Novel Full Chapter 1958: Celica & Zephyrus [1]
Chapter 1958: Celica & Zephyrus [1]
——
After my mother negotiated the deal, she ended up buying something called “stocks”—a portion of the prince’s new company. She secured a total of 30% of the shares, investing enough to help the prince kick-start the project’s development.
My mother also promised to spread the word about the product and use her connections for several advertising efforts. She said it could create a new way for communication and entertainment in this world.
Honestly, Alice and I both agreed!
Once we finished touring, the King invited us to a vast terrace where an enormous feast awaited. There was simply too much food everywhere! We ate like royalty while listening to stories from the King and the prince, getting to know them better.
When the feasting ended, we decided to return home and set out again tomorrow morning. Before leaving, we also checked on Ruby’s father with her. He was… well, alive and sleeping for now. She grew a little sad and started crying, so we comforted her as we made our way back.
While taking a bath together with Aquarina, I wondered how my brother was handling things with Celica. I hoped he could explain everything clearly and smooth things over.
.
.
.
After returning to Felicia’s home, Zephyrus and Celica had their private talk.
There, standing on the terrace that overlooked the beautiful mountains and snow-covered forests under cold moonlight, they met.
“Celica…” Zephyrus said. “I… I guess I should start by apologizing. I was dumb. I ended up hurting your feelings over something I didn’t think enough about.”
“Zephy…” Celica listened quietly.
“I… don’t have experience with these things… but I don’t want to make excuses either,” he continued. “I simply… didn’t think enough about you, or how you felt. I hadn’t realized you were trying so hard to be more open with me, and I fumbled it.”
“…”
“Would you… give me another chance?” Zephyrus asked. “I… All those things I told you about—they’re all real. I was… just embarrassed. Everyone was there, my parents… my sister. But… I realized I cannot act that way when I’m talking with the girl I love. I… promise you, I will never doubt my words again. I swear it, upon my soul.”
“Z-Zephy… I… I’m sorry, did you get so worried about what I said? Ah… I was a little grumpy, I guess,” Celica said, startled by how deeply it had affected him. “I guess I wasn’t that considerate either, and yes, you’re right—to say that out loud… wasn’t right. I was just… um, how can I say it? I was a little sad when I heard that nobles don’t marry demons and the like. I thought about what you said the other day and ended up blurting it out without thinking either, so I’m at fault too. Sorry.”
“So you’re not mad at me?” Zephyrus’s eyes gleamed with happiness.
“No, I’m not,” Celica smiled warmly. “And… well, the fact that you went out of your way to apologize regardless—that’s really nice of you. It shows you truly care… thank you, Zephy.”
As she tried to reach out to him, Zephyrus gently pushed her hands back. “You don’t like being touched, right? So don’t force yourself if… you don’t want to…”
“N-No, no, it’s fine,” Celica said timidly. “I-I… was a little rude back then, for no good reason either. Although I dislike being touched… when it’s you, I think that’s okay.”
“Celica…” Zephyrus muttered, blushing as he took her hands. “Thank you for trusting me and… for even loving me. I sometimes think that I don’t deserve you… that I’m just a dumb child who doesn’t deserve a girl as good as you to love me…”
“O-Oh Zephy… You should never think that! You’re a wonderful man!” Celica smiled warmly. “And you’re also handsome, and a prince… you don’t ever think I’m the one dreaming here? I… in all my life, I never thought an elf prince would ever look my way, heheh… I used to be a very poor girl. My father died in the war, and my mother raised me barely. I often begged for food on the streets of Eastgrain. My mother worked… at anything she could. Sometimes not coming home for days. Mister Teddy was… my only company, my only friend. The only thing I had in my solitude as I grew up, hated by the world.”
“Celica…” Zephyrus was deeply moved by her words. He looked at her small hands, realizing how much pain she had endured in childhood. “I-I wasn’t even born back then, but if I had been there, I would have done anything I could to help you. My sister and my parents did it though, and I’m so happy they brought you along with them and everyone else they rescued from that horrible place.”
“Hm!” Celica nodded. “I know you would, Zephy… you’re like my prince on a white horse, right? Heheh.”
“A-Ahahah, I wouldn’t go that far… I don’t even know how to ride a horse…” Zephyrus giggled, embarrassed. “So… um, Celica… When I grow up. I don’t know if my sister will ever want the throne, but if she doesn’t… and if there’s ever a chance for me to become King… I… I will make sure your people are protected. I will do everything in my power so the discrimination stops—not just on our continent, but even beyond. What I saw today, the inventions of Prince Gimli, made me realize that one day our world will be even more connected than it is now. For that time to come, I want to make sure… it is a world worth living in—not just for us, but for all your people as well.”
“Z-Zephy…”
Zephyrus smiled warmly at her, holding her hands and kissing them gently. “I love you, Celica… I will do anything I can to make you happy, and to see… yes, that beautiful smile of yours.”
“A-Ah…” Celica started crying as she smiled through her tears. “I love you too, Zephy…!”
Celica hugged Zephyrus, surprising him as she sobbed against his shoulder. Most of her childhood had been a terrible ordeal—tormented by a world that rejected her, starving, suffering constant discrimination. But now, everything that once tormented her seemed to fade slowly as she clung to this young man.
“When I am in your arms, I feel like I no longer have to worry about things,” Celica said softly. “It’s… a unique feeling, hehe…”
——