Chapter 71
"Shushu. If it's alright, would you mind if I joined you?"
Diego asked, his eyes curving softly in a smile.
Being together on the terrace is the height of scandal material.
I sharply scanned for any presence beyond the balcony, then let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, there was no one around, but Diego and I were already tangled in strange rumors. Lingering alone together for long wouldn't end well.
"Of course it's an honor, but you shouldn't stay too long."
Diego nodded slightly in agreement. I parted the curtain just a bit, and he stepped out onto the moonlit balcony.
A subtle silence flowed between us as we faced each other.
"What is it?"
My voice came out rough, the anger from earlier not fully settled.
Diego, who had been gazing up at the sky, turned to look at me. His eyes drooped just a touch.
"I came to apologize."
"Pardon?"
Does Didi have any reason to apologize to me?
I was baffled by the sudden topic, but he continued.
"About that business with Young Viscount Prama earlier. I got angry seeing you treated that way and stepped in, but on second thought, it might have looked like I was disregarding you. You're someone who could handle something like that on your own, after all."
His calm voice carried a deep, unwavering trust.
Diego truly saw me as a good person.
"I'm sorry for butting in so rashly. I overstepped."
Every word was laced with sincerity. I hadn't been angry at him to begin with, but his attitude melted away any lingering frustration.
Objectively speaking, Diego's actions had been kind, not rude—and he was the crown prince, no less. Even if it had been rude, he didn't need to apologize like this.
He's the picture of a perfect leader.
That was my impression from our periodic meetings over the past few months. Polite to everyone yet fair and cool-headed, he maintained his dignity while knowing when to humble himself. A rare, upright soul.
"It's fine. You didn't need to apologize, Didi."
His deep blue eyes, rippling gently, turned to me. I gave him a bright smile.
"It was something I could handle myself, so I brushed you off—but honestly, I was really grateful you stepped in."
This was sincere. Knowing there was someone who could share my anger warmed my heart just by itself.
"I'm glad you see it that way. I was worried you might be upset with me."
Only then did Diego set aside his seriousness and sigh in relief. I stared intently as his drooping eyes curved into a soft arc, then hardened my expression.
In the original story, Diego becomes emperor... but in this twisted present where I've altered the future, can he still claim the throne?
In the original, the emperor's sudden death propelled Crown Prince Diego abruptly onto the throne. But since I planned to upend that storyline, I couldn't guarantee he'd become emperor anymore.
Right now, the crown prince and Second Prince Serenon are evenly matched.
The emperor backed Diego as crown prince, but he couldn't interfere in the succession at all. Diego had to build his power solely through his own efforts, without support from above.
The second prince, however, had help from his mother, the current Empress Tina Kypress, making it far easier for him to seize power. His position was now strong enough that even Crown Prince Diego couldn't ignore it.
They say imperial council meetings have even floated talk of replacing the crown prince... It's a precarious balance.
If I twisted the storyline in this situation, the second prince might end up emperor.
That can't happen. Serenon is smart, but... not on Didi's level.
Second Prince Serenon wasn't evil or foolish, but he wasn't comparable to Diego, the perfect emperor material. The Solatine Empire couldn't squander its chance at the greatest ruler.
It'd be great if House Crisis supported Diego...
We'd stayed utterly neutral in the succession so far, but if the mighty ducal house backed him, the throne would surely be Diego's.
Yet House Crisis had historically acted as the scale keeping power in perfect balance, maintaining absolute neutrality through long ages. Breaking that now was impossible—and speaking up after so long would even hint at favoring the emperor's faction over the temple's.
House Crisis can't declare support... but I can help.
I felt personal guilt for making his path to the throne uncertain, and above all, I wanted Diego as emperor. No one was more suited to the throne.
"Didi."
"Yes?"
He tilted his head with a warm gaze and a smile. His golden hair sparkled like sunlight under the moonlight. I put on a stern face.
"I'll definitely make you emperor."
"......What?"
"You don't need the details. Just know it."
Diego blinked blankly at my sudden declaration. Ignoring his confusion, I raised a finger and wagged it side to side, gesturing for him to etch it in his mind.
He met my resolute eyes, blinked a few more times, then burst into loud laughter.
"Alright. I trust you."
Those deep, ocean-like blue eyes held firm faith in me.
