Ch. 1: Flowering Smile
Land of Flower Spirits, Vilastine, Month of Mist…-.
One afternoon, as spring was drawing near…-.
As the cold wind hit my cheeks, another prince awakened.
Gerber: “Nn… what have I… who are you?”
His eyes were round like gemstones as he looked at me, blinking.
OO: “I’m OO. Are you alright?”
I explained myself to him and…
Gerber: “You… ah, I see, thank you!”
OO: “…!”
A huge smile blossomed across his face.
It was warm, and it felt like the arrival of spring.
(Such a lovely smile…even just looking at it makes me feel better.)
I looked at him, drawn in by that smile…
Gerber: “…ah-ah-achoo!”
OO: “!”
He gave a great sneeze.
Gerber: “Ah, sorry! …I don’t handle the cold very well.”
OO: “Are you okay? We should hurry back…”
Gerber: “Yeah, looks like there’s still some snow around here…. Achoo!”
He sneezed adorably again and smiled in embarrassment.
(He’s kind of adorable.)
Gerber: “Ah, sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Gerber, Spirit of Gerbera.”
(Spirit of Gerbera…?)
Gerber: “I’m the prince of the Gerbera Family in Vilastine, the Land of Flower Spirits!”
He hunched his shoulders against the cold and held out his hand.
Gerber: “Nice to meet you!”
OO: “…likewise!”
I took his hand, and he held it tightly.
The warmth from his hand, and the brilliance of his smile…
It made me think of a large flower in bloom.
Ch. 2: Look of Confusion
We walked some ways out of the snowy field I had awakened him in…
At last, the snow disappeared, and we could see the town of Vilastine.
It was bustling, with many people walking the streets, and everyone had a smile on their face.
OO: “It looks like a wonderful place, like something out of a fairy tale.”
Gerber: “Yeah… ah! Wait here for a second.”
OO: “Eh?”
Gerber walked ahead towards an elderly woman who had fallen to her knees from carrying some heavy packages.
Gerber: “Granny, are you okay?”
Elderly Woman: “Oh my, thank you. I just thought I’d bring these things to my son’s flower shop when I suddenly sprained my ankle.”
Gerber: “Then I’ll carry them there for you instead.”
Gerber smiled at the old woman as he picked up her things and stood.
Or so I thought, when suddenly some kids rushed over to him…
Boy 1: “Prince Gerber! My sister’s balloon got stuck in a tree.”
Girl: “Waaaaaah….waaah….!”
Gerber: “There there, don’t cry. I’ll help you out. Can you look after the packages for me?”
OO: “Sure.”
Leaving me with the packages, Gerber nimbly rushed over to the trees next to the street and climbed up, grabbing the balloon and then handing it back to the little girl.
Girl: “Th-thank you…!”
Gerber: “No problem! I’m just happy I could see you smile.”
The children were full of smiles as they waved and ran down the street.
I could see Gerber’s eyes as he watched them run off, full of affection.
OO: “You’re very kind.”
I smiled at him, but…
Gerber: “…kind?”
Gerber’s eyes opened wide, and he seemed confused.
OO: “Gerber?”
Gerber: “Eh!? Aah, yeah!”
He jumped in surprise, then nodded.
(Huh… maybe I imagined it.)
I felt uneasy for some reason and…-.
OO: “Is something the matter?”
Gerber: “…”
I looked at his face when he didn’t answer.
OO: “…”
I tilted my head and stared at him.
Gerber: “Ah, what!? Sorry, I was kind of spacing out…”
He shook his head vigorously, and then I realized just how close he was…
OO: “!!”
Gerber: “Wah! S-sorry!”
Both our eyes went wide as we realized our faces had been almost close enough to touch.
Gerber: “…let’s hurry and deliver those packages for that lady!”
OO: “Right…”
(That surprised me… but what just happened?)
The unease I felt from Gerber’s expression remained, even as we headed for the flower shop with the packages.
…
……
In front of the flower shop were several people deep in discussion, frowns on their faces.
Customer 1: “Don’t you think the gerbera flowers are late blooming this year compared to past years?”
Customer 2: “Yes… this has never happened before.”
Shopkeeper: “But I’m sure they’ll be in full bloom come spring… oh, if it isn’t Prince Gerber! I apologize for any trouble my grandmother caused.”
The person who was clearly the shopkeeper spotted us and rushed over.
