Your Regrets Are Late

Luensir accepted all of Charteron’s complaints and comforted her. He had no idea the rumors would reach Charteron’s ears.

Charteron was smarter than other kids her age. However, because she cared too much about those around her, she had low self-esteem and thought she wasn’t good enough.

She had heard remarks like, ‘As a royal princess, it’s only natural for her to do this much.’ Although she was raised by parents who didn’t force her to study and support her as much as possible to do whatever she wanted to do, she was greatly influenced by other people. She felt the need to organize things soon.

Having calmed down considerably, Charteron, who had left Luensir’s embrace, pressed her eyes to relieve the puffiness.

“But, can I ask something?”

“What?”

“Why don’t you teleport these days?”

“That’s because…”

“Go on.”

“I went to the bedroom of the Elak Palace and found His Majesty and Her Majesty were kissing.”

“…”

“His Majesty Father said not to use it for a while.”

Luensir, who portrayed the situation as he was there at the time, laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes.

“Don’t laugh!”

“Her Majesty Mother must have scolded you for not knocking before entering, right?”

“More than that, what did you think His Majesty was doing when I left?’

“

if it’s His Majesty, wasn’t the right corner of his mouth raised up this much?”

“That’s… I think it was like that too.”

“That’s His Majesty’s habit when he is embarrassed.” Luensir pushed Charteron’s back again on the swing again.

“Really…? I didn’t know. How did you find out?”

“It’s just, when I saw it, I found out.”

“What is that?”

* * *

That night, Charteron visited Charelize and apologized for what had happened during the day. She then confessed that she didn’t know which faculty to attend.

Charelize, listening quietly to Charteron, told her of her troubles when she hesitated to choose between the Faculty of Medicine and Political Science.

“… So in the end, I chose the latter between the major I wanted to go and the major I had to go, but I wish my daughter wouldn’t be like me. We will support you no matter where you go. No matter what you do from now on, you don’t have to be a great person.”

“…”

Charelize sat the unresponsive Charteron on her lap and affectionately ruffled her hair. “I wanted you to live a comfortable life, so I named you ‘Charteron,’ which means tranquil. ‘Laressa’ was the only child of the first head of the Marsetta family, and she lived doing what she wanted to do. You know that ‘Astra’ means star.”

“…”

“Charon, keep in mind that you’re a child who will shine brightly just the way you are.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you know what my name means?”

“I heard it is a flower that only blooms in the north.”

“That’s right. This is the name your maternal grandmother gave me, hoping everyone would love me. Let’s go see it together next time.”

“…Yes!”

“Charon, I want you to be happy doing what you want to do.”

Charteron burst into tears once more.

Having talked to Charteron until late, Charelize found out that her child wanted to go to the Faculty of Swordsmanship or the Faculty of Magic. Magic undergraduate students were likely to fall into a slump if they didn’t overcome stagnation at a certain period of time. However, she didn’t want to suggest she go to the Faculty of Swordsmanship because she saw the number of minor wounds increase every time she trained. Although Charelize didn’t show it, she wished she had taken a safe faculty.

In the end, while she was doing her work, Hailey saw her constantly sighing due to the concerns related to that.

“Do you have concerns, Your Majesty?”

“…Charon wants to go to the Faculty of Magic or Faculty of Swordsmanship.”

“It suits Her Royal Highness, who has an active personality. She’s also talented in magic, having learned it from His Majesty since she was young.”

“I know. The decision is in Charon’s hands, and I intend to support that decision. But… last time, she almost got a big cut on her arm while practicing swordsmanship, so I’m worried. If I recommend something else… Given Charon’s personality, she would naturally follow, but she might regret it later.”

“Yes.”

“Parents can hold their children’s hand when they fall, but they aren’t the ones who walk for their children or tell them which path to take.”

Hailey smiled softly at Charelize’s concern. “Hearing Your Majesty’s words reminded me of that time.”

“That time?”

“I had no regrets about my decision to drop out. Your Majesty said that I’m not someone who lives my life for you but someone who walks by your side.”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“When my father taught me how to use swords when I was young, he often asked me if I wanted to go to the Faculty of Swordsmanship. Knowing that I would have a hard time, my mother wanted me to enter another faculty… Still, I liked the sword. So, I overcame my mother’s insistence and entered the Faculty of Swordsmanship.”

