64
「I think not a single one of my
wishes will ever come true. That is the kind of destiny I have.」
「But if Maxence-oniisama
becomes the Emperor……」
「That's not it, Candice…… I……」
Candice was startled by Luca's
words, spoken as if he had given up. He probably meant to say that for him, the
grandson of the Pope and someone with the Emperor's blood, becoming a doctor
was infinitely impossible. In the past, she would have made a fool of Luca,
calling him a coward, but it was different now.
Candice ended up seeing Luca overlap
with her former self.
（He wanted to resist…… Luca-oniisama
is the same. He might have just wanted his feelings to be acknowledged.）
Candice had vented her dissatisfaction
outwards, but in Luca's case, it was the exact opposite. He might have
been resisting by shutting himself inside his own shell. If that was the
result, she felt somewhat empty and felt that she couldn't just leave Luca
alone. Was Luca going to repeat the same thing all over again?
「Are you really alright with that, Luca-oniisama?」
「……Eh?」
「Can you say for sure that you won't
regret it?」
At
Candice's question, Luca bit his lip tightly.
「But there's nothing I can do about
it.」
「I used to think so, too.」
「Eh……?」
「However, ever since I came up with a
wonderful strategy called the 'Exact Opposite Strategy', my life has changed a
hundred and eighty degrees!」
「Exact Opposite, Strategy……?」
「I decided to take actions that my
past self wouldn't take! For example, in my case…… eating vegetables without
being picky, not shopping too much, and getting along with Arthur are
also part of it.」
「……!」
「I even repelled Ojiisama, and I've
been together with my maids for nearly two months, you know!」
Luca was unexpectedly listening with
admiration as Candice boasted while resting a hand on her chin.
「You think of interesting things, Candice.
The Exact Opposite Strategy…… It seems like you can change greatly from your
past self.」
「Right? I intend to live without any
regrets this time around!」
Various
meanings were included in those words. Candice patted the head of Arthur,
who was clinging to her.
Candice had let go of everything she had
been obsessed with and given up on them. And it was precisely because she
wanted to live without dying that she was now able to spend heartwarming days
like this with newly important people.
「I will decide my own path. I'll
become a good Imperial Princess, right up until the day I leave this
Empire!」
「……!」
Lately,
she thought that if she could become a good Imperial Princess, she might
be able to see a world she had never seen before. She might learn new things
and find something precious. The reason she could become so positive was
because she had experienced her first failure. For her own goals, Candice
intended to continue pushing forward aggressively.
（There is nothing the current me
cannot do! Ohohoho）
As
Candice puffed out her chest with a smug look, Luca widened his
aquamarine-like eyes greatly. Arthur was also looking at Candice
with sparkling eyes.
「As expected of Candice-oneesama!
You are very cool.」
「Thank you, Arthur. Keep
following me from now on!」
「Yes! I will also become strong and
follow Candice-oneesama!」
「Oh my……! How reliable.」
Candice directed a smile at Arthur's
adorable words. While she was patting the head of Arthur, who had nodded
with plenty of spirit, just like usual, Luca asked Candice a
question with a serious expression.
「Why do you want to become a good Imperial
Princess, Candice?」
「Eh……?」
「Why are you trying to leave the
Empire?」
「Th-That is, well. I……」
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