♔亞緣腐宅窩♔

【Main Route Garden Gacha】

Albert

 

 

 

◆Prelude to Love◆
《Sudden Impulse》

 

（What on earth is this princess trying to achieve?）

Jily was rushing forwards as if she intended to protect him, and Albert reached out towards her.
Albert "You foolish girl. You're the princess—what do you think you can do in a situation like this?
Albert "Please, stay back."
He caught hold of her arm and quickly pushed her behind him, where she'd be safe.
Jily "But—"
Albert "You're quite unreasonable."

（If you were to get injured trying to protect me, it would be a blow to my honor.
（And besides... I don't want that to happen to you.）

Albert "What do you mean, doing this in such a conspicuous setting?"
Man "Shut up! You're the ones to blame! You're from Stein—how dare you come here?"
The man raised his sword, bringing it down in a mighty swing.

（Dammit!）

Albert drew his sword swiftly, blocking the man's blow.
Albert "So that's what this is about.
Albert "I realize our nations have a heated past, and I don't blame you for hating Stein, but—"
Albert forced the man's sword back, glaring at him.
Albert "This is not the place for a dispute between our nations."
Man "What?!"
Albert "This is a very important ceremony for the princess.
Albert "I will not allow you to interrupt it."
The fluttering confetti in the air seemed an odd contrast to the sound of sword striking sword.
Man "Prepare yourself!"
Albert "Geh—"
Albert glanced away for a moment to make sure Jily was safely out of reach of the blades.
But it was in that moment that the man's sword broke through his defenses, slashing at his arm.
Jily "Albert—!"

（I didn't stand in front of you just to make you worry about my safety.）

Albert "I was trying to hold back for the princess's sake, but it appears I've gone too easy on you."
Albert straightened his stance, staring at the man as he adjusted his grip on his sword.
Albert "Let's settle this."

＊＊＊

（Hmph.）

Albert watched as the Wysterian knights led the man away from the scene.
He sheathed his sword and turned back towards the princess, who stood there in silence.
Albert "What on earth were you thinking?"
Jily "I'm sorry?"
Albert "To just jump right into the thick of things like that—
Albert "The princess getting injured at her own ceremony would have been no laughing matter."

（I don't understand what goes through your head at all.）

He frowned at her, but then she spoke, her voice unsteady.
Jily "Albert—I'm so glad you're okay!"
Albert "What are you saying at a time like th—"

（Wait a minute—）

As he studied her, he could see that her hands were shaking.
Albert "Are you shivering?"
Jily "I've never actually seen anyone wield a sword before..."
Jily clenched her hands together, but he could see how tense she still was.
Something in his heart seemed to stir as he gazed at her.

（What is this feeling?）

Without thinking he reached out, pulling her into his arms.
Jily "Albe—"

（I want to protect you.）

He hugged her tighter against him, not sure what to make of his own thoughts.
He could clearly feel how tense she still was, yet she leaned willingly into his embrace.
Albert "You're safe now.
Albert "I will hold you until you feel calm."

（What on earth am I doing, hugging you like this?）

His heart was beating fast, and he sighed softly.

（But I don't want to let go.）

Her body felt warm against his, and it seemed to fit perfectly into his embrace.
Her trembling slowly lessened, and he could feel the tension leaving her.
But it only seemed to make his heart beat faster, and he frowned again.
Jily "Thank you."
Albert "You don't need to thank me.
Albert "This is the sort of thing anyone would do."
He heard her giggle softly, and felt her relaxing at last.
Jily "I guess so."

（One minute you're scared, the next you're laughing—you are a mercurial creature.）

He looked down at her, and their eyes met.

（What is this?）

Her face was closer than he'd expected, and his heart set off at a gallop again.

（It makes no sense.）

Albert "You seem calmer now."

（I don't understand why I'm feeling this way.）

Albert could feel his cheeks growing warm, and he hastily let go of Jily.

＊＊＊

Jily stepped up on the stage in order to calm the worried crowd.
But she paused for just a moment, glancing over in his direction.

（Just a moment ago you were trembling in my arms, but now—）

He straightened up, nodding to her, and she gave him a faint smile as she stepped forward.

