Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 92

Chapter 92

 

After finishing his night walk, he returned once more to the Peridot Palace.

In the meantime, Leo—having completed all his duties—welcomed the Crown Prince back. It was well past midnight now, and most of the candles in the bedchamber had already been extinguished. Of course, whether bright or dark, the master of the Peridot Palace was sleeping peacefully.

“The night air feels quite cool tonight. Cecil must feel stifled being cooped up in the room—let’s open the window a little.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

While Leo moved about briskly, Alexis approached the head of the bed. The single-seater sofa placed right beside it was his designated spot; keeping watch over Cecil from here had become a natural part of his daily routine.

“Um….”

Leo approached hesitantly. Though it would be no exaggeration to say they were together all day these days, the Crown Prince was still a difficult presence to face.

Sensing his discomfort, Alexis spread some documents across his lap and replied in an even tone.

“I’ll stay here. You may retire.”

“Are you planning to stay up again tonight?”

Blue eyes shifted to look at Cecil lying in bed. He was taking in the face he longed to see, yet seeing him unable to regain consciousness left his heart unsettled.

“We’ll see.”

“If you need anything, please call us at any time. We’ll be waiting outside.”

Leo bowed politely and left the bedchamber. Once they were alone, a deep silence settled in. Alexis watched the sleeping face for a long while before turning his attention back to the documents.

Cool night air flowed in through the open window. The canopy, thin as a dragonfly’s wing, swayed gently with the breeze.

It was a calm, cozy night—and yet, one he could not fall asleep through.

The next day, at the break of dawn, Knight Commander Claude Vandell came to the Peridot Palace.

As expected, the person he wished to meet was here. Despite the early hour, Alexis was fully dressed, leaning back against the sofa beside the bed.

Judging by the complete lack of drowsiness on his face, he seemed to have stayed up all night again, but Claude deliberately refrained from pointing it out. Instead, he stood before Alexis with a stiffer expression than usual.

“Your Highness, all preparations are complete.”

It was finally the day of departure.

Alexis, who had remained by Cecil’s side right up until the day he was to march off to war, pressed his fingertips gently against his heavily fatigued eyelids.

“There won’t be any issues?”

“Of course not.”

The reply came without hesitation. Claude had overseen the war preparations in Alexis’s stead all this time. As the imperial knight commander representing the Empire, he too bore immense responsibility.

“Have my uniform brought in. I’ll change here.”

As Alexis rose, gripping the sofa’s armrest, attendants stepped forward with the neatly prepared uniform and the Crown Prince’s longsword, presented atop a golden tray.

Throughout the preparations, Claude remained by Alexis’s side. Watching the Crown Prince gradually transform into a dignified figure as he donned the crisply pressed uniform, Claude parted his lips as if he still had something to say. He was not the type to keep secrets bottled up.

“If there’s something you want to say, say it now. There won’t be time later.”

Alexis was perceptive to an uncanny degree. Just by reading Claude’s expression, he had already grasped what lay in his heart.

“…….”

“Will you really be all right going into battle like that? I don’t mind, but.”

“Alexis, it’s just that….”

It was a name he hadn’t called in years. Claude let out a long breath, clenching and unclenching his trembling hand several times. It was such a difficult subject to bring up.

“I… I mean.”

In the meantime, Alexis had finished dressing in his flawless uniform. Unlike Claude, who couldn’t even get his words out properly from tension, he calmly adjusted the shirt cuff that had curled inside his jacket.

“I’m listening. Speak.”

Claude bowed his head deeply. Then, with a sigh-laden confession, the words spilled out.

“I… I committed a grave sin against you.”

“A sin?”

“Last night, I kissed Yuria.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry. But it wasn’t a mistake. I didn’t want to lie to you. I knew full well the consequences my actions would bring. Even so….”

“I know. You’ve held feelings for Yuria for a long time.”

At the calm voice, Claude’s head snapped up. His exposed complexion was deathly pale.

“You knew?”

“How could I not? We’ve known each other for years.”

By now, Alexis stood before his longtime friend and foster brother with a pristine, dignified bearing. A faint smile spread across his face.

“And Yuria? Does she feel the same way?”

“…….”

“Can you take responsibility and make her happy?”

Claude could hardly believe it. Though he had worked up the courage to confess, he had never thought his feelings would be permitted.

“Alexis.”

“We were both too ignorant. We should’ve realized sooner. If we had, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time like this.”

Alexis moved slowly. Approaching the bed, he gently brushed aside Cecil’s tousled hair, then carefully pulled the thin blanket up to cover his chest.

“At least now, those lost hearts have found their way. That’s a relief.”

