Chapter 96 - 96
"We've caused you so much trouble."
"Rachel-san, I am truly sorry."
"It's quite alright. More than that, I'm just happy the two of you could find each other again."
Samuel and Anna-san bowed to me in unison. When they straightened up, they caught each other's eyes and smiled, their cheeks tinged with a shy red. The air around them was peaceful and soft. Anna-san's eyes followed Samuel constantly, sparkling with happiness. I had heard that their feelings hadn't aligned in their previous lives, but the way Samuel looked at her now was entirely different from how he looked at anyone else.
I couldn't help but hope that their futures would finally intertwine in this life.
"Miss Carroll. I understand the circumstances. However, I simply cannot grant your request."
"I... I suppose not."
Sitting on the sofa beside me, His Highness let out a deep sigh and offered a wry smile. The reason for his presence was Anna-san's recent proposal. Two weeks had passed since their reunion. On that day, Anna-san had been so overwhelmed with joy at finding her Makoto-san—Samuel—that she had been reluctant to return to the church. Samuel had managed to calm her down, and she had eventually gone back to the Great Church, albeit very, very grudgingly.
Even though they had reunited, she was the Saint. Samuel, though a Baron's son, was a chef employed by a Marquis family. Their differing social standings made meeting difficult. Anna-san had apparently spent a great deal of time thinking about it. Unfortunately, her overthinking had led her to a rather extreme conclusion.
Her proposal was this: "I will continue to serve the country as the Saint with all my heart, so in the future, could the Marquis family hire me as a maid?"
When I received that letter, I nearly fainted from shock. Still, wanting to support them, I decided the best course of action was to consult His Highness. I sent him a letter beforehand, and we arranged for a meeting at my home on a day that suited both him and Anna-san.
"I understand your feelings for Samuel, Miss Carroll," His Highness said. "But what about Samuel? Do you wish to be with her?"
"Me...?"
"Do you have the desire to be with Miss Carroll?"
Samuel's eyes widened. He looked at His Highness, then at Anna-san. She was looking at him with lowered brows, her eyes trembling with anxiety.
"I... I lived with regret. I knew how An felt, but I pretended not to see it. I thought that if I stayed in the role of an older brother, I could be with her forever."
"Makoto-kun..."
"Both then and now, she is the most special girl in the world to me. So, this time... I want to be honest with myself. I want to be with her."
Samuel spoke with a dignified, resolute expression, his voice steady even before the Crown Prince. Anna-san's eyes filled with tears at his words, her gaze fixed solely on him. His Highness took in his resolve with a serious face before turning back to Anna-san.
"And you? What is your resolve?"
"I... Even without Samuel-san, I intended to reflect on my mistakes and give everything I have back to the people of this country. It's true that since I received the Spirit King's blessing, I want to do what I can as the Saint. That hasn't changed. But..."
"But?"
"I don't want to give up on a future with Samuel-san either! Your Royal Highness, it might be wrong of me to ask for such a thing, but please... I'm begging you. I'll do anything! I just want to be with him!"
His Highness let out a long, heavy sigh and rested his hand on his chin, appearing lost in thought. Anna-san and Samuel, standing before him, grew increasingly tense.
However, sitting right next to him, I saw his expression shift. He wore a beautiful smile that clearly said, I've thought of something good. I couldn't help but feel a start of alarm. Noticing my reaction, His Highness's smile deepened. He leaned in and whispered into my ear as if sharing a secret.
"It's alright. I won't treat them poorly. In fact, this might help me clear one of His Majesty's conditions."
"His Majesty's conditions...?"
What did that mean? I remembered him saying he would speak with the King while I was traveling to the Bousquet territory. Was this related to that? I looked at him, puzzled. He gave me a gentle look before turning back to the pair. They stood straight, awaiting his judgment.
"Miss Carroll, you said you would do anything to be with Samuel. Is that the truth?"
"Yes, it is."
"I see that your resolve is genuine. In that case, I shall assist you both."
"R-really!? Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Of course. However, I will need your cooperation in return."
"Anything! We'll do anything!"
