Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Lucien - Prince of Arbitro - Sun End
Chapter 7 - The Cause of the Miasma
As Lucien-san held my shoulder, we entered the restricted area...
MC: ...
I let out a cry the moment it became painful to breathe after I got hit by the dense fog.
Lucien: You okay?
Lucien-san wrapped his wing around me and pressed some cloth that he had on him against my mouth.
Once my breathing has eased up a little, we proceeded forward and...
Lucien: This is...
When my feet stopped at the same time that Lucien-san stood still, I desperately tried to keep my eyes open as I was suffering from the miasma.
MC: ...!
In front of us, there was a dark swamp that was wavering as if there was a living being drenched in it. Just looking at the black abyss that looked like it could suck us in made me gulp.
Lucien: This is... This swamp is the cause of the miasma and the restricted area...
After Lucien-san widened his eyes in surprise for a while...
Lucien: This swamp needs to be stopped.
He declared that as there was a firm determination in his eyes that were shining greatly...
Chapter 8 - A Way to Stop the Swamp
-Flashback-
Lucien: This swamp needs to be stopped.
-Flashback-
After that... To stop the swamp, Lucien-san got some people working on it.
Noble: L-Lucien-sama...
Guard: Eek...
Even though the people were all afraid, Lucien-san continued desperately to make an appeal to stop the swamp.
(Lucien-san...)
-Flashback-
Lucien: Before it could cause any more damages... I need to do something...
-Flashback-
I remembered how he looked at that time.
(I want to help him...)
MC: Won't you please hear him out!
Lucien: MC...
Wanting to help him, I desperately tried appealing to the people of Arbitro as well.
Lucien: Thank you.
Once the problem was noticed as he spoke about it with a serious tone, a meeting with the congress was going to be held...
Then, when the day of the congress assembly has arrived...
(He told me not to push myself and let me attend, but...)
When Lucien-san appeared, a commotion was being made in the room.
Member 1: Prince Lucien...
Member 2: Those black wings...
Member 3: Yes, how ferocious...
MC: ...
I bit my lip and looked at Lucien-san, but he looked like he didn't hear those harsh words and was all dignified and composed. The black wings on his back looked majestic and lustrously beautiful. But...
(Lucien-san, his hands are shaking...)
The moment I noticed that, his strength made the pain spread within my heart even more.
(You can do it... Lucien-san.)
When I cheered him on with all my might internally, I gripped my hands tightly...
......
Speaker: Now then, let's being the assembly now.
While the assemble was in the middle of starting, Lucien-san quickly brought up the topic...
Lucien: The other day, I investigated the restricted area. Right now, there's a critical situation with the restricted area because it's spreading past the barbed wires around it.
Member 1: W-What's this!?
Member 2: We've never heard of this! There have been no problems with the restricted area written in the reports.
Lucien: That's because the reports were poorly written and the problem that is happening has been avoided. I found out the cause of the miasma and the restricted area spreading are because of the dark swamp in the middle of the forest. We could put a stop to it-
Member 3: What are you saying! Going into the restricted area would be... ...Are you insisting that we should have our wings turn black!?
Lucien: ...
Lucien-san closed his mouth as everyone was raising objections.
Member 4: T-That sort of thing is easy for you to say since your wings have already turned black...!!
MC: ...!
The moment I was about to stand up from those words...
Lucien: ...
Lucien-san looked at me silently.
(Lucien-san...
"Don't worry, thank you."
When it looked like he was saying that, I took in those words as he was looking at me with a gentle gaze. Then, once again, Lucien-san pulled himself together firmly and returned his gaze towards the congress members.
Lucien: I'm not the only one. There are others with black wings too.
(Ah...)
-Flashback-
Servant: ...Yes. Everyone detests and fears black wings because they carry a bad omen. Those who become affected by the miasma and those who are born within it... There are many reasons, but every single one of them have to go live quietly at the edge of the kingdom.
