Chapter 174 - 2-56 The Other Louis's Perspective
When I woke up, I was lying on the sofa in the Office. When I sat up, I found a memo placed on the table.
To Louis.
There's a lot to talk about, but for now, welcome back. I'll come by again later.
Also, make sure to properly thank me for carrying your unconscious self back from the Spirit Land on my back.
From Theodore.
I picked up the memo and let out a breath.
"I really did come back."
I pushed the towel blanket that had been draped over me to the edge of the sofa and stretched deeply. When I turned my gaze to the window, it seemed to be early morning, with the sun just beginning to rise. As I headed to the window and gazed at the morning sun, the days I spent in that Spirit Land felt like a dream. I remembered the warmth of holding Rachel, which still faintly remained, and gently closed my eyelids. Then, her ever-changing expressions surfaced vividly. Her voice gently calling me "Your Highness" echoed in my head.
"...She really isn't here anymore."
Even though I remember her so clearly.
Even though I desire her so much.
I shook my head slightly as if to brush away the heat in my eyes and the stinging in my nose. Then, I slowly opened my eyes to brush away various emotions.
"Third shelf of the bookshelf, sixth from the right."
I muttered softly as I traced the target book with my finger. When I poured mana into the back of the shelf after taking out that book, a single key appeared in my hand.
With that key in hand, I next pulled out the locked book second from the left on the top shelf of the bookshelf and used the key to open it.
There, dozens of pieces of paper were folded and tucked away.
"Even I couldn't find this place, as expected."
I took the folded papers along with the book and sat at the desk. Then, when I opened the folded papers, information about a certain incident was written there in detail.
That incident was, of course, the two incidents involving Rachel. The attempted poisoning of the Saint, and the incident where Rachel was killed.
The Chancellor took over and I handed everything over, but I had a certain level of conviction about this incident and suspected the involvement of a certain person.
But if that were true, the country would fall into even greater chaos. It would be a major uproar involving not only our country but also neighboring countries. Surely His Majesty or the Chancellor also sensed something. That's why I think they told me to back off from this matter.
I also thought that person was suspicious, but I judged that exposing their crime right now would not be good for the country. Because not only did the incident where Rachel tried to poison the Saint send shockwaves through the country, but she was also killed. Making any more of a fuss would shake the country and increase the possibility of being targeted by other countries.
That's why I agreed with His Majesty's idea of exposing and punishing those involved behind the scenes over the long term.
—But those days that seemed like a dream changed me. I never thought I would make such a decision; not only His Majesty, but even Cyril and Theodore would be surprised.
The corners of my mouth turned up as I imagined my friends' surprised faces. But Theodore would surely support my choice, even while being surprised by such an uncharacteristic one. Cyril would surely gather a lot of information ahead of my thoughts, even while complaining.
More than anything, if I can be sincere to her, whom I can never meet again, that's enough.
"...Love, huh?"
Is this feeling of mine what people call love? Even when I say it out loud, the answer still hasn't come. If it is, then what people call love is such a painful, frustrating, and heart-wrenching thing. But it's often said to be something that drives people mad.
If that's the case, I might be able to understand why I'm moving to prioritize my own emotions now.
It's... as painful as having my heart gripped.
When I had some free time in the afternoon, I visited the Queen's Palace, located at the edge of the royal palace, to seek out the person I was looking for.
The person I was looking for seemed to be looking at plants inside the conservatory. I spoke to the lady-in-waiting who was waiting outside, and when I entered the glass-walled conservatory, I walked right up to her.
"Mother, are you feeling well? You've been cooped up here for the past few months, haven't you?"
At my sudden appearance, Mother let out a surprised "Oh, how rare!" but she soon wore a soft smile.
Mother, who was said to have been physically weak since she was young, seems to have been raised very carefully in the Kingdom of Orta, and there are many things she is ignorant about. Since she married Father, who is twelve years older, at the age of sixteen, she has mostly been cooped up in the Queen's Palace with my younger siblings, except for the minimum necessary public duties.
With her pure white skin and her well-maintained beautiful silver hair braided and pinned up, she doesn't look like a mother with grown children as she admires the flowers.
"Yes, I'm fine. Lately, I've been feeling down quite often, and I can't even perform my public duties properly."
"I see. I hope you feel better soon."
While smiling brightly, I cursed her in my heart, thinking, It's always the case that you're neglecting your public duties.
"I'll get my health in order by the time of your engagement ceremony. Oh, that's right. Madam Higgins said she wants to invite you to their villa next time."
