Woosh
Like a candle in the wind.
Or like a castle built on a sandcastle.
The precarious standoff that felt like it could turn into a bloody battle at any moment ended when Alice burst through the door and ran to embrace Anna Akaia.
Approaching the very person who tried to kill her and wrapping her arms around her tightly.
It was the act of cutting off an endless chain of hatred that promised nothing but dark endings.
Only Alice, with her kind and warm heart, could do such a thing.
Well, still.
“I thought you’d at least throw a little tantrum. Don’t you agree?”
“….Alice is kind, you see.”
Thinking of the child who had to bear the pain alone, it wasn’t exactly a pleasant realization.
Being kind doesn’t mean being free from hurt.
I didn’t know if it was the shock from recalling memories or some other reason, but how hard must it have been for the child who almost jumped into the carriage just because she saw her sister’s face to make that decision?
Twelve years old.
That was one of the ages I had experienced, and having seen children that age made it all the more unbearable.
I couldn’t even imagine it.
I stretched a little and continued speaking.
“Ugh… aah! When I grow up, I hope I’ll be the kind of person who thinks for themselves instead of just getting the short end of the stick like me.”
“What? Did you eat something wrong?”
“…Seriously!”
I just tried to have a friendly chat.
I glanced over at Saelli, who was beside me and awkwardly enjoying the breeze.
“……..”
Whether she realized she broke the mood or not, she just rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the sky.
Saelli.
She hadn’t been able to lift her spirits since Alice regained her lost memories and finished her reunion with her family.
Even when everyone gathered for a meal, seeing Alice gradually regain her strength while she only remained distantly watching from afar…
“…….”
She simply stayed back, quietly watching Alice.
Whoosh— The refreshing winter wind blew towards us standing on the veranda.
Someone’s hair, whether it was mine or hers, danced in the wind and tickled my cheek.
Right beside me.
In the midst of the black hair flying through the air like a crow’s feather, those steady red eyes chasing after the clouds simply floating in the sky— what could they possibly be seeing?
I wasn’t unaware of her feelings.
In fact, I understood her emotions better than anyone else.
“—Now, it’s officially winter.”
“…Right, huh?”
I maintained the same old unremarkable attitude of delivering trivial comments.
I knew that unnecessary concerns and comfort would only convey discomfort to the other person.
Sometimes, I understood that a moment of silence was worth more than a hundred words.
So I merely pretended not to notice Saelli’s feelings and treated her normally.
Thinking that way… what can I say?
I couldn’t reach out, but it felt like having a cat that I was subtly worried about.
A cat that eats people, no less.
Would anyone even take in such a cat?
“By the way, I didn’t expect you to stop Alice.”
“………..”
Saelli didn’t say a word.
Drip, drip, tears fell to the ground.
I had trusted the transparency of those tears and didn’t drive Anna Akaia away, but when Alice dashed towards her without any caution, I felt my heart drop.
For even a slight chance that the tears she shed were just a facade, like a crocodile shedding tears before devouring its prey, was a possibility.
If it were acting, it would have truly given me chills.
Thinking back without the current outcome, it could be said that bringing Alice and Anna Akaia face to face was a gamble.
That’s why, as the one who allowed it, I didn’t expect Saelli to just stand by and watch as Alice left the room to meet her.
I thought she would either block Alice from going out or at least stay by her side.
Well.
In the end, things wrapped up well somehow, so maybe that’s something to be thankful for.
Bang, bang!
“Seriously! If you’re done with your business, get back quickly!!”
“…..Okay, Aris. A~”
“A~”
I try to believe that.
“Lady Remi! Please keep it down!”
“Ah?!”
The second princess of a certain kingdom was stamping and throwing a tantrum, demanding to return to where she came from, slamming her fist on the desk.
But soon enough, she was subdued by a librarian who came in after hearing the commotion, wielding a thick encyclopedia.
Let’s skip over the identity of the person curled up on the floor, clutching her head in embarrassment, for the sake of privacy.
Thud!
“Ahhhh!”
“….Goodness. They sure are having fun.”
The princess was diligently mopping the floor with her dress today.
Roll, roll, she tumbled.
Honestly, seeing that scene, it felt more like a messy patch job over a ripped hole than anything having been resolved.
It looked no different from a bus barely maintaining its balance on the edge of a steep cliff.
Still, the tense atmosphere until now had dissipated, so something must have changed.
If it wasn’t a great improvement, what was?
Huff.
I turned my head back, returning to the view in front of me.
Fortunately, the one I worried most about, Saelli, didn’t seem to express any dissatisfaction with Alice sticking to Anna Akaia like glue.
Rather, she seemed more supportive of Alice’s new beginning.
Like a parent celebrating their child’s independence, she was watching Alice’s trail wistfully.
If Alice permits it, I suppose Saelli would stay by her side for life.
That scenario formed automatically in my head.
“…Ugh. Why do they all act like this towards me…”
“Hang in there, Lady Remi. You’re going to the flower garden with Princess Aris, right?”
“…Hiiing.”
“What do you mean by ‘Hiiing’?”
Even the once-enemy Anna Akaia had to wave the white flag in front of her sulking sister threaten to get mad if they kept arguing.
While sparks still flew, she probably had somewhat settled her heart.
The past isn’t erased; it gets repainted.
She, too, would value the future she draws more than the faded past.
Watching them, I could only think how deflated those who struggled to keep information about Alice from Anna Akaia had become.
Could it be okay like this?
Honestly, it felt like a complete waste of effort.
“Uuuuhhh…! Ah, Tessa! Do something to that little fox over there with that encyclopedia!!”
“…..I think touching a royal’s body is a grave sin.”
“Tessa, even you?!”
“…….”
Meanwhile.
Our hot potato, Anna Akaia, had begun visiting Alice at all hours since that incident.
As they say, once you taste meat, no amount of bugs remain in the temple; she was thoroughly enjoying playing with Alice.
…I wonder if it’s appropriate to compare Alice to meat, but let’s just roll with it.
Rumor has it that the crown princess of Tesillia Kingdom is someone who bleeds not a drop even when stabbed.
“……..”
“……..”
Seeing them embracing each other silently like that, it felt like one little poke might end up splattering my blood everywhere.
Boom, just like that.
She hastily wrapped up her original objective of inspecting Remi Akaia’s living conditions with a few scribbled lines in a letter, and the next day, she barged into my dorm with her bags full of stuff.
At that moment, I wondered what I was witnessing.
When I opened the door, there stood someone I recognized.
Is this some medieval-style hidden camera?
While eyeing Remi Akaia and Saelli, she brazenly crept in, offering food to Alice with such spirit and audacity, proving to be a surprise to me.
Of course.
It seemed that all princesses must have a default setting for audacity.
Here, this isn’t your room but mine.
Even if Alice forgave her, it was natural for Remi Akaia, who hadn’t let go of her grudge against her sister, to have a fit whenever Anna Akaia showed up.
But following Anna Akaia, who was teary-eyed and trying to leave the room, Alice acted like a little chick chasing after her, desperately showing her remorse.
Watching this unfold, I sighed yet again.
So, this is my room.
Now, two weeks later, the teetering pendulum remains balanced, not tilting to either side.
However, as the burning candle slowly reveals its wick,
When the vehicle barely maintaining its balance on the edge of the cliff begins to tilt downwards,
That’s when we will likely face drastic changes and choices.
How I, Alice, Saelli, and everyone else will move forward—
—We must decide.
“…Phew.”
And this choice—
For reasons unknown to me, I felt it would turn out to be an incredibly important decision, one that could change the course of my life.
Snap
I’m not happy.
I’m just not happy.
