TAPGB - Chapter 77

TAPGB - Chapter 77

 The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

Tweet, Tweet-

With the sound of birds chirping, dawn broke in the distance and I could see the sky getting brighter.

It's already been 7 hours since I waited for Lucian and Caesar to arrive.

Most of my body was gone. Now all that's left of her is my upper body.

Saralarak-

Little by little, little by little, my body turned into powder and disappeared, just as the spore seeds were scattered in the wind.

[Now the left hand is gone.]

I clearly held out both hands, but all I could see was the right hand. However, the tip of my right hand also turned into light particles and dispersed in real-time in the air.

The picture book I was holding in my hand fell to the floor. Even if I tried to pick it up, even if I tried to look at their faces one last time, I couldn't.

The hour of death slowly approaches.

Now the time given to me will be less than an hour left.

My thoughts now that I've reached the end... It's more subtle than I think.

[I think if I just close my eyes and open them like usual, Lucian and Caesar will be there.]

So it wasn't that scary. I just wanted to quickly get rid of the overwhelming longing that was deep in my heart, and the longing for not seeing the two people was greater than the fear of death.

The moment I was watching the dazzling sunrise.

Belt-Belt-Belt-

The crystal ball began to react.

I, who had been dazed, suddenly trembled and placed my hand on the crystal ball.

However, except for the index finger and thumb, the remaining fingers had disappeared.

Perhaps because I couldn't maintain my body's shape, I couldn't use magic properly.

After struggling for a minute, she was finally able to receive contact from the crystal ball.

[... Caesar?]

"Leah! Why can't I contact you like this?"

What immediately appeared in the crystal ball was Caesar's angry face.

Normally, I would have reacted angrily to him when he got angry, but perhaps it was because it was the face I really wanted to see for the last time, so I just laughed.

"Do you know how many times I've contacted you so far? I've been contacting you every week for a month now, but why aren't you responding?! Are you ignoring me now?"

[Did you contact me?]

"I did it?! Every time! I've lost contact 7 times so far!"

[Ha ha ha ha ha...]

"Are you laughing now?"

[Caesar, I did not ignore your contact.]

"If you don't ignore it, then what?"

[I was unconscious for over 3 months until yesterday.]

"What?"

Caesar, who had been huffing and puffing, momentarily looked up and widened his eyes.

[Actually, I had lost consciousness briefly before then, but this time I almost lost an entire season. This year is the 330th year of the imperial calendar, right?]

"You really... You were unconscious? If something like that had happened, you should have said it a long time ago. Why say it now?"

[I know... I should have told you, but I guess I didn't think it was a big deal.]

"I didn't even know that... For a moment! Now? Is it fine now? No, why on earth did that happen? Obviously, nothing happened three years ago."

Caesar kept muttering, wondering if he was missing something. But I didn't want to waste my time talking like that.

"Stay there and wait. I'll prepare everything and go soon..."

[Caesar.]

Caesar, who was busy moving around, stopped and pressed his face into the crystal ball. Leah's voice was different from usual.

[You know that I rely on you a lot and like you, right?]

"Wow, what does that mean all of a sudden!"

Caesar blushed and screamed at the embarrassing sound.

[You must have lost your curiosity by now, but you kept coming to me and trying to talk to me. I didn't show it, but I'm grateful to you.]

"Hmm! That's about it..."

[Caesar, you are my only friend and a dragon I can rely on. Thank you for always thinking of me and caring about me.]

"Hehehe! Even if I say that, I'm not very happy!"

Even though he said that Caesar's voice was very excited. It was a long time ago that the corners of his mouth reached his ears.

He was laughing brightly and suddenly felt a sense of discomfort.

[I have prepared a gift for you at the mansion, so please check it later. Don't get angry when you see it. Got it?]

"Leah."

[Huh?]

"What's wrong with you?"

At the subdued tone of voice, I struggled to open my eyes and couldn't help but smile.

[Caesar....]

"..."

[I will probably disappear today.]

Caesar could not react in any way. All he could do was his heart sink and his eyes widen. It was right to say that if you are too surprised, you can't say anything.

[Even now... Most of my body is long gone. Maybe in an hour, I will be gone from this world forever.]

"Leah, you...!"

[I thought I would be your friend for the rest of my life, but I guess that wasn't the case.]

The voice coming from the crystal sphere was so calm that it caused even more waves in Caesar's heart. Leah disappears? Never see her again?

It was an unexpected event that Caesar had never expected in his life.

"Lucian! Does Lucian know this?!"

[...No. We've lost contact since last summer. Still, he will find out when you come to this mansion someday.]

Caesar gritted his teeth.

He cared for and liked Lucian as much as Leah, but at that moment, Lucian was so cruel that he couldn't bear it.

How did Leah take care of him all this time...!

He forgot Leah in just 5 short years!

[Caesar, don't be angry. I don't have one either, but you have to be on Lucian's side.]

"Are you still saying things like that in this situation?!"

[I'm saying this because it's a situation like this... Caesar. I was happiest in the 10 years I spent with Lucian and you, more than I have lived in my entire life.]

Caesar paused and chewed his lower lip.

[One day, when Leopold wakes up, Lucian will have nowhere to go. At that time, you, his older brother, take care of Lucian.]

".... Ha, you're going to leave a human baby to me now? You have to take care of it yourself! Don't pass it on to me!"