Gerber: “It was no trouble!”
Gerber smiled as he handed over the packages.
However, that smile seemed to lack sincerity when I saw it.
Gerber: “Anyway, about what you were just saying…”
Shopkeeper: “Ah, yes. Have you also noticed the gerbera flowers are late in blooming this year Prince Gerber?”
Gerber: “…yeah.”
Shopkeeper: “The people are worried since they seem to be blooming later and later each year…”
Customer 1: “I wonder if something happened to the goddess? I’m worried…”
OO: “Goddess?”
I looked up at Gerber and saw his expression was troubled as he frowned.
Gerber: “The goddess is someone we, the flower spirits, revere, and she watches over the earth. We and the flowers are able to live good lives under her divine protection.”
Shopkeeper: “It’s weakening… in this state, I’m sure our trade with the other families will be affected.”
At those words, Gerber looked around at the shopkeeper and the gathered people…
Gerber: “Then I, as the Prince of the Gerbera Family, will go pay a visit to the goddess!”
(Eh…-.)
Customer 2: “Really!? Prince Gerber!”
Customer 1: “Thank you so much!”
Gerber: “Yeah! Leave it to me!”
His clenched his hand into a fist as he smiled but…
(Gerber…?)
I could see the faintest glimpse of confusion in his eyes.
Ch. 3: His Devotion
Gerber: “Then I, as the Prince of the Gerbera Family, will go pay a visit to the goddess!”
————————
A few days after that…-.
Gerber and I came to a cavern in Vilastine’s mountain village.
Even though spring was coming, the cavern was still freezing cold with sharp pointed stones protruding from all sides, as if baring the way.
OO: “Is the goddess really in such a dangerous-looking place…?”
Gerber: “Yeah, because the goddess is a sacred being for us flower spirits. Since long ago, this place has scared off any would-be intruders.”
Gerber looked at me apologetically.
Gerber: “Are you sure you want to come? You don’t want to turn back?”
I had been worried about Gerber, and so had asked to come with him to find the goddess.
Gerber: “…”
His clear red eyes were looking at me with concern…
OO: “I’m alright, since I can’t leave you alone when I see you like this Gerber.”
Gerber: “Eh, you were worried about me?”
Gerber pointed to himself as he flushed red.
(He’s kind of cute.)
OO: “I’m alright, don’t worry about me. I want to help everyone too since they’re in trouble…”
Gerber: “…I see, I’m glad. When I look at you, it’s kind of embarrassing. It feels like I’m looking in a mirror… haha, what am I even saying?”
He laughed as if trying to brush it off, but his cheeks were slightly pink.
Gerber: “Thank you! Don’t worry because I’m here with you!”
OO: “…!”
Gerber tightly gripped my hand.
I could feel the desperation in the strength of his grip.
(Gerber, are you really this devoted to helping other people?)
I had seen him help the people in town multiple times.
And even now, he was doing his best for those people…
(Is it because he’s a prince…? But I don’t think that’s the only reason.)
As I was thinking about it…-.
Gerber: “Look out!!”
OO: “!?”
His voice was sharp as it cut through my thoughts, and I whirled around.
My feet caught on a stone jutting up, and as I lost my balance…-.
Gerber: “…!!”
Gerber reached out his hand to catch me.
He grabbed ahold of me, and I found myself pulled into Gerber’s arms.
But his body shielded me as it was shoved against the sharp stone wall…
OO: “Are you alright!?”
Gerber: “…ng, yeah, this is nothing, I’m fine…!”
(What do I do… this is because of me.)
He had rushed over, and now there was blood oozing from his shoulder
OO: “I’m so sorry! You were trying to protect me and…”
Gerber: “What are you talking about… I’d be the one apologizing if you had gotten hurt.”
However, I saw blood oozing from his shoulder as he forced a smile.
OO: “Oh no, you’re bleeding…!”
Gerber: “Ah… so I am. That’s annoying… I wonder if I can’t move my body as well as usual because of the cold.”
Gerber looked into the depths of the cavern.
Gerber: “The sunlight can’t reach here huh? It’s darker and colder than before…”
OO: “Let’s head back, quick!”
I made the proposal after seeing Gerber’s injury.
But even as he stayed quiet, the blood from his injury was slowing.
OO: “Gerber!”
Gerber: “…no, I promised everyone.”
