Chapter 96: Closure Part 2

The sudden social assassination attempt by Yuna.

How should I deal with this?

Even if I deny it, she won’t believe me, and just staying silent isn’t going to work either.

Either way, I could already see her going around blabbing, saying she was “just asking others for their opinion.”

“Yuna.”

“Mhmm!”

“Let’s keep this between us, okay?”

“Should we?”

That was the better option.

Just admit it and shut her mouth.

Yuna was at least trustworthy, so if I asked her to keep it a secret, she would.

“But Yuna.”

“Mhmm?”

“I’m heading to the shower. How long are you planning to follow me?”

“How long should I follow you?”

“Would you mind stopping here?”

“Hmm, should I?”

Should you? How about just don’t follow me at all?

This brat’s really starting to cross the line just because I’ve been letting her get away with things.

“Well then, let’s call it a day for that.”

Yuna smirked slyly, waved her hand, and walked away.

At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if she picked my lock and came into my room someday.

***

After a quick shower, I headed to the dining hall and found everyone gathered and waiting except for Lobelia.

Mother, in particular, seemed to have taken a liking to Ariel and was chatting warmly with her, arm in arm.

Well, it was a household with only two sons.

Maybe she had secretly wished for a daughter.

“Ah! Johan, you’re here?”

“Apologies. I shouldn’t have left our guests unattended just to do my own thing.”

“Oh no, it was actually nice to see you working so hard! And it was clearly something important too.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

All I did was dig up the backyard flowerbed.

However, Ariel respected the meaning behind that action.

For my part, it was something I would’ve had to bring up eventually, so I wanted to get it over with quickly.

If I kept putting it off, I’d just end up hesitating and dragging it out.

I should be the one to reap what I’ve sown.

“By the way, where’s Her Highness?”

I asked as I sat down in front of the table where lunch had been served. I had assumed we’d all be eating together, so where had she gone?

Surely she wasn’t still training?

“Oh, she was here earlier, but…”

“She left with her silver mirror. Judging by the look on her face, I’d say it was something from the Imperial Palace.”

When Ariel trailed off, Yuna picked up the rest of the sentence. It wasn’t exactly something you’d want to say in front of others.

More than that, it was probably hard for Ariel to toss around the Imperial name so lightly.

Part of that might’ve been Yuna’s free-spirited nature, but given that Ariel came from a Duchy, it was only natural that every word she said would be measured and deliberate.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

It had been the same in the game. Any quest related to the Imperial family always came with infuriating difficulty.

The rewards had been good, sure…

But now that this was no longer a game and very much real life, it was the kind of trouble best avoided at all costs.

As I ate with that uncomfortable feeling lingering in the back of my mind—

“I’m back. Ah, no need to stand; stay seated. I don’t want to be treated formally in a setting like this. And Johan? You’ve been working hard since this morning.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

On the surface, she didn’t seem any different from usual. That probably meant she was especially good at maintaining a poker face.

Or perhaps I just didn’t know Lobelia well enough to tell the difference between her usual self and now.

Honestly, it was probably the latter.

If it were Ariel, I might have noticed. But Lobelia was someone whose face I barely even got to see most days.

“My brother contacted me. Just a light message asking how I’ve been.”

“…Which one?”

Ariel asked with a stiff expression, responding to Lobelia’s nonchalant shrug.

Depending on who it was from, the message could be taken very differently.

“It was from my second brother.”

The worst possible outcome.

Second Prince Loki Vicious von Miltonia.

He was the most vicious and cruel of all the imperial family.

There were even rumors that just mentioning his name in public would make people instinctively look over their shoulders.

And now he had personally contacted Lobelia?

There was no doubt he had something up his sleeve.

“Given the circumstances, I’ll need to head back to the capital a bit earlier than planned.”

Still, Lobelia probably understood that fact better than anyone.

I simply nodded without saying a word.

“That’s a shame. I really liked it here. The air is clear, and the atmosphere is peaceful. But I can’t very well turn this place into a sea of fire, can I?”

“…Your Highness, I’ll go with you.”

“Ariel. I don’t want to interfere with my friend’s private matters.”

“But still…!”

