Chapter 34
Her voice is shaking.
“I don’t get it.”
She thought about it.
As expected, she doesn’t know.
“Why are you doing this to me? Is it worth worrying about? Is there any meaning to this? Can’t you have as many friends as you want? Why me…”
“Because it has to be you.”
A solid voice without pitch.
“Why are you doing this? Because I can’t leave you alone. Is it worth carrying about? I don’t know. Meaning? There is. If you were me, would you want as many friends as you want? What’s the use of all that? You’re not here.”
After a rapid flurry of answers, one dull, wet word is repeated.
“You don’t exist.”
Her heart became weak from being bumped into, and for a moment she wanted to run away.
She’s afraid it will just go on like this.
If this wasn’t a room with all four sides blocked, she would have definitely escaped.
He became quiet as he kept his mouth shut, not daring to say anything in front of the truth that he did not want to face and that he wanted to ignore.
The moment when your body stops shaking.
She had a doubt.
‘Did he go?’
Did he give up and go because she ignored and pushed him away?
That moment when relief and bitterness intersect.
“I know, you don’t really like me.”
The voice that she thought had stopped came again.
“I know.”
Why.
“I like you.”
Why.
“I miss you.”
She was standing at a distance, unable to run away, holding on tightly to the doorknob as if it were her life.
“I wonder what you’re doing, and I wonder if you want to see me.”
A low voice echoing through the door.
“Because the whole world is filled with you.”
The sincerity that comes face to face with honesty.
“It’s all you in the end.”
The feelings she conveyed in a rough way.
“It’s okay even if you don’t believe it. It’s okay if you don’t like me.”
It has a powerful appeal in itself and penetrates her heart strongly.
“However.”
Trembling breathing.
“… Don’t avoid me.”
Her pursed her lips. She bit and bit again.
The voice was filled with a lot of pain, and I could keenly feel how much Pession had been worried, troubled, and agonized in that short period of time.
What the hell am I saying?
“Arellin, can you hear me?”
Suddenly, she felt her cheeks getting wet. She was gripping the doorknob so tightly that she run her hand over her cheek, which had turned white before she knew it.
Why on earth am I crying?
This is also scared, and I just want to hide again, so why do I grab the doorknob?
What on earth is this feeling that is rising between fears?
Why do I want to open this door?
Why do I want to see you?
Sweet.
Cklek.
A door opened for reasons that even she doesn’t know.
I soaked in your heart that suddenly pours down like a midsummer shower.
And he look at her pitifully like a puppy that has lost its owner.
“Why am I…”
Do I want to reach out to you even though I know what kind of ending we will end up?
-Do you believe what the child says?
It would be okay if you were this foolish.
A inner voice taunts her, asking her why she keep expecting more.
-I’m sure you regret it, right? Are you going to be disappointed, resentful, and suffer again?
-Even if a few years pass, I will change my words.
-You can’t completely forget about today’s events and act as if nothing happened.
-Then you will be alone again.
I know, I know, I know…
Still, she want to believe it.
Just once.
Because it’s good just once.
Wouldn’t be possible with this invisible sun prince who seems to be able to ward off any misfortune?
Is it so strange that I was feel this complacent?
“If you get close to me, you too will be unhappy.”
“If i have you, I will never be unhappy.”
“What will people say to you about why you play with me?”
“Who says that? I won’t let they say that.”
Straight, unwavering eyes are difficult. She still didn’t understand.
“Why do you do that?”
Then you will be hated.
“Why…”
You too will end up alone.
“Why?”
When she told him to give up.
“Because I like you.”
A answer given casually.
“I am…”
She was speechless at the constant pouring out of her honest feelings, so she closed her mouth and opened her eyes again.
“I don’t like you.”
Even when she told him to get hurt.
“Are you okay?”
He speak sternly, with an expression that doesn’t look good at all.
“Because I like you.”
Pession, who seemed to have no regrets pr intention to retreat, smile brightly, as if were the truth.
A smile resembling the midsummer daytime sun leaves her standing there in a daze, like a vengeful of dying and reaching Gods.
At that moment, she thought as she looked at that smile shining on her.
