Three years ago. Ra's birthday.

That day, I was feeling down because the master had called me in the night before and scolded me.

The reason for the scolding was that my childhood friends, Carlos and Clay, had been following me and I had slipped and fallen into the river. I was so slow that I drowned, and fortunately Mr. Rah saved me, but I could have drowned if I had made a wrong move.
Then I was taken to Ra-kun's house, bathed, borrowed Mary's clothes, and returned to the house with Ra-kun and the innkeeper's errand boy.

When the master heard everything, he called me up and said

Don't bother others with your nonsense.

It was all I could manage to say yes. It was all I could do not to cry.

I didn't really expect it from the beginning.
Carlos and Clay teased me because I was annoying, I fell into the river because I was slow, and I almost drowned because I was slow.
So, if I had been my usual self, I would have been rather glad that I got away with such a scolding.

But...

I was so worried about Ra-kun, Mary-kun, and Ra-kun's father and mother, and Ra-kun and Mary-kun were so mad at me that they dropped Carlos and Clay in the river, that I got my hopes up.

I thought that maybe the Master would be worried about me.

And that's what happened.

I was a fool.

The next day was Ra's birthday.

I attended a birthday party at Ra-kun's inn, which was full of homemade atmosphere.
I tried my best to put on a smile. If I, who was already a gloomy person, had been depressed, the birthday would have been ruined.
I gave him the gift I had bought, and he asked me to come back to his room later.

I went to his room, fearing that he might ask me not to come anymore, since he was kind of avoiding me at that time. His father, mother, and Mary were just gone.

When I opened the room, Ra-kun looked up at me sitting on his knees for some reason.

Hey, Prine. It's been a while.
'Well, we met a while ago. ......?'
'...... don't worry about it. Sit down.
Ummm...

Ra is strangely nervous. He was about to say something but couldn't, and I felt down at once that he was going to cut me off after all.

I was so scared.
I couldn't stand it anymore.
I said to him myself.

I said to myself, 'I'm sorry, Ra-kun. ....... I ...... won't come ...... anymore ....... I won't talk to you anymore......'

My fists were clenched in my hands as I sat on my legs. A tear fell on it.
I was aware of this as a distant event.

--Don't bother others with your nonsense.

I remember the words of the master who told me that.
I think Mr. Ler must have gotten tired of it. He's tired of me. Of course he did.

I saw the Master and Ra-kun in the same light.

But my words didn't seem to have gotten through to Ra-kun,

'Oh, you know what! Prine!

He said this as if he hadn't heard me.

'In the future, take me - take me as your husband!

I didn't know what that meant.

To be your husband?

Mr. Ra?

Is that strong, kind, and cool Ilah going to end up like your husband?

--I'm not going to let that happen. ......!

I shook my head.
Relieved that I wasn't talking about a breakup, I told him, "I'm sorry, but I can't do this.

This is probably the most selfish thing I've ever done.

I want you to be Ra-kun. I want you to always be my brother.

I want you to be cool like my brother. That's what I thought. That's what I told him.

He............?

However, Ra-kun raised his voice as if he was surprised.
When he looked up, he saw his "big brother" frozen in shock.

'He...... is ......? Is my brother ......, or am I ......?''

I nodded, wondering why he was so surprised.

'I see... I see... ....... So you're my brother. ....... Ha ha ha ......'

With a dry smile, Ra-kun mutters sadly.
I wonder if he wanted to be like you so badly. He is indeed a very impressive man who has made his business family very large. No matter how much advice I give him, I don't think he will ever be like him.
He must have thought so when he thought about taking over the inn.
But Ra-kun wants to be an adventurer. Then I want you to be an adventurer. I'm afraid to say this because it's too selfish of me.

Oh, um, Ra-kun... ......? Sorry ......?

When I apologized, Ra-kun looked more and more hurt.
I felt like crying when he looked so sad.
Or rather, I was crying.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. ....... I'm sorry about Ra ....... I'm sorry for being selfish......'
'No! It's okay! Sorry Prine! I must have just misunderstood! Of course! I'm your big brother! Ha-ha-ha!

I was crying and Rah-kun was trying his best to calm me down even though it was my fault. I feel even more sorry.



'Sorry ...... sorry ......'
'No problem, I'm sorry too, Prine. ......'

