The Prince Who Saved Me
I’m a strange person.
Sien took a deep breath and glanced sideways at Rain, who was resting with his head lowered. Even though his face barely showed any emotion, every single thought he had was completely obvious through his actions. The occasional glances he stole revealed that he thought she was incredibly pretty. The way his leg kept bouncing showed he was angry. The way he scratched his head and looked the other way made it clear he felt awkward. And right now, the anxious tapping of his index finger against his thigh screamed that he felt like he had to do something.
…Why did he save me?
It didn’t make sense. If he was this uncomfortable around her, why on earth had he pulled her out of that place? He wasn’t the kind of prince who would save someone like her. Sien shook her head.
The prince who reached out to the lonely princess living through a cold winter, promising to stay with her forever in a warm spring. For a brief moment, when he had extended his hand to her, Sien had thought he really was like a prince. But princes didn’t exist in this world. To a princess, a prince was practically a savior. She wasn’t a princess, but even if she were… her winter was an eternal frozen world where no one could set foot, and no one could survive.
She didn’t expect anything. She didn’t wish for anything. It didn’t make sense in the first place.
…There’s no way anyone would ever like someone like me.
She was broken. Insane. Twisted. It was ridiculous to believe that someone would appear who could love her like that, who would gently promise to stay with her forever. That was something that couldn’t happen, not even in a fairy tale.
So it would be better if he just left her alone now. She had been happy for a little while, like a princess who had met her prince. She wished he would stop her from dreaming again.
…Still, just once, she wished someone who loved her would appear———.
She made the small wish. She prayed while holding her breath. She swore she wouldn’t hope anymore, that she would collapse under cold reality and get hurt, that she would never dream again. That was how she had endured her fifteen years. Sien had been endlessly wandering, waiting for someone she didn’t even know…
“Thank you. For trusting me.”
She had met someone who reached out to her when she felt she had nowhere to return to.
“Thanks to you, I managed to escape properly.”
“My name is Rain. I’m in the Magic Department, fifteen years old. Same first-year as you.”
The voice that spoke to her with a gentle smile felt like it was comforting her as she wandered lost in the darkness. Like it was embracing her wounds and telling her she didn’t have to hurt anymore.
“I know. The fact that I’m even talking to you like this could be a huge source of stress for you. If I hadn’t stepped in, they probably would’ve backed off after hitting you a few more times. But because I stopped them, there’s a chance those guys might beat you even harder tomorrow.”
It made her dream. It made her heart flutter without permission. He was so kind that she couldn’t understand anything at all.
“Even if you resent me, I can’t deny that feeling. Because this isn’t what you wanted.”
“That’s right. What kind of irresponsible rescue is this? You never once asked me to save you.”
Her chest hurt. It hurt, but it didn’t hurt. It felt suffocating. Yet it didn’t feel difficult.
“But I’m a bit of a selfish person. I have to do what I need to do, and I have to take what I want… I’m pretty self-centered.”
“So I’ll make a selfish vow.”
What was this feeling? How could she even describe it? Were there even words that could express this moment?
“I’ll make you a happy person. Until the day you say with your own mouth that you’re happy.”
“Until then, I’ll be on your side and yours alone.”
An emotion she had never learned. A feeling she had never experienced. But it was definitely the day she had always dreamed of.
“…Are you thirsty from all that running? I’ll go to the vending machine and get you a drink real quick. Would orange juice be okay?”
“I’ll be right back.”
So she didn’t need anyone’s orders or teachings anymore. Because now, at last, she felt like she finally understood what warmth was.
“……Please don’t go.”
She made the small wish. She prayed while holding her breath. She swore she wouldn’t hope anymore, that she would collapse under cold reality and get hurt, that she would never dream again. That was how she had endured her fifteen years. Sien had been endlessly wandering, waiting for someone she didn’t even know…
She had met someone who reached out to her when she felt she had nowhere to return to.
———Let’s go back. To spring.
Your smile and the hand you offered me seemed to tell me exactly that.
“…Please. Please, please don’t go…”
Tears fell.
— You made things difficult for me.
“Is it good?”
“……Yes.”
With her shoulders slumped as far as they could go, Sien sipped her drink and cursed her own pathetic self.
I’m such an idiot…
She should have just said thank you, but instead she had thrown a tantrum, begging him not to leave, and burst into tears.
…She was so embarrassed she wanted to die.
“I’m sorry for being an eyesore…!!”
“…No, that’s not what I meant.”
