Side Story.12

From that day, the relationship between Hyperion and Adelstein changed greatly.

Adelstein, who had always drawn invisible lines and kept his manners toward Hyperion, broke down all barriers and approached the boy without hesitation, while Hyperion, once unnaturally indifferent, began to show a variety of emotions.

“Wow, look at that! So many people have gathered to join us.”

On top of the high castle wall, Adelstein’s dazzling hair fluttered in the wind as he looked down at the crowd entering the castle gate with sparkling eyes.

“……It’ll only last for a while. To truly make them your allies, you’ll have to show even greater strength.”

Hyperion spoke bluntly, scanning the murmuring crowd as if measuring something.

“But, is that woman really your companion?”

“Eh?”

‘That woman’—Maia—flinched and turned to look at Hyperion.

He always had to say something…

Feeling a surge of irritation again, Maia glared at Hyperion, making his fine eyebrows twitch.

“You’ve taken the princess’s place, and Ilaya has become your power base. But can you be sure this kingdom will always be loyal to a fake princess?”

“What are you saying!”

The shrill voice that interrupted Hyperion’s cold words was neither Maia’s nor Adelstein’s, but someone else entirely.

“……Naria?”

The maid who had brought Adelstein and Maia to the Ilaya palace and revealed the truth about the princess.

Naria rushed up to Maia, breathing heavily.

“This person is Princess Seiya, no matter what anyone says. She is the benefactor who defeated the villain who cruelly oppressed and exploited Ilaya!”

Naria, emphasizing each word, turned to Adelstein and continued.

“Except for Princess Seiya, Their Majesties have no other children. So the throne of Ilaya must be inherited by Princess Seiya, or by her consort.”

“……Ah, wait. Why are you saying that while looking at Adelstein…….”

Feeling uneasy, Maia hurriedly interrupted, but Naria spoke as if it were obvious.

“Who could be a better consort for Her Highness than Sir Adelstein? Their Majesties think very highly of Sir Adelstein, too. As a son-in-law and successor to the throne, he’s perfect…….”

“Stop, Naria!”

Oh, these people!

Maia hurriedly covered Naria’s mouth and looked at Adelstein.

“…….”

The pure boy’s face was flushed as if touched by the sun’s fire.

“It’s just people fantasizing. Don’t pay attention, Adelstein.”

Maia spoke with guilt, as if comforting the boy.

At that moment, a faint ripple appeared in Adelstein’s eyes. He hesitated and spoke.

“Um…… Miss Maria, do you have any thoughts about marriage…….”

Struggling to continue, Adelstein raised his hand to cover his eyes and muttered.

“No, never mind. That was unnecessary. I’m sorry.”

“No…… It’s fine.”

Marriage. To hear such things even in ancient times.

Feeling oddly unsettled, Maia replied absentmindedly.

She had to return eventually.

She had no intention of living as a princess forever.

Come to think of it, she’d forgotten in the quest for revenge for the elder’s death—how would she return to her original time?

She had gotten more deeply involved with these people than she’d expected.

Maia felt a throbbing headache and looked up.

At that moment, Hyperion, who seemed to have been watching her for some time, met her gaze.

“……I don’t like it.”

What?

At Hyperion’s barely wrinkled frown and words, Maia was struck by a sense of devastation.

Regardless of her shock, Hyperion turned coldly and disappeared.

“What a rude man! Sir Adelstein, even if he wields dangerous magical power, will you keep someone who insults the princess by your side?”

“Ah…… I apologize for him, Maria. I keep telling him not to, but he keeps acting that way…….”

Their words kept ringing in her ears, but not a single word reached Maia.

‘You, of all people, to me……’

“……I’m sorry.”

‘How could you say something like that?’

She bit her lip tightly. Even so, her trembling heart would not calm down.

Maia briefly excused herself and, without looking back, rushed down the stairs of the castle wall.

* * *

The staff, she had to find the staff.

Maia ignored everyone who noticed her and knelt to greet her, running past them.

She didn’t want to stay in this damned past even a moment longer.

Not that she had a clear way out, but still…

“Why…….”

His gaze was always on her.

From a moment she didn’t even know, he had loved her.

No matter how many times she pushed him away, he never tired of holding onto her, and yet—

She understood in her head.

The one she faced now was Hyperion of the distant past, who had never met her, who did not love her.