-Flashback-
Member 2: Don't tell me... Are you setting those people into motion?
Lucien: Yes. With their help, we can do something about the swamp.
Member 3: You got to be kidding! Those people... Who knows what they'll do!
While all the commotion increased, Lucien-san stayed calm and didn't get hurt.
Lucien: ...But, those with white wings won't do anything about it. If you guys hadn't pushed them out towards the edge of the kingdom, you would've been able to take care of the problem.
Lucien-san clenched his fist tightly.
(Even though he has black wings, who knows what'll happen if he got hit by the miasma...)
Lucien: If we take care of the problem, in return... I want to have another meeting about the way those guys have been treated.
Member 3: ...
After that too, various discussions were made about Lucien-san's suggestion to get rid of the current state of things and then, the meeting somehow came to an end...
Chapter 9 - Whether White or Black
As soon as a decision about stopping the swamp in the restricted area was made in the meeting, Lucien-san recruited those with black wings to participate and went out to proceed with the plan.
Lucien: Are you okay, don't push yourself.
When my hands stopped from working, Lucien-san asked me that.
MC: I'm okay, I want to do whatever I can to help too.
Lucien: Okay... But, let me know right away if you're not feeling well.
MC: Okay, thank you.
When Lucien-san showed some appreciation towards me, that expression felt warm and was completely different from when we first met.
Black Winged 1: Lucien-sama, what should we do here...
Black Winged 2: Lucien-sama! We've finished over here!
I noticed that Lucien-san was surrounded by a lot of people.
(Lucien-san...)
As Lucien-san was talking to his friends, there was an awkward smile showing on his face. Seeing that made a warm feeling spread within my heart.
......
A few days later since we've started working...
Lucien: ...Now, the swamp has been stopped.
Black Winged 1: We did it, Lucien-sama!
Black Winged 2: What a relief...
Everyone, who was working, exchanged words of joy as they hugged each other.
Lucien: Everyone, is there nothing wrong with your bodies?
Black Winged 3: Yes! We're only a little tired from doing all that manual labor!
Lucien: I see...
Lucien-san sighed in relief.
Black Winged 2: Aside from that, it's been so long since we've felt so refreshed.
Black Winged 1: Always being avoided and hated by everyone... We all thought that our lives have become unfortunate.
Lucien: ...
Black Winged 3: But, right now, we're happy that we've become helpful to someone like this.
Black Winged 1: Lucien-sama... Thank you so much.
Lucien: Everyone...
Lucien-san looked around at the black winged people's faces in order.
Lucien: ...Sorry. Despite that I haven't really done anything to protect you guys. From now on, I'll try working hard. Whether they're white or black, it doesn't mean anything, we're all one and the same.
There was a strong look dwelling within Lucien-san's eyes.
Black Winged 3: Lucien-sama!
Black Winged 1: Lucien-sama...!
I gazed admiringly at that dignified face.
Lucien: ...MC?
Noticing my gaze, Lucien-san tilted his head to the side oddly.
Lucien: What are you looking at?
MC: N-Nothing.
(I can't tell him that I was admiring him...)
When I looked away, my cheeks were blushing and...
MC: !
He hugged me as his wings lightly went around me.
Lucien: ...It's thanks to you. Thank you for staying by my side.
MC: I didn't do-
I heard his heartbeat pounding strongly from his chest.
(I'm glad...)
As I was unable to hear the voices of the people around us, Lucien-san's heartbeat was the only thing I could hear clearly...
Last Chapter - A View That was Yearned For
As the sky looked somewhat clearer than before...
When we returned to town after stopping the spread of the restricted area safely, those with white wings looked at us from a surrounding distance.
Townsperson 1: Lucien-sama...
Lucien: ...
Once the news about the swamp being stopped was given, all the townspeople made bewildered faces.
Lucien: The strong miasma has already been taken care of. But... Everyone, don't go near that place no matter what from now on. I have decided to take responsibility over the management of that place. So, there's no need to worry about it.