Her father passed away, leaving her behind, and her mother abandoned her even though she was still alive. Charelize felt sorry for Hailey, who was talking about those two with a nonchalant expression. Because she knew better than anyone else that it was a memory she could never forget.  Charelize stared silently into Hailey’s eyes, pretending to be okay.

“Your Majesty, in fact, I came to see my mother a week ago.”

“Countess Arien?”

“Yes. I received a letter saying that my mother was sick.”

Having opened her eyes wide to the unexpected news, she looked at Hailey’s complexion first.

“She was curious about why I dropped out of the Faculty of Swordsmanship. She knew I liked it so much, so I answered this way.”

“…”

“Because my father ‘died and left me,’ and my mother ‘left me behind.’ In an instant, there is no one I can protect, so I lost the reason to hold the sword.”

“…Do you still have no regrets?”

“If I hadn’t let go of the sword at that time, my insides would have festered, and I would have tormented myself. I learned a lot from being by Your Majesty’s side. I have absolutely no regrets.”

Hailey, Countess Kabe and the exclusive maid of the Bachelat Palace, sometimes went out to practice her swordsmanship at dawn. Charelize, who had been watching this silently for several years, wondered why she had picked up the sword again and asked.

“…I don’t want to lose any precious people again, Your Majesty.”

Puzzled, Charelize soon remembered that Lari’s death anniversary was coming up. She never got used to this silence that came every year. Saying that she didn’t want to lose any more precious people, the starting point must be Lari’s death.

“No matter how much I try to imagine, she’s still young in my memories… I couldn’t picture her becoming an adult. If she were alive, what would she have looked like?”

“…”

“Even as she gets older, her down-to-earth personality probably hasn’t changed. She still runs well, falls… gets hurt… and probably didn’t listen to me…”

“…”

“More than anyone else, she would become the aunt who cared for the Royal Highnesses more than anyone else. Lari is a younger sister who looks a lot like Your Majesty.”

“… I can’t forget Lari’s last words. She doesn’t regret being able to protect me. She hopes… I will be happy.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“When I realized the reality that the price of my happiness is Lari’s death, I cannot smile in peace.” Charelize, who couldn’t bear to feel sorry for Lari, washed her face dry.

“Me too.”

“?”

“It seems that timid and lonely child asking Your Majesty to watch over her smiling face until they come to take her. Remember well how happy she was… Lari wants to convey it… So, Your Majesty, please become even happier than you are now.”

“…”

“Otherwise, I won’t have much to say to Lari. You know how talkative Lari was. She would definitely scold me.”

Charelize nodded at Hailey’s grumbling reply as if nothing was more tiring than that.

“…Thank you, Hailey.”

“I’m…”

“…”

“Grateful that Your Majesty is walking by my side. And please take care of me in the remaining days as well.”

Hailey, smiling brightly, lowered her head slightly.

“This year too… Would you like to go with me to give Lari an edelweiss?”

“You don’t have to ask such obvious things.”

Just like the day they first met, Charelize held out her hand to Hailey.

A little bird sitting by the window watching it, flew up. Brown eyes reflected by the warm sun shone. The little bird flew forward, flapping its wings with utmost freedom.

* * *

Charteron enrolled in the Faculty of Magic at the Eralpier Academy two months later. Until the day she left, she couldn’t decide on one faculty, so she even took the exam for the Faculty of Swordsmanship, which she chose as a minor.

“Charon, this is not the imperial palace, so if you want to do research that will blow up the magic lab, come tell me first.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s easier to clean things up that way.”

Having taken the oath as the top student at the entrance ceremony, Luensir presented the oath to the second-top student, Charteron.

“Go die, really.”

“I’m serious.”

With her teeth clenched, Charteron smiled broadly.

“I’m here to learn as a student just like you, not as a prince, so I hope you don’t feel burdened. Once again, congratulations on your admission.”

“I entered the Faculty of Magic but chose the Faculty of Swordsmanship as my minor. I haven’t decided on a single path, but I believe that while I’m learning here, someday I’ll find what I truly want to do.”

“…”

“I hope the students enjoy their time as well. Thank you for your hard work in taking the exam. Congratulations on your admission.”

Seeing the twin of the imperial grandchildren waving as representatives in a friendly manner, they had no idea what kind of friendly conversation they had before. They looked with envy at Luensir and Charteron, who proudly completed their oath and spoke their thoughts.