Chapter 34

At those last words, Johannes fell silent. The belated thought that he had rambled on with unnecessary words struck him.

Daphne was quiet for a while. Just as Johannes was about to open his mouth again, wondering if she had lost consciousness in the meantime, he heard a voice.

A slender voice, as if it would break at any moment, came through.

“I actually wasn’t very learned, so I don’t really know about things like honor. I’m not asking you to be a god or a hero. Maybe I was at first, but I just….”

Johannes’s steps slowed.

Daphne then began to speak as if retracing her memories.

“Your voice, the way you speak.”

“……”

“Your laugh, your gait.”

“……”

“Even the way you look at me like I’m pathetic, or how you twitch one eyebrow when you’re frustrated….”

“……”

“Even the fact that your name is Johannes, I just… if it’s you, I like everything, everything seems good. That’s how it was.”

That’s why I kissed you. I’m sorry. Daphne whispered softly, and Johannes furrowed his brow without realizing it.

“But I won’t trouble you any more than this. I won’t be greedy. I can swear it.”

Daphne then waited for his answer for a moment. But he gave no reply. Does this mean this is the end? Daphne suddenly muttered.

“If I weren’t so weak, would it have been alright then?”

Would you have liked me a little more then?

“So if you didn’t have to protect me, if that were the case….”

Johannes, who had been silent all along, opened his mouth.

“…Stop.”

Daphne immediately fell silent. She hated her weak self, it was frustrating. I want to be strong.

“Don’t cry. Your fever will get worse.”

Only then did Daphne realize she was crying. I’m sorry, she apologized again, and he fell silent once more.

Before long, they were at the crossroads where they often parted. From there, Johannes asked Daphne for the way. And as for the path back to the castle, Daphne could find it with her eyes closed. At a certain point, Daphne said.

“It’s here.”

“…Here?”

Ahead was nothing but a rock face overgrown with dense thickets. There seemed to be no space behind it, but surprisingly, upon closer inspection, there was a very small door under the bushes.

Johannes forced his gaze away from the door. Although it was an unavoidable situation, the Princess of Bellares had just shown a secret passage to an invader from across the sea. Even if he was no longer the commander of the allied forces, if the people inside the castle found out about this, Daphne would never be forgiven.

Johannes set Daphne down. The moment her feet touched the ground, Daphne staggered, unable to find her balance, and Johannes quickly grabbed her waist to support her. Daphne leaned her forehead against his chest and gasped for breath for a moment.

Johannes said, as if giving a warning.

“I did not bring you here today. Do you understand?”

Daphne nodded with difficulty.

“You have to go alone from here.”

“…Yes.”

Daphne slowly straightened her body.

“……”

Johannes did not leave right away. For some reason, his feet wouldn’t move. The sound of his own heart pounding anxiously seemed to ring in his ears. The image of her swollen cheek kept coming to mind. What happened inside the castle? Is it okay to let her go? If I don’t let her go….

It was then.

“Johan.”

“……”

“I’m going to keep coming to the forest.”

“……”

“But you, you won’t come out anymore, will you?”

Saying so, she looked so small, precarious, and sad. Johannes wanted to say something. That’s how he felt.

“…If you’re going to come to the forest again. Come after your body has fully recovered.”

That answer came out like that.

Whether she took that to mean he wouldn’t come out anymore, she tried hard to force a smile and whispered, “Thank you.”

And as he watched her, Johannes’s true feelings finally came out.

“I will come out every day.”

Daphne asked back, as if dazed.

“…What?”

Johannes pushed such a Daphne away.

“Go.”

“Johannes….”

“You’ll have to get well soon.”

“……”

“Quickly. Don’t get caught.”

Tears suddenly burst from Daphne’s eyes. It was due to an absurd sense of relief. Daphne, her face crumpled in tears, nodded her head vigorously. Johannes hesitated for a moment before carefully reaching out his hand to wipe away her tears.

At some point, the rain had stopped.

Daphne looked back several times as she went down the stairs. Johannes stood in the same spot until the end.

Daphne truly couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t remember how she had passed through the passage and climbed the stairs leading to the queen’s bedroom, or in what state of mind. But when she finally managed to open the hidden door under her bed and return, there was, surprisingly, someone waiting for her.

『Daphne…? Daphne!』

Thisbene, who had been huddled by the bed, urgently pulled Daphne up.

『Oh my, why are you so wet?』

Thisbene, who was about to get angry, saw Daphne looking as if she would collapse at any moment and, not knowing what to do, began to sob.

Around that time, Daphne, who had almost lost consciousness, barely recognized Thisbene and thought she had arrived in her own bedroom. And, delirious with fever, she muttered words she herself would not remember.

『I met him.』

『What?』

『I didn’t think I’d be able to see him, but Johan came out.』

At the unfamiliar man’s name, Thisbene froze.

『He said he’ll come out, every day.』

Daphne lost consciousness right after.

💎

Daphne opened her eyes to the sun gently warming her eyelids. She occasionally felt the gentle breeze coming from the window, where the pure white sunlight streamed in, tickling her cheek.

The sheets were imbued with the scent of bitter herbs and incense.

Her eyelids were heavy. Her eyes naturally closed again. It was the moment she was sinking into a train of endless dreams.

“I will come out every day.”

“You’ll have to get well soon.”

Her eyes, which were about to flutter shut, flew wide open again.

『…….』

Her body felt like it wasn’t her own and she couldn’t move it as she wished, but her head was surprisingly clear. That is, the memory of meeting him in the forest was vivid. That’s why it felt even more like a dream. As she blinked in a daze, a high-pitched voice came from her bedside.

『Princess, are you awake?』

It was Leah. She shouted in a voice filled with excitement.

『You, go and call the doctor at once.』

Only then did Daphne move her eyes to survey her surroundings. She saw the familiar scenery of her bedroom, bathed in the early morning sunlight, and Leah looking down at her with a serious face.

『Do you know how worried I was?』

Daphne wanted to say something and opened her mouth. But no voice came out. At that, Leah scooped up some water with a spoon and let it trickle between her lips. While Daphne barely wet her throat, Leah’s nagging continued.

『Honestly, why did you have to leave the annex alone on a stormy night of all nights, and go to that gloomy room?』

Daphne flinched. It was because she didn’t remember well how she had returned to her bedroom after parting with him. Just then, Leah muttered.

『Of course, one does long for a mother’s embrace when one is sick. To think you disappeared in that short time….』

『…Yes. That’s it. I was sick as if I were dying, so I longed for my mother’s embrace, whom I’ve only met a few times.』

Daphne chimed in with a hoarse voice. Leah let out a short sigh and said.

『In any case, it seems your fever is gone now. Still, you’ll have to stay in your bedroom for the time being.』

Daphne gave a faint smile as if to say she understood, then, glancing at Leah, she opened her mouth.

『…But, Leah.』

『Yes?』

『How many days have passed?』

『How many days?』

『I’m asking how many days have passed since I collapsed.』

At that, Leah’s eyes widened and she said in a tone as if she were taking credit.

『Don’t even mention it. If you count by time, it’s been a full three days.』

『…Three, days?』

And Daphne was flustered. More time had passed than she had thought. Her heart immediately grew anxious. As Daphne’s expression became quite serious, Leah added, as if to console her.

『Still, you should be glad it’s only this much. It would have been a big problem if it weren’t for Princess Thisbene.』

『Thisbene?』

Daphne stared at Leah with wide, round eyes. Leah tilted her head as if it were strange.

『Don’t you remember anything at all?』