Until The Real One Shows Up​

“I had a nightmare.”

Wilhelm confessed, his voice slightly trembling. “It was the dream from the day of the carriage accident. My brother choked me, accusing me of killing him.”

Anastasia listened in silence to Wilhelm’s agonizing confession.

“Maybe….”

Silence hung heavy between them.

“Maybe I really…” He paused for a long moment before continuing. “I may have killed him, as they say. So it wouldn’t be strange if Louis hated me.”

“…”

“So I can’t go see him. If I feel that way when I face him… I won’t be able to bear it.”

“There is no way Louis would think that way,” Anastasia interjected, breaking the silence and refuting his assertion. Wilhelm looked at her with a slightly surprised expression.

Anastasia softened her expression and continued, “If you avoid seeing Louis with that thought, he might misunderstand even more. He might think His Majesty hates him.”

“…”

“In fact… I’ve had similar thoughts,” Anastasia admitted with a slightly awkward smile. “Now that I’ve become his friend, I’ll ask when we grow closer.”

“What exactly do you plan to ask?” Wilhelm inquired.

“What does he think of His Majesty?” Anastasia responded.

“…don’t engage in futile endeavors,” Wilhelm cautioned.

“It’s not futile at all,” Anastasia insisted.

“Empress,” Wilhelm interjected.

“Even if Louis perceives it that way,” Anastasia continued, her voice gentle but resolute.

“I’m determined to change his perception, as it’s all a misunderstanding,” Anastasia asserted.

“Why would you go to such lengths?” Wilhelm questioned, prompting Anastasia to attempt to respond, though Wilhelm spoke again before she could. 

“Misunderstanding? How can you be so certain when I’m not even sure myself?”

“But I have faith in it,” Anastasia calmly confessed. “Your Majesty did not kill the Emperor and Empress.”

Silence followed.

“So, please honor my trust,” Anastasia implored, her gaze steady as she looked at Wilhelm. “I hope you can find conviction in your innocence as well.”

Wilhelm remained speechless, his expression stunned.

Anastasia turned her gaze ahead, where the Central Palace stood majestically in view.

“We’re almost there,” she remarked, then turned back to Wilhelm, gracefully bowing. “Please return home safely, Your Majesty. And… I wish you pleasant dreams.”

With a brief farewell, Anastasia turned away and headed towards the Empress’ Palace, appearing to have no regrets.

“…”