[Haha, that's right. I want to do that too.]

Caesar found it disgusting that Leah was smiling like an idiot when she couldn't even get angry. And Lucian, who had completely forgotten her, hated him so much.

[Finally, will you do me a favor?]

"No. I will never listen. Who's last! I will never let you do that!"

I let out a laugh as Caesar's loud voice rang out. Now I didn't even have my right hand left to hold the crystal ball.

"You! Just wait there! I'm leaving right now!"

[Ah, Caesar...!]

Pop-

The connection was lost. I wanted to talk to him a little more.

[No, actually, I might not want to show myself like this.]

I miss Lucian and Caesar. But I don't want to show myself disappearing in an unsightly way.

Those conflicting feelings continued to collide.

The sun has fully risen before I know it. The darkness has long since disappeared.

I closed my eyes and took in the sunlight all over my body for the last time.

I can't feel the warmth of the sunlight, but it's a peace that I can no longer enjoy.

Pam, pam, pam.

At that time, a very subtle noise caught my ear. It wasn't a sound that could have come from the forest.

It's like the sound of iron clashing.

I opened my eyes and looked toward the source of the sound. Through the fence, several figures were seen approaching this place.

When I saw that it was not just one person, but several people, I was disappointed in my expectations that it was Lucian. 

[You can't leave me alone until the end.]

Is there anything I need to do at the mansion after such a long time? I don't want to welcome uninvited guests into my mansion filled with memories, but I don't have the strength left to kick them out.

[No. Still, it's my mansion, so I'll have to protect it.]

I staggered to my feet. Even though the lower body was missing, I could move.

I widened my eyes and watched those approaching. The figures slowly approaching were knights armed with armor. In order to fight against them, I made full preparations, squeezing out my last strength.

The number of knights was quite large. If anyone tries to break into the mansion, I have to scare them away...!

"Everyone stop."

Behind the knights, someone stopped them. The knights stopped in line and split into two. Someone came out from behind.

My eyes, which had been straining to frown, slowly relaxed and soon began to widen.

Trap, trudge-

The other person approached, showing off his slim figure.

He was wearing flashy clothes, presumed to be a person of high rank, had a familiar famous sword at his waist, and had white hair so gorgeous that it seemed transparent as it reflected in the sunlight.

A familiar yet unfamiliar face caught my eye. 

[... Lucian?]

Could this be a dream? Or is it just an illusion seen before extinction?

However, everything was too vivid to be dismissed as a fantasy. The person in front of me was a much nicer adult than the Lucian I had imagined.

A well-built physique, a jawline that no longer looks youthful at all, and lines that have become darker and deeper.

Everything is more than I imagined.

No, rather, I realized that my imagination was extremely poor.

It's a face that seems completely unfamiliar to everything, but those warm golden eyes that are directed at me...

"Leah, I'm back."

It was just like I remembered.

While I was in a daze, Lucian came right in front of me.

I absentmindedly stretched my hand towards his face. But the hands that could have touched his face were long gone.

Now I can finally see him, but I can't even touch him. But I'm glad I met him before I disappeared forever.

[Haha... It's late, Lucian.]

"I'm sorry, I'm late because I have a lot to take care of. Leah, can you see my clothes?"

He had a red cape made of wool wrapped around his shoulders, and the clothes he wore oozed charm.

"I have become Emperor."

[... What?]

"I became Emperor to see you as soon as possible. I was busy preparing for the succession to the throne, so I couldn't contact you. I'm sorry."

'I see. You haven't forgotten me.'

With that fact alone, even the slightest sadness about him disappeared.

"Leah, I want you..."

[Lucian, thank you for coming.]

The words overlapped. The two widened their eyes at each other and then burst into laughter.

"You speak first."

The fact that you took care of me first made me realize that you had become an adult. I gladly accepted his consideration. There really isn't much time left now.

[... I really missed you a lot. I imagined you growing up several times, but now I realize that my imagination is extremely poor.]

"Haha, what is that?"

However, his bright smile still resembled that of when he was young.

[The fact that you became Emperor means that Leopold has not yet awakened. Still, you became Emperor for some purpose, right?] 

"Ah, that's right..."

[Sorry, Lucian. I don't have much time, so please listen to me first.] 

"Huh? Yes..."

Lucian felt something strange. Then he suddenly noticed that my appearance was strange. Why is it that only the upper body is visible?

[Lucian, I will probably disappear soon.]

Lucian was about to reach out to my invisible lower body for a moment, but when he heard shocking words in his ears, he stopped and raised his head.

"... What?"

[My soul is disappearing even now in real-time. Now I can never be around you and Caesar again. I wanted to meet you before u disappeared, and I'm glad I was able to see your face.]

"What do you mean, Leah? You're gone! Do you really think you will disappear?"

As I nodded, Lucian's pupils contracted.

[I am a ghost anyway. I was tied up in the mansion for too long. Now all I have to do is go back to where I need to go.]

So Lucian, don't be so sad.

Lucian's face was colored with immeasurable fear and despair.

That's not the last face I want to see.

I finally mustered up the strength to imitate kissing Lucian's cheek. Originally I wanted to hug him, but I can't now that my hands are gone.

[Thank you for coming to me, little groom. Thanks to you, I can live happily ever after.]

My smile towards Lucian was filled with not a single ounce of false sincerity.

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