“Siraiya…!”
“I’m going to get braver so we can do even more things together. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, Cynthia.”
His words made me swoon, though he was blushing just as furiously as always. He must have worked up so much courage to kiss me on the forehead for the first time.
“Me too, Siraiya.”
I wanted to feel his perseverance even more, so with that last simple wish, I nuzzled up against his large body.
✦ ✦ ✦
✶✶✶
ESTELLISE showed up at my room only moments after Lady Cynthia and Siraiya left.
The personal guard who’d been with me since I was a child closed the door behind her. With that, the two of us were alone together.
“Rutherford is making a move, so don’t let your guard down.”
“I understand.”
She gave me a single nod. Then the conversation died…
“…This is a weakness of mine. Here I am, wanting to talk to you even more, and yet here I go talking business…” When I confessed my thoughts to Estellise, her purple eyes looked at me kindly.
“I feel the same way. I always conceal what’s truly on my mind, even when there’s a necessity to speak it. Where would we be right now without Cynthia’s help?”
“I couldn’t agree more…”
Estellise and I were only still together because of the advice Lady Cynthia gave me during our academy days.
When I saw the star-shaped ring on Estellise’s pinky, I gently took her hand in mine.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes, it’s lovely.”
The toy ring wasn’t suited for a noblewoman like Estellise at all. The paint was already chipping away at the edges, exposing the material underneath.
The appearance of the crown prince’s fiancée was highly regulated. Sometimes meetings were even held about the political implications of what they wore. Only clothing items that had been thoroughly reviewed were allowed to be sent to Estellise, just like with personal gifts.
This was the first time I ever got to give her something without going through an entire inspection. That star-shaped ring would become a lasting memory shared between us, with no one else getting to impose their will on it.
I gazed at the ring for a while before letting go of her hand. But I couldn’t bring myself to look up at her. I was so pathetic—an utter failure of a crown prince.
“…I might lose my position as crown prince. At worst, I could end up leaving Elzeria to avoid public scrutiny. I don’t want you getting wrapped up in all this. …In case things go that far, I’m going to prepare to end our engagement so that—”
“Adelberd.” Estellise stopped me mid-sentence. “I’m staying with you no matter what happens.”
“Are you absolutely certain, Estellise? You deserve better than a life chained to a ruined man. If that time really comes, I want you to forget about me. I’ll even take that toy ring if it becomes a burden.”
“No, Adelberd. I made up my mind when we were little. I swore I’d grow to become a woman who can support you.”
“But that was only if I became the crown prince, and that’s no longer a guarantee. I need to take precautions and make sure you don’t suffer if my life collapses around me.” I hung my head, still unable to look my fiancée in the eyes.
“Adelberd!”
Suddenly, my cheeks stung sharply. Estellise had slapped my face with both hands, and she now held it squished between her palms. No one had ever done such a thing to me in all my life. I was so startled, I looked up and met Estellise’s gaze involuntarily.
“I told you, didn’t I? I’m going to support you as a person, Adelberd. That’s not just because you’re the crown prince.” She leaned in even closer to me.
“Esty…”
I called her by her nickname, ready to tell her to wait. But before I knew what was happening, my mouth was forcibly closed. Estellise had pressed her soft lips to mine—although, maybe a bit too violently. Both of us were still inexperienced kissers.
Once our lips separated, I could see the fire of determination burning in Estellise’s eyes.
“Don’t think you can run away from me, Adelberd. Whatever future comes, you best believe I’ll be there at your side.”
The intensity of Estellise’s love overpowered me. She was starting to convince me—no matter where we ended up, I could picture that purple hair of hers fluttering next to me.
What was it that Siraiya called this kind of deep love? He said it was a foreign word Lady Cynthia taught him…
“Could you be a ‘yandere…?’”
“Yandere…?” she repeated.
“It’s a foreign word for a deeply loving person.”
“I see… Then yes, I’m a yandere whenever it comes to you, Adelberd.”
Estellise quietly removed her hands from my cheeks. But I instantly missed her touch, so I pulled her into my arms.
“We won’t have an easy life if we’re chased out of the country. I don’t think I’ll even be able to buy you toy rings anymore.”
“This one is the only ring I need, so long as I have you.”
“I see… I… I see…”
There was no need to say anything more. We embraced each other in silence.