Chapter 124: A World Ten Years Later
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: A World Ten Years Later
The man’s skin was as white as snow. His hair was just as white. Neatly trimmed white locks half-covered his forehead, appearing almost translucent where the sunlight streamed through the window.
How can a man be as beautiful as an elf? I forgot the situation for a moment and simply stared at his face in a daze.
‘Is he an angel? Did I die and go to heaven?’
I was even having such stupid thoughts. I found myself stealing a glance at his back, but unfortunately, there were no wings to be seen.
[Maaaaasteeeeer!]
“Ugh!”
Right then, something massive leaped onto the bed and crushed me, accompanied by a voice so loud it made my head ring.
Flustered, I groaned and tried to push the giant ball of red fur away. At that, the yapping in my head grew even noisier.
[Master! You’ve finally opened your eyes! Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited?]
[Waaaaah, Master!]
“Uh, yeah.”
The one who had pounced on me was Desmond, currently inhabiting the body of a Direwolf, and Bibi, who was still a pink rabbit doll. Bibi had already scrambled up onto my shoulder.
‘Sorry, sorry. Did you wait that long?’
[I did, truly! I knew we shouldn't have used that kind of sorcery!]
‘You were the one who told me to use it in the first place.’
I let out a small laugh and stroked Desmond’s fur. I also gave Bibi’s nose a little tap with my index finger.
Looking at them now, it was clear that my hands and body had grown significantly. I really wanted to check a mirror to confirm.
“Ah.”
“……”
Despite the chaos I was making with the demons, the beautiful man didn't move an inch. I looked at him awkwardly.
‘Wait?’
Then, I noticed something strange. I had been asleep long enough for my body to grow. That meant others must have grown during that time as well. If this was the Imperial Palace, there shouldn't be anyone by my side whom I didn't recognize.
Moreover, he had snow-white hair and pale grey eyes. As far as I knew, there was only one person with that appearance. And the more I looked, the more familiar he seemed.
With a sense of "could it be?", I looked at the man and asked.
“Niel?”
The man’s eyes grew slightly misty as he gazed at me. He finally spoke.
“Dia.”
“Ah, it is you, Niel. Haha, I almost didn't recognize you.”
I laughed awkwardly. My own voice, coming from a grown body, felt unfamiliar enough, but having this stranger turn out to be Nathaniel made me even more flustered.
‘Just how many years have passed? To think he’s grown this much... it’s so sudden.’
My heart thudded. Even as a child, Nathaniel had been very pretty, but he was still just a child back then.
Because he had looked like a small, beautiful Western doll, I hadn't felt much of an impression. But seeing Nathaniel now, having shot up in height and become a fully-grown man, was incredibly overwhelming.
‘Right, it’s just because it’s awkward. I’m just startled because he changed so suddenly!’
I don't know why, but I had to repeat that to myself several times before I could finally face him properly.
“I kept waiting. Until you woke up.”
“I see. You must have worried a lot.”
“Dia…”
“Gasp.”
Soon, tears began to fall from Nathaniel’s eyes. I gasped, even more startled than before.
‘W-why is he holding my hand?’
I looked down in a panic. One of my hands was being held tightly by Nathaniel. I hadn't realized it in the confusion, but it seemed he had been holding it since before I woke up.
I felt a warm energy radiating from our joined hands. Nathaniel’s power was divine power, but perhaps because he had contracted with the demon Ilnes, it didn't harm me.
‘Nathaniel was using his divine power to give me strength.’
The Archdemon had said I was merely asleep, but it’s still a problem for a person to do nothing but sleep. If you stay still for too long, you never know what kind of illness might take hold. It seemed Nathaniel had been constantly channeling divine power into me to keep the energy circulating through my body.
“Thank you, Niel.”
“……”
“Don’t worry anymore. I’m really okay.”
Unlike when I was a child, I spoke with clear pronunciation and gave him a bright smile. Then, I reached out with my other hand and wiped away the tears rolling down his cheek.
“Lord Nathaniel, are you finished?”
“…!”
