TL/Editor: Butter Cat

    Status: 4/week mon-thurs

    Illustrations: none

    Join the discord! Here

    * * *

    〈 Chapter 79 〉 Chapter 79. Invitation

    * * *

    **

    Like a candle flickering in the wind.

    Or, like a sand castle built on top of the sand.

    The precarious confrontation, which seemed like it would erupt into a bloody battle at any moment, ended with Alice opening the door, running to Anna Akaia, and embracing her.

    To approach and tightly embrace the person who had tried to kill her.

    To break the endless chain of hatred, a chain that would only lead to a dark end.

    That was something only Alice, with her kind and gentle heart, could do.

    Well, even so.

    "—I thought she would at least throw a tantrum or two. Don''t you agree?"

    "....Alice is kind, after all."

    Thinking about the child who had to bear the pain alone, it wasn''t exactly a comforting thought.

    Just because someone is kind doesn''t mean they don''t feel pain.

    Whether it was the shock of regaining her memories, or something else, I couldn’t say for sure, but how agonizing must it have been for the child, who was so distraught that she threw herself in front of a moving carriage just from seeing her older sister''s face, to make that decision.

    Twelve years old.

    I was once also that age back then in my past life and also in this life, and having seen children of that age, it was all the more…

    …Unimaginable.

    I stretched casually and continued speaking.

    "Ugh… Ahh! I hope she learns to think about herself more than others like me, later when she gets older."

    "Did you, perhaps, eat something bad?"

    "...Seriously!"

    I was only trying to be considerate and start a conversation.

    I glared at Saelli, who was standing beside me, gloomily enjoying the fresh air.

    "........"

    Oblivious to the fact that she had ruined the mood, she just rested her chin on her hand, her unfocused eyes gazing up at the sky.

    Saelli.

    She had been listless ever since Alice regained her lost memories and was reunited with her family.

    Even when we all gathered for meals, watching Alice slowly regain her energy after her initial depression.

    "......."

    She just watched Alice quietly from a distance.

    Taking a step back.

    Wheeee— a somewhat dry, refreshing winter wind blew across the veranda where we were standing.

    Someone''s hair, perhaps mine, or hers, tickled my cheek as it fluttered in the wind.

    Beside me.

    Within that black hair, dancing in the wind like a crow''s feathers, a pair of unwavering red eyes were fixated on the clouds floating in the sky. What was she looking at.

    Though I knew what she was feeling.

    Though I understood her feelings better than anyone.

    "—It’s completely winter now."

    "...It is, indeed."

    I simply maintained my usual nonchalant attitude, uttering meaningless words.

    Because I knew that unnecessary worry and comfort would only make her uncomfortable.

    Because I knew that sometimes a moment of silence was more valuable than a hundred words.

    I pretended not to notice Saelli''s feelings and treated her normally.

    Thinking about it… how should I put it.

    It felt like raising a cat that I didn''t particularly care for but was subtly concerned about.

    A cat that eats people, that is.

    I wonder if any shelter would accept a cat like this.

    "By the way, I didn''t expect you to just let Alice go like that."

    "..........."

    Saelli didn''t answer.

    Drip, drip, tears falling to the ground.

    I had trusted those tears, that transparent display of emotion, and decided not to chase Anna Akaia away, but when Alice ran straight towards her without a shred of caution, my heart had sunk.

    Because there was still a possibility, however slight, that her shed tears were crocodile tears, merely an act before devouring prey.

    If it had been an act, it would have been really chilling.

    Looking back now, without considering the current situation, allowing Alice and Anna Akaia to meet face-to-face was a gamble.

    That''s why, even though I was the one who had allowed it, I didn''t expect Saelli to just stand there and watch as Alice went out to meet her.

    I thought she would stop Alice from leaving, or at least stay by her side.

    Well.

    It all worked out in the end, so shouldn''t I be grateful for that.

    —Bang, bang!

    "Ah, seriously! If you''re done here, just go back already!!"

    ".....Here, Aris. Say ah~"

    "Ah~"

    I''m trying to believe that.

    "Princess Remi! Please be quiet!"

    "Aack!?"

    The second princess of a certain kingdom was throwing a tantrum, demanding that Anna leave immediately, banging her fists on the desk.

    But she was quickly subdued by the librarian who came running after hearing the commotion, armed with a thick encyclopedia.

    Let''s just gloss over the identity of the woman rolling around pathetically on the floor, clutching her head in pain, for the sake of her privacy.

    —Thud!

    "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—!!"

    "....Good grief. They''re really going at it."

    The princess was diligently cleaning the floor with her clothes today as well.

    Rolling around and around.

