Ch. 5: Save Him!
…
……
(Huh…?)
I found myself having fallen asleep while holding Gerber.
I shook my head, then put my hand to Gerber’s forehead as he slept on.
(His fever still hasn’t gone down, which means…)
I had to find a way to get him help, so I left him where he slept and stood to leave the cavern alone.
…
……
I walked on in the deathly silence of the dark…
(I’m scared… if I slip at all…)
A bottomless darkness spread out on either side of the narrow path I walked…
OO: “…!?”
In the next instant…-.
I was startled, and my body was swallowed up by the darkness.
…
….
When I came to…
(This is…?)
A clear lake spread out before me.
On the edge in the center was an altar with a stone effigy of the goddess.
(Could this be…?)
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Gerber: “…but if I pray… to the goddess in the cavern… my wish will…-.”
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I remembered the words Gerber had said while he fought to stay conscious.
(Goddess… please save Gerber.)
My heart felt like it was going to break thinking of how much pain Gerber was still in.
(Please…)
I knelt in that place, hands clasped together, and sent out my earnest prayer.
Ch. 6: My Sun
I continued to pray desperately as I knelt in front of the image of the goddess…-.
(Goddess, please save Gerber…-)
It was then.
I heard the sound of footsteps on gravel and turned to look behind me…-.
Gerber: “…OO?”
OO: “Eh… Gerber, how did you get here?”
I saw Gerber, exhausted from his injury.
Gerber: “OO!!”
OO: “…!”
On seeing me, he ran forward and pulled me into a hug.
Gerber: “Thank goodness…! I’m so glad you’re alright! I was so worried when I woke up and you were gone, so I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Thank goodness…”
OO: “…Gerber.”
Suddenly, the strength of his arms around me vanished.
Panicked, I looked up and noticed his whole body shivering.
(His fever is so high…! And his breathing is so labored… because he was looking for me…)
I held him so very tightly.
(Please, please save him…!)
At that moment…-.
A bright light poured from the image of the goddess, and everything went white.
…
….
When I came to…-.
We were on the streets of Vilastine…-.
OO: “This is…”
I stood there blinking after whatever had happened…-.
Gerber: “…thank you.”
Gerber placed his hot hand against my cheek.
Gerber: “Because you prayed to the goddess…”
OO: “Eh…-“
Gerber: “…for me…”
Gerber smiled, then quickly passed out.
OO: “Gerber!? Gerber!!”
…
……
Several weeks passed after that…
Gerber invited me to visit Vilastine again now that he was completely healed.
The gerbera flowers and village were in full bloom, and it seemed to be more full of life and energy compared to the first time I visited.
The sun had completely set, and the stars were beginning to shine in the sky…-.
I arrived at the lake we had promised to meet at.
(It’s beautiful…)
The shining of the stars was beautifully reflected on the black surface of the water.
I was unable to take my eyes off the enchanting starry sky when…-.
Gerber: “OO…”
OO: “Ah, Gerber.”
Gerber stood before the lake, looking at me with a huge smile.
Just seeing his smile filled me with happiness and made my heart warm.
OO: “Good. You look completely better now.”
Gerber: “Yeah…”
Gerber appeared nervous, his usual calm nowhere to be seen.
OO: “Is something wrong? It’s the middle of the night.”
Gerber: “Oh, um, well… you see… Do you promise not to laugh at what I tell you…?”
OO: “? Yes…”
Gerber tightened his hand into a fist and took a long stride towards me.
His eyes were serious as they looked straight at me…
Gerber: “You…-. You’re my sun!!”
OO: “…huh?”
(…what does that mean?)
Puzzled, I tilted my head and continued to look at him.
Gerber: “…huh? Was that difficult to understand?”
He blushed, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Gerber: “What I mean is, to me, you shine brightly on me no matter how deep the darkness… You are more beautiful and more brilliant than even the stars or the moon. So… um…”
He took a deep breath.
Gerber: “I love you!!”
OO: “…!”
Time seemed to stop as I stood there after he shouted his confession.
OO: “Eh… you do?”
Gerber: “Yeah…”
OO: “…”
Seeing the earnest expression in his eyes, time finally started to flow normally again.
