Side Story.18

This is the best she could do.

Maia took a deep breath as she recalled her encounter with Krshunie Polaris moments ago.

No matter how vile and repulsive his nature, he was clearly a hero who had made great contributions to the founding.

She couldn’t imagine or handle the aftermath of expelling such a person……

So even a meaningless, laughable oath was better than nothing.

“They say a major beast extermination will begin soon.”

Maia spoke as she gazed at the sunlight pouring through the large arched window, unobstructed by anything, and the maid standing behind her quickly replied.

“Yes, Princess. Lord Luar is helping him with the power called ‘magic,’ so please don’t worry too much.”

“……Worry.”

Was there any need to worry about him? Maia lowered her gaze.

She cared for the boy as a person, but her trivial worries would crumble like dust before his brilliant destiny.

“Are you worried about my brother?”

Suddenly, a voice was heard, and Maia stopped daydreaming and turned to look.

“Aeterna.”

A boy with golden hair, similar to but different from her beloved boy, had approached and was looking at her.

“I’ll be leading the hunt with Western. Brother will be commanding from the rear, so you don’t need to worry.”

Within eyes swirling with emotions too complex to name, the boy who contained only her took a step closer.

The maids, watching their mistress’s expression, cautiously stepped back.

Maia quietly gazed at the boy’s face and spoke.

“The one I worry about includes you, Aeterna. I know well your skill in martial arts…….”

Maia trailed off, avoiding Aeterna’s gaze.

What was the symbol of the First Grand Duke Aeterna?

It was the staff kept in Princess Seiya’s bedroom, the very staff that had brought her from the distant past and made her experience things no one could believe.

She had never used it, nor seen its power with her own eyes, but legends said it could kill even giant beasts in a single blow.

But Aeterna did not yet have that weapon……

Would a boy who rushed into beast extermination without any special weapon come out unscathed?

She knew well that the First Grand Duke Aeterna had lived a long life and died peacefully.

Even so, at this very moment, to completely stamp out her worry for the living, breathing person before her was impossible.

“If you use a magic-imbued weapon, you’ll be safer. I’ll ask Lord Hyperion for you.”

So, Maia once again took a timid step forward.

If she asked Hyperion through Adelstein, he would gladly help. Yes, it was possible.

“……Don’t trust that guy too much. When my brother said he had to hunt beasts himself, do you know what that Luar fellow said?”

But at Maia’s words, Aeterna’s face twisted deeply as he spat out his words.

“He said, ‘If I bring down fire from the sky, tear apart the wind, and crush the earth, it would be easy, so why take such a difficult path?’”

“…….”

“He didn’t even consider that doing so would cause indescribable damage to people who might be there and to those building homes and living nearby. That guy.”

Maia could not add a single word and fell silent.

Aeterna brushed his face and fixed his deeply distorted gaze on Maia.

“I just can’t understand why my brother and…… you keep that cruel guy close and trust him.”

“Aeterna. That person…….”

“So you’re going to defend him in front of me too?”

Meeting his wounded, trembling gaze, Maia bit her lip.

“……I didn’t want to burden you, so I held back all this time.”

In front of her silence, Aeterna lowered his head.

“I like….”

Then, from the boy’s lips—

“You.”

Maia was stunned by the sudden shock.

“……I don’t expect you to reciprocate. But now that my feelings are certain, I didn’t want to hide them anymore. ……Just know it. I won’t ask for anything.”

“A, Aeterna.”

Maia reflexively grabbed the boy’s collar as he turned away.

As the boy slowly turned back, his gaze was filled with surprise and a painful hope.

“I…….”

Questions thrashed in her mind, swallowing every thought.

Why did he harbor such feelings for her?

The First Grand Duke Aeterna, for Princess Seiya—no, for her, disguised as the princess……. Just why did he come to love her?

“……Since you grabbed me, can I ask just one thing?”

The silence stretched. Maia couldn’t organize her thoughts enough to say a single word.

Then, with a voice that was young yet uncharacteristically subdued and trembling, he quietly asked,

“Do you like my brother? Or…… Hyperion.”

For a moment, Maia’s mind went blank at the question.

The name at the end of Aeterna’s words referred less to someone present and more to someone called with hostility.

“……This is unexpected. What are you two doing?”

The familiar voice that followed made Maia sharply inhale.

“Hyperion.”

Why now, of all times.

Maia’s expression crumbled.

Hyperion’s figure reflected in her violet eyes.

