Royal Death

It has been a week since Prince Noir and Prince Bianca passed away.

After their bodies were found in the nearby forest, the entire kingdom went to a mourning period. Business operations were halted and celebrations were cancelled.

Espoir Town also entered the mourning period and the fact that they finally gained the name Espoir was quickly disregarded to give way to grieve the loss of the departed royals.

Although the forest where the twins were found wasn’t on the territory of Espoir Town, the townspeople can’t help but feel upset knowing that the children were just near the town and if only someone went there to check, they might have survived.

The twins were indeed near the town, but they weren’t in the forest. And their bodies are not in the palace for the burial ceremony today either.

They are standing in front of me, alive and looking energetic than ever.

I don’t understand. I really don’t understand what’s going on. I feel like I’m having a headache trying to understand this.

I touched my forehead, but when I did, I realized that my hand was bandaged. I slowly removed the cloth expecting the wound that I got from when I tried to write inside a Plot Hole, but it wasn’t a wound.

It was a crack.

I guess that thing really happened. I nearly shattered myself after all… but how come these two are still here?

Shiro and Kuro are standing in the doorway of my room and looking at me worriedly.

“Sensei, what’s wrong?” Shiro asked.

“You’re not ghosts, right?” I hesitantly inquired.

Shiro and Kuro stared at each other, then laughed lightly.

Kuro huffed, “Of course not! We’re alive!”

“Wait, Onii-chan… are we really?” Shiro muttered in confusion. “I mean, we did die in our former world, are we still alive?”

“Oh, you’re right,” Kuro agreed without questions.

I feel like I have an even stronger headache now.

But still, hearing them chatting that energetically with each other made them seem alive. If only I wasn’t hallucinating, that is.

“Lapis-sama, what’s with that look as if you’ve given up logic?” Ollie asked.

“Un. I did. It hurts my head to think so let’s not think about it.”

“Ehh…”

Ollie looked at me with disappointment.

“I guess, being disoriented like that is natural after you’ve been unconscious for a week.”

“Right, right, I just woke up— A WEEK??!!”

I WAS ASLEEP FOR A WEEK??!!

W-wait, I know that it should have been a week after the twins are supposed to be found dead in the nearby forest, but was I asleep for a week after that?

I tried remembering what happened this past week, but I’m drawing a blank. Still, I feel that I wasn’t unconscious at all, I feel like I did something, and that I was awake this entire time.

“Lapis-sama, you were asleep for a week.”

“Haah… even if you said that, I don’t feel that way. I feel like I was conscious all this time. I even know that the twins are pronounced dead and the entire kingdom is in a mourning period,” I explained to Ollie.

Ollie touched his chin and fell into deep thought.

“I think it was because your consciousness is still awake as the Creator of this world.”

If he puts it that way, I guess it’s reasonable.

Sighing to myself, I stared at the crack on my hand.

I understand that I’m not a normal human now. If I write with everything that I have, I will eventually shatter, but I was stopped by the God of Memory before I eventually created an opening to save the twins.

If they are alive now, what exactly happened?

“Ollie-kun, how are those two alive?” I asked the boy.

He looked at me in shock. “Eh? I thought Lapis-sama was the one who saved them? Was that wrong?”

“I mean, I tried, but I remember failing. I thought the cycle would repeat so I assumed that we restarted and will try better on the next one,” I leaned closer to him and whispered.

“It wasn’t Lapis-sama?”

“It’s not me, but can you tell me what happened first?”

Ollie nodded as he started recounting the events of what happened in the week that I was asleep.

________

One week ago, on the day that I told them not to go out and I will be the one buying groceries, I only took a few steps from the Sanctuary before I collapsed on the sidewalk.

It wasn’t that far from the house so Ollie and the twins managed to carry me back inside. Ollie told the twins to watch over me and he’s the one going out to restock. As he was buying goods, rumors started spreading that children’s bodies were found in a nearby forest.

