63 Episode 59: The Value of Anisphere (2/2)

”No, I don't think you have a choice, do you? I rather admire how well you used it, because that's what my father would have done...”

”That led to your tears today, didn't it?

”.................. eh”

”Don't delude me”

Yes, I'm sorry. I was as unhappy as I thought. I was aware of what I had invited myself, but if I said it wasn't hard, it was a lie!

So spare me the strength of the arms you hold tight, Yufi! Squeeze! Because I squeeze! Out! Out! There's something out there you shouldn't!

”Kyu, suddenly it's not that easy to change!

”Aren't you even going to change...?

”No, even I want to be happy with the crowd...”

”What kind of happiness is that people-like? Is that really a wish you want to fulfill from the bottom of your heart?

Asked by Uffi, I think and see about my own happiness.

The happiness I want. Thinking about it, the answer was too simple.

”It's already happening. There's someone who'll admit it, and I can use magic. There is someone who could have been saved by my magic. I could protect my smile. Even the country will be better, helping to create a new era. I'm so happy that I'm too happy.”

So I'm not dissatisfied, and Yuffi's body leaves when she tries to tell me that she's holding me tight. Then Yuffi gets horseback ridden by me, and my hands are held against Yuffi's bed. Yufi's eyes, dressed to look down, were set.

What, why are you looking so dissatisfied, Yufi...?

”It's good if you say so. So this is my own selfish self.”

”What, that”

”I'll be happy to drown. As much as I'd like to say I don't want to let go. I'll also push you for happiness you don't want...... are you ready?

Uffi whispers with a sneering grin. There's a chill running down my spine, but I can't escape with my hands held down. I accidentally laugh at love.

I want to be happy, too. It's not like you want to be unhappy, is it? But my happiness is that everyone is smiling. Even if I'm a little bitter or unhappy for that reason, I'm sure I won't care anymore.

But if they say I can't be happy. If you say you make me happy like this.

”I'm ready... will you not let me go?

I'm sure there's nothing more I can do. I'm drowning in you.

If I'm going to hold my breath, I want to die drowning happily ever after. You could have just been killed by Ufi.

I don't talk about it. But that's all I'm asking for and forgiving. I just wish in my heart, so please forgive me.

I must be laughing from the bottom of my heart right now. So happy. I'm already happy, Uffi.

”... Dear Anis”

Then Yufi frowned. I wonder if my heart has been distracted.

”... if you're too defenseless, you'll really squash all the way to the bone marrow.”

”Hih.”

Predator, I want you to stop grinning because it's really bad for your heart! My heart is hitting the early bell like an idiot. No, no, I'm not happy to be cornered! Oh, no!

But I can't run, and I don't want to. Oh, I knew I was drowning.... Oh, I don't know anymore!

”Hey, let's go to sleep! Yufi! Look, I'm tired! Hey!”

”... right”

I don't think I can escape the demon's hand in pursuit! Let's keep Yufi asleep, that way you can rest assured! Get your hands off me, Yufi, and I'll be the pillow again. Pompous slap on Yufi's back like that.

I mean it with pleasure. I'm really happy to be told, but I may not be happy well. So I hope you'll let me lean over a little.

The first day of my stay at the Duke of Magenta's house ended. Speaking of which, how long will you be staying? But I'm ready to adopt Yufi, and until then, can I rest over here? But Raini back in the outhouse, Ilia, who got me to leave a message, is also concerned.

Shall I give both of you a rest? We can rest ourselves. I'll write down a note in my heart saying I'll talk to Lord Grants and Mrs. Nerschel later.

Well, the house of the Duke of Magenta is a big splendid mansion. Plus, it makes history feel like it, so I don't get tired of just looking around.

Right now, I can behave differently from Uffi. Because Mrs Nerschel has called me. Lord Grants has official business, and then he left me behind. I don't have much time.

I decided to take a walk on the grounds of the Duke of Magenta's house because it was a good idea to see the mansion freely. So I was touring the premises.

”... ah”

”Ah.”

I ran into Caindo. Kaindo-kun, who clearly had no hegemony, was in the corner of the premises as one thought. It's a little awkward.

But I can't ignore anything more than what I found.

”Er... how are you?

”... well, Princess Anisphere doesn't care.”

Kaindo-kun, who shakes his neck left and right without force, seems to have completely disappeared in disobedience to me. Instead, it's scary, trying to keep me away with that attitude.

... I don't know. I don't know. I don't like that, but it overlaps. With Al. It reminds me of when Al broke up with me. Kaindo-kun now looks just like Al then.

