Wendy stood in that secluded corner, clutching the front of her clothes tightly with both hands as she gazed up at the pitch-black figure in the sky.
When Greg's declaration-"Your Fifth Imperial Princess, Wendy von Rheinfield, is the woman I've set my heart on"-spread throughout the Imperial Capital, amplified by magic power, her body jolted as though an electric current had struck her.
Her eyes reddened in an instant, and tears welled up uncontrollably, blurring her vision.
"Huh... what's happening to me?"
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, only to find that the more she wiped, the more tears came. She couldn't stop them.
Eventually, she gave up and let the tears roll down her cheeks, but the corners of her mouth kept lifting against her will, leaving her laughing and crying at once.
Ever since she was little, she had grown used to bearing everything alone, used to his malice toward her.
She had never dared hope that someone would stand before everyone and shield her behind him with what amounted to a public declaration.
The feeling of being chosen so firmly was like a warm flame, driving the last trace of cold from her heart.
She lowered her head and covered her face with both hands, her shoulders trembling gently. Her voice was choked with tears, yet carried a smile.
"Honestly... Bishop... how am I ever supposed to bring myself to leave you after this...?"
On another street.
Ellie had intended to take advantage of the spectral enemies suddenly standing around in a daze to search for Greg, but then she heard the declaration from the sky.
The sword in her hand paused, and her dark golden hair drifted gently in the night breeze.
She fell silent for a moment, then pursed her