Chapter 128 – Episode 127. My Beloved Is Also You (1)
“It’s not a very good idea to start right away, Astrid.”
Leopold said, paying attention to the title.
If you say Asti, a fake Astrid pops out.
I should say Astrid because she’s the girl he wants to talk to right now.
“Is it because it is night?”
“Yes, isn’t it already late at night?”
In hindsight, that’s not wrong.
It was already dark outside the window, and it was almost night, and now, with only the moonlight and starlight shining down quietly, it was a time of peaceful rest.
“There are many restrictions at night. If you’re a soldier, don’t you know? An unreasonable advance that only puts my personality first will bring more anger.”
Astrid wouldn’t be able to eat even the seeds of something dangerous or something like that, even if she tried to put an abstract restraint on something that hadn’t happened yet.
Leopold was well aware of that fact, so he rather tried to persuade Astrid from that point of view by putting forward the fact that she was a soldier —
“Okay. You are truly insightful, Your Highness. So, let’s take a break today and start tomorrow. The destination is the self-sustaining tower.”
It worked well.
Veracien, who received Astrid’s unkind gaze, smiled awkwardly as if he were cool.
‘In Paris, why can’t I reach this guy?’
Since he has already been reverse-summoned to the demon realm, Paris will not even hear Veracien’s call, let alone answer.
Now, there is no way to do anything other than demolish the self-sustaining tower.
“OK got it.”
“Then let’s do what’s decided, and I’ll accompany you tomorrow. Hey, Ashley.”
“… Yes?!”
Eranya, who let out a long yawn, suddenly called out to Ashley.
He asked if I had ever told that elf his name, but it was literally a short question, and Ashley stared blankly at Eranya, who was smirking at him.
“Violet wants to say hello. They said they were waiting until their throat fell off.”
“Is that so?”
“I think you will definitely have to come to the academy next year. Otherwise, Violet is on the verge of dropping out?”
“That… How far?”
Ashley’s face was a little red, but a smile bloomed on that red face, as if he was not in a bad mood.
She has no reason to feel bad about the fact that a beautiful woman the size of Violet is waiting for her, so she feels very good as Ashley.
“Okay then. I’ll choose an appropriately spare room and go to bed. Hey, demons. Get out of here quickly, too.”
“Why why?”
Veracien, who was about to sit down in her chair next to her with her excited expression, this time Eranha’s hand grabbed her by the back of the back and started dragging her.
With an expression full of regret and pity on what he was trying to do, Veracien reached out his hand and tried to say something to Leopold and Astrid, but—
“Hey, don’t interrupt. What kind of demons don’t notice, really. Ah, Ashley. Come out soon too.”
“Yes, yes!”
“You’re still a man with a flurry.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
At some point, only Astrid and Leopold were left in the room.
Until now, several people had been together in this room, but now that there are only two of them, the awkwardness is indescribable.
“Ash… —Lead.”
“Yes yes?! Majesty… ?”
Astrid sat on her bed, and Leopold sat on her chair as if facing her.
The air between the two of them was extremely heavy and dark, and to a stranger it gave the impression that they were sitting facing each other.
And as if to evoke such an atmosphere, Leopold called Astrid, and Astrid also responded in shock.
“So far… You must have suffered a lot.”
“There was nothing to call it hardship.”
“It must be quite a pain not to be able to control my body the way I want. Wasn’t it hard I’m sure you’re afraid I’ll worry you, but don’t.”
Astrid gave a faint smile.
Leopold cares about her, that her soft voice.
It was the voice I often heard when talking to the fake Astrid.
I was jealous, worried about why he would say such soft and caring things to me, and was also upset, but at this moment, those worries and upsets were nothing.
“Astrid.”
“Yes yes… Majesty.”
Even to Leopold, Astrid’s smile was quite nice to see.
Her disk was so pretty, and her beauty was hard to find even in the Empire, so she didn’t even have to tell me how wonderful the smile that bloomed on her face was.
