Chapter 75: I Was Staring at Myself
After leaving the Grand Cathedral, we strolled through the Royal Capital on our way back to the Royal Academy. We enjoyed ourselves, browsing through general stores and stopping at a bakery for a snack.
However, as noon approached, I couldn’t help but think about the afternoon’s events.
Was it really okay not to tell Rouge?
“Hugh, were you perhaps not having fun…?”
“Huh?”
Rouge looked at me with a worried expression while we were sitting on a park bench, eating our bread.
“What’s with you all of a sudden?”
There’s no way I wouldn’t have fun with Rouge…
“Because, Hugh, you’ve had a difficult look on your face this whole time.”
“R-Really…?”
I touched my face and checked it with a hand mirror, but I couldn’t tell myself. …Doing this is like admitting that something’s up.
“Hugh…”
“A-Ah… It’s not that! It’s not that I wasn’t having fun… I’ve just been hesitating. Whether or not I should tell Rouge…”
“Tell me…?”
Was it okay to tell her like this, so haphazardly? …But I couldn’t hide it any longer. If I was going to hurt Rouge by not telling her, then I would protect her with my life if anything happened. With that resolve, I confessed.
“It’s about this afternoon…”
After making sure no one was around, I told Rouge that Lecty would be treating His Majesty the King’s illness. I also told her that His Majesty the King’s condition was worsening, and that this week was critical.
“No way…”
Rouge’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Prince Lucas said that if it was as Lecty’s friend, then it would be okay for Rouge to come along. But I couldn’t decide whether or not I should tell you. …Sorry, Rouge.”
“…I wanted you to tell me, but. Hugh was thinking about me in his own way, and worrying about it, right…?”
I nodded in response to Rouge’s question.
“Then, thank you. Sorry for making you worry… If I go, I’ll probably be a nuisance to my brother and everyone else, right…?”
“Rouge…”
“It’s okay, Hugh. I can stay home and be good.”
Rouge said that with a forced smile, her face contorted as if she was about to cry.
…Is that really okay? I asked myself and thought about it.
–I still have regrets from my previous life.
My father in my previous life had a heart condition and was in and out of the hospital many times. That day, my mother called me, saying that my father had been taken to the hospital by ambulance and that she wanted me to come right away, but I was too busy with work and thought that he wouldn’t die anyway.
I found out about my father’s death half a day later. If I had jumped on the bullet train right after receiving the call, I would have had enough time to see him before he died…
The emptiness and regret of that day, even after 15 years since I was reincarnated, I can’t forget.
I didn’t want Rouge to experience the same thing I did in my previous life.
That’s why,
“Rouge. If you want to see your father even a little bit, I think you should go. I’ll do everything I can to support you.”
“Eh… But, is it okay…? I might be a nuisance…”
“I’ll take care of it. …Sorry, I should have done this from the beginning.”
If I was going to make Rouge sad by hesitating, I should have just made up my mind and told her from the start. As I bowed my head and apologized, Rouge gently stroked my hair.
“It’s okay because you told me properly.”
We waited for Rouge to calm down before returning to the Royal Academy. We had a light lunch at the School Cafeteria and then moved to the meeting place. We arrived a little early, but Alissa-san and Lily were already there.
Alissa-san looked up to the sky when she saw Rouge with me, and Lily smiled softly. Alissa-san aside, Lily seemed to welcome my choice.
“…I’m sorry, Alissa-san.”
“Well, it’s not a big deal, is it? His Highness seemed to have expected it. But, now that you’ve brought her, you better take responsibility.”
“Understood.”
I nodded in response to the pat on my shoulder.
Alissa-san immediately got into the driver’s seat, and we got into the carriage. Rouge and I sat facing each other, and Lily and Lecty sat next to each other. This was the first time this group had ridden in a carriage together.
When I looked across, Lecty was looking around nervously. When the carriage started moving, she even let out a small “Kyaa” scream.
“I-I’m sorry. It’s my first time riding in a carriage…”
“I don’t think you need to apologize… or rather, are you okay?”
“Y-Yes! I’m totally fine!”
No, I wasn’t worried about her physical condition.
It seemed that Lecty was completely nervous. When I looked at Lily, she smiled wryly and stroked Lecty’s pale blue hair.
“This girl, she didn’t really understand the gravity of the situation yesterday because of everything that happened. She suddenly got nervous this morning.”
“Ah, so that’s why…”
As someone who was partly responsible for the situation, I felt a sense of guilt.
“U-Um, I’m really going to treat the King from now on, right…? I’m worried about whether I can do it well…”
Lecty grabbed the hem of her uniform skirt and looked down.
Well, of course she’d be nervous… It’s not the same as treating a classmate who got injured in a fight. Just meeting royalty would be nerve-wracking, and on top of that, she had to treat His Majesty the King, who was seriously ill. If I were in Lecty’s position, I might be throwing up from the pressure.
I wanted to say something to ease her tension, but… I couldn’t say anything too irresponsible in front of Rouge. Lily also couldn’t find the right words, and just held Lecty’s hand.
As an awkward silence filled the carriage,
“It’s okay, Lecty, you don’t have to be so nervous.”
Rouge smiled gently, trying to ease Lecty’s tension.
“Lecty’s Holy Maiden Skill is amazing, but we won’t know if you can cure the illness until you try, right? That’s why Prince Lu… Lucas asked Lecty to do it, thinking it was a long shot. Even if the Ki… His Majesty the King’s illness isn’t cured, it’s not Lecty’s fault. So don’t be so nervous? We’re here for you.”
“R-Rouge-san…! Thank you so much!”
Lecty lowered her head to Rouge with tears in her eyes. Rouge laughed shyly, saying, “You’re exaggerating.”
…While encouraging Lecty, it felt like she was also telling herself that, and I wasn’t imagining it. There was no way Rouge wasn’t worried.
After a while, the carriage arrived safely at the Royal Castle. We were led by Alissa-san to a room inside the castle.
It was a slightly spacious reception room, and Prince Lucas, Roan-san, and Lucretia were already there.
…Ah, I messed up.
“Fweh…? Eeh–Mugugugugu!!!???”
I managed to cover Rouge’s (the real Lucretia) mouth before her scream echoed through the Royal Castle when she saw her imposter.
S-Safe…
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