Ch. 5: Before the Royal Seal is in Hand
(It’s so bright…)
A pale light spilled out of the crack in the door…-.
As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw a single flower blooming.
(It looks like… a blue lily…)
The flower looked like it was casting the light, but from above I could see the bright sunlight pouring in.
Rolf: “This is… the castle flower…”
Rolf stepped up to the flower.
OO: “The castle flower?”
Rolf: “Yes… it’s the one used on the royal family crest… it’s a flower that only blooms in this country. And the heir to the throne is the only one who knows where it blooms…”
OO: “The royal seal… the symbol of the heir to the throne…”
Rolf gently touched the flower affectionately.
(Good… with that, we’re done…)
But Rolf took his hand away from the flower.
Tears fell down his cheeks.
OO: “Rolf, what’s wrong?”
Rolf: “OO… I can’t do it…”
OO: “Why…?”
Rolf: “This flower is the only one blooming… picking it is…”
The tears ran in streaks down Rolf’s face, falling gently onto the petals of the blue lily.
Ch. 6: A Kindness in His Heart
Rolf stood before the flower, crying.
Suddenly, I felt a cool breeze blowing in from further in.
OO: “Rolf… I think the exit is that way.”
Rolf: “… … …”
OO: “Let’s go back Rolf.”
Rolf: “But…”
OO: “I’m sure the king will understand if you just explain honestly.”
I gently touched his trembling shoulders.
OO: “Right?”
Rolf: “Alright…”
Without exchanging any more words, we returned to the castle, and Rolf had his audience with the king.
King: “Rolf, what happened with the royal seal?”
The king’s low, resonating voice caused Rolf’s shoulders to tremble.
(You can do it Rolf.)
Our hands linked, I squeezed Rolf’s hand.
Rolf nodded at me, the tears gathering in his eyes.
Rolf: “I-I found the flower… but I didn’t bring it back.”
King: “And why is that?”
Rolf: “…it would have been a shame… to pick it…”
Rolf’s voice grew quieter, and by the end it had changed to tears.
However…-.
King: “I see…”
The king smiled as if satisfied.
Queen: “Rolf, that’s good enough. The kindness you have to even pity a flower like that is truly wonderful.”
Rolf: “Thank you… very much…”
(Good…)
We bowed to the king and queen, then left.
We were on our way back to our rooms, then…
In the hallway, we passed by two knights.
The knights both bowed deeply to us.
(…?)
It looked as if the knights were looking at Rolf with kindness in their eyes…-.
…
The two knights informed the king of what had happened in the cave.
King: “You did fine work on the escort.”
Knight 1: “Prince Rolf did splendidly.”
Knight 2: “I’m sure he was scared to death when the walls started closing in…”
Knight 1: “But it really is like Prince Rolf to pity a flower like that… everyone in the castle loves their kind-hearted prince.”
The king smiled kindly at hearing this information…-.
…
Having returned to my room, I finally let out a sigh of relief.
Rolf: “…are you… alright?”
Rolf looked at me, clearly worried.
OO: “Yes, thanks to you Rolf! You really did your best!”
Rolf: “I wonder…”
OO: “But even the king smiled.”
Rolf: “OO…”
Rolf looked at me with wavering eyes.
And before I knew it, tears started to fill those eyes…-.
Rolf: “…!”
OO: “Rolf?”
He held onto me tightly, and quietly started to cry.
Rolf: “OO… I’m happy…”
OO: “Of course. After all, you found the royal seal and everything. If it weren’t for you, we never would have found it.”
I gently stroked Rolf’s back and spoke to him quietly.
He shook his head as if telling me that was wrong.
Rolf: “It’s because you were there…”
OO: “I didn’t do anything…”
Rolf: “That’s… not true… the whole time… OO was cheering me on…”
Rolf slowly let go of me.
And then…-.
Rolf: “Um… this is what you’re supposed to do to the person you like, right…?”
OO: “Eh…?”
I didn’t quite understand, then Rolf stood up on his tiptoes…
OO: “…!”
He placed a soft kiss on my cheek.
I just stared at him without thinking, and Rolf smiled at me, his face slightly red.
Rolf: “As a thank you… and to express my feelings…”
As he grinned at me, another tear fell from his eye.
I thought those glittering tears were like stars.
END
Secret Story: Secretly Asking for Advice
Our shadows walked beside us in the setting sun.
Father had given me the task of retrieving the royal seal from the cave and bringing it back, but…-.
(I wonder… if I should have picked the flower? But it would have been so sad if I had…)
I kept looking back at the cave over and over.
At the time I thought it was fine, but afterwards I started to feel regret.
(It was an important test…)
I looked up at OO, walking beside me.
(I bet OO thought I was really uncool… …and I bet Father will be angry. I don’t want that…)
I felt like I was about to cry but clenched my hands into fists.
(I can’t cry…!)
My nails bit into the palm of my hands and it hurt a little.
But thanks to that, I was somehow able to swallow back my tears.
I was afraid of my father, but I told him honestly of my feelings.
King: “Rolf, what happened with the royal seal?”
(Father really is… scary…)
At that time…-.
(OO…)
OO squeezed my hand that was linked with hers.
(I have to do my best…!)
I mustered up my courage and looked Father straight in the eye.
Rolf: “I-I found the flower… but I didn’t bring it back.”
My knees were knocking together as I trembled in fear.
I put all my strength into getting them to stop.
Father’s mouth moved slowly, the corners lifting up slightly.
King: “I see…”
Father’s expression was very gentle and kind.
(Huh…?)
Queen: “Rolf, that’s good enough. The kindness you have to even pity a flower like that is truly wonderful.”
Rolf: “Thank you… very much…”
I looked at OO and she smiled kindly at me.
(It was all thanks to OO.)
Those thoughts filled my heart and I wanted to tell her about it right away.
…
……
(I wanted to thank her, but…)
OO: “You really did your best Rolf!”
Rolf: “I wonder…”
(OO started praising me before I could thank her… I have to tell her properly…)
I was determined, but…-.
OO: “But even the king smiled.”
I was really happy as OO looked at me with that kind expression…
For some reason, I felt the tears start to build up.
(Why is she so nice to me?)
Rolf: “OO…”
Without thinking, I hugged OO.
Rolf: “It’s because you were there…”
OO: “I didn’t do anything…”
Rolf: “That’s… not true… the whole time… OO was cheering me on…”
(The cave was really scary, but I tried my best because OO was there. I never could have done it if I’d been by myself… From now on, I want her to stay with me forever and ever.)
I pushed back from her with a bittersweet expression.
(These feelings…)
Rolf: “Um…”
(Uh… I’m pretty sure I need to…)
Rolf: “This is what you’re supposed to do to the person you like, right…?”
OO: “Eh…?”
I stretched up on my tiptoes and placed a kiss on OO’s cheek.
OO: “…!”
I felt my own cheeks start to heat up.
(It’s embarrassing… but I have to tell her properly…)
Rolf: “As a thank you… and to express my feelings…”
(I said it.)
The tears flowed again, this time in relief…
But I didn’t wipe them away.
END