Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Apollo - Prince of Flareruge - Moon End
Chapter 7 - The Strict Security in the Castle
After Apollo's older brother's attack... The castle's security increased more than before...
Apollo: ...
Today, I was with Apollo in the courtyard to get a bit of fresh air. Right now, he was looking severely stern...
(It seems like Apollo is really on edge... I wonder if he's okay.)
At that moment...
Guard 1: Uwaaaaaaah!!!!!
MC: ...!?
Apollo: ...
Suddenly, one of the guards unexpectedly tried to stab Apollo. Apollo quickly grabbed the guard's arm before he could attack...
Apollo: You... What is the meaning of this!
Guard: Uwaaah...!
When Apollo kicked up the sword and held it, he placed it against the guard's neck.
MC: ...!
I quickly looked away from the scene.
Apollo: Speak. If you don't, I'll kill you.
As the guard was trembling in pain and fear, he began to speak. But, before he could...
Guard 2: Over here!!!
Guard 3: Uwaaaaaaah!!
Many of the guards ran over to the courtyard.
Apollo: ...What's going on?
Apollo's body began to heat up.
(Seriously... Just what's going on!?)
Flames appeared when Apollo raised his hand. Then... He cleared out the attacking guards by burning them.
Apollo: Kuh... They just keep on coming.
Apollo gritted his teeth in annoyance.
Apollo: Let's get out of here... Come.
MC: Eh...?
When Apollo softly murmured that, he picked me up.
Then, we were driven out of the castle...
Chapter 8 - The People's Betrayal
After the castle was raided, Apollo and I safely escaped... As we were heading towards town, I began to support Apollo when his consciousness became hazy from using his powers and then, I asked for help...
MC: Excuse me! Someone... Please lend us a hand!
Although...
Citizen: H-Hey... Isn't that Apollo-sama... Prince Apollo... It's Prince Apollo!!
(Eh...?)
The town's atmosphere instantly became unsettling. I felt a cold chill go down my spine.
Guard: Over here! Apollo-sama is over here!
Apollo: ...Even the townspeople... Which means that they're involved...
MC: Eh...?
Apollo: My father and brother... Since I've been overusing my powers here recently, they're hunting me down while I'm still weak...
MC: No way...
Apollo: ...Dammit!
Soon after... Flames were swaying in Apollo's hand when he raised it.
MC: Apollo...!
Apollo: ...AAAAHHH!!!
When Apollo roared loudly, his intense flames burned the area.
MC: You can't...! If you use your powers that much...!
As if my voice didn't reach Apollo, his flames became even more violent.
Apollo: Dammit...!
Just as everyone stopped because of the flames, I pulled Apollo's hand and ran during that interval...
......
When we were looking for a hiding place, we took refuge in a cave outside of the territory. After arriving there, Apollo instantly lost consciousness...
......
As the days passed, Apollo continued to suffer in pain. All that I could do was look after him as the days went by.
Then, one day...
Apollo: ...MC...
MC: Apollo...!
After all those days, Apollo finally opened his eyes.
Apollo: ...Seems like... I've been asleep for a while.
MC: Yes, just for a few days.
Apollo: A few days... I see.
Apollo slowly got up. I placed my hand on his back and supported him.
(Cold...)
When the hot flames within his body have become really cold right now... I felt pain.
MC: After we escaped, your aides came here immediately.
Apollo: What!? Did they do anything!?
MC: It's all right. They're your allies.
Apollo: I see...
Apollo sighed deeply in sadness and relief.
Apollo: So, what did they say?
MC: They explained the situation of the castle and the kingdom. It's just as you've feared...
Apollo: The castle has been subjugated and the kingdom is in a really bad state?
MC: ...Yes.
Apollo: ...
Apollo's shoulder went down in shame.
Apollo: Who would have thought... The people betraying me. I... Was I wrong for what I did... I wasn't a proper king when I was leading them with absolute power...?
MC: Apollo...
His sorrowful words made my heart tighten and at that moment...
Aide: Apollo-sama...!?
Apollo's aides arrived.