Someone spoke as they entered the room. I pricked up my ears at the familiar voice.
“Oh my.”
The person who entered was Sophia. My nanny, Sophia. Perhaps because of the passing time, her appearance looked a bit different too. Her hair used to be longer.
“Ah.”
Blinking blankly, I hurriedly pulled my hand away from Nathaniel’s cheek. It was a situation that could easily be misunderstood.
“Little Lady!”
“N-Nanny.”
However, Sophia burst into tears and rushed toward me. Surprisingly, she did exactly what Nathaniel and Desmond had done.
“Little Lady, you’ve really woken up? Truly?”
“Yes, Nanny. I’m awake.”
“Our Little Lady! Heugh, ugh.”
Sophia hugged me and sobbed. I raised my hand and patted her back.
“The Princess has awakened?”
“Princess?”
At Sophia’s loud voice, people began to gather, whispering in surprise. I smiled awkwardly as I looked at them. There were familiar faces, and some I didn't recognize.
“Quickly, inform His Majesty!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The people, laughing and crying, moved in perfect order. Sitting up, I looked around the bustling room with fascination.
“Um, you are… Reina?”
“I’m Dorothy, sniff sniff.”
“Ah, sorry. Your hair colors are similar, so I got confused.”
“Sniff, I’m so glad you’ve woken up.”
Fortunately, most of the maids were familiar. Through brief conversations, I learned that I was in the Princess’s Palace, which I was supposed to receive in the future, and that the people who had been by my side were still working as my servants.
“Sir Demia.”
“I am truly… glad you have opened your eyes.”
Demia was still protecting me as well. When I approached her as she stood there like a statue, she bowed her head, hiding her trembling hands.
Fortunately, my physical condition wasn't bad. It seemed to be thanks to Nathaniel’s constant supply of divine power. I also took a careful look at myself in the mirror.
“You said I’m fifteen now?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm.”
In the mirror, I looked a bit younger than fifteen. I heard people in the West grow up fast, but strangely, Claudia’s body wasn't like that.
Maybe my growth was slow because I had so much mana. That was the reason I almost died when I was little, after all.
Muttering to myself, I stared intently at the reflection of Claudia with her black hair falling to her waist—no, the body I had now fully accepted as ‘me.’
“Dia!”
“Your Majesty, your decorum…!”
“Ah.”
Just then, someone entered the room, frantically searching for me. I turned my head away from the mirror.
“Mom!”
“Dia…”
Mom looked at me with a face that seemed ready to crumble into tears. It was obvious she had rushed here in a hurry, but for some reason, she didn't come any closer and simply scanned my body.
“T-this isn't a dream, right? It’s really Dia, my daughter…”
“Yes, Mom. I’m awake.”
I said with a beaming smile.
Then, it suddenly occurred to me. I had spoken casually without thinking because I knew Veronica was my real mother, but our relationship now was a bit different from our past lives.
Mom was now the Empress of the Empire, and I was the Princess. So, shouldn't I use more formal speech befitting the etiquette? Besides, I wasn't a child anymore.
“Dia!”
“Ah.”
However, as if my internal conflict didn't matter at all, Mom rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace.
My eyes widened for a moment, then I smiled and hugged her back. Her warm embrace felt even cozier and better than it had in my dreams.
“I missed you, Mom.”
“Heugh, ugh.”
“I’m sorry I woke up so late.”
Mom’s shoulders shook as she cried. I rubbed her back, worried. I was afraid she might collapse if she cried too much.
“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”
“…!”
To make matters even more hectic, Dantalion made a swift appearance. I wondered what was going on.
“You’ve really woken up, our Dia.”
“Hehe.”
Dantalion also examined me from a short distance away, as if he couldn't believe it. He looked at me with eyes full of emotion, then noticed Mom crying and gave a sad smile.
“Why are you crying so much on such a happy day, Berry?”
“Sniff, but, but…”
“Now, stand up so we can see our daughter’s face more.”
Even though his own eyes were brimming with tears, Dantalion spoke quite maturely. I also nodded with a smile.
It finally felt real—I was finally back.