By the time Theia woke up, her surroundings had changed into something more familiar. She was in her private room onboard the Blue Knight. And besides here was her childhood friend. It was the same scene she always witnessed when waking up.
“Ruth.”
“Good morning, your highness.”
“...What happened?”
The last thing Theia could remember was being attacked by Elexis's subordinates and resisting them. Theia asked Ruth what happened after that.
“Before your highness could be abducted, Satomi-sama repelled the enemy.”
“What about Elexis?”
“He escaped. And he didn't leave any evidence behind.”
“I see... we fell completely into his trap...”
From a brief talk, Theia had learned everything she wanted to know. This was probably thanks to the two having spent a long time together. And the discussion regarding the attack ended there.
“What about Koutarou?”
“He is safe. I believe he is eating dinner right now.”
Ruth had prepared dinner while Theia was sleeping. Koutarou's injuries hadn't been anything serious, so he should be eating dinner with everyone else around now.
“I see... that's good...”
Upon hearing that Koutarou was safe, Theia's expression brightened up.
You really did come to save me, Koutarou... and I'm glad you're okay...
Theia had complicated feelings regarding Koutarou, but that wasn't his fault. So she was happy that he had come to save her and she felt relief to hear that he was safe. In the end, Theia loved Koutarou.
“How about you confirm it with your own eyes?”
“No, that's fine...”
Theia shook her head at Ruth's suggestion. If she stayed by Koutarou's side any longer, she would most likely make a decision that would make Koutarou suffer. Theia wanted to avoid that. Since she loved Koutarou, she wanted him to be as happy as possible.
“Your highness...”
Ruth understood Theia's feelings very well. Just a while ago she had been thinking the same thing. But in the end, she chose Koutarou. Because she realized that she would hate it any other way. And now that she had learned of Koutarou's secret, she was convinced that her decision was correct. Ruth wanted to convey to that Theia somehow, she wanted her to understand that it was okay to love Koutarou.
I should tell her.... I feel sorry for her highness...
Upon thinking about it hard, Ruth decided to tell Theia. So Ruth sat down on the chair next to the bed and faced Theia.
“Your highness, there is one thing I want to tell you.”
“What now, why so formal?”
Noticing that Ruth was acting different from normal, Theia straightened herself up and turned towards Ruth. As a result, they ended up looking directly at each other.
“I am well aware of how you are feeling, your highness. And I will say this knowing that.”
Ruth looked straight into Theia's eyes and slowly spoke. Her words were overflowing with her desire to let her childhood friend be happy.
“Your highness, don't hesitate, just choose Satomi-sama. Living with him is not a sin in any way. He will surely be of help to the people of Forthorthe.”
“Ruth...”
Ruth's feelings were conveyed to Theia as well. Theia knew painfully well how Ruth must have felt saying that.
“How can you say that? I can't... find any reason behind it...”
But even then, Theia couldn't make her decision.
It was already a matter of fact that Koutarou was special to Theia and Ruth. However, could the citizens find enough value in Koutarou to accept the Mastir family's lineage dying out? That's what Theia was thinking of.
“I believe in Satomi-sama. He will surely leave behind greater achievements than even the legendary Blue Knight.”
Ruth knew that Koutarou would contribute to Forthorthe, even more than the Blue Knight. In reality, he already had. Since Koutarou was the Blue Knight himself, he had already contributed more to Forthorthe than the legends told. Koutarou was more than qualified to serve as Theia's partner. If anything, Theia might not be qualified enough for him.
However, Ruth felt like Theia's feelings towards Koutarou needed to be developed even further before she learned of the truth. If not, she would surely regret it. Based on Theia's personality, if she were to choose Koutarou by relying on him being the Blue Knight, she would regret making her decision that reliance later.
“Do you believe that Satomi-sama is inferior to the Blue Knight, your highness?”
“I don't, of course not!”
Theia intensely shook her head.
She believed that Koutarou was her greatest knight, that he surpassed even the Blue Knight. And she wanted everyone to believe that to be the truth.
“But... But you see I am an alien! Even if we were to marry a child would never be born! I can never give him a family!”
Theia suffered greatly, since she had grown up with a single parent like Koutarou, she was very well aware of how he felt towards family. And if he were to marry her he would never have a family. Theia believed that it was nothing but sinful to tie him down like that.