Perhaps.
Maybe she’s been avoiding this moment all along.
***
“…”
“…”
The awkwardness that came after about of fighting was short-lived.
“Hahahaha”
As soon as Pession laughed, his spirit suddenly relaxed. She was the only one who felt awkward.
“Be honest. How did you get here today? You skipped class, right?”
“How did you know? But I decided to work harder tomorrow!”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Someone told me.”
Who on earth told him this?
‘There is a traitor in the mansion.’
How dare you side with the Crown Prince and steal information! She have to tell Mehen later and make sure he pays the price.
“I’ve been looking for it all day. I knew you was coming here, but it was so big that I had a hard time finding it.”
“How did you know I was in this game?”
“Hmmm, by chance?”
What is this too?
She sighed as she looked at Pession, who smile brightly and never taught her anything.
“Let’s solve the puzzle.”
“Yes!”
Fortunately, it was full of puzzle devices that even a 6 years old could easily solve, so there was no difficulty.
Bye!
… The problem was that Pession kept destroying things.
“Isn’t that strange? Why does it break? I didn’t give much strength?“
“… Put that down and come here.”
“Huh!”
It’s fortunate that he listen to her very well.
“Arellin, you usually hate moving,but you’re walking well here.”
“…”
As she stood there solemnly because she had nothing to say because it was true, Pession eyes twinkled, as if he hadn’t pointed anything out.
“If it’s fun, does it make you move?”
Why do I have an aminos feeling?
She felt burdened by bright eyes that usual, so she quickly change the topic.
“Who are you here with?”
“Graham.”
She thought so.
As the Crown Prince’s chamberlain, you suffer forever your sins. She expressed her condolences to her heart.
“Arellin came with Lord Mehen, right?”
“Huh.”
He’s her mum.
“We have to go save Princess Mehen.”
“Hahaha, I also have to go save Princess Graham!”
It was a time when she was wandering around trying to solve the secret of the mansion and find the device, thinking about the two normal adult men who suddenly became Princess.
“That’s strange.”
Suddenly, Pession titled his head.
“What?”
“Hmm. I felt like something has changed.”
“What do you think has changed?”
Even after getting into trouble with Pession, she was able to solve the puzzle fairly quickly and was now at the top.
All they have to do is find the hidden room where the Princess (adult male) is trapped and open it…
“Wait for a sec.”
“…?”
Pession caught her trying to move and was alert to the surroundings.
“Arellin, I found out one thing.”
“?”
“Why can’t I see the other kids?
“I know?”
It was strange when she heard it.
Before the chase with Pession, she occasionally encountered other children who were finding and solving different puzzles.
“Hmm…”
She tried to control her negative thoughts, but she was actually feeling something strange.
A feeling of discomfort as if the atmosphere of the mansion had changed.
“Uh?”
At that time, Pession titled his head.
“Why are you doing this all of sudden?”
“Didn’t that statue just move?”
“…Stop making jokes like that.”
“That’s strange. It felt like it was moving.”
She’s not scared of ghosts or anything like that, but she doesn’t like mysteries like this. It must be like a surprise camera. Real situation? Absolutely no.
“Let’s quickly solve the puzzle and leave.”
“Uh huh?”
It was time to grab Pession arm and urge him on.
Krrrrrkk-
Stop.
She stopped at the sound of alien sound that she thought she shouldn’t have heard.
“Arellin? Are you okay?”
What is this strange feelings?
“Come here, stick close. Arellin. I will protect you.”
“Are you stupid? You might be in danger too.”
“But it can be okay if we stay together.”
“But…”
For some reason, she get the feeling that it would be dangerous even for Pession.
The back of her head keeps pulling. As if she was simulated by something.
Exited.
Exited.
The survival instinct of the weakest member of the food chain continues to fluctuate as if trying to warn of something. It was a moment when she was gripped by feeling of wanting to run away.
Wow…
For an instant, space was distorted.
“Arel?!”
The moment she almost instinctively pushed Pession away, a powerful force at tacked her.
At the same time, her consciousness became blurred.
“Arellin-!“
You can’t just leave us with a cliffhanger like that 🥺