He quickly finished his shopping and returned to the house. As he expected, the twins were still watching over me. But then, who were those children found in the forest?

I did not wake up after a day, and that time, they are now growing worried. The twins asked Ollie to call a physician but he explained that even if he did, they can’t enter the Sanctuary of a god without her permission unless they are blessed by her. Ollie also tried looking into my condition, but wasn’t able to do anything.

While I was asleep, he noticed that my hand was bleeding. When the twins went to see what’s happening, they could not see it. Only Ollie could perceive it, whatever it is, it seems that only those with connections to gods can see it. He covered it with bandages and hoped for the best.

The following day, Ollie went out once again. This time, a royal knight arrived in Espoir Town and announced the passing of the twin royals and the start of the mourning period. He hurriedly returned to the Sanctuary and told the twins about it.

At first, the twins were conflicted, but Ollie theorized that I used my authority as a Creator to make it seem like they died so the twins can live in peace away from their original fate. The twins accepted that theory and chose to stay in the Sanctuary.

For the following days after that, a strange person occasionally leaves groceries and snacks outside the Sanctuary. Despite their hesitation, the children accepted the good will of the stranger. Ollie said that he feels like he can trust that person.

Those are the things that happened during the time I was asleep.

“A lot happened… I can’t follow,” I lamented to myself as I can’t keep up with what I just found out.

“But I’m glad that you’re awake now. Welcome back, Lapis-sama!” Ollie beamed at me.

I reached out my hand and patted his head. “I’m back, Ollie-kun!”

“Ah! No fair, Ollie-kun!” Shiro complained and ran beside me. “Give me a headpat too, Sensei!”

“Sure, sure~”

I put my hand on Shiro’s head and gave her a headpat. This is already healing my soul.

“Uhm…”

Kuro remains standing on the doorway while looking away.

I guess he’s shy to ask for a headpat, so I smiled at him. “Kuro-kun, come here.”

“Eh? I-I’ll pass!” he said with a flustered expression.

“Onii-chan, I’ll take Sensei for myself,” Shiro snickered at him.

“Shiro, you little!” Kuro marched to our direction while fuming, but when he’s in my reach, I put my hand on his head.

“Gotcha~”

“W-wawawa! S-sensei!”

“Hehe, I’m glad that you’re all safe.” I smiled at the three while giving a headpat to Kuro. “I’m sorry for making you worry, I’m back now.”

The twins looked like they were about to cry, then their small hands reached out to me. I lowered myself and gave them a hug as they started crying on my shoulder.

“Hic…Welcome back, Sensei…”

__________

I had an inkling as for who or what was behind this sudden turn of events. Of course, it’s none other than the God of Memory.

But Ollie hasn’t said anything, and I would like to indulge a little with spending time with the children of Sanctuary.

Now that the kingdom declared that the twins are dead, the story will soon start as it should. Prince Blane will eventually try to search for who’s behind what happened to his siblings.

I checked the book and the story indeed fits now. There are traces of my blood in the pages but I haven’t written that much, I only wrote that the corpses found in the forest were unrecognizable but they had the items of the royals before they disappeared, including the insignia of the royal family.

I didn’t write if those bodies were really the twins since I was stopped by the God of Memory, but I guess he also did something about it, because I think that my words alone have failed on their own. Unless another power makes sure that it will work though.

Also, I’m pretty confident that the person leaving the groceries outside was him. As for why Ollie wasn’t able to recognize him, he’s definitely using his power to hide his identity for now. Ollie still feels that he’s trustworthy though, so I guess he can’t fully deceive his own fragment.

Still, there’s still something bothering me.

The way the knights quickly declared it without investigation. It was as if they hadn’t investigated it at all and just announced that those bodies have the items of the twins so it was them.

I remember writing in the original story that the knights can’t be trusted, but if the people in authority are this irresponsible… I can’t help but feel disappointed.

