Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Raven - Prince of Rivelta - Main Story
Chapter 1 - Starry Sky Party
Kingdom of Evenings, Rivelta, December...
At a field of flowers, it was downpouring with sparkling stars... When I got invited by the king, I came to visit the Kingdom of Evenings, Rivelta.
(A starry sky party, how nice.)
Underneath the sky that's entirely filled with stars, a lot of people were having friendly conversations at the beautifully arranged table. In front of Raven-san's seat, I saw a stardust-colored liquid that was poured into a glass.
MC: This is...?
Raven: It's alcohol that's made with nectar from flowers that were picked on the night of a full moon.
As I looked at the inside of the sparkling bright glass, the sweet scent of violets spread out.
MC: It has a really nice scent.
When I smiled, Raven-san smiled at the boy that was sitting to the right of him.
(How cute... Is he about 5 years old?)
Raven: This is my brother, Claudius. Claud, aren't you going to greet the princess?
Claudius: G-Good evening.
MC: Good evening.
As his younger brother's cheeks turned red, Raven-san looked at him lovingly.
(He's so cute.)
Claudius-kun looked at the seat that was on Raven-san's left side.
(Come to think of it...)
Among the entire table, that was the only empty seat.
(Is someone going to sit there?)
Raven-san placed a glass at that seat and quietly poured the nectar alcohol in it. Then, he pulled out a beautiful white flower from his breast pocket and gently placed it in front of the glass.
Raven: Ophelia... Your favorite flower has bloomed.
That soft faint whisper made my chest tightened for some reason. As he was smiling at the empty seat, it felt like I was watching the starry sky vanishing away slowly...
Chapter 2 - Just a Cup of Coffee
The next morning after the party...
(In the end, I was unable to talk to Raven-san since then.)
-Flashback-
Raven: Ophelia... Your favorite flower has bloomed.
-Flashback-
(Ophelia-san... Who's that?)
As I remembered the beautiful white flower and Raven-san's sad expression, I sat down on the sofa absentmindedly and looked outside the window and then, there were 3 soft knocks on the door.
Raven: Good morning.
When Raven-san showed his face, I got up at that moment.
Raven: Father told me to give you a tour during your stay.
MC: T-Thank you very much.
As he was acting differently from last night, the cold stiff atmosphere was making a little nervous.
(Raven-san...? Somehow, his impression seems different from yesterday.)
Raven: I thought about taking you to town first.
At that moment, a small silhouette appeared from behind Raven-san.
Claudius: How nice, Brother. I want to go too.
Raven: Claud... When were you there?
Raven-san's stiff expression softened up soon after.
Raven: More importantly, you didn't eat breakfast this morning, right? If you don't eat properly, you won't get bigger. Go to the dining room and get something to eat.
He said that gently as he patted Claudius-kun's head.
Claudius: Okay.
After Claudius-kun left, he became surrounded by a stiff air again.
Raven: My apologies for that. Now then, let's go, MC-sama.
......
As Raven-san showed me around the town near the castle, there were all kinds of pretty things that were making me feel excited.
MC: Raven-san, what's that sparkly thing?
Raven: Who knows... What is it? Let's go ask the shopkeeper.
From his apathetic response, I...
///Choices///
- Avoid the subject (☽)
MC: No... Instead, how about you take me to a shop that has something you like, Raven-san.
Raven: What... I like...
Raven-san quietly looked down...
- Refrain (☼)
MC: No... The shopkeeper seems to be busy, so let's stop by again next time.
Raven: If we do that, it'll be before long until we have to return to the castle.
Raven-san checked the sign of the shop.
///Choices///
Raven: My apologies. It's embarrassing, but I don't go to town for inspections. It doesn't have any relations to my duties, so I'm not familiar with the town.
MC: I see...
(Could he be bored...? It might be possible that he finds it bothersome to be my guide.)
I quietly looked at the side of his face as I was walking beside him.
(Despite that the town is overflowing with beautiful things. It doesn't look like that Raven-san is interested in them at all...)
As I looked at the side of his face from afar, my chest tightened a little.
Raven: What's wrong? Are you tired?
MC: No...
Raven: Ah, we just arrived at a café stand. Let's take a short break.
When I sat down at the terrace, Raven-san had a word or town with the shopkeeper. Just as Raven-san came back and sat down next to me, the employee quickly moved and brought us food.
Raven: I ordered a roast beef sandwich, are you okay with that?
