Episode 124. Just an Eternal Kid
“Well done, kid.”
Yes, to him, she was just an eternal kid.
“I’m glad you came to your senses, Your Majesty.”
Leana barely managed to control her voice and answered as if nothing had happened.
“I felt a sense of crisis that I was about to be hit...”
Leana’s face turned red.
“You misunderstood. I just did it because I thought you weren’t breathing.”
Damn!
Her face turned red as she said that.
“I know. I thought I’d have to do artificial respiration if you weren’t breathing.”
Leana glared at Christine with her cheeks red.
“You’re such a savage! Can’t you just pretend not to know?”
Still, he seemed to have gotten a lot better if he was joking.
Knock knock.
Leana felt like she was barely alive when she heard the knock at that moment.
“Your Majesty!”
Zimmer, who opened the door and came in, ran to Christine, weeping when he saw him awake.
“Then I’ll leave...”
When Leana was about to leave the room, Zimmer asked without thinking,
“Miss Leana, are you sick?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Your face is so red. I don’t think you have a fever...”
Oh, you tactless old man!
"He was trying to give me artificial respiration.”
Even Christine teased her even more.
“Yes, what was that?”
“His Majesty was having trouble breathing!”
“That’s what I said.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Leana was on the verge of dying of shame, but the two of them were having fun talking back and forth.
“Then I’ll leave. I’ve been stuck with someone in a coma for three days and nights, so I have a lot of work to do.”
She said everything she wanted to say, but in fact, she couldn’t even make eye contact with Christine.
As she was about to run away from the bedroom,
“Leana.”
Her voice was so affectionate and deep that Leana felt her heart pounding.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You will always be my beloved niece. Don’t forget.”
Leana burst into tears at those words.
It was both forgiveness and complete rejection.
“I love you, too, Your Majesty.”
After saying goodbye to Christine, she left the bedroom.
“Please help me up.”
When Leana left and the two of them were alone, Christine held out his hand.
“Is it okay for you to move?”
“No, I'm not in a good condition to move yet. But I think I’ll rot if I lie down a little longer.”
“Since you’re joking, I think you’re okay.”
Zimmer carefully sat Christine up, supporting his back.
“...Ugh!”
But just getting up was painful, and he groaned, sweat dripping down his entire body. Adele’s name was clearly visible on his throbbing left chest. It was as if it had just been engraved in blood.
“Please bring me some clothes.”
Christine said, perhaps concerned.
Zimmer put on a linen shirt from the bedside console.
“Yeah, you must have had a lot to report.”
“Yes, the noble council meeting has been postponed until tomorrow morning. Rumors have spread that Your Majesty is unwell, so it would be best if you show your face at least once. I will take care of the rest.”
“Hmm. By the way... did she... Adele visit?”
“Yes?”
Christine muttered, looking around.
“...I think she smells.”
How I miss her.
“She visited. Your Majesty keeps calling her name, so she did.”
Christine frowned and held his head.
“Damn... did you tell her everything?”
“I told her. That you don’t remember Adele because of the sealing ritual. Your Majesty wouldn’t want her to be hurt anymore.”
Christine nodded, agreeing with that part.
“Yes, I understand.”
“And there’s something I want to tell you about her child...”
“Aaron?”
Zimmer hesitated for a moment.
If Christine’s condition got any worse, he would have to completely erase Adele with magic.
However, if he found out that Aaron was his son, he might insist on not using magic until the end.
Even though Kalame surrendered, they were still in the middle of enemy territory.
'Yes, after Your Majesty's body recovers...'
"Oh, I met Jennifer during the day. But he's already a father of four. My stomach hurts so much."
Zimmer changed the subject. However, Christine was sharp even though he was in a daze due to her pain.
"Didn't you have something to say about Aaron?"
"Yes, Aaron. I wish you, Commander, had a successor like Aaron. Seeing you love Aaron made me think so even more."
"Then I should bring Adele."
"Huh?"
"Have you forgotten? The Wolf Clan can only hold one woman. No woman other than Adele can bear my child."
"But since you erased her with magic, isn't it possible for you to hold another woman?"
Christine smiled bitterly.
"I thought it was possible."
But he knew it was impossible.
While he was struggling between life and death, memories of Adele and the two of them together came to mind. It was as if he were looking at thousands of jumbled, tangled pictures. Even while those brief scenes were coming to mind, he was happy enough to forget his pain.
How much did I love Adele...
Leana’s face turned red.
“You misunderstood. I just did it because I thought you weren’t breathing.”
Damn!
Her face turned red as she said that.
“I know. I thought I’d have to do artificial respiration if you weren’t breathing.”
