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The maid-in-training girl, who had previously been called Riche, came running, flinging the front door open. She ran into the range of the eagle’s wings and was startled by the wings she almost collided with, letting out a scream and falling on her backside. I hastily removed the restraints and landed on the ground.

“Where’s Carol!?” (Yuri)

“She… she hasn’t woken up since this morning… they said she’s critical…” (Riche)

The girl said, almost in tears.

‘What Tillet had said was true.’

I couldn’t bear it and dashed through the open front door, running straight up to the second floor. I burst through the door to Carol’s room.

“Carol!” (Yuri)

I called her name as I looked at the bed. There was Carol, dressed in her hospital gown, leaning against a large cushion, smiling at me. Far from being in a coma, she was wide awake.

“Ha… what’s this…” (Yuri)

‘Not only alive, but she’s awake. I had imagined the worst-case scenario. But she is fine. What the hell, they made it sound so serious.’

“Milord.” (Head Maid)

The head maid, who was standing by, approached me.

“She woke up when she heard you were coming. Please, spend time together.” (Head Maid)

With those words, the head maid briefly placed her hand on my shoulder and then left the room. I walked to the round stool next to the bed and sat down.

“Good grief…” (Yuri)

“Yuri.” (Carol)

“Seriously, such an exaggeration. Damn Tillet.” (Yuri)

“Yuri.” (Carol)

Carol, with her pale and emaciated face, smiled proudly while rocking something in her arms. She was holding what appeared to be a bundle wrapped in cloth on her stomach, with something flesh-colored visible from within.

“What is that…?” (Yuri)

“How about it? I did it.” (Carol)

Looking at her stomach, the previously swollen area was now flat and back to normal.

“You gave birth. That’s amazing. You did well.” (Yuri)

So, she managed to give birth.

“Aren’t you happy…?” (Carol)

Carol looked anxious.

“No, I’m happy. But to be honest, I’m more relieved that you’re alive.” (Yuri)

‘Oh, saying I thought she might have died might not be the best thing to say.’

“Tillet came and told me to come back because you were dying. I’m relieved to see you looking well…” (Yuri)

‘Well, if she managed to give birth safely, she should be on the road to recovery now. The baby seems to be sleeping. It’s good that the child was born alive.’

“…So, did you win the battle?” (Carol)

“Of course, we won. A great victory. They should be pursuing the remaining enemies right now.” (Yuri)

When I reported this, Carol murmured,

“Ah…” (Carol)

and with a sigh of relief, she seemed to sink deeper into the large cushion she was leaning on.

“I see… that’s good. That’s really good…” (Carol)

It was as if the tension she had been holding onto suddenly snapped, and she collapsed in relief.

“Did it really put you at ease? Well, at least now we can relax.” (Yuri)

“You know, it’s a girl. She’s small, but the midwife says she’ll be fine…” (Carol)

Carol looked at the baby, not so much cradling her as resting her on her stomach, with a mother’s gaze.

‘I see. Well, it’s good that she’s healthy.’

“My milk might be poisoned, so I can’t feed her. But we have a wet nurse…”  (Carol)

“I see. Well, I think it will be fine.” (Yuri)

‘If she wants to be completely sure, she can use as many wet nurses as needed.’

“With this, the country will stabilize…” (Carol)

“Once you’re better, we can have the coronation ceremony, and you can become the queen.” (Yuri)

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible…” (Carol)

“Why not? Don’t lose hope.” (Yuri)

When I said that, Carol let out a long, drawn-out sigh. It was a sigh so deep it seemed her soul might escape from her mouth.

“Hey, are you okay?” (Yuri)

I instinctively moved my chair closer.

“I’m glad… I’ve accomplished my task…” (Carol)

‘What task?’

“You haven’t accomplished anything yet. You still need to have the coronation and become queen.”  (Yuri)

“That… I’ll leave that to this child…” (Carol)

‘What?’

I noticed Carol was looking in my direction, but her gaze was slightly off, as if she wasn’t truly seeing me. It was as if she was staring at a point just past me.

“What’s going on? Hey!” (Yuri)

I stood up from my chair and grabbed Carol’s shoulders firmly. I reflexively loosened my grip. Her shoulders were astonishingly thin, as if I were holding the back of a fragile chair.

“Listen…” (Carol)

Carol’s voice was faint and sounded terribly weary.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?” (Yuri)

“…Don’t blame Lily and Shamu… I forced them…” (Carol)

She was trying to say something earnestly. It felt ominous. It was as if she considered saying this to be her final task in life. As if she were clinging to a thin thread, desperately trying to resist falling into a deep sleep.

“Stop talking. You can tell me later…” (Yuri)

As I said that, Carol placed her free hand, the one not supporting the baby, on the hand I had on her shoulder. It was a gesture as if to reassure herself of my presence.

“Please… listen to me… I have one more request…” (Carol)

Her faint voice carried a desperate tone.

“…What is it? I’ll grant you any wish.” (Yuri)

‘Anything she desires.’

“Please, be with Myaro and the other women someday… Forget about me…” (Carol)

‘…What? What is she talking about?