MC: Y-Yes! Thank you. What about you, Raven-san?
Right at that moment, a cup of coffee was brought over.
Raven: I'm having coffee.
Towards my question, he elegantly showed the cup as he held it up.
(Come to think of it... I noticed that Raven-san didn't eat anything last night.)
His pale cheeks, the outline of his slender chin... Also, his cold eyes that were looking into the distance, my worries couldn't help, but increase...
Chapter 3 - His Eyes
On the slightly chilly day, the sunlight that was softly pouring from above softly touched my cheek. When we entered an opened café and took our seats, it became silent.
(Even though he's only drinking coffee... He took me into consideration again.)
Raven-san ordered a lot of food.
(But, it's only noon... I would like him to eat a little.)
The sandwich consisted of a baked baguette with vegetables, dry-cured ham and cheese in between it. The onion potage was warm with steam rising out from it.
(Despite that they're all very delicious...)
Raven-san was only watching me quietly as I was eating and wasn't touching anything.
///Choices///
- Offer something (☼)
MC: Um... This is really good.
I picked up the baguette sandwich from the plate and held it out to Raven-san.
Raven: I'm fine. You can eat it, MC-sama.
- Ask if he's going to eat (☽)
MC: Aren't you going to eat...?
Raven: Just watching you is like eating to me.
///Choices///
MC: But...
(He practically didn't eat anything yesterday... I wonder if he properly eats his meals at least once.)
As my worries increased, I ended up looking down.
Raven: ...Why are you making that kind of face?
When he asked me that vaguely, I looked up and became a little happy... Suddenly, his bony fingers grabbed my wrist that was holding the baguette sandwich.
MC: ...
As I was frozen from shock, he pulled my wrist. At that moment, he placed it in his own mouth, took a bite and smiled.
Raven: It's really delicious.
Due to the sudden action, my heart started to go fast.
MC: ...That's good!
While my cheeks were warm, I was happy that he ate it and broke into a smile without thinking. But...
Raven: ...Although, I don't need it.
(Eh...?)
When he softly murmured that, his lips slightly frowned. From those words, my heartbeat quieted down...
......
On the way back to the castle from town, we were hit by a sudden evening shower.
Raven: Here. You'll catch a cold.
Raven-san put his coat on me.
MC: Raven-san, you're going to get wet.
Raven: I'm... fine.
As Raven-san's hair was getting wet from the rain, he closed his eyes.
Raven: Now then, let's go back.
In the middle of the non-stopping rain, I held the coat over my shoulders as we ran.
(For some reason... My heart is racing.)
Despite being hit by the cold rain, I wasn't feeling cold somehow.
......
When the evening shower went away, the beautiful sunset was spreading out in the sky by the time we arrived at the castle.
MC: Thank you for the coat.
Raven: Until a maid has prepared a bath, go warm yourself up immediately.
Raven-san placed his wet fingers on my shoulder.
Raven: Aren't you cold?
///Choices///
- I'm cold (☽)
MC: I'm a little cold...
Raven: That's not good. If you end up catching a cold...
- No (☼)
MC: No. I didn't get wet thanks to you lending your coat to me.
Raven: That's good...
///Choices///
He touched my cheek worriedly. Those fingers were so cold that they made me gulp.
MC: Um, Rave-
Raven: If you'll excuse me.
After bowing, he turned around and left.
(I wonder if he's okay...)
As I watched him from behind, I stood still for a while...
......
That night...
(Such a high fever... It's all my fault.)
As Raven-san was lying in bed, I soaked a towel in ice water. While he was sleeping, he ended up getting a high fever.
(What a big bed... Also, there are two pillows...?)
As the side to the left of him was empty, he was sleeping towards the corner of the bed more. The moment I was about to change the wet towel on his forehead...
Raven: Ophelia...?
(Eh...?)
He hugged me strongly with his arm that became warm from the fever.
Raven: Ophelia... Ah, I wanted to see you...
When he slowly opened his eyes, he looked at me and then... That face froze.
-Flashback-
Raven: Ophelia... Your favorite flower has bloomed.
-Flashback-
Chapter 4 - Ophelia
Late at night... When rain was pouring again, it lightly hit against the window.
(I wonder if Raven-san is okay.)
-Flashback-
Raven: Ophelia... Your favorite flower has bloomed.
-Flashback-
As I was curious about Raven-san when he got up from bed, I ended up arriving in front of the door to his room.
(This voice... The butler?)
