Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Kagetora - Prince of Wilhelm - Sun End
Chapter 7 - Determination
As there was a tense atmosphere drifting in the hallway of the venue... Kagetora-san glared at the editor.
Kagetora: Deceiving children with picture books...? Don't give me that bullcrap. Children are the ones that you mustn't deceive the most.
Editor: ...!
Kagetora: After all, you're the one that knows that all too well. Don't you think?
The editor clenched his fist.
Editor: ...My apologies.
As the editor bit his lip, a tear was formed in his eyes.
Editor: ...Because of the sales and unreasonable orders from the higher ups... I... I have forgotten the feeling of wanting to make children happy...
Kagetora: A good adult shouldn't be sobbing. It's laughable.
After saying that, Kagetora-san turned towards me.
MC: Ah... No! I wasn't laughing...
Kagetora: I know. ...I ended up showing you something so shameful.
MC: No... Are you okay?
Kagetora: ...Yeah.
As he placed his hand on his forehead, Kagetora-san sighed deeply. Then...
Kagetora: ...I'm getting hungry.
When Kagetora-san raised his face, there was a strong determined look in his eyes.
Kagetora: I'm going to explain everything to the guys in the venue and apologize.
He turned around and returned to the venue that was filled with confusion...
Chapter 8 - The Prince's Tears
As there was a cold atmosphere drifting in the noisy venue... Kagetora-san took the mike from the host and spoke to everyone with determination.
Kagetora: ...About me being Margaret, it's true.
From slightly further away, I watched him as he stood on top of the podium.
Kagetora: It's inexcusable. For deceiving everyone by hiding my identity up till now, I apologize for all that.
When he said that, he deeply lowered his head.
(Kagetora-san...)
Kagetora-san handed the mike to the host and quickly descended from the podium.
Host: Ah... Everyone, give a big applause to Margaret, Prince Kagetora!
The children and parents in the venue made confused expressions.
Child 1: That person was Margaret?
Child 2: It was an old man.
Once again, the clamoring became loud in the venue...
Kagetora: ...
When Kagetora-san returned to me, he lightly sighed.
MC: ...Are you okay?
Kagetora: It can't be helped. I caused something like this... Even though I've always been saying that you mustn't deceive children more than anything, I've been deceiving them this whole time...
(Kagetora-san...)
-Flashback-
Kagetora: My picture books... They're books that are for children.
---
Kagetora: Deceiving children with picture books...? Don't give me that bullcrap. Children are the ones that you mustn't deceive the most.
-Flashback-
(He wasn't deceiving them. I want to tell everyone... Kagetora-san's thoughts.)
MC: Um... Can you lend me the mike?
I spoke to the host.
Host: Uh... You are?
MC: I'm MC of Traumerei.
Host: Traumerei...!?
Kagetora: Hey... What are you planning on doing?
Kagetora-san looked at me with a surprised face.
MC: I want to say something as a fan of Margaret-san.
Kagetora: Don't. I won't let you. If you don't do it well, you'll get dragged into it as well. Being looked at like that... I can handle that by myself.
MC: That probably won't happen. But... I want to let them know.
Kagetora: Eh...?
When I took the mike from the host, I went onto the podium.
MC: My apologies for being so sudden. But, there's something I want everyone to know. About Margaret-san's... Kagetora-san's thoughts.
Adult 1: Thoughts...?
While there was a small commotion in the venue, I took a deep breath a little.
MC: He continued writing picture books with the thought of wanting to make children smile. The reason why he hid the fact that it was him that was writing the picture books... It was because he didn't want to surprise the children and was worried about that.
When I looked at the audience, the small children looked at Kagetora-san.
MC: I was worried when he said, "I caused something like this"... Even though he's actually really kind.
Kagetora: Hey! That's enough-
MC: Kagetora-san thinks of the children more than anyone else. He wishes to make them happy. That's why, I... I love Kagetora-san's picture books that were written with his kindness.
It became silent in the venue. There wasn't any applause or cheers, but the gazes of confused people on me. Then...
Kagetora: That's enough, MC.
Kagetora-san got onto the podium and softly took the mike from my hand. Just as he smiled sadly as if he has given up on everything...
Kagetora: Just your feelings are enough... Thank you.
MC: That's...
Kagetora-san patted my head just like how he does it with his sister. At that moment.
Child 3: I love them! Margaret-san's picture books.
Kagetora: Eh?
Child 4: Me too! The blue bird is my favorite!
The voices of the children were heard in the silent venue. When one of the mothers took the opportunity of those voices and applauded, it spread out in the venue soon after.
Kagetora: Everyone...
Kagetora-san widened his eyes in surprise. When I looked closely, those eyes were becoming teary...
MC: Your thoughts... They reached them properly.
Kagetora: ...Yeah.
When our eyes met, he smiled happily from the bottom of his heart the next moment...
Chapter 9 - Change
While the peaceful blue sky was spreading out... One day after a few days have passed since then...
When I received an invitation from the king, I visited the Wilhelm castle again.
Ibuki: Big Sis!
Ibuki-chan came running over and hugged me.
King: Welcome. We've been waiting for you.
MC: Thank you very much for inviting me.
