Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Kagetora - Prince of Wilhelm - Moon End
Chapter 7 - Conflict
Kagetora-san looked at the editor with a sharp gaze...
Kagetora: Picture books that deceive children...?
He clenched his fist in anger and spoke.
Kagetora: Don't screw with me. Children are the one thing that you must never deceive!
Editor: ...!
(Kagetora-san...)
As the editor wasn't saying anything, he only looked down silently.
Kagetora: MC... I ended up showing you something that you shouldn't see.
MC: No...
(I should say something...)
Kagetora: ...
As I was hesitant to speak, Kagetora-san started walking towards the venue.
MC: Kagetora-san, are you going back?
Kagetora: Yeah. I need to talk to the people there.
MC: By talk...
Kagetora: I'm going to tell them everything. And also... Apologize.
MC: !
With no signs of hesitation on his face, Kagetora-san went straight towards the venue.
(Why... I wonder if Kagetora-san feels frustrated. I...)
While feeling helpless, I followed him from behind...
Chapter 8 - Drawing the Line
The commotion of the people made my uneasiness rise...
(Kagetora-san...)
Margaret... Everyone in the venue finding out about Kagetora-san's true identity might cause a lot of chaos.
Kagetora: ...Everyone, listen.
When Kagetora-san went up on the podium, he readied himself and spoke to everyone.
Kagetora: My deepest apologies... For hiding my identity and deceiving everyone.
The moment Kagetora-san said that, the people that have gathered around started clamoring.
Boy 1: Kagetora was Margaret...?
Adult 1: Is that true? I can't believe it...
Adult 2: He made those stories? Doing something like this at the literary awards...
The inside of the venue was overflowing with commotion again.
MC: ...
Just as I was about to run up to him, Kagetora-san shook his head to stop me.
MC: Kagetora-san...
After a short pause, he turned away and looked around the venue.
Kagetora: There's a reason why I made those stories... I wanted to give more to those that hold interests in picture books, but ende dup hiding my identity. Above all that, I revealed my identity at such a joyous occasion... It's inexcusable.
(Eh?)
When I looked over my shoulder, there was the editor standing at the entrance of the venue with a surprised look.
Kagetora: Everything is all my fault. I deeply... apologize.
He took all the responsibility to protect the editor and apologized.
(That's...)
Camera flashes were being used relentlessly on him...
......
A few days later since that event...
(Kagetora-san... I wonder if he's okay.)
The case with Kagetora-san was featured as the most humorous scandal in the newspapers...
MC: Kagetora-san, I brought you some coffee.
As Kagetora-san was looking at the drifting clouds, he was smoking a cigarette.
Kagetora: Ah... Thanks.
When he said that listlessly, my heart tightened in pain.
MC: Are you... not going to write anymore?
Kagetora: As someone who has destroyed children's dreams, I don't have the right to write picture books...
Along with saying that, he blew out some white smoke. The smoke disappeared as it instantly dissolved.
Kagetora: I'm done with picture books. This is where I'm drawing the line.
After saying that, he put out his cigarette.
Kagetora: When I told the chief editor of the publishing company that I'm quitting picture books, he said how about try writing a best-selling series.
MC: So, you're going to write stories that aren't picture books?
Kagetora: Until things settle down, I might do that...
He took the coffee that I poured for him and left from there as if he was running away.
(Kagetora-san's picture books...)
When I closed my eyes, I remembered the world with soft colors that Kagetora-san imagined.
-Flashback-
Kagetora: ...When my sister couldn't sleep because of the pain, she became really happy when I read her picture books like how Mom did... When I showed her the picture book that I wrote, she became so happy... Since then, I continued writing. Only picture books with happy endings.
-Flashback-
I thought about Ibuki-chan and the children smiling from seeing his books.
(Never creating something new again... I want Kagetora-san to continue writing picture books forever.)
When I looked up, there was the vast blue sky.
(I...)
As I was getting the feeling that the perfectly blue sky was giving me the motivation that I need, I left the castle...
Chapter 9 - Small Visitors
The next day... Lively footsteps were heard in the hallway. Wanting to cheer up Kagetora-san, I brought over the boys that we met in town before to visit his room.
Kagetora: You guys...
Despite being surprised from the sudden visit, Kagetora-san let them in.
Boy 1: Hey, Kagetora, we came to make a complaint.
After entering the room, the boys approached Kagetora-san.
Kagetora: ...Sorry. For deceiving you guys...
Boy 2: Huh? What are you talking about?
Boy 3: What do you mean by deceive?
Kagetora: Eh...? Didn't you guys come here to complain-
Interrupting Kagetora-san's words, one of the boys pulled his hand.
Boy 1: We're bored, you haven't been coming to town lately. Let us ride your shoulders again.
Kagetora: ...! You guys, why...
Boy 2: You may have a scary face, but you're a good person.