I wonder what I was right to do then. I also pushed Al-Kun away from me trying to stay away. I thought that was for Al. But Al has stepped off the road.

I really wanted to walk down the road with you. Yet Al-Kun has already gone out of reach. If you think so, you can't ignore Kaindo-kun, and you're driven by an impulse that resembles a sense of impatience.

”It's not okay!

”... Yes?

”I don't care what you think of Caind-kun right now. So talk to me. Sometimes you can't talk when you have eyes around you, can you?

Kaindo-kun looks at me with his eyes round. But soon, I look away from him at first sight.

”Don't turn away. Lord Magenta told you yesterday, didn't he? He said he had something to gain even if his opponent was an enemy. I'm not your enemy, and I just want to talk to you because you're depressed... it's not refreshing to watch.”

”... I don't like talking to you because I can poke my misery.”

Caindo-kun returns it with a pointy voice.... Yeah, that's about all I need.

”Is that my fault? Maybe it's bad. I'm the one who misled you. I was acting like I was misleading you. If you say so, you can't deny it.”

”If so... leave me alone”

”I threw my brother away with it.”

Caindo-kun's gaze can be directed at me again. Eyes open to surprise look closely at me.

... don't even think about it for Al then. If I had my feelings in my mouth, I wonder if something had changed.

”I regret it. I regret it enough to regret it from the bottom of my heart for the rest of my life. Kaindo-kun looks just like Al right now. Some attitude like you're miserable and you think you're being looked down on from around you. I can't get my chest up, I can't admit I'm rotten.”

”… so what do you say”

”Isn't it you who wants to talk? But when I think of it alone, it often doesn't look unexpected. Is it annoying that I want to talk to you?

”... annoying though”

”Oh well. Then I don't know, your annoyance. [M] I couldn't hide your feelings at the moment they realized.”

Shoulder to shoulder. It's not something I could have said, either, but if I can't solve what I hold on to on my own, I end up annoying someone.

I don't want to rely, I know how it feels. But I have to rely on it. That doesn't have to be me. But I don't think Caindo-kun is right to be alone now.

”It doesn't have to be me. You should talk to someone who listens to you properly.”

”... I'm not Prince Algard”

”That's right. You are not Al. [M]... so we can start over. Unlike Al.”

If you won't open your heart to me, I can't help it. It makes no sense if you take care of yourself. I guess this is the limit.

Return your heels and try to leave this place. That's what I heard on my back, Caindo-kun's little voice.

”... to me Prince Algard is a traitor”

Unexpectedly, stop the leg.

”I am an unforgiving traitor who scorned my sister while being royal. I didn't understand. So you surrounded your sister, and you thought you had something in mind and you had your sister at hand.”

”... well”

”... but I may have become a traitor too. You must have been really competent and on my sister's side. I couldn't believe it and exposed myself to indifference without finding out the truth… what difference does it make to Prince Algard?”

”I do. There's plenty of them.”

Keep your back on Kaindo-kun, I spin the words.

”Al is not as sweet as you. I couldn't be sweet. Al is a traitor. But I made all my own decisions and I betrayed you. Expectations, roles, all of them. I don't care how bad Al is prepared to be like you.”

”... you think I'm sweet?

”You should have believed Uffi, right? Al Kun had nothing to believe. myself, and around me. I'm the one who pushed him that way. So Al Kun doesn't rely on anyone, he can't even make weak noises. That's what I became.”

Your father, your mother, even the ministers around you didn't believe you. I couldn't believe anything, I was just a king who was given a role and asked to do just that.

Because Al didn't have any talent. Maybe that's why it was the concern of my fathers who thought I wouldn't let them shoulder the blame that just passed.... but I don't think that's how much the despair would hurt if I realized that.

”So don't wave away. Don't close your heart. You can rely on someone because you're miserable. If the pride of nobility disturbs you, you can throw that away.... because you still have magic.”

I didn't have it, because you can use the magic that I envy from the bottom of my heart. However, that fact alone gives this country a number of chances.

”I'm on your side. Even Lord Grants is tough, but I'm sure he'll wait. Mrs. Nerschel is also as talented a woman as she was studying magic. You should be able to ask your opinion. If you look up, see. Your future isn't so bright!

Spread your hands and look back. Please pass it on, with that in mind.

Kaindo-kun was looking at me. Just hold still on to me without saying anything.

I had no more words to throw, either. We were gazing at each other, but Kaindo-kun quietly lowers his head.

Deep down, without saying anything. And he walked away from the spot.... There were no more words to throw on its back.