Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Lucien - Prince of Arbitro - Moon End
Chapter 7 - The Stagnated Swamp
With a dark stagnation filling the air in the forest... Lucien-san and I headed into the forest to investigate the reason why the restricted area was spreading out. Then...
Lucien: ...What, this swamp...
MC: ...
I couldn't keep my eyes open from the nauseating smell. That's when I noticed that Lucien-san lightly wrapped his wing around me.
MC: Lucien-san...
Lucien: It's pretty strong... Are you okay?
When he pulled my shoulder, he held me close to him. While feeling Lucien-san's fast heartbeat with our bodies together, my heart felt pain even more.
(I could feel Lucien-san's uneasiness...)
MC: Yes, I'm fine.
Trying to encourage him, I tried to respond as cheerfully as I could.
(The smell is strong, but... The air feels really stale.)
As an eerie and fearful air was coming out from the swamp, my head started to feel numb.
Lucien: Staying here long is dangerous. Anyway, I'm certain that this swamp is the reason why the restricted area's miasma is spreading... Let's retreat for now.
MC: Okay...
With Lucien-san's wing protecting me the whole time, we managed to get to the outside of the restricted area...
Chapter 8 - The Holy Powder
After returning to the castle from the restricted area that was shrouded in a miasma, Lucien-san continued searching for a solutino to the problem...
Lucien: ...
As he was surrounded by birds at the balcony absentmindedly...
MC: Lucien-san... Are you okay?
Lucien: ...!
When I called out to him worriedly, Lucien-san flinched in surprise. At the same time, the birds flew away all at once.
MC: I'm sorry for surprising you.
Lucien: It's okay...
MC: Can I stand next to you?
Lucien: Sure...
When I slowly walked up next to him, I looked up at him. The side of Lucien-san's face looked a bit more worn out than before.
Lucien: What bad luck. Micaela is absent due to traveling...
MC: Micaela-san?
Just as I repeated that and tilted my head to the side from hearing that name for the first time, Lucien-san showed a surprised look.
Lucien: ...Micaela is my younger twin brother.
MC: I see.
(He has a brother, he doesn't look like he did...)
Lucien: I thought about telling him about the issue with the restricted area. If it's him, I'm sure that it'll get resolved immediately.
As Lucien-san declared that clearly, his trust towards his brother was conveyed.
MC: You must trust your brother.
Lucien: ...Yeah, he's my precious brother.
(Lucien-san?)
Despite his rare smile, it looked somewhat sad that it gave my heart a sharp pain.
(Did something happen with his brother...?)
Lucien: But, I don't have much time... I need to do this myself.
MC: Eh...?
With a firm determination, Lucien-san silently closed his eyes.
Lucien: To prevent the erosion of the miasma that's emitting from the swamp, the holy powder should work. I'll need to scatter it around from the sky.
MC: Holy powder...?
Lucien: It's one of the kingdom's magic tools that's been passed down for generations. It has a suppressive effect on the strong miasma.
MC: You're going to do it by yourself, Lucien-san...? You should get someone to help.
Lucien: No, I can't do that.
At that moment...
Servant: That's right, Lucien-sama! Please reconsider it!
The servant that overheard our conversation appeared out of nowhere.
Lucien: You...
Servant: Even after your wings turn black... I heard that people's bodies will get weaker from getting hit by the forest's miasma. Please...
Lucien: ...Even so, I need to do it. To prevent people like me appearing.
Servant: ...Lucien-sama.
Feeling Lucien-san's strong determination, the servant hung his head down.
MC: Lucien-san, please let me help.
Lucien: No, I told you already. Even if you don't have wings, you'll get affected badly from that strong miasma.
MC: But, it'll be the same for you. Please... I'm sure that it'll go away faster with two people instead of one.
I said that with a firm iron will that was equal to Lucien-san's determination...
Lucien: Fine. But, don't overexert yourself.
Lucien-san lightly sighed as he gave in...
......
Then...
