When I regained my consciousness, I was in a pure white space.
“…Is this something like my consciousness’ space that’s been influenced by the light spirit?”
I briefly checked over my body, but there weren’t any particular abnormalities.
Well, since I can’t really check my actual body in reality, I can’t definitively say that [I’m all right], though.
“Now then, I wonder what’s the deal with this?”
Thanks to Zeno’s power and the earring that Bertia gave me, for the time being, I don’t feel that things have gotten particularly troublesome.
In order to break through Kuro’s barrier, the light spirit had exhausted its power to the utmost limit. With the spirit’s remaining strength, it should be impossible to maintain this space for a long period of time and to continue imprisoning me like this.
At most, it would last around 10 to 20 minutes, I think?
“It’s unlikely that I wouldn’t be able to get out if I had thoughts of doing so, but rather than trying to recklessly force my way out and risk suffering the after-effects to my unconsciousness, it’d be better for me to wait until the light spirit uses up all of its strength, I guess?”
Considering the remaining quantity of the light spirit’s power, it shouldn’t be able to make any direct attacks on me, while I’m protected by Kuro and Zeno’s powers.\n
On the contrary, if I were to try to leave this place forcefully, I would have to attack and inflict damage to this space in some way in order to make an exit.
In that case, there’s the likelihood that I might end up attacking too excessively, causing this space to be destroyed or twisted away from its desired shape.
If I have to take such a risk, it’d be better to wait on and not rampage recklessly.
“Though I hope that the spirit will use up all of its strength before Bertia begins to act rashly again.”
I made a bitter smile upon recalling Bertia’s cry that I heard just before I lost consciousness.
Now then, just right at the moment when I began to think about how I should pass the time here until the time-out…
The white space before my eyes began to shine brightly.
“How dazzling…”
I held my hand over my face and shut my eyes in order to avoid the light.
However, that light disappeared in no time.
Feeling that the light faded away from the sensation that passed through my eyelids, I slowly opened my eyes.
Laid out there was a familiar scenery that was completely different from the pure white world just now.
“The audience room… is it?”
A room inside the royal palace that I’ve gone in and out of many times over to attend on my father’s work.
However, when I took a closer look, the ornaments placed and the curtains hanging on the windows were subtly different from usual.
Even so, they were not [unfamiliar things], but [nostalgic things].\n
These are…
“I-it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am the eldest daughter of Douglas Ibil Noches, the current head of the Noches Marquis family. My name is Bertia Ibil Noches.”
While I was trying to search back into my memories as I gazed around the surroundings, suddenly I heard the childish and charming voice of a child right in front of me.
As if being guided by that voice, my gaze fell to the place where I was standing, which was right in front of the throne.
Several steps away, there was the figure of a girl kneeling alongside with Prime Minister Marquis Noches—it was Bertia.
She was approximately 8 years old.
Her appearance was exactly the same as when I first met her… In other words, she was still in her plump snowman mode as she nervously stared at the floor.
This scene was entirely the same as the time when I was brought to meet Bertia.
…However, for some reason, Bertia’s reaction and expression didn’t match with what I remembered from my memories.
At that time, she should have turned her sparkling gaze at me who was standing next to my father, then introducing herself with a full smile.
I still vividly remember even now that I reflexively let a wry smile leak out towards her unabashed friendliness.
To put it bluntly, the attitude of the girl in front of me right now is more like the attitude of a [normal] noble lady, the proper reaction.
At around her age, most of the noble children should have mastered the skills to read the situation and to pay attention to their etiquette.\n\nHowever, the younger versions of the two of us in front of me at present, were…
“I’m glad to have someone like Lady Bertia as my fiancée.”
“T-thank you very much. I’ll do my best to become a woman worthy of Your Highness.”
I smiled my usual smile and Bertia bashfully smiled back.
Yes. It’s ordinary.
At a place that’s not a bit strange, an ordinary conversation.
But… No, is that exactly why?
It’s extremely boring.
This is not the Bertia I know.
The one who was there was an [ordinary] noble lady who was a bit plump.
Actually, the younger version of me was facing Bertia with a smile, yet he didn’t seem to be having any fun.
It was an expression that looked like I was wearing a mask.
Since it’s myself, I can understand it very well.
The me over there had not the slightest bit of interest in her.
No concern or favor, or delight from the encounter or enjoyment of being together, no disgust, anger or sadness or any other negative emotions either; there didn’t exist a single thing there.