Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Theodor - Prince of Recordo - Main Story
Chapter 1 - An Uneasy Reunion
Kingdom of Memories, Recordo, December...
This kingdom that had mysterious buildings alongside the streets had an oddly different feeling in the air more than all the other kingdoms. The management of all the memories in the world, Recordo... The modern streets that were in an old-fashioned condition caught my gaze when I took a glimpse of it.
(It's almost time for us to meet up...)
Before my eyes, a butterfly that was out of season fluttered by feebly.
(A butterfly in a place like this? ...Also, it's really beautiful.)
When it's emerald-green scales turned blue in the light as it drew near, it's green color became darker and made it enchantingly beautiful. As my eyes followed it, my gaze met with the person that the butterfly was heading towards and my heart throbbed loudly.
Theodor: ...
Looking down at me was the person that I've awakened... Prince Theodor. The moment he used the butterfly, a dark green that suited him appeared around him and I was unable to take my eyes off him.
(Could it be that... He was watching me for a while since earlier? If so, then that'd be embarrassing...)
When I slowly and somewhat nervously approached Theodor-san, I bowed.
MC: Thank you for meeting with me while you're so busy.
Theodor: It's no big deal... I don't mind.
MC: Um... It's been a while.
Theodor: Yeah...
While continuing the conversation, Theodor-san suddenly turned to the side.
Theodor: ...I should hurry and take you to the castle.
After saying that firmly, he began to walk without looking at me. As it seemed like he was frowning with his mouth closed, I looked at him troubledly.
(...Am I... troubling him?)
The moment I looked at his dark green eyes that were like a dark forest where light doesn't pass through, reading his expression gave me a heavy uneasy feeling...
Chapter 2 - Playing with an Avatar
While I was heading to the castle with Theodor-san...
MC: !!
Suddenly, a brisk electronic sound was heard.
(What...?)
When I looked at Theodor-san in surprise, he was looking at his wristwatch.
Theodor: Excuse me.
When he suddenly fiddled with his wristwatch, a 3D hologram of a cute cat appeared over it. My eyes widened after seeing that.
Theodor: It's a message...
The cat's ears twitched as it handed a letter to Theodor-san.
MC: Is that an avatar...? How cute!
Theodor: Eh?
Forgetting to blink, when I bent forward excitedly as I said that, Theodor-san made a bit of a surprised look.
Theodor: You're interested?
MC: Yes. How does it work?
At that moment, Theodor-san eye's brightened up.
Theodo: This is quite very interesting technology. When I got it, I was excited as well.
When Theodor-san excitedly said those passionate words, I nodded while listening...
Theodor: Actually, this is...!
Just as Theodor-san was in the middle of talking, he made a surprised look and turned away.
Theodor: ...I shouldn't be talking so intensely here.
As Theodor-san moved his gaze left and right, he seemed concerned about his surroundings somehow.
Theodor: Let's hurry to the castle.
MC: O-Okay.
(What's wrong so suddenly?)
When Theodor-san continued to walk in a hurry, I picked up the pace a little to catch up with him...
Once we've entered the prince's office, we took a break and had some tea...
Theodor: Have you always been interested in the latest technology that's being used like that?
He asked me that somewhat nervously.
///Choices///
- Yes, I would like to see it again (☼)
MC: Yes, I would like to see it again.
Theodor: Are you okay with just looking at it? Would you like the cat to come out?
- You don't need to go into the details (☽)
MC: You don't need to go into the details... The cat was just so cute.
Theodor: I see... Are you okay with just the cat showing?
///Choices///
MC: Of course.
Theodor: In that case...
When Theodor-san activated his device, the cat avatar bounced up with it's ears moving and it's nose twitching.
MC: How cute.
Theodor: This is a well-known watch device that records the kingdom's civilization. I wanted it no matter what and finally got it.
MC: I can see why you wanted it so much.
Theodor: ...I'll lend it to you, so you can try playing with the cat avatar yourself.
When Theodor-san took off his wristwatch device, he put it on my arm.
(Theodor-san's fingers are pretty...)
As the wristwatch felt a little big on my wrist, the cat avatar appeared again.
Theodor: It'll react if you pet it's head.
MC: Like this?
When I did as he said, the cat's ears lightly shook and when it closed it's golden eyes, it made a happy expression.
Theodor: It has other kinds of features built in it too. You can feed it food, put a ribbon on it... Ah...
Just as Theodor-san was talking fast, he quickly stopped and the shine in his eyes suddenly disappeared.
(What's wrong...?)
Theodor: ...Aren't you bored of me talking?
Theodor-san suddenly murmured that seriously as he lowered his eyelids...
Chapter 3 - Until Evening...
When he showed me the avatar in the office...
Theodor: ...Aren't you bored of me talking?
I shook my head towards the words that he suddenly murmured.
MC: ? Not at all.
When I responded with that, Theodor-san still had his long eyelashes down...
MC: Theodor-san?
Theodor: Are you really not bored?
MC: Yes.
When Theodor-san looked at me reservedly...
///Choices///
- I'm aspired (☼)
MC: I'm aspired.
Then, Theodor-san moved his gaze up and looked at me oddly.
Theodor: ...Would you like me to talk about it more?
MC: Yes. Please let me hear more.
- I want to hear more (☽)
MC: I want to hear more.
Then, the bright look finally returned to his eyes as he made a soft expression.
Theodor: This is the first time a woman has spoken to me like this.
///Choices///
After clearing his throat with a cough, Theodor-san looked back at the wristwatch on me.
