Chapter 367: I Love You
“!? Rezamiliana-sama… loves me…?”
Loves… me!?
“…”
Felisiana-sama.
I was truly shocked when Elizalina-sama confessed as well, but…
Of course, right now, I was just as overwhelmingly shocked.
“From your perspective, this may seem sudden and surprising… however, this is simply the first time I’ve put these feelings into words. I have carried them for you for quite a long time.”
“For a long time… Rezamiliana-sama… has felt that way about me…?”
I still couldn’t believe it… no, more than that, it didn’t even feel real.
As I stood there in confusion, Rezamiliana-sama’s cheeks flushed red.
“I don’t know what you think of me, but I am still a woman… if I meet a man like you, it’s only natural that I would come to hold feelings of love.”
“L-love…! Th-then, what you said earlier, that was…”
“Yes, what you would call… a proposal. I wish to remain by the side of the one I love, you, from now on… and if possible, I want us to illuminate this country… the future of this country, together.”
“…!”
…At this point, after being told so much, I couldn’t keep insisting it didn’t feel real.
There were many other things I needed to think about, but now wasn’t the time for that.
What I needed to think about now was only the Rezamiliana-sama standing before me.
And there was something in her words that caught my attention, so I spoke.
“I understand your feelings very well… but what do you mean by illuminating this country’s future together with me…?”
“Right now, that is secondary. The main point is my feelings… but I mean it exactly as it sounds. If you and I were to be joined through love, then I would wish to walk forward with you and illuminate the future of this country together.”
“If it’s you, Rezamiliana-sama, I believe you could illuminate this country’s future… but for me to stand beside you and do something like that…”
“I told you, didn’t I… that I believe you can become that kind of person… I want to walk beside you as you become that person.”
“…!”
Her eyes were so clear and direct, filled with belief in me and love for me, that I couldn’t look away.
…Just as I strive for Siana, Felisiana-sama, Elizalina-sama, Florence-san, and Violet-san, and never want to betray their kindness,
These eyes as well… are something I could never betray.
So here, to respond as I did before…
Was absolutely impossible.
“That said, this is still a one-sided wish of mine… from your perspective, it is sudden, and with me being the First Princess, there must be many things for you to consider… so for now, I am satisfied just having been able to convey these feelings to you today…”
But then, she continued.
Rezamiliana-sama gently placed her left hand on my cheek.
“From now on, I want to share love with you… I want to guide this country, and its people, to happiness together with you, as you one day sit upon that throne… at the very least, please do not forget these feelings of mine, this wish of mine.”
“…! I understand!”
Receiving her feelings, I nodded.
“…”
Then, Rezamiliana-sama gazed at me.
“I had intended to end things here today… but, hehe, it seems that before you, I truly become nothing more than a woman… just for a moment, allow me this.”
“…!?”
Saying that, Rezamiliana-sama embraced me.
Her refined fragrance, her beautiful, content expression,
And the warmth of our bodies pressed together completely overtook my senses…
“Rodwell… I love you…”
And for a while after that, we remained together in the throne room, sharing that moment.