99 – 24. Now I know (6)
Various -.
After finishing all the errands at the Imperial Palace, the way back to Lichtenau.
Adele and Shien are sitting together in the carriage this time, but there is a slightly strange atmosphere.
Before coming to the imperial palace, we used to talk about this and that.
Both of them were not saying a word today.
“… .”
“… .”
It’s probably to the point where someone who doesn’t notice too much will ask if they fought if they saw this scene.
There was something inexplicable going on between the two men.
‘What do you mean, Shien? You seem to like it?’
There is no such thing as ‘I don’t know’. Adele. If you like it, you like it, and if you don’t, you don’t.’
‘Why are you pretending not to know? It’s not a time when you don’t even know your own heart, right?’
‘No need to be ashamed, no reason to push away. If you like it, you like it.’
Each of them recalls the words of the princess Ekaterina and the emperor.
Due to their own circumstances, and because of the place they are staying.
The two of them tried to get closer, but in the end they shook their heads.
This time, I was able to move forward a little more without turning around.
‘If you think you like it, go closer.’
‘If you do, you’ll find out for yourself whether that’s true or not.’
‘If that was an illusion, if it wasn’t, I’d feel at ease.’
‘If it wasn’t a misunderstanding, wouldn’t it be good for each other?’
Recalling those words, Adele and Shien slightly lifted their heads.
But as soon as their eyes met, they hurriedly looked away again.
Perhaps if the emperor and princess saw this scene, they would grab their foreheads.
The two men and women who kept looking at each other like that.
The one who opened his mouth first was Shien, who still wanted to get a little closer.
“I. Adele. Did His Majesty speak of the Witchbeast?”
“yes. He sent a captured witch beast and roughly told us the results of the investigation.”
“okay. I got compliments, and it’s good. That’s great.”
Then again silence, it was a really frustrating moment.
I was told that one or the other would go first.
Unfortunately, Shien couldn’t move forward as Shien and Adele did as Adele.
Is this really just a crush or something more.
Do you not have the courage to find out in a situation where you are not sure?
“… Adele.”
At that moment, Xian stepped forward. I mustered up my courage first.
“You told me last time. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome that fear.”
“yes. I remember you saying that.”
“So, I’ll show you that courage.”
Suddenly, before Adele could ask what that meant.
Xien decided to come up with something he wanted to say and ask.
“Did I say I like you?”
“You said so.”
“And you said you liked me, too.”
“That’s right.”
“… The good thing is, you as a man. Does that mean you see me as a woman?”
The moment Adele heard that question, her heart skipped a beat.
Even in the middle of the emperor’s question, the answer that I couldn’t spit out until the end.
He was saying that right in front of him, asking Cien to answer.
“… Shien.”
“Answer my question.”
At the voice of a woman who was even a little strict, Adele was at a loss.
Shien’s heart weakened at the sight of a figure he had never seen before.
However, he bit his lip and waited for his answer.
I thought there was no reason to hesitate any longer.
His position has been solidified, and Lichtenauer’s position is overwhelming.
Adele became something that would never come out of Lichtenau again.
And now, didn’t even the princess step in and tell them to stop approaching each other?
“… I, I don’t know.”
I can’t deny it, but it’s a very ambiguous situation to affirm it.
So Adele gave an answer that she didn’t know.
If there was an emperor right next to him, he would have denounced him as a foolish answer.
Adele herself knew how stupid this answer was.
But right now, the answer that comes to mind is none other than that.
What more to answer here, he did not know.
“is it so?”
But the answer that Adele didn’t know, Shien knew.
“Then, would you like to hear my answer first?”
I hardened my heart. Should I move away, should I approach, or should I stand.
I was lost in those questions, but I don’t have to do that anymore.
Shien thought so and looked straight into Adele’s eyes.
“I like you. Not just a crush on Adele, as a person. As a woman, the man in front of me. is it so. Love heart. I have that in mind.”
“that… .”
“Adele, how are you?”
With a light smile, Shien asked.
This is my heart, now let me know your heart.
Whether that’s the answer that I am too, or that it shouldn’t be.
Ask for a definite answer to anything, that’s what Shien was saying.
“… .”
Confusing. I don’t know what to do.
Adele was lost for the first time.
It was the first time. Looking at myself who is not so sure.
It shakes my heart so much more than any other emotion I’ve ever had.
These are things I thought I would never have in my life.
“How about this?”
Once again, Shien’s question flew in.
It’s an extremely soft and lithe tone, but it resonates louder than thunder.
I gripped my hands tightly and bit my lips.
“If it were just me, that would be it. If you don’t feel like it, that’s not bad either.”
“… .”
“It must be a frenzy of love that everyone passes through at least once. You should be able to stay that way.”
Shien’s voice was slightly trembling when he said that.
There was no way Adele, right in front of her, would not notice.
I know in my head what to answer.
But even so, the heart holds on to those words and won’t let go.
It’s not that I can’t accept it. It’s because I’m afraid to accept it.
Aren’t you the one who has lived as a wolf, a monster, not a human?
I thought I would do that for the rest of my life. I want to be human, but I thought I couldn’t.
No matter where you go, in the end you can’t throw away your original nature.
There will never be anything to erase this anger, hatred, and resentment that has pierced our hearts.
Colleagues who left first, those who shared blood and tears said so.
first. yeah, that was the first time never been like this
Originally, these were words that would have flowed casually.
But this time, it’s like he won’t let go even if he dies.
As a human being, he held the words of the woman sitting in front of him to his heart.
“It is a very nice day.”
Is it because I finished everything I had to say?
Or is it that he wants to hide his bitter heart?
Shien looked out the window and said that.
“… Shien.”
Adele looked at the woman like that, then parted her lips.
I couldn’t understand myself shaking all of a sudden, even though I hadn’t been doing anything until now.
So, without realizing it, he decided to force himself a little.
“no. that. I cannot be that person.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am a monster. I want to be human, but in the end I won’t be able to.”
“… .”
“You shine. And the light must stay in a place where it can receive the light and shine again. There is no reason to be in a place full of blood, tears and dust.”
“If you find a place to shine, does that deserve to be called light?”
At the question that flew in, Adele couldn’t move.
“I chose it. the person you are Just because you are is enough. Did I say it shines? Stay with the others? Then I’ll be by your side Because I want to.”
“… I can’t be a good person. Like a curse, you will never get out of it.”
“I don’t know. You can leave everything behind and live a quiet life.”
“… .”
“And what if you can’t? If not, we can go all the way together, right? As a man by my side, and as the monster you speak of in front of my enemies. You can stay like that. Adele is what I adore anyway. you are yourself I don’t care about anything.”
Adele couldn’t open her mouth any more at Sean’s answer.
I just kept my head down and sorted out my messy thoughts.
“This is my first time.”
“… .”
“Having such a heart and saying things like this.”
After a brief confession, Shien opened the window.
Then he called the driver and told him to take a break and leave.
Before long, the carriage slowed down and then came to a halt.
“When I have my thoughts sorted out, I’ll let them come out. I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
Saying that, Shien was about to step out of the carriage.
rattle-.
That is, until Adele got up first and went outside.
“Adele?”
“… It’s my first time too.”
Knowing that such a dazzling light can exist.
That the light had come this close for none other than herself.
“If you allow it. Me too, I want to. I want to have the same heart.”