episode_0164

The rain had finally stopped for the first time in a few days, and as I stared blankly at the brightly lit sky, I quietly closed my eyes and leaned against the back of my chair.

Strangely enough, rather than feeling happy that the rain that had been pouring down for so long had finally stopped, I only felt the simple feeling that the sun would rise.

This was because I was too relaxed to feel happiness, joy, or anticipation.

“Ha… … .”

I sighed, tilted my neck back, and gritted my teeth nervously as someone’s voice and blurry memories kept circling in my head.

‘――. ――?’

‘――!’

Who the hell are you? What are you telling me to think of? I don’t remember anything, and I don’t even know who the other person is. No matter how hard I try to think of it, I can’t even get a clue. What are you asking me to do?

I don’t even know if it’s right in front of me, or I can’t seem to reach it, but the memories keep fluttering around in my head. I was scratching my head at that annoying feeling, and then I sighed again and got up from the chair.

Have you been staying in your room too long? Would I feel better if I took a short walk? While thinking like that.

“Princess. This is Gene Carter. Can I come in?”

When I heard Carter’s voice coming from outside the wooden door, I looked toward the door for a moment and then turned my head again.

“No.”

“Princess, is that my office? I haven’t even touched my documents for three days already!”

“I know it won’t work if it doesn’t work out! You can do paperwork somewhere else too!”

“That document is in the office!”

When I turned my head to hear those words, the documents piled up on the desk caught my eye.

After thinking for a moment, I immediately got up from my seat, took the documents, went to the door, and pushed them into the gap under the door.

“Okay, okay?”

“Ah, yes. Thanks――Yes, no!”

“No, you gave me the documents! What’s the problem?”

When I answered nervously and kicked the door, the closed door burst open and there was a heavy thud.

At the same time, a loud crashing noise was heard and Carter’s screams were heard.

“It hurts… … .”

As I opened the door and came out, I saw Carter stretched out at the bottom of the stairs and making a groaning sound.

Even though he fell down the stairs, he only had a little dirt on his body, and he didn’t look like he was in any pain or had any injuries.

“Why does it hurt, but among the royal knights, he is first in terms of sturdiness.”

“Yes, yes, my body is strong, but my mind is not. My heart hurts a lot right now.”

“Speaking nonsense… … . So, how long are you going to lie down!! What would the other knights say if a person called the knight commander was lying like that on the dirt floor――”

‘so… … . ‘How long are you going to lie down!!’

At that moment, the feeling of déjà vu came over me once again and I was left speechless.

Everything again. This again. Not once, but many times, not sometimes, but often. The strange sense of déjà vu that came to me in this way instilled in me an inexplicable sense of anxiety and impatience every time it came to me.

What on earth is the problem? At first, I thought it was because I couldn’t see the path ahead, so I asked many people and crossed swords to find the right answer.

At the end, I met Charlotte and was able to get a hint about that vague problem.

‘As you travel the world, until you come across something you want to protect. Until then, how about protecting the world?’

It was a somewhat absurd hint about protecting the world, but as vague problems tend to have vague answers, the absurdity turned out to be surprisingly helpful.

but… … . From the day I thought I had the clue to the answer, this strange feeling of déjà vu began to torment me.

This damn sense of déjà vu, which left me feeling helpless and needlessly negative, was felt most especially around Charlotte, the girl who had given me the clue.

So I ran away from her. So I just watched her from afar. I thought I might be able to find out something by watching her.

Yes, it was from then on. I started following in her footsteps.

“Princess.”

But strangely enough, no matter how much I followed her, I couldn’t even get a clue about that damn déjà vu.

All I got was useless information about how Charlotte behaved.

When drinking tea, always drink with your left hand, holding the handle of the teacup with your thumb, index, and middle finger, and supporting the bottom of the teacup with your ring finger. The tea I mostly drink is black tea, but strangely I hate coffee.

When you start walking, your right foot always goes first. When I talk about a topic that isn’t very interesting or something I don’t want to talk about, I always smile and explain it away.

If something makes you feel frustrated or in trouble, tuck the side of your hair behind your ear. If the situation is worse than that, pull your bangs back. Although I don’t see him often, it seems like he flips his bangs when he has a lot to think about.

All I could find was strangely useless information.

“Princess?”

“… … I want to go.”

So, I was worried that this sense of déjà vu would disappear if I left her side, so I came to the barracks of the White Lion Knights. In the end, I felt it here too.