However, her smile soon faded away.
Her smile fades, and she returns to her normal, expressionless expression, just like her.
That was a pity for Leopold.
Her smile, blooming like a flower, was a perfect match for her, but it is a pity that it will soon wither like her flower.
“Astrid.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“… How about smiling a little more?”
Asti and Astrid.
Two souls dwelling in one body.
Even if it was a coincidence that the souls of these two dwelled in one body, Leopold thought that there must be a reason for why it was Astrid’s body.
If so, maybe there is something in common?
I can’t imagine that the two personalities would be so different.
“Ooh, try smiling… Even if you suddenly say that.”
Isn’t it similar to being so shy?
“Because you are the prettiest when you smile.”
“But… Majesty.”
At Leopold’s words, Astrid thought.
You’re the prettiest when you smile
But as a child, Leopold liked Astrid’s expressionless expression.
Because Leopold had said that her expressionless appearance, her cold and unfeeling face, suited Astrid the most.
That’s why I killed my feelings.
Even if something funny happened, she endured it, even if something upset her, she endured it, and even if something sad or happy happened, she tried hard to remain expressionless.
“To me, an expressionless face is the prettiest… You did… “
“Isn’t that when you were young?”
Leopold couldn’t remember.
Did he ever say anything like that?
But I can’t think of anything.
“Right now, I think you look the prettiest when you smile.”
“Is that so?”
It is a look that has been maintained for over 10 years.
You won’t be able to change this look anytime soon.
“It’s okay, Astrid. But… Aren’t you tired?”
“Since you’ve slept so far, wouldn’t it be weird if you were tired?”
“So is he.”
I get a laugh.
Leopold stood up from his chair and slowly approached Astrid.
At this moment, she was looking directly at Astrid, not Asti.
She has not forgotten Asti, but the owner of this body is definitely Astrid.
Asti is Asti, and the target he should focus on now is Astrid.
That’s what Leopold thought.
“Astrid.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Astrid moved away from Leopold, who was sitting next to me, in case he felt uncomfortable.
Looking at Astrid like that, it was clear that she wasn’t just an inconsiderate monster.
“If you think about when did we become so antagonistic.”
– What happened 10 years ago?
It sounds like someone’s voice is being heard.
“That thing from 10 years ago, maybe because of that.”
“… All of that has been forgotten.”
“Yes, it must have been. Before that, when I came to your room to play, I often played with you. Come to think of it.”
There was something that just came to mind.
Leopold stood up from his seat and approached the bookshelves behind Astrid’s desk.
– Your Highness, there is a secret base in my room!
– A secret base?
– Yes! There is such a secret base that only my father and I know about!
The very secret base that little Astrid had been excitedly talking about.
– Look at this! If you pull this book like this… !
“Was it this book?”
“Me, Your Highness! Do you still remember that… !”
Astrid, who was sitting on the bed, was startled, and Leopold pulled out a book from the bookshelf faster than he tried to stop Leopold.
Then, with a heavy noise, the wall where the bookshelf was located began to crack open on both sides.
“Oh, that was correct.”
“Majesty… I didn’t know you would still remember that… “
Unlike Astrid, who had a frustrated expression, Leopold had a rather genuinely happy expression on his face.
It was a secret base, but it was just a small space behind the study.
The only people who knew that space were Astrid and Wolfgang, but now Leopold knows too.
“Didn’t you two come in and play together? I can’t forget either It’s been a long time, while I’m running out of time. Would you like to go in with me, Astrid?”
“… Yes, if Your Highness wishes.”
Leopold came back to the bed and held out his hand.
Astrid stood up from the bed, holding Leopold’s hand in front of her, and Leopold smiled brightly again.
“It’s like going back to those days. Shall we go inside and share some of the unfinished stories? You and I will have something to say to each other.”
Astrid didn’t answer.
I just silently nod my head.
