I Became the Narrow-Eyed Character in the Little Prince Game-Chapter 156: 18100428 (3)

"Thank you."

"......."

"Because everything you’ve done for me... was my salvation."

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Thin lines traced across her pale skin, soaking into the pillow beneath her.

Drops of morning dew touched the boy’s palm as well.

She bit her lip and murmured.

"I’m happy... and that’s why I’m afraid."

A rose blooming under the night sky was fragile.

As if waiting for an answer, her damp eyes reflected nothing but his golden hair.

"What if this is all just a dream?"

"Your Highness..."

Elize was afraid.

Afraid that when she fell asleep tonight, nothing would remain.

That this sweet reality would shatter into fragments, lost in a dream—

That she would wake up again, alone, in a dark room.

That Yuda would no longer be by her side.

"......."

A loneliness more vivid than anything else.

The boy hesitated for a moment before whispering to the fragile flower in his arms.

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If everything you’ve seen... is nothing more than a dream—

"Then I will protect your dream."

So that you never wake from it.

So that your paradise lasts forever.

"I will remain in your night."

A quiet voice.

Words that, in some ways, held more tenderness than anything else.

And those words soaked into the heart of the Rose.

The Snake wiped away her tears and spoke.

"Did I not tell you? That I would make sure you were happy."

"Pft... Yeah. You always said that."

Elize let out a small laugh.

A smile bloomed through the tears, soft and fleeting, like a morning forget-me-not.

Still damp with dew.

—Of course.

—Because I wanted you to be happy.

—Because you deserve a happy ending.

She remembered the promise.

The savior who had entered her life.

The one who reassured her that he would never leave.

Her lips moved, forming the realization that had settled within her.

"Because of you... I came to love this world."

A world she had once only resented.

A life she had only viewed through the lens of hatred and despair—he had overturned it all.

He was everything that had given her a reason to live.

A world without him was unimaginable now.

Elize let herself sink deeper into that feeling.

Slowly, she sat up from where she had been lying.

"So."

"Your Highness...?"

The distance between them shrank.

The warmth of his body, the faint scent of his skin, the low timbre of his voice—

They grew clearer with every inch she moved closer.

They had been in close contact countless times during her treatments, but—

It was the first time she had reached out to him like this.

With a fleeting thought, the Rose wrapped her arms around the boy’s shoulders.

And, of course—

She did not stop there.

"Chuu."

Her lips brushed against his nape.

A featherlight touch, there and gone in an instant.

And yet, that instant stretched into eternity.

The heat of it made her cheeks burn.

The warmth of his body, the scent lingering near her nose, the feeling of his skin beneath her lips—

Her mind went completely blank.

Her heart pounded violently, on the verge of bursting.

Her cheeks, as red as her own hair, burned hot.

Drip—.

A single tear fell onto Yuda’s neck.

Even that sight—she did not want to let go of it.

Slowly, carefully, the Rose pulled away.

Their gazes met.

"Yuda."

She knew now.

The name of the emotion that made her feel this dizzy, this happy.

And she had learned it from none other than the boy before her.

"Someday, I have something I want to tell you."

"...What is it?"

"It’s still a secret."

But.

She couldn’t say it yet.

Because I still don’t know you.

Yuda kept many things hidden.

He was not someone who revealed himself to others.

She did not even know what kind of past he carried.

And so—she had no desire to rush forward with selfish emotions that might only confuse him.

She would take her time.

—Do you know what taming is?

—It is the word that describes the bond between people.

Yes.

Just like the story he had once told her.

Slowly, carefully—

She would tame him.

She would build something real between them.

‘I... have come to love you.’

The freshness of spring filled the petals of the Rose.

A faint smile played at her lips.

Swallowing her words, she leaned against his shoulder once more.

Just like before, she pressed her lips to his nape.

This time—her lips parted ever so slightly.

"Chu."

This time, she lingered a little longer.

At most, it was only a minute.

Warm saliva.

A sweet tremor spread from the tip of her tongue.

A faint bite mark remained on his skin, along with a reddish trace that seemed to hint at something more.

