Chapter 169: Saving Frostbane [4] — I Will Share The Burden With You

Just thinking about this endless hell made him want to die, but that would only bring him back to the beginning.

Over and over again.

Thus, everything felt hopeless no matter how he thought about it.

The only way was forward—but did he have the courage and will to keep going forever?

“Louis?”

“…!”

Louis heard Mirai’s voice behind him. He panicked and quickly wiped his tears with his handkerchief.

“Mira… what is it?” he asked, composing himself.

“Um… w-were you crying?” Mirai looked saddened.

“…No,” Louis said. His face became expressionless.

“But you were…” Mirai sighed. “Don’t lie to me…”

“…”

Louis looked at her with his golden eyes. “Do you need something, or did you come here to mock me?”

Mirai realized he was being defensive—he likely didn’t want to open up.

But she pressed on anyway.

“I just wanted to give you some company,” she said. “I don’t want you to be lonely all by yourself. We all get sad thoughts when we’re alone, and sometimes too many sad thoughts can make us go a little crazy.”

“…Hm,” Louis sighed. He started to say something but stopped himself and remained silent. He looked away, never meeting her eyes.

“Louis… look at me,” she called.

“…Leave me alone for today, Mirai,” he said.

“Please…?” Mirai asked.

Louis sighed, annoyed, and clicked his tongue. He glared back at her.

“…”

Then his angry expression slowly softened.

Could he really stay angry with her?

Especially when she had such an adorable face, those beautiful red eyes, her long silky black-and-red hair…

Her fair skin…

“…”

He looked at the floor, feeling conflicted.

Because…

Because when he saw her, he felt like there might be hope.

This gray, decaying world suddenly gained life and color.

But that alone wasn’t right.

He thought it was wrong.

Why?

Because he didn’t want to rely on a single person for everything.

It was wrong.

Louis, as the prince, believed he had to become the pillar for everyone and everything.

This was the responsibility his mother had left him.

But was Mirai going to let him think that?

She was her own person after all—she was free to make her own decisions.

Thus…

“…?”

Louis felt a warm hand take his own. He looked at her standing beside him.

She didn’t say anything. She simply held his hand.

And rested her head on his shoulder while gazing at the city from afar.

Sometimes actions were worth more than a million words.

Mirai could have tried to speak to him in countless ways, but she lacked the skill to persuade him with words alone.

Thus, she decided to simply be there.

For him.

Feeling the warmth of her soft hand, Louis slowly felt healed—at least somewhat.

“Mirai…”

He looked back at her after a few minutes of silence.

“Hm?”

Mirai gave him a faint smile.

“I…”

Louis wanted to say it. He wanted to tell her she didn’t need to do this for eternity with him.

But… would she really let him do as he pleased?

“Don’t say it.”

“…!”

Mirai placed her finger on his lips, sealing them.

“Don’t say anything, Louis.”

“But…”

“Shhh.”

Louis raised an eyebrow. He found her attempts to quiet him oddly endearing, to say the least.

“This is not something you’re forcing upon me… This is what I want, okay?”

“…But are you sure?”

“It’s fine…”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Louis sighed and looked at the sky, thinking about all those lost—even other Mirais across the lives he had left behind.

“I don’t know if I can bear seeing you die so many times…”

“I also don’t think I can bear seeing you die either, but…”

As they held hands, they drew closer. Their hearts beat faster.

“I want to be with you anyway,” Mirai said. “Because I… I love you…”

Louis felt the world shift for a moment. The cold castle rooftop became a flower field surrounded by forests, snow-capped mountains, rivers, and lakes.

It was like back then, in that Dream World with her… Now, for some reason, whenever he was near her, he felt this way.

Like the world gained color and became warm and comfortable.

It was a bizarre feeling—for someone else to make him feel this way besides his mother.

“Mirai… I don’t really understand my heart too well,” Louis said. “There are things I cannot grasp, but… I think I might also have feelings for you. Whatever they are… I am not sure.”

“L-Louis…” Mirai blushed, smiled, and then chuckled. “Hehe…! You’re so awkward about it! So you like me? Heheh~”

“T-That’s not what I said!” Louis suddenly grew red for some reason. “W-Why do I feel so warm? Ugh, this sucks!”

“Hahah, it’s love~” Mirai teased, poking his chest with her fingers. “That warmth is love.”

“…Love? What a bizarre feeling,” Louis sighed. “I hate it.”

“Well, I like it,” Mirai smiled. “It makes me feel alive… don’t you feel alive too?”

“I…” Louis hesitated. “I… do… I do feel alive… The world somehow gains color and life when you’re here. And it’s so strange, but… it’s something I cannot stop feeling now.”

“Aw…” Mirai smiled. “That’s… the sweetest thing anyone has said to me!”

“I didn’t say it with any such intentions—I was just explaining it…!” Louis muttered, crossing his arms.

“Well~” Mirai rested her head on his chest and looked up at him as Louis—without realizing—wrapped his arms around her in a hug. “How does this make you feel then?”

“A-Ah…” Louis felt completely overwhelmed by the fuzzy sensations—having her so close, hugging her like this. “It’s… too much. My heart might explode.”

“Wanna go on a date?” Mirai asked, smiling a little teasingly. “You owe me after all…”

“Ahh… you have me right in the palm of your hands, huh?” Louis sighed. “Fine… but only once.”

“Yaay!” Mirai celebrated, hugging him even tighter and rubbing her face against his chest. “Hmm~ Louis, your perfume is always so nice!”

“You’re such a pervert!” Louis cried, feeling overwhelmed. He gently pushed her away.

“Aw, let me smell you a little more…!” she begged.

“What?! Enough…! Mirai, stop it…!” Louis muttered, growing more and more flustered.

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