However, in truth, she struggled to suppress the lingering regrets she couldn’t shake off.

~~~~

Following that, Anastasia made it a habit to visit Louis almost every day.

“You’re here again?” 

Despite noticing Louis’s slight weariness from her daily visits, Anastasia remained undeterred. After all, they were friends now!

“Friends should see each other every day,” she insisted.

“Isn’t your schedule busy?” Louis inquired skeptically.

“I am busy,” Anastasia admitted with a shrug. Louis regarded her with suspicion, but she truly was occupied. As the Empress, she was responsible for overseeing international affairs, which was arguably the most significant event for Rosenberg. Additionally, she was involved in volunteer work, sponsorship activities, and monitoring the progress of Asterim’s school construction.

“But I make it a point to carve out time to visit my friend,” she affirmed.

But it was Louis who put in the most effort, which was only natural.

“Nothing is more difficult than winning people’s hearts.”

Louis was initially very wary of her, requiring her to spend considerable time and effort to put him at ease.

“You don’t want me to come? Are you tired of me?” Anastasia asked Louis with a wistful look. 

Louis flinched and couldn’t answer, prompting Anastasia to laugh inwardly, confident in her approach.

‘I’m so good at this. You can’t resist it.’

She frequently made him new liquid monsters, his favorite, and engaged him in various games to suit his tastes, like origami and doll war games.

While Louis remained cautious around Anastasia, he often participated in the games.

“Don’t come tomorrow.”

“Why? Was today’s game boring?”

“…No.”

“Then why?”

“…just don’t come. I’m tired of playing with you.”

“But isn’t it always new and exciting? I’ll be back tomorrow with even more fun toys.”

“…Fine, you can come.”

It was the same routine every day. The little cutie.

‘I don’t think you’ve fully opened up to me yet, but…’

Still, their relationship was clearly better than it was at the start.

At least he no longer kept his distance, bristling with sharp thorns like a hedgehog.

For now, that change alone was satisfactory enough.

“What did you study today?”

“Well… studied history.”

Louis, who had been answering absentmindedly, added as if he had almost forgotten.

“I took the test and got a perfect score.”

“A perfect score? Really?”

Anastasia asked, looking genuinely surprised.

“Wow, Louis. That’s amazing. My friend is so smart!”

“…it’s nothing,” Louis replied nonchalantly.

“Olivia said a perfect score is just expected, not a big deal.”

“…”

Internally cursing Olivia, Anastasia gave an awkward laugh.

“Never, Louis. A perfect score is amazing! You got everything right without a single mistake? You deserve a lot of praise! How about I stamp a ‘Good Job!’ on you?”

Without waiting for Louis to respond, Anastasia pulled out a small stamp and pressed it onto the back of his hand.

Louis frowned and looked at the mark. In a round circle, a pretty rose smiled with the phrase “Good Job!”

“What is this?” he asked.

“I made it for you,” Anastasia replied with a shrug. “It’s a seal that shows how great you are. Oh, I also brought you a present.”

Anastasia winked at Selene, who had been standing behind her, and Selene stepped forward with a box, as if she had been waiting for the cue.

Louis eyed the box in front of him with a curious expression.

“What is this?”

“Open it.”

Louis carefully opened the box. Instantly, Anastasia heard a small gasp.

She smiled, delighted by Louis’ surprised look.

“Do you like it?”

The box was filled with sweet desserts: a fresh strawberry whipped cream cake, a grape-filled tart, and a rich-looking brownie…

“Wow… It’s pretty.”

“I brought it to share with you, Louis. I know studying has been tough lately.”

Louis looked at Anastasia in surprise.

“This? With me?”

“Of course. You should enjoy delicious food with your friends.”

Anastasia smiled and instructed Selene to set up the desserts. Soon, the table was filled with colorful treats.

“Eat up, Louis.”

But despite his excitement, Louis hesitated to touch the desserts. Finding it odd, Anastasia asked,

“Don’t you like desserts, Louis?”

“What?”

“You weren’t eating… If you don’t like what I brought…”

“Oh, no!”

Louis quickly responded. Anastasia stared at him.

He flushed slightly and cautiously admitted,

“Actually… I’ve never eaten anything like this before…”

“Dessert? Why?”

But she immediately realized it was a silly question.

‘Olivia must have stopped him.’

Anastasia inwardly cursed Olivia again and affectionately advised Louis,

“Try it, then. I hope it suits your taste.”

“…”

Louis skeptically eyed the strawberry whipped cream cake in front of him.

‘How delicious can it be?’

Without much expectation, he carefully dipped his fork into the whipped cream and put it in his mouth. But…

‘…What?!’

Louis’ eyes widened. This… This was a taste he had never experienced before.

‘Wow, it’s so delicious…! It’s like sweet clouds are dancing in my mouth!’

Eventually, Louis began devouring the desserts on the table as if someone were chasing him. Watching him, Anastasia smiled yet worriedly said,

“Eat slowly, Louis. No one will steal it.”

Was this what it means to feel full just by watching someone else eat?

At some point, Anastasia forgot to eat her dessert and just watched Louis. Seeing him eat so happily, she felt like her own mouth was filled with sweetness, even without tasting anything herself.

‘…but he looks a little tired these days.’

His skin, which had always been soft, seemed rather rough lately.

Anastasia watched Louis, who was absorbed in his dessert, and asked,

“Louis, are you sleeping well these days?”

Louis, who was eating strawberry cake, gently raised his head at the question. The sight of white whipped cream on his nose was so cute that Anastasia momentarily stared at him, forgetting her question.

“Ah….”

For a brief moment, a complex expression flashed across Louis’ face before he answered casually,

“Yes, …But why do you ask that?”

“Well, no. You just seem a little tired these days.”

“I’m fine.”

Louis replied in a strange voice.

“So you don’t have to worry.”