✶✶✶
“WE actually made it out of that mess…”
I could finally catch my breath once the inn had quieted down. It was chaotic for a while, but things were back to normal, so we were able to stay another night.
Prince Adelberd’s guards had captured all the men after the incident at the cliffs. We sent word to the knights and vigilante groups throughout the Rhuddlan territory, who came and took charge of their criminal proceedings.
The men attacking us turned out to be composed entirely of those who worshipped the Sanctorian god. That was why they allowed themselves to be arrested so easily. They felt a need to atone for the act of attacking one of God’s servants.
Prince Rutherford also explained that his mother had been behind the entire scheme and that there were even more conspirators who needed to be arrested. But his guilty conscience was resolved now that Prince Adelberd was back to normal, so he helped out by taking charge and giving orders to the knights. It was probably only a matter of time before the second queen consort was apprehended, too.
“I really thought we were done for this time.” Despite those grave words, Prince Adelberd wore a smile.
“Cynthia, the angel. You were amazing back there.” Lady Estellise grinned. She showed no signs of fatigue even after everything we just went through. No one could deny that she would make an excellent crown princess once they were married.
“I ordered them to stay silent about the existence of angels, but I don’t know if it will be very effective. You ought to lie low until the second queen consort tells us how to break the curse,” Prince Adelberd advised.
“I’m in a bit of a pinch, aren’t I? These wings are much harder to conceal than Prince Adelberd’s ears…”
The wings were far too large to hide under a cloak. My only choice was to live in secrecy for the present.
Siraiya remained behind my wings the entire time. He explained that my wings had ripped a hole in my yukata spanning all the way down to my hips, and he didn’t want anyone else to catch a glimpse of my exposed skin, so he kept it covered with a haori.
Prince Rutherford was in the room with us, too, but he was hanging his head without so much as a word. I knew this entire incident weighed heavily on his mind.
I couldn’t just ignore him in that state. I called out to him, leaning in to try and get a look at his face. “Are you all right?”
“…I almost let you die, Lady Cynthia… I’m…truly sorry.” He balled his fists before continuing. “Also, you too, Siraiya… I’m sorry. You both could’ve died because of my mistake. Forgive me…!” Prince Rutherford’s voice was strained, but his apology to Siraiya was genuine. I couldn’t hear any animosity in his tone this time.
Before I could come up with the right words to console him, Siraiya beat me to the punch.
“If you hadn’t come back to tell us what was going on, we might’ve been captured at the inn before we got the chance to escape. Those men were really riled up, too, so they easily could’ve killed us. It was your judgment that saved us in the end. Prince Rutherford, please lift your head and don’t lose your confidence.”
The younger prince gulped and raised his head, looking back at Siraiya with a startled expression. The shock of those words caused tears to spill from his eyes. After a few sharp breaths, he raised his trembling voice.
“Thank you, Duke Siraiya Brooke.”
I see… He needed praise, not consoling.
Siraiya had been so depressed back when he was still in school. He didn’t believe in himself at all. But now, he could encourage others and get them back on their feet. Seeing his growth made me so happy, I couldn’t stop a big grin from spreading across my face. “I agree with Siraiya,” I added.
“Thank you, Lady Cynthia.”
I could tell that the young prince, who was blushing shyly, had let go of some of his burdens.
“There’s…one more thing I need to confess.” He looked away briefly, then brought his blue eyes back up to meet mine.
“To me? What is it?”
“I… I loved you.”
The earnestness in his words and his expression told me that this was no joke. I sat up straighter in response. So he meant the other kind of confession? I felt embarrassed, but I didn’t want to play dumb either.
“I see…”
“I still love you, even now. But I made up my mind tonight that I need to give up on you. I’m never going to defeat the man who threw himself off a cliff to save you. You really chose an incredible guy.”
“Yes, I certainly did. With Siraiya at my side, I don’t have eyes for anyone else.”
That’s why I can’t reciprocate your feelings for me.
“Right… I understand…”
Prince Rutherford looked hurt for a moment, but then he nodded and smiled. The way he accepted this reality so easily almost made him seem like an adult. Perhaps I was being rude all this time by treating him as a child, not an equal.
I extended my hand toward him. “Let’s continue to be good friends, Prince Rutherford.”
We were a noblewoman and a member of the royal family. Just because I didn’t reciprocate his feelings didn’t mean that we would never meet again. Since we would have to see each other again, I wanted us to greet each other with smiles when that time came.
The prince observed my hand for a moment, then slowly brought his own hand up as he answered me. “I was jealous that Siraiya got to stand by your side and hold hands with you. But…” Prince Rutherford squeezed my hand firmly. “I guess friends get to hold hands too, don’t they?”
When he smiled and said that to me, he’d changed back into that same adorable young boy I first met.