That damn sense of déjà vu.

“Princess!”

I stopped walking for a moment when I heard Carter’s voice calling me from behind.

“I don’t know what happened to the princess. But, I know this one thing.”

Whatever it is, I know that you, princess, will overcome it.

Carter said and patted his chest. I didn’t look back, but I knew because I heard the sound of my chest pounding.

“That’s because I know the princess.”

Hearing those ridiculously confident words, I chuckled and touched my forehead.

It’s such a simple word, but it’s something that strangely touches my heart.

“Ah! Really, you’re being stupid! It’s the same now as it was then!?”

“Oh, that’s right. Because the princess has also grown older.”

“Do you want to talk nonsense!?”

I shouted like that and looked back with a grin on my face.

Carter must have hit me quite hard because I didn’t turn around, and he was gently rubbing his chest and looking at me.

When our eyes met, Carter said haha… … . He smiled awkwardly.

“Okay… … . Well, I should try it first.”

okay. Since when have you been worrying like this and suffering alone?

That’s not like me.

“Thank you. Carter.”

“… … haha. Not much to say.”

Carter, who looked surprised at my words, smiled slightly as he said that. I turned around and headed to the academy.

I felt like I had a vague idea of what to do.

* * *

When I arrived at the academy, I started wandering around the academy looking for Charlotte.

From the library, student cafeteria, and classrooms she went to to her dormitory. I searched through everything, but strangely I couldn’t find her.

Usually, I would run into her just a short distance away, but today, strangely enough, I couldn’t find her.

As if something was trying to keep me from meeting her.

“Strange… … . It’s strange… … .”

The longer I couldn’t find her, the faster I walked. The speed that had been a brisk walk had suddenly become a half-run.

Where are you? Where are you? Why can’t I see it? Did you leave the academy? Because it’s the weekend?

‘Stay here.’

No, it’s here. I don’t know why, but I was certain that it would be here at the academy.

“Think about it… … . Let’s think, let’s think… … !”

A place where you can see the entire academy, a place with open spaces on all sides.

ah. rooftop.

I suddenly looked up and started to climb the stairs of the academy.

‘I heard that the Academy’s rooftop terrace will be opened only for the Spring Festival, and even a cafe will be opened――’

I frowned as I heard the distorted voice in my head again.

The rooftop door will be closed? So what. Open only for the Spring Festival? whatever. That kind of thing is fine. If there’s a door blocking it, just break it down and that’s it. I will accept as much punishment as I want later.

“‘I have to meet Charlotte now.’”

I felt like I heard the voices in my head overlapping with my own. Now, I guess it was a good story.

Just as I heard the voice in my head, the rooftop door was tightly closed.

“Get out!”

Even if the door was made of iron, the person who inherited the royal blood would not be able to withstand it with all his might.

The iron door, which had bent with a bang————‘ sound, soon ceased to function properly and fell forward. I was able to enter the rooftop.

When I entered the rooftop, I placed my body halfway on the railing and quickly looked around. And because the red hair was such a bright, eye-catching color, it was easy to find it.

“Over there――”

When I saw the red hair standing in the middle of the walkway, I immediately jumped off the rooftop.

I kicked the wall several times, slowed down, landed on the ground, and walked forward.

I walked towards you.

“Charlotte.”

“… … .”

She just looked up at the sky blankly, wondering what she was thinking so hard about.

I walked a little closer to her.

“Charlotte.”

“… … ?”

Now you’re finally looking at this side.

Charlotte looked at me and blinked.

The cause of the déjà vu that tormented me, and the presence that I could not get out of my head no matter how hard I tried, was looking at me.

I stopped walking at the point where our voices touched and looked straight at Charlotte and said.

“Princess?”

“Charlotte La Rochelle. I have something to say.”

Why do your thoughts never leave my head during the day or at night? What is this confused mind? Why do I keep thinking of you?

I stood in front of you to confirm it. The opportunity to answer this question is so futile. meaninglessly. Also, easily.

“Charlotte!! Charlotte!!”

It was taken away.

“I’m sorry, princess. Is it okay if I listen to the other side first?”

no. Listen to my story first.

Please listen to my story first rather than that guy’s story.

Normally, such a self-righteous answer would have stopped her, but it was so strange.

“… … Yes.”

I nodded at her request.

Little did I know that this was my last chance.