I fell silent for a moment at the trust shining toward me.
"......You trust me? Even without knowing what I'll do?"
"I don't know what you'll do. But I trust you."
The soft moonlight illuminated the space between us. A kind smile played on Diego's lips.
That smile seemed to accept everything about me, and before I knew it, words spilled from my mouth.
"......The me you trust might ruin everything."
The sentence I'd bottled up, stifling my heart, burst out. Surprised by my own words, I clapped a hand over my mouth.
For everyone's best, for the happiness of those I loved, I'd resolved to change the future using any means. Yet deep down, I still had many moments of doubt.
Was changing the future truly right? Would it really bring the best outcome? What if my efforts only worsened things? What if the people around me suffered because of me?
My interference had already flipped so much. "Fairy Night" was no longer this world's apocalypse. Things once written in text were changing, and unwritten futures would unfold.
All in my hands.
An unknown future lay before me, one that daunted even me.
Can I really do this right?
I bit my lip hard and bowed my head. Heavy burdens and endless worries crushed my shoulders.
Diego gazed steadily at me as my thoughts darkened my expression. Then his large hand firmly grasped my chin.
"You seem to forget often."
"......Pardon?"
"That even if you mess something up big time, there are plenty of people around you who'll clean it up. Including me."
I slowly lifted my bowed head. His deep blue eyes sparkled with kindness and trust—so beautiful it nearly blinded me.
Unlike my rough hands, his long, flawless fingers brushed back my hair as he smiled.
"You're the person I cherish and trust most. I wish you'd have more confidence in your own potential. You can do anything well—and if you can't? So what? We've got heaps of people to fix it. So don't be afraid."
Diego Solatine was such a kind man. His gentle voice had the power to ease worries, making me forget the weights on my shoulders and simply smile.
"......Thank you. Truly."
I was truly glad to have someone who believed in me and offered such comfort by my side. I gazed at him in the moonlight, then composed my expression seriously.
"If I'm the one you cherish and trust most, then you're my sole sovereign."
The current emperor was my father's lord, and Serenon wasn't fit. The only emperor I acknowledged for my era was Diego. Like a knight swearing fealty, I took his hand, bent at the waist, and pressed my lips to the back of it. His gaze burned on my crown.
"When you become emperor, you must build a good empire. One where no one is left out."
Having lived my life in the shadow of the Solatine Empire, I believed without doubt that kind Diego could even tend to those shadows.
"If you do that, I'll be the sword guarding that empire."
From ancient times, the temple was the all-encompassing sky. The Solatine imperial house was the sun above that sky, and House Crisis the sword protecting both sky and sun.
If Diego became the sun shining on all, I was confident I'd wield my sword for him without hesitation. It wasn't formal, but this was a pledge of loyalty.
"......Are you swearing fealty to me?"
"You could say that."
Diego's face grew serious as he brushed my lips with his thumb. After pondering deeply, he shook his head.
"I'm thrilled, but I'll have to refuse."
I blinked at the unexpected rejection. He gave a small smile at my dazed look, gently withdrew his hand from mine, and instead clasped my hand in his.
"A pledge of fealty implies a superior-subordinate relationship. It'd mean you're becoming my vassal."
"......Yes."
"I don't want that."
"?"
As I still floated question marks on my face, Diego pulled my hand, leaned down, and kissed the back of it. His silken hair tickled my skin.
"I want you by my side. Not serving me, but walking with me. Until the end of this life."
His low, sweet voice whispered temptingly. I blinked, not grasping it at first, then suddenly understood and covered my mouth with my free hand.
This means our friendship is eternal... Knowing I was as precious a friend to Didi as he was to me made my chest swell.
I beamed at Diego and nodded vigorously.
"Of course! We're friends for life!"
Diego's ears flushed red, his face expectant—then it crumbled in an instant. Like a farmer seeing a tentacle monster sprout where he planted apples or radishes.
Baffled by his expression for a moment, I thumped my chest with my fist and declared proudly.
"As your lifelong friend, I'll walk your path with you. Together to the end."
Diego stared at me, a million question marks bubbling over his face, then staggered like he'd been struck on the head and gripped the railing. He buried his face in his hands.
"Shushu, please... please, can't you think of it in a different way...?"
I tilted my head at Diego's mumble. Of course, it was something I couldn't comprehend.