Gerber - Prince of Vilastin - Main Story

Gerber - Prince of Vilastin - Main Story

Chapter 1 - A Large Flowered Smile

Kingdom of Flower Spirits, Vilastin, January... 

One day in the afternoon as spring was waiting to come... As my cheeks were being hit by the cold breeze, a prince woke up. 

Gerber: Mm... What was I doing until now... You are? 

His round jewellike eyes looked straight at me after blinking a few times. 

MC: I'm MC. Are you okay? 

I explained myself to him and... 

Gerber: You're... I see, thank you!

MC: ...!

The broad smile on his face was like a bloomed flower. It was warm and made it feel like that spring has arrived. 

(What a nice smile... Just looking at it is giving me energy.) 

As I was drawn towards his smile, he looked at me and... 

Gerber: ...A-A-Achoo!

MC: !? 

When he sneezed loudly, he sniffed. 

Gerber: Ah, sorry! ...I'm not good with the cold. 

MC: Are you okay? In that case, we should hurry and get to town...

Gerber: Yeah, there's still some snow left around here... Achoo!

When he made another cute sneeze, he smiled in embarrassment. 

(He's kind of cute.) 

Gerber: Sorry, sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Gerber of the gerbera spirits. 

(Gerbera spirits...?) 

Gerber: The prince of the Gerbera household in the Kingdom of Flower Spirits, Vilastin!

As his body curled up from the cold, he held his hand out to me. 

Gerber: Nice to meet you!

MC: ...Yes!

When I responded by taking his hand, he strongly held my hand. The temperature of his warm hand and his cheerful smile... They reminded me of a large flower at that moment... 

Chapter 2 - A Confusing Feeling

After a while since I woke him up and left the snowy area... Then, with the snow disappearing, we arrived at the town of Vilastin.

The town of Vilastin was crowded with people as they were all walking down the road with smiles. 

MC: It's kind of like a kingdom from a fairytale, it's a nice place. 

Gerber: Yeah... Ah! Wait here for a bit. 

MC: Eh? 

When Gerber-san ran off ahead, he went down on one knee to an elderly person that was holding some heavy looking luggage. 

Gerber: Ma'am, are you okay? 

Old Woman: Oh my, thank you. I was just thinking about delivering this luggage to my son's flower shop and then, I suddenly sprained my foot. 

Gerber: Then, I'll go deliver it for you. 

As Gerber-san smiled at the old woman, he picked up her luggage and stood up. Soon after, some children ran over to him when they saw him... 

Boy 1: Gerber-sama! My sister's balloon got stuck in a tree branch. 

Girl: Uwaaah... Waah...!

Gerber: There, there, don't cry, I'll go get it now. Can you watch over this luggage for a sec? 

MC: Sure. 

When he left the luggage in my hands, his nimble body quickly climbed up the tree on the roadside and then, he returned the balloon that was caught in a tree branch to the girl's hand. 

Girl: T-Thank you...!

Gerber: No problem! Seeing your smile is enough to make me happy after all. 

When the children broke into smiles, they waved their hands and ran off into an alley. I saw that Gerber-san's eyes were filled with a gentle fondness. 

MC: You're so kind, Gerber-san. 

I smiled at him, but... 

Gerber: ...Kind? 

In a daze, Gerber-san's eyes widened. 

MC: Gerber-san?

Gerber: Eh!? Ah, yeah!

Surprised, he blinked while nodding. 

(Huh... Just now, it felt like he was averting his gaze from me.) 

As I felt somewhat uneasy... 

///Choices///

- Is something wrong? (☼)

MC: Is something wrong? 

Gerber: ...

When he didn't respond, I looked at his face and then, Gerber-san energetically turned towards me and his face became close before I knew it... 

- Stare at him (☽)

MC: ...

As I tilted my head to the side, I stared at him. 

Gerber: Ah, what!? Sorry, I was just thinking a little...

When Gerber-san suddenly turned towards me, his face approached mine closely... 

///Choices///

MC: !!

Gerber: Wah! S-Sorry!

Just as our faces were about to touch, we widened our eyes. 

Gerber: ...Let's hurry and deliver this luggage that the old lady entrusted us with!

MC: Okay...

(That was surprising... But, what was that?) 

As Gerber-san's behavior left an uncomfortable feeling, we headed to the flower shop to deliver the luggage.

......

In front of the shop, there were some people talking with glum expression for some reason. 

Customer 1: As expected for many years here, year after year, the gerberas are blooming late, right? 

Customer 2: Guess so... Despite that it's been like that for a long time. 