Well, that was to be expected.

Honestly, Ariel felt more like Lobelia’s companion than mine.

It felt more natural for her to be Lobelia’s friend than to be my fiancée.

Then again, we came from different worlds, so I suppose that perception made sense.

“Son.”

“Yes?”

It happened just as I was quietly observing the situation without saying anything.

My mother who had been silently watching without getting involved suddenly called me.

“Don’t you think you should go too?”

“…Huh?”

“I think that would be best. If you go with her, then Her Highness won’t have to turn down the young lady’s offer to accompany her, and the young lady won’t feel awkward or hesitant about it either.”

But if I go, I’ll die.

Sure, from an outside perspective, it would look better than sending one’s fiancée off alone to the front lines.

But in reality, I’d only end up dragging everyone down.

And even if I did go, what could I possibly do? I wouldn’t even make it past the Imperial Palace gates.

“Even if you’re not much help, just having you nearby will probably give the young lady some peace of mind.”

“Mother, I’m the one feeling uneasy here.”

“That’s alright, dear.”

I’m the one who’s uneasy, so why is she the one saying it’s alright?

“My son, you’ll do just fine, won’t you?”

No, don’t try to wrap this up like it’s some touching story.

***

We’re going back.

As soon as tomorrow.

I can’t believe I have to start packing again just one day after unpacking. I didn’t even get a chance to rest. I’ve done nothing but work since I got here.

It’s unfair, sure, but I came because Ariel asked me to. So if Ariel says we’re going back, then we’re going back.

“Johan, may I come in?”

“Ariel?”

While I was in the middle of packing again—

Ariel knocked on the door.

Unlike someone who barges in and out of my room like it was her own, Ariel had manners.

“Yes, please come in.”

“So this is your room, Johan…”

The moment she stepped in, Ariel glanced around the room.

We may be engaged, but she doesn’t hold back.

“Ah, would it be alright if I sat down?”

“Of course. Make yourself comfortable wherever you’d like.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Ariel sat on the edge of my bed and stayed quiet for a while.

She seemed to be hesitating about something. What was she trying to say?

“Johan.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to come back with me tomorrow. You’ve just gotten home. You should stay a little longer and rest.”

I’d been thinking the same thing all along, but actually hearing it made me uncomfortable.

I mean, seriously…how could I just say, “Alright, I’ll do that?”

I might be rude sometimes, but I’m not completely clueless.

“It’s fine. I didn’t really have anything to do here anyway.”

“But still…”

“Really, it’s alright. Just because I’m returning with you doesn’t mean I’ll be interfering with Her Highness’s duties. I’ll just head back to the Cradle and take care of what I need to do.”

I mean it.

It was a little annoying to have to leave right after arriving, but honestly, life in the capital was more comfortable.

There were things I needed to take care of right away, too. As peaceful as it was here, there was just too much I left behind.

“Unless… is there something on your mind?”

“I-It’s just that…”

Surprisingly, it seemed this was the right answer.

And I could more or less guess what had been weighing on her mind.

“…About Alice. I was wondering… what happened to her afterward? Did she make it back safely? I hope nothing bad happened.”

Ariel didn’t know the truth about Alice’s identity. The only ones who did were Lobelia who had thoroughly torn apart my background, and the sharp-witted Yuna.

Not that Ariel was slow or anything, but… there was bound to be a difference.

Still, was she really worried about Alice…? I never would’ve imagined she’d be thinking about the well-being of someone who didn’t even exist anymore.

“Ariel, would you mind if I asked something?”

“Hmm? Oh, I don’t mind. I came here to see you anyway.”

“Then, would you follow me for a moment? There’s something I’d like to show you.”

Instead of replying, Ariel simply nodded silently.

With that, I paused my packing and stepped outside.

***

We left the mansion and walked for a while. Once the houses in the area were no longer in sight, and we reached the foot of a small hill near the edge of the territory—

Ariel finally spoke again.

“This place is…?”

“It was my favorite spot. You can see the stars better here than anywhere else in the territory.”

“Is that so?”

There were plenty of higher places, but none where the stars were as visible as they were here.

