Chapter 58 - Chapter 58
"Have you been troubled by something lately?"
Inside the swaying carriage, His Highness sat across from me, his expression clouded with concern. I had been careless. Ever since that day, I had found myself constantly wondering what Anna-san's words meant. Even though His Highness had invited me to the lakeside, I must have been wearing a grim expression. Kuro, sitting on my lap, peered up at my face as if asking what was wrong.
"I apologize. Even though you invited me to the lakeside, I have been lost in thought."
"Do not worry about me. If something is bothering you, please tell me. You do not need to shoulder these burdens alone. If I can lighten your load, I wish to do so."
"...His Highness."
"Even if it is not me, you have Natalia Abbott, your maid Sarah, or your parents. There are many people who worry about you, Rachel. Please do not keep everything to yourself; rely on those around you."
"Meow."
"Ah, you too. Kuro says he is worried as well."
His Highness did not try to force me to speak. Knowing my tendency to try and handle everything myself, he simply offered these gentle words. The knowledge that there were people who cared for me brought a tightness to my chest. I was happy. The simple realization that the person I cherished also cherished me felt like a miracle. Heat gathered behind my eyes, and tears threatened to fall.
"Thank you, His Highness. You are truly wonderful. You always know exactly what I need to hear."
"I have done nothing special. I have never been one to pay much attention to others. If you feel that way, it is thanks to you, Rachel. You are the one who taught me these feelings."
As he smiled at me with such a serene expression, I felt my cheeks flush. It was enough that he worried for me, but his gentle smile was more than I could handle. No matter how many times he directed it at me, I found myself captivated. Ever since I realized my love for him, every one of his expressions seemed to shine more brightly than before, leaving me unsure of what to do with my own heart.
"Meow, meow."
Kuro had hopped off my lap and was scratching at the carriage door with his front paws.
"What is it, Kuro?"
"Ah, it seems we have arrived. This forest by the lake is one of the most nature-rich places in the capital. Spirits who love nature must find it quite intriguing."
I see. One had to travel quite a bit from the capital to find a forest like this. It was said that spirits lived in forests corresponding to their attributes. Kuro's restless behavior was likely a sign of his excitement.
"Kuro, Samuel made some treats for you, so let's eat them later."
Kuro's tail swayed softly at my words, and his eyes sparkled. How adorable.
"Come, Rachel. Shall we?"
"Yes, His Highness."
I took his hand as he stepped out first to assist me. Several guards who had greeted us before our departure were lined up there. Among them was a familiar face.
"Roger!"
"Rachel-sama, it has been a long time."
"I am so happy to see you! Have you been well?"
"Yes. I was sent to guard the border, but I returned to the capital recently and have been reassigned to the Kingsguard."
"I see. I am sorry for the trouble I caused you in the Marcel Territory."
"No, you have no reason to apologize, Rachel-sama. It was my own immaturity as a knight that was at fault."
Roger had been reassigned from the prestigious Kingsguard to border patrol as a form of punishment for the kidnapping incident in the Marcel Territory, even though the event itself had been kept secret. While border patrol was an honorable duty, serving in the capital was the fastest way to rise through the ranks. His punishment was entirely due to my own carelessness, but both His Highness and Roger himself felt that losing sight of a charge was an inexcusable failure for a knight.
That is their duty and their pride as knights. And those in positions of power have an obligation to bear that responsibility.
The expression His Highness wore when he said those words was that of a Crown Prince who had long ago steeled his resolve. I hadn't fully understood what it meant to be royalty, or that my actions could lead to others being punished. But His Highness didn't blame me. Instead, he had taken the responsibility upon himself. The burden he carried was incredibly heavy, a life he had been destined for since birth. I couldn't begin to imagine the suffering and conflict he had endured to become the man he was today. Noticing my gaze, he offered me another gentle smile.
"Now, let us start with a boat ride."
"Yes."
"Actually... though I have been here before, this will be my first time on a boat."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So, despite my age... I find myself a bit excited."
He pointed to a small boat prepared by the lake. As he admitted his excitement, a shy expression crossed his face. He looked almost like a young boy, and I couldn't help but let out a small giggle. His eyes narrowed in further embarrassment.
"Be careful, Rachel. The boat will sway."
"Yes, thank you."
He climbed into the small two-person boat first and reached out a hand to me. "Are you alright? Are you seated?"
"Yes."
"Good. The trees look even more beautiful from the water."
"They do. It is more beautiful than I imagined. I wonder if Cyril will scold me again for having all the fun."
"Then I shall be scolded along with you."
We looked at each other and both began to laugh. His Highness laughed heartily, his shoulders shaking with genuine amusement.
"This is wonderful. I am surprised by how much more I have been laughing lately."
"I agree. I didn't know you were someone who laughed like this before."
"Neither did I. I have been trying to control my emotions since I was a child."
"Why?"
"No one around me ever needed me for who I was. What they required was the qualities of a king. It didn't have to be me. The king the country and the people desired... that was my identity."
He spoke of this lack of personal recognition not with sadness, but as if it were a simple, undeniable fact.
"I care for this country and its people. That is why I have always studied and acted to be worthy of my position. But that was not enough."
"Not enough?"
From my perspective, he was doing more than enough. He was far more mature than any other eighteen-year-old I knew.
"I was a cold man who thought only of profit and loss, accustomed to using people."
"For a Crown Prince, I don't believe that is necessarily wrong."
"Perhaps. But such a man cannot make anyone happy. Having someone to share beautiful things and delicious food with... understanding the suffering and happiness of others allows one to be compassionate. I have only just learned these basic things at my age."
The version of His Highness I had known before disliked weakness and refused to show his true self. But now, he was showing me his rawest emotions. Whether I accepted them or not probably didn't matter to him; he simply wanted to convey his honest thoughts.
"Thank you, Rachel. For making me a human being."
As he smiled peacefully, I felt the final piece of a puzzle click into place within me.
"His Highness, it is I who should thank you. Your strength and kindness have saved me countless times. I was only able to recognize my own weakness because of your strength. That unwavering strength of yours is something I truly admire."
"Rachel."
I wanted to share the burden he carried. I wanted to face my own weaknesses. And more than anything, I wanted to be by his side.
"His Highness, may I help you protect this country that you cherish?"
"Rachel... may I ask what you mean by that?"
He looked at me with a mixture of surprise, anxiety, and hope. Ever since I realized my feelings, I had been asking myself the same question. To stay by his side meant becoming the Crown Princess, and eventually, the Queen. Did I have that resolve? Was I prepared to dedicate my life to this country? The answer had likely been there all along.
"His Highness, I love you."
"Are you sure? My desires may end up robbing you of your freedom."
"Even so, is being by the side of the one you love not the most beautiful sight of all?"
There would surely be hardships. But I had decided to become strong. To live a life where I could realize my beliefs alongside the person I loved... that seemed like a wonderful life to lead.
"Thank you," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. His eyes were wide, shimmering with unshed tears. Knowing he would dislike having such a vulnerable moment seen, I looked away, pretending to watch a bird soaring through the clear blue sky.
ブックマーク、評価、感想、誤字脱字報告ありがとうございます。