Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Apollo - Prince of Flareruge - Sun End
Chapter 7 - Peace Returning to the Castle
-Flashback-
Apollo: I thought about wanting to see you a little.
---
Apollo: That's right, I thought about wanting to hurry and see that foolish face.
-Flashback-
After that...
I brought Apollo to his room. The sun has already gone down and the jet-black darkness has spread out outside. After the raid that caused a lot of commotion in the castle, it started going back to being peaceful thanks to Apollo's return.
Apollo: Kuh...
(He's in so much pain... All because he used his power.)
MC: Apollo... Thank you for saving me.
He softly combed up his bangs that became wet from sweat.
Apollo: I don't need your thanks. I told you from the start, they were planning something.
MC: ...But.
He continued breathing in pain repeatedly.
Apollo: So, for now... I can't use my power.
When Apollo touched the tattoo on his chest at that moment...
Guard: Apollo-sama...!
Suddenly, the door opened and guards came rushing into the room while swinging around their swords.
Apollo: ...What do you guys want?
When Apollo got up with no clue of what's going on, he hid me behind him.
Guard 1: It's an order from Dia-sama... Right now, you can't use your power.
Guard 2: If we don't kill you, Dia-sama will kill us...!
After shouting that, the guards tried to stab Apollo, but...
Apollo: ...
Apollo quickly struck the guards to the ground one after another.
Guard 1: U-Uu...
Apollo looked down at a guard scornfully.
Apollo: Are you ready?
Guard: Ah... Ah...
While stepping on the neck of a guard that had fallen to the floor, Apollo asked that with a deep tone. Even from just watching... The fearful scene made me unable to move.
Apollo: I'm asking if you're ready.
Apollo stepped on him more. Deprived of his breath due to fear, the guard lost consciousness...
MC: ...Apollo...
Apollo: ...Coward.
After looking down at the guard that had fallen to the ground, Apollo said that.
Apollo: ...You can't rule... without power...
MC: Apollo, that's...
Apollo: Silence!!
The heat in Apollo's arm started to sway like a heat haze in the area.
MC: ...Don't...!
(If he uses his power...!)
At that moment...
Guard 3: Prince Apollo is here!!
The voice of the other guards and footsteps were approaching the room.
Apollo: Dammit... It looks like there are only rats that my brother has released in this castle. ...We're leaving the castle again. Come!
When he pulled my arm by force, Apollo fled from the castle. As the fierce flames that have already emitted from his other arm, they cleared out a path...
Chapter 8 - I Want to Save Them
In the jet-black sky, an unsettling faint light was dwelling among the moon...
After we were driven out of the castle, we went to town. Although, along the way...
(Isn't Apollo... acting strange?)
Apollo was breathing heavily and roughly.
Apollo: ......Dammit, my head is spinning...!!
MC: Apollo...!
As Apollo was staggering, I quickly gave him support. Apollo tried to push my hand away, but his hand didn't have the strength to do so.
MC: Let's rest a little. You don't look so good.
Apollo: I... I must become king.
MC: ...Yes.
Towards Apollo's incoherent muttering nearby, I only nodded deeply.
Apollo: There isn't... any other castle a king can return to... Why... Why my castle... They didn't need to take it away...!
MC: Apollo... Calm down.
When I placed my hand on his back to calm him down as his body was becoming warm at that moment...
Townsperson 1: Apollo... -sama?
Townsperson 2: Yeah, it's Apollo-sama!
Since Apollo stood out, the townspeople began to gather around him.
Townsperson 3: He doesn't look so good. What happened!?
Once they have surrounded him, a huge crowd of people started gathering despite that it's night.
MC: Um, this is...
Unsure on how to explain, I became perplexed... As the townspeople looked at each other, I carefully thought about it, but...
Townsperson 4: Apollo-sama! Please let us return the favor!
Townsperson 3: We've heard about what happened at the castle. The news about Prince Apollo being attacked reached us as well...
Apollo: What...
Townsperson 4: But, we want to help you...!
Townsperson 2: Because it's thanks to Apollo-sama's power that the territory of Flareruge has been protected up till now!
Everyone started talking and reaching out to Apollo.
(...Everyone understands Apollo.)
I became happy as I got a warm feeling. Although...
Apollo: Enough, silence!!
Apollo's strong angry shout echoed throughout the town at night.
MC: Apollo! Please calm down...
Apollo: Even you... You're looking at me with such pity...!
