Epilogue

Epilogue

 

ON THE ROOF of the royal theater was a small garden. The secret spot wasn’t visible from the ground, and only the royalty and the nobility could make use of it.

Under the light of the moon, which would be full tomorrow night, it was more than bright enough without any lamps. Rishe rested alone in the garden on a wooden bench, the summer breeze ruffling her coral hair. It was nice and comfortable, considering the strenuous exercise she’d just undergone.

She only escaped dozing off because someone else had just arrived in the garden.

“Hello, Prince Arnold.”

“It’s done.”

Arnold walked toward her from the door to the roof. He caressed Rishe’s cheek, seeing how sleepy she looked. “You’re really not hurt?”

“Really, Your Highness…” Rishe said with a bit of a pout. “You asked me every time you ran into me during the cleanup, didn’t you?”

He’d touched her cheeks, inspected her hands, and checked her for injuries already.

Arnold took a quiet breath. “Want to rest here some more?”

“Mm.”

The cleanup had been just as hard as they’d figured it would be. It had taken time to get the audience to leave, round up all the intelligence agents, and arrange for their transport. Rishe had been helping out as well, so she hadn’t been able to sit down for a breather. She had eventually run out of things to do and was tasked only with waiting for Arnold to finish, but she didn’t even have a place to change out of the dress she’d borrowed. As a result, she was still wearing the costume as she gazed up at the stars.

“Won’t you sit too?” she asked him.

Looking like he had no choice but to comply, Arnold sat down beside her. She beamed cheerfully at him, and he sighed. “I heard that man made quite a fuss at you over something or another.”

“You mean Prince Dietrich?” Rishe cocked her head and thought back to the exchange from earlier.

 

During the cleanup, Rishe headed for the royal box and thanked Dietrich for assisting with their plan and for warning them about the dual arrows.

“You’re darn right! Why, my heroism is worth a commendation at least, I would think! You two would have been in great peril were it not for my swift and noble action! I put my very life on the line to save you! That’s me, the courageous crown prince! Ha ha ha ha!”

At first he was his typical self, but eventually Dietrich cleared his throat and adopted a more serious tone.

“As for proving Lord Arnold’s superiority as a husband, well…I have come to realize that the man seems to respect and value you. More or less.”

“Why, Prince Dietrich…”

“However! If he really valued you, then he wouldn’t put you in so much danger! Isn’t that a more normal way to see things?! You really should rethink this marriage, Rishe.”

“No,” Rishe said with a smile. “I’m very happy that Prince Arnold respects my wishes. I can always feel him protecting me from danger. It makes me feel like I need to get stronger in return.”

Dietrich seemed to chew on his words for a moment. “Very well.”

“Huh?”

“It seems to me as though Lord Arnold Hein has abandoned the very idea of human happiness, but he at least has the guts to try to make you happy! Rejoice, Rishe, for that is the judgment I have rendered unto him myself!”

I can’t believe Prince Dietrich is taking back something he said before and acknowledging another person…

Rishe would never have been able to imagine something like that before he broke off their engagement. Had coming to Galkhein and seeing another man in a position like his changed his attitude? Or maybe this was the result of Mary’s hard work?

At this rate, maybe he won’t even attempt his coup in this life, she thought with a chuckle. Either way, the individual who had instigated the coup had come to light now. The entity who had set his sights on Galkhein and Arnold wasn’t likely to make use of Hermity anymore. This would be Rishe’s first life where Dietrich didn’t try to start a revolution. In the past, Rishe had always felt some guilt for abandoning her homeland, but that weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders.

“Thank you.”

Dietrich had no way of knowing what Rishe was thanking him for, but that was fine with her.

“Of course, there’s absolutely no need for me to have permission from a complete stranger like you to marry whom I wish to marry.”

“Agh! That tongue of yours really has gotten sharper lately, hasn’t it?!”

Rishe giggled, and Dietrich made a complicated expression.

“The day I broke off our engagement, you told me I was an unnecessary element in your life.”