（I still don't understand what you're really thinking, Princess.
（But I—）

Jily "Please, everyone! Please calm down. I realize there's been a small incident, but everything is under control now."
He sighed softly as he watched her up there, her gentle voice quickly calming the crowd.
His gaze dropped to his own hands, and he curled them into fists.

（I can still feel your warmth, here in my hands.
（And—I can't block out the sound of my heart.）

The crowd slowly quieted around him.
But it only made the pounding of his heartbeat seem louder than ever.

（I want to protect you.
（That's only natural for me, as a knight, and yet—something feels different.）

 

 

◆Love's Refrain◆
《Nothing Makes Sense》

 

It was the first day of the summit meeting being held in Wysteria.
They entered the palace, and Albert spotted Jily greeting the other guests.

（Ever since you left Stein, I thought I'd never see you again.
（And yet—）

Albert clenched his hands into fists briefly, and then stepped forward and spoke.
Albert "Good evening, Princess."
Jily turned towards him, her eyes wide and wavering with emotion.
Jily "Albert..."

（Please don't look at me like that.）

He couldn't meet Jily's gaze, and he averted his eyes.
Albert "This way, Your Majesty."
Byron "Thanks."
Jily "It has been quite a while since we last met, Your Majesty."
Byron "There's no need to be so formal. Tonight is for socializing, right?
Byron "The next few days will be busy.
Byron "I hope you'll relax for tonight, at least."
Jily "Thank you very much."
Albert "Shall we move on, Your Majesty?"

＊＊＊

The party was soon in full swing.
Albert stepped out onto the balcony, leaving the babble of cheerful voices behind him.

（Again. My heart—it aches.）

Every time he saw Jily, pain flared up inside him, and he couldn't stand it any longer.
He leaned against the railing, staring up at the night sky.
His mind wandered back to what Nico had said after Jily had left Stein.

*****
Nico "I didn't trust her at first, but she's a good princess."
Albert "What are you talking about?"
Nico "We talked about things. She told me that now that she knows what Stein is like—
Nico "She wants to be a bridge that helps link Wysteria and Stein."
Albert "The princess... said that?"
*****

（And yet—I chose to push her away.
（What should I even say to her?）

He looked down at his hands where they rested on the railing.
Jily "Albert."

（That voice—）

He turned to see Jily standing there, the gentle breeze ruffling her hair.
Albert "Ahh, yes. Princess."
Jily "Are you doing well?"
Albert "I am. Not that you need concern yourself."
Jily "I suppose you're right."
Sadness crossed her face, and she dropped her gaze away.
His heart ached again to see her look like that, and to know he'd caused it.

（Nothing I'm feeling makes any sense.
（I can't find the words, and yet I want to tell you—
（I pushed you away, and yet I want to hold you.）

The silence felt impossibly heavy, and he opened his mouth to break it.
Albert "Why didn't you tell me the truth?"
Jily "What?"
Albert "You could have just told me that you wanted our countries to get along."
Jily "You... knew?"
Albert "Nico told me.
Albert "But I would have liked to have heard it from you."
Jily "Albert—I'm so sorry."

（That's not it. I'm not trying to make you apologize.）

Frustration welled up inside him at his inability to explain how he felt, and he moved towards her.
Albert "Did you think that if you told me, I'd chase you out of the castle?
Albert "Or that I'd run and tell His Majesty, and we'd attack Wysteria?"
Jily "No! I never—"
Jily shook her head, looking confused and lost.
Albert moved closer still, until their hands were almost touching.

（There's only one thing I really want to tell you.）

Albert "Because if that's the case, then you appear to have misunderstood me.
Albert "By then, I already trusted you."
Jily "What?"
Their eyes met, and he reached up hesitantly to touch her cheek.
She felt so warm and alive, and he frowned in confusion.
Albert "I—when it comes to you, it's always like this."