Leana glared at Christine with her cheeks red.
“You’re such a savage! Can’t you just pretend not to know?”
Still, he seemed to have gotten a lot better if he was joking.
Knock knock.
Leana felt like she was barely alive when she heard the knock at that moment.
“Your Majesty!”
Zimmer, who opened the door and came in, ran to Christine, weeping when he saw him awake.
“Then I’ll leave...”
When Leana was about to leave the room, Zimmer asked without thinking,
“Miss Leana, are you sick?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Your face is so red. I don’t think you have a fever...”
Oh, you tactless old man!
"He was trying to give me artificial respiration.”
Even Christine teased her even more.
“Yes, what was that?”
“His Majesty was having trouble breathing!”
“That’s what I said.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Leana was on the verge of dying of shame, but the two of them were having fun talking back and forth.
“Then I’ll leave. I’ve been stuck with someone in a coma for three days and nights, so I have a lot of work to do.”
She said everything she wanted to say, but in fact, she couldn’t even make eye contact with Christine.
As she was about to run away from the bedroom,
“Leana.”
Her voice was so affectionate and deep that Leana felt her heart pounding.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You will always be my beloved niece. Don’t forget.”
Leana burst into tears at those words.
It was both forgiveness and complete rejection.
“I love you, too, Your Majesty.”
After saying goodbye to Christine, she left the bedroom.
***
“Please help me up.”
When Leana left and the two of them were alone, Christine held out his hand.
“Is it okay for you to move?”
“No, I'm not in a good condition to move yet. But I think I’ll rot if I lie down a little longer.”
“Since you’re joking, I think you’re okay.”
Zimmer carefully sat Christine up, supporting his back.
“...Ugh!”
But just getting up was painful, and he groaned, sweat dripping down his entire body. Adele’s name was clearly visible on his throbbing left chest. It was as if it had just been engraved in blood.
“Please bring me some clothes.”
Christine said, perhaps concerned.
Zimmer put on a linen shirt from the bedside console.
“Yeah, you must have had a lot to report.”
“Yes, the noble council meeting has been postponed until tomorrow morning. Rumors have spread that Your Majesty is unwell, so it would be best if you show your face at least once. I will take care of the rest.”
“Hmm. By the way... did she... Adele visit?”
“Yes?”
Christine muttered, looking around.
“...I think she smells.”
How I miss her.
“She visited. Your Majesty keeps calling her name, so she did.”
Christine frowned and held his head.
“Damn... did you tell her everything?”
“I told her. That you don’t remember Adele because of the sealing ritual. Your Majesty wouldn’t want her to be hurt anymore.”
Christine nodded, agreeing with that part.
“Yes, I understand.”
“And there’s something I want to tell you about her child...”
“Aaron?”
Zimmer hesitated for a moment.
If Christine’s condition got any worse, he would have to completely erase Adele with magic.
However, if he found out that Aaron was his son, he might insist on not using magic until the end.
Even though Kalame surrendered, they were still in the middle of enemy territory.
'Yes, after Your Majesty's body recovers...'
"Oh, I met Jennifer during the day. But he's already a father of four. My stomach hurts so much."
Zimmer changed the subject. However, Christine was sharp even though he was in a daze due to her pain.
"Didn't you have something to say about Aaron?"
"Yes, Aaron. I wish you, Commander, had a successor like Aaron. Seeing you love Aaron made me think so even more."
"Then I should bring Adele."
"Huh?"
"Have you forgotten? The Wolf Clan can only hold one woman. No woman other than Adele can bear my child."
"But since you erased her with magic, isn't it possible for you to hold another woman?"
Christine smiled bitterly.
"I thought it was possible."
But he knew it was impossible.
While he was struggling between life and death, memories of Adele and the two of them together came to mind. It was as if he were looking at thousands of jumbled, tangled pictures. Even while those brief scenes were coming to mind, he was happy enough to forget his pain.
How much did I love Adele...
Did you love me that much, Adele?
The next morning.
The nobles’ murmurs died down as Christine entered the conference room with Zimmer.
“So, you wanted to see me so badly?”
His cold voice made all the nobles speechless, as if they had eaten honey. In the midst of all this, Isabelle stepped forward.
***
The next morning.
The nobles’ murmurs died down as Christine entered the conference room with Zimmer.
“So, you wanted to see me so badly?”
His cold voice made all the nobles speechless, as if they had eaten honey. In the midst of all this, Isabelle stepped forward.
“I was worried because of the ominous rumors. It is reassuring to see you in good health, Your Majesty.”
“I am also reassured that you are reassured. Then, discuss today’s agenda with the Duke of Crichton. I have a headache just from the Weimahar issue.”