Aide: You're awake! Ah, what a relief...!
Apollo: Hmph... You're such a foolish man. I thought that you were a bit smarter than that.
MC: Apollo...?
I thought that it was strange when he insulted him so roughly...
Apollo: You should be glad that I was betrayed by my father and brother. That way, you can serve whoever you want.
Aide: No way, I... There's no one else that I want to serve besides you, Apollo-sama!
Apollo: ...
As Apollo looked away from the aide, he laughed scornfully. There was a bit of a smile on his face though.
(What a relief...)
Soon after, Apollo sighed when he was told about the day's war situation.
Apollo: How...
According to what they said, after that revolt towards Apollo's self-governing control the other day, they invaded the castle.
Apollo: ...How inefficient. I must stop them.
Aide: I'm going over there once more to check on the situation... Please, take care of yourself.
After the aide left... Apollo murmured that unpleasantly.
Apollo: ...It seems like a pretty long fight is upon us. Those fools, they're going to lose. I...
MC: ...!
I noticed flames quietly swaying in Apollo's eyes.
Apollo: ...I'm still the king of that territory. A king must always protect their kingdom and people at any time...
MC: Apollo... Then, are you going to head off to the battlefield?
Apollo: ...It's my kingdom. There's no one else to protect it, except me.
Without anything else to say, Apollo looked closely at me...
MC: ...
He passionately snatched my lips away when he placed his lips over mine.
(Apollo...?)
It felt like I was being struck by his feelings that were hidden within the words that he sadly murmured... All of them were in Apollo's overbearing and rough kiss...
MC: Mm...
After many deep rough kisses... Apollo hugged me tightly.
MC: ...Apollo...?
Apollo: I love you.
MC: ...!
Apollo: If you weren't around... I would've become useless sooner. Tonight... Stay by my side.
As I was being tightly held to Apollo's robust body, he appealed to me.
(What's wrong...? It feels like he's afraid of something...)
When I gently wrapped my hands around Apollo's back, we cuddled up together as we fell asleep that night...
Chapter 9 - To Protect the Kingdom
Until morning, Apollo and I cuddled up together as we slept...
MC: ...Apollo?
When I woke up, Apollo was nowhere to be found...
......
While Apollo was out, he forced himself to stand at the battlefield.
Invader 1: It's Prince Apollo!!
Invader 2: Impossible...! Why is he here...!
Invader 3: It doesn't matter! Get him!!
The invaders charged at Apollo. Apollo received a few injuries as he defended himself from the fierce attacks. But...
Apollo: ...Flareruge... I won't let you enter my territory!
Apollo held his chest and violently scratched it. Blood was painfully seeping out from the powerful tattoo... Then...
Apollo: Uwoooh...!!!
A flame dragon charged at the invaders.
Invader 1: Uwaaah!!
Invader 2: So hot...!
As he mustered all his strength to the very end, the raging fire spread out and cleared out the invaders by burning them.
Apollo: Aaaahh!!!
Due to the violent and insane flames, everything was on fire. That power made people dread in fear and made them fall...
Apollo: Ugh... Ah...
While burning everything in sight, Apollo collapsed at that spot.
Apollo: I will... protect the kingdom.
When Apollo said that hoarsely, the flames around him disappeared...
Apollo: Even though I'm on the verge of death, I feel like such a fool for wanting to see you... If I could wish... I would like to see your face just one more time...
The moment Apollo strongly wished for that, he heard a voice calling out to him from afar...
...
Last Chapter - The Future King
I ran out of the cave to look for Apollo.
(Apollo... Where are you...)
While I was feeling uneasy at the moment, I was getting closer to Apollo's territory.
MC: This... is...
I gasped from the scene in front of me.
(Did Apollo... cause these burn marks...?)
Along with the remaining flames, there was some gray smoke. When I slowly approached the flames, among them was...
MC: Apollo...!
I saw Apollo unconscious. I quickly ran up to him and held him...
Apollo: U-Uu...
Apollo trembled in pain.
MC: Apollo... Hang in there...