From inside, a conversation was heard.
(What do I do...)
///Choices///
- Call out to him through the door (☼)
MC: Um...
When I spoke up a little, my voice got drowned out by the sound of the rain.
- Knock on the door (☽)
The moment I was about to knock on the door, I heard the butler talking sadly. Due to that depressed tone, my hand stopped from knocking.
///Choices///
Butler: It was raining like this on that day... I could still remember it.
(That day...? Remember...?)
Raven: ...Jii, you don't know anything.
Raven-san's teary voice made me hold in my breath.
Butler: Yes... Ever since you were very little, I was always watching the two of you from aside. Even I still remember it on a rainy night like this... About Ophelia.
Raven: ...
Butler: The two of you were raised like siblings and were going to get married, you were truly happy.
(...!)
Raven: But, I ended up killing her.
Butler: Don't say such a thing...!
Raven: But, it's true. I was so busy with work that I was unable to spend time with her that much. Due to me working so hard, Ophelia left. Even though Ophelia's body was weak... She was out in the pouring rain all day. That night... She got a fever and died.
Surprised, I covered my mouth and stood still.
Raven: It's no different than me killing her.
Butler: ...How long are you going to blame yourself? How long are you going to leave that left side of yours empty for Ophelia?
(The seat at the party... The bed... The left side, it was all for Ophelia...?)
As my chest couldn't help, but tighten, I slowly closed my eyes.
Butler: Even since Ophelia's death, I haven't seen you smile for real. Eating your meals properly and moving on by just working, you're living like a machine... Just how long... Are you going to punish yourself like this?
-Flashback-
Raven: It's really delicious. ...Although, I don't need it.
-Flashback-
(Those words... So, that's what he meant. When we went to town, he didn't look like he was interested in anything. The delicious food and the enjoyable things too. He didn't need any of them... I feel sorry for Ophelia-san...)
Without thinking, I slowly backed away from the door, then turned around and walked away. As my heart was beating in pain... I was unable to do anything...
Chapter 5 - Claudius' Wish
The next day in the evening...
-Flashback-
Butler: If it's about Raven-sama, his fever went down and is in the courtyard to get some fresh air.
-Flashback-
After the butler told me that, I headed to the courtyard.
(I'm curious about Raven-san's condition...)
-Flashback-
Raven: Even though Ophelia's body was weak... She was out in the pouring rain all day. That night... She got a fever and died. It's no different than me killing her.
-Flashback-
As I was heading towards the hedge of flowers, I saw Raven-san standing there by himself.
MC: Raven-sa-
Raven: Ophelia... Just a little bit more.
When I heard him say that faintly within the evening glow, I closed my mouth.
Raven: Once Claud turns 7...
(What is he talking about...?)
With a hand over my mouth, I couldn't move and...
??: Over here...
My hand was suddenly pulled.
MC: Claudius-kun...
As I was being pulled by a small hand, we arrived at a hidden bench.
Claudius: You see... Next year, when I turn 7, it's going to be approved that I'll be given the rights to the throne. Once that happens, Brother will be going to where Sister Ophelia is.
MC: Eh...?
Claudius: Sister Ophelia was Brother's fiancée, but... She died. I heard... what Brother said in front of Sister Ophelia's grave. Once I become crown prince, there won't be any worries about the throne being empty...
Claudius-kun clenched his small hand tightly. Before I knew it, I held that hand.
Claudius: I don't want to grow up... But, I'm going to soon. Help me... MC-sama.
When big teardrops fell as Claudius-kun started crying loudly, I hugged him tightly. At that moment...
Raven: What's wrong, Claud?
Noticing him crying, Raven-san appeared. When he lightly picked up Claudius-kun as he was crying, he gently wiped the tears off his cheek.
Raven: Did something happen? Did you trip?
The way he was looking at his small brother was truly gentle... That made my chest tighten painfully even more.
Raven: MC-sama, did you see what was troubling my brother?
///Choices///
- No... (☼)
MC: No...
When I shook my head, he looked at me kindly.
- Stay silent (☽)
(I can't bring out the words...)
When I blinked a few times, he softly placed his hand on my shoulder.
///Choices///
Raven: Thank you. It must have been troubling.
While holding Claudius-kun, Raven-san left. Over his shoulder, Claudius-kun gave me a clinging look with teary eyes.
(...I want to help them. But... What can I do?)
Even so, I nodded strongly as I looked at Claudius-kun from afar...
Add comment
Comments