Queen: Fufufu, he sure was excited.
Ibuki: Right?
The two of them looked at each other with smiles that had a hidden meaning behind them.
King: Hey now, you two.
The king scolded them as he broke into a smile.
(...What do they mean?)
While thinking that it was strange, Kagetora-san appeared from the back. As the three of them were smiling at Kagetora-san, he cleared his throat.
Kagetora: MC, over here.
As he had a bit of a nervous look on his face, he took me with him.
......
The warm sunlight was downpouring onto the courtyard. Together with Kagetora-san, we sat down in the chairs that were placed in the courtyard.
MC: Have you been writing picture books since then?
Kagetora: ...Pretty much. But, not just picture books. With my skills from the past... I might do a few novels.
MC: Eh...?
(Even though he's done that sort of thing for children...)
Kagetora: Don't make that face. It's not like I've come to hate picture books.
Kagetora-san placed his hand on my head as I was perplexed.
MC: ...Are you still bothered from what happened at that time?
When I asked that worriedly, Kagetora-san shook his head.
Kagetora: ...No, I've just been thinking about it. This whole time, I've been concerned about protecting the dreams of children by not revealing my name, Margaret... But... I was wrong. There were a lot of other ways I could've done it.
He slowly removed his hand and softly smiled.
Kagetora: The expansion of picture books... Is popularity really necessary for that sort of thing?
(The expansion of picture books...)
When I looked at him, Kagetora-san showed a smile.
Kagetora: That's why I'll never cut corners. Even novels that are aimed towards adults are my treasured books. Becoming treasured books to people that receive them... I'll make them with that thought.
As Kagetora-san said that, I noticed that his expression has softened up more than before.
MC: I understand. You're a hard worker after all, Kagetora-san.
Kagetora: ...Don't go saying something like that.
When a light breeze blew, it made his hair gently sway...
Last Chapter - Blue Bird
As we were surrounded by a comforting breeze in the courtyard...
Kagetora: I have something to tell you today.
MC: Something to tell me...?
Kagetora-san presented a single picture book to me.
On the cover, there was a picture of a blue bird.
MC: "The Blue and White Happiness"... What a nice title.
(Such a gentle looking picture...)
As I felt myself becoming happy from just looking at it... There was no mistaking that it was drawn by Kagetora-san.
Kagetora: It might not by anything big, but if you don't mind...
Just as Kagetora-san held in the words that he was about to say, he shook it off and smiled.
Kagetora: No... It's my best piece of work.
(Kagetora-san...)
-Flashback-
Kagetora: You don't need to flatter me. Adults tend to find them boring.
-Flashback-
Suddenly, I recalled his words that I've heard before.
(At that time, he didn't look like he had that much self-confidence, but...)
Right now, Kagetora-san looks embarrassed, but his self-confidence was showing in his words and tone.
Kagetora: Won't you listen to it?
MC: Eh...?
Hiding his embarrassed expression, he looked at the picture book.
Kagetora: ...My mother would read picture books out loud for children in libraries in the past. She had a really gentle voice. Everyone would enjoy listening to her. I thought that it would make you happy, like with the children.
After Kagetora-san said that, he opened the picture book. Then, when he took a bit of a deep breath...
Kagetora: "On a tiny island, there lived a tiny blue bird."
Kagetora-san's gentle tone made my heart throb softly.
Kagetora: "The blue bird was small, but he would send happiness to everyone every day."
I listened closely about the peaceful world in the picture book...
......
Kagetora: ..."Coming to the blue bird that couldn't fly due to his injury was a white bird. The white bird told him, 'Come, grab onto me. Let's carry happiness together.' And so, the blue bird and the white bird became friends and departed towards the vast sky... The end."
Kagetora-san silently closed the picture book and placed it on the table.
MC: What a nice story...
That story was exactly like the kindness that was overflowing in Kagetora-san's heart...
Kagetora: ...
Suddenly, his rough finger softly wiped away the tear that has formed in my eye. Then...
Kagetora: ...Thank you.
MC: ...!
Kagetora-san lightly picked me up.
Kagetora: I was able to make this story because you were with me.
As I felt his warmth from his large body, my heart throbbed.
MC: That's not...
Just as his face slowly got closer to stop me from continuing to speak...
MC: ...!
A gentle kiss was placed against my lips.
MC: ...
As my body was covered in a sweet sensation, it became comforting as if I was inside a story. Although, the faint scent of cigarettes told me that this was reality that instant.
(Kagetora-san...)
I heard the sound of the pages in the picture book that was on the table being flipped by the refreshing breeze. After his face slowly backed away, Kagetora-san only looked at me...
Kagetora: I want to convey the continuation of this story to the people around the world. At that time... When I vowed to strive into expanding picture books. As a prince of the Kingdom of Literature... I want to bestow these kinds of stories to make both adults and children happy.
The words that he softly said warmed up my heart.
Kagetora: For that reason, I need you.
The blue sky looked like wings of a blue bird as it shined behind him.
Kagetora: Won't you... carry happiness with me?
MC: ...Yes.
(From here on, our story... will continue forever...)
As if we were drawn towards each other, our lips met again. Throughout the vast blue sky, there were two birds flying closely together...
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