Side Story.10

“Princess Seiya, unfortunately, died two years ago from an epidemic.”

She spoke in a detached tone.

“She lost…… her life?”

“No way…… Then does Uperta not know? Is this the reason the princess has never appeared outside?”

Adelstein, speaking in shock, soon realized the truth and his expression hardened.

“Uperta has never seen the princess’s face up close. Only from a distance, he saw her fiery red hair and slender figure. Yet, as the whole world praised Princess Seiya’s beauty, his greed grew.”

The maid’s trembling voice continued as she gently touched the coffin where the dead princess lay.

“Her Highness feared Uperta. But she was determined to protect the country and its people, so even as she suffered from illness, she ordered that her death be kept secret. If word got out that she was alive, even if it was just a hollow love, Uperta would wait to claim the princess rather than devour Ilaya.”

Maia gazed at the princess’s remains in the coffin with trembling eyes.

Impossible. If she died like this, who was the Princess Seiya recorded in the Book of the Founder?

“And this is why I brought you here.”

“……!”

Maia was startled and stared at the maid.

“Only a handful of maids and Their Majesties have seen the princess’s appearance. But it’s getting harder to keep the secret.”

With a pale face, the maid took a step, then another, toward Maia, her voice resolute.

“Uperta will not wait any longer. He’ll break into the palace, discover the princess’s remains, and destroy everything.”

“You’re not suggesting……”

Adelstein murmured, and the maid clasped Maia’s hands tightly and cried out.

“I beg you desperately. Please become Princess Seiya’s substitute.”

“A substitute……”

Maia’s mind went blank. She couldn’t speak, only moved her lips.

“No, you don’t have to be just a substitute. Please become the ‘real’ Princess Seiya. To protect the Kingdom of Ilaya, Her Highness must live.”

Clutching Maia’s hands, the maid pleaded, then finally knelt before her.

“With beauty like yours, no one will suspect a thing. I beg you, please……”

The real princess died two years ago.

And the princess’s maid was asking Maia to take her place.

Ah, Maia felt dizzy.

Was history changing because of her, or was all this predestined?

“……If I agree to be Her Highness’s substitute, what will you give me?”

Maia asked quietly. The maid looked up at Maia with clear eyes and answered firmly.

“Everything Princess Seiya should have enjoyed will be yours.”

* * *

“Maria, this……”

“Adelstein. I will become Princess Seiya’s substitute.”

After Maia quietly accepted, the maid left to inform Their Majesties.

Maia stood by the window, gazing at the distant sky.

“This wasn’t part of the plan. They’ll surely force you into dangerous things.”

“But if I don’t become the princess’s substitute.”

Adelstein gazed into Maia’s shining eyes, feeling a moment of helplessness.

“Will you be able to kill Uperta?”

“……Maria.”

“I was also partly responsible for your grandfather’s death. So don’t try to stop me.”

Maia spoke resolutely.

“……How should I describe my feelings right now?”

The radiant red lake was distorted. A sorrowful voice followed.

“But I know what’s most important. I, and my brother, have received a favor from you that can never be repaid.”

And before Maia could stop him, the boy took a handful of her red hair and kissed it.

* * *

Aeterna immediately shouted, demanding to know what dangerous thing Maia was doing and telling her to stop.

Maia was flustered.

They’d come to take revenge on Uperta, so they needed to use everything they could, yet why was this boy so upset?

“Aeterna, it’s already decided. Enough.”

“Why didn’t you stop her, Brother?!”

“It’s Maria’s choice. Enough.”

Only after Adelstein intervened did Aeterna grit his teeth and suppress his anger.

……Unlike his descendant, he was truly hot-tempered.

Maia glanced at the boy, then looked down and thought.

‘My goodness…… It really feels like our Seiya has come back to life.’

‘She really looks alike. Truly……’

Their Majesties, who had been tense, shed tears, saying Maia resembled their dead daughter.

They promised to give Maia, as Princess Seiya, everything they could.

All the pieces were in place.

“First, I must show myself to the people.”

She had to attract Uperta’s attention.

The princess, who had hidden herself deep within the palace, now revealed herself to the world.

“Uperta will hear the news and come to see Princess Seiya right away.”

She would appear before Uperta for the first time when he begged to meet Princess Seiya, and respond to him.

“But Uperta is dangerous himself, and he always moves with dozens of guards……”

To leave Maia truly alone with him, she had to be alone.

Maia furrowed her brow.