OO: “But at this rate…”
Gerber: “Even so, the people are in trouble and looking to me. I absolutely cannot betray the trust they put in me…-“
I could see the strength of his feelings and his resolution in his eyes.
But for him to go so far as to sustain an injury for that resolution…-.
(Why are you doing this…?)
My heart ached as I watched him, willing to sacrifice himself to help others.
Ch. 4: Brimming with Anxiety
I accompanied Gerber, who had injured himself trying to protect me, and we arrived at the edge of some water in the cavern.
OO: “For now, let’s try and treat the wound, alright?”
Gerber: “Yeah…”
Gerber grimaced in pain as he sat down next to me.
(There’s so much blood…)
OO: “I’m sorry, because of me…”
I was so worried considering it had been my own carelessness that had caused him to get hurt…
Gerber: “It’s alright, don’t look so worried. I’m just really happy you weren’t hurt.”
He placed his hand on my head and smiled kindly.
That smile pained my heart.
OO: “Hurry and let me see…”
I dunked my handkerchief in the water and dabbed it at the wound on his shoulder.
Gerber: “…!”
OO: “Does it sting…?”
Gerber: “Th-that’s not it! Yup, I’m totally fine…”
Gerber still tried to smile at me.
However, as I worked to remove the stone fragments that were stuck in the injury…
Gerber: “Ah, wait! Hold up! Do it gently…ouch!”
OO: “A-are you okay!?”
His bluff vanished and his face twisted in pain.
Gerber: “…I’m so pathetic. Even when I told you not to worry since I was with you.”
Gerber hung his head with a bitter smile and I…
OO: “That’s not true, I thought you were really cool.”
Gerber: “Eh…?”
He blinked and then stared at me with those big eyes.
OO: “I was happy that you saved me. Thank you, Gerber.”
Gerber: “R-really…? Yeah, then I’m glad…! Yeah!”
He put his hand to his mouth to cover the slightly put-out smile.
Gerber: “What to do… you know, hearing you say that straight to my face, it’s kind of embarrassing.”
Gerber muttered those words as his face flushed.
(So cute… but he really needs to take better care of himself…)
I thought those things as even his injury could not extinguish his smile.
…
……
We were taking a short rest when Gerber was crouched down and hugging himself.
Gerber: “…it’s cold…”
I put my hand to his shivering head.
(He’s hot… what do I do? Did his injury get infected and cause him to get a fever? And he said he couldn’t handle the cold… this is impossible.)
I gently moved closer, hoping to warm his body a little.
Gerber: “Nn, OO…?”
His eyes were hazy with the fever as he said my name.
OO: “I’m sorry, but… I was just trying to warm us up.”
Then…
Gerber: “…won’t you, say my name?”
OO: “Your name? Gerber?”
Gerber: “Not like that, like we’re closer.”
(Um…)
OO: “Gerber…?”
Gerber: “…hehe, thanks OO.”
OO: “Ah…”
He put his long arm around me.
With our combined body heat, I could hear his pained breathing and feel it on my neck…
Gerber: “I wonder why I end up being a bother when all I want to do is help people…?”
OO: “Eh…?”
His hand was trembling as it held me.
Gerber: “I’m sure that the flowers blooming late… is because the goddess chose someone like me to be a prince…”
His voice sounded thin and strained against my ear.
OO: “That’s not true…! I mean, you’re going this far to save the people in town…-.”
Gerber: “No… I’m sure that’s it. If I’m being honest, I’ve never had any confidence in myself… Us princes of Vilastine are chosen by the goddess.”
OO: “Then you were too?”
Gerber: “Yeah. But I… don’t really know what it means to be a prince.”
Gerber stroked my hair, but there was no strength in his hand.
Gerber: “That’s why I at least wanted to be helpful… and even though I did all that… I have no idea if I’m doing a good job. No matter how much I try… I can’t help but feel hollow and filled with anxiety… As a prince… what should I do… what do I want to do…”
He’d started to ramble, and I tightly held his hand.
Gerber: “…but if I pray… to the goddess in the cavern… my wish will…-.”
OO: “…Gerber?”
Gerber: “…”
(Huh…? Did he fall asleep?)
I could hear him breathing softly.
But his words were still circling around my heart.
(Has he been enduring all this alone?)
I felt something clamping down on my heart…
And as I looked at his gaunt face, I could only hold on to him.