Townspeople: ...
At that moment...
Girl: Lucien-sama, thank you!
A single girl appeared in front of Lucien-san and handed him a flower.
Lucien: You are...
Lucien-san bent down to be at the same eye level as the girl.
Girl: My mom and dad went into that place and had their wings turn black. Which is why I'm unable to see them... Hey, Lucien-sama, it's okay now, right?
Lucien: ...
Girl: Will I be able to see Mom and Dad again?
Lucien: Yes... I promise you that.
After making that promise with the girl, Lucien-san stood up. The expressions of the townspeople that were watching those two changed soon after.
Townsperson: Only those with black wings... What's with that? Right now, they stopped the swamp. We...
After hearing the commotion, Lucien-san silently closed his eyes.
Lucien: ...
(Such a gentle looking face...)
When he slowly opened his beautiful black eyes again, I became reflected in them next.
Lucien: When we went to the restricted area at that time... If I hadn't gone in and realized what was inside, I wouldn't have been able to take this step.
MC: ...!
Lucien-san slowly closed the distance between us. As soon as he was close to me, Lucien-san placed his warm hand on my shoulder.
Lucien: At that time, I was actually scared, but... You gave me the desire to move forward. When you woke me up... You actually gave me a fresh start in life.
At that moment, he pulled me by the waist and hugged me. With a thud, his beautiful black wings shook.
MC: U-Um...
As soon as I was worried about him hearing my loud heartbeat, I hung my head down. Then...
Lucien: We'll be flying now.
MC: ...!
The moment he said that strongly, Lucien-san lightly picked me up. The next moment...
When his beautiful black wings spread out, Lucien-san flew up into the vast sky. The sudden feeling of flying made me cling onto Lucien-san by reflex.
MC: Lucien-san...!
Lucien: Don't worry, just hold on tight.
As we were rapidly flying up, the spot we were just standing at instantly became smaller. Then, the people's commotion became distance until I could no longer hear them...
Lucien: I've wanted to fly in the sky like this for so long.
As his beautiful wings flew in the sky with just the two of us, Lucien-san spoke.
Lucien: This whole time, I've only hid these black wings and shut myself in the castle...
MC: ...From now on, I'm sure that you'll be flying. The people of this kingdom too... I'm sure they'll understand someday.
Lucien: Yeah. Micaela- I need to tell my younger brother about this.
MC: Your brother?
Lucien: My brother has always been concerned about my wings turning black.
MC: ...Why?
When I asked that nervously, Lucien-san made a wry smile as if he has gotten over it.
Lucien: When my brother and a friend were playing in the forest, where the restricted area is... Just as they tripped and were about to fall into the restricted area, I went in to save them.
MC: Then, at that time, you...
Lucien: Yeah.
(To think that something like that has happened in the past...)
Lucien: I wonder if... I could go back to being with those guys like in the past again.
Lucien-san looked up at the vast sky.
Lucien: But, I feel bad when they're being indebted to me. ...This view I've wanted to see this whole time, I feel that I could look at it forever.
MC: Lucien-san...
Lucien: MC... I wanted to show it to you as well.
MC: ...!
Lucien: Please, from now on... Won't you stay by my side? It's because of you that I was able to take this step.
Even though those black wings looked completely beautiful as they were flapping on his back, those wings were the reason why no one would approach such a charming person like him... Both of those eyes shined as he slowly questioned me.
(The person, who's kinder than anyone else...)
MC: ...Yes, of course.
When I buried my face into Lucien-san's chest, I said that softly. Then...
Lucien: ...
Suddenly, his face got closer and he gently kissed my forehead.
MC: !
Lucien: To think that I would come to love someone... I never thought that such a day would come.
With a mischievous smile, Lucien-san rubbed his cheek against my forehead. His hair that was touching me felt ticklish... When I wished for Lucien-san to smile from now on and forever, I held back my fast heartbeat by smiling at him...
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