Dere And Dere (2)

(Is this… not a dream brought on by fever!?)

She wanted to slap her cheeks once or twice to confirm it wasn’t a dream, but both her hands were being held, making it impossible.

“…Yet I keep causing you hardship. I only wanted to stay beside you and watch you smile.”

“Your Highness…”

His piercingly serious eyes looked straight at Cordelia.

“…Cordelia, if you wish, you don’t have to keep trying so hard. If you are chosen as Grand Holy Maiden, you will have to live wearing two masks — ‘Queen’ and ‘Holy Maiden.’ I know how heavy a burden that will be.”

Cordelia held her breath. Those words came from someone who had long worn the mask of ‘Crown Prince.’ He was warning her of the weight of being both queen and Holy Maiden.

— However.

Cordelia smiled softly and gently clasped Isaac’s hand in return.

“You’re worried about me. Thank you. But that only shows how inadequate I am.”

“No! That is not something you should apologize for. If anything, I am the one who forced—”

“No. It wasn’t forced, Your Highness. I… chose to aim to become the Grand Holy Maiden of my own will. Not for you, but for my own happiness.”

Putting feeling into every word, Cordelia spoke slowly.

“I want to stay beside you and watch you rule as king. I am the selfish one. I want to become your wife, and I want you to become king as well. I want to witness the Lakisen Kingdom you govern. That is my wish.”

Those were her honest feelings.

Gentle yet wise, Isaac would surely become a compassionate and good king. A country ruled by him would undoubtedly grow richer and more peaceful.

(I want to see the after… that was never shown in the original story… together with him.)

— If possible, she wished to stay with Isaac until the day death parted them.

“You misunderstand one thing, Your Highness. If helping you become king means I am useful, then that is not hardship — it is happiness. Nothing could make me happier.”

“Cordelia…”

Isaac’s eyes trembled with emotion.

“…Then I swear as well. When I become king, I will guide this nation to be better than any other. I will build an age without hunger or war. — But allow me to devote this life to you.”

His earnest gaze made Cordelia’s face flush. She had never heard words this passionate before. It felt like a scene from an otome game.

(…Wait, it is an otome game world! Princes are terrifying, saying lines like that so smoothly… especially with Lily right here.)

The very Lily in question stood by the wall trying desperately to erase her presence — though her wide sparkling eyes and flared nostrils showed she was just as excited by the confession.

“Kana-chan woke up!?”

The door burst open without a knock as Hina rushed in. As always, impeccable — or terrible — timing. While Cordelia frowned, Isaac asked curiously.

“How did you know Cordelia woke up?”

“Huh? Samuel told me. More importantly! You have to take care of your health, Kana-chan! Managing your condition is part of work, remember?”

“Ugh… yes, that’s true… I worried His Highness too, so I’ll be careful.”

Honestly she wanted sympathy right now, but the logic was sound.

“…Well, you worked hard for Hina’s share too.”

Cordelia looked up in surprise at those words, staring at Hina.

“W-what? I’m grateful, you know. For taking all the seriously injured people. …It must have hurt and been exhausting.”

“…Amazing. Hina, who used to take help for granted, is thanking me herself…”

She felt strangely like a mother watching her child grow. Hina puffed her cheeks.

“Geez! I’m not a kid anymore. …Actually, yeah. The amazing one is Kana-chan. You kept up that annoying training forever, and there’s no way I could handle the Healing Gathering numbers… I’m not giving up becoming Grand Holy Maiden, but honestly, I’d accept it if you were chosen.”

“H-Hina? What’s gotten into you?”

(Is today some kind of extreme dere turn for both His Highness and Hina!?)

As Cordelia blinked in confusion, Hina turned away.

“Nothing. …I just felt like saying it once. Anyway, I’ve got things to do. And Isaac-sama — Kana-chan isn’t well, so don’t stay too long.”

The possessiveness she once showed toward Isaac was gone; she spoke casually like a friend. Not only Cordelia but Isaac himself widened his eyes.

“…Hina-dono is right. What you need now is rest. Rest well. I’ll come again later. Before that, take this.”

Isaac handed her a necklace the same color as his eyes — a deep blue lapis lazuli with elegant flecks of gold like stars in the night sky.

He quickly fastened it around Cordelia’s neck.

“Thank you, it’s beautiful. Though it’s unusual for you to give me a necklace.”

“You dislike jewelry. But think of it as me, and keep it with you always.”

With that, Isaac left with Hina. Lily also departed to fetch an Elixir.

Alone at last, Cordelia sighed deeply.

(‘Keep it with you as if it were me’… he says things like that so casually, it’s embarrassing. And having a fever is rare… perhaps this means I should properly rest.)

She held the teardrop-shaped lapis lazuli shining at her chest to the light. The rich deep blue gleamed quietly.

— Cordelia did not know that even as she rested, danger was steadily creeping closer.