Little Pink Starfish

Despite the early hour, citizens were already lined up through the residential streets leading to the castle gates. As the temple knights passed by without their helmets, many were initially taken aback—but soon, smiles bloomed across the crowd, with hands waving eagerly.

From windows, flower petals rained down, offered with prayers for a safe journey. Amid heavy security, when the ornate, opulent Fana’ara carriages were followed by those of the Dias royal family, an even louder cheer erupted.

“Long live the Royal House of Dias!!”
“Congratulations!!”
“Lord Asher—!”
“Congratulations on your engagement!!”
“Long live the Royal House of Dias!! Long live!!”

Then came the horses of the Black Knights—and with them, an eruption of voices calling for Theodore.

“Lord Theodore—!”
“Black Knight Theodore!!”
“O heroic Black Knight—!!”

The man whose name was called paid no mind. His expression remained unchanged—unsmiling as always.

“At least try to be a little friendlier.”

“…”

Ward, riding alongside Theodore and waving to the people with a grin, spoke, but received no reply.

As they accompanied Reachalf for his send-off, Asher had joined them as far as the castle gates. For some reason, Reachalf had requested that only Asher ride with him in the carriage, not Hugo. Thus, Theodore’s attention was focused not on the royal carriage behind him, but on the Fana’ara carriage ahead.

“Overprotective, aren’t you? Worried about Prince Asher? You know the High Priest is head over heels for Prince Hugo.”

“…”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t mind being pursued by someone as gorgeous as the High Priest. I just don’t get Prince Hugo.”

“…”

“…And by the way, I barely managed to hold in my laughter after Prince Samuel’s little speech—because you two…”

“…Shut up.”

“Oh? So you were listening?”

Feigning surprise, Ward chuckled slyly. Theodore glanced sideways, frowning.

“Alright, don’t get mad. I won’t bring it up again. Just listen—someone asked me to give you a message. Don’t know his name. Guy with dark green hair and a beard.”

At that, Theodore pictured a man—no doubt the Forestman.

It was the Forestman who had prepared the Notobis when Theodore lost control in the arena. Their last meeting had been just before the council meeting with the House of Lords.

“He wanted to apologise to you in person, but couldn’t because of Prince Samuel. Apparently, he’s already been secretly sent out of the country. Prince Samuel really works people hard.”

“I see…”

“And one more thing. This one’s from me too.”

Ward nudged his horse closer and gave Theodore a hearty pat on the back.

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

Theodore’s expression flickered with faint surprise at Ward’s bright grin.

“…Even if it’s you lot saying it.”

“Don’t be like that. We were worried abou—”

But Ward suddenly trailed off. His smile froze, and then slowly melted into a look of astonishment.

—As though he had just seen something truly unbelievable.

“Lewis… just now, you… smil—”

──────・・・・・・

A deafening cheer rose from behind, making Asher flinch.

He was already nervous sitting alone in the carriage with Reachalf—now what had happened?

“So energetic. I wonder if they won’t lose their voices, yelling like that.”

That’s not the part to question… Asher wanted to retort, but he couldn’t say that to Reachalf. He timidly glanced at him instead.

“No need to be so tense. I’m not going to eat you.”

“…Y-yes.”

“I just have something I want to ask.”

“Something… to ask?”

Having no idea what it could be, Asher tilted his head.

“First of all, congratulations on your engagement.”

“Ah, thank you very much.”

At the sight of Reachalf’s radiant smile, Asher blushed slightly and offered his thanks. But in the next moment, that smile disappeared.

“For a long time, the relationship between humans and beastmen has been dominated by the human side. So for a prince of this country to marry someone with beastman blood—even if only half—means beastman blood will enter the royal lineage. Dias may be a peaceful nation, but other countries—particularly Murofsa, where beastman slavery is legal—will never accept that.”

Those jade-green eyes pierced Asher.

It wasn’t just their problem. In fact, Reachalf was implying the engagement was a national issue. Asher swallowed hard under that intense stare.

“Sorry to dampen your happy mood.”

“No… you’re right.”

“From now on, the political climate is going to shift drastically. Amidst all that… what does Prince Asher plan to do?”