Shopkeeper: But, I'm sure that they'll bloom in spring... Oh, if it isn't Gerber-sama! My apologies for always making you come here instead of Grandma. 

The shopkeeper ran over here after noticing us. 

Gerber: It's fine, it's fine!

Gerber-san handed the luggage to the shopkeeper. Although, that smile looked somewhat stiff. 

Gerber: More importantly, what you were talking about just now... 

Shopkeeper: Ah, yes. You should know about the gerberas blooming late, right? 

Gerber: ...Yeah. 

Shopkeeper: For many years here, they're late every year that it's making a lot of people in town uneasy. Could something has happened with the goddess? I'm worried. 

MC: Goddess? 

When I looked up at Gerber-san, he furrowed his brow troubledly. 

Gerber: It's the goddess of land and water that we and the flower spirits worship. With the goddess' divine protection, both us and the flower spirits are in good health. 

Shopkeeper: It's gotten weaker... This sort of situation could have an effect on the trades with the other households. 

Those words made Gerber-san look at the shopkeeper and the townspeople... 

Gerber: Then, as the prince of the Gerbera household, I'll go check on the goddess!

(Eh...) 

Customer 2: Really!? Gerber-sama!

Customer 1: That'll help!

Gerber: Yeah! Leave it to me!

While waving his hand, Gerber-san showed a smile, but...

(Gerber-san...?) 

I noticed an uneasy look in Gerber-san's eyes... 

Chapter 3 - His Dedication

-Flashback-

Gerber: Then, as the prince of the Gerbera household, I'll go check on the goddess!

-Flashback-

A few days later... 

Gerber-san and I arrived at the cave in the mountain of Vilastin. Even though it was said that the cave is close to spring too, the atmosphere was freezing cold and the sharply pointed rocky surface looked like it could prevent intruders from going in. 

MC: Is the goddess really in such a dangerous place...? 

Gerber: Yeah, the goddess is a holy being to us and the flower spirits. To prevent insolent people from getting close, we enshrined her in here since long ago. 

Gerber-san made an apologetic look. 

Gerber: Are you really okay with coming? There'll be no turning back, are you okay with that? 

Curious about Gerber-san's behavior, I requested to accompany him to the goddess. 

Gerber: ...

As his clear red eyes were looking at me worriedly... 

///Choices///

- I can't leave you alone (☼)

MC: It's okay, I somehow can't bring myself to leave you alone from looking at you. 

Gerber: Eh, you were worried about me? 

When Gerber-san pointed at himself, his cheeks slightly turned red. 

(He's kind of cute.) 

- Don't worry about it (☽)

MC: I'll be okay. So, don't worry about it. Not doing anything about everyone's troubles is just... 

Gerber: ...I see, you're so kind. Looking at you is kind of like looking in a mirror that it's a little embarrassing... Haha, what am I saying? 

As he smiled to smooth things over, his cheeks turned red a little. 

///Choices///

Gerber: Thanks! I'll be with you, so don't worry!

MC: ...!

Gerber-san strongly held my hand. The strength in his hand felt somewhat frantic. 

(Is Gerber-san that devoted to everyone?) 

When we were going through town, I saw him help out so many people. Even now, he's doing this sort of thing for everyone with all his strength...

(Is it because he's a prince...? But, that can't be the only reason.) 

The moment I thought of that... 

Gerber: Look out!!

MC: !?

Just as he shouted that sharply, my body lost it's balance at that moment... 

Gerber: ...!!

Gerber-san reached out to support me. When he pulled me with most of his strength, my body was held in Gerber-san's arms. Although, as I was being protected, his body hit the wall of the sharp cave...

///Choices///

- I'm sorry...! (☽)

MC: I'm sorry! It's because you were protecting me... 

Gerber: What are you saying... I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something had happened to you.

Although, as he was forcing himself to smile, blood was running down from the top of his shoulder. 

- Are you okay!? (☼)

MC: Are you okay!? 

Gerber: ...Yeah, this sort of thing is nothing, I'm fine...!

(What should I do... It's my fault.) 

Blood was running down from his shoulder. 

///Choices///

MC: Oh no, blood is...! 

Gerber: Ah... You're right. I'm beat... Because of the cold, I can't seem to move well as I usually do. 

Gerber-san looked at the deeper part of the cave. 

Gerber: I wonder if the sunlight is unable to reach in here. Despite that it's going to get even darker and colder from here on... 

MC: Let's return to town!

When I looked at Gerber-san's injury, I suggested that. Although, as he was silent, his own shoulder injury began to stop bleeding. 

MC: Gerber-san!