MC: I'm not. Please listen... I'm sure that you know how these people feel.
Apollo: ...As if I do.
MC: They want to save you. They're important people that you've been protecting after all...
Apollo: ...
MC: Even I...
When Apollo looked at my face, he made a surprised look.
Apollo: MC...
Then, he broke into a wry smile as if he had given in to something.
Apollo: Making the woman I love cry... How much shame am I going to show?
Apollo's finger wiped away the tears in my eyes very gently.
(He loves me...?)
Apollo looked straight at me as I was in a daze.
Apollo: What's with that look? MC, you're my queen. It's obvious that I love you.
Even though he told me that as if it was obvious, it didn't seem so to me...
MC: Y-You're still talking about that queen stuff.
Apollo: This is the first time I've said that I love someone.
MC: ...!
With a small smile, he caressed my hair.
(That makes me happy...)
The moonlight gently shined on the side of Apollo's face. His smile gave me a sweet feeling...
Chapter 9 - For the People
For the time being, Apollo and I went into hiding, but... With the townspeople's help, we started living away from the territory.
(Ever since we came here, Apollo seems to have been showing completely different expressions that I've never seen before.)
Child: Ah, Apollo-sama, you should water the vegetables more gently!
Apollo: Gently? I don't know how to do that.
While living with the townspeople, Apollo's expressions have become more relaxed due to being influenced by their livelihood. Even now, I could see that he was furrowing his brow as he was being taught by a child.
Apollo: Hey, kid. Tell me how to do it gently.
Child: Let's see, I think they'll become healthy if you talk to them kindly!
Apollo: ......
Child: See ya! Apollo-sama, I'll leave the rest to you!
Apollo: H-Hey!
I broke into a smile from that scene. Looking at me, Apollo made an annoyed look.
Apollo: ...Were you watching?
MC: Yes. It was really enjoyable.
Apollo: It's strange...
MC: Eh?
Apollo: I'm saying that it's strange. The townspeople knew about so many things that I didn't know of. Raising living things, everyone cooperating with each other... It makes me think about my own actions.
MC: ...Apollo.
Apollo: I only continued thinking about what's the right thing to do as king. I thought that a king needed absolute power to rule and make the people happy. But... It seems like I was wrong.
MC: Apollo...
As Apollo was looking back on the past, he tightly clenched his fist... The moment I slowly got closer to him...
Aide: Apollo-sama...
Apollo's aide that continued keeping in touch with him while he was hiding in town appeared.
Apollo: ...What is it?
Aide: Pretty soon, I think everyone is going to reach their limit... When your older brother took your place as ruler, he's been misusing his power without any restraint.
Apollo: So, things have been getting worse.
Aide: Yes... His dictatorship and tyranny are so extreme that if someone tries to escape, he kills them to set an example...
MC: How horrible...
Aide: You're going to have to make some kind of decision soon.
There was a strong look of determination dwelling within Apollo's eyes. Recently, I've been seeing that strong beautiful look from time to time here...
Apollo: A kingdom isn't just made for the king. A kingdom... is for the people.
Aide: Apollo-sama...!
Apollo: I'll fight for the people. Now is the time.
In Apollo's unwavering strong, noble and prideful eyes... As they contained the strength of wanting to protect the people, that power was increasing. The smile that he showed on the side of his face was beautifully majestic...
Last Chapter - The Sun Hero
-Flashback-
Apollo: A kingdom isn't just made for the king. A kingdom... is for the people. I'll fight for the people. Now is the time.
-Flashback-
The flames that were dwelling within Apollo's eyes were flaring up with determination...
To reclaim the castle and protect the people, the first thing Apollo thought of was... Form a private army with the townspeople and charge into the castle.
-Flashback-
Apollo: Trust me. All that you guys have to do is just hold a sword and shield and pretend to get ready to attack. In other words, the private army that we've formed is only going to be used for intimidation. By having a certain amount of people, it'll deceive the enemy's eyes. I'll be the only one fighting, that should be enough... My physical condition has recovered completely.
-Flashback-
While I had nothing to say, I slipped in among the private army. When I told him that I didn't want to just wait for him, Apollo didn't agree at first, but...
(He was smiling at the end. He said, I love strong women after all...)
I recalled the many memories of our time in town.
Then, right now...
Apollo: Let's move!!!
Private Army: OOOOOHHHHH!!!!! OOOOOOHHHHHH!!!