Lucien: Are you ready?
MC: Yes...!
With pouches that were tightly packed with holy powder in our hands, we arrived in front of the restricted area.
Lucien: ...Let's go.
Lucien-san picked me up and flew up to the vast sky...
There were dark clouds in the sky. When we suddenly arrived at a high altitude, my body trembled from the cold air.
Lucien: ...Are you scared?
Lucien-san looked down at me worriedly.
(I can't let him worry about me... I came here unreasonably after all.)
MC: I-I'm fine!
Lucien: ...I see. You're strong.
When he lightly smiled, my heart throbbed loudly... Then, we arrived just above the dark forest.
(Is that the miasma...?)
Over the deepest part of the forest, a dark stagnated air was hanging over it.
Lucien: It got stronger... MC, the powder.
On Lucien-san's signal, I took some of the powder from the pouch and lightly threw it into the air. Then... As the sparkling bright powder was sent out, the dark miasma disappeared.
Lucien: Okay, good... Let's keep this up.
As it turned into night... Lucien-san and I continued to scatter the holy powder until the miasma disappeared...
......
When the two of us somehow got through the miasma, we succeeded in spreading out the holy powder.
MC: With this... Will everything be okay?
Lucien: Yes... Thank you.
(That's a relief...!)
As the two of us stood in front of the restricted area, we smiled at each other. At that moment...
Girl: Ah...
Arriving at the forest, a girl appeared.
Lucien: You're...
When Lucien-san saw the girl, her face turned pale.
Girl: Black wings... S-Scary!
Lucien: ...!
She ran away in fear.
MC: Ah... Wait!
Just as I was about to go after her, Lucien-san grabbed my arm.
Lucien: It's fine. It's best for her to get away from this place as quickly as possible.
MC: It's not okay! I'm sure that if we explain to that girl-
Lucien: ...It's fine.
Lucien-san's grip around my arm got stronger. I was unable to say anything else from that strength...
Chapter 9 - Lucien's Determination
After we succeeded in suppressing the miasma in the restricted area, when we left from there, the people of this kingdom avoided Lucien-san when they saw him.
(Despite that Lucien-san worked so hard to save everyone...)
Lucien: MC... Don't make that face.
MC: But, that girl, who left the restricted area after seeing you, she didn't know... If this keeps up, you're going to get discriminated even more...
Lucien: ...For now, it can't be helped. There's nothing we can do about that.
MC: But, Lucien-san, you-
Just as I was about to argue back, Lucien-san interrupted me as he continued speaking.
Lucien: I... I'm fine with just the miasma disappearing from the swamp. ...I won't show myself to those who think that way of me.
(That's... kind of sad.)
As the bitter sadness and my own helplessness made me look down, Lucien-san slowly apprached me.
Lucien: ...
(Lucien-san?)
As soon as he was next to me, I looked up...
Lucien: I've decided to leave this kingdom.
MC: Eh...?
Those sudden words made me speechless.
Lucien: This kingdom doesn't need those with black wings. Since that's the case... I should disappear.
(What's wrong so suddenly...? That's...)
As I was confused, Lucien-san silently closed his eyes in front of me.
Lucien: The truth is... I've been thinking about it for a while. Right now, I'm determined about it.
When he said that as if he was swallowing up the pain, I couldn't do anything, but stand still in place...
Last Chapter - One and Only Friend
The deeply strong darkness of the night sadly dyed Lucien-san's room...
-Flashback-
Lucien: I've decided to leave this kingdom. This kingdom doesn't need those with black wings. Since that's the case... I should disappear.
-Flashback-
After that, I couldn't say anything else towards Lucien-san's firm determination.
(Despite that Lucien-san is a really praiseworthy person that's kinder than anyone else.)
Reflecting on that pain, I visited Lucien-san's room just as he was about to depart...
MC: Where are you going?
Lucien: I haven't decided yet. But, in the end... I want to go to my favorite place in the kingdom.
