Chapter 164 – Episode 163. Your Place Is Here (2)
Even if you don’t do anything, time passes, and fair time for everyone eventually becomes morning and night.
When the morning dawned again after the night passed, Asti’s face, which was only pure white, was calm like never before.
【… Anyway, it’s like a bitch.]
‘Muh, what are you trying to say?’
It was an unexpected accusation from Astrid.
It was an accusation and an insult.
【No, when I was living in the same body and was so worried, she didn’t even pretend to listen. See, His Highness said a few words, so his face just went numb.]
‘That’s not like that.’
It’s not.
It was true that he was released because of Leopold’s words.
But literally saying that it’s true is a little bit, so I’m just pretending that it’s not.
‘Still, I can’t help it. Her Highness immediately noticed the worries that I hadn’t told you or told anyone about… ‘
【Huh.】
‘Besides, he even decided that the place for me to be is here… ‘
【Would you like to look in the mirror?】
At Astrid’s words, Asti looked into the mirror opposite her.
Asti with a bleak expression is no more.
Asti, who had a cold expression, is no longer there.
The face that melted like the snow on the plains that was unraveled as soon as it was solved, and it was truly a masterpiece.
【Are you still going to insist that you are not a bitch?】
‘… Not a bitch You really don’t care about the choice of words?’
【… Joy. Anyway, it seems like I’m back, so it’s okay. He made people worry so much.]
‘Sorry. For worrying me.’
【Ahh, that’s okay. Disgusting.】
Astrid’s way of speaking was blunt, as if she was full of heartache, but then seemed to be fine.
Even so, Asti was not disappointed at all.
Even after Leopold left, Astrid and Asti had a long conversation.
Worry, worry, and worry.
In Astrid’s somewhat harsh language, her concern for Asti was full.
Astrid was so worried about Asti that even now when she thinks about it, she laughs.
– This is where I will be.
– This is where I can be myself.
– The place where there are people who remember me, that place is right here.
– I have to live here.
Asti finally accepted the reality.
Asti looked in the mirror and changed her clothes.
Today is an important day.
It was the day she set out to catch Astain, and the day her troubles came to an end.
If I were to ask if the problem had been resolved, it was not.
Her worries that Asti was doing — namely, who am I and where am I going to be? Or is it okay for me to stay here?
You do not know who you are, you are Asti von Mitterien and will soon become Asti von Einhafen.
I don’t know where to be, you just have to be by my side. It is your place by my side.
Don’t you know if it’s okay to stay here, who would say you’re not in your place when you’re by my side?
– You, stay here. Next to me
Leopold’s eyes were firm as he said that.
Leopold says that no matter what anyone says, my meaning doesn’t change, so there’s no problem as long as you’re by my side.
Whenever she recalled Leopold’s eyes, Asti felt a thrill as if electricity were going up in her chest.
Every single word became a scorching sun, melting Asti’s eyes in her heart.
It was fine now.
I didn’t have to worry about it anymore, so it was fine now.
As long as Leopold affirmed her and Asti, everything was fine.
There is nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be afraid of.
– Smart.
A knock was heard.
At this hour, when the morning is dawning, she is the only one who will come looking for her, so Asti turns around without looking into her mirror.
The sun-like smile on her face seemed to represent her feelings.
– Asti, it’s me. Can I come in?
“Yes yes!”
The door opened with a soft sound.
The chill in the hallway permeated into the room, but it felt as if sunlight was entering the room even brighter than that.
“Did you sleep well, Asti?”
My legs move without me knowing.
With her legs moving, Asti stood in front of Leopold.
Two hands clasped together.
Looking at Leopold, those eyes were shining like starlight.
“Sure. Did His Highness get a good night’s sleep too?”
“Yes, I slept well too. It looks like you slept really well.”
A smile spreads across Leopold’s face.
【… I wonder if it would be nice to change things up a bit.]
‘No.’
【Hey, it’s my body.】
It’s been quite a long time since I gave the initiative to Astrid.
As if trying to make up for that time, Asti shook her head inwardly to Astrid asking her to give up her initiative.
