“Puuse-san, I’m really envious of you having kept your beautiful form without any change.” (Imeraria)
“What are you saying, no matter how old you might be, your girlish cuteness is wonderful, Imeraria-sama.” (Puuse)
Imeraria, who raised herself atop her bed, breathed out painfully even while smiling at Puuse.
Her body, which had been thin to begin with, had withered away so much that her bones were clearly sticking out. Wearing a simple, thin piece of clothing gave her the impression of a fragility that might be broken at any time.
Her face had few wrinkles considering her age, but her cheeks had become hollow, and her age as well as the visible fatigue made it obvious that the time of her death was nigh.
“Puuse-san, I will probably die very soon. You as an elf should know. All mana is gone from my body.” (Imeraria)
“Imeraria-sama…” (Puuse)
“I’m very sorry for having kept you restrained in the castle for such a long time…” (Imeraria)
“There’s nothing you’d have to apologize for. I did so out of my own choice.” (Puuse)
“Thank y-…you…*cough*…*cough*…” Imeraria coughed violently after thanking Puuse.
Puuse gently supported her skinny body, put her to bed, and used healing magic on her. It didn’t work against the illness, but it eased her pain a bit, she had heard from Imeraria.
“Haah…it got slightly better.” Imeraria smiled while taking a deep breath.
“I’m sure, I made the richest and most experiences among the successive generations of this country’s royals. I have many things to talk about with my mother, father, and my younger brother in the world of the dead. And I must apologize…” Imeraria said with a weak voice while looking up to the canopy.
“Apologize…you say?” (Puuse)
“Indeed. It appears cold-hearted that my family was killed, but it’s also true that they partly paid for their own mistakes. However…” (Imeraria)
Looking shy and revealing a girlish smile, Imeraria’s cheeks blushed after looking at Puuse.
“I fell in love with the enemy of my parents. And, I was blessed with his child… I don’t regret any of it, but I’m certain that I will be blamed for it by my family after my death. Since I have no excuse, all I can do is to apologize.” (Imeraria)
Her thin hand grasped at the air as if looking for something, and then found Puuse’s hand at last. Puuse firmly wrapped up the hand, which grasped hers feebly, with both hands.
“Warm…Puuse-san. Thank you for everything. And, I’m in no position to ask something like this of you, but please take care of Karl.” (Imeraria)
“Of course. As far as it’s possible for me, anything…” (Puuse)
“But, Puuse-san, please find your own happiness, too. I couldn’t live with my loved one, but I was truly happy as I was able to raise his child…” (Imeraria)
Even while being considerate of Imeraria, Puuse was definitely seeing the shadow of death in her smiling face. Tears flowed down her cheeks with her lips trembling.
“I have a request…the method to release Hifumi-sama you told me…if it’s ever used, and if you happen to meet Hifumi-sama…” (Imeraria)
Imeraria’s blue eyes gazed at Puuse.
“The young me couldn’t accept her feelings honestly… But, tell Hifumi-sama that even now, from the bottom of my heart, I…” So as to not miss her voice that was gradually becoming weaker, Puuse stood up and brought her ear close to Imeraria’s mouth. “love h-…him…”
“Imeraria-sama…” (Puuse)
Realizing that the flame of her life had been extinguished, Puuse cried quietly while grasping the hand which had turned cold.
Everyone asked in curiosity about the last words of a queen who had lived through an era of extreme changes, but Puuse said that it was a promise between women, and never told anyone what she said.
That’s because it was a confession of love, which she couldn’t reveal to anyone, by a girl whose life had turned into a journey of stepping over many deaths because she was born as royalty, and because she summoned one man from a different world.
Summoned Slaughterer - Book 9 Page 11
