CH 75

“Marquess Cecile Aldrin…huh.”

The New Year’s Eve ball was completely over, and I was sitting by the window looking out in a daze.

It should have been Brother Seth who chose her as his partner for tonight. Her beautiful light blue hair resembles that of royalty, who have often been born with light blue hair for generations. I was born with silver hair, which is rare on this continent, and that arrangement seemed to make up for the lack of it…

(I wonder…if that’s what it means by ‘eventually’.)

She was the perfect partner. She seemed to have a good personality and seemed like a proper person. My heart ached at the thought of whether or not she will get married.

I know that this pain is probably caused by one other person who came up in my mind.

Through the slightly open window, a chill air flowed in that made my spine stiffen. The long white breath I exhaled disappeared into the last night of the year.

This year— almost half a year has already passed since I woke up in this second world from five years ago.

At that moment…

I heard a muffled, slightly sulky voice over my shoulder.

Without any sign of presence, a familiar arm suddenly wrapped around my stomach from behind.

High body temperature. The firmness of his hands and the softness of his red hair brushing against my cheek. And then, the scent of Mika drifted gently.

“…You looked like you were having fun.”

“You… You’re sticking too close to me. Are you drunk?”

“Hmm? I wonder.”

I don’t think he’s drunk because he doesn’t smell like alcohol, though.

He leaned against my cheek like an animal, and it made me want to rub my cheeks against the red hair next to me as well, so I clenched my teeth and held back. I forced my head, which was about to turn diagonally downward to the right, to turn upward to the left.

The floating round moon.

Oh, it was a full moon tonight, I thought in my head. Then Mika spoke as if he had read my mind.

“The moon is beautiful.”

“Yeah. When the moon is beautiful on New Year’s Eve, it makes me feel like next year will be a good one.”

Next year…it all depends on whether or not Vivienne is executed.

Then the magic of ‘purification’ has to be spread by summer.

What an unreliable prince I am, to feel a little relieved just because the moon looks beautiful. Even though Miss Cecile complimented me, and there’s also the dance from earlier, I was still very much aware that I still had ways to go.

That’s right…

“Mika, I want to ride Allen for a little bit.”

“Huh? Do you want to go somewhere? Right now?”

“Just for a little while.”

If I stay inside the room like this, I feel like I’m going to think about all the bad things.

Moreover, during the ball, there were a few things that bothered me a little. A hostile gaze mixed in with positive gazes such as envy, praise, and admiration. I knew that would happen, of course.

However…

(I wonder what it was. That strange gaze that seems to follow me around…)

I felt some strange gazes. It was a sickening, unpleasant stare, as if their gaze was licking me all over my body, as if they were trying to price my body. I wanted to shake it off and feel some kind of strong breeze.

While waiting at the entrance to the castle for Mika to prepare Allen, I tried to think about next year.

The magic of “purification” seemed to be more difficult than expected, and even Renalge was struggling with it. The first one that he created was more like an ‘elimination’ magic circle rather than purification. When I experimented with a dirty rag, it disappeared before my eyes.

At that time, I heard Renalge blurted out, “It’s clean now,” and I recall a chill running down my spine.

However, after a thorough review of the results, the accuracy was improved upon, to the point where it could be done without causing any harm to the object itself.

In the first world, an epidemic will begin to spread next summer. So, at first, I foolishly thought that it would be enough if I could finish it before then. Still…

(That’s not it. It means that I have to spread it by the summer…)

That’s right, it was not enough to just create the magic.

Even if purification magic was created in the summer, it’s meaningless if it has not taken root in our lives. I have to announce the magic to the towns immediately after it was perfected, to encourage them to realize its usefulness.

And so, even if I had managed to do the research on my own, it surely wouldn’t have made it in time.

(…I’m really glad Renalge helped me.)

I was also grateful that somehow, by a series of fortunate coincidences, I got to know Renalge. And that he was the type of person who, once he decided to do something, immersed himself in it and strove for perfection.

The guests of the ball had all gone home, and only the knights in the castle’s service were standing at the entrance to the castle.

From a distance, the sound of Allen’s hooves could be heard.

I could just ride my horse, but I felt like I’d get distracted.

Allen stopped in front of me and I asked, “Were you asleep?” Then Allen rubbed his face against my hand as if to say, “It’s okay.”

A long, slender arm was held out from the horse, and at his urging, I climbed on top of Allen.

I knew it would happen, but my heart pounded when I fell into Mika’s arms.

I look ahead, hoping that such turmoil in my heart won’t be noticed as the horse starts to run.

The night breeze blew past us.

“In Vivienne’s world-…”

“Huh?”

“I’m talking about Vivienne’s previous life. There, they ring the bell on the last night of the year to get rid of bad things. She said it can exorcise all the troubles of the past life, this life, and the next life.”

“Hmm, even the past life and the next life? But we wouldn’t know who and where that would be.”

That’s true.

But as for me, who’s starting over in this world, I can’t help but feel like I’m covered in different troubles, both in my previous life and this one. I randomly said something that came to my head, but I couldn’t help but wish that the sound of those bells could do something about me, who at this very moment, was burdened with some troubles while being in Mika’s arms.

(Even that from earlier, if he suddenly comes that close to me like that… Sigh…)

Just being approached by Mika filled me with anxiety.

When I looked down, the hands holding Allen’s reins came into view, and my heartbeat became somewhat faster.

If Mika found out I’m feeling this way, he might stop trying to touch me. I don’t even know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing for me. I’m not even sure about such a simple decision.

So, in the end, I just leave it be while unable to do anything about it.

(Ahh…damn it.)

On the outskirts of the royal capital, near the bridge of the river flowing through the city, Allen slowed down a little.

Perhaps because it was New Year’s Eve, many houses still had their lights on. Each one of them is inhabited by the people of Pluvia.

For me, royalty, they’re the light of the people I’m supposed to protect.

Actually, I know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. I will never in my life tell Mika how I feel about this.

(That’s all there is to it…)

When I glanced back, I saw Mika’s eyes blinking as he tilted his head.

It passed through my mind, about the thing behind the inner curtains at Duke Marcotte’s evening party. I think about it often and keep hurriedly drowning it out.

It’s different from what happened in the first world. If I reach out my hand, the second time of today will always be within reach.

And yet, it’s out of reach.

Mika’s eyebrows furrowed, and his expression became serious.

Then, after staring at me for a while, Mika said something I didn’t understand.

“It’ll be bad for me if you keep making such a face.”

“…What?”

“Nagi…I-”

Mika’s fingertips gently touched my right ear.

With a serious expression on his face, Mika opened his mouth to say something.

At that moment…

I don’t know how I noticed it. But then I saw a familiar person walking behind Mika.

I took my eyes off Mika and froze with my eyes still open wide.

It was already a cold night in the first place. Instantly, the temperature was gone from my fingertips. There was an uncomfortable feeling as if inside my stomach was being squeezed. Then a shiver ran through my whole body.

I-…said the words out of my mouth before Mika did.

“Mika…look.”

“What is it?”

My voice trembled. But it was something I had to tell him. I wanted him to tell me that I was drunk, that I was wrong. But clearly, my brain was working normally.

Mika slightly looked over his shoulder.

It was hard to tell because of the shadow of a building. But a man was walking there.

Uncommon in this country and unmistakable, silver hair.

My voice was hoarse because of my dry throat. But I squeezed it out.

“—There’s me walking over there.”