𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟗
When the two returned to the royal palace, the sun had already set.
They passed through the illuminated main gate and bowed to Amane in the entrance hall.
“Um, thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I said I would be your escort.”
“Not just that, thanks for worrying about me.”
Amane was perceptive. Perhaps he had noticed the traces of tears on Mabel when she left the palace.
As Mabel tilted her head, Amane widened his eyes, but then quickly narrowed them and smiled, saying, “It’s just a coincidence.” Mabel couldn’t help but smile in response―and that’s when it happened.
“―Amane.”
At the sound of a voice echoing from the corridor, Mabel instinctively straightened her back. When she turned around, she saw a tall man. She recognized him from his long silver hair braided into three strands.
The man walked gracefully towards them and stood in front of Amane.
“Where have you been?”
“I accompanied Mabel-sama as she went down to the town…”
At that moment, Mabel noticed that Amane’s voice was unusually tense. When she glanced at her, she saw the usually cheerful Amane looking down, with sweat on his forehead.
Without showing any concern for Amane, the man shifted his blue eyes toward Mabel.
“I see. Did my foolish brother cause you any trouble?”
“N-No.”
“That’s good.”
The man narrowed his eyes and it seemed like a smile, but Mabel sensed that he wasn’t truly smiling inside, causing her to shudder.
“I apologize for the late introduction. I am Kairi, Amane’s older brother.”
“Kairi-san…”
While the two were conversing, Amane, who stood beside them, kept his face lowered. He seemed pale, and Mabel wondered if it was just her imagination. To add to Amane’s distress, Kairi spoke to her in a gentle tone.
“Amane, I understand what happened yesterday.”
“Of course, Onii-san…”
With a curt response, Kairi once again bowed his head towards Mabel.
As Kairi walked away and disappeared from sight, Mabel finally exhaled the breath she had been holding.
‘…There is something really frightening about him.’
Mabel trembled, feeling threatened, even though she hadn’t experienced any violence or harsh words thrown at her.
Managing to calm her racing heartbeat, Mabel called out to the pale Amane.
“Amane-san, are you okay? You’re sweating a lot.”
“Ah, sorry…”
Letting out a deep sigh, Amane took deep breaths as if to reassure himself.
“Was that person your brother?”
“He’s Kairi Hiragi, the second in line. Damn, I can’t believe he saw me like this.”
Kytha had heard about the stark disparities within the royal family, but judging by Amane’s demeanor, it seemed even harsher than what Mabel had imagined.
“I’m sorry, but he was… really scary.”
“Well, yeah. We can never go against him. He’s someone who resides above the clouds. If we displease him, there’s a possibility of being killed on the spot.”
“T-That’s, that’s just absurd!”
“As I said, the royal family of Kytha is just like that. If we don’t achieve results, we can’t survive. We can never escape…”
Finally, Amane’s heart rate seemed to calm down as she closed her eyes tightly. Mabel could only gaze at Amane with concern.
That night, a visitor arrived at Eugene’s room.
“You’re quite careless not to lock the door.”
It was Amane who appeared.
There was no sign of the guide, Cero, or the attendants who usually accompanied her. His usual elegant attire was torn in places and stained with mud. It seemed that he had forcibly crossed the barrier forest with the power of a crude magic tool.
“What did you come here for?”
“Why…did you say something like breaking off the engagement?”
At first, Eugene had his back turned, but upon hearing those words, he slowly turned to face Amane. In the dimly lit room, his golden eyes behind the mask glimmered like jewels as he coldly glared at Amane.
“It’s none of your concern.”
“Then, can I have her?”
Tension filled the air.
However, Eugene remained seated in his chair without making any move. Perhaps feeling frustrated, Amane reached out and grabbed Eugene’s collar, lifting him up.
“What’s the truth? Tell me clearly!”
“―What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I don’t know! I can’t understand the feelings of such a spineless man!”
Clearly angered, Eugene gritted his teeth and tightly grasped Amane’s wrist, who in turn showed no attempt to hide his emotions and fiercely confronted Eugene.
“Get a grip! I need you, and only you can do it…I couldn’t do it myself.”
Finally, Eugene noticed that something was different about Amane. Gradually, Amane’s tone weakened, and the strength in his grip around his collar diminished.
Eventually, Amane spoke in a strained, fragmented voice.
“When I first heard that there was a princess engaged to a monster, I came this far…”
“…”
“I thought that she, like me, carried a fate that couldn’t defy the country. I can’t escape; so, at least, I wanted to help that princess.”
But what Amane, who had confidently barged in, saw was a couple full of happiness.
The mage who was called a monster loved Mabel, and the pitiful princess, too, cherished him dearly.
That’s why he couldn’t forgive Eugene. He found it unbelievable that he wanted to destroy this kind of happiness.
“I don’t know your thoughts. But don’t make Mabel sad!”
“I know that without you telling me!”
“After making her cry, what do you understand!”
“I–”
“You can do anything, go anywhere. Moreover, you can receive love from the one you truly love. Despite being blessed with all that, why do you run away?”
Amane’s bright eyes pierced through Eugene’s moon-like gaze.
Eventually, Eugene forcefully shook off Amane’s hand.
“I really envy you, I really do. You can spend your entire life with Mable. You can grow old together and die together.”
Gripping his hand tightly, Eugene closed his eyes tightly.
“But just by being by her side, I hurt Mabel. Being with me is the same as being with a monster, causing her pain…”
Upon hearing that, Amane blinked in surprise.
“Did Mabel say that?”
“She, she–”
“It’s not true, right? Mabel surely wouldn’t say something like that.”
Amane demanded a proper conversation. His demeanor was so serious that Eugene hesitated to argue further.
“Why are you suddenly talking about this?”
“…”
“I should only be a hindrance to you. If the engagement is dissolved, wouldn’t it be a relief for you?”
“―I’m no longer her fiancé.”
This time, it was Eugene’s turn to widen his eyes in surprise.
But it seemed that Amane’s words held no lies, as he quietly lowered his eyelids.
“That’s why I came to you, swallowing my pride.”
“What do you mean?”
“Please, help me. I can’t protect Mabel on my own.”
Observing the change in Amane, Eugene furrowed his eyebrows slightly. Then, he shifted his gaze to his own desk.
He stared at what was left there, and he sighed.
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