She didn’t want to give it back.
She wanted to feel this feeling longer and deeper.
A sense of fulfillment, stability, and comfort finally found.
She wanted to feel all this around her more and more, to the point of soaking it up.
【… If it’s dangerous, I’ll change it.]
Astrid couldn’t understand her feelings.
Still, she could understand the pleasure she was feeling now, so Astrid didn’t force her to give up her initiative.
I wanted to let you enjoy it.
“I’ll be leaving in a while.”
“I guess so. The time has come.”
“I came first to give you this.”
Leopold held out a small box.
A rather luxurious box trimmed in brown.
A small box with a lock.
“This… Something?”
“Okay. You’ll know when you open it. Then, my business is over, so I’ll see you at the parade ground later.”
Leopold patted Astrid on the shoulder lightly.
Her touch was so kind that Asti involuntarily made her face blush.
There were only four people in the parade ground.
She already knew where to go, and Asti was already looking out over the distant snowfield with Snow Flower II on her back.
“Asti.”
“Ah, Your Highness.”
“What are you looking at so intently?”
No matter how you look at it, the endless snowfield was mysterious.
Like an unexplored snowfield, the snowfield where no one’s footprints would have been left.
However, there was a lot of malice lurking in it.
From now on, wherever they are heading, such an evil favorite is lurking.
The reason is understandable, but incomprehensible malice.
Such a being is calling them.
“The gift I gave you… Oh.”
It was only then that Leopold’s gaze turned to Astrid’s wrist.
A small bracelet on her left wrist as she is right-handed.
It was a well-made bracelet with the dotted decorations shining beautifully like the patterns on the leopard’s body.
“I don’t know if you like it.”
Leopold held up Asti’s wrist.
The silver bracelet, just as thick as one knuckle, fits Asti’s wrist really well, as if it were custom-made.
“There’s no way I wouldn’t like it.”
Asti’s ears are stained red.
It seemed like he knew what this bracelet meant, even if he didn’t say it.
“It’s not a proposal bracelet, Asti.”
“Oh, wasn’t it?”
I thought it wasn’t a ring for some reason.
I didn’t know it wasn’t.
“Proposal should be done properly in a more proper place. Come to think of it, I guess I’ll have to propose twice. Wow, I got to marry a troubled young lady.”
Leopold laughed.
Asti was embarrassed.
“Now, it seems everyone has gathered.”
Leopold looked back.
Erania and Veracien.
There are only two of them.
What had been gathered had already been gathered.
“Ugh, it’s real chicken meat… “
“Come on. Is that a human proposal?”
Erana frowned arrogantly.
Berashien, who was admiring something with a round mouth saying, Oh, as if he had seen something strange.
“… Hey, don’t say useless things. If everyone is gathered, let’s start. And… “
Leopold looked towards the mansion.
The one who arrived last night was standing near the main house, looking down at them.
I couldn’t see it properly because of the backlight.
A trustworthy person who sent word from Leopold and made him come urgently.
After lightly bowing to that person, Leopold looked around at the three of them.
“Let’s return safely.”
*
Prepared meticulously.
The contract with Veracien has ended, so he can no longer draw power, but the monsters he has already summoned are overflowing.
After the summoning was completed and the master-servant relationship was established, the monsters belonged entirely to Astain, and the area around this tower densely packed with these monsters would literally become a fortress for Astain.
There, he placed dozens of traps using witchcraft.
Astain’s amulets and traps that can be triggered immediately with a gesture.
Boasting an impregnable defense like a fortress blessed by nature, this place has now become a fortress exclusively for Astain.
“Performance… “
Astein’s gaze turned to the very high mountain peak.
A wisp of black smoke was rising from the snow-capped peaks.
A signal that the prince and his party left the mansion.
Seeing the beacon, Astain stood up from her seat.
As he moves, the gazes of countless monsters follow him.
Hundreds of monsters.
Dozens of pitfalls.
Kill Leopold,
Kill Erania,
Return Beraya,
Get Astrid.
The preparations for revenge are over.
Now was the time to reap the fruits.