“You are my wife.” (Yuri)

‘Don’t suggest infidelity. What kind of request is this?’

“It’s okay… Let your heart leave me behind…” (Carol)

I didn’t understand.

“I read Myaro’s letter… I was afraid of losing you… Ah, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…” (Carol)

She started mumbling incoherently, like a confession.

‘Myaro’s letter…?’

“If I take your heart with me, I will have to apologize… Don’t forget…” (Carol)

Even though our hands were touching, I felt an inexplicable distance growing between Carol and me. Carol was slipping away somewhere. It felt as if, once the spider-thin thread snapped, Carol would go somewhere I could never reach her again.

“Hey! Don’t go—!” (Yuri)

I gripped her shoulders firmly and shook her gently.

“Ha—huff” (Carol)

At that moment, Carol took two sharp breaths. They were strong, audible breaths, unlike the faint ones she’d been taking. Her eyes suddenly focused, looking directly at me.

“Please… kiss me one last time…?” (Carol)

“Of course.” (Yuri)

I leaned in and kissed Carol on the lips. Her dry, chapped lips slipped away smoothly. Carol released the hand she had placed over mine and gently stroked my cheek.

“…I’m sorry for slapping you back then.” (Carol)

‘For a moment, I didn’t understand what she was referring to. Was it about the entrance ceremony?’

“Idiot, that was ages ago…” (Yuri)

“Haha… Ah, I’m glad I met you…” (Carol)

Carol laughed softly and then lost focus in her eyes again. Since we were so close, I could clearly see her pupils dilate.

“I’m satisfied…” (Carol)

Saying that, Carol closed her eyes, and her head drooped as if she were a puppet whose strings had been cut.

“Hey—!” (Yuri)

I pressed my fingers to her neck to check for a pulse. There was none. I placed my hand near her mouth and nose but felt no breath.

“You idiot! I won’t let you die!” (Yuri)

Startled by my shout, the baby began to cry. I quickly placed the baby on the table and laid Carol flat by removing the cushion supporting her back. I tore open her hospital gown, preparing to start CPR. But then, I saw the bandages wrapped around her abdomen.

‘Ah.’

Something clicked in my mind. A cesarean section.

‘Damn it, all of them.’

“Damn it—!” (Yuri)

There was no time to think.

“Hey! Someone, get in here!!!” (Yuri)

First, I had to get her heart pumping. I placed both hands on Carol’s chest and started performing CPR.

—

—One hour later.

“…That’s enough.” (Yuri)

I stopped before giving the next breath. The head maid performing the chest compressions also stopped. Any further attempts were pointless. I gently placed my hand on Carol’s emaciated cheek.

“You did your best… Rest well…” (Yuri)

‘Even though I knew it was meaningless, speaking to what was once Carol filled my heart with a void. What had I fought for…?’

“I leave the rest to you.” (Yuri)

Saying this to no one in particular, I started walking away.

“Yuri-sama, um—” (??)

As I stepped into the hallway, a girl showed me the baby she was holding. The baby, with golden hair and eyes like a small, inquisitive monkey, looked up at me with wide eyes. To my surprise, I felt no attachment.

“Ah—” (??)

I walked past the girl and descended the stairs, heading outside. It was already evening, with the dusk beginning to fall. Outside, Lily-senpai was waiting and spoke to me.

“…Yuri, um, that…” (Lily)

“—” (Yuri)

I didn’t feel like responding. I thought I would feel anger about Carol’s abdominal surgery, but I felt nothing. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to speak with Carol today. She must have secretly arranged the procedure, thinking it was better than risking the lives of both mother and child. But I didn’t feel like thanking her either.

“Yuri—” (Lily)

I passed by Lily-senpai. Like an animal driven by instinct, my steps naturally led me to my parents’ grave. Walking along the moonlit path, I entered the forest. I just wanted to be alone. However, I sensed someone following me.

Without exchanging a word, I reached the top of the hill where my parents’ graves were. I sat down at the base of a tree. The person who had been following me also sat down at the base of the tree right next to mine.

“—Go away.” (Yuri)

I directed my words at Shamu. I wanted to be alone.

“Because we’re family.” (Shamu)

Shamu responded in an incomprehensible manner.

“So what?” (Yuri)

“Because we’re family, I’m sitting beside you.” (Shamu)

I was about to tell her to go away again but stopped. There was a certain determination in Shamu’s words, and I didn’t think she would leave just because I told him to. I wasn’t in the mood to argue, nor did I feel like hitting her to make her leave.

So, I said nothing more, sitting at the base of the tree and gazing at the graves illuminated by the moonlight against the backdrop of the starry sky. In the distance, the dim light of fires burned inside the houses, as if nothing had happened.

It was quiet.

Occasionally, the call of an owl could be heard. In this area, any animals that posed a threat to humans had long been hunted down.

‘At the battlefield of Sibyaku, countless corpses still lay abandoned. Where was Carol’s soul now?’

Shamu sat next to me without moving, without uttering a single word. I continued to stare at the graves. Shamu simply sat there beside me.