Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 93

Chapter 93

 

It was a solemn sort of confession. Cecil was momentarily left speechless, but he forced his voice out with difficulty.

“Con…gratulations. I had expected Yuria would become the Crown Princess. I’ll do my part to make sure the wedding is a grand one.”

“No! That’s not it! The person I’m marrying is Claude!”

“…What? Claude and—what?”

Cecil was so shocked that something like a dying gasp slipped from his mouth.

Yuria’s cheeks flushed red at that. Embarrassed, she didn’t know where to rest her gaze.

“It’s a little embarrassing. It’s hard to explain everything, but a lot has happened in the meantime. My relationship with His Highness was settled long ago. I, too… gave up on those feelings some time back.”

“…What are you talking about right now?”

“His Highness already has someone he’s taken to heart. I don’t want to covet a place that was never mine.”

Yuria took a sip of her tea, recalling the words Alexis had left her before departing for the campaign.

‘Yuria, you don’t need to feel sorry. Rather, I’m relieved that the person you chose is Claude. I hope you’ll be happy with a man who cherishes and loves you more than anyone. As the Crown Prince of the Empire, and as your supporter, I promise to continue backing you without reservation.’

‘Are you truly all right?’

‘Of course. I have Cecil. I’m fine.’

Cecil covered his mouth, as if unable to understand.

“His Highness… has someone else he’s set his heart on?”

What on earth had happened while I was laid up sick? Unable to believe it, he kept muttering to himself.

“You truly… had no idea?”

“No idea about what?”

“About who His Highness likes.”

When Cecil shook his head blankly, Yuria’s lips curved into a soft smile.

So even Cecil Adrian can look this cute. Is this why His Highness likes him?

Yuria refrained from saying anything more. A confession, after all, should come from the person involved.

She popped a small cookie into her mouth and smiled gently. Cecil was a clever man—perhaps he would find the answer on his own.

Four more days passed.

Cecil recovered enough to walk around the imperial palace without assistance. Still, perhaps because of the dramatic way he had collapsed before, everyone he encountered looked at him with pity, treating him like someone afflicted with a terminal illness.

Even Alexis had left after excluding Cecil from all official duties.

The enforced rest sat poorly with Cecil. Having nothing to do made the days unbearably long. Even his perfectly fine body seemed to ache here and there, and time dragged on miserably.

“Isn’t it nice to have some free time? You can read books at your leisure. And you get to enjoy tea in the garden again after so long.”

Leo spoke as he piled plenty of cream onto a cup of hot black tea. At some point, he had also placed a tempting slice of peach pie onto a plate. He was clearly doing his best to lift Cecil’s more subdued mood.

Cecil swept his gaze indifferently over the garden scenery. Since it was already January, the camellias were in particularly lavish bloom.

“Yeah, it is comfortable. So comfortable it’s boring.”

“If you’re feeling restless, how about going out with me this afternoon? We could look around the shops in the busy district, and if there’s something you like, do a bit of shopping.”

“We’ll see.”

He appreciated Leo’s suggestion, but it didn’t spark much interest. Resting his chin on his hand, Cecil stared only at the distant palace walls.

His mind was filled entirely with worry about Alexis. Whenever he imagined him fighting in the middle of the battlefield, anxiety crept in, leaving him unable to focus on anything.

“Leo. Any new news?”

“Again? It’s only been an hour since the last report.”

Shaking his head, Leo nudged the plate with the pie a little closer to Cecil, thoughtfully adding a small fork to make it easier to eat.

“There’s nothing to worry about. His Highness Alexis is personally leading the troops! The imperial army will never lose!”

He didn’t seem to realize that was exactly why Cecil was worried.

He didn’t spare even a glance for the dessert he usually loved, instead rubbing the rim of the warm teacup with his fingertips. Cecil let out a long sigh, deep enough to sink the floor.

“I know that, but… my heart won’t settle.”

“What is it you’re worried about?”

“There’s a war raging outside, and yet I’m the only one living in peace.”

“Wars don’t end in a day or two. You can’t live every day clutching your chest in anxiety. Everyone in the palace is just going about their daily lives now.”

“……”

“Above all, Lord Cecil, your rest is your way of helping. You haven’t forgotten our promise, have you?”