Christine waved his hand as if he was annoyed and quickly left the conference room.
“I am also reassured that you are reassured. Then, discuss today’s agenda with the Duke of Crichton. I have a headache just from the Weimahar issue.”
Christine waved his hand as if he was annoyed and quickly left the conference room.
Leana, who had been waiting at the door, quickly ran over and whispered.
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?”
“Damn it! Every time I walk... it feels like my body is breaking.”
“Then hurry up and go to the bedroom!”
“No, but it feels much better after getting some fresh air.”
He stared out the window in the hallway. The leaves were gradually turning blue, and the cherry trees were starting to bloom with pink buds.
“The cherry blossoms will bloom soon.”
Leana frowned as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.
“I was so scared just now. Your Majesty, looking at flowers and getting lost in your admiration...”
Christine flicked Leana’s forehead.
“I’m a delicate man, if you get to know me.”
“Ouch!”
Leana rubbed her forehead, pretending to exaggerate the pain. Still, it was fortunate. She could treat him like nothing had happened yesterday.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to take a carriage for a walk?”
“That would be nice.”
***
The dressing room of the opera house was filled with the scent of flowers. It was because of the bouquets sent to Diana by her many fans.
“There must be a reason why Count Castler didn’t pay any attention to her. He had such a beautiful wife by his side.”
“No. Miss Diana is truly worthy of the compliment of ‘everyone’s lover’.”
Diana burst out laughing at Adele’s words.
She had been a prima donna at the top for a long time. It was hard to tell her age because of her heavy makeup, but her voice and gestures were very charming and attractive. The theater was crowded with people who had come to see her performance today.
Diana was a regular patient of Mark’s. Thanks to that, she had invited Mark and his wife to the upcoming performance. Unfortunately, he had just received word that there was a critical patient and had to leave.
“I don’t know what to do with all this praise. I’ve reserved the best royal seats for you two. No, the second-best royal seats. The best seats are always left empty.”
At those words, Adele recalled a memory from long ago. She had come to this theater with Christine to see an opera.
“I sponsored it. On the condition that one of the royal boxes would be left empty at all times during the performance.”
“You weren’t sponsoring it to go on a date with me... right?”
“If that’s not the reason, then what?”
“I received sponsorship on that condition before.”
Adele quickly suppressed the groan that was about to burst out.
“Has that sponsor ever been here?”
“No, never.”
Adele nodded bitterly.
“Then. I’ll enjoy today’s performance.”
After greeting her politely, she headed to the royal box. It was the seat next to Christine that she had sat in before. Of course, even though the auditorium was packed, that seat remained empty.
Until the lights went out and the curtain rose on the show.
***
Mark didn’t come back until the show was almost over.
The patient’s condition seemed more serious than expected.
It was a good thing. Adele couldn’t laugh even when people were laughing their heads off. The two-hour show just flashed before her eyes and didn’t enter her mind.
Now, sobs could be heard here and there, perhaps because it was a sad scene.
And Diana’s farewell aria echoed through the large theater.
On that day when the red sun shone above her head,
You promised that
You would return when roses bloom.
“...!”
Adele’s expression hardened.
This song was the one Zimmer sang on the day she parted ways with him for the last time.
Was it a folk song that was said to be sung in the Kalame region?
She hadn’t known then. What would this song mean to them?
Where are you, my dear, coming now?
Our roses are fading, but
Your fame still shines from afar.
He was now the savior of his clan, the ruler of the world, and the lord of countless people, and he was revered.
Meanwhile, the season of roses had already passed six times, and their child had grown up like a green tree.
And he who had come back from far away had forgotten everything.
Their most shining and beautiful time.
All of it...
Many people will remember you in the distant future.
They will offer flowers on your grave.
So I will stop forgetting.
The promise I made with you, the red roses of May,
those green and shining times...
Tears fell down Adele’s cheeks.
Startled, she quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand. However, they kept falling down and eventually burst out into sobs.
“Sob! Sob!”
Adele covered her mouth tightly so that people mightn't hear her. Fortunately, people were sobbing here and there. However, it seemed like it would never work out, so she finally got up from her seat.
At that moment, she realized that someone was in the royal seat next to her, which had been empty.
The theater was dark, but Adele knew who it was without looking.
Damn it, she could feel it just by looking at a single strand of his hair. No, the air was strangely different where he was.
But you forgot about me, didn't you?
The meaning of this theater, the memories of that song, are all mine alone...
Adele, who had been glaring at him with resentment, quickly ran out of the royal seats.
Stop. Before she knew it, he was standing blocking the entrance to the royal seats.
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