She had said that, but Rishe thought she would take this opportunity to revise that statement. “Don’t worry, I’m just as unnecessary to your life, Prince Dietrich.”

“What?”

“Do you remember what adults were always saying to us when we were young? That I had to be responsible so I could support you?”

Dietrich lowered his head. Evidently, the phrase was familiar.

“That’s not true, is it? After all, you really can do it if you try, Prince Dietrich… You’ll be perfectly fine without me.”

His eyes bugged out at that.

Rishe was finally starting to feel like she’d put her last six lives behind her and could be free from them now.

Not just my life as a merchant, or an apothecary, an alchemist, a maid, a hunter, or a knight… The life I lived as a duke’s daughter in my homeland is just as irreplaceable to me as all the other lives I’ve lived.

She was at last starting to feel like she’d let go of some of the regrets she’d been hanging on to ever since that original life as a duke’s daughter.

And while Rishe was feeling perfectly refreshed, Dietrich’s face crumpled, and he sobbed, “Th-that’s not what I wanted to hear!”

“Um, are you crying?”

“I’m the crown prince, you know! Someone so important would never cry before others! Anyway…” He sniffled hard, then pointed at Rishe and demanded, “Is Lord Arnold Hein a necessary element in your life?!”

Rishe blinked. “Prince Dietrich. It’s rude to point.”

“Gaaah! That’s not important right now!”

 

Rishe laughed at the recollection, and Arnold regarded her dubiously.

“It’s nothing. Prince Dietrich and I just gave each other a little encouragement for our respective lives from now on.”

Rishe smiled and looked up at Arnold.

“…Oh.”

In the distance, the church bell rang out just once. That church also functioned as a clock tower, so the bell rang at set intervals to announce the time. And the hour it had just rung out was twelve o’clock—midnight.

“It’s your birthday,” Arnold said, and Rishe nodded.

The date had changed. Today, the thirtieth day of the seventh month, was the day Rishe had been born. It was her sixteenth birthday. Rishe had experienced this occasion seven times now.

Arnold, who couldn’t possibly know that, said, “I’ve never celebrated someone’s birthday before.”

“Your Highness…”

“Tell me what you want of me.” Arnold’s fingers playfully traced the earring Rishe wore. “Did you decide what you wish to do?”

Rishe nodded once more. Arnold’s curiosity was piqued.

“I…” Rishe gazed into Arnold’s brilliant blue eyes and said, “There’s something I’ve always wanted, ever since I was small.”

Rishe spoke slower than usual, and Arnold waited for her to finish. Appreciative of his patience, she took her time voicing the feelings in her heart.

“I’ve always wanted to live a free life. Not as a duke’s daughter or a crown princess, but just as a human being, valuing myself rather than what’s expected of me…and you respect that desire of mine above all else, Prince Arnold.”

Rishe felt that way from the bottom of her heart.

“You’re not trying to control me or lock me away. You’ve worried about me and shown concern so many times, but you always trust me in the end. You allow me to be free to pursue my own desires, and you lend a hand when I’m not able to do everything I want by myself…”

Arnold had promised to grant her any request that he could, but it wasn’t out of a simple desire to be sincere to the oath he’d sworn when he’d proposed to her. Moreover, he didn’t just give superficially to Rishe. He considered her feelings and always thought of how best to grant her requests.

“I’m very happy right now that I can be your bride.”

Arnold’s eyes widened.

“As your bride, I want our wedding to be perfect. I don’t want to shame you, and I want to hold my head up high as the crown princess.”

“No matter what anyone says, you’re my bride. There’s no changing that fact.”

“Still, I want it to be perfect.” Rishe needed courage to finish telling Arnold what it was she wanted. “So, Prince Arnold…” She grasped the hand fiddling with her earring and squeezed it. “Can we please practice the kiss we’ll exchange at the ceremony?”

“…What?”

Rishe thought her voice might tremble from nervousness. “As your birthday gift to me…” Her embarrassment blended with genuine desire. Rishe gazed up at Arnold and pleaded, “Would you kiss me?”

She thought this might have been the first time she’d ever seen Arnold so genuinely surprised.