Hyperion, who had been looking at her, slowly slid his gaze to the cuff of Aeterna’s sleeve that she was holding.

“…….”

An unknown ripple spread in his usually indifferent eyes.

“Why are you here……. Fine. Maria.”

Aeterna, who had been spitting out words fiercely, suddenly stopped and turned to Maia.

“Forget about that guy and answer me. Respond to my question.”

“Aeterna. That…….”

She didn’t want to talk about this with Hyperion present.

But Aeterna did not back down. Facing his stubborn gaze, Maia was left speechless.

“……I don’t like him.”

Was the person in Aeterna’s question only Adelstein, or was there more…….

“Both of them.”

Maia declared, as if driving in a wedge.

“Both of them.”

His green eyes, tinged with deep shade, drifted away with emotions she couldn’t identify—relief, or perhaps self-mockery.

“……Well, that’s a blessing in disguise.”

The boy’s departing words were tinged with sarcasm.

Hyperion, locking eyes with Aeterna, slowly twisted his expression.

“Then. I’ll go, Maria.”

Smiling faintly at Maia, Aeterna strode away without hesitation.

“……Lord Hyperion.”

Left in the corridor heavy with silence, Hyperion and Maia looked at each other.

“You called me by name, just now.”

“Huh?”

She hesitated and finally spoke, but Hyperion’s unexpected words left her flustered.

“Just now. Didn’t you call me without a title?”

Hyperion, gazing at her, spoke evenly.

“Ah…….”

Now that she thought about it.

Shocked by Aeterna’s unexpected confession and then by Hyperion’s sudden appearance, she had unconsciously called him by his name as she always did.

……But, was he pointing it out because it bothered him?

Maia looked at Hyperion’s indifferent face and thought.

No, perhaps that was for the best.

It meant he hadn’t paid any attention to the conversation she’d had with Aeterna.

Of course. The current Hyperion……

Ah, realizing that made her feel bad.

“Sorry…….”

“It’s easier to hear.”

Huh?

She had just started to apologize, but Hyperion’s reply left her dumbfounded.

Still expressionless, his gaze somehow felt gentle as he looked at her.

“Call me that way, without titles.”

Hyperion, after a moment of hesitation, added,

“Comfortably.”

* * *

Months passed.

“Ha…….”

Maia exhaled.

A wind carrying the rough scent of earth blew, rippling the veil draped over her head.

There was nothing to block her view.

Only the vast wilderness stretching to the horizon.

This wasteland where she had stayed for months would end today.

“Maria!”

A clear, bright voice echoed through the quiet wasteland.

“Adelstein.”

Maia turned with a faint smile. As their eyes met, Adelstein beamed.

Like a scene from a masterpiece come to life, Adelstein rode perfectly toward Maia, stopping a little distance away and expertly reining in his horse.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Dismounting and striding over, Adelstein asked Maia.

“Even if I were, Hyperion would heal me before I could feel any pain. So, don’t worry.”

Adelstein joked playfully, breathing a little heavily.

After smiling briefly at each other, Adelstein spoke, his tone slightly subdued.

“……I heard Ilarya sent a message asking you to return to the palace.”

“Ah, yes.”

The maids standing behind Maia and the soldiers who had ridden with Adelstein quietly halted.

Maia and Adelstein walked together in silence across the wasteland for a while.

“I don’t plan to go back.”

Maia spoke first.

Staring at the endless horizon, she continued in a quiet but resolute voice.

“I only accepted the princess’s status for the sake of avenging your grandfather. I’m not a real princess, and I have no intention of continuing the act they want.”

Maia stopped and looked up at Adelstein with a faint smile.

“Your influence is now so great that even the Ilarya Kingdom cannot treat you carelessly. So, it’s obvious what the kingdom wants from me.”

“……Maria.”

Adelstein whispered, his face darkening.

“Because you’re especially friendly with me, they intend to push for our marriage.”

Maia turned forward as she spoke.

“But there’s no need to follow the kingdom’s wishes anymore. If I return, they’ll only make things more troublesome…… Just as I’ve done so far, I’ll stay by your side.”

Their eyes met again.

“Always.”

A ripple passed through Adelstein’s gaze.

Maia witnessed his agitation clearly, but she kept silent.

“Understood. Then, as before, I’ll do my utmost to keep you safe.”

Adelstein quickly erased any sign of agitation and spoke brightly.

Maia smiled politely and looked forward again.

Fate was flowing smoothly.

And for her, the most important thing was not the feelings the First Emperor cautiously held for her, but returning to her original time.