“Then who do you… no, don’t tell me.”

A short gasp escaped Claude. Watching Alexis’s actions, he finally grasped the meaning behind them.

“…Is it true? You and Cecil?”

“Yes.”

In a voice utterly without inflection, Alexis readily acknowledged his feelings. Having completed all preparations, he murmured faintly,

“Give me just a moment to say goodbye. Ten minutes will be enough.”

“I’ll… wait outside.”

Claude, returning from friend to knight commander, immediately excused himself. When the door closed, the bedchamber grew quiet, leaving only Cecil and Alexis. Bright morning sunlight washed the room in white. The day Cecil had designated as the day of departure even had perfect weather.

Alexis sat lightly on the edge of the bed. His carefully worn uniform creased, but he paid it no mind.

“I hoped you’d wake up before I left. Was that asking too much?”

A small sigh slipped out. War itself did not frighten him, but leaving Cecil behind wrapped around his ankle like a shackle.

“I know there’s no turning back now… but I regret so many things. If I had accepted your feelings back then, would we have been a little better off?”

No answer came to his aching confession. Alexis smiled faintly and cupped Cecil’s cheek.

“I will win and return.”

“…….”

“So you, too, must do your best to come back to me.”

I love you. So that Cecil might hear it even in his dreams, he whispered it by his ear. A sincere kiss brushed briefly against his dry lips before parting.

Then Alexis returned to the dignified bearing of the Crown Prince and left the bedchamber.

 

***

 

Cecil regained consciousness long after that.

When he opened his eyes, everything around him was bright, and the familiar voices of attendants murmured nearby.

He had to blink several times to adjust to the glare. His limbs felt stiff and sore, yet he also felt strangely refreshed, as though he had slept deeply.

“Some water….”

At the faint voice, the attendants froze mid-motion. Then—crash!—the sound of something shattering rang out, and startled figures rushed over in a flurry.

“Lord Cecil!”

“You’re awake? Do you recognize us?”

Cecil answered with a nod. His mind was so hazy it would take some time to fully grasp reality.

When he made a tentative attempt to push himself upright, many hands hurried in to support him. Cushions were stacked behind his back, and a teacup filled with water was presented on a silver tray.

Ethan, too, had come running like lightning upon hearing the news of Cecil’s awakening. As he was examined, Cecil let out a drained sigh.

“…How long was I out?”

“Two weeks have passed. You did show signs of waking up from time to time, but… you truly don’t remember anything?”

Cecil shook his head slowly. Two weeks had gone by, yet to him it felt as though time had been cleanly snipped away.

The only memory that surfaced was Alexis’s face in the strategy chamber. Recalling the deathly pale expression of shock on his face, a sigh escaped him.

“His Highness…?”

“The imperial forces are currently in the midst of battle. His Highness the Crown Prince is participating as well.”

“I want to hear the details. I’ll need someone to bring me news.”

Not long after, one of the aides visited the Peridot Palace.

Only after listening to his report for nearly an hour did Cecil grasp the current situation. The fighting had been at a stalemate for a week, but fortunately, the imperial forces were slightly ahead.

Setting aside his worries, Cecil focused solely on recovery. One day, as he was gradually regaining his health under the devoted care of the attendants, Ethan finished his morning examination and spoke in a firm tone.

“I can no longer prescribe you any medication.”

“…….”

“As your attending physician, I must strongly advise you. Please, from now on, take better care of your body. If you damage yourself again, I will have no choice but to tell the truth to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At Ethan’s earnest plea, Cecil felt utterly conflicted. If even Ethan—who did not share a close personal bond with him like Leo did—was stepping in to stop him, then the situation was truly serious.

“…All right. I promise.”

Cecil, too, could feel that his body had already been worn down to its limits. Spending two weeks confined to a sickbed had taught him much. To waste the rest of his life in bed would be foolish.

That afternoon, Yuria visited the Peridot Palace. Her arms were full of flowers and cookies. Upon hearing the news that Cecil had awakened, she came at once, more moved than anyone.

“I’m so relieved you’ve recovered. You have no idea how worried I was. Especially His Highness—he was so devoted….”

With a mix of joy and sorrow, Yuria dabbed at tears. She also told him how Alexis had stayed by his side, nursing him with utmost care the entire time Cecil lay unconscious.

Though he had already heard the same from the attendants, it was still hard to believe.

Could it be that everyone was conspiring to lie for the sake of his weakened body? With that unfounded suspicion, Cecil wore a bitter smile.

“Lord Cecil. There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Yes?”

Yuria took a deep breath, as if the words were difficult to say.

“I think… I’ll be getting married soon.”