“…Rishe.”

Before he could say more, she frantically blurted, “I know, it’s a terribly improper request, I’m so sorry!” She grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and squeezed it tight. “I’m just not confident at all that I’ll be able to do it well. I realize it’s an imposition, but…please.”

“That’s not…what I…” Arnold’s frown deepened as he choked out the words. He touched Rishe’s shoulders with a pitying look and said, “What are you asking for? You’re trembling so much.”

Rishe was hyperaware that her body had frozen due to a bad case of nerves, but that was no reason for Arnold to feel so concerned. “This isn’t because I’m dreading or afraid of the idea,” she told him, thinking it a bit strange herself.

When their engagement was fresh, she’d made him swear not to lay even a finger on her since she was so nervous about him. Eventually, she started letting him touch her through gloves. At some point, she’d almost forgotten the promise altogether.

Of course, having Arnold touch her so intimately made her nerves go from bad to worse. Her face was burning—but she’d never hated that feeling. She hadn’t felt any disgust or fear during their first kiss in the chapel either.

All she experienced was a pesky ache in the center of her chest.

“I’m sorry!” Rishe hung her head, reflecting on her actions. “I should have known you wouldn’t want to do that. I-I’m always so selfish!”

Arnold must have had some reason for what he’d done that day. Still, she couldn’t just ask him for a kiss. Rishe shot up from the bench, coming back to her senses—and Arnold grabbed her hand.

With a heavy sigh, he said, “I said it wasn’t a bother.”

“Huh?”

Rishe raised her head and found Arnold standing in front of her with his eyes closed in irritation. He opened them and then brushed Rishe’s hair, his fingers tucking a lock behind her ear.

Oh my… Rishe was suddenly nervous, knowing what was about to come next. She didn’t want Arnold seeing her face so red, but she had no choice when he lifted her chin.

His face is like the most beautiful piece of art in the world.

The prince’s blue eyes and long lashes captivated anyone who saw them. They had such dangerous power, yet he always looked straight at Rishe. She didn’t know what to do about it. To make matters worse, his thumb was tracing her lip now, as though measuring precisely where his lips would go.

Rishe let a little puff of air out, tickled by his touch.

“Close your eyes.”

“B-but…” Her heart threatened to somersault out of her chest every time she so much as opened her mouth. “I can’t look?”

Arnold’s eyes shone in the light of the nearly full moon. Rishe could see herself in their azure, oceanic depths. He half closed them and coaxed her, “You want to practice for the wedding, right?”

“Ugh…”

He spoke like he was trying to coax a stubborn child. It was true that they would close their eyes for the ceremony. Even these small aspects of the kiss had a tradition to be followed. But since they had the opportunity to practice, she kind of wanted to know everything she could. Arnold must have guessed what she was thinking.

“Come on. Close them.”

He pressed little kisses against Rishe’s eyelids, which snapped closed when his lips brushed against her lashes. She let out a cute grunt in response.

“Good.”

Arnold really did spoil Rishe more than anyone in the world, praising her just for closing her eyes. Regardless, she wasn’t sure if he really would go along with all her selfish requests.

What’ll I do if he says the kiss on the eyelids is it? she thought, timidly opening her eyes again. She was met with a devastatingly earnest gaze.

Prince Arnold really will grant my request… He will!

Now certain of it, Rishe began to feel lightheaded. She grasped at Arnold’s shirt, close to the collar. She had requested this, yet she was already almost down for the count.

“You don’t have to force yourself,” he told her.

Her eyelids flew wide, and she shook her head. “Don’t stop.”

She wanted Arnold to kiss her no matter what. Peering at him through her lashes, she begged, “Please, Your Highness…”

“…”

Arnold tilted her neck back a bit more. This time, her eyelids fell closed on their own. He wrapped his other arm around her waist, and his face neared hers.

Their lips met.

His touch was tender and, as always, full of concern for her. The moment she registered it, there was that familiar pang in her chest again. Not only that, but her pulse quickened as a fierce warmth spread through her, threatening to bring her to tears.

