Chapter 32 – Skor’s Secret
I returned home and sent Skor to her room.
When I laid her down on the bed, she grabbed onto my sleeve.
“What’s wrong, Skor? Do you miss me?”
“…t-that, well… in that sense”
“Then, what is it?”
Skor remained silent. She looked like she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. I wondered if I should ask her myself.
In the first place, I don’t even know much about ” Borodin, The Elven Country”. Why was Skor a Holy Maiden even though she was an elf? And why did he end up on this uninhabited island?
…But that’s not important now.
I’m not good at prying into things.
However, Skor slowly began to speak.
“Rasty-san, don’t you remember?”
“What do you mean by ‘don’t you remember’?”
“I am an elf from Borodin, The Elven Country, but I’m also a Holy Maiden. I was approached by the Dvorak Empire for an arranged marriage.”
“Heh, that’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Is the other person the first or second prince, my darn older brothers?”
Of course, it wasn’t me.
I was the third prince who has fallen behind
What’s more, I was a stranger.
My father must have known about it, so an arranged marriage with Skor…
“It’s Rasty-san.”
“――――Eh?”
“I’m saying it’s Rasty-san.”
“Uh, that’s a lie…”
“I’m not lying. I consented to the arranged marriage with the third prince, which is you. But before that could happen, you were exiled…”
“Y-You knew about it? Could it be…you followed after me and ended up drifting here?”
“That’s right. I, Rasty-san… I wanted to see you.”
…Seriously!?
Even though it was supposed to be an arrange marriage, it didn’t happen. Actually, I didn’t even hear about it. That old man, my father, kept it a secret from me.
“But why would you care about me, who you’ve never met before?”
“… Um, well, actually, I met you only once when I was a child.”
“Me and Skor?”
“Yes, ten years ago. It was when His Majesty the Emperor and the princes came to inspect Borodin, The Elven Country, and visited the Humoresque Palace. I met Rasty-san there.”
Ten years ago… well, I don’t remember. My childhood memories are hazy. But I see…Skor remembered.
“But why me?”
“Th-that’s a bit… I don’t think I can say it myself…”
“Could it be that, when I was a child… I made a promise about the future?”
At that moment, Skor’s face turned bright red. What an accurate guess! What was I even saying back when I was a kid?!
But I see… that feeling of discomfort has finally been cleared up. From the moment we met, I never felt like she was a stranger. We got along right away…and we made it this far without quarreling. Ah, I’m a little pathetic that I don’t remember.
But to have her follow after me to this uninhabited island like this ―― I’m honestly happy. In order not to waste Skor’s feelings, I have to work even harder.
“Rasty-san, I…”
“Thanks for telling me. It’s time to sleep now. Let’s talk again slowly next time.”
“Yes, as long as I have Rasty-san who I can rely on… that’s enough for me.”
Skor’s smiling expression deeply moved my heart… I want to protect this smile.
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