“I don't care if it's Kiriha or Yurika! If he doesn't marry a human from Earth he will never be happy! I won't do for him!”
Theia shouted out while crying and strongly grasping the bed sheets.
Why an alien... why couldn't you appear in front of me as a man of Forthorthe...
Theia had never begrudged being an alien as much as this. The fact that they could never become normal lovers was exceptionally painful for Theia. And that pain turned into large tears and rained down on her sheets.
“Then you only need to give him double the happiness. Happiness comes in more than one shape.”
Ruth spoke out in a gentle voice and gently removed Theia's fingers grasping on to the sheet, one by one. Once her hand was free, Ruth placed her own hand in Theia's.
“Ruth...”
Ruth's warmth and words sunk into Theia's chest.
A happiness greater than having a family... a different kind of happiness...
Theia and Ruth were not related, yet they shared a happiness. So the same should be possible between Theia and Koutarou. That was what Ruth was trying to say.
“And you believe I can do that?”
“It's not whether you can or cannot. You will do it. It is not like everyone can have a child either.”
Even in Forthorthe, infertile couples existed, who were unable to have children. There were all kinds of reasons, be it genes, injuries or the likes. But even then they chose each other, because they believed. So Theia should be able to do the same. Ruth not only believed in Koutarou, but in Theia as well.
“However... I am scared.”
Theia could understand what Ruth was saying, that was probably the truth, but there was one more thing that worried Theia.
“Just what could a princess of Forthorthe fear?”
“I am terrified of controlling the fate of one person!! This is the first I have ever been this frightened!!”
Theia's tears overflowed from her eyes and she strongly gripped Ruth's hand.
“Your highness...”
Theia's hand was shaking, Ruth squeezed on her hand to stop the trembles. But that wasn't enough to stop the shaking.
“I am terrified of seeing the sight of Koutarou regretting his decision!”
What Theia was scared of was what might happen after she took Koutarou back to Forthorthe with her. That although everything might be fine at the start, as time passed, he would come to regret coming to Forthorthe. He would probably never say he regretted it, but what about how he truly felt? That's what frightened Theia.
“I don't want him feeling lonely and looking up into the starry sky, searching for Earth! I alone will surely not be enough to save him from that solitude...”
The thought of Koutarou searching for Earth in the stars, something he would never find, floated into Theia's mind. She did so herself; if she looked up at the stars, she would inadvertently look for Forthorthe. Theia had come here of her own will, so that was fine. But what about Koutarou? And if that turned into a reality, what would she do? Theia herself couldn't think of anything to help.
“Then let us search for a way together, you and me, your highness.”
“Ruth!?”
That was where Ruth suggested the unthinkable, leaving Theia at a loss for words.
“If your highness alone can't save him from his solitude on your own, then the two of us might be able to.”
“The two of us...”
Theia had been surprised at first, but if she was together with Ruth, it might be possible. And both Koutarou and Ruth were in Theia's ideal future. She also knew of Ruth's feelings for Koutarou. With that in mind, she began believing that the two of them supporting Koutarou together might be the correct choice.
“...Ruth, tell me one thing.”
However, Theia had a single doubt regarding Ruth's words. Noticing that, she showed her normal, challenging smile while still holding onto Ruth's hand.
Your highness...
That alone was enough for Ruth to understand that Theia had made up her mind. That Theia would walk together with Koutarou, regardless of how difficult that path may be.
“You are just planning on using me for your own happiness, aren't you? I won't be mad so just be honest.”
“Of course.”
Ruth nodded firmly. Her gesture held more meaning than just the answer to Theia's question. And the two of them poured even more strength into their hands.
“My happiness is on the other side of her highness's happiness.”
“...That's one way to put it. You're being reckless...”
Theia sounded like she was amazed, however, that was just her words. The feelings conveyed in her words held a different meaning.
“That's because you can't contain that person without being reckless.”
“...Fufufu, that's right.”
Like such, Theia was finally able to make up her mind.
I will live together with Koutarou and Ruth...
She knew that there would be hardships in the future. Since they were aliens, her uneasiness was considerable. That's why she would surpass the hardships, even if they seemed impossible to obtain a future that would hold value too many people.