The Annals of the Flame Kingdom (WN)

"... don't be ridiculous!

My anger spirited into the not-so-wide office.

"What, Mr. Erica?

"What's 'it's my fault'! What's" Give Me Another Chance "!

Word.

"What are you doing! What? If I fail, I think it's all my fault!

Don't say such things, the words I thought so.

"If this wasn't 'Terra', Solvania wouldn't have behaved like that!

... Alone, dance the universe.

"Yes! If this place is Larchia! If this place is Laura! If this place was titanium, Solvania wouldn't have taken such an attitude! Because 'Here' is' Terra '! Because Solvania thought it was okay to make a fool of Terra, this territory! So!"

If the direct jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Flame... No, if there was more power in 'Terra'.

"I could tell you to distribute the deed as much as you like! In the first place, I didn't think Solvania would fight! Then why? Why does Solvania 'lick' Terra!

"... it"

"Clearly!

Stare at me.

"... because Terra is weak."

"Yeah, you're right! Because Terra is' weak '! Terra's not' scared '! Terra, no matter how much you bark, she's not a threat at all! So, Solvania is going to imitate Terra and distribute the extradition deed!

Absolutely, because you can win.

Absolutely, when you can win... because you're being licked.

"It's... it's not your fault!

……

"You're nothing wrong! Terra, from this poor country, from the king, from each lord -"

… and… of… the 'Lord Himself' too.

"- You have developed this territory that everyone has abandoned so far! You've made it this far! The development of Terra is all your… Courta Matussillo, your achievement!

"That's not true."

"I do! All thanks to you! Thanks to you, this territory has developed! So... so you're not bad for anything!

... Yes. Coata's not bad.

"... the bad news is, 'I'! To you, who have developed this much terra, without giving you any 'weapons', to turn to Solvania, to make you negotiate like you don't want to lower your head, to step on thin ice, to your pride, to your thoughts, to your dreams, to step on all of it, to mud, it's all because of me!

"That's not true! Because of Erica..."

"It's my fault!

... because.

"I am the Duke of Rondo de Terra! It's Erica Orenfeld van Flame! This territory, Rondo de Terra, is my territory!

Coata's face seeps in.

"... so!

... it took me a long time to understand that I was crying.

"Terra was' licked 'because of me! So, please, Coata!

Please.

"... don't take away 'my responsibility' -"

Otherwise... I don't know what the hell I'm here for...

"Please, don't think of me as a foot wrapper! Please, don't think I'm useless! I may not be able to count on you! But, please, just rely on me for a little while!

- I am.

"I'm not just a princess who shivers and protects you on your back! Next to you, next to you, next to you, near you, I want to 'fight' you!

Keep your head down, with seeping vision.

"... sorry, do"

... to you for leading Terra so far.

"To you, Coata... make me feel so miserable... really..."

Until the end, words fell to the ground without ever dancing in the universe.

……

……

"... the... Excuse me, Erica"

How long would there have been time for silence?

"- So!

Potty and hand controlled me for responding sensitively to words leaking out of Coata's mouth.

"No... I apologize for taking away your responsibility."

……

"... I could have been on 'well'. There is a saying in my country that means' Politics is the work of a man's life '... because my measures were so' fun 'and' delighted 'that my thoughts permeated Terra and flowered..."

So... "Excuse me," he said.

"I may have scorned your work, your thoughts, your wishes… and above all, your pride. Erica's right, maybe she was willing to do everything herself. But..."

That's all I need you to remember.

"... never once have I sworn to God that I thought you were unreliable or that you were a fool."

"... really?

"Yes."

"Then... why aren't you telling me anything!

That's how the coater makes the tannic surface and points his gaze at me. What the fuck?

"Nothing, I didn't think it was confidential or unreliable... the... I'm sorry. I don't seem to be very good at relying on people."

"... Yes?

"I don't know what to say...... for example, when I say, 'Please do this,' would you help Erica or Emily? I thought that would get in the way of your original work."

……

"... can you stop that cold gaze? You think you're a bad habit, don't you? My colleagues in the world over there used to say that." Hota holds too much of everything herself. I wish I could shake people's jobs a little '. Even so, I feel comfortable asking people to help me with my work. "

"... silly. It's not your job, is it? It's my job, right? So it's not 'I'll help'! I'll do it."

"… I don't even have a call open"

That's what I said, let me see one sigh on the coater with my head down.

"... so... what is it? Taken together, you didn't think we could rely on anything, but you simply didn't like having people help you with your work. So I was carrying everything myself, spinning it myself, taking responsibility for myself... is that what you're saying?

"… generally, yes"

……

……

"... narcissist, you"

"I'm not saying that..."

"Right? After all, 'I can do anything on my own without anyone's help' because I'm confident in my abilities, right?

……

"... Well, in fact, you turned everything around by yourself, so I guess it's not a mistake..."

... but.

"... I don't like it"

... Still.

"... I can't believe you're standing on the arrow and resting in the back."

……

"Am I not a 'princess'? Duke of Rondo de Terra, it's Erica Orenfeld van Flame. This is my territory, and I am its lord. All right? You quit doing everything by yourself. Please... I'll work hard, I'll work hard... just a little bit better, rely on me"

"I'll do it right."

"It's not a good place, I promise."

"... Yes"

Smile bitterly.

"... right. I'm sorry, Mr. Erica. As you said, from now on, I will talk to you first."

Still with every gentle smile on this one.

"... Together, let's make this' terra 'better and go. It's not just me, it's not just Erica, it's just the two of us... let's make Terra better and go."

That's what you say, to Coata.

"... eh, Erica! Well, why? Why are you crying!

"Look, I'm not crying!

From the bottom of my heart, overflowing joy.

