Rae spoke up then, seeming to remember something only at that moment. “That reminds me, Your Majesty. I forgot to thank you.”
“For what?”
“Your harp. You were incredible back there.”
“You truly were,” I said. “Everyone was mesmerized.”
“…Nonsense. I didn’t do anything special. Playing the harp is just something I do to kill time,” he said. He seemed to still not like being praised for playing the harp even though he was so wonderful at it.
“Who taught you to play like that?” Rae asked.
“My mother… When she was still alive, on her sickbed.”
“Oh, I see.” Rae paused for a moment like an idea had come to her. “Then I guess her love lives on in you through your music.”
Thane’s eyes went wide. I wondered what might be wrong, when suddenly a single tear streamed down his cheek.
“Y-Your Majesty?” Rae stammered.
“Your Majesty, is something the matter?” I asked, worried.
“…I’m fine…I’m fine, it’s just…to think she’s always been with me this whole time…” His voice was only a low murmur, but it was full of reflection.
I had liked Thane in the past. But having now learned what love feels like from Rae, I can safely say my feelings for him were never anything more than admiration. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t care about him. Seeing a long-held burden lift off his shoulders like this brought me relief.
I noticed my father watching us from a short distance away. He seemed like he still had some regrets, but he wore a look of relief as well. I could just imagine the words he might say: So in the end, we failed to die…
Indeed, Father. We failed to die. But I’m sure there is meaning to be found in living as well.
“Hey, Rae, Claire. That was nicely played back there, not that I expected any less.” Manaria arrived, accompanied by Lene.
“Miss Claire! It’s been too long!”
“Sister! And Lene!” I was overcome with joy to see the two. I had thought I would never see either of them again. Lene seemed just as overjoyed by our reunion, perhaps because our last parting had been for what we thought would be life. She hugged me with tears in her eyes, and I began to tear up as well.
“Are you jealous, Rae? You’re still welcome to be my wife,” Rod said as he joined our growing gathering.
“I refuse.”
“I know.” He let out a roar of laughter. He was as cheerful as ever and would probably continue to be the way he was, never faltering, for as long as he lived.
“Rae… Miss Claire…” Lilly stood some distance away, a soldier on both sides. “I want to apologize.”
“Oh, Miss Lilly… It’s okay. None of what happened was your fault,” Rae said.
“Rae is absolutely right. Salas used you,” I said.
Lilly’s split personality, Alter, was something made by Salas. All the blame lay on him. If anything, Lilly was a victim here.
“E-even so, what I’ve done was unforgivable. I will accept whatever punishment the people decree.” I could tell her will was set in stone. That being the case, halfhearted platitudes weren’t what she needed.
“Very well. Be sure to atone for your crimes, then.”
“Miss Claire, that’s a bit harsh…” Rae said.
I continued, “Once you’ve done that, come back to us. We will wait for you, as long as it takes.”
Tears began to well up and pour from Lilly’s eyes. “Thank you, Miss Claire. I hope I can fight over Rae with you someday again.”
She was taken away by the soldiers then. I didn’t know what her punishment would ultimately be, but I truly wished her the best.
“This has become quite the party, huh?” Rod whistled as he looked at the assembled faces. He was right, of course. We had all three royal children now gathered, as well as Manaria, Lene with Lambert in tow, and even Misha.
“It would seem Lady Claire and Rae are blessed with good company,” Misha emotionally said.
“Well…” Yu gently interjected. “Everyone here has been aided by Rae and Claire at some point. I think it’s more appropriate to say their actions are what have brought us together like this.”
Her words resonated deeply with me. Mother, are you watching? Together with Rae, I’ve done many things. I acted a bit rashly for a moment, but even a girl as selfish as I was able to make this many wonderful, wonderful friends.
“C’mon now, Rae. Wasn’t there something you wanted to tell Claire when you saw her again?” Manaria took a teasing tone. I felt her push me from behind.
Caught off guard, I stumbled a few steps forward. Before I realized it, I was standing right before Rae, who had a serious look on her face.
“Um… Miss Claire?”
“Wh-what?”
“W-well… Actually, never mind…”
“If you have something to say, say it.”
The important things needed to be said right away as one never really knew if another chance would come. Sooner was better than never. I’d learned that lesson the hard way.
Of course, that lesson applied to me as well. I had nearly walked to my death. There was something I needed to tell Rae.
“Miss Claire!”
“Yes, yes, out with it already,” I said curtly to hide my embarrassment.
She grabbed my shoulders and said, “Please marry me!”
It took a few moments for her words to process in my mind. When they finally did so, I went as red as a tomato. Cheers erupted from the peanut gallery.
“You’re asking me this n-now? In public? Isn’t that something you’re supposed to do when we’re alone?!”
I hadn’t the slightest idea how I should respond to such an unexpected proposal. Of course, I understood the actual act of responding was quite a simple matter: I merely needed to nod and say “With pleasure,” did I not? But alas, even in such a critical moment, I could not swallow my pride.
“Really? Well, give me a redo anyway.”
“F-fine. I’ll make a special exception and allow it.”
“A redo of this, Miss Claire.”
“Huh?”
She drew close while I was still confused and gently stole my lips. My thoughts stopped a second time, and our surroundings went silent.
“I wanted a first kiss whose taste I could remember.” She smiled impishly like she had pulled off a prank.
“Wh-wha, Rae, you are just so, so, so…! Rae, you are just so… You’re always so…so Rae!”
“I didn’t know my name was an adjective!”
When I came to my senses, I began gently pounding my fists against her. For some inexplicable reason she had this peaceful, enlightened look on her face. Honestly, she was just…just so Rae.
“You better make me happy, okay?” I mumbled.
“Huh?” Rae and everyone around us froze stiff.
“I-I said, you better make me happy!”
Everyone looked at me in silence.
“Wh-what? Say something, will y—”
Everyone around us broke out in cheers of celebration. I was too embarrassed to look anyone in the eyes when, suddenly, Rae took me by the hand and pulled me into a trot.
“Where are we going?!”
“Anywhere! We can go anywhere, so long as we’re together!”
I once gave up all hope for the future, but now a blank canvas stretched out before me. I had no idea what kind of future I would paint, but there was one thing that was certain: I would paint it with Rae by my side.