Gerber: “In that cavern… you tried so hard and did so much for me. It really made me happy. I’ve always been the one to burn myself out for other people but… I never thought there would ever be someone who would take care of me like that…”
OO: “That’s…”
(But I left Gerber alone and did something dangerous…)
But for some reason, I couldn’t figure out how to put all that into words.
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Gerber: “Then I’ll carry them there for you instead.”
Gerber: “There there, don’t cry. I’ll help you out.”
Gerber: “Thank you! Don’t worry, because I’m here with you!”
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.”
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I had seen how he was always running himself ragged for everyone while ignoring himself, and I could hardly stand the pain it caused in my heart…-.
Gerber: “…would you give me an answer?”
His large eyes flickered with unease.
(I can’t just abandon someone like him…)
Thinking that, I nodded.
Then…
Gerber: “Alright…!”
The tension he had been holding snapped, and his smile was soft.
Like that, he came closer until our foreheads touched.
Gerber: “I was really scared…-.”
The bottle hanging from his neck caught the light of the moon and sparkled.
Gerber: “I might be a bother to you sometimes. But still, no matter what, I want to be with you… I’ve finally found what I wished for… something that I want for myself, not for other people… You, my sun.”
Smiling softly, Gerber gently nuzzled my hair.
(Ah…)
Seeing his expression made me think of gerbera daisies waiving in the wind.
Within the light of the moon, that smile bravely bloomed in all its glory.
END
Secret Story: This Kingdom's Sun
I had finally recovered after getting injured in the cavern.
After a few weeks, I was finally going into town.
The streets of Vilastine were lively, putting a spring in my heart and my step.
And most importantly, the gerbera flowers were in full bloom.
(I’m glad I can see everyone’s smiling faces again…)
As I walked, I saw an elderly woman sitting on the side of the road.
It was the old woman connected to the flower shop I had met before.
Gerber: “Ah, granny.”
Elderly Woman: “…my my, Prince Gerber.”
She slowly stood up and picked up the package set beside her.
Gerber: “Perfect timing. I was just thinking of heading over to the flower shop. I can take that for you.”
Elderly Woman: “Thank you for all your help. But you know, today I’m going to wait a little longer. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my son.”
Gerber: “I see… well then, let’s go together!”
Elderly Woman: “Alright then.”
…
……
I didn’t even realize how much I was smiling as we stopped in front of the flower shop.
I had been impatient to see what now spread out before me.
Yes, my beloved gerbera flowers filling the shop.
Shopkeeper: “Prince Gerber! Should you be out right now!?”
Gerber: “I’m all better now! Here you go.”
I handed him the packages from the woman.
Shopkeeper: “Thank you again.”
Elderly Woman: “Thanks.”
They both seemed really happy as they kept bowing their heads in thanks, and I ended up smiling in return.
Gerber: “No, it’s fine. By the way…”
Shopkeeper: “Yes, the gerbera flowers are in full bloom! It’s thanks to you Prince Gerber.”
Gerber: “…I’m so glad!”
(I’m glad I was able to help out a little…!!)
Shopkeeper: “It’s because you are our sun Prince Gerber!”
I was at a loss for words at the unexpected comment.
Gerber: “Huh…?”
At that time, a young girl came into the shop and jumped towards me.
Girl: “Yeah, the sun! I feel happy because Prince Gerber is here!”
Gerber: “…”
Girl’s Mother: “She really is full of smiles. …even though she was just crying a moment ago huh?”
Girl: “Don’t tell him!”
Gerber: “… the sun…”
Shopkeeper: “You are this country’s sun. You shine brightly down on everyone…”
Gerber: “Shine brightly…”
Shopkeeper: “Don’t you have someone that’s like that for you?”
Gerber: “…”
(Someone like that…)
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Gerber: “Because you prayed to the goddess…”
Gerber: “…for me…”
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A single woman’s face came to mind.
(Someone who is strong for me… and who shines down on me…)
That’s when I realized I wasn’t just remembering, but actively thinking about her.
I soon found myself needing to head back to the castle.
Gerber: “Thanks granny! And everyone too! I’ll become an even better sun!”
As I heard their laughter behind me, I broke into a run.
Even now my mind was turned towards one thing as I thought of the day to come.
(I have to tell her these feelings somehow, somewhere… what should I say…!? How should I tell her?)
I felt a little weak-hearted, but I kept going straight ahead.
The day after was finally the day that OO would come back to Vilastine!
END