After saying that, another boy grabbed Kagetora-san's hand.
Boy 3: Who cares if your face doesn't match Margaret's image!
The boys smiled altogether.
Kagetora: ...You're not mad? But, I destroyed your dreams.
Boy 1: What are you saying? You're the one who wrote it, so you didn't destroy anything.
Boy 2: Rather, we had a feeling that something was up.
Kagetora-san looked at them dumbfounded.
MC: ...They don't think you deceived them. The kind Kagetora-san... and the picture books that you wrote, everyone loves them.
Kagetora: ...
As Kagetora-san was silent, his eyes became a little teary.
Boy 2: Also, why didn't you tell us?
Boy 3: That's what we came to complain about.
Kagetora: So, it was about that...
Boy 1: More importantly, give me an autograph!
Boy 2: Me too, me too!
The boys held out the picture books that they were hiding behind their backs. They were Margaret's... The picture books that Kagetora-san wrote.
Kagetora: You guys...
The light returned to Kagetora-san's eyes that were sinking into darkness.
(What a relief...)
Boy 1: You're open!
One of the boys grabbed Kagetora-san's leg.
Kagetora: ...Good grief. In return, I'll sign your precious picture book!
Kagetora-san grabbed the picture book from the boy that jumped on him and quickly signed it. Then...
Kagetora: ...Thanks, you guys. Including you... MC.
Just as he made a teary expression for a moment, Kagetora-san smiled brightly...
Last Chapter - An Unchanging Wish
During the boys' visit, the sun went down after a while...
Ibuki: Big Sis!
As I was reading Kagetora-san's picture book in the courtyard, Ibuki-chan appeared.
Ibuki: Big Bro wants you to come to his room.
MC: Thank you. I'll go right now.
As Ibuki-chan was smiling, she made me go forward by pushing my back.
Ibuki: Hurry, hurry!
He wanted me to stay in the castle until he finished his new picture book... When Kagetora-san asked me that favor, I've been staying in Wilhelm up till now.
(I wonder if he's finished writing it.)
With expectations rising, I hurried to his room...
......
Kagetora: ...You came.
Kagetora-san was standing by the window that the sunlight was shining through as he was smoking a cigarette.
MC: Did you... finish it?
After he puts out the cigarette in an ashtray... He held out a single picture book.
Kagetora: I'm giving this to you. It might not be anything special though...
On the cover, "The Shadow's Adventure", was written on it and there was a picture of a colorful shadow stretching out from the rabbit's body.
Kagetora: It hasn't appeared in the markets around the world yet. You're the first person to read it.
As my heart was racing, I turned a page in the picture book. It was a story about a shadow that separated itself from a rabbit's body to go on a journey searching for colors.
(Interesting...)
The black shadow received various colors with the color fairy's magic. Although, along it's journey, as it wanted to change into all kinds of colors, it noticed that it was still black itself...
Kagetora: I was thinking that it'd be nice to give some courage to children that read this book...
The soft red sunlight made Kagetora-san's shadow on the floor.
(Just as it is itself...)
MC: That's just like you.
Kagetora: ...You don't need to hold back. Tell me how you truly feel.
MC: Then... I'll say it.
I became reflected in Kagetora-san's uneasy eyes.
MC: Your books really aren't something that deceive children, they were made for children.
Kagetora: ...!
MC: This story... Staying as yourself is nice, that's the lesson I'm getting from this. Trying your hardest in your own way no matter what... I think it's a nice story to show to children.
Kagetora: ...MC.
My feelings towards him were overflowing in my heart.
MC: The you that made such a gentle story... is what I love.
(It's strange... I'm telling Kagetora-san how I honestly feel.)
The moment I sighed in reassurance... His large shadow was hovering over me.
Before I knew it, I was being hugged by him.
Kagetora: ...Thank you.
His affectionate whisper tickled my ear.
Kagetora: ...No matter what anyone says, I will continue to write stories for children from here on.
With the faint scent of cigarettes drifting, I became emotionally overwhelmed...
Kagetora: Like courage and hope... Giving them those kinds of stories will encourage them... And then, when they grow up from reading them... It'll create a peaceful world that children can live in with smiles.
MC: It'll happen... Since it's you, Kagetora-san.
When I told him that, he smiled.
Kagetora: As I was writing this, I was thinking of all sorts of things like it really won't do any good if I quit... As a prince of the Kingdom of Literature, I want to make the world peaceful with the picture books for children. That's the answer I came up with.
MC: Kagetora-san...
Kagetora: So... Stay by my side.
After he murmured that heartrendingly, he strongly hugged me.
Kagetora: What gave me courage were the children's smiles and... your warmth. I... I love you.
The bashful look that he was showing was overflowing with beauty. I hugged his back tightly...
MC: ...Yes.
As I was enveloped in his warmth, I slowly closed my eyes...
With our shadows becoming one, they silently dissolved into the twilight...
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