The kiss lasted only a few seconds. When they pulled away, their eyes locked. Arnold looked to be in pain somehow.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Not yet…”

Rishe’s head was a little fuzzy, and she felt a bit weak in the knees. Even the feeling from when their lips met felt like it might fade away if she didn’t hang on to it.

“I couldn’t remember it all after just one kiss.”

“…”

She didn’t want to forget it. If this was her only opportunity to learn, then she wanted to know more. She tugged gently on Arnold’s shirt, and his brow furrowed.

“If it’s not too much to ask, could we—mgh!”

This time, the kiss was a little more forceful, almost a bite—which felt familiar. It took her by surprise; Rishe thought she was probably remembering the poison wound she’d received on her neck. Arnold had sucked on it to remove the toxin.

“Mmn…”

A kiss was a meeting of the lips and nothing more. Yet the arm around her waist flexed, pulling her closer. Her heart beat faster and louder, making even more of a racket than when she’d fought onstage. She squirmed, flustered by the idea of Arnold hearing it—but Arnold kept her firmly in place as they kissed, with no intention of setting her free.

“Hnng…!”

It was just their lips meeting, but Rishe had somehow lost the ability to breathe. She scrunched her face up, and Arnold finally pulled away from her. Then he pressed his forehead to hers and said, his voice husky, “Sorry.”

Somehow managing to breathe again, Rishe shook her head. Their bangs tangled together as she gripped Arnold’s shirt.

“More,” she begged, and Arnold huffed in response.

Their next kiss was soft, as if in apology for the previous one’s hastiness. This one was modest, little more than a peck. Their lips separated with a tiny smack. The sound was adorable on its own, but it contributed to Rishe’s embarrassment and restlessness. She wanted to learn more, but it had ended so fast that her lips tingled at the loss.

Were there really this many ways to kiss? They were all so different, she didn’t feel like she was getting good practice in at all. Only vague feelings compelling her now, she implored him once more, tears in her eyes.

“One more time…”

Arnold’s brows came together and he tugged Rishe even closer to him, until she was snug in his arms. He patted her on the back soothingly.

“I’ll kiss you as many times as you like later, so just breathe for now.”

“O-okay…”

Rishe buried her face in Arnold’s chest, hiding her scarlet cheeks and focusing on breathing. She took shallow breaths, one after the other, but she didn’t feel herself growing calmer at all. If she sat down right now, she worried she’d never be able to stand again.

She realized it had been a good idea to practice. If she acted like this at the wedding, she’d disgrace herself as crown princess. Even as Rishe thought this, Arnold held her with great care. He kissed her forehead through her bangs. Rishe’s heart thrummed, and she felt tears welling in her eyes again. At the same time, the gentle touch gave her a strange sense of calm at last.

I feel like my brain is melting…

She was starting to feel like she wanted Arnold to hold her forever. But if they did that, she wouldn’t be able to get more practice.

Suddenly, she remembered the words Dietrich had said to her earlier that day.

“Is Lord Arnold Hein a necessary element in your life?!”

Rishe had scolded Dietrich for his bad manners, then smiled and replied, “Yes, he is.” She then told the shocked prince the full truth: “After all, I wish to spend the rest of my life at his side.”

Rishe had become aware of that feeling for the first time, and it was only growing stronger the more time she spent in his arms.

“Rishe.” Arnold’s voice was soft but hoarse as well. Rishe’s shoulders twitched, so he asked her worriedly, “Are you afraid?”

It was the same thing he’d asked her when she’d run into his father the other day.

Rishe shook her head. “Your voice…”

“My voice?”

“I really…like it.” She had fistfuls of Arnold’s shirt in her hands as she pressed her forehead to him. With her face hidden, she confessed, “It feels almost painful when you say my name, so it’s a bit of a problem…”

Rishe meant it. Yet Arnold brushed the hair away from her ear and pressed his lips to it, murmuring breathily, “Rishe.”

“Ack!”

Now this was just mean. Evidence of his guilt escaped from his nose in a small puff of air.

“Heh.”