“I know.”

Because the waiting had no end in sight, the days crawled by even more slowly.

He wished only for Alexis to return safely as soon as possible. There were so many things he wanted to ask him. Whether he’d be able to ask them directly was another matter.

 

***

 

Cecil lay buried under the covers and lifted his heavy eyelids.

After tossing and turning all night, he had finally fallen asleep near dawn. Alexis seemed to have appeared in her dream.

In it, Cecil had charged into the middle of the enemy camp, grabbed Alexis as he fought Kazarjan soldiers, and demanded to know who he liked. Instead of answering, Alexis had only smiled at him warmly.

Even after waking, Cecil lay there blankly for a while.

He tried closing his eyes again, but once broken, the dream didn’t resume. A helpless sigh escaped him in disappointment.

He pushed the blanket down from his head. Judging by how sunlight had reached all the way into the bed, it seemed it was already noon.

Since there was nothing to do anyway, wouldn’t it be fine to keep lying here? Thinking he’d indulge in a little more laziness, he rolled over to the other side—

“……!”

Beyond the thin canopy curtains, he caught sight of a familiar silhouette. Unable to believe it, Cecil shot upright. Crawling forward on his knees, he flung the curtains open, and the man sitting on the chair came fully into view.

Alexis sat there with his arms crossed, eyes closed. His swept-back hair was a little disheveled, but otherwise he looked exactly as Cecil remembered—dignified and imposing.

Still unable to believe it, Cecil stared. Slowly, the closed eyelids lifted, and blue eyes that had been hidden beneath met his gaze.

“Good morning.”

He greeted him in a low, calm voice, as though he had been waiting for this moment.

“Wh—no. How… are you here?”

Cecil couldn’t even manage a complete sentence. As he stumbled in shock, Alexis uncrossed his arms and smiled gently.

He rose from the chair and stepped closer, sitting on the edge of the bed to meet Cecil at eye level.

“It’s been about an hour. I heard you fell asleep late, so I didn’t wake you.”

Long fingers softly brushed Cecil’s forehead. Even feeling that warmth, Cecil still couldn’t believe it.

“The war… is it already over?”

“Not yet. I only stopped by briefly to see you. I have to return.”

Alexis had heard that Cecil had regained consciousness when the battle was at its fiercest.

With the single-minded resolve that he had to return, he threw himself into the war, and perhaps because he fought with his life on the line, they achieved an overwhelming victory after five days of fighting.

When the war entered a brief lull, he left the aftermath to Claude and came straight here. Including the return journey, Alexis had no more than three or four hours. That was why there was no reason to hesitate. His large hands cupped Cecil’s cheeks.

“I was afraid, Cecil. Afraid you wouldn’t wake up like this.”

“……”

“Even during the war, all I could think about was you. I wanted to tell you this the moment you woke up.”

Alexis met the dazed emerald-green eyes and spoke with sincerity, word by word.

“That I love and cherish you more than anyone.”

“……”

“Do you understand? I mean that I love you.”

After finishing his confession, he slowly lowered his head.

The lips that brushed lightly against Cecil’s forehead passed over his eyes and cheeks before finally settling on his lips. As their lips overlapped softly, Alexis’s straight nose pressed gently against Cecil’s small one.

Cecil’s mind went completely blank. He accepted the kiss defenselessly, then pushed lightly at the chest pressed against his own. He pressed his damp lips together, then collapsed back onto the bed. Curling up, he hurriedly pulled the blanket over himself and hid beneath it.

“What are you doing?”

“…This has to still be a dream.”

Cecil thought this must be an extension of his dream. Otherwise, none of this made sense.

Watching him try to fall back asleep, Alexis laughed helplessly. He understood the confusion all too well.

“No way!”

Not long after, Cecil kicked off the blanket and sat up again.

As if he’d been waiting, Alexis wrapped a hand around the back of his head and pulled him close, showering kisses over his face. He couldn’t help it—Cecil was too adorable.

“It’s all right. I expected it wouldn’t be easy.”

“……”

“I suppose I’ll have to work hard to make you understand my sincerity.”

He pressed his lips firmly against Cecil’s reddened cheek, one last time.