Though, it works for us now since they quickly dismissed the idea that the twins are alive.

“Shiro-san, Kuro-kun, I know that things are already like this but I feel like I should still ask you. Are you fine with this?”

The four of us gathered in the living area and were currently having a small tea time. The snacks brought by Oleander were perfect for this occasion so we’ll eat it gratefully.

The two stopped, their hands holding cookies stopped halfway before reaching their mouths.

Kuro was the first to speak.

“I feel bad for Prince Blane after losing his siblings, but we’re not exactly his actual siblings anymore. When we woke up here and realized that we reincarnated, Prince Blane was kind to us, but that kindness won’t save us.”

Shiro nodded, then looked away. “It’s not like we’ve grown attached to the Royal Family anyways. For the longest time, it has always been Onii-chan and I. In our previous life, and in this life… as long as we have each other, we’ll be fine even if we’re peasants or slaves.”

“Okay, don’t go that way,” I stopped her. “I won’t let you become slaves ever, do you understand?”

“Yes!” the two nodded.

I sighed then turned to them again, “I was just asking what you feel in case this turn of events was uncalled for in consideration of your feelings.”

“Sensei is really kind~” Shiro beamed at me and munched on a cookie.

“Don’t worry, Sensei. As long as we’re together, we’re fine with anything,” Kuro said with a sincere smile.

“That’s good to know. Still, we can’t have you hiding here for the rest of your lives. If only I can give you new identities…” I muttered to myself.

Ollie, who was silently eating cookies since earlier, decided to finally speak out.

“How about making them your prophets, Lapis-sama?”

“My what??!”

“Prophets,” Ollie repeated nonchalantly, still focusing on his cookie.

“No, no, I heard you, but Prophets??”

“Lapis-sama doesn’t know? Prophets are human followers of gods that act as divine representatives and walk the path of the god’s will,” Ollie explained. “Lapis-sama is the Creator Goddess of this world, it’s not surprising for you to have a prophet or two.”

“There’s something like that?”

“Yep, if you make someone your prophet, you can bestow them a different name and identity. By being a prophet of a god, they will be able to live under the blessing of a god and humans can’t touch them recklessly.”

“I see, that indeed sounds useful but…” I glanced at the two who were fiddling and looking away from us.

“I’m sorry, that’s a little…” Kuro quietly said.

“Un…” Shiro also nodded quietly.

Right… Kuro said before that they came from a religious family that had absurd rules in their former lives. It’s a given that they feel conflicted about being told to become a prophet here. Even though it’s not really a religion, the notion is still pretty much the same.

“Ah, no worries. I won’t force you if you don’t want to, so don’t feel pressured!” I reassured them.

The two just nodded and continued eating cookies quietly.

Now this is awkward…

I glanced at Ollie hoping that he can help with this situation, but he’s just eating the cookies without a care in the world.

‘Ollie-kun! Do something!’

It’s useless, he’s just too absorbed with the cookies. Whatever Oleander put in there, it was effective for Ollie.

I just took a sip from my own cup of tea that had already turned lukewarm.

“Ollie-kun, does your original god have prophets?” I asked him.

“He used to, but that was a long time ago… back when he hasn’t shattered yet.” Ollie said. “Lapis-sama, did you meet him recently?”

“Eh? W-what could you mean?” I looked away and feigned innocence.

“Before, I used to always feel his presence watching over me. It was a natural connection from being his fragment, but lately, I could no longer feel him. I know he is not dead yet because I still exist, but it’s like his presence is hidden from me.”

Oleander, what in the world are you doing?! Your fragment is looking for you!

“Ollie-kun, Sensei, what are you talking about?” Shiro curiously asked.

Good timing!

“Ah, we haven’t told you yet, right? As you already know, I am considered a Goddess here. As for Ollie-kun, he’s a fragment of a different god,” I enthusiastically explained.

“Lapis-sama, you’re so suspicious,” Ollie narrowed his eyes at me.

