Book 9: Chapter 4
“Welcome back, Onii-sama.”
When Lucia and I returned to the palace, we were welcomed by Freya and an unhappy Nier. I waited for a moment, but that familiar “welcome back, Your Majesty”, never came.
‘How many more times do I need to remind myself? Luna is no longer with me. Luna really is gone. Life has gradually settled down now just as when Luna was still around. How am I meant to tell if Luna is here or not, like this? If life just continues this way, how am I to tell myself that Luna is no longer here? How can I get myself to remember Luna’s cruel death?’
Freya looked at me. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Onii-sama, are you all right? Why does it feel as though you are always spacing out? If you have not been well, I suggest delaying the return to the elven lands for your succession by a few days. After all, your workload will only increase after your succession. Further, I do not understand the elven operations. As such, only Her Highness can help you when the time comes.”
“No, I’m all right. I’m just spacing out a bit. Also, I haven’t made up my mind about the succession……Oh right, where’s Mommy Vyvyan? How come I haven’t seen her since this morning? Is she not at Troy City? Or has she gone back already?”
I shook my head as I suddenly remembered Vyvyan. Vyvyan was still here last night, but I haven’t heard from her since this morning.
‘Could she have returned to Duargana?’
Freya looked at me and replied, “Your Highness has gone back already… At least, I would assume so. At any rate, she is not at Troy City at present, so I presume she has gone back.”
I nodded and replied, “Okay. I’ll wait at Troy City in the meantime then. And while I’m at it, I’ll have a good think to decide if I want to go back to become the elven king or not.”