MC: Your favorite place... Would it be okay for me to come with you?
Lucien: No. You should stay away from me.
When he said that without looking at me, listening to those words made my heart hurt.
MC: ...
Lucien: Even though I didn't intend for it to happen... You've gotten involved enough.
MC: That's because I was being persistent...
Lucien: Honestly, what a strange person.
As there was a warm look in Lucien-san's eyes for the first time since we've met... They were filled with sadness as well. Even though he wanted to get away no matter what, I asked him one more time pleadingly.
MC: ...Lucien-san, won't you take me with you?
Lucien: ...Didn't I say no?
Then, Lucien-san smiled somewhat happily.
......
Together with Lucien-san, we headed to a flower field that was near the restricted area.
(...Ah!)
In the forest that was among the flower field, way up ahead was a small hidden spring. I became absorbed in looking at the water surface that brightened up magically with the moonlight shining on it.
MC: It's a really beautiful place.
Lucien: Yes, it's my favorite spot. I would play here a lot when I was a kid...
MC: ...With Micaela-san?
Lucien: Yeah... That's right. Micaela and I... And some others too, we would all play here together.
As he narrowed his eyes nostalgically, he slowly entered the spring without caring about getting his clothes wet. His pure black wings moved in the water and made beautiful drops of water shine brightly in the moonlight that surrounded him.
(Why does he look so beautiful...)
MC: ...Pretty.
When I said that without thinking, Lucien-san turned towards me. Just as I let out a gasp, that beauty made me stop talking...
Lucien: I wonder if things will become easier for Micaela without me around.
MC: Eh...?
Lucien: When my wings turned black after entering the restricted area... It's because I was protecting Micaela from getting hit by the miasma when he was about to fall into the restricted area. The restricted area... It's just beyond this spring.
Lucien-san continued speaking softly. Pain couldn't help, but spread within my heart from that really sad sounding voice.
MC: But... I'm sure that he'll be sad without his brother around.
Lucien: Even though it's painful for me to stay here?
MC: Eh...?
(Painful?)
When he scooped up some of the spring water with his other hand, he stared at it.
Lucien: ...I'm already at my limit staying at that kingdom. It has become suffering. Even so... I'm restrained to that kingdom.
As that sorrowful cry was burning in my heart, I stared at Lucien-san and...
Lucien: ...Won't you come over here?
While being basked in the moonlight, Lucien-san softly held out his hand to me.
MC: ...
Inviting me like that, I entered the spring that he was in and...
MC: ...!
When Lucien-san grabbed my arm, he suddenly pulled me. The splash of water lightly shined in the moonlight.
Lucien: You're my only ally.
He placed his hand on my cheek and then, his face got closer...
MC: Lucien-sa-... Mm...
The moment I was about to say his name, he placed his lips against mine deeply.
Lucien: ...
My body became warm from the repeated kisses that wouldn't let me breathe...
(So sad...)
As it couldn't be possible for my heart tighten anymore, tears started to form in my eyes next... After our lips finally parted... I slowly opened my eyes to see Lucien-san smiling very sadly.
Lucien: You accepted the color of these wings and only looked at me so purely.
While feeling the cold water and Lucien-san's warm body heart, I only continued to look at his eyes. Then...
Lucien: So please, don't hate me... MC...
When he looked at me with a teary face next, my heart felt like it was about to burst from pain...
MC: I would never hate you. With you, Lucien-san... I would go anywhere. I'm persistent after all...
Unable to stop his tears with a smile, Lucien-san placed his forehead against my face.
Lucien: MC... MC... That's right, as long as you're with me... No matter how far we have to go... We'll go there. Even with these black wings...
MC: They're beautiful wings. What I know is that these wings are the most beautiful and nicest part of you, Lucien-san...
Lucien: Thank you...
When I placed my hand on his cheek, I kissed him next. Even if the world rejects him, I would be the only one standing beside him forever... That was the single vow that I've made...
Add comment
Comments