Koutarou...
Seeing Koutarou like that, Theia's expression brightened up slightly. However, she quickly hid that and looked at Koutarou with a sulking expression.
“Koutarou, are you happy that you'll get chocolate from Ruth?”
“Yeah, of course.”
Koutarou answered Theia and nodded like it was the obvious answer. He was happy to get chocolate from Ruth.
“Ruth is an alien you know? Are you fine with that?”
Theia continued to question Koutarou, it was like she was confirming Koutarou's feelings one at a time.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
Does he not mind that Ruth is an alien? Koutarou understood what her words meant, but he couldn't understand the intentions behind her question.
“Ruth is an alien, and a noble, even if her chocolate was a true love chocolate, and you became lovers, it might be hard to make a family... is what I mean.”
“Ah, so that's what you mean.”
Upon understanding the question, Koutarou closely examined it.
Because of her position, and we can't get along any better than already, would I still be happy to get chocolate, is what she means. Then...
Fortunately, Koutarou came up with answer right away.
“I would be happy. I would to get a true love chocolate, even if it's from an alien, a monster, a robot or anything really.”
More accurately, she got an answer for her question regarding the future.
Koutarou had been happy when he got the insignia of rank from Charl. The same was true when Alaia entrusted him with Signaltin. It didn't matter who he or the other person were. He was happy people gave him something out of trust or gratitude.
That's why his answer was the same this time.
“...Eh? R-Really...?”
Theia was puzzled by Koutarou's answer. And as she was puzzled, she began putting expectations on Koutarou.
He won't mind, even if it's an alien...? Can you be happy even if it's me and Ruth...?
Theia wanted to know of Koutarou's real intentions. It might have been an obvious answer for Koutarou, but it was more important than anything.
“What do you mean by really... Theia, you were the one who told me.”
Koutarou put his hand on his hips and smiled wryly.
“Eh? W-What did I say?”
“That what's important isn't the sword itself.”
“Wha―”
The moment she heard Koutarou's answer, Theia felt embarrassed. She realized that she was so obsessed over herself being an alien that she had overlooked the most important thing.
“This is just the same. I don't care about your body or where you're from. It would be a waste of chocolate, so give me ten or twenty pieces!”
“Koutarou...”
Koutarou's word spread throughout Theia's chest. And they eventually turned into hope that brightly shone on the dark clouds surrounding Theia's heart.
That's right, what was I so worried about. I was the one who said that Koutarou was a true knight...
Theia was so obsessed about her alien body and that they lived on different planets that she had lost sight of herself. She should have trusted her feelings more. She should have trusted that she would be able to make Koutarou happy after throwing all of her feelings at him.
“If there was a problem, it would be...”
“It would be?”
“Whether that chocolate was bitter or not.”
When she heard those words, large tears began flowing out from Theia's eyes. And without even trying to wipe them away she smiled at Koutarou.
“Then you don't need to worry. All of it is milk chocolate. You won't feel any bitterness...”
Koutarou, please live with us... I promise, if you choose me and Ruth, we will definitely prepare you a very sweet chocolate...
Theia believed that there was a future where they could all be happy. And even if there wasn’t one, she was resolute to make one herself. Theia would no longer hesitate, she would work towards that future with all her might.
“Your highness...”
In that moment, Ruth was able to sense the change in Theia's feelings. That was the first step towards the ideal that Ruth strived for. It was the moment where everything started...
Your highness, so you've made up your mind... that's it. Now everything will surely go well. And that's because Satomi-sama said that he was happy these past ten months...
Ruth trembled from joy and looked like she would start to cry any second now. However she held her feelings in, as she believed it was best to smile right now.
“Theia, why are you crying?”
“It's nothing, I was just casting away my own heart's weakness. I'm fine now.”
At last, Theia wiped her tears away. And her eyes began to shine, her eyes no longer gave off the impression of her worrying or suffering. She had wiped away her hesitation and uneasiness. Leaving behind her normal and powerful clear blue eyes.
Theia...?
However, there had been one big change from before, and that was the new feeling residing in her powerful eyes and how it greatly changed the atmosphere around them. Koutarou found himself unable to look away from those eyes.