As a response towards my voice, he slowly opened his eyes.
MC: Apollo... What a relief!
Overcome with joy and relief, my tears were falling.
Apollo: Why did you come here...
Apollo widened his eyes in surprise.
MC: How cruel of you to just go off on your own like that...
Apollo: I must be diligent as a king. I had to... protect the people and the queen...
When he smiled arrogantly, it became strained soon after.
MC: Let's leave this place in a bit. The fire is getting closer...
Apollo: ...Yeah...
......
We entered a nearby forest. When it became night, the moon made the trees shine sadly from somewhere.
MC: Your body... It became so worn-out...
After lending my shoulder to Apollo for support, he leaned against a tree. I took out a piece of cloth that I had on me and rubbed it against his injuries after wetting it with water.
Apollo: Uu...
MC: I'm sorry, did that hurt?
Apollo: Yeah. But, I'm fine now...
MC: No, you're not. Besides, look...
I forcefully wiped the dirt and sweat from his nape. Then...
(The tattoo on his chest is...)
On his chest was a messy cut that left a terrible injury on him. The ferocious and beautiful tattoo, it has already... almost lost it's original form.
MC: ...
As I pressed the cloth against his injury, I touched his lips.
Apollo: ...What?
Apollo gently caressed my hair.
MC: Why... must you do something so rash?
Apollo: ...That's what everyone expects me to do... I'm the king of this territory after all. I can't resist... protecting it.
Apollo's strong words gave me pain.
(Sacrificing himself... to protect everyone.)
Just like the time when I first came to Flareruge, there was no hesitation in Apollo's eyes. Aside from looking majestic, they still had that same strong look in them.
MC: Apollo... You're so strong.
Apollo: Isn't that obvious...
MC: Strong, gallant... Those are what make me...
Feeling overwhelmed, I said those words.
Apollo: ...What? Say it.
Despite how frail he is, his usual arrogant smile gave me reassurance.
MC: ...I love you.
After making that smile... Apollo quietly held back his breath.
Apollo: Yeah... I don't want to let you go.
His trembling hand quietly held mine and squeezed it tightly.
Apollo: When I was on the brink of death, the one that I wanted to see the most was you...
While Apollo was looking tired, him being this kind wasn't like him...
(That sort of thing won't make me smile...)
MC: Please don't say things like being on the brink of death... That isn't like you. You're more majestic and... Despite how ill-tempered you are, I want you to smile.
I said that without realizing it.
Apollo: Hmph... I see.
MC: It's no good without you around... I'm sure that the people of this kingdom need you as their king...
(Surely, that's what they'll say someday.)
Apollo sacrificing himself to protect the kingdom is just like what a king would do. I looked straight into Apollo's eyes as I told him my beliefs.
MC: So please, live... Let's go back to Flareruge.
Apollo loosened his grip in his hand and leaned against the tree again. Then, he slowly sighed deeply...
Apollo: Yeah, I'll live. For the queen and for the people of this kingdom too...
MC: Apollo...
I gently placed both of my hands on his cheeks. When I felt that his body was warm again, I sighed in relief wholeheartedly...
Apollo: ...!
Before I knew it, I kissed him.
Apollo: ...
When I felt the warmth of his lips and that he was alive, tears fell. Then...
Apollo: ...Don't cry. Or else I won't let you do something like that again.
After slowly backing away from each other, Apollo murmured that with a bit of detest.
MC: Really?
Apollo: I hate lies.
Apollo placed his hand on my neck and pulled me towards him. At that moment... Our lips met again.
(I'm really glad... that he's still alive.)
With the taste of tears mixed into the kiss, our deep feelings were conveyed... Then, once more, I became entangled with his eyes that were gazing at me affectionately.
Apollo: I love you, MC...
When Apollo said his hot feelings at that moment, my tears continued to fall.
(Apollo...)
I slowly closed my eyes as I accepted his feelings that were like hot flames. The Apollo that wants to protect his kingdom... His heart that turns into flames will protect everyone.
Behind my eyelids, I see Apollo standing as the king of Flareruge...
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