Seeing Diancie's whole body tense like a startled animal, Dianna also felt a little embarrassed.
If she'd known, she wouldn't have said those words just now…
As Queen of the Underground Kingdom, she normally disdained lying.
She always kept her word and avoided anything that would undermine her dignity.
But when it came to Elias…
She glanced at the figure so close at hand, the restless heat in her chest unbearable, her emotions impossible to suppress.
"Alright, I'm taking Elias away now."
Seeing Dianna give no response, Diancie clapped her small hands and, as if nothing had happened, prepared to leave.
However—
Pa!
Before she could take a step, Dianna's palm pressed down on her shoulder.
"Diancie. Let Elias… stay with me for one afternoon. Please?"
Dianna let out a soft sigh, deciding to speak to Diancie gently after all.
No matter what, Elias truly was someone Diancie had "picked up."
This time too, Diancie had brought him back herself…
Hearing her Queen speak this way, Diancie was a little shocked.
It was the first time the other had used such a pleading tone with her.
But that only made her more on guard.
She could tell clearly—Her Highness was not as uninterested in Elias as she claimed.
If she could lower herself like this for his sake, it only proved even more how high Elias stood in her heart.
Realizing this, Diancie bit lightly at her lip.
Yet, thinking how long it had been since the two of them had met, she still, grudgingly, nodded.
"Just this afternoon…"
Seeing Diancie agree, Dianna's lips curved slowly into a smile.
Then she turned her gaze toward Elias, who had yet to speak.
"E…lias. It's been a long time."
Dianna's voice was soft, even gentle.
At least, this was the first time Diancie had heard her Highness's voice sound so gentle.
...
[Grudgingly, Diancie retreated first to her own room to wait.]
[Dianna, under the pretext of "admiring the scenery," invited you to stroll with her through the depths of the kingdom.]
[The scenery here truly was beautiful.]
[Around the open space stood tree-shaped diamonds, glowing with faint light and casting an otherworldly landscape underground.]
[All the while, Dianna asked you countless questions.]
[Naturally, you answered each one. Along the way, she learned the reason you had recovered so quickly.]
...
"I have to thank that human for her help. I'll go visit her myself later."
Dianna nodded, her attitude toward Cogita one of genuine gratitude.
If not for her, she might never have seen Elias again in this lifetime.
Hearing this, Elias gave a stiff little smile.
He doubted Cogita wanted to see Dianna—one Diancie was headache enough.
With another like her…
Knowing Cogita's personality, she'd probably throw him out.
"Elias. Thank you."
At that moment, Dianna suddenly spoke.
It was the thanks she'd wanted to give for so long.
Ever since he saved her back then, she'd wanted to properly thank Elias.
But for nearly a hundred years, he'd been asleep.
"You're Diancie's Highness, aren't you?"
Elias used the same explanation he had back then.
But this time, to his surprise, Dianna openly furrowed her brow.
"Was it only because of that?"
She leaned forward slightly, pressing further.
Elias blinked, then smiled and continued:
"Of course, it also had a lot to do with you yourself. Even as a ghost, no one wants to see a cute Pokémon die right in front of them."
Hearing his reply, Dianna felt a warm satisfaction bloom, a flush spreading across her cheeks.
"Cute, huh…"
As Queen, this was the first time she'd been called that.
Though strange—unfitting, even—she didn't dislike it.
Or perhaps… only from this ghost's mouth did it feel like joy.
"Here. Take this."
As if remembering something, Dianna suddenly produced a ring, handing it to him.
Set with a pink diamond neither too big nor too small, it shone with an extraordinary brilliance.
Its hues were far beyond what any ordinary diamond could reflect.
At first glance, Elias even thought it outshone the diamonds on Dianna's own body.
"What's this?"
He asked, though a guess was already forming in his heart.
"This is the core of the diamond from when I was first born. I forged it into a ring. For now, I'm entrusting it to you."
Dianna spoke lightly, as if offering nothing more than a trinket.
But looking closely, one could see her face was even redder than before.
Hearing this, Elias nodded knowingly and carefully put it away.
"I'll take good care of it," he answered seriously.
Then curiosity flickered across his face.
"Does Diancie also have the diamond from when she was born?"
He didn't recall ever hearing her mention it.
"No. Only Diancies born naturally have one. She wasn't born naturally."
As expected, Dianna gave her answer.
Thinking of Diancie's body, Elias's expression darkened slightly.
Indeed, one could see from her physique how many congenital issues she still bore.
Those would be the things he'd have to find a way to heal.
"Are you planning to live in the kingdom from now on?"
Dianna asked again.
At the mention of business, Elias's face grew a little more serious.
Meeting her gaze, he shook his head gently.
"No. Diancie and I promised Cogita we'd live at her place. We'll return here once a week."
He laid out the plan they'd settled on.
As he spoke, he also watched Dianna's expression closely.
The smile at the corner of her lips seemed to stiffen in an instant.
"I see…"
Dianna's mood soured.
As Queen, she naturally couldn't leave the underground kingdom, or everything inside would fall into chaos.
"What if I don't agree?"
She drew back her smile, looking at Elias coldly as she asked.
At this, Elias didn't know what to say.
Indeed, if Dianna refused, he and Diancie truly had no solution.
They couldn't exactly call Tornadus to come fetch them.
Seeing Elias seemingly startled, Dianna clapped her cheeks lightly, discarding the coldness she'd shown a moment ago.
"You and Diancie can live on the surface if you like—but… I have one condition."
Dianna's voice was soft.
"What condition?"
Seeing her relent, Elias was curious what condition she would propose.
"You'll know tomorrow."
Dianna's lips curved faintly as she replied.
That usually cool expression suddenly bloomed into a smile exactly like Diancie's.