Gigas Core

"Fifteen years ago, in the ballroom of the Hestalia Kingdom's palace, King Sigmund Regal Hestalia threw a 33rd birthday party for the Queen, Gethrude Isgerd Hestalia. All the nobles were invited. As a marquess, Alfonso and his wife, Aurora, brought Rainar along to the palace. That day was Rainar's first time inside the palace.

As soon as he stepped into the ballroom, Rainar was stunned by the magnificent room. It was brightly lit with many windows all around, a beautiful crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the center, and a red carpet stretching all the way up a spiral staircase at the end of the room, complete with a royal seating area in the middle.

Rainar looked left and right, taking in the room. Besides his parents, he didn't know anyone. Many kids his age were standing with their parents, but they seemed quiet, just following their parents' lead. At that moment, that's exactly what Rainar did; he stayed silent and followed his parents wherever they went.

Rainar elegantly introduced himself to other nobles who spoke to his father and mother if asked to. While standing behind his parents, the King and Queen, who had already been mingling, came over to greet Alfonso and Aurora. Seeing his parents bow before the King, Rainar naturally bowed in respect as well.

But when he lifted his head, he noticed a little girl standing between the King and Queen. Rainar was a bit captivated because the little girl looked so beautiful and sweet in a puffy white party dress that resembled a flower. Feeling observed, the girl turned to look at Rainar and smiled. Their gazes met and held for quite a long time.

King Sigmund and Alfonso realized that Rainar was staring at the girl without stopping, and vice versa. Finally, both parents encouraged them forward.

"Come on, Rainar, introduce yourself to the Princess," Alfonso said, nudging Rainar.

"Hahaha, don't be shy, Rainar," King Sigmund said, also nudging his daughter.

Rainar stood frozen, unmoving. Then he watched the Princess hold her skirt with both hands and curtsy, greeting him.

"My name is Reia Abigail Hestalia. I'm 6 years old. Nice to meet you," Reia said.

Rainar remained stunned and stood frozen, staring at Reia. Then Reia took a step forward and took Rainar's hand. "Gasp!" Rainar flinched in surprise, instinctively letting go of Reia's hand. Reia's face immediately looked sad, as if she was about to cry because her hand had been rejected by Rainar. Feeling guilty, Rainar finally took Reia's hand again, knelt on one knee, kissed Reia's hand, then looked up at Reia's face.

"My name is Rainar Richteros. Nice to meet you, Princess Reia," Rainar said.

Reia's face immediately brightened. Without hesitation, she immediately grabbed Rainar's hand and cheerfully led him around the ballroom. Rainar could see many other young noble boys who seemed envious of him because, to them, being able to approach the Princess was a source of pride and glory for their family name. While still stunned from being led to run all over the place,

"Hey, let's go to the balcony!" Reia suggested.

"Okay," Rainar replied, simply following along without arguing.

The two ran into the palace hallway and out onto a side balcony where the beautiful palace garden was clearly visible from above, even at night.

"Look, look, isn't my garden beautiful?" Reia asked, showing Rainar her garden.

"Yeah, it's beautiful," Rainar replied with a smile, truly admiring the palace garden, which he was seeing for the first time in his life.

"How about you come back tomorrow, and we go to the garden together for tea?" Reia asked cheerfully.

"Uh... tomorrow? I have to ask my dad for permission first," Rainar replied.

"Yeah, I'll tell Papa I want to invite you to play at the palace. Papa will definitely give you permission," Reia said.

"But... why me?" Rainar asked.

"I don't have any friends," Reia replied, looking down.

"Oh," Rainar said, confused about how to respond.

"You're my first friend, right?" Reia asked cheerfully.

"Um... I guess so," Rainar answered hesitantly.

"Hehe, I'm glad you're my friend," Reia replied, holding Rainar's hand.

After that, the two fell silent, enjoying the night view of the garden without saying a word. Music drifted from a distance. They both turned to look at the door, then at each other. Finally, Rainar broke the silence.

"Um... want to dance?" Rainar asked, extending his trembling hand, feeling shy.

"Gladly," Reia replied, taking Rainar's hand and smiling broadly.

They began to dance on the balcony, accompanied by the faint music drifting from the ballroom. Although their dancing was messy and completely uncoordinated, they both laughed widely and enjoyed it happily. Since that party, the King sent a letter to the Richteros family, granting Rainar permission to play within the palace grounds to accompany Reia. Of course, Alfonso agreed, and he himself drove Rainar to the palace almost every day to meet Reia.

They continued to be together almost every day. They even snuck out of the palace alone, without guards, and walked around the city. They had fun buying lots of food, watching street performances, and looking at shops. Of course, when they returned, both were severely scolded by the King and Alfonso and received punishment together.

Rainar and Reia remained together until Reia was engaged to Evan Orstrich when she was 10 years old, and Rainar could no longer go to the palace to see Reia. The engagement announced two years before Rainar was 12 years old and received the "Gigas Core" job, then became Raigan, who destroyed the Hestalia Kingdom and disappeared.

******

After finishing his story, Rai looked at the cocoon with a smile, then he turned to look at Erin, who was silent.

"Too long, huh?" Rai asked.

"Not really, but you must have been sad, being separated from big sister Reia all this time, especially when she got engaged," Erin replied.

"Hmm, at first, yeah, but I managed to accept it. She's a princess, and it's normal for her to be engaged," Rai said.

"But shouldn't she have been your fiancée?" Erin asked.

"Not necessarily. The royal rules and noble disputes are hard to understand," Rai replied.

"I see," Erin replied, looking down.

"Oh, and one more thing," Rai added.

"What is it, big brother?" Erin asked.

"When Reia wakes up, please don't tell her I'm Rainar. I'm still Rai, and to me, she's still Rafina, not Reia, and not Reidan either," Rai answered, looking at the cocoon.

"Why not? Don't you want to reunite with your childhood friend who was like a girlfriend to you?" Erin asked.

"No, she didn't recognize me as Rainar, did she? Just like I didn't recognize her as Reia when we first met six months ago. We've both changed, and our life at the ruined kingdom from the past should just remain in the past. There's no need to open it up again; just let it stay buried, otherwise it will hurt both of us, Rafina is not a princess anymore right now and I'm not a noble, nor her friend from the past anymore. You understand, right?" Rai asked.

"Hmm... if you say so, I understand," Erin replied.

"Thanks, Erin. You're not Kiko anymore either; you're Erin, my little sister, and Rafina's little sister," Rai said, stroking Erin's head and smiling.

"Hehe, yeah, big brother Rai!" Erin replied with a wide grin.

"Now, let's just hope Rafina doesn't go on a rampage when she wakes up," Rai said anxiously, looking at the red cocoon in front of them.

Meanwhile, inside the cocoon, the unconscious Rafina smiled and shed a happy tear.