Chapter 989 - In the Veil of Silence
"—————————..."
Deep in the night. I count two quiet breaths of sleep before lifting my eyelids.
My vision takes in a ceiling, still slightly unfamiliar, in the depths of the darkness. Then, turning my head on the pillow, I shift my gaze to the side... —
"...Hehe."
One the hugger, the other the hugged.
Nia, who apparently can't sleep without holding onto something, and Sora, who is an incredibly sound sleeper and whose slumber isn't disturbed by a simple hug.
Whether you could call it good compatibility or not, the scene was infinitely heartwarming. Watching the two of them perform a session of peaceful breathing, the remaining one offered a quiet smile.
Iris watched the scene for a while before...
"...It's time for children to be asleep."
Her movements were worlds apart from the clumsy stealth someone had displayed just a few hours ago.
Without making a single sound or revealing a hint of her presence, she slipped out of her futon, walked across the room, and opened the door just as silently, not even stirring a breeze, as she left the guest room where her friends were sleeping.
And so, her feet carried her before the room of the person on her mind—
"..."
Sensing the room's owner was asleep inside, she passed by. Without hesitation, she found the stairs and descended... to the first floor. Before the living room, where a single presence lingered.
She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should knock, but then dismissed the thought as silly and opened the door without asking permission. —And there, the color of the presence was just as she'd expected.
""—...""
On the other side of the sofa, a pair of black eyes belonging to a woman leaning her head back glanced over, meeting the garnet glow that had emerged from its bed.
"...Heh."
And then, she.
His mother, Rin Kasuga, put a bold smile on her slightly sleepy face.
"—I had a feeling you'd be the one to come."
With a voice that was, if you'll pardon me for saying so, fittingly shrewd.
To the woman who had made such a confident proclamation, Iris also returned a smile, face to face.
"That's a lie."
And just as confidently, she volleyed back the playful exaggeration.
◇◆◇◆◇
—So, what was really going on?
"Well, you know, it's like this, right? It's about setting the stage, considering the 'what ifs'. If there's a girl who wants to have a private chat, isn't a situation like this ideal?"
That, apparently, was the gist of it.
The presence of Haru going downstairs on the first night was for a heart-to-heart between parent and child.
Sensing that she was staying up late alone again on the second day, I came to see her, and it turned out to be her own way of showing us her hospitality.
I pointed out that she was lying because she wasn't waiting for Iris specifically.
His mother was simply providing an opportunity, just in case, so that if someone decided they wanted to have a 'secret, personal talk' with her, she would be able to accommodate them.
Like mother, like son. The blood of a do-gooder apparently runs thick—
"So?"
As Iris was genuinely raising her opinion of her in her heart, a voice called out.
"Princess, is there something you'd like to 'talk' to me about?"
Two, three, four times.
She continued without hesitation, smiling with a cup of cold coffee in her hand.
"...No."
If one couldn't read the tension people hide, one wouldn't be Alicia White. And for that very reason, Iris also offered a smile showing respect and gratitude.
"Sora and Nia are both fast asleep. I came to tell you that you should stop staying up so late and get some rest as well, Mother."
When I tried saying something so meddlesome and cheeky—
"Hah, ahaha...! Well, it's no good if you're the one worrying about me, is it!"
She laughed cheerfully and downed the rest of her coffee in one go.
...The caffeine, won't it keep her awake? I swallowed that further meddlesome concern... and with that, half of my business was concluded without issue.
Now then, for the other half, all at once.
"Mother."
"Hm? What is it—whoa, hold on...?"
From the front, as she stood up from the sofa and turned around—
Seeing the 'Princess' bow her head deeply, the mother let out a voice of confusion and dismay.
"Since you gave me an apology first."
"Huh? Ah, umm?"
"I, too, though belatedly, would like to apologize."
How does she appear in the eyes of others? How is she known? What do they think of her? Iris understands it all perfectly.
And because of that. That's why—
The reason Alicia White accompanied the person on her mind on his trip home.
The core reason she had resolved that she must meet his parents.
"If I had only known my place. Your son wouldn't have had to wear down his heart as much as he has now."
"Excuse me? What are you—"
"He could have had a gentler 'love', not one where he was being chased, but one he could pursue himself."
"...What are you saying?"
"Surely, a more... in the truest sense of the word..."
"..."
It was almost a deep breath. A big inhale, and an exhale.
"...—There must have been a 'love' more suited for him, one that would have brought his heart peace."
Ever since that day, when I retorted, 'Like I care.'
She puts into words the 'guilt' that has never, ever left her heart for a moment.
"By revealing to him, and to the world, a 'love between different stations'."
However, this is by no means a confession of guilt.
"I was the one who started it all. Therefore—"
It is an apology, but it is certainly not a confession of regret.
"—Please, be at ease."
"...At ease?"
"Yes. Together with his father, please, watch over him with peace of mind."
This is, yes.
"No matter what the future holds, I will. I will absolutely take responsibility for it all."
"—..."
It is the eternally unchanging vow of the 'Princess' who, having conquered the world, thrust an irresponsible 'love' as a mere woman upon a certain someone.
Yes, no matter what answer he may choose.
"I, Alicia White, will protect Haru, and the people he holds dear."
"..., ...You are..."
This peace of mind was the only thing she came to deliver.
A souvenir to be forcefully pushed upon them, no matter what expression they made.
...And thus, the mother who loves her child and the woman who loves a man stared at each other for several seconds.
"You really are... —the role of a Princess is too small for you, isn't it..."
"...Hehe. Those close to me often say so."
With the meeting of their respective smiles, the clandestine evening party came to a close.