（When I see you before me, my heart aches, and I freeze up.
（And then—I just find myself thinking about nothing but you.）

Albert "This whole time we've been apart, I've been unable to get you out of my head.
Albert "And today—
Albert "The moment I saw you, my heart ached so badly I couldn't stand it."
Jily "Albert—"
The words came slowly and awkwardly, but they were truer than anything he'd ever said to her.
Albert "If your reason for visiting Stein was simply to spy on us,
Albert "I cannot forgive your actions.
Albert "And yet—
Albert "I don't understand this myself. But I—"
Albert swallowed hard, pressing his lips together as he stared down at Jily.
He felt as if he'd finally figured out what he was feeling, and how to say it.
Albert "I missed you."
She was staring up at him, her eyes filled with a need that seemed to match his.

（I knew all along that I couldn't dare trust you.
（And yet in my heart, I always wanted to.
（Everything I feel seems contradictory, and I want to simply leap clear of it.）

All that seemed left in his heart was an adoration so strong that it left him shaking.

（This feeling—is this what it means to love someone?）

He leaned towards Jily, hearing only the sound of their soft breaths, seeing only the look in her eyes.

 

 

◆Finale of Fervor - Sugar◆
《Memories of Love》

 

It had been a year since the princess's tragic death.
Albert was visiting Wysteria with Byron and Nico, bringing flowers in her honor.
As they began to climb the stairs, the servants finished their bows and returned to their business.
But only a few moments later—
Leo "Careful!"
One of the maids slipped on the stairs, and Leo caught her around the waist, stopping her from falling.
Maid "Oh! Thank you!"
Leo "Be careful, now."
Maid "I will. Thank you."
Albert caught his breath as he stared at them.

（What the—）

A murky vision played in his mind, like a forgotten thought resurfacing.

*****
Albert "What are you doing here at this hour, Your Highness?"
Jily "I'm sorry. Thank you very much for stopping my fall."
*****

（What was that?）

He could feel the warmth of someone, embraced in his arms.
Albert "This scene—I feel like—I've seen it somewhere."
Albert stared at the maid as she curtseyed hastily and hurried away.

（In my vision, I called the woman "Your Highness"—as if she were a princess.
（But I've never met the princess of Wysteria.）

The more he tried to make sense of it, the more his head seemed to ache.
Another vision flashed through his mind, this one clearer than the last.

*****
Jily "When you're taking time off like this, please, relax and use the time for yourself."
Albert "What do you mean?"
Jily "When we were talking in the library last night, you told me that you're always thinking about King Byron, and Stein.
Jily "But at the very least, I think you should use times like these to relax and do your own thinking.
Jily "Like, when you're with me, or..."
*****

（What does this mean?）

Albert "I came here today for the anniversary of the princess's death, and yet—
Albert "It's strange."

（I don't understand, but—）

Albert "I feel as if... I know the princess."
He frowned at himself, and then Leo spoke softly.
Leo "Don't tell me you remembered?"

（Remembered what?）

Albert "What are you talking about?"
Nico "Al—"
Everyone gathered around him exchanged glances, until at last Byron spoke.
Byron "Al. We need to talk to you."

＊＊＊

Albert sat silently in the study, listening to Nico's explanation.
Albert "So you're saying this was my plan? To stop the fighting between our countries?
Albert "And you're honestly trying to tell me that the princess and I... fell in love?"

（As if something like that would ever happen.）

Albert "Really. I can hardly believe a word of this.
Albert "But..."
He could see her face in his mind, and sorrow jolted like a lance through his heart.

（This strangeness I'm feeling is unlike anything I've ever felt.
（And—when I envision her face, I feel a trembling in my heart that seems oddly familiar.）

Albert "I feel as if there's a part of me in the corner of my mind that I could almost remember."
Albert frowned, unable to make sense of anything going on in his head.
Nico "I know where Jily is.
Nico "What do you want to do, Al?"
Albert "Are you saying that I could meet with the princess?"
Nico nodded, and Albert looked away, feeling overwhelmed.

（I didn't expect the answer to come to me as soon as you asked, but—
（I want to see her.）

＊＊＊

Albert made his way to the location Nico had told him about.

（This place—）

He stopped and stared at the colorful flowers, all swaying in the breeze.
Suddenly his heart was racing, and he didn't know why.

（But I feel like I've seen it before.）

At that moment, someone's hat landed at his feet.
He picked it up, and stood up to see where it had come from.

（Princess...）

She was right there in front of him, staring at him in shock, her hair flowing in the breeze.
Albert's heart was racing again, singing sweetly in his ears.