Theodor: There are other kinds of avatars aside from the cat just now, like the turtle.
MC: A turtle?
Theodor: That's right, like this.
When Theodor-san got closer to me, he held my wrist that had the wristwatch on it.
MC: ...!
Despite I was startled from being at a close distance again, Theodor-san didn't seem to mind as he operated on the screen skillfully...
Theodor: Come out.
Along with a ding sound, a somewhat adorable turtle avatar appeared.
MC: Wow...
Theodor: There are no messages right now, so you can go to sleep.
Following his words, the tiny turtle closed it's eyes and curled itself up. When I imagined it holding out a letter with it's tiny limbs, I broke into a smile.
Theodor: You seem to be enjoying it.
When I looked up, Theodor-san was happily smiling.
Theodor: The emerald butterfly that was flying in town earlier was the latest technology of a messaging transfer machine.
MC: Eh... That was a machine too?
I remembered the scales of the beautiful, elegant butterfly.
Theodor: Since it's only used for transferring messages, that's what gives it a romantic feeling.
MC: How nice...!
Theodor: You're a pretty understanding person...
My body warmth rose as his gentle gaze was on me.
(Was he praising me...? I'm happy.)
As Theodor-san's hand was still touching my arm...
(I can't bring myself to speak...)
When we were close to each other for a while, we looked at the tiny turtle...
As we got absorbed into talking for a while, the evening sunlight shined into the room before we knew it. When Theodor-san noticed something, he picked up the tablet that was on top of the office desk.
MC: ...?
Theodor: Since it has gotten cold.
After a dinging sound, the cat avatar appeared.
Cat Avatar: Air conditioning and lighting adjusted.
When the cat avatar said that as it politely bowed... At that moment, the room actually became brighter and a comforting warm breeze started coming in.
(So, it can do something like that too...)
I blinked in surprise from the way Theodor-san was using the smart latest technology.
Theodor: I was just doing some adjustments, nothing special...
///Choices///
- I'm enjoying it (☼)
MC: I'm enjoying it.
Theodor: Hearing that makes me happy.
- It's so soothing (☽)
MC: It's so soothing.
Theodor: I'm glad that you think the same way.
///Choices///
Theodor: Controlling the appliances and air conditioning, adjusting the lighting... It's amazing how technology itself could do those things. But, just having characters in them is enough to make it feel like they have emotions running through them.
After saying that, Theodor-san smiled happily a little...
Theodor: Doesn't having characters in them make operating weary devices more exciting?
(To think that I'm seeing Theodor-san with an expression like this.)
Seeing his smile that was kind of like a little boy's made my heart skip a beat by instinct.
MC: Yes!
Theodor: I see... I wonder if there are any other practical uses that it can do. Can you think of any others?
MC: Let's see... Uh...
Theodor: Ah... If it's too much of a bother...
MC: No, that's not it... I can't think of one so quickly... But, it sounds like fun.
When I responded energetically, Theodor-san returned a bright smile.
Theodor: It'd be nice if we could encounter some more new technology like this. I think imagining something like that is really important. For the sake of developing technology.
When his natural like innocent smile firmly took hold of my heart, it became fast inside my chest loudly...
Chapter 4 - Closed Door
While forgetting about time passing, Theodor-san and I got caught up in talking. Then...
Servant: Pardon the intrusion. I brought some more tea.
Along with a knock, a servant entered and when he saw me and Theodor-san talking with each other, he made a surprised look.
(...Is something wrong?)
Servant: This is rare, Theodor-sama. Being alone with a woman...
Theodor: !!
The warm look that he's been making up until now has stiffened up the next moment.
Theodor: ...Ah...
When Theodor-san's expression suddenly changed, he closed his mouth tightly.
(What's going on...?)
Servant: Ah! My apologies... I did something unnecessary.
The servant said that apologetically and after he poured out the tea, he left the room soon after.
MC: Um...?
As Theodor-san was holding the cup, his hand was shaking a little. Even his expression was still stiff...
(What should I do...?)
Theodor: ...
As Theodor-san furrowed his brow, he wouldn't say anything at all. When I remembered the fun atmosphere from earlier, I felt a stinging pain in my heart...
Theodor: ...Sorry. No... It's hard to talk to me... Right?
("Right"...!?)
Theodor-san finally spoke, but the way he was speaking was so stiff. As his handsome features were giving off a robotic vibe, it gave me a painful feeling.
MC: It's okay.
To calm my nerves a little, I smiled at him with all my might, but Theodor-san wouldn't look at me.
Theodor: If you want to talk more about what girls are interested in... Like sweets and fashion...
After thinking for a while, Theodor-san shook his head in vain.
Theodor: No... Either way, I don't have the confidence to satisfy a girl by talking from their perspective...
Theodor-san's eyes that were shining beautifully like a morning sunrise in spring have instantly clouded up like an autumn evening right now.
(How can I make him talk normally again...?)
///Choices///
- Please talk about anything (☼)
MC: Please talk about anything.
Theodor: No... I don't think I can do that...
- I want to ask if you have any interests (☽)
MC: Theodor-san, I want to know if you have any interests.
Theodor: ...You don't need to take me into consideration.
///Choices///
(He's like a solid door that's been closed...)
Feeling that my voice wouldn't reach him, I became hit by sadness.
Theodor: ...My apologies.
MC: ...No, you've been pretty much forced to make some time for me...
When I gratefully said that to him, I became nervous myself as the atmosphere between us became completely tense.
(Really... What's wrong with him so suddenly?)
It became hard to breathe, like being in the deepest part of the sea...
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