♔亞緣腐宅窩♔

【Ever After Route Garden Gacha】

Louis

◆Love Forever◆
《I Want to Protect You》

（That look in her eyes—）

Louis was trying to review some documents.
But he couldn't stop thinking about Jily's expression.

*****
Louis "Don't tell me you heard what we were talking about?"
Jily "I didn't hear anything. I was just passing by. Is something the matter?"
*****

He sighed softly, trying to focus on the words in front of him.
At last he gave up and stepped over to the window.
His heart was beating so fast he felt like it might burst right out of him at any moment.

（It's only a matter of time before she finds out.）

His reflection in the glass told him just how exhausted he looked.

（I've got to do something.）

He sighed to himself, then turned at the sound of a knock at the door.

（At this hour? Who—）

Jily stepped into the room, her gaze focused on him.
Louis "Jily—"
Louis smiled almost reflexively as their eyes met.

（And yet—）

He wondered suddenly what his expression must look like.
He should have been used to hiding his feelings, locking it all away behind a mask.

（But when I'm with you, that doesn't seem to work so well.）

There should have been nothing strange about the smile he used to hide what he felt inside.

（But the more I think about it the stranger I feel.）

He dropped his gaze away, then looked up at her again.
Her eyes were clear, and he felt as if they saw straight through him.
She crossed the room towards him, and he quavered a little with each step.

（Not now, please—）

He felt like he was spread too thin, and frustration welled up inside.

（Please, don't come any closer.）

He caught his breath as she stopped in front of him.
Her sweet gaze was almost too much, and for a second he wanted to push her away.
The moment seemed to drag out for far too long before at last she spoke.
Jily "Did something happen, Louis?"
It was the last thing he wanted her to ask.
Louis "No, everything's fine."

（If you keep questioning me—）

Jily "Louis... are you hiding something from me?"

（I feel as if everything I've bottled up inside will come bursting out of me.）

Louis "No."
Jily "But—"

（Gah, I can't—）

Louis "Jily."
His voice was more steely than he'd intended, and he paused for a moment.
Louis "Jily, listen to me."

（I never knew what it was like to love someone...
（Until I met you.）

His body moved of its own accord, pulling her into his embrace.
The warmth of her body against him brought tears to his eyes.

（You're so precious to me, and I have you right here by my side.
（So why I am still so weak?）

The words seemed to come like a natural extension of all his feelings and frustrations.
Louis "I—
Louis "I promised myself I'd get stronger so I could protect you."

（I can't afford to be weak.
（Ever since the day I met you—
（I decided I'd get stronger, so that I could be the one to protect you.）

He clung tightly to her, as if the strength of his embrace could drive away the weakness he so hated in himself.

（Please, don't ask me anything more right now.
（I beg of you.）

◆Shape of Love - Classic◆
《Trust》

It was the first time in a long time they'd had a day off together.
Louis leaned against the trunk of the tree, gazing up at the stars.

*****
Jily "Being able to be with you like this, even for only a moment here or there—
Jily "That's what I wish for. That's what makes me happy."
*****

He couldn't believe just how happy those words had made him.

（Now I want to tell you how I feel.）

He felt content as he glanced over at her, and she smiled at him.
Jily "This is so nice."
The gentle breeze tousled her hair, and he smiled back at her.

（You're so beautiful.
（If someone were to ask me what happiness was to me—
（I'd know exactly what the answer was.）

Louis leaned towards her, speaking softly in her ear.
Louis "Hey, Jily?"
Jily "Yes?"
Louis "Do you want to use my lap as a pillow?"
Jily "What?"
Louis "I'm always using your lap as a pillow.
Louis "This time I want to do the same for you."
She giggled for a moment, before settling her head a little uncertainly in his lap.
Her hair splayed across his legs, seeming to halo her head.
Her eyes were bright and gentle as she looked up at him, and his heart thrummed in his chest.

（Ahh, you really do it to me.
（I love you so much it drives me crazy.）

A smile touched his lips as he studied her sweet face.
Louis "I feel like I could do anything to you right now."
He leaned over, pressing a soft kiss against her forehead.
Jily "Louis—"
The look in her eyes captivated him, and for a moment he wanted time to stop.
Louis "Yes?"

（How do I tell you?）

Louis "If you want another kiss, I'm happy to give you one."

（I still don't know.）

He pushed the thoughts away, smiling as he leaned close to kiss her lips this time.

＊＊＊

They were walking along the shore of the lake where the bridge would be built.

（It's all well and good to have decided to tell you, but—
（I'm not sure how well I can explain it.）

His thoughts were whirling helplessly, and then Jily stopped walking.
Jily "Louis, look!"
Louis "Hmm?"
Jily lifted her skirts, crouching to look at something.
Jily "I never expected a flower to grow in a place like this."
A tiny white flower was blooming, looking as if it might be trodden down at any moment.
Louis "It must be something special."
Louis crouched down next to her, remembering another moment when she'd held a white flower.