（This feeling is... indescribable.）

He walked slowly towards the princess, studying her.
Albert "I thought I might know for sure if I saw you, but—in the end, I don't.
Albert "And yet—"
His arms seemed to move of their own accord, pulling the princess into an embrace.

（I feel as if I've been waiting for this moment all my life.）

Albert "Right now, in this moment—
Albert "I wish for nothing more than to stay by your side, forever."
The words seemed to come naturally, and a sudden memory struck him.

（I remember your name, Princess.
（It's Jily.）

Each memory, however small, seemed to fill him with joy.
Jily leaned into his embrace, speaking softly.
Jily "I've been waiting for you.
Jily "It's an honor to finally see you—"

（No, that's not how it should be.）

He wanted to stop her words before they became reality.
He reached up to cup her cheek with his hand, and she stared up at him.

（I feel as if I've done this so many times before.）

Albert "Let me be the one to say that."
Jily "What?"

（I want to be the one to tell you how I feel.）

Albert "I don't understand why, but—
Albert "Seeing you like this makes me happier than I've ever been in my life."
Jily's eyes filled with tears, and her voice trembled when she spoke.
Jily "I'm so happy to see you too, Albert."
Those simple words seemed to settle in his heart, filling him with surety.

（No more doubt or hesitation—I love the princess.
（I know this, deep in my heart.）

The flowers around them swayed in the breeze as their lips came together in a soft kiss...

 

 

◆Finale of Fervor - Honey◆
《His Proposal》

 

It was the day before the announcement ceremony in Wysteria.

（Why am I so nervous?）

Albert arrived at Wysteria Palace, and began to climb the stairs.

（I need to calm down.）

He was preparing to do something special for Jily that day.

（I'm just telling her how I feel. It's nothing to worry over, right?）

He'd just started to calm his nerves, when—
Jily "Albert!"

（Wha—!）

He looked up in surprise to see Jily at the top of the stairs, out of breath, her smile radiant.

（You didn't see me looking nervous, did you?
（Never mind, I just need to distract you from the topic.）

Albert continued to climb the stairs, frowning a little at her.
Albert "Why are you looking so surprised?
Albert "With the ceremony tomorrow, you knew I'd be coming to Wysteria."
Jily "I know, but—somehow it's just so hard to believe—"
She looked so flustered and happy, and he didn't know what to think.
Albert "What, exactly, is so hard to believe?"
Jily "The fact that you're here—that I'm here with you—"
Her words seemed to echo what he was feeling deep inside.

（I feel like every time I see you—
（The moment is so special, and so filled with happiness that I almost can't believe it.）

Albert "You say the strangest things."
He kept his thoughts to himself, offering her his hand.
Albert "I'm right here. Right before your eyes."

（You're the reason I came.）

She reached out slowly, placing her hand in his, her fingers warm and sure.
Jily "You're right. You're here."
All the unease inside him seemed to melt away at her words and her smile.

（If we both feel the same way—
（Then there's no problem at all.）

Albert gently drew her towards him.

（I need to tell you how I feel.）

Albert "I missed you, Jily."
He leaned close, wanting to share his feelings with a kiss.

（What the—）

He felt sudden warmth in the way, and he looked down in confusion.
Albert "Wha—!"
Benjamin had leapt up between them, and was gazing cheerfully up at him.
Albert "Where did you come from?!"
He frowned down at the rabbit, but Jily began to giggle.
Jily "I'm sure Benjamin missed you too.
Jily "Why don't you just hug both of us?"

（You're completely ruining my plans, but—）

Albert looked down at Benjamin, his lips pressed together.
Then he looked up at Jily again, and his mood lifted.
Her sweet smile was all he could see, and all that seemed to matter.

（I can never say no to you. And I like it that way.）

Albert "Well, since you asked so nicely, how can I say no?"
Albert lifted Benjamin in one arm, and then wrapped the other around Jily.
Albert "From here on, I will always be with you."
He let go again, and lowered Benjamin to the ground.
Benjamin twitched his nose at them both, and then bounded cheerfully down the stairs.