As she pulled away from the boy, Elize traced her lips, as if savoring the warmth she had just stolen.

Then, she whispered into his ear.

"I will always be by your side."

Just as you have been for me.

Because—

"My life... belongs to you."

The bed was drenched in the quiet of dawn.

Entangled with each other, the boy and the girl waited for the starlight outside the window to fade.

That night, so unbearably beautiful, would remain in the Rose’s memory forever.

Along with the mark she had left on his neck.

***

A night just before dawn.

Once I had confirmed that Elize was deeply asleep, I finally stepped out of the bedroom.

The cloudless sky was filled only with stars.

The early morning air was pleasantly cool, so I wandered toward the nearby garden.

A casual stroll seemed like a good idea.

"......."

Step, step—.

The grass swayed beneath my steps.

Just weeks ago, this garden had been buried under snow. Now, it had become a cradle of budding life.

With just a deep inhale, the rich scent of soil and the breath of a changing /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ season filled my lungs.

Spring was coming.

A small chuckle escaped me at the childish sentiment.

"Hah."

As I reveled in the rare moment of peace, my hand absentmindedly drifted to my neck.

Where Elize had left a mark.

"I really didn’t expect things to turn out this way."

I had assumed that if anyone were to leave a mark, it would be me.

Not that the Rose would be the first to bite.

Running my fingers over the faint red imprint, I muttered.

There’s been a lot...

Especially today.

She had been through too much emotionally.

It was understandable for her to act a little spoiled.

"Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter."

A breeze swept through, tousling my hair.

Beneath the rain of stars, I stood alone.

Times like these always made me introspective, lost in my own thoughts.

Tonight, my mind replayed a particular scene.

From just a few hours ago.

—Charlotte. Elize.

—May I... hold you for a moment?

—Thank you... for growing up so well. And I’m sorry... for not being there for you...

A conclusion that transcended tragedy.

A beautiful moment that existed only because we had not given up.

It was the perfect climax for this episode.

But if there was one thing that left a bitter aftertaste—

It was the fact that I didn’t shed a single tear.

I could feel it.

My heart had ached unbearably.

My mind had been flooded with memories, my emotions had surged like a violent tide.

And yet, my eyes had remained dry.

Had my feelings dulled?

Had I become desensitized to sadness?

Or...

...No.

I shook off the unnecessary thoughts.

Dwelling on them wouldn’t change anything.

For now, I was simply relieved that things had gone well.

And I was proud of the children who had stepped beyond the script.

I stopped beneath the star-filled sky.

"Hah..."

A nausea churned in my stomach.

A delayed backlash from overexerting my life force.

I had felt fine while lying down, but the moment I moved, the effects hit me immediately.

With shaky legs, I crouched down.

Then, I held my breath and coughed.

"Kuh...!"

Blood splattered onto the grass.

A light hemoptysis.

A lingering internal wound from the process of breaking the curse.

Normally, I would have healed long ago, but with my life force already at its limit, my recovery was slow.

I would need to keep drinking potions for a while.

At most, I had a week to return to full strength.

There were too many things coming up.

"Haa... haa..."

My breath came rough and unsteady.

Only after expelling all the blood did my body finally settle.

With a flick of my wrist, I cleaned the traces from my sleeve and mouth with a simple illusion.

At least no one saw that.

That was a small relief.

If anyone else had been around, they would have thrown me into a wheelchair like last time.

I sighed in quiet relief.

Step—.

Just as I finished cleaning up and was about to rise—

A presence stirred behind me.

Mocking my complacency.

"Yuda."

A familiar voice.

I instinctively froze before answering.

"Your Highness...?"

Charlotte.

When I turned around, the platinum-haired girl was standing there, watching me.

She must have approached in the brief moment my guard was down.

"Are you sick again...?"

"Ah."

Her sorrowful blue eyes.

Her gaze was fixed on the sleeve that had been stained with blood just moments ago.

"......."

I had no choice but to remain silent.

Though inwardly, I muttered in frustration.

Of all times... why did she have to show up now?