Other mountains had tall trees that blocked the view, so even reaching the summit didn’t guarantee a clear look at the sky.

This spot, at least, opened up more the higher you went, so you could say the stars were relatively easy to see.

“…Just in case you misunderstand, let me clarify…. I’m not planning anything weird, so don’t worry.”

Not that I could even if I wanted to.

How exactly was I supposed to do anything to Ariel?

“…I don’t mind, actually.”

Huh?

No, forget it. Probably just a slip of the tongue. No need to ask again and ruin the mood.

“Well then. Just a moment. I need to prepare something from here on.”

“Ah, if it’s alright, should we use my magic to go up?”

“That would be convenient, yes, but what I need to prepare is something else.”

Ariel was a good person.

That’s why she worried about Alice, even though she could’ve dismissed her as nothing more than a character in a dream.

I could’ve kept it buried, but it felt ridiculous to keep hiding it from her when others already knew.

“Hoo…”

I created an illusion with magic.

A much more elaborate and convincing illusion than before took form.

“Ah.”

When the illusion took on human form, Ariel murmured.

“Alice…?”

That’s right. I had recreated Alice’s image through illusion.

More precisely, it was closer to using illusion magic to reproduce a memory from the past.

The Alice within the illusion, just like in the dream I had the night before, began running toward the hill with a bright smile on her face.

“Let’s follow her.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ariel and I followed the illusion. There was no fear of losing her.

After all, this was just an illusion I had created. No matter how slowly we walked, there was no way we could fall behind a moment that belonged to the past.

And so, we followed Alice’s illusion to the top of the hill.

There, we found…

“Ah…!”

Alice’s grave.

I had made her grave at the place she loved most.

Her body had already vanished by then, so perhaps it was meaningless.

“I spent a long time wondering whether or not I should tell you this, but I’ve decided to say it.”

In the end, this was the past.

It wasn’t something Ariel needed to know.

No—in fact, as my fiancée, there was nothing good for her in knowing it.

The past should remain in the past.

“Alice was the daughter of a baron’s family that had served our house for generations. But the baron passed away before her, leaving Alice behind. So, we decided to honor the baron with the utmost respect.”

“Then… could it be…”

Ariel flinched.

She had likely pieced it all together by now.

“Alice was my fiancée.”

Ariel gently wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Just like me, she must have been feeling all sorts of emotions.

“As children, we didn’t really understand love or anything like that. We were just like family.”

That’s why, even now, I could only say I wasn’t sure if I had truly loved her.

Before I could even figure it out, I lost Alice. All that remained was longing, and there was no way to ever be certain.

As for whether Alice had loved me… to be honest, I couldn’t say for sure.

But still, she must have at least tried to love me. I could feel that through what had happened this time.

“This was Alice’s favorite place. The stars were always visible here, just like now. That’s why I naturally grew fond of it too.”

Like I said earlier, this used to be my favorite place.

But after losing Alice here that day, I’d never allowed myself to think that way again.

“Ariel, Alice is here. And…”

I placed the pot of rosemary I had brought in advance beside Alice’s grave.

“I plan to leave the past buried here now.”

There had been a promise between Alice and me.

We had said that one day, I’d tell her what color the rosemary flowers had bloomed.

But after Alice’s death, though I continued to tend the flower bed, I never came back to this place.

I had only been turning my back on her death and clinging to moments of the past.

And today, I finally brought the rosemary flowers to Alice.

That made one thing, at least—

One promise, I was finally able to fulfill.

“I’m sorry, Ariel. Hearing about a former fiancée couldn’t have been pleasant.”

“Johan.”

Ariel simply asked,

“Then why did you tell me all of this?”

“…I wanted you to know.”

This had been my burden, something I had carried alone.

Yes, all I had done was confess a selfishness I should’ve kept to myself.

Maybe I just wanted to feel a little lighter because of it.

“Is that so?”

Then Ariel smiled.

“In that case, I’m glad. Please tell me more about you, Johan.”

Then, she reached out her hand.

I took it.

The strange sense of distance that had once lingered between us had long since vanished.

As we descended the mountain, gazing up at the stars, the distance between us had closed to the point that our shoulders were almost touching.