Ch. 5: A Late Excuse
The person who looked like Deneb, and who I’d been walking around town together with, disappeared in front of the castle.
(Where did he go?)
Bewildered, I was frantically looking around when a man appeared at the castle gate and called to me.
??: “Are you the Princess of Traumere?”
OO: “Y-yes.”
??: “I am the head butler of North Cross Castle. I apologize for the delay; I shall escort you in now.”
Still concerned with the boy’s disappearance, I followed the man who had appeared to guide me inside the castle.
Butler: “In truth… Prince Deneb seems to have disappeared…”
OO: “A-ah, yes. I heard about it outside the castle…”
The butler and I talked about Deneb’s sudden disappearance as we walked towards the audience chamber.
When we arrived, the king was already waiting there.
King: “I do apologize after you’ve come all this way. What on earth could that boy be doing…”
The king scowled in regard to Deneb’s absence.
Then…-.
Deneb: “I’m back.”
I turned towards the voice and saw the person I had spent the day with.
Deneb: “I’m late because I was picking up a present for OO.”
Saying so, he took out the glass swan figurine that I had been looking at before.
OO: “This is…!”
Deneb: “Surprised?”
Deneb held his hands out wide in delight and walked towards me.
Ch. 6: It's Okay to Not be a Prince?
Deneb: “Surprised?”
Having finally arrived at the castle, I was now certain that the person I had spent the afternoon sightseeing with was the real Deneb.
Deneb: “Everything today was a surprise for you. Did you enjoy the date?”
OO: “…it surprised me.”
Deneb: “Then it was a success!”
Deneb let a mischievous smile slip onto his face as he watched me stand there blinking…-.
King: “You idiot!!”
The king sharply rebuked Deneb after hearing the whole story.
King: “How could you do something so discourteous to the Princess of Traumere!! No matter how old you get, you’re always playing pranks like a child… It concerns me, as I cannot leave this kingdom to you!”
But Deneb just smiled at the king’s resentment.
Deneb: “Looks like he’s pretty angry. Let’s leave my father alone for now! Come on, let’s go!”
OO: “Eh…-.”
Then he took my hand and ran out of the room.
…
……
After that…-.
Deneb brought me to his room.
At some point, the sun had set, and the stars were starting to shine in the sky…-.
(Is this really alright, considering how furious the king was…?)
Deneb: “Why do you look so depressed?”
OO: “I was thinking about the king…”
At my concern, Deneb chuckled.
Deneb: “We’re the epitome of a normal parent-child relationship, so don’t worry, it’s fine.”
He suddenly got up from the bed where he’d been sitting and took my hand.
Deneb: “Come here. The night air feels good.”
OO: “Eh…-.”
Out on the balcony, I could feel the cool breeze against my cheeks.
Deneb: “My father and I are the complete opposite, he’s so stubborn… sorry if that scared you.”
Deneb’s light blue bangs were ruffled slightly by the night wind.
OO: “…”
I found myself staring at his beautiful profile in the moonlight.
Deneb: “What’s up? Are you mad?”
OO: “N-no… it would be good if the two of you got along.”
Our eyes met and I hurriedly looked away.
Deneb: “All we do is fight so I wouldn’t say we’re exactly close. But it’s alright, since we don’t hate each other!”
I let out a sigh of relief hearing Deneb’s unconcerned answer.
Deneb: “Anyway… did you have fun today? I figured you wouldn’t be able to really enjoy yourself in the castle at some stiff formal party.”
OO: “Eh…”
I felt his eyes on me and turned…
Deneb was leaning against the railing of the balcony, his hand on his cheek, looking at me sideways.
Deneb: “It’s just, you’re so normal.”
(Normal…)
My shoulders drooped slightly, and Deneb chuckled.
Deneb: “It’s not a bad thing? I was really wanting to go on a normal date like that.”
OO: “…yeah. There were a lot of surprises, but it was fun. And just like you said, I’m not very good with parties…”
As I spoke, Deneb looked at me kindly with his jewel-like eyes.
Deneb: “Yeah, that’s what I figured.”
(What a strange person… we only spent part of a day together, but it’s like he knows me completely…)
I looked straight into his fantastically shining eyes.
OO: “Yes. I’m positive you showing me around was the more fun option.”
Deneb: “There are still a lot of places I want to show you. I’m looking forward to that next time!”
OO: “Thank you.”
He smiled as he spoke happily.
Then…-.
Deneb: “I think it’s really cute when you’re honest like that.”
OO: “Eh…”
His words were almost too upfront, and I felt my cheeks heating up.
Deneb: “Ah, but…”
OO: “?”
Deneb: “If I go out with you to places as a normal person, like you’d prefer, I won’t be able to NOT fight with my father~ Because of you, I might be stripped of my right to inherit the throne…”
Deneb hung his head, his expression falling as his voice seemed choked with tears.
