Aiden stared at me with wide eyes at my words, then subtly averted his gaze when our eyes met.
See that?
It's not just my imagination. Aiden was clearly avoiding me.
I narrowed my eyes at him, and Aiden cleared his throat awkwardly.
Only then did he meet my eyes and say, "Actually, the reason I came to see you so suddenly is... because there's something I want to say to you, Miss."
"You want to say something to me?"
I widened my eyes and asked back.
What could Aiden possibly want to say to me?
Could it be...?
'Does he want to tell me that he had a hard time because of me?'
That was certainly possible.
I had used his guilt to separate him and acted unilaterally.
From Aiden's point of view, he had failed his mission, so he could be distressed enough.
Since it wasn't easy to say, maybe that's why he was hesitating.
In that case...
"Sir Aiden."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
"...Yes?!"
Aiden's eyes widened.
I stood up from my seat and bowed deeply to him.
Aiden, startled, quickly approached me.
"Wh-What are you doing!"
"I put you in a difficult position because of me."
Normally, I wouldn't apologize this much.
But Aiden is a kind person, and I used Aiden's kindness for my own purposes.
So it was right to apologize.
I was thinking it was fortunate that he came to me first, but Aiden's hand, which was trying to stop me, fell limply.
And he said in a strained voice.
"Why..."
"...?"
"Why are you apologizing, Miss..."
I raised my head at the voice that sounded like he was choking.
Aiden covered his face with both hands.
He muttered in distress.
"The person who should be apologizing isn't you, it's me..."
Soon, he collapsed in front of me.
I quietly watched the scene.
At the same time, I realized.
So that's it.
"I'm sorry... for turning away from you back then..."
Kindness can also stab oneself like this.
"I've been wanting to apologize all along, but I didn't have the courage..."
"Sir Aiden."
"Even apologizing to you like this now might be selfish of me. But..."
He raised his head.
The man who had been so tall was now collapsed in front of me so pathetically.
"I'm sorry."
"..."
"For apologizing so late..."
Aiden is kind.
'I'm fine.'
I dredged up old memories to touch his guilt in order to get him away from me.
'Actually, I don't care at all.'
How many people have turned away from me like that?
There were too many to count.
The only reason I could remember Sir Aiden among those people was because the imperial armor he was wearing was so striking.
So he didn't have to feel so guilty and sorry.
Since it was a thing of the past, it would be okay to just let it go.
"...Sir Aiden."
I had already received help from Aiden.
I had also used his guilt.
I thought the debt had already been paid in full...
What should I do to ease this kind person's guilt?
I'm not used to comforting someone.
I don't know how to ease a kind person's guilt.
So.
"Thank you."
Let's be honest.
"For apologizing."
Aiden stared blankly up at me.
The blue eyes that resembled the clear sky shook violently.
And then, with a thud, they dropped downward.
And he barely uttered a word.
"...Thank you."
I quietly watched Aiden like that and carefully patted his back.
This was the best and only comfort I could offer.
After that, Aiden returned to his usual self.
But somehow, he seemed more refreshed in his expression.
"Come to think of it."
Just before parting, Aiden looked at me and said.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has a message for Miss Lucia."
"His Highness the Crown Prince?"
I tensed up at the word 'Crown Prince'.
I focused my gaze on Aiden's lips.
Soon his lips parted.
"He said, 'I'll be waiting for the day we meet again. Please take care of me in the future.'..."
"Ah..."
"It seems you've become close to His Highness the Crown Prince so quickly."
Aiden asked with an interesting expression.
I quietly smiled.
Certainly, to others, it would seem like the children had become friends.
But there was another meaning hidden in the Crown Prince's words.
'Please take care of me in the future' means.
'It must mean a deal.'
I was newly aware that he and I had formed a special alliance.
But there was something bothering me.
"What does 'I'll be waiting for the day we meet again' mean?"
It seemed like a common greeting, but somehow it felt different.
"Ah, that's..."
Aiden's expression clouded over.
"It's still just a rumor, but they say they are planning an exchange program for the royal families to strengthen the peace with the empire of the West Continent. I think that's what he meant."
Aiden whispered quietly.
Exchange program?
Ah, certainly.
'There was something like that.'
I recalled the memories of my previous life.
Around this time in my previous life, the empire of the West Continent and the Arpedel Empire formed a peaceful cooperative relationship.
It meant that it was better to form an alliance and grow together than to waste national power on unnecessary checks and balances.
'Well, the intention isn't that pure.'
Anyway, as a sign of harmony, the two countries promised to exchange royal families at the same time.
The purpose was for the young rulers who would lead the empire in the future to broaden their horizons by accepting different cultures through studying abroad for a certain period.
'In fact, it's practically a hostage.'
However, since inheriting the throne would be practically confirmed after studying abroad, the royal families went on the study abroad route knowing they were hostages.
'That's what everyone was talking about.'
The reason this story was a hot topic in Rodbel was different.
It was because Bethel Denav Arpedel, the Crown Prince and fiancé of Miracle who should have been on that study abroad route, was pushed aside by the 2nd Prince and couldn't go to study abroad.
The reason was.
'It was because of deteriorating health.'
That couldn't be helped.
Because the 'Bethel Denav Arpedel' at the time was a weakling who collapsed at the drop of a hat.
Thinking about it now, it was all because of the incomplete soul.
But it wouldn't have been possible to make such a weak Crown Prince go on a long journey that had to cross the sea and the desert.
It was a choice made to protect the Crown Prince, but the West Empire was deeply dissatisfied with that choice.
They reluctantly accepted the 2nd Prince instead of the Crown Prince, but the relationship between the two empires began to sour from then on.
Around the time the 2nd Prince's study abroad ended, the two countries, which had grown apart, started a war, and Rodbel made a great contribution in that war.
The Arpedel Empire, which swallowed up the West Empire thanks to Rodbel's contribution, was reborn as the strongest country in the entire continent.
It goes without saying that Rodbel's status was also greatly enhanced.
'I don't want that.'
Above all, the 2nd Prince, who overcame the crisis and returned from the West Empire, emerged as a strong heir to the throne, surpassing the Crown Prince.
'I'll be waiting for the day we meet again' If the Crown Prince's words were because of the exchange program...
'If I send the Crown Prince properly, there will be no reason for the relationship between the two countries to sour, and then there will be no war.'
The name of the Rodbel ducal family will not spread throughout the continent, and Bethel Denav Arpedel will not be deprived of the Crown Prince's position.
'So you're really thinking of becoming Emperor.'
When I thought of his words that he would become Emperor and be my strength, my heart fluttered for some reason.
But...
'The promised period of the exchange program is 5 years.'
That meant that I wouldn't be able to see him for at least 5 years.
"..."
"Are you alright?"
"Pardon?"
"You didn't look good."
"Ah."
I widened my eyes at Aiden's words.
Soon I gathered my expression and said with a bright smile.
"It's nothing. Sir Aiden, are you going back now too?"
Aiden nodded at my question.
Then, for some reason, he seemed to be reading my expression and cautiously added.
"Once or twice a year, I visit this place for friendly matches between the Imperial Knights and the Rodbel Knights."
"Ah, I see."
"Then..."
"...?"
"Would it be alright if I came to greet you, Miss?"
"Pardon?"
I widened my eyes and stared at him at the unexpected words.
Aiden's face, which was already pink, turned completely red.
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