Chapter 164 - 2-46
Several days passed. The Prince mostly stayed in his room. When we did meet, he would just give a brief greeting and walk away. The black horse spirit told me Nel-sama spent a lot of time in there.
“The King is enjoying his new toy.”
“I wondered where Nel-sama was.”
“You were a special toy to him. I thought he might grow because of you, but...”
“Is he back to his old self? Ready to discard things once he's bored?”
“I cannot deny the possibility. Only the King knows how long his interest will last.”
The horse bowed. “Don't worry about me. I'm just worried if Louis-sama can ever come back.”
I couldn't sleep. My Louis-sama was surely trying his best to return. But his body was occupied by the Prince from my past. I loved him, but he wasn't the one I was waiting for.
“You are afraid. To want the Prince of this world is to reject the other. To love one half is to deny the other. You cannot accept that.”
“I am afraid. My heart rejects him because he isn't 'him'. But I want him back so badly.”
“Actions become habits. Habits become character. Character becomes destiny. Three years have changed your Louis. He is a different person now. You created this destiny. You must believe in it.”
The horse's eyes seemed to see into my soul. “Think about where your destiny lies.”
I sat on the grass, looking at the sky. Kuro climbed onto my lap.
“Kuro knows destiny.”
“You do?”
“Theodore told me. He said Samuel found his destiny. Azuki and Daizu!”
...Beans?
“The beans? That's Samuel's destiny? Did Theodore-sama really say that?”
“He did! He laughed and said it was fun to tease Louis!”
I laughed. The beans had restored Anna-san's memory, so maybe they were destiny. “Kuro, you really love Theodore-sama.”
“He should have come here too.”
I stroked his head. I needed this peaceful moment. Then, I heard footsteps.
“What about Theodore?”
I froze. I turned to see the Prince looking quite displeased.