Guardians of the Prince

That night, Shiz Cagna had an uncharacteristically cheerful air to it.

The prince’s sister – my niece, Princess Haluria – was officially engaged, and while the party they were holding that day to announce it was at the royal palace, the invited guests were all staying the night at Shiz Cagna.

His Majesty the King and Princess Haluria received the guests at the royal palace, and then my older sister Solamire was there to greet them at Shiz Cagna. The guests had stuffed themselves during the day and were now enjoying a banquet and drinks at Shiz Cagna. The sound of people chatting, and laughing, and clinking their glasses together filled the hall.

All the extra maids they’d hired slid between people, collecting glasses and offering drinks.

The prince was holding my sister’s hand, keeping her company as they greeted the guests, but as time went on, he was getting bored.

It’s a struggle when you’re young.

“A prince’s problems start young, don’t they,” Kohme muttered, looking at the clock. She must have been thinking the same thing I was. And it seemed the prince’s bedtime was a little ways off.

Glasses in hand, Kohme and I went to stand on the terrace, which was open to the garden.

Naturally, she wasn’t wearing her apron today, she had on a simple, knee-length dress. The glossy blue suited her perfectly.

“He’ll probably be dragged out for all kinds of ceremonial occasions in the future too,” I said, admiring Kohme’s appearance. She nodded with a wry smile, and then suddenly looked at me.

“Um, Mr Fatido, not to change the subject, but… When someone here dies, what do they say happens?”

“They’re reborn at Gaduos’s side,” I replied. “Where that is, no one really knows, but…”

Kohme nodded, her gaze turning back to the prince again. “Is that so… Some people in my world think like that too.”

I felt like Kohme wasn’t looking at the prince so much as another place in another world, so I made a suggestion. “Shall we head out into the garden?”

A number of guests were enjoying a stroll in the elegantly lit lawn.

Guards melted casually into the shadows of trees and buildings. Kahzam must have been there somewhere too, but he’d be too busy with work tonight to come over.

And the prince’s tutor and physician Lahzt was unnecessary in a place like this.

Heheheh.

“Are you laughing at something?” Kohme said, looking at me and tilting her head a bit.

“Oh, no. Oh, you were looking at me though, huh. Is there something on your mind?” I asked her back, and sat her down on a bench that had a view of the hall, and then took my own seat next to her.

“Talk to me, Kohme,” I said, looking to spoil her, and Kohme hurriedly averted her gaze as she answered.

“Just, I was just wondering, if I died, you know, where would I be reborn? In this world, or in my original world? Gaduos already gave me a name, so I guess it’ll probably be here, huh…”

Was that what she’d been thinking about?

I started to open my mouth, and scooted closer to Kohme, when she suddenly stood up.

“Oh, no no no, you were about to say something very romantic right now, weren’t you, Mr Fatido? Dangerous, very dangerous…”

What was dangerous?

I didn’t care, I grabbed Kohme’s left hand and turned her towards me.

“I can’t imagine Gaduos or the god of your world would pull a parent and child apart in the afterlife.”

Kohme’s eyes went a bit wider.

“Somehow, you always seem to know what I’m thinking.”

“Of course I can figure out that much. You want to be reborn at Nanao’s side, don’t you?”

Kohme nodded meekly, and flopped down on the bench beside me.

“I’ll be there by your side in the next world, whichever world it is, so give birth to Nanao then please, as my child.”

“Woah, there it is.”

There was what?

“Although I’d like you to eventually give birth to some cousins for the prince first, in this world.”

“Wha–! Stop, stop, this conversation is getting way off track.”

Kohme stood up again and tried to run away. This time I stood up too and chased after her. “It’s not getting off track, it’s nice to think about, isn’t it? The prince’s cousins?”

“I– What would happen if I could go home, go back over there!? The poor kid!”

“Wait, is that a possibility? I mean, if that did happen, I’d follow you, of course. Me and any children too.”

“You, Mr Fatido, in Japan!? It’d be an absolute war with my little sister.”

Kohme finally burst out laughing, and a flood of contentment washed over me. Ah, I got to see Kohme laugh today too…