Ch. 6: Under the Same Gaze (SUN)
At the sudden embrace, I was at a loss for words.
OO: "To…Totori?"
I nervously lifted my face and looked up from his arms…
Totori: "Please, don't smile like that. If you do, I don't know what to do."
OO: "Eh…?"
Totori: "I know what you wanted to say last night… Every time I closed my eyes, I couldn't help seeing you, and I couldn't sleep. And today, when I think about that you're leaving, I get overcome with loneliness. And I feel like I don't want to send you away. Even though I was only thinking of you like a sister, or like one of the children in the town… before I knew it, I had become captivated by you…"
OO: "Then, Totori, you…"
Totori: "I'm sorry, it seems I'm the real child… I couldn't even admit my own feelings."
As he held me, he was unusually talkative, then he wrapped his hand around my fingers and looked at me with an unusually serious expression.
Totori: "OO, would you stay in this country a little longer and spend some more time with me?"
OO: "…yes, I'd love to…"
I was filled with happiness.
Totori held me close.
This isn't a dream…
I felt the warmth from his body and the beating of his heart, as if reassuring me that this was no dream…
And then when a few days had passed…
Totori and I were called into the castle's main hall, and while standing amongst all the attendants, we came to face the king.
OO: "The king…"
King: "You don't have to be so stiff. It's wonderful that the two of you are getting along so well. Now, about when did you want to hold the betrothal ceremony?"
OO: "…!?"
Attendant 1: "I'm sure the people are greatly anticipating the betrothal of Prince Totori."
Attendant 2: "And with this we'll be able to take care of the concern regarding the next heir."
From the center of the hall crowded with castle dignitaries, mu shoulders sagged as their words piled on top of me.
S-suddenly bringing up betrothal…
Totori: "Father, and everyone else!"
OO: "…!"
Totori, who was usually clad in an air of calm, raised his voice and wrapped his arm protectively around me.
Seeing the two of us like that, the faces of those gathered filled with joy.
Totori: "I would ask that you not cause trouble for my princess. Now, let's pay them no mind and go to the town. The sky is magnificently blue today."
OO: "But…are you sure?"
Totori gently spoke close to my ear, his arm still around me.
Totori: "Don't worry about it. This is a matter between you and me. Right OO?"
OO: "…!"
In the commotion as he spoke to me so intimately, I no longer felt the wall of age difference between us.
What do I do…I'm so happy…
OO: "Alright Totori."
I gave myself over to Totori's escort, and went outside to the town under the broad blue sky.
This time walking through the center of town with Totori was the first time I'd gone out into the town since I'd arrived…
Villager 1: "My, Prince Totori. And he's with the Princess of Träumere."
Villager 2: "They make such a cute couple…"
The whispers from the villagers on the street corner flew about just like the other day, but whereas before I'd felt guilty, now those whispers made me feel embarrassed.
Totori: "I was feeling like painting or something with you today, what do you think?"
OO: "I don't know much about painting…but I'd really like to try."
Totori: "That's alright. Actually, I don't know much about the finer points of art either."
Totori smiled mischievously.
Totori: "Then afterwards when the sun has gone down, let's go to the hill and look at the stars."
OO: "…yeah, I'd like that."
For some reason, I felt like his eyes were closer to me than before.
In that way, the two of us shared a wonderful quiet moment together.
END