Even if she managed to be alone with him in the inner chamber…… Could Adelstein and Aeterna kill Uperta?

A monster in human form, who forced everyone to submit and sat on the throne with overwhelming power.

“If he can’t be killed by the sword, we can use herbs.”

Adelstein spoke up.

“I know a herb with anesthetic properties. It’s sour and has a unique scent, but if mixed properly into food or tea, it’s undetectable.”

“Then tell the servants the name of the herb. I’ll find a way to make him eat it.”

One way or another, Maia’s role was crucial.

“……We’ll hide behind the inner chamber. It’s shameless to ask, but…… I hope you’ll be our strength.”

“It’s fine, I’m willing.”

Maia smiled and answered.

* * *

“Haa……”

Princess Seiya’s coffin was moved to a chilly chamber with gray walls.

White curtains fluttered endlessly in the wind from the window.

“Princess Seiya in the records should have been you.”

Maia spoke to the skeleton lying among white flowers.

No one was listening, but still.

“I don’t know how I ended up becoming you.”

Then what about the legend of the Founding Emperor and Princess Seiya?

The Founding Emperor cherished and loved a princess from another country, but the princess had died long ago.

Now Maia, wearing the crown of a dead princess, was to act in her place.

“Will the kingdom repay the heroes supported by a fake princess……?”

Though they promised to give her everything a princess enjoyed, nothing was certain.

Maia murmured blankly, gazing at the empty window.

“A substitute princess.”

Step—

Suddenly, she sensed a presence.

Maia turned her head. There stood someone whose identity she guessed the moment she heard his voice.

“……Hyperion.”

“You remember my name?”

The beautiful boy tilted his head slightly and murmured.

It was the form of someone she missed, but resentment mingled with it.

His indifferent, calm face was almost cruel.

“What brings you here?”

Maia used polite speech that didn’t suit her as she addressed him.

But Hyperion, seemingly uninterested in Maia, only approached and looked down at the princess’s remains in the coffin.

“……If we really kill Uperta with our own strength, will you help Adelstein and Aeterna?”

“That Adelstein guy refused, didn’t he? Said he didn’t need my help.”

Mentioning Adelstein’s name finally brought a real reaction from him.

Straightening up from looking at the coffin, Hyperion gazed out the window.

“Still, I haven’t lost my curiosity, so I’m lingering nearby.”

His golden eyes, once brilliant, now rested quietly in the silver cradle.

“I want a clear answer. Please help Adelstein.”

Adelstein and Hyperion.

If those two carried out the plan with their relationship broken, there would be no way to handle any unforeseen consequences.

Maia pleaded, hoping history would proceed correctly.

“This all started because of me. I wanted to help those boys so much that I even agreed to be the princess’s substitute…… but if danger comes, I won’t be able to do anything.”

Hyperion’s gaze slid toward Maia.

“Why are you so desperate?”

“Excuse me?”

Maia asked, confused by the sudden question.

“You and Adelstein aren’t related by blood. You just happened to take in a passing stranger. Ah, don’t tell me.”

Hyperion, talking to himself, suddenly leaned in close to Maia.

“Are you and Adelstein in love?”

What?

Maia’s eyes lost their light.

But Hyperion kept chattering.

“Hmm, if that’s the case, it makes sense. I’ve never been in love, but that crazy emotion makes people do all kinds of foolish things.”

He filled his clear pupils with Maia and asked again.

“So tell me. Do you love Adelstein?”

Ah, ha ha. Ha ha ha ha!

At that moment, Maia felt like laughing out loud.

It was absurd. Then, anger boiled up.

What? Love? She, loving Adelstein?

“……D*mn bastard.”

Maia finally could not suppress her curse and bit out the words fiercely.

Hyperion’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

Seeing that pure, genuinely surprised expression, as if he knew nothing, made her even angrier.

To say he loved her, to say he loved her. Who was the one who clung to her until she was sick of it?

And now, in front of her, of all people, he asked… whether she loved someone else?

“……I never want to speak to you again.”

Maia barely managed to suppress her feelings and spat out coldly.

“Why?”

“Just keep your mouth shut. Forever.”

She knew.

The Hyperion standing before her now was truly just a young boy.

He was the Hyperion of the distant past who did not love Maia.

But the upset feelings were something she could not control.

As Maia left the room where the princess slept, she bit her lip.

Somehow, somehow, she…

“More than I thought…….”

‘…seemed to like him more than I realized.’

‘Hyperion.’