I Miss You

Higashino Makoto turned around. Calca stood by the window, the morning light streaming in from behind her, outlining her figure in a golden silhouette.

With long golden hair, blue eyes, and a white dress, she stood there like a painting.

Let's go.

"Um."

The two walked out of the palace, through the corridor, through the courtyard, and past the fountains that shimmered in the morning light.

Alice Kuonji followed behind.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto."

"Um."

"This is --"

"The Holy Queen, Calca Besares."

"Hello."

Alice Kuonji bowed slightly.

"Kuonji Alice, Mr. Higashino Makoto's secretary."

Calca looked at her, at the teapot in her hand, at her expressionless face, at her delicate features and doll-like demeanor.

"Secretary?"

"Right."

Calca glanced at Higashino Makoto.

"You've changed secretaries again?"

"Yes, once a month."

Calca did not press further, but simply nodded, though he turned his head away with some displeasure before looking at Kuonji Alice.

"Hello, Ms. Kuonji."

"Hello, I won't disturb your date with your master any longer."

After saying that, she turned and left.

The two were silent for a moment, and Calca looked at the distant sea.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto."

"Um."

"After you left last time, I did a lot of things. Unifying the North and South, reforming the nobility, resettling the common people, and I did all the dirty work too."

"I know, it's written in my intelligence."

Calca stopped and turned to look at him.

"So, do you think... I did a good job?"

Higashino Makoto looked at her, his face expressionless, but his voice softened slightly.

You did a great job.

Calca's lips curled up slightly.

"Thanks."

The two continued walking forward.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, where are you going next?"

"Baharuth Empire, Dragon Kingdom, then go home and rest."

"Go home?"

"Novas Etier, my home."

Calca remained silent for a moment.

When will you come again?

"I don't know, it could be soon, or it could be a long time."

Calca lowered his head, as if he had made up his mind.

"Then... I'll wait for you."

"Don't wait for me, just do what you need to do."

"I will, but I will still wait."

Higashino Makoto didn't say anything, he just kept walking forward.

Calca looked at him, at the silver-haired, golden-eyed man.

Higashino Makoto.

"Um."

"Thank you, thank you for letting me know that I can also be a good king."

Higashino Makoto did not turn back.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to do it."

Calca's tears finally fell. She wiped them away with the back of her hand, took a deep breath, and quickened her pace to catch up.

"Higashino Makoto, have lunch with me today."

"Good."

"Keep me company tonight too."

"... good."

Calca lowered her head, her face turning bright red. She could hardly believe she had said such a thing again.

Sunlight streamed onto the stone walls of the palace, illuminating the ancient carvings with exceptional clarity.

The moon rises high in the sky.

Higashino Makoto stood by the window of his guest room, his long, silvery-white hair gleaming coldly in the moonlight, his golden eyes gazing at the sea shrouded in night outside the window.

Alice Kuonji had already gone back to the next room. Before leaving, she brewed him one last pot of black tea.

The tea was still warm, and the unique fruity aroma of black tea filled the air, mingling with the salty smell brought by the sea breeze.

There was a knock on the door.

It wasn't the unhurried three taps like those from Alice Kuonji, but a lighter tap, tinged with hesitation, as if afraid of disturbing something or being rejected.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open.

Calca stood at the door. She wasn't wearing her signature white dress, nor was her hair styled in a neat updo.

Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled, still damp from her recent shower.

She was wearing a light blue nightgown, the hem of which reached her ankles, and the neckline was neither too high nor too low.

Barefoot, her fair toes curled slightly on the cold stone slab.

She stood there, like a flower swaying gently in the night breeze.

Beautiful, fragile, with a stubbornness that could be blown away at any moment.

"Higashino Makoto, I... can't sleep."

"What's wrong?"

"Thinking about something."

She went into the room and closed the door.

"Thinking about this period of time, thinking about the changes, thinking about... things that haven't changed yet."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

"Sit."

Calca didn't sit. She walked to the window and stood beside him, her golden eyes gazing at the moonlit sea outside. Her fingers lightly traced the window frame.

"Higashino Makoto, do you know what I do most often?"

"Have no idea."

"Look in the mirror."

Higashino Makoto glanced at her.

"Looking in the mirror?"

"Yes, look in the mirror."

A slight smile played on her lips, a hint of relief in her expression.

"Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is look in the mirror. I look at my face, my eyes, my expression. I ask myself, 'Today, are you the Holy Queen, or Calca?'"

Is there a difference?

"Yes. The Holy Queen won't cry, hesitate, or show weakness. Holy Queen will only laugh, make decisions, and issue orders. But Calca will. Calca will get tired, she will be afraid, and she will want to give up."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

"So, who did you see when you looked in the mirror this morning?"

Calca remained silent for a moment.

"... Calca was wearing a bathrobe, her hair was messy, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She needed beauty magic to maintain the Holy Queen's beauty."

"Sometimes I still laugh. I laugh at myself for being the Holy Queen, for having done so much, for no longer needing to rely on anyone... But when I see you, my heart still races, I still get nervous, I still... act like a fool."

Higashino Makoto looked at her, and Calca looked back at him without flinching, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.

Higashino Makoto.

"Um."

"During this time, I learned one thing."

"What?"

Learn not to treat yourself like a god. You are not a god; you are a person, someone who gets tired, annoyed, and doesn't want to talk.

Her voice was very soft.

"So, I won't ask you when you'll be back, I don't want to ask where you're going, or if you'll even come back. Because asking won't help; you won't change your plans because of my questions, and you won't speed up your pace because of my waiting."

She looked down at her hands.

But I still have to say it.

"Say what?"

"Say... I miss you."

The room fell silent. Higashino Makoto looked at her, at her lowered eyelashes, at her slightly trembling lips.

"Calca, you've changed."

What has changed?

"You actually chose to seduce me?"

Calca paused for a moment, then gave a smile that was both sly and relieved.

"I've tried to tempt you before, but you rejected me without hesitation. So, will you refuse again this time?"