Then it took a few more moments for me to stop crying.
That was how Ra's twelfth birthday passed.





I said. I did say it. But that's--

'I didn't want you to be my husband. ....... So I wanted him to stay a big brother......!'
'......, right? No, give me a break, Prine. Don't break my heart so many times.

Ra-kun looks away with a pained expression on his face.

Heartbreak?
What is he talking about, this guy?

'I wanted Ra-kun to give up on being like your husband ......!
'And you asked me to be your big brother, you know, you said so.'
'I said it, but that's not what I meant. ......!

I don't know, something is not quite right.
Ra-kun noticed this, too, and raised his eyebrows.

'The "husband" you're referring to, by any chance, is ......?
'Prine's "husband" might be ......'

Clink.
I'm engaged.

''Ah!

He was shouting uncontrollably. The actors around me were staring at me. I bowed my head and apologized, and Ra-kun and I took a deep breath.

What Ra-kun meant by "sir" and what I thought of as "sir" had different meanings. Why didn't I notice this simple fact?

Then I asked him.

'Rah-kun, you didn't want to be like the "Grand Master of Lamode," did you ......?

Mr. Ra opened his mouth to answer.



'............ I wanted him to be your (...) husband.



My vision went blank.
All sound faded away, and I heard nothing.
There was only the man I loved in front of me.
The person I longed for was staring at me.






Rana remembers.
What she had said to Prine that day.

'Please make me your husband in the future.

Actually, I was going to say, 'Will you be my wife? But I was too embarrassed to say the word 'bride. So I quickly said, 'Please be my husband.

............ Lerna is in a hurry.
I must have said it wrong, then.
Then I wasn't rejected by Prine, was I?



''............Hey?''



Me and Prine tilted our heads at the same time. Since we tilted our faces in the same direction, we moved in unison as if we were in sync with each other, which was very funny.

'Kukkku......'
'Pfff......'

We looked at each other and laughed quietly,

'............!
'............!'

We both looked at each other and turned red.
That was it.
I hadn't confessed my feelings to Prine, and she hadn't rejected me either.
Which means that .......

'--Mr. Rana, Ms. Prine. Please move to the designated position.

Just as I was about to open my mouth, an attendant came and gave us instructions.

The show will start soon. Please come this way.

Then he pulled Prine's hand.

Ah--''
'Prine--'

Eye to eye.
I have to say something, but I don't know what to say.
We just stared at each other - staring at each other, helplessly accepting each other as we were being pulled apart.

But then Prine's mouth moved. But Prine's mouth moved,

--I love you, Ra-kun.

I felt as if I had been struck by lightning.
It was as if those words, which had been said to me so many times before, took on a different meaning.

I had never heard that before.
I didn't know that.
I didn't know that either, Prine. .......

Rana!

As I stood there in a daze, another attendant pulled me along with him as I stood there.

'The show is starting!

He comes close to my face and pleads with me with his eyes to do my job properly.
The attendant looks at me nodding his head and walks away.

--Yes, that's right. First of all, I have to do my job well or I'll be in trouble with you all. ......!

For now, I'll concentrate on the guild quest--making the show a success.
I put on my mask and took a deep, deep breath.

'Whew...'

Click.
Forcing the clown switch, I climbed up the rope ladder offstage. Above the ceiling set was my designated position.

Once in position, I see the wedding set below.
Since it was a guest show, the show was supposed to start with a wedding scene that seemed to be the climax of the show. Well, we are just like a prelude.

Already there stood Prine in her wedding dress and the nobleman who had proposed to her, Lord Franca.
You can't see me from there.
I saw Prine look up at the ceiling and nod yes.
But next to her, Lord Franca, who was playing the role of a hero nobleman, smiled at her, which was strangely interesting to me.



At that moment, a buzzer sounded.
It was the sound that announced the start of the show.
The curtain rises.
The audience cheered and the bright magic lights enveloped Prine and the others.

It was heartbreaking.
I had never thought that in a play, in a performance, a prine could belong to someone else...
And to have them taken from you....

No, I think to myself.
When this show is over, I have one more thing to tell Prine.
I have to say it one more time.
My feelings.

--Yes.

My clown's blood rushes to my veins as I hide from the lights in the shadows of the set.

I'm going to kidnap Prine.