He laughed!

She could tell he was only mildly teasing her, but she still wanted to protest. The next time he called her name, it was with reverence, like she was the most precious thing in the world to him.

“Rishe…”

Tears threatened to spill from Rishe’s eyes at the sound.

“Eep!”

Her eyelids flew wide open as his lips brushed her ear again. He’d just told her to breathe, so what was he doing raining kisses down on her? Arnold kissed her bangs, then captured her left hand. He’d probably picked up on the way she was clinging a little too tightly to his shirt. He wove his fingers through hers as if to scold her for it.

Then he kissed the base of her ring finger, just below the ring he’d gifted her.

He’s kissing me all over the place… I feel like I’ve become some sort of confectionery…

Maybe he was trying to calm her down, but she couldn’t possibly catch her breath with all this happening.

He tilted her head back again, and Rishe hastened to wipe her wet eyelashes. “I-I’m sorry. I can’t believe I’m doing this when I was the one who asked…”

Arnold took hold of her hand before she could rub her eyes. With both her hands seized firmly in his, he looked her in the eye and whispered, “It’s cute. You don’t need to hide it.”

Rishe was astonished. The unexpected words made her ears burn—but Arnold was, of course, unflappable as ever.

“Then again…” His eyes and voice, however, were kinder than usual. “I can’t think of a single time you ever weren’t cute.”

“Hnnngh!”

She had no idea how to respond. She really wanted to hide her face now, but with neither hand free, all she could do was bury her face in Arnold’s neck.

Arnold let go of Rishe’s right hand and stroked her hair instead. “Rishe.”

“Ugh! Stop teasing me!”

“You can’t blame me, can you?”

She had just told him it was a problem for her when he called her name, yet he showed absolutely no remorse for his behavior. If anything, he was just rubbing salt in her wounds, saying things like, “I want to see your face.”

“Eep!”

She had to give up when he said that right in her ear. If he was making a request of her, she had to fulfill it. She relaxed and pulled away from Arnold, who tilted her head back up at him. Concerned fingers brushed her flaming cheeks.

“Is this painful?”

It’s painful, but not because of the kissing, she wanted to tell him, but she couldn’t, instead letting out only a breath. Why does it make me want to cry when he says my name? Heat pricked the corners of her eyes. I want him to say it even more…

She had heard about wavering feelings like this from Sylvia. When the diva met Gutheil, she’d felt a slew of contradictory emotions. It was the first time she’d ever felt like that in her life.

Rishe inhaled a shaky breath. Arnold rubbed her back, regarding her with soft eyes. Rishe’s lashes were still wet, so he gently wiped her tears away.

“All I do is make you cry.”

Her heart ached at the words. She could only think of one such instance herself, however.

“I’m not crying right now,” she said petulantly.

Exasperation crossed Arnold’s face. “Liar.”

“Ngh…”

Arnold’s thumb brushed Rishe’s lips as if to chide her for trying to put up a brave front. He pressed down right in the middle. He was teasing her again!

“Rishe.”

“Ugh…”

At his featherlight touch, pain sprouted in her heart once more.

“If it frightens you, we don’t have to kiss at the wedding. I’ll change whatever part of the ceremony needs changing, no matter who objects.”

She really did feel like a frightened little kid the way he was talking about her.

“I don’t want any part of my vows as your wife missing.” She beseeched him once more, “Please kiss me…my husband…”

Arnold frowned and cupped Rishe’s cheek. With the other hand, he entwined their fingers. “Okay.”

Her chest still hurt, but she also felt an urge to get even closer to him welling up inside her.

I feel like I’m going to cry when he says my name, but I want him to say it more. It’s painful being with him, but I don’t want to leave.

Celebrating a birthday meant celebrating the fact that you’d been born. Rishe had died again and again, her life scattering in the wind, but she felt like a new beat was pulsing in her heart now.

I’m…

Putting a name to the sensation she was feeling for the first time in her life, Rishe closed her wet eyes.

I’m in love with Prince Arnold…

At that instant, they shared another soft kiss.

 

To be continued…