（And you said—）

*****
Jily "I believe that showing your weakness is a sign of strength.
Jily "I want you to rely on me, Louis."
*****

（You told me exactly what you were feeling then.）

His heartbeat was uncomfortably loud in his ears.
He reached out to touch the flower, but his hand brushed against Jily's as she did the same.
That simple moment of warmth was enough to stir his heart.

（I need to do the same, and just tell you how I feel.）

Jily started to pull back, but Louis caught her hand in his.
Louis "Actually, there's something I want to talk to you about.
Louis "The king has told me he would like to abdicate the throne in my favor.
Louis "But—I'm thinking about refusing."

（I want to tell you everything.
（I'm not afraid anymore.）

Louis "In all the time I've had since becoming prince elect, I haven't resolved a thing.
Louis "Neither the nobles nor the townspeople understand or respect me.
Louis "I can't marry you, or become king of this country, while things are like this."

（I know that you'll accept it—accept me.）

The feeling was so sure that he no longer felt anxious or afraid.

（That's because I've truly come to trust you and believe in you.）

Louis "So..."
He pulled her gently into his embrace, catching her gaze.
Louis "When I've rebuilt this nation—
Louis "Will you marry me?"
His heartbeat roared in his ears as he spoke those final words.
He waited for her answer, watching as her gaze dropped away.

（I will never let go of you...
（I don't want to let you go.）

He held onto those words, held onto that wish, and then—
Jily "I'd be honored to."
She smiled at him, a smile bright with the promise of what their future might hold.
That brightness filled his vision, filling him with joy.
He realized then that his face was flushed, and he was breathless.
He blinked at her, his gaze dropping for a moment.
Louis "Ah, I was so nervous."
Jily "Louis, you're blushing."
Louis "Stop looking at me."
Jily giggled, turning her gaze back to the flower, and he found himself laughing as well.
A comforting silence enfolded them, until at last she spoke again.
Jily "Hey, Louis?
Jily "I'll always be with you, no matter what."

（Jily, I—）

There was such kindness in her, such wisdom, and it inspired him every day.

（I never imagined I'd be lucky enough to love someone as amazing as you.）

He felt overwhelmed with happiness and love, and he thought for a moment he might actually cry.
Louis "Thank you.
Louis "And... I love you, no matter what."
He lifted her hand towards him, kissing her fingertips gently.

（Looking each other in the eye, talking together, laughing together, even crying together—
（I think somehow that loving each other—
（Well, it's not that different from believing in each other.）

He gazed down at the tiny white flower, swaying gently in the breeze...

◆Shape of Love - Royal◆
《This Moment》

Louis stood straight and proud, waiting by the dais.
But he turned immediately at the sound of footsteps behind him.

（Jily—）

Jily was clad in a pure white dress that seemed perfect for her.
She was so beautiful, so radiant, that he almost couldn't believe his eyes.

（I can't believe this day has finally come.）

He wanted to cry at the sight of her walking towards him like that.

*****
Louis "It scares me.
Louis "I'm afraid that I'll destroy something important to me."
*****

（I pushed you away so many times, because I was afraid of losing you.
（But each time I did—）

*****
Jily "I believe that showing your weakness is a sign of strength.
Jily "I want you to rely on me, Louis."
*****

（You accepted my everything, and met me halfway each time.
（Do you have any idea how happy that made me?）

Just thinking about it sent a thrill coursing through him.
At last Jily stopped next to him, lifting her head to smile at him.

（There's one thing I want, with all my heart—
（I want to make you happy.）

He smiled at her, and then they turned to face the dais together.

＊＊＊

They rode in an open carriage together, the palace long behind them.
The town was packed with people, the air thick with brightly-colored confetti.
Jily "Louis."
Louis "Yes?"
He turned in surprise at the sound of her voice.
She held out the white flower bookmark to him.
Jily "I've been able to support you, just like I wished.
Jily "But I made another wish as well."

（What? For me?）

Jily smiled gently, looking out over the crowd that cheered for them.
Jily "You said that you feel as if I'm the only one that loves you.
Jily "But it's not just me, Louis.
Jily "Everyone here loves you, too."

（But that's—）

He looked around with a start. Everyone was smiling at him, and cheering his name.
They called out words of congratulations, and blessings for his happiness.
Jily "Everyone loves you, Louis."

（It's strange, but—）

He felt as if the lid he'd clamped tight over his heart had been ripped off completely.

（I never thought it was possible.
（And yet, right now I feel—
（There's no doubt. I feel loved.）

He turned slowly back to Jily, feeling awed.
He could see himself reflected in her bright eyes.
He didn't look like the ice sculpture he'd so often been called—his expression was one he'd once worn as a child.
Louis "That story about the white flower might be true after all."
He reached out to touch the bookmark, his vision blurring.
Louis "I met you, and my wish came true."

（I never thought this was possible.）

The nobles' whisperings, the strict punishments, the places he was sick of seeing—

（I hated this world more than anything.
（And yet it fulfilled the wish that I most wanted to be fulfilled.）

The scene before his eyes was something he'd longed for without even really knowing it.

（This moment, right now—
（This is the happiest I've ever been.）

Louis "Thank you. And... I love you."
He leaned over and kissed her softly.
As he did so a single tear spilled from his eye, trickling slowly down his cheek...