“Ahaha…” I laughed awkwardly.

“A different god?” Kuro asked.

Ollie sighed and he took the liberty to explain.

“That’s right, I am a fragment of another god. I was tasked with being Lapis-sama’s guide in this world,” Ollie explained to the two. “Though I am a fragment, I still have my own thoughts and freedom.”

“Ooh! I didn’t think that you’re that impressive!” Kuro commented.

“And what does that mean, Your Highness?!” Ollie smiled at him menacingly.

“Eek! Nothing, haha…” Kuro awkwardly looked away.

“That sounds amazing, Ollie-kun! So that’s why you know how to cure me, right?” Shiro stared at Ollie with amazement.

Ollie nodded, “That’s right. It was one of the pieces of knowledge that I got from my original god.”

“Then? Where is this original god of yours now?” Kuro asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Huh? And you still believe in that kind of god?” Kuro interrogated.

“Well, yes,” Ollie nodded. “I was still able to talk to him occasionally, but he’s growing weaker when I last talked to him.”

“Weaker…? How so?” Shiro inquired.

“My original god was one of the gods that watched over this world before Lapis-sama arrived here. A long time ago, at a time not known to us now, the world was engulfed in never-ending tragedies, one by one, the gods fell and shattered into pieces. They lost their names and authorities,” Ollie told his story to the two. “My original god lost his name and authority, but he was able to create me and left me here to look for the goddess and become her guide.”

I remained watching them while sipping my tea.

It seems like Ollie didn’t know that I’ve returned Oleander’s name already. And given that it was hidden from Ollie, Oleander must have his reasons as well.

“As his fragment, I share a connection with him. But I wasn’t able to feel him now…”

“Aww… Poor Ollie-kun, let’s look for that god!” Shiro declared.

“What are we going to do once we find him? It’s not like we can hurt a god, can we?” Kuro asked with uncertainty, but his words were firm.

“Aren’t we supposed to think of a place where we can find him first?” Ollie suggested.

“You’re right! Where do you think we should start, Ollie-kun?”

I choked on my tea while listening to their conversation. How did they go from talking about Ollie’s affiliation with another god to hunting the said god himself?

“Cough… cough…!”

“Lapis-sama, are you okay?” Ollie worriedly asked.

“Cough… y-yes… Kids, calm down first. I’m sure Ollie’s original god has his reasons. Let’s not be reckless, okay?” I patiently told them.

“If Sensei said so…” Shiro and Kuro said at the same time.

Ollie was looking somewhere else when I turned to him.

“Ollie-kun?”

“Ah, sorry about that, Lapis-sama.” Ollie’s attention finally returned to me.

“What’s wrong?”

“I feel like someone’s watching us… but it might just be my imagination.”

No, it’s not an imagination. I also felt it. It’s no doubt the God of Memory, Oleander. He’s literally nearby.

Barking also came from the first floor, Sol also felt the presence of a stranger in front of our house, did he?

“Could it be your original god, Ollie-kun?”

“No, this presence is stronger. My original god is weaker, I don’t think he can also appear in person.”

Maybe the fact that Oleander regained his name and authority made it hard for Ollie to recognize his presence now. If Ollie is used to Oleander’s weak power, no wonder he suddenly can’t recognize him.

I heaved a deep sigh. “Stay here, children. I’ll fetch the door.”

“Let me do it, Lapis-sama…”

“Nope, I’m going. Just continue eating snacks there.”

Despite the hesitation, Ollie and the twins did as I said and continued having tea with each other. I took this chance to go down and confront the said person.

Sol was barking in the front door as if telling me about the presence of a stranger in our home.

I opened the door and a man who was putting groceries in front of my doorway froze when our eyes met.

“What is a god doing snooping around someone else’s doorway, hm?” I crossed my arms in my chest and raised my eyebrow at him.

“Oops, I’ve been found.”