（Why you little—）

Albert "Really, what is your problem?"
Albert frowned as he watched Benjamin leave, and then turned back to face Jily.
Albert "Well, that didn't go quite as planned, but—

（I need to tell you—）

Albert "Princess, may I have a few moments of your time?"

（And I need it to be in a place where no one will interrupt us.）

＊＊＊

Albert took Jily to the shore of a beautiful, quiet lake.

（I'm so nervous I feel like I'm about to burst.）

His heart was pounding like crazy as they walked side by side.

（And yet—）

He stopped suddenly, making up his mind, and turned towards Jily.
She seemed startled as she skidded to a halt next to him.
The way she looked at him made him feel ten feet tall.

（There's no doubt—I love you with all my heart.）

Albert knew he was finally ready to say what he'd come there to say.
Albert "As a man, I have a certain amount of pride."
He went down slowly on one knee, looking up into her startled eyes.
A soft breeze whispered past them, twirling Jily's hair around her face.
Jily "Albert—what are you talking about?"
Albert "Tomorrow is the announcement ceremony. I know that you will name me your prince consort, and—
Albert "Well, you will ask for my hand in marriage.
Albert "But before that happens, I—"

（My cheeks are burning.）

He'd wanted to keep his cool, but that never seemed possible when she was around.
Somehow things always seemed to go wrong, but he was sure of one thing.

（There is no mistaking how I feel—and no doubt about how strongly I feel it.
（These are words that I will never say to anyone else in my entire life.）

Albert took a deep breath, and then let it out again.
Albert "Jily, will you marry me?"
Her eyes went wide with shock.
Jily "Albert—"

（I never knew a second could last so long.
（Hurry.
（Please, hurry—）

Albert "Please, answer quickly.
Albert "The wait is killing me."
He stared up at Jily, and at last her lips moved.
Jily "I'd love to marry you, Albert."
In that instant he felt as if he'd been blessed with all the joy in the world.

（I see... so this is what it means to be truly happy.）

He stood up, adjusting his glasses as he searched for adequate words to express his feelings.
Albert "So this is what it feels like to propose and have it accepted."
He reached out, catching hold of Jily's hands with his.
He could see the tears threatening in her eyes, and the joy overflowing from her smile.

（To be able to hold you, to see you smile like this—）

Albert "I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life."
He squeezed her hands tightly, not wanting to let go of even a single drop of his happiness.

 

 

◆Finale of Fervor - Secret◆
《A King's Worries》

 

The announcement ceremony was finally behind them.
Albert was slowly getting used to his work as prince consort.

（And then I'll need to pay a visit to this orphanage, and...）

Albert adjusted his glasses with one hand as he scrawled on the parchment with his quill.
Nico "It's great to be enthusiastic about your work, but are you sure you're okay with neglecting the most important thing?"

（That voice—!）

Albert looked up with a start, filled with disbelief.
Nico was leaning on his desk, a mischievous smile on his face.
Albert "If you came all this way just to say something so pointless—"
Nico "Al, I don't think this is the time to be pushing me away like that."
Nico's eyes were dancing as he glanced over at the door.

（Now what?）

Nico pushed the door open a little way, and the two of them peered out into the corridor.
Jily "Really? Thank you, Leo!"
Leo "Yes, really. Isn't that great, Jily?"

（Is that—）

He could clearly see Jily and Leo, talking and laughing merrily together.

（They look like—）

Nico "They look like they're having a lot of fun, huh?"
Nico seemed to be speaking his thoughts aloud, and Albert scowled at him.
But before he could say anything, Nico went on.
Nico "You know, Jily's super popular here in the palace.
Nico "And she's so cute, I bet all the guys in town think she's hot stuff, too."
Albert "Hot... stuff?"
Nico "That's right. So you'd better make sure you pay close attention to her."
Albert fell silent, the words going round and round in his head.

（I... see.）

Nico "Hey, Al? Huh?"

＊＊＊

Albert was striding down the hall before Nico could say anything more.
Jily "Albert?"
Jily and Leo turned in surprise as Albert strode away from them.
Nico began to laugh, his whole body shaking with amusement.
Nico "Don't worry. The prince consort is just feeling the blissful woes of his situation."