The moment Apollo shouted that they're going into battle, a flame that was like a pillar of fire rose from him. That red color looked like it could burn the castle, but it didn't burn the castle nor the people as it towered over our surroundings beautifully.
Apollo: MC. Stay with me no matter what!
MC: Okay...!
With those roaring burning flames protecting us, we proceeded into the castle.
Guard 1: W-Who's there, explain!
Guard 2: I-It's no good! Among these flames, there are too many enemies!!
The townspeople that Apollo protected showed themselves to the enemy soldiers among the flames.
Apollo: ...It was a success.
Apollo smiled at the townspeople.
Guard 3: S-Save us!!
All the castle guards that we were facing were unable to do a thing against the colossal flames in front of them and went all over the place. The flames that were like fire that a dragon spit out showed the way as it turned into a chaotic vortex in the area.
(Wow... This is really amazing...! But...)
When I looked up at Apollo's face, his complexion had become worse than before.
MC: Does it hurt...?
Without thinking, I gently placed my hand on his chest and he placed his large warm hand over mine.
Apollo: I'm okay... Let's move on.
MC: Okay...!
While Apollo was protecting me, what was up ahead was the main hall.
In the main hall, there was Apollo's father and older brother.
King: ...So, you still had some power left.
Dia: Seriously... I thought that you had become weak due to using your power so recklessly during my last visit here.
Apollo: Have you prepared yourselves?
The heated flames around Apollo looked like a living creature as it expanded greatly.
King: You sure about that? I'm the only one who can go through your heart.
Apollo: ...
Dia: That's right, without Father, you might someday get swallowed up by that power and die- ...!?
Apollo summoned a powerful flame and threw it at him.
King: A-Apollo...!!
Dia: You, to your own family...!
Apollo: The people... Those that'll harm the future of this kingdom, I will get rid of them all. Even if they're my real father and brother...!
Along with those unwavering words, the two of them got swallowed up by the flames.
Apollo: ...
Just as I got closer to Apollo as he clutched his chest in pain, he covered my vision with the palm of his hand.
Apollo: Don't look.
MC: ...
I could only hear the sound of the roaring flames burning. Then, along with that sound, the warm atmosphere in the area settled down...
Private Army: A-Apollo-sama... Apollo-sama... Hooray!! Apollo-sama!!!
The private army ran over to Apollo. Apollo smiled weakly and then...
MC: Apollo...!
Just as Apollo collapsed, I tried holding him up and fell to the floor with him due to his weight.
MC: Hang in there...!
Apollo: ...
When I desperately called out to him, Apollo opened his eyes weakly with a pained expression.
Apollo: I wasn't intending on this to happen... I'm such a pathetic king...
MC: That's not true at all...
(Because aside from his family... Aside from his own body, Apollo thinks about protecting everyone that are important to him...)
Apollo: Don't cry, MC. Otherwise, I'm going to die.
MC: ...Okay. This kingdom needs you, Apollo... So, please live.
Apollo: Yeah... You don't need to tell me...
After making a weak arrogant smile, Apollo slowly closed his eyes...
......
A few weeks later since then... For saving the townspeople, a parade was being held to congratulate the hero, Apollo. Although...
People: Apollo-sama! Apollo-sama!! MC-sama!!!
Among the townspeople's cheers, they weren't just congratulating Apollo...
MC: W-Why am I here too...
Apollo: It's what the people want. So, you should live up to their expectations. Well, doesn't it feel nice? Giving us their blessing before our wedding.
MC: Eh...!
Just as I looked up at Apollo in surprise, he made a bit of a teasing smile. Then, he placed his hand around my waist and held me.
MC: U-Um...
(So embarrassing...!)
Apollo: Don't move so much. Don't be so nervous. You're going to become the queen of Flareruge.
Just as I looked down without thinking, he raised my chin with his fist and made our gazes meet.
Apollo: Become a woman that's worthy to stand beside me.
His bright eyes shined strongly as that ferociousness from before was still remaining in them. Unable to calm down my fast heartbeat, I couldn't bring out the words well...
Apollo: ...There won't be anything to pass through my heart from here on. Even if I can't use my power, I will create this kingdom's future with you and the people. MC. Become my only family. I love you.
MC: ...Apollo...
Apollo: Your answer.
MC: Yes...
The strength in Apollo's hand on my shoulder got stronger. As the side of his face looked refreshing and strongly beautiful...
Like the radiant sunlight, the path towards the future shined brightly...
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