“……st!”
In the darkness, a familiar voice echoed. At first, I thought it was an illusion. Whether my eyes were open or closed, I could see nothing. I couldn’t even tell if where I lay was real or a dream.
“Celeste!”
The muffled sound, as if water filled my ears, gradually became clearer. Celeste. That’s my name, isn’t it? Who’s looking for me?
I tried to move my body, but it was difficult. Something heavy pressed down on me.
Was it debris from the explosion? I had said I needed to escape quickly but ended up pinned down because of Franz, who wouldn’t let me go.
Foolish Franz, stubborn Franz. If you don’t know, at least listen well. I cursed him internally and slowly tried to wiggle my fingers and toes.
“Fortunately, it seems my hands and feet are fine.”
Next, I focused on my arms and legs. It was tough, but I was able to lift them slightly.
My hands and feet are okay, and my arms and legs seem intact. I don’t feel any pain elsewhere. I must have been buried in debris but somehow wasn’t injured.
Suddenly, memories of meeting Karl for the first time resurfaced when the cabin exploded, and I was trapped under the wreckage. Back then, his capable knights had shielded me with protective magic, preventing injury. But now…
“Ugh…”
Something on top of me stirred. It didn’t feel like debris sliding off.
“…Franz?”
It was a person. Franz’s body lay over mine. Though it was uncomfortable against him, I couldn’t push him off.
“Hey, Franz?”
He seemed to be groaning but soon fell silent. It seemed he absorbed all the shock by landing on me. Without regaining consciousness, he lay there moaning.
I slowly recalled the events before the explosion. I had repeatedly said we needed to leave as the explosion drew closer, yet Franz held onto me and wouldn’t let go.
Then the explosion truly struck us, and Franz pulled me into his embrace. As soon as he did, dirt and debris rained down, forcing me to lie there.
“Is he trying to save me?”
Just before the blast, Franz’s actions seemed protective, but considering it was all his fault, I couldn’t solely be grateful.
It was unbelievable that someone who sacrificed many to fulfill his own desires would risk himself for me.
Why would he try to save me, sacrificing his own body? Especially after having tried to kill Celeste multiple times?
“Celeste…! Over here, everyone, this way!”
“Beta team, all heading this way!”
The voices searching for me weren’t just one. As chaotic thoughts tangled in my mind, a warm energy began to spread from the once-frigid surroundings.
“Celeste, are you awake? Oh, my.”
“Karl…”
The familiar voice, the familiar scent, and the familiar warmth—he who rushed here to find me was none other than Karl.
My anxious heart, which had been racing, suddenly calmed. Just hearing his voice was enough to bring me relief, which struck me as strange.
No matter where I went or what I faced, he had promised to find me and protect me within his safe embrace. That promise became a reality.
The confession I had heard on his coronation day echoed in my mind alongside his voice.
“Thank you.”
Was it because I felt secure? The sound began to fade again, and my consciousness blurred. Leaving behind Karl’s urgent calls and the shouts of knights, I closed my eyes once more. I felt as if I had reached the limits of my mental endurance.
Even as I slipped into unconsciousness, the relief that someone had come to protect me completely made me sink to the ground.
***
Hank’s forehead was dripping with sweat.
He had thought how heavy the small child, barely up to his knees, would be, realizing much later that it was a complete misunderstanding and arrogance on his part.
Was she now 10kg? This small, cute, and utterly lovely child with violet hair felt unexpectedly heavy.
“Baba! Bubba!”
“Can you please stay still, sweetheart…”
She just wouldn’t sit still. Perhaps it was her constant flailing of limbs that made her feel even heavier.
Switching the child from his left to his right arm and vice versa, Hank kept grunting.
“Finally, finally…”
Why did this seemingly short distance feel so long? Hank, who had been groaning while walking, let out a small cheer when the longed-for cabin appeared before him.
The remote cabin located at the edge of the eastern woods was a place where he had chanted for it to appear with each step he took.
“Hmm, there’s someone inside.”
Smoke was rising from the chimney—meaning someone was cooking inside the house.
As Hank sweatily approached, he suddenly worried about what if no one was home.
He couldn’t leave the child alone in front of an empty house, yet he didn’t have the confidence to go back while holding her.
Realizing he should have thought of this before setting out with the child, he felt helpless.
He could only hope that someone would be home, struggling with each step until he arrived. So, the smoke rising above the chimney was incredibly reassuring.
“Alright, sweetheart. Let’s sit here for a moment.”
Hank felt a bit guilty as he sat the child in the basket. He had brought the softest and thickest blanket he had to ensure her comfort.
It was the utmost consideration he could offer her.
Hank laid the blanket over the basket and placed the child on top. Then, he rummaged in his pocket and began to write something.
‘This is Miss Valerie, Louisette’s child. I have come to deliver her as promised, now that the deadline has arrived.’
Hearing that you came from the distinguished family of counts, it felt appropriate to add a title after the child’s name.
After much consideration, Hanks wrote a brief note, checked his handwriting, and smiled in satisfaction. He carefully placed the note next to the child, who was sitting in the basket and giggling joyfully.
Hanks lifted the basket with the child in his arms. With a much more cautious step than before, he slowly climbed the wooden steps to the cabin.
Even at the small entrance stairs, only four steps high, Hanks took a breath, feeling an inexplicable shiver.
“Please come out quickly and take the child.”
I’ve done my best. Almost half a day has passed. Trying to push away the guilt of leaving the baby behind, Hanks set down the basket and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Knock.
Please take the child, hurry.
***
When I opened my eyes again, everything was settled. The debris from the explosion and the cave had transformed into a clean and orderly bedroom, and the spot where Franz had been lying was now covered with a plush, soft blanket that enveloped me.
“Celeste.”
As soon as I opened my eyes, Karl’s voice came towards me.
“…Karl, Your Majesty.”
No matter how disoriented I was, I should not call his name carelessly in front of others. I could manage that much composure now.
“Seeing you use titles, it seems you’ve fully regained your senses.”
There was a hint of laughter in Karl’s words. I wondered how long he had been sitting there, looking at me.
Given his personality, he probably sat there, watching my face from the moment he discovered me until now.
“Are you feeling well? Is there any discomfort?”
“I’m fine. Just a bit dizzy and my ears are muffled. It doesn’t seem I’ve been injured.”
“You lost your wits; there’s no way you’re unscathed.”
“That was because of the explosion….”
“True, I’m relieved to hear that.”
Karl held my hand. The warmth of his gentle palm reassured me even more.
“There were no casualties in the cave.”
No casualties in the cave. That must mean Franz was not dead.
“I see, then….”
What about Valerie? Suddenly, I felt alert.
“W-was there no one else in the cave?”
“The criminal was apprehended and detained.”
“I’m not talking about Franz, Valerie. Our Valerie….”
I had to convey the fact that I had left the child in Urentum over a year ago and crossed over to present-day LaHart alone.
“I was indeed going to check on Valerie’s whereabouts, but I wanted to ask after your condition settled down first. I heard you entered the cave with Valerie. However, when we checked the cave, there was no one else besides you and the criminal.”
“Y-your Majesty. Valerie is….”
How could I explain that the child who should be in my arms was missing? That I had left her in Urentum a year ago!