"Why do I need to go to the Marquis Higgins family's villa?"
I deepened my smile without hiding my cold heart from my mother, who was laughing like a young girl.
"That's... because it's easier for the public to accept if you spend time together before getting engaged, right?"
Now that the position of my fiancée is vacant, it's rumored that the top candidate for the new fiancée is the Saint, Baronetess Anna Carroll. But Mother seemed to want to recommend Katrina Higgins, the daughter of the Marquis.
I'm sure if I were to stay at the villa, they would fabricate a romance and spread it to the world. And to win over public opinion, a cheap romance novel would be completed, about a Crown Prince who was deceived by a villainess finding true love.
It's cheap and ridiculous. To think that the Queen of the Kingdom of Dutoit, formerly a princess of the Kingdom of Orta, is this incompetent. It's truly lamentable.
"A new fiancée? I have no intention of making such a thing."
"Why! You were also in agreement!"
"Agreement? I was just being vague because it was a bother to turn down every marriage proposal you recommended, but I have never once agreed. In the first place, considering the current situation of the country, there is no merit in marrying Katrina Higgins, the daughter of the Marquis Higgins family."
At my words, Mother opened her eyes wide and lost her words. But even seeing Mother's expression like this, my irritated feelings didn't settle down. On the contrary, my anger only increased.
As if to vent it, I took a step closer to Mother while keeping my mouth turned up in a smirk.
"Do you know how much the Marquis Higgins couple is hated by those around them? It's just not out in the open, but if you poke around, a mountain of dust will likely come out. It might be good to bring everything to light."
"W-what are you saying..."
Looking at Mother's expression as she turned pale all at once, she must know about that. She knew how greedy the Marquis Higgins family was and chose them as collaborators. I can't believe she's sane. Does she not care what happens to the future of the country? I can't understand at all what Mother is thinking. But for the current me, I don't care about Mother's wishes. Because what I need to know now is the truth of the incident.
"Oh, Mother, you seemed to be quite close with Madam Higgins. If I recall, you've been close since you married into this country."
"...What of it?"
Seeing Mother flustered by just this much, it's possible that while it's Mother's wish not to appear much on the public stage, His Majesty himself is also not satisfied with Mother's role as Queen. His Majesty cannot be respected as a father, but there are many parts of him to emulate as a King. Mother seems to pour enough affection as a mother into my younger siblings other than me. But she is not sufficient as a Queen. It's an arranged marriage, but it's understandable that they are on bad terms when they are this much the opposite.
"No, nothing. ...Come to think of it, this plant was given to you by the Queen of the Kingdom of Orta, wasn't it? It's my first time seeing it, but it's very interesting. I think I'll ask Alberic for more details."
When I touched the pot of the plant Mother had been looking at until a moment ago, Mother's pale complexion turned even worse. While looking at that expression with a cold heart, I put the best smile of the day on my face.
"Surely, it's not... poison... or anything like that, right?"
"Y-you... what are you saying..."
It's probably not a feeling one should have toward their mother, but I didn't feel a shred of sympathy for her as she turned pale and desperately tried to deny it. How can I get her to open her mouth? That was the only emotion I was thinking about most right now.
"It's for your own sake to speak everything honestly here and now. Mother."
"I... I don't know... anything."
What I'm doing now is probably not a correct judgment as a Crown Prince. Uncovering the truth of Rachel's death will undoubtedly increase the confusion within the royal palace. And even if I do such a thing, Rachel will never come back. Even though I know that, I can't just sit still.
I didn't know there was such a passion within me. I didn't know.
Still, I swear to be a person Rachel wouldn't be ashamed of. To be a person who will never betray you again. Because I've decided to live earnestly.
Still... while averting my eyes from the pain in my chest that continues to ache.
The parallel world, which is Rachel's original world, ends here for now.
Thank you very much for watching over the Louis and Theodore of the original world until now.
Thank you also for your comments. They are very encouraging.
Also, regarding the book version...
Volume 5 will be released in a few days... on November 10th!
It's thanks to everyone who supports me. Thank you very much.
The illustrations continue to be handled by RAHWIA-sama.
The newly written side story in Volume 5 includes "Rachel's Final Letter" from the other Louis's perspective.
What did Louis find after returning to the original world from the Spirit Land? When exactly was the day Louis lost Rachel?
Please see the activity report for details on Volume 5.
I hope you will continue to enjoy the future developments of the serialized version of "The Villainess Who Traveled Back in Time~."
Next time, finally, the reunion of those two...!?