Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Vairy - Prince of Veritia - Main Story
Chapter 1 - Meeting in the Forest
Kingdom of Beastmen, Veritia, November...
As the warm sunlight was shining through the gaps of the trees, I walked on the road that leads to the castle.
(What a pretty forest...)
After walking for a while, a butler and Vairy-san were waiting for me.
Butler: Welcome, MC-sama.
Contrary to the butler's kind expression, Vairy-san had a rugged look.
Vairy: I didn't hear about this! To think that she was invited to this kingdom.
Butler: It's because she woke you up, Vairy-sama. You need to thank her.
Vairy: ...Did you beat those dream eaters?
Vairy-san asked me that suspiciously.
MC: Eh... Yes...
Vairy: I can't believe it. Someone like you?
Feeling uneasy from his displeasure, I became discouraged. Then...
Vairy: No, that's now that I'm...! You're just so small and thin that... Uh, I was surprised.
While not looking at me in the eye, Vairy-san became frantic.
(...Is it because I was silent?)
Vairy: F-Fine!! I'll treat her with hospitality for just a bit. Once I do, leave right away! Also... Thanks... for waking me up.
When Vairy-san thanked me softly, he headed back to the castle.
(...Will I be okay under his care?)
Vairy: What are you spacing out for, we're going!
MC: Y-Yes!
After I bowed to the butler, I quickly followed his large back that was ahead of me.
As the butler stood still, he watched the two of them from behind.
Butler: ...If it's MC-sama, then Vairy-sama's curse will be...
Chapter 2 - Cursed Footsteps
The next day... I went to tour the town with Vairy-san.
Vairy: Despite being beastmen, we can't really change into normal humans.
Despite being beasts, the townspeople's forms were close to looking like normal humans aside from having ears on their heads and tails. Vairy-san was walking the same pace as me as he was showing me around.
(Even though he told me to leave immediately yesterday...)
Vairy: ...What, you're making a weird face.
MC: Ah, nothing...
Vairy: ...I may be showing you around, but once this is over, leave immediately.
(...I thought so.)
When he said that clearly, my heart felt a slight pain. As I hung my head down, Vairy-san sighed.
Vairy: It's not that I hate you or anything...
??: Oh, Vairy-sama!
At that moment, a single man called out to him.
Vairy: Oh, old man! You look busy as usual.
The person that he called old man was carrying a lot of luggage with price tags on them.
(Could he be... a merchant?)
Townsperson: I underestimated you, Vairy-sama, bringing such a cute girl around.
Vairy: ...! It's not what you think! She's not...
As Vairy-san became flustered, my cheeks became a little warm.
Townsperson: There's no need to be embarrassed! You weren't so honest since back then! Hahaha...
Vairy: Geez... Is it all right for you to be so lazy, old man?
Townsperson: Oh, you're right! I need to follow up on the stock of weapons because of the rumors. I'm so busy.
The moment we heard that, Vairy-san's expression instantly changed.
Townsperson: Didn't you hear? There has been a sighting of a cursed beast.
(A cursed beast...?)
When I looked at Vairy-san, he made a really sad expression.
(Vairy-san...?)
Townsperson: You be careful too, Vairy-sama. ...That's right, young lady, I'll give you these as a token of friendship!
After the man said that, he handed me a large heavy bag.
(Wah...! So heavy...)
MC: U-Um...?
Townsperson: It's an assortment of fruit that I picked from around here. Eat them with Vairy-sama.
Then, the man left from there in a hurry.
Vairy: ...Geez, that old man. Come on, give it here.
Vairy-san took the bag from my arms.
///Choices///
- I can carry it myself (☽)
MC: U-Um, I'm okay. I can carry it myself.
Vairy: Your face was saying that it's heavy.
(...He noticed.)
- Thank you (☼)
MC: Thank you.
Vairy: You don't need to thank me.
Vairy-san turned his head away.
///Choices///
Vairy: ...The sun will be going down soon. Let's head back to the castle.
MC: Um... The rumor he mentioned earlier was...?
Vairy: It's of no concern to you.
When I tried asking him about it nervously, he said that coldly.
(...He's cold, yet kind. His expression when we heard about that curse rumor... Which is the real Vairy-san...?)
As the sun shined on Vairy-san, my heart felt pain from looking at the side of his face for some reason.
Chapter 3 - Vairy's Brother
A few days later since the tour of the town... Since then, it felt like Vairy-san was avoiding me somehow, so I went to the forest near the castle by myself.
-Flashback-
Townsperson: Didn't you hear? There has been a sighting of a cursed beast.
-Flashback-
(I can't forget about Vairy-san's expression from that time...)
??: Are you alone?
Just as I became surprised and turned towards that sudden voice, a single man was standing there. He had dark red hair and black eyes. Despite his long hair and slightly short stature, he looked like Vairy-san... For some reason, I felt scared.
??: Were you thinking that I looked like Vairy?
(Eh...)
As it felt like he was reading my mind, my heartbeat rose.
Jess: Nice to meet you, I'm Vairy's younger brother, Jess.
(His brother...?)