The probing tone in Reachalf’s voice left no room to dodge. It was a valid question—as the High Priest of Fana’ara, he needed to know.

Asher looked straight back into those eyes.

“…I’ve given it some thought. May I share it with you?”

Reachalf looked momentarily surprised.

He must have expected Asher to panic or fumble for a response.

“I’ve been wondering for a while now. But after hearing Captain Deeta’s story, I found my answer.”

Reachalf raised an eyebrow, suspicious but listening.

──…

Not long after waking in this world, Asher had sensed something odd. He remembered beastman soldier Vex—tortured because of Asher—and the human soldiers, Weill and Zettam, joking and laughing with him in the infirmary.

In a world where beastmen were discriminated against, their relationship seemed like genuine friendship.

He’d seen those three again just before getting in the carriage—Zettam with an arm around Vex’s shoulder, Weill clapping Vex’s back.

‘Hey! Beast Knight Candidate!’
‘You’re gonna be a knight before us—!’
‘Ow! Quit it!’

The two humans seemed happier than Vex himself, and Vex, though embarrassed, had smiled.

Among them, there was no wall between human and beastman. That was clear even to Asher.

He remembered the orphanage he visited with Geoffrey—where human and beastman children lived together in harmony.

That scene was unnatural in this world—but to Asher, it looked completely normal.

Because children didn’t yet know hatred or sorrow between races.

Then there was Fold, the fox beastman, and the human woman Lillian. She carried his child, and Fold had looked forward to its birth with open adoration. Asher could easily picture Lillian scolding him with a red face as Fold clung to her belly—but even that was filled with joy.

How he wanted this country to be.

What kind of future he desired.

All of it was in those images.

──But.

It wasn’t something that could be achieved with idealism alone.

He remembered Vex again, his body covered in bandages, unable to lie on his back from the extent of his injuries—his fingers all broken, tortured simply because he was a beastman.

Beastmen who had been muzzled, stoned, treated like criminals—eyes filled with fear and sorrow, dying without being allowed to speak, resigned to their fate.

If this was the treatment in Dias, a nation that banned discrimination—what must it be like elsewhere?

He thought of Duchess Veil.

It was true that the beastman slaves of Murofsa had killed Duke Veil.

But could that truly be called their crime?

Tortured to the point of losing their sense of self—what blame lay with them?

“…You can’t erase all hatred.”

Asher said quietly.

“The pain of those who’ve bled can’t be undone. No one can pretend it never happened. I heard from Captain Deeta that a past King of Dias once tried to mend human-beastman relations. But he failed…”

Because it’s not something that can be solved with an apology.

It can’t just be forgiven.

──But does that mean we do nothing?

“Then nothing will ever change.”

A voice echoed in his mind—his own, from when he had just learned of his past life and how hated he was.

“I was hated back then too… but of course I was. I didn’t do anything.”

That was it. Excuses. Doing nothing.

Lamenting the hatred, pitying them—nothing changed by just feeling bad.

The past couldn’t be redone.

But the future could.

And for that, he had to change first.

“Even so, I want to make it happen. I want to rebuild the friendship between humans and beastmen like it was before the conflict… Not just in Dias, but in other countries too.”

He clenched his fist tightly.

He knew it wasn’t simple. Some might mock him for being a dreamer.

“But I’ll do everything I can as a prince to make it happen.”

Reachalf didn’t mock or laugh.

Instead, he looked at Asher seriously, and gently took his hand.

“…Then allow Fana’ara to assist you, even if only a little.”

When he let go, that serious expression vanished, and Reachalf returned to his usual lighthearted tone.

“I’m relieved, Prince Asher. But things will only get harder from here. You have a wedding to plan too.”

“Eh? N-no, we’re only just engaged, so marriage is still a few years off… And I still have a lot to learn, so I need to start with that…”

Honestly, with Samuel involved, it felt like it would be postponed indefinitely.

But Reachalf just said something outrageous.

“No, three—no, four months from now. Oh, and make me your officiant for the ceremony.”

“W-wait, no way! It’s too soon—!”