Anna-san and Samuel looked at each other with joy, showering him with gratitude. Anna-san's cheeks were flushed pink, her entire being radiating happiness. I felt a weight lift from my chest, relieved by his words.
"First, no matter what conditions His Majesty may present to you, do not accept them. It would be troublesome if he learned of your relationship with Samuel. Therefore, you are to meet only at the Marcel Marquis estate."
"Understood..."
"I know it's difficult, but think of it as a temporary endurance for the sake of a long future. There will be many who try to exploit your position as the Saint. Even His Majesty hasn't given up on the idea of you marrying into the royal family."
His Highness intentionally brought a chill back to the air. But after his stern warning, he offered them a gentle smile.
"Even so, I can see the strength of your bond. Therefore, I promise you. I will do my utmost to ensure your wish is granted."
"Your Highness... I don't know how to thank you..."
"It's fine. In exchange, make me some more of that delicious food sometime."
"Y-yes! Thank you!"
Samuel straightened his large frame and bowed deeply. Anna-san followed suit, then turned to me with a joyful grin. Watching them, I felt certain that despite the many hardships ahead, a happy future awaited them. The red thread of fate connecting them from their past lives was strong; it wouldn't break easily.
At His Highness's suggestion, the two were given a separate room to spend some time together. Once they left, only the two of us remained. We sat side-by-side on the sofa, a soft silence settling between us. His Highness took a deep breath and pulled me closer, resting my head on his shoulder. The sudden proximity made my heart flutter, and I looked up at him.
He looked down at me with a troubled, self-deprecating smile.
"Do you despise me? For using even their pure feelings for my own ends?"
Despise him? Of course not. His Majesty likely still wanted a marriage between His Highness and Anna-san. Given his cryptic words earlier, he must have made some kind of deal with the King—likely as a condition for our own marriage. One of those conditions probably involved the Saint. He needed to be certain that Anna-san would never betray him. Seeing her devotion to Samuel must have made him realize their interests aligned.
But looking at him now, I felt there was more to it. The old Louis wouldn't have cared about their feelings at all. The fact that he acknowledged their love as pure and showed a desire to help them achieve it proved that he had changed.
"No, I don't despise you. Your answer gave them hope. And it gave them the trust that you would truly fulfill your promise. Regardless of your true intentions, I believe it was the best outcome for them as well."
"I see..."
"You don't intend to break your promise, do you?"
"Of course not."
"Then I have no reason to despise you."
He let out a sigh of relief. As I watched him, a sense of worry welled up within me. I had noticed it since we met today, but despite his pleasant smile, he looked exhausted. I peered into his face with concern.
"Your Highness, you're tired, aren't you?"
"I haven't had much sleep, it's true... but just seeing your face, Rachel, gives me enough energy to do anything."
"Hehe. Even so, you look pale. Do you have any more time today?"
"No, I have about two hours left, but... Whoa!"
I pulled his shoulder toward me, and he lost his balance, his head landing right in my lap. Startled, he blushed and shifted restlessly, his eyes darting around. At that moment, my concern for his health outweighed any embarrassment. I felt guilty for the burden I had placed on him. I just wanted him to rest, even if only for a little while. It was that singular focus that allowed me to act in a way that would surely make me die of embarrassment later.
"Please, sleep."
"But this position is..."
"Just rest for a bit."
He hovered there, uncharacteristically flustered, his mouth opening and closing as if searching for words. I spoke over him firmly.
"I'll wake you when Cyril comes to get you."
I gently stroked his soft, golden hair. He finally seemed to resign himself and closed his eyes. He must have been truly exhausted; the tension in his brow slowly melted away. Within minutes, I heard the soft sound of his breathing. Seeing his sleeping face for the first time, I felt my cheeks relax into a smile.
His eyelashes are so long.
I felt a quiet joy at being able to look at him so closely, something I could never do while he was awake. Even though I knew he was asleep, I couldn't bring myself to stop stroking his hair. I hope you have sweet dreams. My soft whisper was the only sound in the quiet room.
"Goodnight, Your Highness."
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