Chapter 166 - 2-48
How much time had passed since His Highness woke up? Time in the Spirit Land felt so disconnected from the frantic pace of daily life that a sense of unreality still lingered over everything.
Still, it was perhaps the best possible environment to reflect on oneself, to search, and to face one's own heart. Even though I had tried many times to ask Nel-sama for the method to swap Louis-sama's consciousness back, he continued to dodge the question. He insisted that the rules of the game could not be changed.
Lately, I had begun working with the Louis-sama who had swapped places, His Highness, to find a way back to our original world. Nel-sama didn't seem to mind, even granting us permission to enter and leave the Room of Space-Time as we pleased.
"No luck today either, then."
"No. I've tried asking the high-ranking spirits as well, but they all say they don't know."
"Perhaps the Room of Space-Time really is the key. Finding the light that represents the world I came from might be the fastest way."
Leaving the Room of Space-Time behind, we stepped out into the garden of the Temple to return to the detached palace. A sigh escaped me as we walked slowly along the stone path.
"You might be right. However, finding that specific light is difficult. Before, that light was the only one glowing blue, so it was easy to distinguish. But for some reason, I can't find it anymore."
"Yes, I didn't see any blue light. The exceptionally large lights stand out, but the rest are all golden, regardless of their size."
The first time I entered the Room of Space-Time, and the brief moment I was able to see Louis-sama, a blue light had appeared as if to stay close to me. I knew that light represented my previous world, the world His Highness belonged to. Yet, no matter how many times I visited the room to find it, it refused to appear again.
That light felt as if it had a will of its own. If it has stopped appearing, is that also... a choice?
"Rachel, do you have a moment?"
"Yes. I don't have any particular plans..."
The detached palace where we were staying came into view. Compared to the castle-like grandeur of the main temple, the annex was modest. However, its beige limestone walls felt soft and warm, possessing a nostalgic comfort like a place known since childhood. Herbs and cosmos bloomed around the building, their scent carried on every gentle breeze.
"Let's have some tea and rest. Eating something sweet might help us think of a good idea."
As we passed through the small stone gate of the annex, His Highness turned toward the Garden instead of heading inside.
"That sounds lovely. The sun is still high, so let's have tea in the Garden."
His Highness smiled slightly at my agreement. We walked around to the back of the building, where a garden filled with roses in pale shades of pink and white was in full bloom. Each droplet from the small fountain sparkled in the sunlight. In the center of the garden stood an arbor made of the same limestone as the building, with ivy climbing its pillars all the way to the roof. The way the green leaves had overtaken the original navy-blue roof made it look like something out of a fairy tale. The comfort of this place, so rich in nature, allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief and rest my legs after a morning of walking.
"Are you tired?"
"No, I'm fine. I have much more stamina than I used to. Besides, I love places with lots of greenery, lakes, and rivers. Walking has become my daily routine since coming to the Spirit Land."
"I see. You certainly seem much more lively now than the version of you in my memories."
As we worked together to find a way back, our conversations had gradually increased. Having tea together had become a natural occurrence. The piercing, distrustful gaze he had first directed at me was gone.
I took a sip of the tea prepared by the high-ranking spirit Chibi-chan and reached for a cookie. We chatted about trivial things, occasionally watching the soft sunlight fall upon the flowers. The awkwardness that had defined our interactions just a few days ago had vanished.
"You went walking through the town? Truly?"
While talking about the royal capital, the subject of Louis-sama's favorite shop came up. When I mentioned I had been there before, His Highness leaned forward in genuine shock.
"Yes. I've become quite used to traveling incognito lately."
His Highness hummed thoughtfully at my words.
"I can't imagine it. You used to despise commoners so much, didn't you?"
It was rare for His Highness to speak his mind so bluntly without filtering himself. He would certainly never do so with someone he wasn't close to. Perhaps because he had already shown his true self during his initial confusion, he had continued to be genuine with me. Because of that, I made an effort to communicate my own thoughts to him clearly.
"...In my foolishness, the aristocratic society was my entire world. Magic and lineage were my only yardsticks. I had no interest in what kind of people lived in my country or what their lives were like. I was given a magnificent chair and sat in it without any hardship. That was my life."
Since dying once three years ago, I had realized how ignorant of the world my former self had been.
"When that hollow chair collapsed, I didn't know how to stand on my own. I decided it was someone else's fault and lashed out. I only looked at the luxury of the decorations, never noticing that I was sitting in a cracked chair."
"I suppose that is simply how noble daughters are raised."
"But it was insufficient for a future queen. His Highness tried to make me realize that over and over again. But I refused to understand his perspective. And... eventually, he must have given up. He decided I would never change."
His Highness looked surprised in the middle of my story, but he remained silent until I finished. After gazing at the scenery for a moment, he spoke slowly.
"I see... It seems I didn't know you at all. I assumed I understood your character and judged you based on that."
"No, I was the same. I only saw one side of His Highness, thinking of him as merely gentle and kind. I never tried to understand why he always wore that smile."
Our eyes met, and I felt as if I were being pulled into his clear blue gaze.
"Would you tell me? About the three years since you lost your magic."
"Yes, of course."
His Highness nodded, occasionally taking a sip from his cup as I spoke. He was a good listener, and I lost track of time as I recounted the events of the past three years. I told him about waking up without magic, spending time in the family domain, starting at the academy, and finally regaining my powers. Even though my story was disorganized and jumped around, he listened with a serious expression. He looked particularly stunned when I mentioned my confrontation with His Majesty and the story of the Ring of Covenant.
"May I see the ring?"
As he asked, I removed the ring I always wore from my finger and placed it in his hand. He examined the Ring of Covenant closely, as if inspecting every detail.
"There's no mistake. This Ring of Covenant contains my magic. The version of me in this world gave this to you? Reviving a faded royal tradition... It's a terrifying level of obsession."
He gave a strained, self-deprecating laugh, as if he couldn't believe it, and let out a long sigh.
"Do I truly have such a side to me? No... perhaps you are the one who changed me."
"Your Highness..."
"What was the version of me in this world thinking when he made this? A ring that is like a mass of possessiveness..."
Muttering as if questioning himself, he held the ring out to me. I reached out to take it from his palm. The moment I grasped the ring, he squeezed my hand tightly.
"...Your Highness, um..."
Even when I spoke, his grip didn't loosen. I looked at him in confusion, only to find him looking down with a self-mocking smile. Even though it was the hand of the Louis-sama I knew so well, it felt so cold that it seemed to belong to a stranger.
"You were supposed to be... my fiancée, weren't you?"
He whispered in a voice that seemed ready to vanish. When he looked up, he wore a fragile, pained smile.
"Your Highness?"
"No, it's nothing. Forgive me."
He released my hand as if reluctant to let go. I couldn't bear the sadness in his eyes and had to look away.