Rain waved his hands awkwardly with a smile. Even that gesture felt so kind that Sien had no choice but to turn her head away. She didn’t know what kind of expression she was making, but she was sure it was something incredibly weird.
I’ve never been like this before…
Just as she was thinking about fixing her strange expression and facing him properly—
“Can I ask your name?”
She froze.
“…W-why my name?”
Allensia. It was the family she had been born and raised in, but she knew very well how infamous the name Allensia was. Emotionless savages. That was what northerners were called, and the Allensias were the most dangerous and merciless among those emotionless savages. A race everyone hated. And among them, the ones hated the most. The only reason such an environment existed was because of the overwhelming power the Allensias possessed.
…I don’t want to be hated.
Sien flinched and glanced at Rain, trying to read his expression.
“Isn’t it okay to at least tell me that much? After all, like you said, I’m not going anywhere and I’m staying right here.”
“I’m sorry for asking something like that when someone like me———”
“I was happy you said that.”
“……Huh?”
“You mustered up courage. You told me how you wanted to be with me.”
“……”
“Thank you. For holding onto me.”
At Rain’s words, spoken with a soft smile and genuine gratitude, Sien’s heart tightened once again.
“Can you tell me your name?”
When he spoke in that voice, it made her want to act spoiled.
“…Sien.”
With a trembling heart, she told him her name.
“Sien Allensia.”
“Allensia?”
He looked quite surprised. His usually gentle expression hardened just a little. It was a natural reaction. But knowing that didn’t stop the stinging pain she felt.
…She hated herself for getting hurt over something like this. What exactly had she been expecting?
“…You must hate me, right?”
Sien lowered her head in apology.
“…I’m sorry.”
She had received help. She knew she shouldn’t want anything more, yet she kept being greedy. You are the prince who saves princesses.
———In contrast, I am nothing like a princess.
Just like her youngest older brother had said, she was a failure. Just like her twin older sisters had said, she was worthless. Just like her eldest brother had said, she was the family’s only stain. Just like her mother had said, she was a shameful existence that wouldn’t matter if she disappeared right now. Just like her father had said, she was a pathetic bitch who only needed to follow orders.
I am not a princess who deserves to wish for a prince.
So she had to push him away now, but…
“Sien. Can you look into my eyes?”
“Your eyes…?”
Just once. Even if it was only once, she had wanted to see his face properly. Thinking that much greed was allowed, she carefully looked into his eyes.
“……”
Black hair and blue eyes, different from hers. His hair looked soft and glossy, and his eyes were clear and pure. His snow-white skin and flawless, perfectly shaped face were so beautiful that he almost looked like a girl.
“Thank you.”
He smiled at her with that face.
She couldn’t think of anything. The moment was so dazzling that Sien fell into a dreamy haze, wondering if this was all just a dream.
“Then let’s start by clearing up the misunderstanding Sein seems to have.”
“Misunderstanding…?”
“I don’t hate you.”
“……?”
“I don’t hate you.”
“…Huh?”
Rain made a big X with both arms and emphasized it twice, strongly. It was a simple thing to say. An easy sentence to understand. The moment she accepted what she hadn’t understood because she had been lost in a daze, Sien’s eyes widened.
It was obvious to anyone that she was shocked. For a northerner like her, it was the biggest reaction of her entire life.
“Think about it. If I hated you, I wouldn’t have escaped with you back there. I wouldn’t have said I’d make you happy. And I definitely wouldn’t have bought you grape juice. I wouldn’t have bought grape juice either.”
He was right. What kind of person would save someone they hated and promise to make them happy———
I’m so embarrassed…
How could he say something like that so casually? Feeling her face heat up, Sien subtly hid both cheeks behind her hair. But because she couldn’t give up looking at his eyes, her gaze followed him as he threw away the can. Sien’s violet eyes sparkled like amethysts.
“Anyway. You understand now that I don’t hate you, right?”
“……W-well, that’s…”
“Pfft. It’s okay. Just the fact that you worried about whether I might not hate you means a lot to me.”
…This is unfair.
It was a foul. Asking her to feel nothing after seeing that smile was impossible.
“I had fun talking with you today.”
You looked at my face so intently.
“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to talk like this again next time. Is that alright?”
Your kind voice makes me dream. Your gentle smile makes me hope. Your soft vow makes me breathe.
“…Will you really talk with someone like me again?”
“Answering a question with a question—I’ll take that as you agreeing from now on.”
This moment she had dreamed of her entire life. But the pounding of her heart proved it wasn’t a dream.
“Let’s meet again, Sien.”
For the first time in her life, Sien smiled brightly.
———You were my prince.