＊＊＊

Albert stepped outside and took a deep breath, staring up at the sky.
Nico's words wouldn't stop echoing in his mind.

（I never even thought about it, but—
（Could she really fall in love with someone else?）

And there was something else that bothered him—something about her smile.

（You looked so happy in that moment.
（I wish I could keep your smile all to myself.）

He sighed to himself as he realized what he was feeling.

（I'm no different from a simple child.）

Just then, he heard footsteps behind him, and he turned to look.
Leo "If you keep frowning like that, you'll make Jily sad."
Albert "Leo Crawford. What are you doing here?"
Leo studied Albert's frown, and then smiled at him.
Leo "Do you want to know the real reason Jily was smiling like that?"

＊＊＊

Albert ran through the palace, completely out of breath.

（I really am an idiot.）

*****
Leo "Do you want to know the real reason Jily was smiling like that?"
Albert "There was a reason?"
Leo "Of course. Jily had been begging me for something for ages.
Leo "She wanted her prince consort to be given a day off."
Albert "But that's..."
Leo "I'd just told her that I'd gotten the okay for that."
*****

As Albert climbed the stairs, he remembered something else.
The words he'd said to her right there in that same location still seemed seared in his memory.
Albert "Now that I think about it, you were falling down these stairs the first time we met, too.
Albert "At the time, I didn't think you were much of a princess.
Albert "But I've watched you laugh, and cry, and work so hard at everything you do.
Albert "And before I knew what was happening, I couldn't keep my eyes off you."
Jily "Albert—"

（I saw so many different sides of you, and by the time I'd realized it—
（I was already so in love with you.
（Your smile is always so direct, so sure.
（And I don't even know how many times that smile has saved me.
（There's no point worrying about you sharing that smile with someone else.
（What I need to be doing is—）

At the same moment, he heard the sound of footsteps, and saw someone approaching him.
Jily "Albert!"
Albert "Jily?"
Jily stood at the top of the stairs, her smile as dazzling as ever.
Albert gazed up at her, overwhelmed by all he'd been thinking.
Jily "I've been looking for you everywhere! Guess what? We both get to have a day off tomorrow!"
She was so excited her words tumbled over each other, and he gazed up at her in awe.

（What I need to be doing, and what I want to do—
（Is to protect the smile of the person I love.）

He hurried up the stairs, reaching out to pull her into his arms.
Jily "Albert—!"
She tumbled into his embrace, and suddenly they were both sitting on the top step.
Albert "You really are foolish."
Jily "I am?"
Albert "Don't you think I already know that?"
Jily stared up at him, looking startled, and then she frowned.

（That's not the reaction I expected.）

Albert "Is something the matter?"
She gave him a rueful smile, her gaze skipping away.
Jily "No, I just—I wanted to be the one to tell you, and to see you smile when you found out."
Albert "Oh—"

（I really am no match for you.）

Albert tightened his grip on Jily, burying his face in her hair.
Albert "You can see that as often as you want."
He could feel her shifting in his arms, snuggling closer to him.
Albert "All you have to do is smile for me tomorrow."
Jily "Albert—"
He slowly let go and lifted his head, reaching up to stroke her hair gently.
Albert "Will you spend tomorrow with me, smiling for me, Jily?"
Jily studied him as his words sank in.
Then she smiled, and it was like the sun coming out from behind clouds.
Jily "Of course I will, Albert."
His desire to see her smile just proved to him all over again how much he loved her.
They leaned towards each other, the sun shining down on them.
Jily "Wait."
Albert "What?"
Jily reached up, her fingers brushing against the frames of his glasses.
Jily "Sometimes I like kissing you without your glasses. Can I take them off?"

（I wish you'd stop saying such adorable things.
（It makes me want you all the more.）

He reached up and stopped her, moving her hand until her fingers brushed against his lips instead.
Albert "No."
Jily "Why not?"
He felt as if her beautiful face was all he could see.
Happy laughter tumbled from his lips without a second thought.
Albert "Because if you do, I can't see your smile anymore."
A moment later his lips found hers, and he could still feel her smiling.

（I want to make you smile even more tomorrow.）

As they shared another sweet kiss, his thoughts were filled with bright anticipation for their day off together...