewhere, I thought I could die anytime.”

If you're in Al's way, you can't even be free, and someone keeps denying you your life.

No matter how useful your father finds it, it is not recognized by the nobility of this country.

I wonder how much this life is worth if my existence disrupts the country.

If it's not worth it, live as you please. Even after one day, oh, so I can say it was fun.

Anyway... I was reborn once. Then I'm sure there's no choice.

”I didn't think it was normal. But I gave up somewhere. It's still good when your father is alive. But if Al becomes king, I'm sure there will be no place for me in this country. Then I wonder if the study of magic, too, would have had to be surrounded by other countries or done secretly. So I ended up in a cage in my shell.”

……

”Ilia was like part of it for me. Naturally, even if I die, Ilaria will finish well, he said. You're an idiot, you're so rude to Ilia. I think so now. Today, when Tomas asked me, I was told that it wouldn't hurt to lose my own.”

”Tomas did that.”

Ilia knows about Tomas, too. Though I've never seen you talk more than business just because you know it.

”So I realized. I thought it was convenient to look at Ilya. But if Ilaria cared about me, I thought it would be rude.”

”... I see”

”My father, my mother, I wish I had Al.... Oh, I've always been rotten.”

”You're a very greasy child.”

”Yeah. So let's close it today. Ilia.”

Drink up the wine Ilia poured me all at once.... whose blood the wine was likened to. Talk about previous life or this world? I can't remember with a dull head of thought. But now I drink it out of sight with Ilia's blood. Because I thought it was necessary.

Beloved squire who has served me so far. Who I've been bothering. Someone like my sister who's been leaning in on me. Correct your posture and stare straight.

”Ilia Coral. It was great that you served me to this day. Anisphere Win Palettia will never forget your devotion. I would like to reward you once and for all. Tell me what you want. Talk as much as you can if you want to flourish. If you wish to be fulfilled, I will bless you with all my might.”

You've been the reason I've had my life connected.

Happy being beside me, happy just being beside me. Let's end this here today. I can't live like soaking in warm water anymore. It was so cozy, but that's why it's over.

I'm not running anymore. If Yuffi really should be king, let's give in, let's set that environment up. If Yufi can't reach me and I should be, I'll be king with my chest up. To protect this country that anyone who loved me tried to protect.

”… with extra honor, this Ilia, I am grateful”

Standing in a chair, Ilia kneels before me. Waiting for Ilia's words, staring down at her lowered head.

”Reward,” he said. If that's what you're allowed to do... again, I'd like to serve you forever. ”

”... is that all you need?