But when he spoke to her with cold eyes and a chilly voice, no different from how he treated anyone else, she became unbearably miserable.

Every time she realized his gaze was directed not at her but at the ancient boy of long ago, she felt a pathetic emotion rise up.

She didn’t want to stay in this past any longer.

She wanted to go back, she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Maria?”

A familiar voice called her false name.

An inescapable, powerful hand gripped her and stopped her.

Maia looked up.

Aeterna was gazing down at her with a surprised expression.

“Where are you rushing off to? ……Did something happen?”

It was an encounter she didn’t welcome at all in the current situation.

Maia bowed her head to hide her obviously messy state and spoke quietly.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, could you let go of me?”

“……Ah. Sorry.”

Aeterna seemed a bit flustered and quickly released her shoulder.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

Maia dipped her head slightly and hurried off again.

“Wait!”

Aeterna stopped her steps once more.

Maia, feeling irritation rising, bit her lip and stopped.

“……I heard a rumor. That you might marry my brother……”

Aeterna continued, not noticing Maia’s stiffening expression.

“Is it true?”

“Of course it’s not true.”

Maia answered, suppressing her emotions and keeping calm.

And when she turned around—

“……I see.”

The boy’s previously dark expression visibly brightened at her answer.

“Sorry for stopping you. Go ahead. ……I’ll go too.”

Aeterna hurriedly excused himself and left.

Seeing his retreating figure, Maia’s feelings grew even more complicated.

“……No way.”

The thought surfaced, but Maia quickly denied it.

It couldn’t be what she was thinking.

That boy had openly disliked her since the very first meeting.

Maia cut off her tangled feelings coldly and turned away.

* * *

As the fame of driving out Uperta spread, people from all over the continent gathered to follow the heroes.

“Hyperion selected the appropriate ones himself. The ones who were rejected, well… Hyperion was so firm, I couldn’t stop him.”

“I see.”

But why did she have to be here?

Maia, sitting in a seat even higher than Adelstein, replied with a tired look.

Last night, she’d returned to her bedroom and tried everything with the staff, but that damned ancient artifact remained silent.

Now, she felt the urge to just smash it against a rock and shatter it.

“I think I’d be better off just leaving. There’s nothing for me to do here anyway…”

“Princess, you are basically Sir Adelstein’s guardian. You must not give up your authority!”

Naria replied firmly, burning with resolve.

She wasn’t even the real princess. How did she end up with this role…

Maia steadied her gloomy heart and looked over those Hyperion had selected.

The most eye-catching figure was…

Maia’s gaze deepened as she looked over the crowd.

At the very front—

“Greetings to Princess Seiya and Sir Adelstein. I am Sierna Western.”

It was none other than the first Duke of Western.

A woman with long, straight hair of pale blue, tied back, whose eyes were the same color as her hair.

Overwhelmed by memories of this person, Maia watched her for a moment, lost in regret.

Sierna Western was a striking beauty with a cool, upright impression, but seemed to have no interest in adorning herself, wearing only light gray armor on her chest and a worn, frayed cloak, drawing a sharply honed sword and speaking in a dignified tone.

“I wished to test my sword against the hero famed for defeating a vicious villain. Will you grant me that chance?”

“……Ah, so you came all the way to Ilaya to spar with me.”

Adelstein seemed to understand Sierna’s intentions and smiled.

“I don’t follow anyone weaker than myself.”

Sierna replied bluntly, her calm gaze urging Adelstein’s answer.

“Very well. I accept.”

Adelstein agreed readily, rising from his seat. Then, as if remembering, he turned to Maia and whispered softly.

“……Seiya, you…”

“Oh, I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”

Neither of them would die anyway.

Maia waved a hand and smiled faintly at Adelstein.

So much had happened beyond her imagination, but surely this wouldn’t overturn her expectations too.

“Then let us begin the match.”

As the palace servant served as referee and their match began—

“That person…”

Maia froze, noticing a man watching the match with interest.

At the end of her gaze was a young man watching Adelstein intently.

Handsome, well-dressed as if from a wealthy family, there was nothing odd about him on the surface.

But he looked strangely familiar. Why? It couldn’t be.

Maia frowned and pressed her finger to her lips, deep in thought.

“……Seiya.”

A soft voice spoke nearby. The name was still unfamiliar, so Maia reacted late and turned.