Gerber: ...I can't, I promised everyone. 

MC: But, at this rate, you'll be.. 

Gerber: Even so, everyone who is troubled are relying on me. I can't betray those feelings... 

In Gerber-san's eyes, a strong aspired-like feeling was slipping in and out. Although, that feeling seems to be hurting his own body. 

(Why would he go that far...?) 

I felt an agonizing pain from seeing him sacrifice himself to help everyone... 

Chapter 4 - An Overflowing Uneasiness

As Gerber-san was injured from protecting me, we arrived at the water area in the cave.

MC: First off, let's give you some treatment here, are you okay? 

Gerber: Yeah... 

With a pained look, Gerber-san sat next to me. 

(The blood has spread out this much...) 

MC: I'm sorry, it's my fault... 

Him getting hurt because of my own carelessness gave me pain... 

Gerber: It's okay, so don't make that face. Besides, I'm really glad that you didn't get hurt. 

Gerber-san placed his hand on my head and smiled gently. That smile made the pain rise. 

MC: Let's hurry and get you treated... 

I soaked a handkerchief int he water and placed it against his shoulder injury.

Gerber: ...!

MC: Did that sting...? 

Gerber: N-Not at all! Yeah, I'm fine... 

Gerber-san continued to show a smile. Although, just as I was about to remove the rock fragment that was in his wound... 

Gerber: Ah, wait! Wait a sec! Be a bit more gentle... Owow!

MC: A-Are you okay!? 

With his strong face coming off, his lips became warped. 

Gerber: ...Somehow, I feel so pathetic, despite that I said that you don't have to worry since I'll be with you. 

When Gerber-san shook his head with a wry smile, I... 

///Choices///

- Thank you for saving me (☽)

MC: I'm glad that you saved me. Thank you so much, Gerber-san. 

Gerber: R-Really...? Okay, then good...! Yeah!

As he made a troubled smile, he hid his mouth with his hand. 

- You were really cool (☼)

MC: No, you were really cool. 

Gerber: Eh...? 

When he blinked many times, he looked at me with wide eyes. 

///Choices///

Gerber: What should I do... Somehow, being told that sort of thing is really embarrassing. 

As Gerber-san murmured that, his face turned red. 

(What a cute person... But, it'd be nice if he could think for himself a little.) 

As his smile didn't go away despite being injured, I thought of that. 

......

After resting for a while, Gerber-san held his own shoulders. 

Gerber: ...Cold... 

I placed my hand on his forehead as he was shivering. 

(He's warm... What should I do, did he get a fever when his injury got infected? Since he seems to be weak against the cold... He must be pushing himself.) 

To warm up his body a little, I softly snuggled up against him. 

Gerber: Hm, MC... -san? 

As his eyes were getting cloudy from his fever, he said my name. 

MC: I'm sorry, but... I'm trying to warm you up a little.

Then... 

Gerber: ...Can you say my name? 

MC: Name? Gerber-san? 

Gerber: Not like that, make it feel like you're with me more. 

(Uh...) 

MC: Gerber... -kun. 

Gerber: ...Fufu, thank you, MC-san. 

MC: Ah... 

His long arms went around my body. Along with his slightly warm body heat, his strained breathing was touching my nape... 

Gerber: Even though I want to live up to my role, why must it be this troubling... 

MC: Eh...? 

His hand that was hugging me was trembling.

Gerber: I'm sure that the flowers being late blooming... Is because of me being chosen as a prince by the goddess somehow...

His feeble voice painfully reached my ears. 

MC: That's not true...! Besides, you helped everyone in town-

Gerber: No... I'm sure that it's because of that. Because this whole time, I've never had any self-confidence... We, the princes of Vilastin, were chosen by the goddess. 

MC: Then, you too, Gerber-kun?

Gerber: Yeah. But, I... I don't really get what a prince is. 

Gerber-kun caressed my hair weakly. 

Gerber: That's why I try to live up to my role... and help anyone, but... I couldn't understand it well. No matter how hard I try... I couldn't do it that it makes me feel empty with uneasiness. As a prince... I can't do anything... Yet, I want to do something...

His incoherent muttering made me hold his hand tightly. 

Gerber: ...But, in this cave... If I pray to the goddess... I'm sure that my prayers will... 

MC: ...Gerber-kun? 

Gerber: ...

(Huh...? He's asleep?) 

I heard him breathing softly as he was sleeping. Although, his words were repeated in my mind this whole time. 

(Has he been pushing himself this whole time?) 

As I felt my heart tightening... All I could do was hug his body that looked even more thin... 

Sun End

Moon End