“If I say it’s happening, it is! And it has to happen—one way or another.”

“…?”

Reachalf glanced down, then flashed a mischievous smile.

“It’s such a shame I won’t be there to see Samuel’s face when he finds out.”

With a grand sigh, Reachalf stepped out of the carriage just as they arrived at the castle gates.

“Officiant—me. Alright?”

Descending with divine grace, Reachalf waved elegantly, his dazzling smile enchanting the crowd. The cheers swelled as Asher followed him out.

Guards surrounded them, and citizens strained for a glimpse of the royals and temple knights.

When Asher waved at some small children peeking from between the guards, the kids cheered—and so did the adults around them.

The knights lined up behind Reachalf in formation.

In front of the gathered crowd, King Augustin addressed Reachalf.

“Sorry for the trouble. Give the High Priest of Fana’ara my regards.”

“Of course. I look forward to seeing you again, Your Majesty…”

Reachalf glanced at Hugo, who turned away with a scowl—but Reachalf looked positively delighted.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me. Lastly… Prince Asher.”

All eyes turned to them.

“I’m counting on you regarding what we discussed.”

“Uh… four months is definitely too soon…”

He wanted to say it was impossible, but not in front of everyone.

“I mean the other matter.”

Other?

Asher stared at him. Reachalf’s narrowed gaze was a touch mischievous, but also gentle.

The other matter…

Asher remembered, smiled, and answered.

“Yes…”

There was only one other thing.

The relationship between humans and beastmen—

“I’ll do my best… to repair it!”

Reachalf smiled. Then he looked toward Samuel with a pitiful expression.

After a final bow, Reachalf boarded the carriage, and the group departed from the castle.

Until the carriage vanished from view, the Black Knights saluted with their swords raised to the sky.

“Your Highness… Please return to the carriage.”

Though the others had already boarded, Asher remained, staring out the gate. Without realising, Theodore had appeared beside him.

“Wah! Ah… sorry. I made everyone wait.”

Samuel stood by the carriage door, watching him. From the window, Noah waved enthusiastically.

“What you told Lord Reachalf earlier… I believe it will be difficult.”

Asher blinked in surprise.

“Huh? Why…?”

“Judging from Prince Hugo’s reaction, I doubt there’s anything others can do to help.”

“Eh… Hugo-nii-sama?”

“You were speaking of mending relations between Lord Reachalf and Prince Hugo, were you not? Didn’t you notice Prince Hugo glaring daggers at you after your response?”

Apparently, Asher’s words had been misunderstood.

“Ehh!? No, that’s not it! I meant something else… Oh, and also—he asked to be the officiant for our wedding, whenever that happens.”

Blushing slightly, Asher spoke.

He did want to marry Theodore as soon as possible. But four months… that was too fast.

Still, just hearing those words had made Asher imagine it.

“…But it doesn’t feel real.”

Standing before everyone, surrounded by their cheers, vowing his love to Theodore. It was perfect—too perfect.

Like a dream.

“Asher, come quickly.”

Samuel called. Asher turned—but then Theodore grabbed his arm.

“Theodore?”

He looked up—and Theodore was staring at him.

Suddenly, Theodore dropped to one knee and took his hand.

“Eh? Um…”

“…Maybe it’s my fault it doesn’t feel real to you. Do you remember what I said?”

“What you said?”

“…That I wanted the status to be allowed to propose to you.”

Asher gasped. He remembered—those words, before the mock battle with the temple knights.

“…That once I won, I’d propose. A lot happened after that. I couldn’t even dedicate my victory to you… And though our engagement was accepted, I never actually said it properly.”

Even with all the noise around them, Asher only heard Theodore’s voice.

“Asher… will you marry me?”

Those black eyes held him in place.

His cheeks burned, his hand grew hot.

The proposal, once again, spoken plainly.

Samuel was storming toward them, and the crowd was murmuring excitedly—but Asher didn’t care.

“…Does it feel real now?”

Theodore smiled faintly, head tilted.

Asher nodded, beaming.

“Yeah…!”

He threw his arms around Theodore, and shouted—louder than he had before.

“I’m going to marry Theodore!!”