Jess: You must be the princess that woke up Vairy.
MC: ...!
He suddenly grabbed my arm.
Jess: That was really unnecessary.
Jess-san looked at me with clear hostility in his eyes. His strong grip that felt like he was about to break my arm made fear run through my entire body.
(Scary...!)
MC: ...!
I somehow tried to break free from his hand by putting all my strength in my arm, but at that moment, I fell to the ground.
Jess: Oh... Are you all right?
When he said that, he grinned as he walked towards me.
(Don't come any closer...!)
Vairy: What the hell are you doing!?
When I turned towards that voice, Vairy-san was there.
MC: Vairy-san...!
Just as I shouted that, Vairy-san ran over here fiercely and held me up. Then, he placed me behind him to protect me and stood in between me and Jess-san.
Vairy: You bastard, what is the meaning of this!
Jess: Hey, Brother. Are you free from your curse? You were almost out of time, so I was worried.
Vairy-san's face instantly turned pale.
Jess: Huh, could it be that she doesn't know...? ...Kuku.
Vairy: Shut up!!
As Vairy-san looked like he was about to punch Jess-san, I...
///Choices///
- Be petrified (☽)
I stood there petrified.
Jess: You sure about that? She's shaking.
Vairy: ...!
When Vairy-san looked over here, he lowered his fist.
- Stop him (☼)
MC: Vairy-san...!
When I shouted that without thinking, Vairy-san stopped his movements with a surprised look.
Vairy: ...Sorry. Doing this sort of thing in front of you.
///Choices///
Jess: See ya, Brother. Try not to make her hate you at least.
Vairy: Wait...!
Despite Vairy-san's shout, Jess-san disappeared into the forest the next moment. Just as I sighed in relief...
Vairy: ...Sorry about my brother.
Vairy-san looked down apologetically.
(He doesn't look so good...)
MC: Vairy-sa-
The moment I was about to reach out to him...
MC: ...
I felt pain running through my foot and crouched down.
Vairy: Hey, you okay!?
Vairy-san looked at my face worriedly.
(I probably twisted it when I fell earlier...)
Vairy: It swelled up a little... Geez. Get on.
Vairy-san had his back facing me and urged me to get on him.
///Choices///
- Get on his back (☼)
Feeling a little hesitant, I entrusted my body to Vairy-san's back.
MC: ...T-Thank you.
(...He's warm all over.)
- Become embarrassed (☽)
MC: I-I'm fine! I can walk by myself.
Vairy: Aside from offering my shouldres, it's too early for you to be doing that!
Vairy-san grabbed my arm and easily carried me on his back.
///Choices///
From behind, I could see a little of his cheeks turning red.
(Is Vairy-san embarrassed too?)
When I felt his warmth from the spot I was touching, my heartbeat became loud. To make sure that he doesn't hear it, I continued to talk quickly.
MC: S-So, you have a brother.
Vairy: You can see what our relationship is like from what you saw just now... My shady past isn't something you should worry about.
MC: Shady past...?
(...Is it about the curse that he mentioned earlier? I'm curious, but... I'm pretty sure that he doesn't want to talk about it.)
MC: ...Vairy-san, thank you for saving me.
Vairy-san turned towards me in surprise.
Vairy: ...You must've heard it, about earlier.
When he moved his face forward again soon after, he looked somewhat relieved.
Vairy: ...You have a nice scent. It's like a sunny spot.
MC: Eh...?
Vairy: ...! What the hell am I saying...!
When I felt Vairy-san's warmth even more from his back, my cheeks turned red.
Vairy: ...Being with you is making me lose my mind.
(...My heart feels light. Somehow, this feeling is...)
With a strange feeling filling my heart, I couldn't bring myself to say anything else...
Chapter 4 - The Cursed Beast Form
By the time we've returned to the castle after getting out of the forest, the sun had gone down completely. When it became night, he gave my foot some medical treatment in the room as there was a slightly cold atmosphere.
Vairy: ...How does it feel?
Vairy-san placed a cold cloth on my foot despite his unusual way of doing so.
MC: ...It's fine.
-Flashback-
Jess: Hey, Brother. Are you free from your curse? You were almost out of time, so I was worried.
-Flashback-
(From what he said, Vairy-san is cursed...)
Vairy: ...You should leave this kingdom already.
MC: ...!
His sudden words made my heart ache. Vairy-san placed his hand on my head.
Vairy: ...Like I said. I can't stand seeing you make that face. I have a cursed beast form.
Vairy-san started speaking softly little by little.
Vairy: My birth as a royal of this kingdom was a rare occurrence... I wasn't so fortunate. You know that some of the guys in town are half-human, half-beast, right? That's normal. But, the cursed beast form is something entirely ferocious.
MC: But, you have the same form as the townspeople too, Vairy-san.
Vairy: I'm fine right now, but I turn into my beast form at night. You know about the rumor in town, right? Someone must've saw me. That beast form is something detestable in this kingdom... It's a target for the military forces.
(That's...!)
MC: Is there a way to get rid of the curse...?
Vairy: Who knows? I heard that there were a few people within my family that were freed from the curse, but I don't know... Also, I think I'm already out of time.