Seeing him like that was so pitiable… I felt affection blooming in my heart.
OO: “I-I can’t let that happen…!”
Deneb: “You can’t? But you like normal things, right?”
He peered into my eyes, suddenly bending forward so far that the distance between us closed.
(I-it’s embarrassing when he’s this close…)
OO: “Th-that’s not what I…”
I tried to deny it even as I became more flustered…
Deneb: “I’d be alright giving up my position as prince if it was for you OO. Because then you’d be the one that would have to take responsibility for me.”
OO: “Deneb…?”
Deneb: “Come on, answer my wish? Promise you’ll aaalways be with me?”
In an instant, Deneb’s usual soft and fragile face changed into something a little more mean-spirited.
(Is he serious…? Or is he trying to prank me again…?)
Those thoughts whirled around frantically in my head but…
Deneb: “Your answer?”
As he watched me, I could only nod my head.
OO: “Alright… I promise.”
Deneb grinned and turned his head to the stars.
Deneb: “Tomorrow’s supposed to be clear. Where should we go? The stars are pretty from here, but there’s a place we can go where they look even prettier. Ah, but to do that, we’ll have to leave the castle at dawn.”
Deneb seemed to be enjoying himself as he chuckled and smiled.
He may still be toying with me but…
I was thinking about the place Deneb would take me the next day.
END
Secret Story: My Adorable Girlfriend
After I gave OO her surprise present at the castle…-.
King: “How could you have done something so discourteous to the Princess of Traumere!! No matter how old you get, you’re always playing pranks like a child… It concerns me, as I cannot leave this kingdom to you!”
(Geez… he’s really stubborn. I was just trying to make OO happy.)
I pulled on OO’s hand and ran out of the room.
We eventually went out on the balcony into the refreshing night air.
Deneb: “My father and I are the complete opposite, he’s so stubborn… sorry if that scared you.”
OO: “N-no… it would be good if the two of you got along.”
(Sorry. I made you worry about me…)
Deneb: “Anyway… did you have fun today?”
I asked with a smile, trying to change the topic.
Deneb: “I figured you wouldn’t be able to really enjoy yourself in the castle at some stiff formal party.”
OO: “Eh…”
I looked at her sideways as I leaned against the railing of the balcony, my hand on my cheek.
She looked surprised when she turned to look at me.
OO: “…yeah. There were a lot of surprises, but it was fun. And just like you said, I’m not very good with parties…”
Deneb: “Yeah, that’s what I figured.”
(I may have angered Father, but I wanted to make you happy. Princesses and princes, I just want to skip over that stuff. No matter what anyone around me says, I want to give you the ultimate happiness. That’s why…)
Deneb: “There are still a lot of places I want to show you. I’m looking forward to that next time!”
OO smiled at my words.
(I’m glad I could make her happy. But… I kind of like her expression when she’s troubled too~)
Her expression lit a fire in me that made me want to tease her even more.
So…
Deneb: “If I go out with you to places as a normal person, like you’d prefer, I won’t be able to NOT fight with my father~ Because of you, I might be stripped of my right to inherit the throne…”
OO: “I-I can’t let that happen…!”
I purposely exaggerated how upset I seemed, and her reaction was exactly what I’d hoped for.
Deneb: “You can’t? But you like normal things, right?”
OO: “Th-that’s not what I…”
I moved closer as I asked, and OO became more flustered.
In the face of that…
Deneb: “I’d be alright giving up my position as prince if it was for you OO.”
(She might not believe me since I have a habit of teasing her… but these are my true feelings.)
Deneb: “Because then you’d be the one that would have to take responsibility for me. Come on, answer my wish? Promise you’ll aaalways be with me?”
(I don’t want you to be apart from me, no matter what happens…)
I looked straight at her, waiting.
Deneb: “Your answer?”
OO: “Alright… I promise.”
I pressured her for an answer, and even while she was still flustered, she gave a small nod.
(Yes…!)
I felt happiness fill my heart at her answer…
Deneb: “Tomorrow’s supposed to be clear. Where should we go? The stars are pretty from here, but there’s a place we can go where they look even prettier. Ah, but to do that, we’ll have to leave the castle at dawn.”
OO looked away in embarrassment as I spoke.
But only a little while after that…
OO: “If you’re with me, I’m sure I’ll enjoy wherever we go.”
Deneb: “…! Hehe… that so? Thanks ♪”
Attempting to ignore how much my heart was racing, I kissed her forehead.
Then as her gaze turned away in embarrassment…
Deneb: “I have such an adorable girlfriend~♪”
OO: “…!”
After I had teased her by speaking my true feelings, I gazed into her eyes even as I felt bad for how red her cheeks turned.
END