You, And You Alone

The following afternoon, I was walking down the corridor beside the lord of Hedona Territory.

Ordinarily, this was the mansion where we should have stayed last night.

“Until the princess recovers her health, please stay as many nights as you wish in my home.”

The lord said this generously.

I bowed deeply and once again thanked him for sending soldiers for our protection last night, and for lending Lady Shitoen a room for two or three days.

“I shall report to my father the gracious hospitality Your Excellency has shown us.”

When I said that at the end, the lord seemed greatly abashed and told me, “Please, truly, think nothing of it,” but…

In truth, his help had been a great relief. After all, it had been a camp in the open.

Not knowing what Lady Shitoen was being targeted by, even though I was confident in our security, having soldiers sent to us had been reassuring.

“But still… She truly is a splendid princess.”

The lord said that while leading me toward Lady Shitoen’s bedchamber.

My adjutant Raul and I had been occupied until just now with taking down the tent, greeting the lord, and various other matters, but because of her condition, Lady Shitoen had been allowed to rest in the bedroom first.

“Yes, she is… but…”

I nodded vaguely. When I tilted my head, wondering if this was not his first time meeting her, the lord laughed.

“Rumors are racing all across the country, you know. I hear she saved the people of the County of Sheen.”

Ah, so that was it.

My face softened without thinking.

“That’s right. She possesses a wide range of knowledge.”

“I only exchanged a few words of greeting with her earlier, but when people speak of a face like a flower, they must mean a princess like that. Her appearance is beautiful, and there is refinement even in her voice.”

So this lord did understand.

“It is regrettable that she cannot attend the evening party, but… this cannot be helped.”

“I alone may not be ornament enough, but I hope the assembled lords will forgive us.”

At that, the lord burst out laughing.

“Truly, Your Highness cherishes the princess dearly.”

The lord nodded again and again.

“To stop the carriage and set up camp simply because the princess was unwell… Surely there has never been a princess so loved. Ah, I can only hope a man like Your Highness appears for my own daughter as well.”

When he said that, I felt somewhat embarrassed, but—

The words she had murmured yesterday came back to me, and my chest began to ache as though it were being torn open.

I truly did think she was precious. I wanted to cherish her. I loved her dearly.

But what about her?

Atsuhito.

That was— absolutely someone’s name.

“Now then, the princess is in that room. I shall call for you again when the time comes, so please, take your time.”

The lord stopped walking and indicated the door in front of us.

I thanked him and took hold of the doorknob.

I thought about knocking, but it would be pitiful to wake her if she was asleep.

After confirming that the lord had gone, I quietly opened the door.

Inside, it was dim because the curtains had been drawn shut.

I softened my footsteps and approached the bed.

As expected— she was asleep.

I looked around the room, found a chair, and lifted it carefully so as not to make a sound.

Then I slowly set it down beside the bed.

I sat and looked at her sleeping face.

Her long silver hair had been loosely braided by her maid, Eaton. There was no color in her cheeks, but she did not look as though she was suffering.

According to Eaton, today was the hardest day. She had also said that Lady Shitoen herself thought she would be able to move around tomorrow.

Her long eyelashes lay lowered, and her pink lips were slightly parted, soft sleeping breaths slipping through them.

This sleeping face— had that man called Atsuhito gazed at it for a long time?

That was what I found myself thinking.

Had he lifted that silver hair in his hand, kissed it, wrapped an arm around her waist, and embraced her?

By now, Crown Prince Arios was no longer even in my thoughts.

That man had probably never so much as touched Lady Shitoen.

He had never even tried to see what was wonderful about her.

But—

I had a feeling that this man called Atsuhito was different.

She had cried for him, mistaken me for him, and taken my hand.

Thinking about it carefully— that fear of hers.

Even though she herself had been attacked, all she did was worry about me.

The first time we met, she had said, “Why?”

I had wondered whether I had met Lady Shitoen somewhere before, but— that was not it.

Perhaps I resembled him.

That man called Atsuhito, and I.

Was she— seeing him through me?

“I don’t want Prince Saryu to hate me.”

Lady Shitoen had said that.

“As for Prince Saryu, I think very fondly of him. I love you dearly, because you cherish me. I have even found myself wishing you would come to love me.”

Was that truly about me?

Someone— who looked like me.

Wasn’t it really about someone else?

“…Lady Shitoen.”

I reached out and gently stroked her cheek.

“I love you.”

No one else.

You, and you alone.