Still not recognized by this man.

Not yet, I'm not standing next to this guy.

Not yet...... I can't see this guy's back, I can't even step on the shadows, he's just a 'weak' princess to protect me from this guy walking far ahead though.

"What, Mr. Erica? Oh, that!

"Ugh, shut up, shut up!

This guy... Coata told me 'Together'.

"Hey, please don't cry! Um... did I say something strange?

"Yes, I didn't tell you, silly!

That's it.

... I'm so happy about that.

"Oh, the... uh..."

... wait, Coata.

"I told you not to cry!

"Duh, where is it! Though I have zero tears in my head!

Be sure to get over that back of yours sometime.

"Kick, it's kindness to pretend not to notice!

"No, if you haven't noticed with that crying face, the boulder tells you to go to the ophthalmologist. Level what though!

And to the King of Solvania... Yeah, I can 'protect' you by making your dreams strong enough for no one in Orkena and the rest of the world to trample your thoughts... because I will be such a fine lord.

"... silly!

"Hey, what's up!

... So just today.

... So only now.

"Hey, if you're having trouble watching me cry! You should not see the crying face!

"Huh? You want me to point that at you?

"Oh, you're not really an idiot? Why are you turning around with a crying girl in front of you!

"… what do you want me to do"

"So... already!

Only today, only now...

"Oh, yeah!

"Hey, huh? Uh, Mr. Erica?

Yours.

Let me lead this terra this far, sweet in the arms of the 'knight' who protected me, just the 'princess'... stay?

"... the girl's crying, huh? Lending you about one of your breasts is... polite, right?

"... is that the kind of thing?

"... yes"

……

……

……

……

"... uh"

"... what?

"If I turn my hand around your back here, does it taste bad on boulders?

"... silly"

"... right"

... That's not true.

"... that's what I ask, idiot. Shut up... strong, hug me"

That's my word, at the same time.

"... ah"

Gee, and.

I think it's going to break. So powerful, Coata's arm hugs me. The scent of the coata spread across the nasal cavity, and one thing, my heart rang loudly.

"... excuse me, something I'm not used to"

"... where is it?"

With your mouth, with your nose, with your chest.

Bury your face in the chest of the cotta so that you inhale the scent of the cotta all over your body and rub your own scent against the cotta in return.

'This is my thing,' as I would argue... strong, tough.

"... it's small, Erica is"

……

………

............... what?

"... you're not talking about breasts, are you? What? If they're selling you a fight, I'll buy you one for a high price, okay?

"No, I'm not."

Disgruntled me, too, with my face up in the open. One bitter laugh. Gently pull out the right hand I was holding and stroke my head.

"You were such a small body, protecting Terra's territory,"

"... what does that mean?

"I wonder what I used to do when I was Erica's age,"

"... what, were you?

"Hmmm...... I think you were just studying. Even though I'm a college student."

"... isn't college where you go to study?

"It's supposed to be...... well, I would also call it a summer vacation in some people's lives. I wish I'd played a little more."

"Is that what this is?

"That's what it is."

……

……

"... hey"

"What is it?

"... well... are you quite used to these things?

"... why do you think so?

"It hurt a little at first... like this, now he's hugging me with a very good force... and his hand stroking my head, the..."

And I mean... will you stop putting your fingers through it like you comb your hair?

"Did you not like it?

"Yes, not like that! Well, that makes my head pout - what do you make me say!

"Erica said it herself?

"... that extra attitude makes me quite angry."

Unusual, is it?

"... I'm about five years older than Erica."

At what time?

I don't know, just a little mean...... still sweet, Coata smile.

"... does it matter?

"It's something I'd like to dress up for," said the older boy. "

Or... Is this what Coata really looks like?

"... Hmm. I don't have any experience anyway."

"Isn't that good? You're still young."

"... what, look great. This young man."

"Isn't it terrible, that?

...... oh. Not anymore, me.

It's not terrible.

"I'm only twenty-six, right? Old age on boulders is a bit..."

Because, Hola.

"From now on, your nickname is Young Man."

Give me a break.

One of these nagging, 'normal' conversations, even one.

"If you don't like it, try harder."

"... what?

"Oh, the... Yikes, a lot! A lot!"

"How outrageous..."

... indulgent, dear.

"... hey"

"Yes?"

"... will be strong"

……

"To the point where you can't beat me, to the point where you can count on me... to be the man I need."

Even if you don't mind.

You don't have to carry everything.

Like today, the more you just have a 'sluggish' conversation… so that you can admit it.

"Wait, I'm not saying. I don't want you to force me to match the speed at which you're going. You just have to move on, as you think. Follow your back like that, overtake you at some point... because I'll protect you and show you."

What time is it, always?

It seems good that you came to Terra.

"... it's not my nature to remain protected?

"Oh? Who said 'you don't have to protect me'?

I'll protect you.

"Of course, I don't want to be left unprotected. But..."

At any time, it doesn't have to be.

"If I'm tired of fighting and you want me to support you,"

At that time... I want you to protect me.

"... what, that face"

"No. What would you say...... Erica, I thought, 'It seems'"

"... are you complimenting me?

"I compliment you, of course."

... don't laugh with such a good smile.

"... silly. You're gonna want to see more, that face."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing. Just stroke your head."

"... Yes, yes, my princess"

"Oh? I thought I heard something.

"Isn't that an empty ear?

With that said, on that chest of Coata who caresses my head just as gently earlier.

"... look at that. You'll never get away from me again."

"Did you say something?

"You have no ears, young man."

"So please quit Sole"

What day... Coata really depends on me, trusts me, and says I'm going to be that kind of person.

With that in mind, the 'princess' I buried my face deeper in Coata's chest today than earlier.