    Honestly, seeing that sight, rather than saying the situation had been resolved, it was more like a torn hole had been hastily patched up with a piece of cloth.

    It looked like a bus precariously balanced on the edge of a cliff, barely maintaining its center of gravity.

    Still, it was better than the chilling atmosphere that had filled the air before.

    If we had to call it something, it was progress.

    "....Huu."

    I turned my head back and looked at the scene before my eyes again. Sёar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, the one I had been most worried about, Saelli, didn’t seem to mind that Alice was now clinging to Anna Akaia like glue.

    Rather, she seemed to be cheering for Alice''s new beginning.

    Like a parent celebrating their child''s independence, she was watching Alice''s every move with affectionate eyes.

    Perhaps Saelli would stay by Alice''s side for the rest of her life, as long as Alice allowed it.

    That image, naturally formed in my mind.

    "...Uuu. Why is everyone so mean to me…"

    "Just be patient, Princess Remi. Didn''t we agree that you would go play with Aris in the flower garden the day after tomorrow?"

    "...Hmph."

    "What''s with the ''hmph''."

    Even Remi Akaia, who had treated Anna Akaia like her sworn enemy, had to reluctantly lower her banner in the face of her little sister''s pouty displays, threatening to get angry if they continued to fight.

    Though sparks still flew occasionally, it wasn’t like before when she would draw her sword in earnest, so she must have sorted out her feelings to some extent.

    The past doesn''t disappear, it only gets painted over.

    She must have finally realized that the future they would paint together was more important than dwelling on the faded past.

    Seeing them like that, I couldn''t help but think that this was a rather anticlimactic ending, considering the efforts of those who had been desperately trying to prevent Anna Akaia from learning anything about Alice, if I may say so myself.

    It felt like all that effort had been for nothing.

    Really, we had worked ourselves up for nothing.

    "Uuuu…! Ah, Tessa! Can''t you at least try hitting that fox over there with that encyclopedia!!"

    "....I believe assaulting a member of the royal family would be considered treason."

    "Tessa, even you (Et tu, Tessa)!?"

    (TL Note: It’s a famous Latin phrase of Julius Caesar, the original phrase was "Et tu, Brute?".)

    "......."

    Meanwhile.

    Our hot potato, Anna Akaia, had started visiting Alice constantly ever since that day.

    They say that once a monk knows the taste of meat, there won''t be any bedbugs left in the temple, she had become completely addicted to playing with Alice.

    (TL Note: The proverb is used to describe someone who, once exposed to something pleasurable or forbidden, indulges in it excessively.)

    …Though, I wonder if it’s appropriate to compare Alice to meat, but let’s just move on.

    I heard that the Crown Princess of Tesillia was a woman so cold-blooded that even if you stabbed her, not a single drop of blood would flow.

    "........"

    "........"

    But seeing them now, embracing each other tightly without a word.

    It felt like I would be the one covered in blood if I tried to poke her, the blood gushing out like an explosion.

    With a ‘Boom’, like that.

    She had briefly scribbled a few lines in her letter about Remi Akaia''s well-being, her original purpose for coming here, and the very next day, she barged into my dorm, luggage in tow.

    I wasn''t sure what I was looking at that time.

    I opened the door because someone was knocking, and there she was, someone I had seen before, standing right there.

    It felt like a medieval-style hidden camera prank.

    Sneaking in while watching Remi Akaia and Saelli''s reactions, like a mouse, and offer food to Alice. That spirit and boldness were really astonishing.

    Indeed.

    It seemed like shamelessness was a default setting for princesses.

    Hey, this is my room, not yours.

    It was only natural for Remi Akaia, who hadn''t yet resolved her resentment towards her older sister despite Alice forgiving her, to fly into a rage.

    And of course, she would snarl at Anna Akaia every time she visited, demanding that she leave.

    But when Alice, her eyes welling up, would start following Anna Akaia like a chick chasing its mother as she tried to leave the room, Remi would cling to Anna’s legs, begging for forgiveness and showing a truly pathetic display.

    Seeing that, I would let out another sigh.

    Seriously, this is my room.

    Now, two weeks after that incident, the precariously balanced pendulum had yet to tip in either direction, maintaining an uneasy equilibrium.

    But when the slowly burning candle finally reveals its wick.

    When the bus precariously balanced on the edge of a cliff finally begins to tilt downwards.

    Perhaps, we would face a sudden change, a choice.

    Me, Alice, Saelli, all of us—

    —About how we should live from now on.

    "....Huu."

    And that choice.

    I don''t know why, but I had a feeling.

    That it would be an extremely important choice that would change the direction of my life.

    **

    I''m not happy. I''m not happy, I said.

    **

    * * *