MC: Out of time...?
Vairy: There's a time limit in getting rid of the curse. After some time has passed, I can't go back to normal once I turn into my beast form. I've been turning into my beast form lately... So, I think I'm already out of time.
After saying that, Vairy-san turned his back on me.
Vairy: Tomorrow, I'll have the butler send you off. Go get ready.
///Choices///
- I understand (☽)
MC: ...I understand.
I tightly gripped my hand as I responded.
Vairy: Yeah... See ya.
- I want to stay here (☼)
MC: I want to stay here...
My feelings were overflowing before I knew it.
Vairy: ...No. Think about your own position.
///Choices///
MC: Please wait!
Just as Vairy-san was about to leave the room, I grabbed his arm without thinking.
MC: ...Once you run out of time, what will you do?
Vairy: I'll leave this kingdom and live by myself for the rest of my life. My ancestors, who have turned into their beast forms, have done that this whole time.
MC: That's...!
Vairy-san's eyes wavered in fear.
Vairy: I'm scared...! How everyone will look at me when I'm in my beast form... I could lose control from my anger, lost my senses... I don't want to hurt you nor the townspeople...!
When he said that as he shook my hand off, he left the room next.
(What should I do...?)
As I was left alone, I couldn't do anything, but stand still dumbfounded.
-Flashback-
Vairy: ...Geez, that old man. Come on, give it here.
---
Vairy: ...You have a nice scent. It's like a sunny spot.
-Flashback-
(Vairy-san...!)
Just as I raised my head with determination, there was a heavy book that had "kingdom history" on it placed on the desk.
MC: This kingdom's... history?
When I reached out towards the book, I searched hard for the categories that had curse written in them.
(Is there... Is there anything...?)
By the time the book's ink had turned my hand black... I found an entry.
"The curse can be broken by true love"
MC: True love...?
It was a pretty abstracted way to get rid of the curse. But, there weren't any other leads right now, so it was my only hope.
(Does Vairy-san know about this...?)
As I became curious about that, I left the room...
Chapter 5 - Feelings Realized
In the forest that has become dark, I forgot about the pain in my foot as I was running.
(The butler said that Vairy-san went to the forest... Where is he...!?)
At that moment, I heard the sound of a gun in the forest.
(Just now was... A gunshot!?)
When I ran towards that sound, there was Vairy-san.
MC: ...! Vairy-san!
Vairy-san crouched down as blood was flowing down from his side.
Vairy: MC... Why are you here... Hurry and get away!
MC: Eh...
In front of Vairy-san, I saw one more person. It was...
Jess: You coming here has saved up some time. I needed to deal with you too.
I turned towards that sinister voice that was filled with hostility.
Jess: You're in the way... When Brother fell into a slumber, I thought that I would inherit the throne. Then, you politely woke him up. Above all that, the circumstances will get worse if you free Brother from his curse with your power.
He pointed the gun at me.
Jess: See ya, Princess.
I closed my eyes tight.
(He's going to shoot me...)
A violent cracking like sound was heard in the area.
(...It doesn't hurt?)
When I slowly opened my eyes...
MC: ...!!
Vairy-san was holding me tightly.
Vairy: ...You okay?
MC: Vairy-san... Your arm, it's bleeding...
Vairy-san held me strongly.
Vairy: You're okay... That's good.
Jess: Tsk, whatever. This time for sure...
Just as he was about to pull the trigger.
Vairy: ...!
Vairy-san charged at Jess-san very quickly.
Jess: Uwaaah!
Jess-san's shoulder was bleeding from where Vairy-san bit him.
Vairy: Don't you dare lay a hand on MC... If you do, I'll kill you right here, right now.
Vairy-san had a sharp look in his eyes.
Jess: G-Got it...! I promise...
As he was shaking, he dragged himself away and ran off. Right at that moment, Vairy-san fell to the ground.
MC: Vairy-san...!
Vairy: Don't come near me! ...I'm hurt, so my resistance against the curse has weakened.
Vairy-san was breathing in pain.
Vairy: I don't know when I'm going to turn into my beast form... Just hurry and get away...
///Choices///
- Don't run (☼)
MC: I can't...!
Vairy: Get away from me! I don't want to hurt you...
- Run (☽)
MC: I understand. But. Won't you come back with me?
Vairy: What are you being so stupid for...
///Choices///
Vairy: Why must you interfere with me so much!
MC: ...
My feelings towards Vairy-san were making my heart ache.
(At first... I was a little scared of him.)
-Flashback-
Vairy: Thanks... for waking me up.
---
Vairy: ...You have a nice scent. It's like a sunny spot.
---
Vairy: I don't want to hurt you nor the townspeople...!
-Flashback-
(He's actually clumsy and kind... I don't want to leave him alone. I don't want him to be in pain...)
All of a sudden, my heart became filled with feelings.
MC: I... Vairy-san...
The moment I looked at Vairy-san... A pale light suddenly surrounded his body.
MC: Vairy-sa-
When I ran towards the center of that bright light, I firmly reached out for him.
Add comment
Comments